View From Columbia

Welcome to my blog as DS of the Columbia District of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. I will post here mostly reflections that I have concerning ministry, the present situation we find ourselves in as a church, as an area and as a society. Leave your comments or just read and reflect. Today’s post is more reflection then statement. To begin, I invite you to breathe. Breathe…in and out… breathe slowly and deeply…breathe…allow yourself to let go of whatever has your attention…breathe… Dear Lord God, We thank you for mustard seed and for the wonders of yeast and for how these things teach us about your love. Lord, plant your seed into our lives, help us work your yeast into our h earts that wonderful things may happen. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. ~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on Kir-shalom.   http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-or17cs.php Matthew 13: 31-33 (CEB) - Jesus told another parable to crowds: ...

Beginning a New Adventure on the Columbia! Welcome to my blog as DS of the Columbia District of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. I will post here mostly reflections that I have concerning ministry, the present situation we find ourselves in as a church, as an area and as a society. Leave your comments or just read and reflect. Recently I have been practicing breathing. I have been doing this mostly when I begin another Zoom call or meeting. I’m doing 5-7 a day and sometimes I need to remember to breathe. So let’s just breathe for a moment…draw in the air deeply, get it all the way down to your diaphragm…hold it for a moment then slowly let it out. Do this several times…. God, you are the gathering one who calls us into community with each other to love and work, to support and heal. You are the gathering one who calls us into community with all people; to bring justice and hope, freedom and truth. You are the gathering one who c...