We are honoring our graduates and the scholarship recipients from the Vancouver Methodist Foundation.

My friend's son is graduating from high school today! Which is sort of hard to believe because I am pretty sure he is in 4th grade.  She claims that her daughter is a freshman in high school, but I still think of her as the little girl who would play fairies in the school garden during our summer PTA meetings. When my daughter went to middle school I did not interact with my friend’s children, while I still saw her regularly, so to some extent in my mind they are frozen in time, back to those days when all the children were playing as the moms worked together for our community.

She’s talked about them and I have followed along with the twists and turns of an adolescent young man trying to figure out where to go to school, but when I think of him I still picture that 9 year old with curly brown hair who wore shorts everyday, no matter the forecast.

Time is a funny thing, how children grow and elders age. How the days pass and then suddenly little people are adults and those vital leaders we treasure are beset with health problems, so it becomes our turn to take on the work and leadership.

I am so looking forward to this coming Sunday because it allows us to bear witness to the passage of time, to celebrate the leadership and wisdom of those who were part of our church for decades, to celebrate our young people who are graduating, and for us all to step up in caring for one another in community.

Bishop Jack Tuell was part of the church I served in Des Moines, Wa.  He was the presider during the communion that solidified my call. He was someone I adored and who’s wisdom still sticks with me today.  Jack was the pastor at our church when the foundation began in the late 1960’s. He along, with others, saw a need in the world and wanted to respond, so together they created a way to give scholarships to students in need. Throughout the years the Vancouver Methodist Foundation has given over $4 million in scholarships.  That is amazing.  So many lives have been touched and changed because of the faithful leadership of so many.

This Sunday will be a sacred time of honoring what was, what is, and what is to come. I hope you can join us.

Blessings,

Pastor Eilidh

PS and yes that is MY high school graduation photo with my amazing grandparents.

 Contact Anita Jinks to sign up!

Three information meetings on the campaign will occur this Summer in the Conrad Room in June and the Sanctuary in July. We encourage you to come to one or all three of these meetings to learn more about The Allegro! Campaign and its components.
Each session features a different focus:

THE PROJECT

with The Allegro! Campaign Committee. Thursday, June 11, 6:30 pm
Review strategic insights on elements of the campaign and proposed designs.

THE ORGAN

with Director of Music & Organist Martin Ellis & Chris Nordwall, Rose City Organ Builders
Thursday, June 25, 6:30 om
A behind-the-scenes tour of the instrument and how it will evolve.

THE DESIGN

with Access Architecture and Brendan Sanchez, Principal. Thursday, July 16, 6:30 pm
Impressions from the chief architect behind the design of the Chancel and construction process.

Using the book Taste and See, Discovering God Among Butchers, Bakers, and Fresh Food Makers, by Margaret Feinberg, we will explore scripture from manna in the wilderness to the very bread of life – Jesus.

We will gather via Zoom on Thursday evenings, 6:30-8 p.m. beginning June 11.  Each of the six lessons is a stand-alone session.

Join the team on Third Thursdays this summer from 9am-noon to sort through historical items, goodwill treasurers and more.

Celebrate the end of summer with a time of fun, fellowship, faith development, and free time!