Save the date for Sunday February 11th when we will honor and celebrate the many amazing people who devote their hearts to serving Bethel in so many ways. As a multi-faceted church we rely so much on the variety of talents and skills that these volunteers bring to bless our church and community. We look forward to celebrating all of you!
Please email Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org with any questions!
Ash Wednesday, February 14th
Ash Wednesday – Simple Supper and Worship – Wednesday, February 14th – 6:30pm.
We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a light supper of soup and bread to launch our Lenten theme: Wandering Heart.
There will be the opportunity to receive ashes for those who find the ritual meaningful.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Lent is the season of preparation for Easter in a similar way in which Advent prepares us for Christmas.
The ancient practice of Lent was intended to prepare people for baptism on Easter. Lent invites us into a time of introspection – a time to inventory what aspects of our lives may be obstacles to following the way of Jesus. Lent is modeled after the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness as it is recorded in the 4th chapter of both Matthew and Luke’s gospel.
Jesus’ time in the wilderness reveals the reality of temptations we all face as we strive to live with love as our primary purpose. The point of Lent isn’t to deny that we ever struggle to be faithful to the way God would have us live. Rather, Lent gives us the opportunity to be transparent – real with who we are – our strengths and our weaknesses. Acknowledging the ways we may feel hindered, or broken, or bound up can serve as first steps toward freedom and wholeness.
To help with the preparation of the meal, please RSVP to office@bethelbeaverton.org or call 503-646-1191, by Sunday, Feb 11th, if you plan to attend the service.
Israel/Palestine Learning and Discussion Session - Feb 18th
On Sunday, February 18th we will be offering a special class after service to learn more about the historical context of the Israel/Palestine conflict. We encourage anyone seeking understanding about the recent and ongoing tragedies to attend.
This session will be led by Marcia Gilliland. Marcia has been a member of the Central Pacific Conference Palestine Israel Network (PIN) for ten years. She has been to Palestine/Israel six times working with the Palestine YWCA teaching sewing in a refugee camp near Ramallah and a women's center in Dar Salaam. She has assisted Palestinian farmers in olive picking for two years. She continues to work for equal rights for all people in Israel and Palestine.
Please contact Erin Barber (eb@bethelbeaverton.org) or Jean Doane (jeaniepearl.jd@gmail.com) with any questions about this event. More details will follow soon!
Support Emma Stewart's Book Drive Jan 14th - Feb 14th
One of our youth group members, Emma Stewart will be hosting a special book drive here at Bethel for the next month. The book drive is to support kids with a lack of access to books through the Beaverton book bank and mini libraries she's building. Bethel can contribute by donating used and new books for kids and young adults ages 0-20. A designated box will be available in the narthex on Sundays starting on 1/14. Thank you for sharing the love of reading with our community!
Please direct any questions about this project to Erin Barber eb@bethelbeaverton.org
Youngish Adults Lasagna and Trivia Night - Jan 19th
Dust off your brains and your spatulas, because the Youngish Adult's Group will be having their first event of 2024: A Lasagna and Trivia Night on Friday, January 19th in the Fellowship Hall from 6:30-8:00 pm. You can expect to enjoy some delicious food and a fun "pub-style" trivia quiz you can do with a team of as many as six people.
Please sign up to bring a dessert, salad, or beverages, OR plan on coming a little early or stay a little late to help with set up/clean up! Currently, we do not have childcare planned for this event, however kids are welcome to participate in the quiz!
Please RSVP with Erin Barber by Tuesday, January 16th eb@bethelbeaverton.org And let us know if you have any questions!
Upcoming Epiphany Series starting Sunday, January 7th
In the liturgical life of the church, the season of Epiphany falls between Christmas and Lent. Epiphany means, “a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you.” We have many different kinds of epiphany moments. For example, if you are working on a crossword puzzle and you all of a sudden realize what word “fits” – that’s an epiphany moment.
In the life of the church, Epiphany focuses on the various ways the reality of God’s Incarnation at Christmas keeps showing up in our lives. The foundation of the season of Epiphany is rooted in the stories from the Bible that reveal Jesus' identity as Christ.
The first “manifestation” happened when the three kings from foreign lands followed a star that led them to discover Jesus lying in the manager. They symbolized the wider world saying, “Ah-ha! Here is where God became human and lives among us.”
Starting January 7th, Pastor David will be offering a worship series called, “A Deeper Life.” The focus will be on the overwhelming message of Christmas – that God loves us enough to become human, and calls us to be loving of others. David will be drawing from an on-line resource called “Working Preacher”.
The series will consider loving God with our minds, our spirits, our bodies. And loving our “comfortable” neighbors and our “uncomfortable neighbors”.
New Year's Eve Day Service - The John Nilsen Trio
For many years the John Nilsen Trio has been performing at the Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ. This is a wonderful opportunity for the entire family to enjoy some great music and worship together. Join us at Bethel Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 10:00 AM!
UCC Christmas Fund Offering - Dec 24th
Christmas Eve,10 am service is our time to receive our Christmas Fund offering. This ministry cares for the active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ. Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors but also provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to lower-income retirees.
Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care.
ON December 24th, you may use the special envelopes by the offering plates and some in the pews, also on the online giving. If using a regular envelope, add CF in the memo line.
Link: https://giving.ncsservices.org/App/Giving/bethelucc, use drop down menu to select Christmas Fund
Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Dec 24, 10 PM
The fourth Sunday of Advent is December 24. Since it is also Christmas eve we will have two services: the usual Sunday worship at 10am and a Candlelight service at 10PM.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10pm will celebrate the “aliveness” of God and the leadership of God: “Living One, How Will You Lead Us?” A number of lessons and carols will be shared at this service as well as special music from our chancel choir. We hope you will join us for this special evening!
Gifts that Build
The Perfect Gift for the person who has everything!
This year, consider a unique gift for your friends and family as part of the Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Gifts that Build program. These gifts of kindness will help build a Habitat for Humanity home for a local family. We will provide you a specially designed greeting card, an commemorative ornament, and the joy of knowing that a hardworking family will soon have a decent home of their own. Give a gift of any amount.
How Gifts that Build Works
Notify Paul Griffo at paul.griffo@msn.com, 503-707-0226 of your interest and how many cards/ornaments that you wish to gift. Make checks payable to "Habitat for Humanity." Paul can arrange to deliver the card and ornament to you either at church or to your home.
How Habitat Works
After acquiring land and materials, volunteers and future homeowners work side-by-side to build homes. Habitat sells the homes to pre-qualified families using a 1% down payment and 0%-interest mortgage. Payments are below 30% of each family's monthly income to ensure long term affordability. Because Habitat acts as the lender, 100% of the mortgage principal payments return to Habitat to help build more homes!
Reach out to Paul Griffo or Leon Taylor (mr.leon.taylor.new@gmail.com) with any additional questions and thank you for supporting Habitat for Humanity Portland Region!
Blue Christmas Service, Dec. 3rd, 2:00 pm
Each year during Advent, Bethel offers a quieter, more meditative worship service. The holidays can be a difficult time for those who are coping with illness, grief, loss, other difficulties and challenges of life.
This time of year, the culture around us seems to demand hearty good cheer at all times. When we are grieving, in pain, trying to make ends meet, and dealing with the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and how to have a safe holiday celebration, we may feel out of step and off balance.
The Blue Christmas Worship Service gives us an opportunity to give voice to our pain and frustration, and the opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through candlelight, music, and, if desired, the ancient practice of anointing with oil. The Blue Christmas Worship Service will take place Sunday, December 3th at 2 pm as a hybrid service.
The ESL Giving Tree is Back!
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Bethel will be hosting a Christmas party for our ESL students. This year’s party will be Thursday evening, December 14.
As is our tradition, we’ll be providing a gift or gift card for each child who attends.
The ESL Giving Tree is going up after Thanksgiving, but gift tags will be available starting this Sunday, November 19. Shop for a gift for a younger child, or buy a gift card for a teenager. We’ll wrap gifts after the December 10 service.
For more information, or if you’d like to help out with setup or during the party, contact Jim or JoeLynn Keniston, 503-415-1961. And if you’ve been attending via Zoom or Facebook, consider contacting Jim or JoeLynn to view the available tags online.
Beaverton High School, Homeless Teens Food Drive
BHS Soup Current Count: 748 Goal: 1008 cans of soup
NOTE: Please be aware that light or diet soups and chili will be given to the food cupboard. Teenagers need more calories than adults and we have chili from the Oregon Food Bank. We appreciate your donations wherever they are used.
The food for BHS teens experiencing houselessness will be packed and delivered on Tuesday Dec. 12. Start time is TBD. On Monday Dec. 11, the tables of food will be set up in the Fellowship Hall at 1:30 PM. We can use all the hands and backs we can get on both days.
What do we still need? Cash and soup. Food costs have gone up so donations of $$ are welcome.
https://giving.ncsservices.org/App/Giving/bethelucc
You can donate online using the drop down Fund menu to designate the BHS homeless youth. Or donate a check or cash. For soup, we want protein soups with veggies with pop top lids.
Thank you Bethel for always coming through to support these teens!
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - Sunday, November 12th
Fire up the griddles because we're planning our annual Pumpkin Pancake Fundraiser! In the Fellowship Hall after service, our kids and youth will get to help make and serve pancakes to the congregation to help raise money to go to Camp Adams next summer. Our kids will begin preparations during service and then serve during Fellowship Time. Families note: a few kids/youth will still be able to sell wreaths during this time and are welcome to rotate if they want to take part in both fundraising events.
Stewardship Campaign Theme for 2023 “Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives!”
Like many UCC congregations, Bethel asks members and friends to make a financial pledge in the fall. Our financial pledges form a significant component of our budget (mission giving and spending plan) for the upcoming year. We call this campaign “stewardship” because we believe that all that we have flows from God’s abundance. We are called to be good stewards of the gifts God has provided to all of us. Our gifts include our financial resources, our talents or skills, and our willingness to give of our time to the mission and vision of Bethel. All three are vitally important!
Pastor David has invited several members and friends of Bethel to share during worship why supporting Bethel matters to them. We call these “witnessing stewards.” We will “kick off” our stewardship season this Sunday, October 29th.
You’ll receive a stewardship letter in the mail early next month. The letter will give important information about our hopes and dreams for next year – and how you can help make that happen.
We will continue to provide information over the next several weeks that will help you prayerfully consider how you feel called to support Bethel’s ministry
What’s This Comma Thing All About?
Last Sunday at the Committee Fair, we gave out prizes if you visited all of the committee tables or signed up to serve.
A number of folks relatively new to the UCC (less than 10 years) were not familiar with the comma symbol. So, a little history might be helpful to explain its significance.
Back in the early 2000s the UCC decided to be very intentional about telling our story via a large-scale advertising campaign titled “God is Still Speaking”. There were several TV ads, plus many resources for local churches to use.
You might have heard some of the phrases that were used:
“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
“Never place a period where God has placed a comma,"God is Still Speaking”
The first part of this sentence was a quote from Gracie Allen, of Burns and Allen comedy team of the 20th century. The UCC added “God is Still Speaking” to speak of God’s continuing story in our lives and that the story is far from over.
Over the years, the comma has become a ubiquitous symbol of the extravagant welcome of the United Church of Christ. The first comma was pure red and has evolved over the years to speak to important issues we support.The comma that many people received last Sunday is the newest iteration of the comma,celebrating Pride.
We hope you will wear your Comma pin with pride and be ready to tell the story that “God is Still Speaking” at your church.
Bethel Women’s Retreat, November 4th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join us for our next Women's Retreat at Bethel. All who identify as women are welcome. Our theme is Fruits of the Spirit. Come to learn, visit and renew or make new friendships.
Lunch will be provided.
Email Paige Unangst at paige@unangst.net or Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org if you plan to attend by Friday October 27th.
Bethel's All Committee Fair is Sunday, Oct. 15th!
Have you ever wondered what goes into a Sunday morning here at Bethel? Or how we come up with all the different events we do? Or how YOU can be a part of it? Come to our All Committee Fair following service on October 15th in the Fellowship Hall to learn more!
We have many committees to thank for the amazing things Bethel does from Growth to Faith Development to Communications and Facilities (just to name a few). All this work is run by people who understand "church" is a verb. The way we use our talents and time takes Bethel beyond being a special place of worship to a place of true community.
We invite you to come and learn more at this fair and see if there is a place for you and your unique gifts. You'll receive a punch card and get a stamp at each committee you visit, and if you visit all of them you'll earn a special prize!
Reach out to Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org to learn more!
Habitat for Humanity Portland Region Update
Leon Taylor and Paul Griffo serve as Bethel’s representatives on the Habitat for Humanity Portland Metro Faith Committee. See below for the latest efforts to deliver affordable housing in the Portland area.
Seven Regional Build Projects in Motion:
• King City (SW) (In Development) 3 buildings/16 homes
• Glison (NE) (In Development) 10 buildings/20 homes
• Kenton (N) (In Process) 2 buildings/30 homes
• Cherry Blossom (SE) (In Process) 8 buildings/31 homes)
• Century Commons (SW) (Foundation Work Started) 8 buildings/18 homes/Energy Trust partnership
• Foster Commons (SE) (In Process) (15 buildings/40 homes/ Note: includes 2 Electronic Vehicle Charging stations as part of $250K grant from PGE which also includes 2 electric forklifts, and an electric vehicle for use for Home Repair program)
• Alder Commons (Hillsboro) (SE) (In Process) 2 buildings/8 homes)
The Foster build site in SE Portland is the volunteer friendly site for this fall. Individual spots are available on Saturdays and small groups for weekdays. Projects coming online soon are Century Commons in Hillsboro (volunteers starting Dec/Jan), King City (volunteers to start March 2024), and Lake Oswego (volunteers to start end of summer 2024). If you would like a comprehensive update please reach out to Leon or Paul.
Experience Habitat: Bridging Faith & Community
Paul and Leon participated in a review of an upcoming special gathering hosted by St. Pius X and Habitat for Humanity to be held on October 1st. The purpose of the gathering is to deepen the congregation and local community’s understanding of Habitat’s vital mission. A recap will be provided at the November Habitat Faith Committee call. Paul and Leon hope to offer a similar experience at Bethel in the first half of 2024.
Beaverton HS Homeless Teen Food Drive
We are beginning to amass the food we’ll need to feed 144 Beaverton High School homeless students(our best estimate) for 17 days during winter break. We’ll have a shelving unit placed outside the chapel for your hearty soup donations. Hearty soups made by Progresso or Campbells have a pop top and a vegetable and protein. Please don’t worry about a certain number of grams of protein. A vegetable and a protein are the criteria (tomato soup doesn’t meet the criteria). A hearty soup could be a meal in itself. Thanks!
BHS Soup Current Count: 47