Staying Connected
July 24, 2025
This Sunday
My Story by Elizabeth Brown
Scripture: Luke 11:1-13 (First Nations Version)
[Creator Sets Free (aka Jesus) said,]
“So, keep dancing your prayers, and the way will open before you. Search for the ancient pathways, and you will find them. Keep sending up your prayers, and they will be heard. Answers will come to the ones who ask, good things will be found by the ones who search for them, and the way will open before the ones who keep dancing their prayers.
--Luke 11:9-10
Opportunities this Week:
Sun, 10:30 am: Worship
In the sanctuary and on Zoom
Tue, 1:00 pm: Talk 'n' Thought
In the Fireside Room
Subscribe to receive a daily prayer for anti-racism by email:
umcdiscipleship.org/articles/praying-for-change-daily-prayers-for-anti-racism
It's a SURPRISE Party!
Tim Overton-Harris, Vermont Hills longest-serving pastor, recently retired. Tim was our pastor from 2004 to 2017 and has since held positions in the Columbia District and OR-ID Conference, so he did not have a congregation to celebrate his retirement. He will be here on Sunday, August 3, to fill in for Pastor Anna, who will be at Camp Magruder. We're going to take that opportunity to SURPRISE Tim with a retirement party and a potluck lunch following the service. Bring a favorite potluck dish, along with stories, pictures, and cards to celebrate Tim’s retirement. His family and friends have been invited to join the fun as we roast and toast Tim. If you are unable to attend, you may send a congratulatory email or note to the church office. Come at 9:30 am that day to help set up.
Travelers Meeting
You are invited to a VHUMC Travelers meeting on Sunday, August 17th at 2:00 pm in the Fireside Room. We have information for two tours:
Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia departing September 21, 2025. We have 14 travelers and room for 2 more!
Nordic Coastal Voyage: Norway, Finland & the Arctic Circle departing May 28, 2026. We have 10 registered travelers and more. Currently the whole tour is about half full.
All are welcome! There will be information for those already registered to travel, those who are thinking of traveling, or just curious about our travels. We are here to answer your questions.
Speak with Grace
You are invited to a free Zoom workshop sponsored by the Board of Lay Ministry, “Speak with Grace,” on Tuesday, August 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The facilitators from Genesis Christian Mediation (GCM) will guide us to:
Deepen our understanding of the Biblical Model of Listening
Discover “The Ideal Conversation Pathway”
Discuss real-world examples of difficult conversations in interactive breakout groups
Practice how to “speak with grace” across our differences
Resources and practical tools will be available as well. Click here to register for the “Speak with Grace” Zoom workshop. Registration closes July 31. See this flyer for more info
Fireside Friends
Take-home kits for a new quilt are available for anyone who likes hand sewing. All fabric and instructions are included. Email the church office for more info.
Hayhurst Watering
We have been invited to help again this year with the summer watering at Hayhurst Elementary's Unity Garden. It takes about 20 minutes and you can water at your convenience, early morning or evening suggested. More information is available on the sign up sheet at https://signup.com/go/voyXRmx
Night Strike on August 21
Night Strike is a humanitarian outreach program centered around community, connection, and kindness. They organize a volunteering event every Thursday under the Burnside bridge to serve houseless people. Serving is easy! They provide training and all the support you need to serve, and there are a variety of ways to contribute: from distributing items like food, blankets, and clothing to simply welcoming our guests and having a conversation with them. Registration has begun for our usual 3rd Thursday volunteer opportunity on August 21 (VHUMC form for providing or requesting a ride in August: https://forms.gle/nijWs8ibWRuM3hPF9)
Easy Giving
Donate online
Fred Meyer Rewards program, code SY323
CarEasy.org to give 70% of vehicle sale to VHUMC
Contact the church office with any questions.
Calendars
Already receiving 2026 calendars that you won't use? You can leave them on the Welcome table and Donna will make sure they get to Neighborhood House for those who need them.
Talk N Thought
The ‘dynamite’ ladies of TnT meet every Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, in the Fireside Room to read and discuss together. Contact Linda Miller at raylindamiller@comcast.net for more info.
Prayer Chain
Email your prayer requests to PrayerVHUMC@gmail.com. If you do not have access to email, you may call Linda Miller at 503.699.8628. The ‘Prayers of the People’ is crafted weekly from this information; please indicate if your prayer is private.
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