Volume 40, Number 1 January 2015

January Sermons

January 4th “Promise of Guidance”

Proverbs 3:5-6

January 11th To Be Announced

January 18th “Grace Upon Grace”

John 1:16-18

January 25th “The Invitation: Come and See”

John 1:43-51

Un-Decorating of the Church

Many hands make light work! If you can stay for 30 minutes after the 10:30 ser-vice on Sunday, January 4, we could use your help to put away the holiday decorations. Of course you can get your snacks first and then come help! The more the merrier! Looking forward to seeing you January 4!

For many of us who grew up in Christian homes this was the first verse we learned. As little children we could understand something of the meaning of this verse because it speaks of love. Love is, in most cases, the first thing we experience as children. We experience the love of a mother and father who feed and bathe and comfort and care and even play with us.

What an amazing reality it is that God loves us. Ponder the deep truth that is contained in those few words, “God so loved...” The one who made us and everything in the universe is the one who loves. Like a parent he feeds and bathes and comforts and cares and yes even enjoys our play. We know this love of God because we know Jesus. Jesus was what God gave to show us his love.

Many people do not know this God of love. There are many reasons. Some people are simply too caught up in the activities and responsibili-ties of life. They have no time for God. Others are too proud. They feel they can run their own lives and manage their own affairs with-out resorting to a belief in or reli-ance upon a God. Still others have experienced a painful wound in life and a God of love who would allow such a thing is beyond the bounds of their believing.

We have one great purpose as a community of people who know the

love of God and believe that he gave his only son. We are to be witnesses. We are to testify by our lives and our words that there is a God of love who gave Jesus. One person said, “We are called to make the invisible God visible to the world.” Or as I chose years ago as my life’s purpose, “to know Christ and make him known.” There is no greater calling in all of life.

Let’s renew that calling again as we begin the new year. We are called to make the invisible God, we deep-ly believe in, visible to others. As we begin this year we are going to begin with the gospel of John. John was a great witness to Jesus. He said the reason he wrote his account of Jesus’ life was, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (20:31) Our purpose as a church is the same. We too live now so that our friends and neigh-bors, our fellow students and work associates, our family members might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they too may have life. Life is to know the God of love who revealed himself in Jesus. Let’s work to that end this year.

John

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that all who be-lieve in him may not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Annual Meeting January 25th

The annual Meeting of the Congrega-tion will be held on January 25th after the 10:30 service. We will have a light lunch followed by a business meeting to: review the past year, review and approve the budget, and approve terms of call for John and Sylvia Dilworth.

Operation Christmas Child News

The 85 boxes of gifts that were packed by our congregation were delivered to children in the Philippines in time for Christmas!

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Happy 2015! Christmas season is finished and another year is beginning. Who knows what adventures will be this year? Whatever our circumstances, it is such comfort to know that God is in charge and that He cares deeply for us. So, although change is in the air, we are confident it will show us God’s love for us. Your deacons have undergone a change. At the end of December, we said goodbye to Caroline Brandt, Sherri Kessler and Kate Eyberg, who finished their terms as deacons. We really appreciate all the care and kindness they show-ered on all of us, deacons and members alike. We will miss them in our group of active deacons. On a positive note, we are grateful that Courtney Tomastic and Julie Meyer have chosen to stay deacons for another term. Also, we welcome Steve Brandt, Michael Anderson and Lisa Bode to our group of deacons. Steve, the spouse of Caroline Brandt who just finished her term as deacon, has served as a deacon previously. Michael and Lisa will be ordained this month and we look forward to it. We will have a “Meet Your Deacon” Sunday in the near future where you can have the opportunity to meet and get to know them. Your deacons wish you a Happy New Year and welcome the opportunities to serve you and the community this coming year.

Session Activity

Elected Betty Trowbridge as clerk of Session for 2015. Elected Darlene Higgenbottom as treasurer for 2015. Added a Building and Grounds com-mittee to concentrate on upkeep and enhancement of MPC’s property. Its work was formerly done within the Finance and Administration commit-tee. Amy Clements, Dick Eyberg and Dave Tomastik are the Session mem-bers on the committee.

Mission Committee Report

At our December meeting we dis-cussed and reported on the following things:

Operation Christmas Child The church filled 85 boxes for this mission project. Thank you all for your participation!

Budget Part of our money, $3,400, from our Capital Campaign for Mission was used to support Grace Kuto's Com-munity Center in Africa.

Money was given to help the Pena girls (who are paying their way to Mexico for Christmas) to give a Christmas dinner fiesta for Siqueros and the church the Penas started there.

SW Hope - Food Bank The collection for food or money will be from Feb. 15 to March 29, 2015.

Slavin Court Plans for a Joy Tree for residents there were made, and gifts will be delivered on the 21st.

Spanish Worship Service Plans were made to purchase a banner publicizing the new weekly 4:00 pm Spanish language service.

Congregation, thank you for your participation in our church mission!

New Member Class 1. Do you attend regular Sunday Worship? 2. Do you enjoy the fellowship of oth-ers? 3. Do you want to know more about MPC? 4. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? 5. Are you willing to share your time and talent with MPC? If you answered “YES” to any of the above questions, I encourage you to consider exploring Membership at MPC. Contact Mike Clopton, 503-781-8493, or the Church Office, 503-246-5459

or info@MultPresChurch.org, to get more information about a

“New Member class”.

Milli Vanilli Lip Sync Night -

February 20th It’s never too early to start practicing your moves for the Lip Sync contest! This multi-generational night is a fun way to enjoy our church family. Whether you are performing or just watching, it is a fun night. Sign up your group, if you wish to perform, by February 15th, with Heather Hellman.

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Tuesday, January 20 Our 2nd—5th grade youth group is back in the new year on January 20th. We will meet at the Open Door for games, then head to the main building for dinner, art, and a lesson. Good News Tues is 6-7:30 pm

First Sunday Is Kids’ Sunday

On the first Sunday of every month we want to allow the kids to have an opportunity to be a bigger part of the worship service. Kids can help with jobs like ushering and scripture reading. The youth will stay in the service the entire time instead of leaving for youth Alpha, and the kids will be brought back up to the service for communion time, so that they can see and par-ticipate with parent permission in the sacrament. If your child would like to help in the service, please contact Heather Hellman.

Youth Group Schedule

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Middle School Youth

Thursdays at 7:00 pm High School Youth

Junior and Senior High Sunday School

during the 10:30 Worship Service each Sunday,

except Communion Sundays

High School Snow Blast Weekend February 6-8

Hopefully the Polar Vortex stays on the mountain this year, so we can actually make it up there for the snow weekend.

We will join a few of our favorite youth groups for a weekend in the snow. Tubing, skiing and snow-boarding are available.

The cost for the weekend is $60 (there will be additional fees for skiing/boarding). Permission slips can be obtained at youth group; sign up is due by Jan 22nd.

Alaska Mission Forms are availa-ble in the Open Door. Registration is due in January. If you think you might want to be a part of this trip, and you are in high school or col-lege, please talk to Heather Hell-man as soon as possible.

Dove Christian Preschool

Open House Dove Christian Preschool will be hosting an Open House on Thursday, January 29, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm. This is an oppor-tunity to visit the class, meet the teach-ers, ask questions and pick up registra-tion materials for Fall 2015. If you, family or friends have a preschool age child, be sure and attend the Open House. There are openings in the Pre I class (3-year-olds; child must be 3 by Sept 1, 2015), and limited openings for the Pre II class (4-year-olds). For more information, visit the Dove web-site at www.dovepreschool.com, or email Teacher Barb at dovechristianpre-school.com.

Bundle of Joy!

Jaxson proudly announces the arri-

val of his brother, Keaton Asher

Gannett, born December 6 to

Derek and Ashley Gannett. Keaton

weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and

was 20 inches long at his birth.

Doug and Denise Gannett are the

proud grandparents.

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Petie Biehler Eleanor Caufield

Oneita Friese Ron Hendricks Bonnie Larson

January 2, 2015, we start the new year with a book written in 1886, by Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Caster-bridge, also subtitled, “The Life and Death of a Man of Character.” In keeping with the theme of the novel the potluck can be connected to the story. A quick summary of the novel can be found online for ideas of dish-es to try out on our current members. We always welcome new people to the meeting, too. The February selection is, The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. Hope you can join us, the first Friday of 2015, January 2nd, in the down-stairs fellowship room, 6:15 pm, then prayer and dinner at 6:30 pm.

For more information, please call Karen Beers at 503-799-8170,

or email Nancy Trullinger at nancytru@mac.com.

Joyous New Year of our Lord

to everyone!

Presbyterian Women's Fellowship

Happy Happy New Year!! May your 2015 be a Blessed One!

Looking for a way to get more in-volved in your church family in the NEW YEAR?! Why not try Presbyter-ian Women?

Our December meeting was definitely a Cookie Extravaganza! All brought cookies to share with each other and to share with the MPC shut-ins. Fif-teen cookie containers were filled and delivered with Christmas spirit to those unable to attend church.

Pastor John resumed our Study: “Ready or Not: Following God’s Call”. The January 14th meeting will find us in Lesson 4 of our study of Ruth and Jonah. As a reminder, our Women’s Fellowship meets the second Wednesday of each month in the downstairs fellowship hall at 11:45 for a bite to eat, Bible Study, Fellowship and Friendship. Come join us. All are welcome!

If you cannot make it to the meetings, but would still like to participate in our other goings-ons, or just find out what we are up to, please contact:

Kathleen Loomis at (503) 245-7452 or email Shannon McKenzie at

Shannon.mckenzie02@gmail.com

We would love to have every woman at MPC part of our group in some way.

Please keep those who can’t make it to church each Sunday in your prayers:

Catherine Nevin Faye Quinn

Rosemary Roser

Lindy Sandstrom Vic Smith

Ruth Sundby Evelyn Walls

George Weidlich

2 Steven Brandt

Grace Dilworth

3 David Babcock

6 Nancy Donner

Anne Hill

7 Jeanne Morehouse

9 Vance Kerwood

Jackie Magnusson

Barbara Twitchell

11 Don Shirilla

Nancy Trullinger

15 Judi Davis

16 Joanne Goodfellow

18 Sylvia Dilworth

19 Mariah Jones

Mark Trullinger

20 Joshua Meyer

25 Heather Hellman

27 Mathew McCourt

30 Vic Smith

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Thanks to our Christmas Play

Heroes!!!! The Kids’ superhero Christmas play was an awesome success. All of the cast did an amazing job of memoriz-ing their lines, directions and cues. They wrote a pretty amazing play too!

Thanks especially to Barb Jones, Theresa Haynes, Ray, Amy and Da-vid McKean and Valentine Hellman for helping the kids to share their message of Jesus, the real super hero.

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Our Depression Support Groups meet on the fourth Sunday of each month. (January 25) following the 10:30 worship service. Questions or comments?

Contact Dave Meyer at 971-271-7086

We invite you to join us for prayer night, Tuesdays at 7 pm, upstairs in the Chapel. If you are in need of prayer or know someone who is, please let a prayer team member know. We also encourage you to come and be prayed for after worship on Sundays.

Bell Choir Takes a Break Bell choir members are taking off the month of January, but will resume practice on February 2nd..

New members are always welcome to join our bell choir. Knowing how to read music is preferable, but not mandatory. Elementary school music classes count. People are always surprised how fast it comes back to them.

Questions? Contact Emily Gaston at 503 848-2281 or email Kathy McCourt at mccourtpdx@comcast.net

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During this new year of 2015, we will feature in the Announcer each month an aspect of MPC’s missions. Jesus has said to us, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness-es in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 What does this mean for us as a church? It means that by the power of the Holy Spirit, and with the re-sources entrusted to us, MPC will witness to the love of the Father, and will seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Where is our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and ends of the earth? Witnesses in Jerusalem: Jesus was speaking to His disciples about reaching out to people in their hometown of Jerusalem; people who were nearby geo-graphically and who were culturally similar. For us at MPC, our Jerusalem is reaching out to those in Port-land who are culturally similar to us. So we seek to share the Gospel with people such as our friends, co-workers and neighbors. MPC’s Mission Team seeks to do this by supporting the regional Alpha program, our own Faith in Action Sunday, and Loaves & Fishes. We also encourage all members of MPC to be intentional about inviting people to church and about learning how to share one’s faith personally. Witnesses in Judea: In Jesus’ day, Judea was the large area to the south of the city of Jerusalem. It was culturally Hebrew. In other words, Jesus was com-manding his followers to witness to those who were further away geographically yet still culturally similar. For us at MPC, our Judea would be the same; reach-ing out to those people who are further away geo-graphically yet culturally similar. We seek to do this as a church by supporting the NW Wee Kirk Conference,

the Youth Mission Trip to Alaska, and by our Adult Mis-sion Trip. (Stay tuned for the 2015 Adult Mission Trip!) Witnesses in Samaria: Samaria was the large area northwest of the city of Jerusalem. It was culturally dif-ferent than the Hebrews yet geographically fairly close. Jesus wanted His disciples to take off their blinders and see those nearby who were culturally different yet still loved by the Father. For us, our Samaria typifies people who may live close to us, but who have a differ-ent culture, language, or religion. Our “Samaria” would include immigrants, international students, refugees as well as people who come from very different social or economic backgrounds than we do. We seek to do this by supporting our outreach to Slavin Court, Span-ish Worship and Fellowship, the Salvation Army, and some aspects of our Faith in Action Sunday. Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth: Obviously, Je-sus here is speaking about reaching those who are culturally different and geographically far away. For us that means we have the privilege to share the gospel with all nations. MPC strives to do this by supporting our PC(USA) missions, the Newbergs in Wycliffe Bible translation, the Siqueros, Mexico church, the Baja Mexico Church, Nassa Theologial School in Tanzania, and Frontier Fellowship in Ethiopia. With great anticipation, someday in heaven we will see “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:9 What a day that will be!

Sylvia

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2015 Budget

Thank you to all the families and indi-viduals who pledged to support the church in 2015. If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to pledge and make this church a vital part of your life.

Pledges are still welcome and much appreciated. However, as of mid-December, pledges are running $100,000 short of the proposed 2015 budget. The Session has scheduled a special budget work session on Janu-ary 13 to adjust the budget so the church can plan to live within its means. The revised proposed budget will be presented at the annual meet-ing of the congregation on January 25. Members will be asked to vote on the proposed budget as well as the terms of call for the co-pastors.

Please pray that our church will make good decisions, and please reach out to any elder with your questions and suggestions about the proposed budget and plans for 2015. We pray for your prosperity and abundant blessings this year.

Buildings & Grounds Update (Facilities Maintenance)

The Facilities Maintenance Committee met on December 9th and welcomed Dave Tomastik as the newest member of the committee.

Presentation to Congregation: On Sunday, January 18th, committee members will be providing a brief over-view of the church maintenance requirements and volunteer opportunities available to help maintain and improve our facilities. In addition, there will be an information table with copies of the various maintenance activities and special projects available for people to review and to sign up for as volun-teers. The table will be staffed by the committee members to answer your questions and help with signups.

Committee Status and Name Change: Starting in January, the maintenance committee will become a stand-alone committee reporting to Session and no longer will be part of F&A. To better identify the committee, it was decided to change the name of the group from Facilities Maintenance Committee to Buildings & Grounds Committee (B&G Committee). One of the three current elders on the committee (Amy Clem-ents, Dick Eyberg or Dave Tomastik) will update Session on the committee activities.

Maintenance Updates: Some of the recent maintenance projects completed include: installing secu-rity windows in two of the classrooms, replacement of the elevator/lift batter-ies, replacing emergency exit sign downstairs and storm and fall leaf clean-up.

Maintenance Volunteer Recognition: There are numerous individuals in the church that go unnoticed who provide valuable help in maintaining church buildings and grounds. Periodically, the committee would like to recognize some of those individuals. This month we have chosen to recognize Dick White. Among other things, Dick provides countless hours helping maintain the grounds including the landscaping around the church sign and entrance, pruning bushes, removing leaves and debris from the parking lot and cutting ivy back from the numerous trees on the property. You will also find Dick helping out when changing the seating arrangement in the sanctuary for special events. Please give Dick a big ‘Thanks” the next time you see him.

Please feel free to discuss any aspects of facilities maintenance with any of the following committee members: Amy Clements, Dave Tomastik, Dick Ey-berg, Clay Morgan or Dennis Zerba

Finance and Administration

Committee The Finance and Administration Com-mittee is continuing to implement rec-ommendations of the church audit conducted in August, 2014.

Procedures are being updated to im-prove confidentiality and security of church records and facilities. We also plan to update the church financial software in January to enable a more complete set of financial records. Those who handle any church funds are currently participating in back-ground checks.

The committee is also overseeing a change in the way payroll is handled. The mid-month payroll pay date is being changed in 2015 to the start of the month instead of mid-month to be consistent with financial reporting. The change is in timing only, not pay rates.

Financial Recap

Income $32,078.62 $332,306.57 Expenses 28,119.12 324,329.34 Difference +3,959.50 +7,977.23

Nov. 2014 Year to date

Giving Envelopes Offering envelopes for giving in 2015 will arrive soon and will be available in the Fellowship Hall. Until you have them in hand, please mark your current, regular envelope number on your check so the counters can properly record your contributions. Your help is greatly appreciated and helps make sure all contributions are properly recorded.