Category: News
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August 2020, A Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: My mind woke up running song lyrics this morning. This is not unusual. Friends and family can attest that they can tell what kind of mood I’m in by what song I am humming. The Beach Boys is my go-to when I am anticipating a fun day (“Wipeout!”). Mike looks forward to hearing me…
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July 2020, Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: For the last three months, most of us (perhaps all of us) have been operating out of Emergency Mode. We have made decisions on a moment to moment, day by day basis, as we have attempted to figure out the best path amidst the chaos that living with a pandemic has created. And, really,…
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Notes From the Preacher Woman, June 2020
Beloved: Remember that Vacation Bible School song, “I am the Church?” I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together. All who follow Jesus,, all around the world, Yes! We’re the church together. The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting…
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December 2019, Note From the Preacher Woman
Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus! Happy birthday, Baby Jesus. Even when your birthday’s through. All year long we remember, Each precious gift we get from you. –Clark & Jan Gassman Baby Jesus has a grubby face. I supposed I should have expected it. I did manage to get the crayon off his head, but even with…
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9/24/19, Weekly Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: This week, I am helping lead a retreat at Suttle Lake. There are three of us leading. The other two leaders, Kate and Michael, have been leading this retreat for over thirty years. Last year, they decided it might be time to invite someone new into the mix, so they asked our camp director,…
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9/20/19: Weekly Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: There is nothing quite like having long conversations with someone from Deer Ridge to challenge all my judgments and assumptions. It has been almost two years since I began working in the education department at the prison up the hill. With a simple change of clothes, some of the men there would never be…
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9/12/19, Weekly Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: My grandfather had a special mason jar filled he kept in the fridge. When he would come in from the fields after changing pipe or hauling hay, he would stand there right in front of the door and finish it off in one long satisfying go. Every summer, my family spent a week or…
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9/6/19, Weekly Note From The Preacher Woman
Beloved: One day I was walking home for lunch when I noticed a woman and a young girl walking on the sidewalk opposite me. The adult monologue sounded familiar: “Come on! Hurry up!” I smiled: the way of a harried mom and her child—or at least it seems that way to me. We are in…
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Weekly Note From the Preacher Woman, 6/13/19
Beloved: I am writing this week from Eugene, where I am attending the Oregon-Idaho annual conference. Methodists have held annual conferences since the time of the Wesley brothers. In our tradition, ordained elders and deacons hold their membership, not in a local congregation, but in a conference. For many clergy, these yearly meetings become something…
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4/10/19, Weekly Note From the Preacher Woman
Beloved: I was a pastor’s wife for many years. Back then, there were certain expectations for pastor’s wives. Number one: you always stood by your man after church. Number two: you taught Sunday School. Number three: you sang in the choir, or, even better, played the piano and directed the choir. Number four: entertained people…
Madras United Methodist Chrch 