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

It is amazing how much more creative and imaginative I feel now that my anxiety is under control and I'm being intentional about sabbath.  I've shared before here that I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  When I'm under lots of stress, say closing a church...

This fall we started with a bang.  We augmented our normal schedule with two book groups, youth group, worship, and an additional service project.  We were once again experimenting, throwing things on the wall and seeing what stuck.  It often takes lots...

Today is one of those days where I've been working since I got up early this morning, but I have accomplished very little work.  Today has been about showing up.  Today has been about listening. It all started yesterday evening.  A phone call with...

It seems like just when we have it figured out here at SFC things change and we have to adapt. I believe this is one of the great lessons of new church starts, being able to adapt and move as the spirit calls.  We are able to be responsive to the lives of our...

Last year we were deeply saddened and greatly angered by the shootings at Mother Bethel AME in Charleston.  In our despair we felt called to do something as a faith community and so we started by reading the life changing book Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and...

One of the big issues in new start work is money.  Not only is it the issue of how much it costs to start something from nothing, but then comes the question of sustainable funding.  How long should a grant run? And what should be paid for in a new church...

Here at Sellwood Faith Community we love the Oregon Food Bank.  We've spent many Saturdays putting frozen food in to 2 pound bags for distribution at sites across the state.  Kids 6 and up can come work at the food bank and it's been lovely to have a wide...

Last week saw the return of the staff meeting!  Jeff and I sat down and spent about 4 hours planning and working on the coming year at SFC. One of the new things we'll be doing is an emergent worship experience on Wednesday nights once a month.  We both have...

As the summer begins to wind down I'm working on creating practices for continued self-care.  When we were training to be new start pastors we heard over and over again about the need for balance and healthy practices.  It's easy to let the work overwhelm...

This week the child and I are on the road for camping with friends from Montana, splashing in the waterpark with friends from Idaho, and a catch up with friends from Arizona. Luckily all this will take place in Idaho! On Sunday I will be dropping the child off at...