A creative collaboration between Trinity United Methodist Church and Sellwood Faith Community

One of my key strategies as a church planter is to show up.  And time and time again this strategy has yielded holy and profound opportunities beyond my expectations. This week's example begins with a rallying cry from our area supervising pastor, District...

I am sitting in my darkened office with a dusting of ashes on my forehead.  My eyes are red from crying as I read of the 17 families who's loved one did not come home from school today.  Mr. Hixon.  Meadow Pollack. Joaquin Oliver. Coach Fies. Missing or rumored to be...

Recently I was walking across the college campus that is down the block from Trinity United Methodist Church's building.  It had been day full of meetings and rushing around trying to get everything done, so as I walked I tried to be really present in the moment, a...

This past Tuesday instead of watching the hoopla and spin of the political drama unfolding in the US, a small group of us gathered for worship, silence, and prayer.  We remembered our baptism, prayed over the water, lit candles, and claimed our allegiance to the God...

A dear friend recently invited me to a holiday party, so I of course showed up in my best, most ridiculous, blue, sparkly platform heels.  My shoes were a big hit and  my friend delighted in telling his other guests that I am a pastor.  And because I was at this party...

My husband Jeff is an ordained Deacon.  In the United Methodist Church Deacons are specialized ministers.  When they are ordained they are sent out to a ministry of word, service, compassion, & justice.  For Jeff this is lived out as he shares the word through...

For the first time in a long time I took a week off from this blog.  I've been writing every week for almost 5 years, scheduling posts for vacations and inviting guest writers in at times.  This month however I knew I needed to simply let go for a bit.  I was off for...

I have ridden that train.  I have driven on that interstate.  As I looked at the photos of twisted train cars and crushed vehicles I wondered about the nice guy who was working the snack counter on our last train journey and the funny lady who checked our tickets.  I...

As we train ourselves in this season of Advent to see Christ in our midst through the gift of joy, one of our members came to dinner with an idea.  She knows she is being called to start a sort term small group.  So she asked what we thought about her hosting Sunday...

Last week I was touring at the art museum. I like to get there early to walk the floors to just make sure all my art is in the right places.  The curators like to move things around and add new amazing art. It's nice to be able to point out cool things along the way...