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“PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO" (USPS 006-105) is published monthly by The First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMin-nville, OR 97128-4789. Periodicals postage paid at McMinnville, OR. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO", c/o First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128-4789.

First Presbyterian Church

Together in Christ for all.

Prayer Requests

Contact Carley Bushart at 503-560-0183 or prayer@fpc-mac.org

Portfolio Staff

Managing Editor: Matt Johnson Editor: Nancy MacDonald

Church Staff

Pastor: Matt Johnson mattj@fpc-mac.org Administrative Coordinator: Nancy MacDonald nancym@fpc-mac.org Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries: Kate Satterstrom kates@fpc-mac.org Interim Worship Coordinator: Phillip Thompson-Aue philliptaue@gmail.com

Next Portfolio Deadline: September 21, 2020

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Presbyterian Portfolio

First Presbyterian Church 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128

503-472-6256 / fpc.mcminnville@gmail.com / fpc-mac.org Vol. 45 No. 8 August 26, 2020

Upon Further Reflection

Reflecting on the Past Six Months As a general rule, I like predictability. My weekly routine is scattered with recurring markers that guide me like lamp posts on a winding road. Of these markers, worship is my anchor. Worship is a time when I can reflect on the previous week and prepare for the week to come. For an hour I sit amongst a beloved community and tangibly feel God’s presence. Worship grounds me. When March came, we faced a new reality; anything but predictable. I found myself privately rejoicing over the decluttering of my calendar. A few less meetings, a lot less running around, and a halt on many obligations. But this welcomed reprieve also came with a global mourning for thousands who found themselves critically ill, economic hardship unlike anything since the great depression, and an unpredictable future for everyone in every circumstance. The unpredictable has become our new normal. And gathering together in the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship has become a thing of recent memory. And yet for the past six months God has regularly interrupted my continual prayerful fretting with this phrase: What a Jubilee! The Biblical idea of Jubilee is found in Leviticus 25. God invites God’s people into a year of rest. A time when families return to each other, work drastically diminishes, debts are forgiven, and slaves are liberat-ed. The Bible goes into detail answering all the “what about…” questions as people look for loop-holes around the shocking halt to their normal routines. We think of Jubilee as a celebration of returning and simplifying and starting fresh. But as scripture tells us, this is much easier said than done. And it doesn’t come without hardship, not to mention the shock of transitioning to a simpler pace and more limiting space. In this time of reorienting ourselves, I find myself thankful for things that I previously overlooked. I am thankful for Zoom that allows teachers to greet students in real time on the first day of school. I am thankful that our Sanctuary was already set up to record worship, enabling us to worship together virtually in a space that holds holy memories. I am thankful for postal workers who allow us to connect and care for each other with more intentionality. I am thankful for the smells of fall that have begun to return on the winds of dusk, beckoning us to remember that time still marches forward. These six months have not been easy, and the coming months will hold their own challenges. And still, God journeys with us. God is still grounding us, our anchor in the changing tides. God is still present with us as we find new ways to connect with one another. God is still glorified in our worship. Kate Satterstrom Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries

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Sunday Information

Communion Sundays September 6th & 20th

Have your bread & juice ready and join us for worship online at

fpc-mac.org at 10:30am.

Worship with us from Home

We continue to have each Sunday morning a pre-recorded worship service to view by going to our website, fpc-mac.org, and clicking on the date under the heading “Sunday Worship.” Previous services are also available to view at your convenience. Just click on the date you would like to view. Sermons are available on the website in written form. You can also contact the church office to have a copy of the sermon mailed to you each week. If you have joys or concerns that you would like to have shared during the recorded Sunday worship service, please email or call the church office by Thursday.

Zoom Coffee & Fellowship Time!

11:30am to noon! Join us on Zoom for a time of virtual coffee hour.

After you view the worship service online, go to

your enews email to find the link to join the Zoom meeting.

You provide your own coffee and refreshments then join others for conversation and catching

up. Join anytime and signoff when you need to.

Let’s keep connected!

Weekly Bible Study on Zoom Wednesdays at 10:00 am

A weekly Bible study, led by Pastor Matt, on the scripture reading for the following Sunday meets on Zoom on Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Come join the discussion! The link for the Zoom meeting can be found in the FPC Weekly E-News email.

Keeping you updated on changes in and around the church building.

Check out the new fenced entrance to the Johnson/Youth Room! The gate is locked to prevent illegal activities in the stairwell. Once the Youth Group can meet again, it will be a nice entrance for them to use.

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Harvest Sale

Even though our Harvest Sale will probably be postponed until November 2021, the crafting continues. Thank you to members of our congregation that are busy sewing, gluing, painting, and being creative. Special thanks to Mary Ellen Fleeger, Danna Bone, Elsie Williams, and Ann Widen for submitting photos of their creations this month. If you have any items that you would like to share next month, please email to Ann at Ann2450@gmail.com. Blessings, Harvest Sale Committee

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Calendar

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Coming Soon!

Join us for this time of guided prayer, led by Pastor Matt.

Adult Education to Resume September 13 The Adult Education class is doing a new thing! In September we will begin to meet online from our homes. We’ll use a live Zoom format, so class members can join in from home and there will be opportunity for lively discussion as has always been the hallmark of the Adult Education class. Sunday, September 13, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. “Earth” in the Green Bible Series will be presented by Pam Jackson. The Green Bible is a resource for understanding the Bible’s powerful message for God’s Crea-tion. Similar to “red-letter” Bible editions that highlight Jesus’ direct statements in red letters, the NRSV Green Bible highlights, using “green-lettering”, the many and varied ways the books of the Bible speak directly to how we should think and act as we live on and interact with God’s planet. This first Zoom class will cover the topic of “Earth”. We will also discuss the many ways McMin-nville First Presbyterian Church, as a PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation, seeks to preserve, treads more lightly upon and acts as a justice advocate for God’s Earth. Please join us for this interactive class. Check the weekly E-Newsletter for Zoom connection details.

Pocket Prayer Quilts

Elsie Williams discovered these wonderful “Pocket Prayer Quilts” that can be slipped in your pocket - throughout the day when your fingers touch the cross inside the quilt, be mind-ful of God’s love and grace for you. They can be kept as a tangible symbol of God’s peace. Subsequent to Elsie’s discovery, production began. Sara and Fianna DeMaster Smith are also making them. The price is right - free! if you are interested in one for yourself, family, or friends, please contact your deacon!

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Mission

How Green is Your Tea???

Did you know that plastic tea bags can release about 11 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea?! Even paper teabags contain a small amount of polypropylene, which makes them non-recyclable and non-compostable. Equal Exchange tea bags are made from abaca fiber. Abaca is a relative of the banana tree family and also sometimes known as manila hemp. The tea bag filter paper is technically not bleached, but uses a more natural process called oxygen delignification which is free of chemicals or toxins including chlorine. If you'd like to try some of Equal Exchange’s fair trade tea now is the time to try it! Teas in-stock are on SALE for $2.50 per box. Cases of tea ordered after this supply is gone will be $3.25 per box or $20 for a case of 6 boxes. Some of the tea on hand includes Chamomile, Black, Darjeeling, Chai, and Peppermint. For an up-to-date list of teas available, please email Jan Irish.

Thank you to all who contributed to the Beyond Backpacks Fund. We collected $1,540 to help provide school supplies to students in need in Yamhill County.

Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication On April 25, 2020 the Espinoza Maggard family received the keys to their new home. Despite Covid-19’s best efforts to delay construction, a small group of dedicated volunteers made sure the home was completed on time. The Dedication looked very different this time. Rather than a large crowd there was just a small welcoming committee of MacHabitat Staff. The children were presented with beautiful handmade quilts from the Quilt Group here at First Presbyterian Church!

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All in the Family

September Prayer Calendar

"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Please lift each household name or group listed below in prayer on that day of the month.

1. World Day of Payer for the Care of Creation 2. Dave & Gudie Pfendler 3. Joe Plambeck 4. Tony Pratt & Kirsten Lund 5. Community Dinner 6. Markita Price 7. Gay & Barb Pudlitzke 8. Duane & Carol Qualey 9. Linda Ragland 10. Donna Reynolds 11. Jim Rogers 12. Astuti Rossner 13. Chuck Ruebel 14. Arden & Faythe Rust 15. Deacons 16. Session 17. Charlie & Shirley Saderholm 18. John & Wendy Sagers 19. Bob Sagers 20. Thomas Sagers 21. Kate Satterstrom 22. Lou Savage & Cheryl Seagren 23. Barb Schoof 24. Hans & Adrienne Schouten 25. Dave & Ardith Sears 26. Brian & Dianne Shea, Keller & Cate 27. Ken Sherwood 28. Sandra Sherwood 29. Tim & Wendy Shuler, Matie Hendrix 30. Lee Slater, Lilly

Remember Our Homebound Members

Barbara Anderson Gus Carstensen Min Coburn Alice Craven

John & Betty Edmondson Beryl Foster Lori Hanson

Fred & Zella Hisaw Barbara Koch Wanda McAlister

Janet Myatt Liz Parker Gay & Barb Pudlitzke Bev Steely

Harry Taylor Betty Younker

September

Neil Slater 1st Teagan Sterling 1st Charlie Saderholm 2nd Eileen Slater 2nd David Staneck 2nd Cindy Clark 5th Barb Pudlitzke 5th Nancy Barker 6th Jim Black 6th

Chad Mellinger 12th Dave Pfendler 13th Luella Fritz 14th Cheryl Seagren 14th Becky Badley 15th Jordaen Hendrix 17th David Sears 17th Zoe Pearson 18th Wendy Sagers 18th Gail Burkholder 19th Steve Larson 21st Nathan Clevenger 22nd Diane Ehlers 23rd John Wallick 26th Gus Brunner 27th Shawna McRae 27th

Our church family extends our deepest sympathy

to Barbara Koch and family at the passing of

Fred Koch on July 27th. &

to Jim Lekas and family at the passing of Sue Lekas on July 30th,

May God grant comfort and peace

to their loved ones.

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PW continued

We encourage all Presbyterian Women to:

recognize racism as sin and “opposite of what God intends for humanity”*

dismantle white supremacy and privilege related to skin color

confront the sins of injustice against people of color and work for justice

end the criminalization of non-white skin

hold police departments accountable for any and all employees who harass and/or terrorize

communities of color

interrupt policy and structures that promote systems of oppression

challenge media messaging to ensure persons of color are not tried for their own murders

(Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, and others), and

build an inclusive, caring community.

Gracious God, we know you hear us, and we remember you said, “I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”—Ezekiel 11:19.

We continue to pray for change of thinking, change in actions, and change in policies towards peo-ple of color—and we continue to pray for health and peace in the world.

The Moderatorial Team thanks Erma Jones, Presbyterian Women Search Committee Moderator, for her initiative and leadership in the preparation of this statement. On behalf of Presbyterian Women, Inc.’s, Board of Directors and Staff, Jenny Lee, Jo Ann Burrell, Joy Durrant

All in the Family

Dear Church Family, Thank you for the cards, phone calls, and condolences that you have shared with me at the passing of my wife, Sue. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I truly appreciate your support. Thank you, Jim Lekas

September

Agape Circle There are no plans at this time to meet.

We’ll resume later in the year.

Priscilla Circle Will meet on Zoom on September 28th

at 7:00 pm

PW Study Books are now available, $10 each. Contact the church office to arrange to pickup.

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Earth Care Corner

FINANCIAL REPORT (Operating Fund)

July: Actual Budget Receipts: $ 36,916 9.3% $ 32,967 8.3% Expenses: 28,130 6.9% 33,739 8.3% Year to Date: Receipts: $ 198,530 50.2 % $ 230,635 58.3% Expenses: 210,586 52.0% 236,039 58.3%

Receipts were very strong and expenditures under budget for the month reducing the year to date deficit significantly. Thank you for your continued support.

Giving

If you are able to make your pledge/contributions to the church, please mail them to the office or go to our website and use online giving. You can make a one time donation online or you can set it up to be recurring. Thank you for your support!

Community Care Fund

A fund has been set up to aid those who are in need of assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in contributing to this fund, you may send in a check and note for Community Care or go online and check the Community Care Fund. If you or a neighbor, friend, or family member is in need due to the pandemic, please contact Pastor Matt.

Session Highlights

Action taken and information items are summarized for the Portfolio monthly. This month Session is meeting via Zoom on the same day the Portfolio is published so there are no highlights to share at this time.

Letter from Elliott Barske

With immediate concerns about the corona virus, the country’s economy, the upcoming school year, and the November presidential election, the dialogue on the issue of global warming has taken a decidedly back seat. The events of increasing wildfires, the slow but steady year by year sea rise, the increasing harmful effects on agriculture of droughts and insects have not gone away. The effects of global warming will likely not greatly affect myself and my wife, now in our senior years and living in McMinnville, during the time we have left. But we have grandchildren, now 4 and 1 years old. What will their world be like 80, 90 or 100 years from now? And what about the world of their grandchildren maybe 200 years from now? When the world finally comes to the realization that, “uh-oh, we have a real problem”, the time needed to reverse the process may be lost. The time is overdue to give support to scientists and legislators who acknowledge the growing threat of global warming running out of control, and strongly advocate world wide action to slow and then stop this very real threat.

Ecclesiastes 3: (1) For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under

heaven: (7) a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. NRSV

Nuts & Bolts

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Children, Youth, & Family

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Presbyterian Women

Dear Church Family,

Presbyterian Women have always worked for justice and peace. Carole Hanson and her daughter, Rachel, called this article to our attention from PCUSA, PW Board. We want to share it with you.

In Christ's Love, Donna Miller & Marilyn Enger, Co-Moderators of PW

Reaffirming Presbyterian Women’s Stance Against Racism

Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and

with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”—Luke 10:27

Presbyterian Women, Inc., reaffirms our commitment to dismantling institutional and structural

racism, white supremacy, and white privilege following the recent and ongoing practice of police

brutality and murders of people of color. We speak the names of recent victims while condemning

the historic systemic racism that has caused the deaths and otherwise impeded the lives of so many

of God’s children.

AHMAUD ARBERY

A 25-year-old who was chased down, shot,

and killed while jogging by a retired police

officer and his son in Brunswick, Georgia

(February 23, 2020).

BREONNA TAYLOR

A 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was shot eight times by Louisville

Metro Police Department officers who entered her apartment while serving a

"no-knock warrant" (March 13, 2020).

DREASJON (SEAN) REED

A 21-year-old from Indianapolis, stopped for reckless driving, died after being shot at

least eight times by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer (May 6,

2020).

GEORGE FLOYD

A 46-year-old killed, after allegedly attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill, when a

Minneapolis police officer knelt on George’s neck (May 25, 2020), ignoring George’s

repeated pleas that he could not breathe.