Throughout the month of November, we are focused on the stories that are woven through our lives as individuals and as a community of faith. You will hear some of these stories in worship or in coffee hour, and you will read about some of them in our newsletter or on the community timeline in Fuller Hall. As I look over that timeline with a focus on the last 30+ years, there are events and people that stand out.
One of the stories that has been interwoven with our lives is that of the Rev. Tom Disrud’s arrival thirty years ago in the fall of 1995. Tom’s prayers, compassionate pastoral care, and careful attention to details has graced our worship and memorials, our lay ministry team, our whole communal life together, the aesthetics of our facility, and more. He has overlapped with three senior ministers who also appear on the timeline as well, the Rev. Marilyn Sewell (1992 – 2009), the Rev. Bill Sinkford (2010 – 2022), and me, Rev. Alison Miller for three years so far (2022 – 2025). There was one year where Tom even served as the Acting Senior Minister (2009 – 2010).
I know that I am far from being alone in feeling gratitude for his service to our community and our faith. This Sunday following the All Souls Service, you are invited to join us in celebrating Rev. Tom’s ministry in Buchan Hall where we will share some of the many blessings he has offered us over the years. There will also be a place where you can write down, draw, or leave a blessing for him upon this milestone.
By the way, this is one of those Sundays when the hospitality will include delicious treats – pancakes for breakfast as it’s a 1st Sunday, and cake afterwards at the celebration!
There are other significant parts of our story on the community timeline. Here are a few examples:
- The first chapel was built on the corner of Broadway and Yamhill in 1867and was 50 x 60 feet.
- We wrapped our block in a yellow ribbon in 1992 and declared it “a hate-free zone” in 1992 in response to an anti-gay rights initiative called Measure 9. (The initiative failed.)
- The Buchan Building opened in 2007 and was 20,000 square feet and designated a LEED Gold certified building. (Check out the photo above of Tom Disrud and Kathryn Estey at the historic groundbreaking.)
- We opened the Shower Project on our block to support our houseless neighbors’ having access to respite, clean water, and enhanced hygiene in 2024.
Remember, we are in the pre-strategic planning self-study phase and knowing our stories is a part of understanding where we came from and how we got to where we are today. Do you know a story from our history that isn’t on the timeline yet? Grab a Post-it and add it to the wall in Fuller Hall below our Main Sanctuary on Sunday. You can also email your note to me, and I’ll add it to the timeline for you.
You are also an important part of our history and our story. Don’t forget to add a colored dot at the year you showed up here, if you haven’t done so already.
As I reflect on all the growth spurts or times of shrinking, all the opportunities, challenges, and meaningful changes throughout our timeline together – it strikes me that we have much to celebrate as we kick off another Season of Giving this fall. Our people and our shared ministries have provided Portland with a consistent source of resilience, faith, and hope for many generations and through thick and thin.
In faith,
Rev. Alison
P.S. If you missed Sunday’s kick-off sermon, you can listen here: https://www.youtube.com/live/pd8491Oi7dQ?si=G2b_guR57-2upzon&t=3080