Hillview United Methodist Church

Hillview members participated with the Interfaith Equality Coalition in the Boise Pride Parade this morning. It was a joyful celebration!

It was a beautiful morning for a parade. Eight congregations/faith groups walked with the Interfaith Equality Coalition to show support and love for LGBTQ people. The crowds were colorful and enthusiastic. What a joyful event!

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers a prayer for the people of Afghanistan

Our prayers are with the people of Afghanistan.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers a prayer for the people of Afghanistan Eternal God, hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. There is a profound humanitarian crisis. Countless people, mostly women and children, are now fleeing and vulnerable. The lives of many …

[08/15/21]   We apologize for not having the service broadcast this morning. We have suffered a service interruption, we will be back online next week at our regularly scheduled time.

Thought of the Day Aug. 14, 2021

New post added at Hillview United Methodist Church - Thought of the Day Aug. 14, 2021

Thought of the Day Aug. 14, 2021 A Thought for TodayAugust 14, 2021 Hillview participated in something amazing last Friday, August 13. We are hosting the Ordination Service for our part of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Ordination Services do not usually happen in churches our size. I was ordained a Deacon thirty years ago at....

Prayer for Today Aug. 14, 2021

New Prayer added at Hillview United Methodist Church - Prayer for Today Aug. 14, 2021

Prayer for Today Aug. 14, 2021 A Prayer for Today August 14, 2021 Gracious and loving God, As I interact with people I know this day, help me to be kind and grateful. As I meet people I do not yet claim as friends, help me to be kind and grateful. As I am helped by people in service jobs, help

On Friday, August 13, Hillview had the honor of hosting a Service of Ordination and Commissioning for our Oregon-Idaho Conference and specifically for the Sage District. Sean Michael Crews was commissioned as a deacon. Jennifer Willison Hirst was ordained as a deacon. To be safe during this pandemic, a limited group of family, friends, and fellow clergy were present but the service was live-streamed. It was a beautiful service. (Our own Rev. Janine Watkins assisted the Bishop during the service.)

Juneteenth

Juneteenth Juneteenth is a time to gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future. Discover ways to celebrate this African American cultural tradition of music, food and freedom.  The above media is provided by YouTube (Privacy Policy, Terms of Service) Virtual Programs  Generously supported...

Three Things to know about the WCA

I love this explanation of the WCA, the splinter group of the United Methodist Church.

Three Things to know about the WCA One United Methodist considers whether the WCA really is the future of the United Methodist Church

What a fabulous reopening we had today! Pentecost is the perfect time for a new beginning. Ninety people worshiped together in our sanctuary for the first time in 14 months and others joined us as we streamed our service live. We celebrated the confirmation of Kirnen, Maganne, and Mirren. It was a joyous morning! (The construction paper faces in the rows served to take space and keep us socially distanced. These were made by Pastor Brenda.)

Hillview Reopening on May 23, 2021

New post added at Hillview United Methodist Church - Hillview Reopening on May 23, 2021

Hillview Reopening on May 23, 2021 Hillview will resume worship in the sanctuary next Sunday, May 23. We will meet at 10:30, as we will also share the service live on Vimeo and Facebook.

What is a RUM (Reconciling United Methodist)?

Are you a RUM?

What is a RUM (Reconciling United Methodist)? What's a Reconciling United Methodist, and why are they important to the Reconciling movement? RMN Organizer Helen Ryde talks in this video about why you sho...

Hillview United Methodist Church updated their website address.

Hillview United Methodist Church updated their website address.

[04/23/21]   We have a new and improved website. You will can add your prayer requests on our new prayer page, view all current events, view the latest newsletters. We have also improved our online giving platform. Please have a look and let us know what you think.
https://hillviewmethodist.org/

This morning we held a dedication of the LIttle Free LIbrary in memory of Karen McAlister. The library, donated by Hillivew United Methodist Women, is located in the church's front parking lot for easy access for our community to take and share books.

This morning we had our first in-person service in over a year (masked and socially distanced). Oh how good it was to be together! The 10:30 service was online. Both services are available to watch any time.

[04/02/21]   Today is Good Friday. Hillview UMC will have the Stations of the Cross outside in the front church parking lot. Between 10 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. you will have the option of either walking or driving by the stations.

Palm Sunday Devotion

Palm Sunday Devotion Journey with us this week. May you find yourselves held by God.

Parents Reconciling Network

Parents Reconciling Network (PRN) and the United Methodist Alliance for Transgender Inclusion (UMATI) are teaming up to bring us a Gender Identity 101 primer for those with gender non-conforming loved ones who want to be more supportive allies. Join PRN and UMATI for one of three interactive conversations on March 26, April 9, or April 23 (all Fridays) at 10 a.m. MDT. Register here:

Parents Reconciling Network Understanding Gender identity; Primer for Parents and Allies

[03/20/21]   March 20
Lenten Devotion

Rev. Vicki Loflin Johnson
Leadership and Life Transition Coach

"Jesus and his followers came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch the man. So Jesus held the blind man’s hand and led him out of the village. Then he spit on the man’s eyes. He laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see now?” The man looked up and said, “Yes, I see people. They look like trees walking around.” Again Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes, and the man opened them wide. His eyes were healed, and he was able to see everything clearly." - Mark 8:22-25, ERV

The story of my daughter and her college friend is a legend in my family. Home for a visit, she explained to her grandfather that Brad was not her boyfriend.

My father had been my earliest example of valuing all persons. He always seemed to “get it,” that each of us is created uniquely by God and that some of us are created with different gender identities. So, he tried to reassure his oldest granddaughter by saying, “Honey, I understand that Brad is gay.” She replied: “Papa, he’s not gay; he’s bi. My father said: “Mercy!”---a prayer to God to help him welcome this expanded awareness into his 75-year-old understanding.

I have always appreciated the story of Jesus healing a blind man at Bethsaida, found only in Mark’s gospel. When the disciples brought the man to him, Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and laid hands on him. Then Jesus asked: “Do you see anything?” The man replied he could see people, but they looked like trees walking around. Jesus tried again.

The gradual accomplishment of this miracle parallels the gradual growth of the disciples’ understanding of who Jesus is. “Seeing” is always a work in progress. What we see and don’t see is shaped by our position and our privilege in the world. Generally, we remain blind to much of the reality that lies outside the realm of our lived experiences. God has infinite mercy for our blindness, but always invites and challenges us to an expanded awareness of people around us. God invites us to offer our blindness for deepened healing.

In my work as a leadership coach, I have observed that usually, we default to binary or dualistic ways of seeing the world, to either/or thinking, unnecessarily locking ourselves into two possibilities only. There is great freedom and healing of sight when we begin to trust the infinite possibilities of how God has created us to be human.

[03/20/21]   March 19
Lenten Devotion
Sometimes peace means saying goodbye

The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C

"Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me go back to my kindred in Egypt and see whether they are still living.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”" — Exodus 4:18

Moses loved Jethro who had made him a part of his family. Moses had married his daughter, Zipporah, and together they had a son, Gershom. Moses was a valued member of the family and was given responsibility. More than anything, Jethro provided him protection from his enemies in Egypt who were looking for him. It was hard for Moses to ask for permission to leave. But God had called him to return to Egypt to be a deliverer for his people. Jethro gave Moses a tremendous gift, rather than accusing Moses of deserting his responsibilities, he blessed his son-in-law to “go in peace.”

There are times when we are happy where we are. We have everything we need, and our plans include staying right where we are. But Lent is a time to remember that God has other plans and calls us to go to places where we do not want to go. Sometimes God even calls us into a desert wilderness. Wherever we are led, God blesses us with inner strength to do the things we are uncertain we can accomplish. God’s vision for our lives is greater than our own. God’s purposes for our lives enable us to accomplish great achievements that help others in their struggles. We must trust in God, even when God calls us to do the impossible — far from our area of comfort and security.

Lord God, enable us to trust in your purpose for our lives and enable us to do your will. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

[03/18/21]   March 18
Lenten Devotion

Josh Scott, Lead Pastor
Grace Pointe, Church
Nashville, Tennessee

"Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus." - Mark 9:2-10, NRSV

In this section of Mark, Jesus has begun his fateful journey to Jerusalem. He is on a collision course with the powers that run his world. Our text, known as “The Transfiguration,” occurs on this journey.

The disciples cannot, or perhaps will not, embrace the path toward Jerusalem Jesus is taking. They want him to conquer, not be conquered. Yet, the voice of the Divine tells them to listen, to trust that Jesus knows where this journey is going, and that he can be trusted.

This is still a challenge for me. I so desperately want to punch back at times (metaphorically, at least usually). I want to use my wit to cut down those who’ve cut me down. I want to fight back and make them feel as small as they’ve made me feel. Do I trust that there’s a better way---a way that feels like a death but leads to resurrection? Will the world be changed by my fists or harshness, or will it be transformed by the kind of love Jesus displays?

Peter wants to remain there, on the mountain. It’s a good place, away from all the people who want to kill Jesus and stop his movement...away from all the people who think of Jesus as an other. Let’s build some shelters and stay here, Peter says. But staying on the mountain isn’t going to change anything. Change happens when we come down the mountain, embrace our crosses and follow Jesus on the path of love and resurrection.

LIGHT A CANDLE
Tomorrow, January 19, there will be a National COVID 19 Memorial honoring the lives lost during this pandemic. Cities across the nation, including Boise, are partnering with faith communities to ring bells and light candles at their place of worship at 3:30 p.m. MST. The City is going to participate by lighting up City Hall tomorrow evening. Hillview has agreed to participate too. We do not have a bell, but we want to encourage all of you to light candles in your own home. Say a prayer for all of the people who have died from this virus and for the families they left behind.

Oregon-Idaho Conference of United Methodist Church

Scripture teaches us “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16, NIV). We commit to always live in love by performing and celebrating same-sex marriages in our church. All are welcome here. #wherelovelivesumc

Merry Christmas!

Church’s message of love: Calling people of faith not to gather during the pandemic

A message from our Bishop

idahostatesman.com “Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s responsible or moral,” writes this bishop in the United Methodist Church.

Blue Christmas

Please join us for our Blue Christmas Service on Sunday December 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

greaternw.org Blue Christmas Service Sunday, December 20th, 2020 at 5 PM MST, 4 PM PST, 3 PM AKST This Advent and Christmas are like no other in recent memory. Many of us are having difficulty getting into the s…