May 2022
I see you  I hear you  I am with you 
Greetings!
 
The journey into the month of May saw more destruction and death in Ukraine, more people fleeing their homes and the country they love. And they are now arriving in Oregon.  

During Holy Week, many of EMO’s faith partners responded immediately to the needs of arriving refugees with carloads of clothing for all ages, infantwear and diapers, and coats and jackets to fill the storeroom of the Ukrainian Bible Church in Fairview, Ore. 

During that time, Rabbi Michael Cahana of Congregation Beth Israel in Portland traveled to Krakow, Poland, with 15 other Reformed Jewish rabbis to deliver generous donations and material goods for Ukrainians taking refuge in Poland. Upon Rabbi Cahana’s return home to Oregon, he found Temple Beth Israel vandalized in the wake of Yom HaShoa VeHaGevurah – Day of Remembrance of the Calamity and Heroism.   

As many of us gathered in Pioneer Square in downtown Portland during Yom HaShoah on April 23-24 to read thousands of names of the people who perished during the Holocaust, we learned something new. Babi Yar in Kyiv was the site where 33,000 Jews were slaughtered over two days by the Nazi’s in 1941. This past March, the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial was almost destroyed in a Russian missile attack. 

No doubt our collective grief, sorrow and sense of helplessness pales in comparison to that of our siblings who have lost cherished loved ones in the past and now in the present.

And we see you, we hear you, we are with you. 
This week, EMO convened local interfaith leadership with Ukrainian Orthodox, Evangelical, Catholic and Baptist clergy in our region to learn what is essential to know and how best to support their community.

As a result, "United for Peace: People of faith and goodwill gathered in support of peace in Ukraine" will be held on Tuesday, May 17, beginning at 7 p.m. It will be a hybrid event hosted in-person at Congregation Beth Israel (1972 NW Flanders St., Portland) and livestreamed statewide.

Ukrainian music and songs will be performed by Inna Kovtun (right)–a well-known recording artist and folk singer who arrived in Portland a month ago from Ukraine–classical flutist Amelia Lukas, and local Klezmer musicians.

Join people of faith and good will on the evening on May 17 as we gather to pray for peace, sing and support the Ukrainian community and church leadership in Oregon. We will also share specific ways you can support the Ukrainian people here and a world away. To learn more about the event, and access the link to watch virtually, go to emoregon.org/events

We will see you, hear you, be with you 
Ми побачимо вас, почуємо і будемо з вами  
Blessings,
The Rev. Andrea R. Cano (she, her, ella)
Interim President
New EMO board of directors installed
On April 25, the EMO board of directors and staff gathered for a retreat at First United Methodist Church in Portland (above). It’s the first time we held an in-person meeting since the pandemic began! The retreat also marked the transition to a new slate of board officers and members, with The Rev. Roberta Egli serving as board chair for 2022/2023. View a current list of EMO board of directors.
Upcoming Events
To learn more about upcoming EMO events and faith community events, visit our Event Calendar. If you would like to submit an event for our website, please fill out an Event Form.

During the month of May, we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month.
May 13, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, at Riverside Community Church, 317 State St., Hood River, Ore.
"Train of Tears" will recall and reflect with regret one of the most painful chapters in the history of the Hood River Valley. The event will memorialize the date 80 years ago when more than 400 Japanese-American women, men and children from the central Gorge were forced from their homes, loaded into rail cars at the Hood River train station, and sent to internment camps. The commemoration will feature special guests, music and speakers, including Episcopal Bishop Diana Akiyama, who spent her childhood in the valley. A procession to the train station and installation of a peace pole will follow the ceremony. The procession will include faith leaders from throughout the area, as well as those of Japanese ancestry. This event is free and open to all members of the community. Learn more.
May 17, 7 - 9 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel, 1972 N.W. Flanders St., Portland.
Join people of faith and good will as we gather in support of peace in Ukraine. This will be a free hybrid event hosted in-person at Congregation Beth Israel and livestreamed statewide. Learn more.
Save the Date: Dining Out For Life on Aug. 2-4
Dining Out For Life (DOFL) is organized in over 50 cities around the United States and Canada for one purpose—to support persons living with HIV, especially to expand access to medical care and support services. Portland’s DOFL is a partnership between OHSU’s Partnership Project and EMO’s HIV Day Center. Together we serve over 1,000 clients throughout the Portland metro area. Learn more.
Employment Opportunities at EMO
Join EMO's talented team making a difference in Oregon! EMO offers a generous benefits package. Visit our employment page for more details about the positions below and how to apply.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
503-221-1054 | emo@emoregon.org | emoregon.org