Keep us from just singing

During the two days before Christmas, five families came in to receive emergency food boxes from the Community Table Food Pantry in Cornelius.  As I prepared my home for the arrival of out-of-town family, I found my heart heavy as I visited with the kind folks I met and considered what the coming days would be like for them and for others with little or no food in their homes.  I asked one woman whether her family planned to do anything special for Christmas and she responded that she would like to, "but with no work and no money, what can we do?"  This family needed food, but they also needed community, advocates, and companions on the journey.  They needed to know that God loves them.  And the church needs this family, because this family is a part of the human family, the one that is not defined by blood or borders. 

This yearly celebration of Jesus' rebirth into the world and into our lives reminds us that God is always, constantly showing up in new ways.  In humble, unexpected ways.  In counter-cultural, upside-down ways.  God is showing up in this hungry family and God also could be showing up and giving love to those who need it... through me--as improbable as that seems.  I read an article today by Shane Claiborne where he reminds us that, in the Old Testament story, God communicated to Balaam through his donkey: "Some say God spoke to Balaam through his ass and has been speaking through asses ever since." (read the excellent article here).  This makes me laugh, but is a serious reminder to me to get out there, to walk with people, to share this good news to those who need to hear it, even as I doubt my ability to have any impact.  There is still hope for me and, thankfully, God's love and grace are not limited by my human limitations! 

At Cornelius UMC, church members have committed to feeding those in the community who are hungry, and as they have given of themselves sacrificially and have walked alongside community members to do this work, small signs of transformation have emerged.  Many who came looking for assistance are now offering their gifts and time to others.  Just in December, 84 families have received emergency food boxes and 40 received special Christmas food bags.  Since the pantry opened in February, nearly 3,000 people have received food!  For the level of commitment on the part of the congregation and of community volunteers that this has required (or perhaps inspired), I am grateful and hopeful.  Thank you, God, for giving us the vision to begin this project and a spirit of love and compassion to keep it going!

With the arrival of those five families seeking food just before Christmas, I experienced a heaviness of heart.  But I also experienced a hope-filled nudge to go beyond food, to listen for how God is calling me to be present in people's lives, maybe even to be the place that God is showing up in a new way for them.

When we tire, or when the task seems too large, there is a temptation to hunker down, to stick to the comfortable, but we must continue to ask God to turn our eyes outward and to get our feet moving.  I am reminded of the song God of Justice by Tim Hughes, which leads us in asking God to "keep us from just singing."  Going to church is only one of many first steps toward being the church.  As I listen to this song right now and consider the opportunities for transformative service and relationships that lie ahead in this new year, I ask God to keep us from just singing, to move us into action.

Listen to the song here.  Here are some of the words:

Jesus, you have called us
Freely we've received now freely we will give
We must go
Live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward, keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

Fill us up and send us out...

Blessings to you as we enter this new year that is full of new possibilities!
Mira

Bilingual Nutrition and Cooking Class

In collaboration with the OSU Extension Service, the Cornelius United Methodist Church hosted a 5-week class in nutrition and cooking that was in both English and Spanish.  

We began each class with a language activity, then instructor Matilde Rodriguez led us in an hour of conversation around nutrition.  In one class, as part of our discussion of the importance of fiber, we were given several food items and had to work with a team to place them in order from least fiber to most fiber.  Here are Nohemi and Eric, trying to put their foods in order:

For the second half of each class, we broke into groups and worked on two recipes.  Here is our instructor, Matilde, demonstrating the preparation of a healthy fish recipe. 

During our last class, participants put together master mixes for everyone to take home and use for the baking recipes we received. 

The Ensalada Vaquera (Cowboy Salad) in process--mmm.

Popeye smoothies.  Eat your spinach!

 

With around 12 participants at each class and a good mix of primary English speakers and primary Spanish speakers, the program was a success!  In addition to establishing new friendships and learning some new vocabulary, people were naturally invited to stay connected.  After learning about the the Community Table Food Pantry, three people with no previous connection to the church volunteered at the pantry the week following the end of the class!  It was wonderful to have them!

We will likely hold a similar class again in the spring!

Fall/Winter News

Hello!

A hearty thank you to all those who support Western Washington County Hispanic/Latino Ministries through participation, prayer and gifts! It has been full and fulfilling fall and I find myself overflowing with gratitude for the opportunity to serve and be in relationship with so many good folks in the communities and churches of Western Washington County. And as we walk together through this season of Advent, I am reminded that we are in the in-between, in an already and not yet place. Jesus is with us, yet we squint in the darkness, waiting for his light to break through. We have been made whole, yet we are often all too aware of the cracks that keep us from living out that wholeness. God has broken down the the categories that divide us and has made us one, but we must work each day to be a church that truly embraces all. Let us walk this path together, welcoming the uncertainty, lingering in the in-between as we continue this work we have been given and keep watch for the new ways that God is showing up. 

Please return often to see updates and stories of transformation!  And contact me if you would like more information about any programs below or if you have an event or story that you'd like to share here!

Peace to you,
Mira Conklin
Hispanic/Latino Ministry Developer


Join me in celebrating these recent events and programs:

Community Table Food Pantry.   The Cornelius pantry, open since March of this year, serves around 50 families each month, and provided food for 68 families in November!  In addition to basic boxes, 40 families also received Thanksgiving food in a reusable cloth bag and 40 families signed up to receive an additional bag of Christmas food in December.  This fall, Community Table provided a significant portion of the healthy snacks served three days a week to the children of  PODER, the OCDC family literacy that shares space with CUMC.  Many new volunteers have joined us and some have recently begun to teach crafts to guests, starting with jewelry-making in November. 

Community Table and Garden Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  On Saturday, December 5th, pantry and garden volunteers and their families gathered for a festive homemade enchilada dinner at Cornelius United Methodist Church.  The 45 people present heard inspiring words from Western District Hunger Ministry Coordinators Gerry and Dotty Edy and volunteers were presented a small, framed certificate.  One volunteer, Carlos Ortega, was randomly chosen to receive a $50 Honeybaked Ham, which the pantry had received from the Oregon Food Bank.  In addition to the volunteers recognized that evening, special thanks go to the Forest Grove youth group, who came earlier that day for their second work day at the pantry and helped set up for the dinner.

Conference Hunger Grant.  The Community Table Food Pantry and CUMC received a grant for $3000 from the Bishop's Initiative to End Hunger Task Force to expand hunger-related ministries.  Very exciting! New programs include a bilingual nutrition and cooking class that will conclude next week, a bilingual musical theater class that will begin January 11th, and a laptop and language software for church and community members to improve English and Spanish skills (please read below for more about these programs).  Gerry and Dotty Edy, Western District Hunger Coordinators, presented the check to Community Table coordinator Joanne Dempsey on a celebratory Sunday this fall.

Western District Church Extension Society Grant:  A tremendous thank-you goes to the Western District CES for the generous grant given over three years to support the development of new and expanding Hispanic Ministries in Western Washington County.  It was a gift to be able to share ministry stories at the WDCES Annual Meeting in Cornelius this fall. 

Cooking and Nutrition Class.  Cornelius UMC has partnered with the OSU Extension Service Nutrition Education Program to provide a fun, interactive nutrition and cooking class in English and Spanish.  Matilde Rodriguez is teaching the lively, 5-week course, which has had around 12 students, some primary Spanish-speaker and some primary English-speakers, each week.  Topics include: nutrients the body needs, being a smart shopper, and the importance of fruits and vegetables.  Some of the recipes we've prepared are carrot muffins, cowboy salad, and baked fish topped with veggie sauce.  Food vocab, practice conversations, and interactive language games have invited participants to get to know one another and practice their language skills!  Find healthy recipes in English and Spanish here. 

English as a Second Language.  Hillsboro UMC's ESL program had a successful fall '09 term!  With 64 students and lots of faithful volunteers, the church fellowship hall (and now other rooms as well!) were full of life every Wednesday and Thursday evening!  The term closed with a celebration and recognition of students with great attendance and plans are in the works for Winter Term 2010!  If you're interested in volunteering or know someone who would like to participate, contact Mary Foote at mmfoote(at)verizon(dot)net.  Registration is January 6th and 7th from 6:30-8:00 p.m., with volunteer orientation the next following and classes beginning that next Wednesday.

Spanish Bible Study:  ESL students were invited to participate in a Spanish Bible Study on Saturday evenings at Hillsboro UMC.  Several demonstrated interest and one man came regularly to pray, read, and discuss stories using the see/judge/act methodology.

Coming Up:

Bilingual Musical Theater Class:  Cyndi Turtledove, the Artistic Director at LESTA (Learning English/Spanish Through the Arts), will lead this family class with a nutrition theme beginning Monday, January 11th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cornelius UMC.  Adults, youth and children age 6 and up are welcome to take part in this fun, interactive class in which participants learn and improve language skills as they play theater games, do crafts, sing and prepare for a nutrition-themed play, in March that will be open to the community.  All levels of English and Spanish are welcome!  Please consider joining us for this 8-week class!

Immigration Workshops:  In November, along with Ron and Cathy Whitlatch, Mira attended a National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry Module 3 Training around immigration advocacy in Phoenix, AZ.  Mira, Cathy and Ron are working together to organize trainings in different parts of the conference during the early part of 2010.  Plans are underway for a Spanish-language training in immigration advocacy in Western Washington County on Saturday, February 13th.

Resources:

Immigration Resources on Conference Website:  Please see the Hispanic/Latino Ministry page on the Oregon-Idaho Conference website, umoi.net, for a recently added list of immigration resources.

Bienvenidos!

This is a space dedicated to sharing about Hispanic/Latino Ministry events in Western Washington County, part of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church, and offering stories of transformation. I hope you will be inspired to look around in your own community to see where God is at work among your Hispanic and Latino sisters and brothers!