Two Neighborhoods made large food donation!

Bethel's Food Pantry received over 300 lbs of canned food and non-perishable food products earlier this week, and an additional $210 in cash donations, thanks to a generous outpouring of community support from 140 residents of the South Beaverton and Greenway neighborhoods in our community.

The two Neighborhoods hosted a "free" shredding event to recycle unwanted financial statements, tax records, billing statements, etc. A total of 140 vehicles converged on the Conestoga Rec Ctr., contributing about 4,700 lbs of unwanted papers. 

Residents were also encouraged to donate canned and non-perishable food items to Bethel's Food Pantry, and their generous response was truly impressive!

Thanks to Deb Stewart, and our neighbors in the Greenway and South Beaverton NACs for organizing and hosting this very successful event, and Jonathan Schlueter for transporting the donations!

Death in our ESL family - GoFundMe

On Monday, April 27, 2026, Yeyson Perez Escalante, a 20-year-old man from Tectitán, Guatemala, was killed in the parking lot of his apartment complex in Beaverton. While this might at first sound like yet another tragic story about a homicide in our area, Yeyson’s death carries added significance for us at Bethel because he was a Level 1 student in our ESL program. Yeyson’s teacher described him as a “bright light and important member of our community,” and his fellow students held space in the days following the announcement of his death to share their favorite memories of him and to talk about the impact he had on everyone there.

Yeyson’s sister has started a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $6,500 to cover funeral costs and the expenses needed to repatriate him to Guatemala, where his father and siblings still live. If you would like to offer support to Yeyson’s family, you can make an online donation here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/en-memoria-de-yeyson-perez-apoyo-para-su-traslado-a-gua

Memorial Day Hospitality Volunteers Needed- Monday, May 25th

Every year Bethel provides the hospitality for the THPRD event in the Veteran’s Memorial Park on Memorial Day. We serve coffee, tea, and water to the hundreds of attendees. We start setting up our canopies around 9:30 am so we can start serving beverages to the volunteers and Beaverton Police around 10:00 am. Then we start setting out platters of homemade cookies at 10:15 am so visitors can grab a cookie and beverage on their way to get a seat in time for the program, which starts at 11:00 am.

Volunteers needed to:
- Bake 2-4 dozen cookies
- Set up canopies, tables and chairs outside
- Make beverages: coffee, hot water, cold water
- Put out cups, creamer, etc..

The more hands the merrier. Signups are open until Sunday, May 24th. Please sign up before service or during Fellowship time after the service. If you won’t be in church on Sunday, email Linda Timmel at timmelin@comcast.net.

BHS Homeless Teens- Meals Needed

We have received donations of 72 hearty meals! Doing the math that leaves us short 68 meals for Beaverton Teens. One of our members has donated 24 Cup Noodles. Our new meal goal is 40 non-perishable, microwaveable/on the go meals! We know we can reach this goal with your continued help.

Donation examples: Cup Noodles, Ramen packs, Kraft Mac and Cheese.

If you are outside our church organization and would like to contribute to this effort, you can drop off your donations within office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am-3pm

Your giving makes a great impact.

Youngish Adults Board Games and Brunch - Saturday, May 2nd

We're organizing a Board Games and Brunch Potluck on Saturday, May 2nd from 10 am to noon in the fellowship hall. If you haven't been to one of these in the past, this event is super fun and yummy! The church will provide the coffee, so please come bearing a favorite brunch item and/or board game to share (ideally something playable in an hour or less).
This event is intended for youngish adults and families but reach out if you are interested in coming!

Jim Heider and Amanda Sanchez will be helping pull off this event so please reach out to them with questions. Please include the office in your RSVPs, at office@bethelbeaverton.org, so we can keep track of a headcount.

Food Cupboard Volunteers needed

There is a need for volunteers in computer entry and/or helping clients. Hours are Monday from 11am to 2pm or Weds and evenings from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. If you are new to Food Cupboard we will train you or if you are experienced and want to pick up a new session please contact Marguerite Gallagher or Phyllis Hancock via email for helping clients by clicking their names here.

New Worship Series

Join us this Eastertide, Sunday, April 12th, as Rev. David Randall-Bodman leads us in our new series: "Building A Future of Hope and Love". Pastor David drew this year's Eastertide sermon series directly from Bethel's Capital Campaign slogan. Join us in this six part series as we discuss topics like generosity, giving, and what it means to build a future of hope and love together!

New Member Orientation April 26th and May 3rd

Interested in joining the church or learning about membership? Then join us for our two-part membership class.
These two sessions give basic information about the life of Bethel: our organization, mission, vision, and hopes for the future. It makes no different whether you choose to join Bethel or not, no pressure, that decision is totally up to you! And regardless, you are always welcomed here. 
We will gather in person in the Conference Room at Bethel after service. It's a great time to meet Bethel's Senior Pastor, David Randall-Bodman and other's who are interested or searching for an all inclusive faith community. 
Session 1 – Sunday, April 26th from 11:30 am – 1:00pm (light lunch)
Session 2 – Sunday, May 3rd from 11:30 am – 1:00pm (light lunch)

Building Bridges - Portraits of Immigrants and Refugees

On April 11th & April 18th R2R will be showcasing Building Bridges which features photographs and interviews with people who have come to the United States as immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers — the exhibit helps challenge ignorance and hatred with education and love.

Click here for more information about Bethel UCC and their R2R team

Click here for more information about Family Diversity Projects and their Building Bridges Project

Easter Egg Hunt- April 5th

Join us after worship (11:15 am) on Easter Sunday, April 5th, for an Easter Egg Hunt for all our children up through 5th grade. Come find us after service by the Food Cupboard doors to meet for our Easter Egg Hunt. Weather permitting, we will stage our egg hunt outside in two separate areas for older and younger kids. If needed we will move our hunt indoors to classrooms in the education building. (Our youth group is asked to come before service at 9:15 am to help hide eggs.) Please have your child bring their own Easter basket. We will have bags available for those who forget.

Following the egg hunt, your are invited to continue celebrating with us in the Fellowship Hall with special treats.
Questions? Please reach out to Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org.

Palm Sunday - March 29th at 10 am

Holy Week begins with worship on Palm Sunday. The children and choir members will gather at the Front entrance of the church and in the Narthex for a congregational procession into the sanctuary with palms waving! Congregants can decide if they would like to join the processional or be seated in the sanctuary at the start of service.

Our children will be invited back to the classrooms for a special Sunday School lesson on Holy Week.

Pastor David will offer a sermon entitled, Even the Stones Cry Out. Worship will conclude quietly with the building of the cross (made from the trunks of our Christmas trees).

"Sunday, March 15th - Pie Potluck for "Pi Day"

Calling all mathematicians and bakers! After the delicious success of our our Mardi Gras potluck, we're planning a fun Pie Potluck in honor of Pi Day (3.14) to celebrate some yummy food and friendship during our fellowship time. Please let us know what kind of pie you plan to bring (apple? chocolate silk? pizza!?) You can email your pie contribution to Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org.

Easter Flowers Ordering

If you would like to order Easter flowers this year, please submit your form with payment of $10 per plant February 20th - March 20th taking last order and money on Sunday March 22nd.

Checks can be mailed to the church office, you can drop a sealed envelope containing cash or check in the secure mailbox on Watson, or you can pay through our eGiving portal. Easter flowers will decorate our Sanctuary for the in-person Easter hybrid worship service, and then you are welcome to take your flowers home to continue to enjoy. If you do not plan to join us on Sunday, you can pick up your flowers the following Monday by visiting the office from 9 to 3, just mark your form.
You may download the Easter flower order form by clicking here and bring it to church. Also, you may order and pay for the Flowers on Bethel's e-giving or pick up a form in the narthex and give to the office. Or contact Lynne Marie at office@bethelbeaverton.org.

Baked Potato Bar Fundraiser - Sunday, March 8th

It's that time of year again! For a St. Patrick's Day treat, we will be holding our annual Baked Potato Fundraiser. Kids and youth are encouraged to participate to help fund camp this summer.
Parents are asked to volunteer to bring ten pre-baked potatoes before service to help support this fundraiser.

At the end of Sunday School, we will escort kids to the Fellowship Hall to finish setting up. Youth are invited to come join us at the start of Prayers of the People if they are in the main service. Then kids and youth can help stock the Baked Potato Bar or help serve church members during fellowship time.
To sign up to bring potatoes, please email Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org

Lenten Bible Study - Mondays on Zoom from 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Beginning Monday 2/23 through 3/30

We are offering a bible study based on our upcoming Lent Series: Full to the Brim. This series will explore the expansive, overflowing love of God taught by Anderson Campbell, Deb Stewart, and Victory Nichols. We will have devotional booklets available in the narthex to those signing up.

Our study will take place Monday nights on zoom (a link will be provided in our highlights 'stay connected' section and sent directly to those signing up). You can sign up on the clipboard in the narthex and by emailing Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org

Women's Retreat - Saturday, February 21st, 2 - 4 PM

The Brilliance of Resilience

For anyone who has felt overwhelmed or drained or not enough lately, our upcoming women's retreat on Resilience is for you! Come and be lifted up with fellowship, inspired by scripture, and leave with tools to equip us to ground ourselves and keep going as God has called us.
Plan on joining us for a special time of fellowship and faith!
All who identify as women and/or nonbinary are welcome to attend!
Saturday, February 21st in the fellowship hall from 2 - 4 pm!
Please email Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org with any RSVP's or questions!
Tea-time Refreshments will be served!

BSD Neediest Families Food Project - Pack Out on March 14th

The Spring project to supply food for Beaverton School District’s neediest kids and families has launched.
We are expanding the project and will provide 100 boxes of food and toiletries.
This is more than double what we did in December.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 14. By the end of that day we will have packed those 100 boxes and have them ready for delivery on March 16.
More information will follow in future announcements along with ways you can get involved with this important project in our highlights newsletter and on Sundays.

If you are outside our church organization and would like to contribute to this effort, you can email our office to find out how you can volunteer: office@bethelbeaverton.org

Ash Wednesday - February 18th

Ash Wednesday – Simple Supper and Worship – Wednesday, February 18th – 6:30pm.
We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a light supper of soup and bread to launch our Lenten theme: Full to the Brim.

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.

Ash Wednesday is also the time when we aspire to make some room for deeper introspection and practices that will draw us into the love and assurance of faith. But sometimes faith can feel not as assured as we hoped for. We can feel “less than,” perceiving that others seem to be able to be “more faithful” in their practices and beliefs. This Lent, rather than change for “the best”, we’ll seek to gain momentum one day at a time, “to reach for a faith that is never perfect, but good enough.”

To help with the preparation of the meal, please RSVP to office@bethelbeaverton.org or call 503-646-1191, by Sunday, February 15th, if you plan to attend the service. 

Mardi Gras Sunday Potluck - February 15th

Before we dive into the season of Lent, we have an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the richness of our community and have a little fun! We're leaning into the festivity by inviting everyone to participate in a potluck.

We're looking for people who can bring cinnamon rolls, gumbo, red beans and rice, fruit, or other Mardi Gras favorites. 

Please email Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org to let us know what you can bring!

SAVE THE DATE: Our 144th Annual Meeting will be on January 25th, after service.

Join us for our Annual Meeting, where we will gather in the sanctuary after service and review the achievements of 2025 and the plans for 2026, including potential bylaw updates and our line-ups for our committees.

Written Annual Reports for 2025 will be available in print (limited copies due to cost), and digitally by a link, after the report has been completed by Friday, January 23rd.

Following the Annual Meeting a light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lynne Marie in the office so we can have an accurate count for the lunch service.