Pearl Church Community

Are you thinking of selling your car?? I have a buyer for you!

2010-05-21T13:34:41-08:00

Hello church!

I mentioned before in a prayer request that my friend is in need of a car! If you are thinking of selling yours, please contact me, and I’ll refer you to my good friend Ovi.

Tanya Heilman
503.422.6889

self defense seminar

2010-04-06T21:22:25-08:00

I am gauging interest in a possible self defense seminar. I originally thought about a ladies only but would like to open it to anyone whom might have interest. I need to see if there is enough interest then find a time and a place. I do some volunteer teaching at the St. Johns Community Center and can get us in there for a small fee. My Sensei (Teacher) would like to come out and visit with my class. I mentioned to him about a seminar and he would like to assist me in teaching the seminar.

the seminar would be about 2 hours. I was thinking about some time in June or July.

feel free to email me here or at cbmodd at yahoo dot com or even call me 503 381 2572

Chris

Zyler’s Adoption

2009-04-20T10:34:12-08:00

Hey all,

We have a small party to let you know about. First on Thursday May 21st we will be in court to Finalize the adoption. 8:30 am in room 428. anyone wishing to join us is welcome to attend. Second right after that we are planning to gather a Sip N Cranz for some coffee and food. we get the former child area for free for three hours if 6 people buy food. We would love for you to join us.

Karen’s Lenten Reflection

2009-03-21T14:35:34-08:00

From Pearl’s Church Service on March 22,

Lenten Reflection by Karen Howells

The observance of Lent, entering fully into this season, is a relatively new experience for me. Coming to true spiritual awareness in the mid 70’s and worshipping in the evangelical tradition for many years, I kind of thought it was just for Catholics or maybe Episcopals! The whole “giving up things”, ashes and mourning focus escaped me. Other than Good Friday, the central message of faith for me was Easter celebration and resurrection joy. But making the Lenten journey for 4 years now with this community at Pearl Church has become a practice that is deepening and broadening my understanding of being a Christ follower in ways I could never have predicted. This is especially true in the last 2 years; two of the most challenging years ever for me and my family.

The tsunami of trials began with my husband’s job loss accompanied by a sense of betrayal our 23 year old son’s struggles with chronic illness and related issues, our college age daughter’s well being threatened by someone she had cared for deeply and my cancer diagnosis and treatment starting in the summer of 2008. These experiences have acquainted me with suffering beyond my previous experience. I was unaware until recently that my hidden but powerful paradigm of suffering is that it was something to be avoided. I think I adhered to the American Cultural interpretation of Christianity more than I ever wanted to admit!

My mindset was that if you followed Christ somehow 1 + 1 equaled 2. …that if you are a good spouse and work hard and serve God in the church and tithe and sacrifice for your kids you won’t get cancer or laid off or divorced or struggle. Silly, horrible theology and embarrassing to acknowlege- but being a part of a cultural paradigm is pretty powerful and often most invisible to those who hold it. Secretly I somehow thought that if I did things “right” and the “right things” then surely I could escape the blight of suffering and focus on helping others who succumbed to this thing to be avoided.

Of course, God’s “math” and Kingdom realities are much different. Lent represents
this for me. In the Message translation, James 1:2-4 expresses the truth so well -

“When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends. Realize they come to test your faith and to produce in you a quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become a person of mature character of the right sort of independence”.

Suffering - not to be avoided but welcomed as friends? Wow. To test my faith? To produce a quality of endurance? To mature my character? Hard – but true .I have learned things about myself I would not have been able to see clearly without the trials of the last two years. My heart is being softened and my perspective altered. And more importantly, my desperate need reveled to me: for a Savior, a Comforter, and the truth of God in times that just did not make sense and did not “add up. Others have shared with me that their faith has grown in dark and painful circumstances. I have listened and tried to relate. But now Isaiah 45:3 is a precious verse and personal experience for me:

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Suffering holds new definition for me. New discoveries God could only reveal to me in a season where mourning and struggle and darkness and confusion at times seemed endless. I won’t try to be “super spiritual” here or lie– I still don’t love suffering! Honestly, I am relieved I’ve almost made it through cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation – but there truly have been eternal gifts through the suffering. I am learning I am loved for who I am – not what I do. The simple gifts of life and eternal priorities are coming more sharply into focus. And my suffering identifies me with Jesus. My suffering allows me – and you - to participate in Christ’s experience and joins us more deeply to him – as I Peter 4: states:

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Suffering to joy. Trials as friends not intruders. Treasures in darkness. Lent to Easter. Through the practice of Lent I am more willingly embracing suffering as a refining gift – and I am beginning to get the new paradigm that Christ calls me to.

Networking

2008-12-10T18:30:40-08:00

I have been going through a bit of a struggle. On August 11th Jeanne and I brought home Zyler from Texas. On August 18 I was given notice and on August 31 I lost my job. I have been looking for my “what next” and have not had much luck with trying to get back into the field that I came from (Industrial Hygiene, and Environmental Health and Safety). I am thinking that I could instead work on Improving another one of the gifts and Talents that I have been given. I have been told that I have an almost natural ability to work with Plants and landscapes/ Gardens. I am wondering if anyone has any information or a possible connection that I might use to talk to someone in the industry and see what might come out of it.

I am currently registered to take the Master Gardener course from OSU extension office. I cant really post my resume to this as my resume is loaded with all of the wrong type of Consulting experience.

any help or Direction would be greatly appreciated

Chris Modderman

Lewis and Clark wants your help for a reasearch project - please note the date change

2008-09-17T08:18:31-08:00

Lewis and Clark is conducting a research project and is looking for Pearl dwellers to participate. See attached file for more information.

Christianity Today Class

2008-08-21T11:54:27-08:00

I’ve attached the syllabus here if anyone would like to take a look!

Cheers,

John

Pearl Flickr Group

2008-07-15T13:43:43-08:00

Howdy.

I went ahead and started a Pearl Church Flickr group so we can all share photos that involve Pearl Church.

Most of my images in the group are only available if you are a member of the flickr group so go sign up.

Boone

Sermon Podcast Up and Running!

2008-07-08T14:17:16-08:00

And looking pretty sweet I might add… thanks Josh!

Having fun trying new post!!!

2008-06-26T23:25:10-08:00

YES!