News and Information
Congratulations to Jim Doane
On Monday, June 10, in Denver, Colorado, Jim Doane was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Public Service Award by the American Water Works Association. The award recognizes distinguished public service outside the line of duty by an AWWA
member. The citation from the Board of Directors reads:
Pride Parade
A contingent from Bethel joined the UCC marchers in the Pride Parade Sunday, June 16th.
Calling All Hikers...
The next kids’ trip will be the long-awaited hike to Mirror Lake on Mt. Hood for swimming, fishing, strolling, reading, relaxing, games, etc. on July 11. The view of Mt. Hood is spectacular. The younger kids will hike the 1.4 miles into the lake, and the older kids will hike to the top of the butte which overlooks the lake. This hike is suitable for kids from first grade on up. The kids at Cedar Hills UCC will be joining us, so we'll meet at Cedar Hills UCC at 9:00 AM on Thursday, July 11 to carpool to Mt. Hood. Please RSVP Ken by email or phone (503-574-3524) before Sunday, June 30, if your kids want to go on this great hike!
Food Cupboard
The Food Cupboard is currently in need of cereal.
And on your summer travels, remember to pick up those small soaps and shampoos.
We do use them. Of course you could always donate regular sizes of soap or
shampoo. Watch for a good sale.
We need a food cupboard volunteer for the second Monday in July and August this summer.
If you haven't done this, training is easy. A summer replacement is a good way to 'try out".
Call Fran or Nancy if you are interested.
Important Scrip Notice
Portland Pride Parade
A contingent from Bethel will be joining the UCC marchers in the Pride Parade this Sunday. We'd love to have you join us. We have a group leaving Bethel at 9:00 am sharp, taking MAX and the streetcar to the 10:00 outdoor UCC service at NW Park and Flanders. Contact Jim Keniston if you have questions or want to travel with us. The parade starts at 11:00. The UCC assembly area is on Everett between 9th and 10th, and we expect to step off sometime after 11:15.
Charitable Giving at Bethel
Giving back to the community you love is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
Please attend our informational seminar and learn how you can:
make charitable bequests through your will or trust
designate Bethel as a beneficiary
make charitable donations via appreciated stock
utilize tax beneficial strategies
In the Narthex conference room. Bagels and snacks will be provided.
If you are unable to attend and would like more information, please contact Nancy Speer for
more information.
Articles needed for Peace Village and Vacation Bible School
During the afternoon some of our campers at Peace Village and Vaction Bible School, will be doing “recycled art” projects and putting together “road food” bags.
For the road food project we would appreciate donations of:
Gallon ziplock bags,
socks,
hand warmers,
granola bars,
protein bars,
bottled water,
dried fruit,
tuna and cracker packs.
For our “recycled art” project we would appreciate donations of:
plastic lids of all shapes, sizes and colors!
Bring them to the baskets in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you!
Vacation Bible School
for ages 3-5, 9am - noon.
A 1/2 day preschool program is being planned at St. Andrew's Lutheran church. The theme will be similar to Peace Village. Stories, games, crafts and activities will take place for both programs. The fee for the 1/2 day program is $25. Extended care is available for sibling of Peace Village attendees.
Click here for the Vacation Bible School Registration forms:
http://www.chucc.org/images/stories/public-documents/2013_Peace_Village_Registration.pdf
Or contact Nancy Hilbrick at nancyhil@comcast.net.
Peace Village - a day camp for chidren and youth ages 6-13
9am - 3pm. This is and all day program at St Andrews.
Peace Villiage, a curriculum focused on how each of us can help create a more peaceful world, is being offered by Cedar Hills UCC and St. Andrews Lutheran church for children in grades 1 throuh 8.
Bethel children are invited to attend.
There is a $50 fee, and children must bring their own sack lunches. Snacks will be provided.
Registration is open until the program is filled.
Click here for Peace Village Registration forms:
http://www.chucc.org/images/stories/public-documents/2013_Peace_Village_Registration.pdf
Or contact Nancy Hilbrick at nancyhil@comcast.net.
Community Events
June 20: Habitat for Humanity - Brauner Brook Celebration
June 20: New Faces of America
June 21-23, 28-30 Dairyville Players present The Mikado
Get these dates on your calendar for fun at Camp Adams this summer
Camp Schedule for Camp Adams 2013
Come to Kah-Nee-Ta
Northwest Regional Women’s Retreat X will take place November 1 - 3, 2013 at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort in Warm Springs, Oregon. This is an event that takes place only once every 3 years, so you do not want to miss it. The retreat is a collaboration between our Central Pacific Conference Women’s Board and the women of the Pacific Northwest Conference. Working together, these two groups always come up with amazing speakers, fun workshops, and inspiring worship. And you cannot beat the setting: the beautiful Oregon high desert in the fall, resort accommodations at off season rates, great food, and hot springs! The retreat is a great opportunity to get away from it all, learn, relax, and worship with UCC sisters from cities and towns throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. If you have questions, you can talk to Jean Doane, Carolyn Rundorff, or Kathy Horres. It is not too early to register. More information and online registration is available at nrwr.wordpress.com.
Pancake Breakfast FUNraiser
If you haven't been able to join one of the earlier FUNraisers, or even if you have, put June 9 on your calendar and come have breakfast with your friends at Bethel before church. Carolyn Rundorff and Nancy Hilbrick will be flipping pancakes with serving beginning at 8:45am. We plan to serve until 9:40, so you can all get to church on time! Rumor has it the men's breakfast group volunteered to help. Wonder who will be doing dishes? LOL Generous donations to alleviate Bethel's budget shortfall will be appreciated, but ALL will be welcome to come and enjoy breakfast.
The Food Cupboard could use
Jiffy mixes and homegrown fruits and vegetables.
Vital hunger programs are under attack!
The House of Representatives is about to begin consideration of the 2013 Farm Bill, which includes vital programs that serve hungry families, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formally Food Stamps). These programs are essential lifelines that sustain children and families within our communities.
The House’s version of the Farm Bill proposes catastrophic cuts to these essential feeding programs. These cuts would cause two million individuals to lose their SNAP benefits entirely, 210,000 children to lose free school meals, and 850,000 to see their benefits cut by an average $90 per month.
Amendments will be offered to restore this funding. We must act now to ensure that programs for hungry families are preserved!
Why We Call Ourselves Christian
Mondays, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
June 10, June 17, July 8, July 15
Bethel UCC Narthex Conference Room
You are invited to participate in a book study group to talk about Christianity and our relationship to this historic religious and spiritual movement. As members and friends of the Bethel congregation, most of us are pretty good about talking about the importance of the sense of community that we feel at Bethel. We are also pretty good at talking about our mission and service work. Give us a community need and we will go to work on it. We can rightly say that we do put our faith into action. But it’s quite a bit harder for many of us to put our faith into words. We count on our pastor to do that for us on Sunday morning.
Tree Notecard Project
Are you wondering how the Bethel kids did with their “Tree Notecard Project”? Check out the article UCC Exceeds Mission 4/1 Earth Tree Planting Goal on the national UCC website.
Communications Meeting
Sunday Fun Days
ARE YOU JOINING THE SUNDAY FUN DAYS? We have Millie Hoelscher lined up to do drama workshops in June and July, Ken Ruse and Bob Leitner are doing a fly fishing lesson in July. What fun can you add to the summer for our Youth and Children? Put your name on the volunteer list outside the church office or call Nancy Hilbrick (503 372 - 9023) to reserve a spot on the calendar. Red Rover anyone? A play day at Beaverton Fountain? Become a part of the fun this summer.
Faith Cafe - Bethel
June 9 is our next chance to volunteer for Faith Cafe. I'll be sending an e-mail to our usual volunteers; if I miss you or you would like to be a volunteer please e-mail Susan Hanson at shans4@frontier.com or call at 503-645-4023. It's a great volunteer opportunity and will take about 2 hours once every 8 weeks.
Food Cupboard thanks Gary Imbrie, George Patch, Mac Macpherson, and Wendell Pike
for their work moving furniture and tearing up carpet by the Food Cupboard. The new carpeting is great!
Study The Book of Acts
This book has it all: Action, Adventure Drama, Miracles, Magic, Mayhem, Prison Breaks, Riot, Shipwreck, even Snake - handling! You won’t want to miss this story, coming to Bethel’s Narthex Conference Room Thursdays in June and July, from 1:30 - 3:00 PM Be There! ( No class June 13 or July 4 Registration begins Sunday, May 19 in the Fellowship Hall. Questions? Call Jean Doane).
Youth Support Global Mission
The Sunday School students are decorating small notecards to sell for $1. For every dollar
raised a tree can be planted in Haiti. Our focus for the children during the month of May is what we can do for global missions and this is our small way to help people in need. Look for the display of these great notecards in the Fellowship Hall during coffee hour the next few Sundays.
Fine Dining FUNdraiser Update
Just a brief update: Four dinners have taken place, and the single most important thing to report is that the get - togethers have spawned great conversations, and loads of laughter and wonderful fellowship; people have met new friends and gotten to know old friends even better.
What is also nice is that more than $3,000 has been raised, which matters because it is helping us fulfill the mission of the church as set forth by the 2013 budget approved by the congregation. We budgeted $8,000 as income coming from Fundraisers; we are now nearly 40% of the way to meeting that goal.
The Pancake Breakfast on June 9 th will be another opportunity to chat and laugh, to enjoy each other’s fellowship and will move us further along toward our goal. We hope to see you there.
Additionally, there are rumors of two more dinners to take place, perhaps in late summer or early fall. We will keep you posted when we know details.
Bon Appétit!
Handbells
Office Closed
Community Notices
By May 28: Service to Beaverton Award nomination
Oregon Ballet Theatre would like to extend a special offer to the community of Bethel Congregational UCC for our next dance program in June. OBT is presenting the work of one of ballet’s 20th Century masters with “Celebrating Balanchine.” The audience will experience three works that demonstrate his musicality and Neo-Classical style, including the Portland debut of the iconic Prodigal Son, based on the parable in the Gospel of Luke. We would like to offer your congregation members “buy one-get one free” tickets to enjoy either matinee performance during Father’s Day weekend (2:00 pm June 15th and 16th at Portland’s Keller Auditorium). Tickets available at obt.org using the promotional code of PRODIGAL. Offer expires June 7.
Bethel Potluck on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th
It's been a while since we've had a potluck at Bethel, and the Diaconate decided that Pentecost Sunday would be the ideal time to have another one! New members will be joining the church that day, and this potluck will be a wonderful way to truly welcome them to the Bethel family.
All are invited to join us after worship on May 19th. In addition to fun and fellowship, it will be an awesome time to personally meet and visit with our new members. If you can, please bring food to share such as appetizer, salad, casserole/main dish or bread. Beverages (coffee, tea and juice) will be provided, as well as large sheet cakes for dessert.
Bethel support for Habitat
at the annual fundraising breakfast amounted to $5,012.00, and Habitat expects the total to exceed $160,000.00. Thank you to all who participated so generously!
Thank you..
this week to those who signed up and helped with the Mens' Transition Project on April 29. We had a strong showing of cookie bakers and thanks go to Leona Erickson, Liz Flannery, Jane Frederick, the MacPhersons, Sue Pike, Dorothey Phillips and Barbara Russell. We also had a good group of servers that included Jim Doane, Winn Herrschaft, Fran Jensen and Fran Miller. A special thanks to these people. The next time we serve will be July 29, 2013. If you think that this is something you would like to do, check your calendars and there will be sign-up sheets for cookies and servers later in July.
Plan Ahead for Summer Sundays
Sunday School will be out in June, and Faith Development hopes to repeat the fun Sunday morning activities the children enjoyed last summer. Think of something you enjoy and
plan how to share it with the children. For example, last summer Bob Leitner helped build a house with large plastic blocks and talked with the children about Habitat for Humanity.
Could you plan a few games for the lawn?, or play hide and seek in the Christian Education building?
What could you share? A pick up soccer game? Finger paints? Woven string bracelets? A nature hike and hunt?
Please share what you love with the children of Bethel. A schedule will be available mid-May and we will be asking you to Create ONE FUN SUNDAY!
Staff Transitions
Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey, who has served as the part-time program coordinator since mid-December 2012, has resigned from her duties effective May 31. Lindsay works full-time as a program director for Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN). Her work load and supervisory responsibilities increased dramatically six weeks ago. That has made it impossible for Lindsay to give the time and energy necessary to fulfill the expectations of our job description. We are sorry to lose Lindsay and the skills and talents she brought to the position. We pray God’s blessing for her and her family as they journey into the future.
Aging Gracefully Classes
will continue for the last 4 Thursdays in May in the Narthex conference room. All who attended during Let and anyone else who is interested in joining the discussions are invited. Please contact Patti Matson (503-533-1799) if transportation is needed.
Morning Star Ccircle
Come to Morning Star Circle, Wed. May 8 at 10:00 am in the Narthex Room to hear
Jean and Jim Doane speak about their recent trip to Haiti to help in the effort to
provide water for the Haitian people. This will be our last meeting until Sept.11, 2013
Next Kid's Outing to OMSI
Hello All Bethel Families, The next Kid's outing is on Saturday, May 18, to OMSI. Prices are $5 per person and scholarships are available. Let's meet at 12:00Noon at the church and carpool to OMSI. I am also looking for 3 more adults as chaperones/drivers. We should be returning about 5:30 PM. Please confirm your kid(s) attendance by May 10th. RSVP to Ken Ruse by email at zken@tongaken.org or by phone at 503-574-3524.
Thanks.
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduation are coming up.
Sermons
Were you so inspired by a recent sermon that you’d like to hear it again or share it with a friend? You can! Go to our website at www.bethelbeaverton.org and you’ll find Sermons
under the Welcome tab or click the star/speaker icon.
Community Events
May 3-5: ISing of Animals
May 3: Truth and Justice for El Salvador
May 4: PEOPLE OF FAITH SAY“I DO!” or for more information or to register, contact Jeanine Elliott, elliottjeanine@earthlink.net, 503-686-5544.
May 14: InterReligious Action Network