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Dear Friends,
As we begin this new year together, I wanted to bring people up-to-date on where we are with the MISSION 2050 building repairs and improvements. As of today we have completed the following projects:
* The heating system with new boilers and new controls is up and running – sometimes! As with any system where we are putting something new into an existing structure, there have been problems. Some of the new pumps and thermostats have malfunctioned and are being replaced. Even the new computer that runs the whole system failed and was replaced! And there is still a glitch in the system somewhere! Technicians continue to try to work out the problems in the new system and we believe that they will be resolved. We apologize for those times when you have been too hot or too cold. We are trying to be patient!
* There are new double-pane windows throughout the building. These windows combined with the use of natural gas for heating have dramatically reduced our heating costs. This is great news!
* There are new doors in both the north and south lobbies. One set of doors in the north lobby automatically opens for easy accessibility. There are also new doors leading from the fellowship hall into the sanctuary courtyard.
* The photovoltaic solar electricity generating system complete with covered parking area is finished and producing electricity.
* A new accessible bathroom in the south lobby. This restroom is available for anyone to use. It has a locking door for your personal privacy.
* Asbestos in mechanical rooms has been encapsulated for our protection.
Looking ahead to 2011 we will be insulating and re-roofing the sanctuary and adding insulating glazing to the onyx windows in the sanctuary. And the stained glass windows in the back of the sanctuary and the chapel will be re-installed following their completed repair.
Thank you to one and all for your continuing support of these necessary improvements to our church facility. Thank you for your understanding when something isn’t working just right. Thank you for dodging construction vehicles in the parking lot. This has been an amazing project for our congregation and we are progressing in the right direction.
Finally, when you see Lee Sutton, say thank you to him. He continues to be the one person from our congregation who is working tirelessly to insure that the heat is on! Debbie
Starting with the Symposium on January 9th, a diverse group of Muslim people from our community will be our guests every Sunday of the month. We ask that every single person in our congregation prayerfully consider making a commitment to be present. This is important! Let’s fill the room and show the neighbors in our sister faith that we care and we stand with them!
January 9 Symposium: “Islam 101”
Guest: Imam Khalid Alfallatah of the Eugene Mosque
January 16: “The Importance of “Qur’an”
Guests: Ibrahim Hamide of Cafe Soriah, Rick Colby, University of Oregon
Concerts At First
Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Introduction to the King of Instruments
Brought to us by members of the Eugene Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. A fun introduction to the organ for all ages!
Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Musica Maestrale
Bryce Peltier, recorder & sackbut
Hideki Yamaya, lute
Joanna Blendulf, cello
Aaron Cain, baritone
Julia Brown, harpsichord & organ
Coming January 9th!!!!!
Experiencing the Heart of Christianity
12 Sessions-Sundays 3:00 to 5:00 PM
By Marcus Borg and Tim Scorer
Facilitated by John and Debbie Pitney
This is a 12 session series based on Marcus Borg’s book, “The Heart of Christianity”. It is a group experience where we can dig deeper and discover more together than we can alone.
Many of us were raised in an “early” Christianity grounded in a set of beliefs, a literal approach to the Bible and a call to personal morality. This tradition gets most attention in public discourse, making it hard for many of us to claim our faith. There is another way. It is an “emerging” Christianity grounded in our response to God in the present, an approach to the Bible which is beyond literal and a call to be transformed and bring God’s kingdom of justice and compassion to reality.
Whether or not you have already read the book, if you want to engage with others to discover this emerging faith and what it calls us to in this time, this course is for you. Contact the office to sign up.
Sunday, January 9th, is time to recycle block styrofoam and plastic that can’t be put at the curbside. NO meat trays please. We are unable to take soft foam. Only the CLEAN hard block type.
Attention Riparian Redeemers!!
We’re meeting with the students from the Wesley Center for a big work party in our adopted wetland site in the Bertelson Nature Preserve. We need a lot of planters as we’ll be putting native plants back in to the landscape! Save the date: Saturday, January 15th, 10:00 to noon. More details to follow. Contact Patty Hine with your questions, 541-343-5091.
Happier, Healthier Couples
“The Vows We Take, The Vows We Make”
Saturday, January 22, 2011 from 9 am to 3 pm
We look forward to lots of interaction and conversation in our couples and lots of reflection time with all of us together. We will definitely spend some time on vows, promises and covenants we make when we start out in a relationship and how those can be re-written, re-promised and re-negotiated in response to what is happening in our relationships now. Spend a little time looking for the vows you made at your wedding or in the beginning of your time together, bring them with you.
If you have not yet signed up for this event, please contact the church office at 541-345-8764.
THANK YOU
I want to thank you for your support for the F.I.S.H. program and its mission to help with the needs of our community. It is very much appreciated. Floyd Carpenter
On behalf of those we serve, we would like to thank you and the caring congregation of First United Methodist Church for the generous donation of 284 pounds of food. We depend on your support and partnership in our mission to eliminate hunger in our community. Your support allows us to collect and distribute 7 million pounds of food a year. We are providing food for more than 82,843 emergency food boxes while finding long term solutions to hunger. Oregon is the second hungriest state in the nation. Thanks to the support of members and congregations like yours, we have been serving the needs of hungry people in our community for 25 years. Your donations make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. Deb McGeorge, Food Resource Developer, Food for Lane County.
I want to thank your amazing congregation for welcoming our families into your church. Seldom have we felt so comfortable & welcomed!! Thank you for making this a wonderful time for our families. First Place Family Center
OFFICE REMINDERS:
2010 Statements will be mailed by January 14th. Please open them and verify the information. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Sears in the office at 541-345-8764.
Thank you to those who use the automatic deduction for your monthly pledge. The transactions will remain the same for 2011 unless you notify the office of any changes.
The building/office will be closed during the day on Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Evening activities will resume at 6 pm.
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