June 2025 Newsletter

Fremont United Methodist Church



We work to live into God’s wholeness for ourselves and our world by practicing our values of belonging, vulnerability, and mutual flourishing.

"Apocalypse Now?"

Dear Fremont Family,

Did you know that every year I attend a preaching planning retreat in August where I read through the entire year's worth of gospel lessons and listen for an overarching theme? Did you know that this year's theme is, "Apocalypse Now"? Of course, it's a theme that rifts on the 1979 American war film by Francis Ford Coppola, but other than the title, that is where the comparisons end. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word for Revelation is the word, "apocalypse," and both words simply mean, "unveiling." In the great 50 Days of Easter, we have been reading together from the Book of Revelation, and the book encourages us to see what is being revealed, namely that the power of death has already been defeated. The resurrection of Jesus has fundamentally transformed history because God's unconditional love has already won, and it is pervading the world.

For most of us, we have negative associations with the word, "apocalypse." We equate apocalypse with catastrophe or with the end of the world, but in the New Testament, apocalypse entails a vision for the future that, in Revelation, is one of hope and healing. In Revelation, heaven, the "dwelling place" of God is coming toward us. The vision is one of heaven on earth, here and now. In this way, during these distressing times, what if we have nothing to fear? Instead of "doom and gloom," what if we are actually moving toward restoration and repair? If that is true, then our prayer can be one of deep conviction and assurance, "apocalypse now!"

This summer, we are going to read through the remainder of Luke's gospel with an eye toward the seeing what is being revealed to us in Jesus. He will instruct us to see the power and presence of the kingdom of God already here and all around us. Jesus will teach us to look for heaven in our midst, in our city, Portland, in our neighborhood, Alameda, and also in each other at Fremont. This summer, may our time together be a time to play and participate in heaven on earth. May these months be a season where our love and courage abound and our fear and complacency come to end. May it be so.

Grace and peace,

Erin

Event at First UMC Salem,

The Circle for Indigenous Ministries will be presenting a Truth Telling session at a plenary session at the OR-ID Annual Conference on June 21. The Circle of Indigenous Ministries is guiding a vital truth-telling effort, inviting the church to confront its history with Native communities and move toward a more just future.The plenary session begins at 2 but the exact time of the Truth Telling portion may begin later. Sign up so that we can notify you when we know more.

Following the session will be an Ecumenical Horizons Encounter with the land.

Let the office know if you will be attending so that we can coordinate a car pool.

Honoring our Graduating High-School Seniors Sunday June 1, 2025

Sidney Mitchell,

Son of Theresa Mitchell. Attending University of Oregon.

Benjamin Mun-Chao, son of Jefferson Chao and Sarah Mun-Chao. Attending Oregon State University.

Chloe Lee, attends Fremont with Benjamin Mun-Chao. Attending University of Oregon.

Reed Mannhard,

Son of Scott and Jenn Mannhard. Attending University of Oregon

Elijah Eisenberg, Son of Joseph Eisenberg and Joyanna Eisenberg, Attending Western Washington University.

Join us for cake and celebration following the service Sunday June 1.

Fremont: A church moving from being

inside the building to inside the neighborhood.

Scott Elementary - A story of invitation and community engagement.

At the end of May a team delivered two van loads full of diapers, snacks, food, socks and underwear to Scott Elementary! This is such a beautiful example of how our imperative to be a Community Hub is working for the mutual flourishing for ourselves and our neighborhood.

Scott Elementary was one of the original schools served by the NE Portland Backpack program which began here at Fremont so we already had a relationship with them.

Portland Backpack stopped serving Scott School in April. Les, Diane and Erin went to visit Scott School to find out what they needed.

The list of needs they provided was shared at Fremont.

The list of needs was shared with our neighborhood affinity group. A person at that group shared the list with another affinity group. Both groups sent out emails to invite more participation.

A Beaumont student heard about the list and she was passionate about helping. She invited everyone she could think of to contribute.

In September we plan on re-connecting to expand our partnership.

As a Community Hub, we are inviting others outside our walls to participate with the practice to care about, and for, each other. Isn't this what we are called to do as a church?

Alameda Ladies Choir Concert

The second annual Alameda Ladies Choir took place on May 10th. The community choir is led by Lindsay Hogan and Jonathan Roberts. Choir members have the opportunity to connect, build friendships, sing joyfully, and belong! Our values at work in the greater community, Vulnerability, Belonging, and Mutual Flourishing! Thank you Lindsay and Jonathan.

Blessing Bags

Trudy and crew will again be packing Blessing Bags to be passed out to our houseless neighbors.

We are going to assemble 25 more blessing bags to gift. We need your help with donations of product or monetary support. The items we need are as follows; Granola bars; lip balm; band aids; tooth paste, tooth brushes; fruit snacks; Wash cloths, bars of soap; tissue. Let Trudy know if you want to come pack bags or make donations. Bags will be packed after the service on Sunday June 8th.

Grant Application: We submitted a grant request for $10,000 to the General Commission on Religion and Race in mid May. This is based on a deepening relationship with the Together Lab and Asylum Seeker Solidarity Collective.

Since January we have;

• showed the 'Borderland: the Line Within' film.
• participated in a neighborhood Affinity Organizing group. They have come alongside these activities.
• hosted a 'Bystander, Know your Rights' training in March.
• hosted an event for 70 Venezuelan Asylum Seekers in April.
• created the Rapid Response Fund which will be used to provide for the identified needs that are being surfaced by the Asylum Seekers.
• assisted one family to file for Asylum and move into housing.
• set up legal clinic so that 5 families could access Legal assistance. (Families were referred by Beaumont Middle School, Scott Elementary, and from the Asylum Seeker Solidarity Collective.)

Fremonter Details

Fremont Newsletter Articles and Production 

The Fremonter Newsletter has always been a critical part of how we communicate, worship, prayer and celebrate together. We would love to encourage everyone to contribute articles to the monthly news letter. Interested in sharing, here is how and when to do it. 

• Fremonter articles are always due 5 days before the end of each month.
• Need a couple more days? That's ok, just contact Diane and let her know you will be submitting a piece.

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