Staying Connected
October 30, 2025
This Sunday with Pastor Anna
Title: God on Trial
Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 (Common English Bible)
There is still a vision for the appointed time;
it testifies to the end;
it does not deceive.
If it delays, wait for it;
for it is surely coming; it will not be late.
--Habakkuk 2:3
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
Wed, 6:30 pm: ImBible Study
In the Fireside Room and on Zoom
Subscribe to receive a daily prayer for anti-racism by email:
umcdiscipleship.org/articles/praying-for-change-daily-prayers-for-anti-racism
All Church Work Party
Join us this Saturday, 10:00 to noon, in prepping our campus for visitors. One task on the agenda is picking up walnuts, to prevent injury to humans and llamas during our bazaar this month! Bring your gloves, yard waste bins, and your enthusiasm for Vermont Hills!
Fall Back!
Remember that hour of sleep you lost in March? You get it back this Sunday! Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night as Daylight Saving Time ends. And enjoy that extra shuteye.
Interfaith Prayer Vigil
In these uncertain times—marked by fear and grief—we are reminded of the deep need to come together, to sit beside one another, and to hold space for both our pain and our hope. Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) invites you to an Interfaith Prayer Vigil — a time to lament, reflect, and seek collective liberation together. Tuesday, November 4th, 6:30 pm, Saint Anthony Catholic Church, 9905 SW McKenzie St, Tigard, OR 97223. Please take a moment to fill out the registration form at https://forms.gle/K8ZsJN1gFKcKZPk57 by tomorrow night.
Concert
Sunia Won-Gibbs will present an evening of song and more on Saturday, Nov 8. Sunia brings the invisible to light through faith, arts, and justice as an impactful creator and organizer. With degrees in music, theology, and sociology, she has over 25 years of experience in church and non-profit organizations. She will entertain and encourage us.
Staff Appreciation Gift
Vermont Hills UMC is fortunate to have an outstanding staff! In November, SPR will collect contributions for Staff Appreciation. Bonuses for recognition of work well done are not included in the budget. To give a gift appreciation, whether by check or our online website, use “Staff Christmas Gift.” Monies will be divided proportionately and distributed on Sunday, Nov 30.
Volunteers Needed
Eight years ago VHUMC stated that our vision was to be more than just another church - to be a spiritual oasis, a safe place to ask difficult
questions about life and faith. Fulfilling this vision takes people willing to offer their time to serve the needs of the organization. We are looking for volunteers to serve on Finance, Staff Parish Relations, Trustees, and Community Connexions teams.
Requirements for the Finance team are:
A basic ability to reconcile a checkbook
A willingness to spend 1-2 hours, for three or four meetings a year, to participate in:
reviewing the status of church income and expenses
preparing a budget for the next year
planning communication of financial information with the congregation
If you can spare a few hours a year to help support our spiritual oasis please contact John Espy or the office.
Webinar
UMC Church and Society is offering a two-part webinar series to learn about the Sand Creek Massacre, the importance of truthful history telling, and to explore what it means to speak truth to power. Tuesday & Thursday, Nov 18 & 20, 2:00-3:15 pm. Learn more and register using this link: https://www.umcjustice.org/latest/announcing-2025-fall-webinar-series-the-sand-creek-massacre-remembered-truth-telling-as-a-path-to-healing-7799
Urgent Request from the Oregon Food Bank
The USDA announced it will not use its contingency funds set aside for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to maintain SNAP past October 31. Congress provided roughly $5 billion in contingency funds for SNAP, specifically for situations like this government shutdown. By choosing not to use these funds, our federal government is choosing hunger. This decision will leave over 750,000 Oregonians without vital food assistance. Families already stretching every dollar may run out of food before their next paycheck. Older adults and people with disabilities could face impossible choices between groceries, rent and medicine. Urge our federal leaders to fund SNAP by clicking on this link
Vermont Hills Travelers
The Travelers presented a check to Pastor Anna on behalf of the church, on Sunday, Oct 19, in the amount on $7901.40. This is a premium for the recently completed Crossroads of the Adriatic tour, where the Travelers learned how people lived through conflict and war, discovering resilience and renewal. Additionally, they got to see wonderful sights, eat delicious food, and enjoy traveling together.
They are excited that Janet & Mark Z are the new coordinators for the Vermont Hills Travelers! (Linda & Ray will still participate!)
Vermont Hills Travelers journey to remarkable places as a fundraiser for the church. Watch for more information. There will be a meeting to view pictures of the last trip and to look ahead at the next destinations. Come and discover the benefits of travel with a fun group of church friends!
Crafted in the Hills Holiday Bazaar
Our second annual holiday bazaar is on Saturday, Nov 22, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. It's a great opportunity to jumpstart your holiday gift shopping, pet a llama, or enjoy homebaked goods. Mark your calendar and invite your friends! If you know any vendors that might want to participate, pass long this link, vermonthillsumc.org/vendors, or send their contact info to Elizabeth Brown.
Charge Conference
Our annual Charge Conference, where we review 2025, and plan for 2026, will be on Wednesday, Nov 12, at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. All are invited to attend.
TnT New Book
Our book group, Talk 'n' Thought, will soon finish On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder. Their next book was on The New York Times best sellers list, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. They meet from 1:00 - 3:00 pm every Tuesday in the Fireside room to read and discuss. This is a perfect time to join or reengage. Contact Linda M for more information.
Night Strike
It's now time to sign up for November 20, our usual third Thursday outing with City Team. Night Strike is a ministry to the houseless, under the Burnside Bridge. You can register at https://cityteam.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/nightstrike. And don’t forget to complete the VHUMC form for providing or requesting a ride, at https://forms.gle/4vfSbXaGmiL8H2qh7
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
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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