Opportunity for Renewal

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Written by Jeanne Randall-Bodman

Published: 02 June 2021

Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
- Isaiah 43:19 -

On July 4 we will gather for in-person worship at 4790 Logus Road!

Weather and updated CDC recommendations will determine whether we worship under the trees or in our sanctuary, but all those who are able will be invited to meet in person.  Masks will be required so that we can welcome everyone of every age!   For those who are not able to get to the building, or who are not ready to be among so many people, worship services and meetings will also be available on zoom.    

Thinking about and planning for a return to our building brings me so much joy – seeing the people who have been just a face on a screen in person!  Seeing people who have not been able to participate online!  New friends who have only ever joined us online welcomed in person! The energy of the gathered community renewing and sustaining us.

And, thinking about and planning for a return to our building raises questions:  Who will we be after so many months of digital life?  Will we be able to sing together?  Will “hybrid” worship – some of us in person and some of us online -- feel zesty and lifegiving as we hope or leave us feeling too remote from each other?  We know we cannot replace our beloved friend and acolyte Christopher Martin, who died of COVID, so how will we honor his lasting place in our hearts and who will follow him as acolyte for the future? 

And then there is the elephant in the room.  According to the most recent Gallup poll:

Americans' membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup's eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue, or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.

Having experienced church as a place of acceptance and love, how shall we serve a world skeptical of organized religion?  Having heard the gospel, how shall we continue to bring more joy and justice into the world?  Having found a community that nurtures our spirits, how shall we invite others to participate in the life we find so enriching and good?

We can let all these questions and unknowns daunt us…Or we can see this moment as a great opportunity for renewal, believing with our forebear John Robinson that there is yet more light to break forth!

One thing I know for sure: together is a very good place to be, and we do not move into the unknown future alone.  The same Spirit that drew us together goes with us.

Photo by Sofia Ornelas on Unsplash

Meet the Green Team: Mary Crocker

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Written by Macy Guppy, Communications and Outreach Team

Published: 24 May 2021

From the KMUCC Green Team Organizer, Mary Crocker, in her own words:

Being a member of the Kairos-Milwaukie green team has been a gift to me. We learn from each other, co-conspire to take on meaningful projects and just have fun. Anyone is welcome to join our Green Team. Our overall mission is simply to explore ideas and ways to protect our amazing and life-giving earth.

I believe the love of our natural world is embedded in our DNA and enhanced in the opportunities we have to witness and explore nature. I spent most of my early years roaming in the hills above my home in Pendleton, unblocking creeks, running in the fields and stepping over rattlesnakes. During this pandemic, I look for hills to climb every day to marvel at what I witness and to refresh my soul.

Both of my children share my passion for nature. When the Green Team received a grant for a church pollinator garden, my son, Rian, was instrumental in designing and planting the two native gardens. He is a gifted native landscaper and is currently the groundskeeper for the Gladstone School District. Brenna buys huge bags of critter mix and has turned our plant-filled yard into a wildlife refuge. We actually had three skunks and three raccoons in our backyard at the same time this summer.

During these tumultuous days, remember to take the time to breathe in nature and marvel at the beauty and bounty of early fall.

A Green Team tip:

Local libraries have this wonderful collection called “The Library of Things.” Instead of buying and having items shipped, there are dozens of things to check out such as food dehydrators, tools and puzzles. Give it a try.

Virtual Vespers

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Written by KMUCC

Published: 30 April 2021

8:30 pm every Wednesday. Live on Zoom.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87119157985?pwd=NVN6V1psNHlySFA4LzlDUVBza0NPQT09 

Meeting ID: 871 1915 7985
Passcode: 949587

You can also join us by phone:

253 215 8782 US
301 715 8592 US

KMUCC Virtual Happy Hour

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Written by KMUCC

Published: 25 May 2020

Conversation and Connection on ZOOM

Every Thursday evening at 5:00 pm

ZOOM Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84962500049?pwd=QlZ0UzZEbWtCY1lQMWJXRW5zZno0Zz09 

Meeting ID: 849 6250 0049
Passcode: 435810

You can also join us by phone:
(253) 215-8782 USA or (301) 715-8592 USA

Theology On Tap Virtual Gatherings

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Written by KMUCC

Published: 15 March 2020

Theology On Tap gatherings via ZOOM Meeting

7:00 pm on the 3rd Tuesday each month

Pour your favorite beverage and join us for conversation. This isn't a closed group or an event you need to have been to before.  If you like to talk with your church friends about life, the universe, and everything, come on in!

ZOOM Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86121354549?pwd=eThVUE1wZEVaVWZzM2VVcENHVGZqQT09

ZOOM Meeting ID: 861 2135 4549
Passcode: 596986

You can also join us by phone: (253) 215 8782 USA or (301) 715 8592 US

No matter who ...

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Written by KMUCC

Published: 24 November 2017

No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here!

If you know that God's love embraces all persons equally, no matter their gender, race, or sexual identity...

If you understand that faith is a matter of mind as well as heart, and that taking the Bible seriously means it cannot always be taken literally...

If, for you, diversity, tolerance, and inclusion are strengths to be taught...

If you believe that Christ calls us to be nothing less than global citizens, that the social expression of love is justice and that spiritual concerns are inseparable from a commitment to the natural world...

If you have wished for a more open and embracing community of faith to nurture your spirit and raise your children, and haven't yet found a place of belonging...

... then please know that Kairos-Milwaukie United Church of Christ is the place for you. 

Kairos-Milwaukie UCC seeks to create a community where participants can experience intellectual and spiritual excitement; a spirit of openness and acceptance, as well as love and laughter. We are a community where evangelism is in partnership with social justice; where personal spiritual growth and concern for the poor and disenfranchised go hand in hand; where nurture and action are two sides of the same coin; where love for tradition and a sense of urgency about the future are integrally linked. We are a community of faithful people who have known the joy of having been loved, accepted and affirmed by God. We are a community that celebrates our diversity as a way to understand and respond to the inclusiveness of God's love and the wideness of God's mercy.