Though we anticipate that we will be asked to stay home through Holy Week and even Easter during this very unusual year, we are still going to be commemorating the Passion of Jesus Christ and Holy Week at Bethel. Make plans now to join us for virtual Holy Week services online beginning Sunday, April 5. During Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday services, we will celebrate the sacrament of Communion via Zoom and Facebook Live. Be prepared to improvise in your own homes what you would like to eat and drink to symbolize the “bread” and the “cup” when it is time to “share the elements”.
Bethel begins the celebration with a Palm Sunday service on Sunday, April 5 at 10:00 AM. Join us on Facebook Live or on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207).
We will have a Maundy Thursday service on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 PM. Note that the time has changed from our typical Maundy Thursday time. Join us on Facebook Live or on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207).
On Good Friday, April 10 at 10:00 AM, we will livestream a special Stations of the Cross service on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207).
We will celebrate Easter and the risen Christ on April 12 at 10:00 AM. Join us on Facebook Live or on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207).
BHS Spring Food Drive
We provide a basic supply of groceries to feed homeless students at BHS for the 9 day spring break. We successfully met our goals for food collection for this spring drive! Now it's time to get ready to pack and deliver bags of groceries. The packing and delivery of the food will be March 16 at 9:00 am. Laying the food out occurs the night before, March 15 at 6:30 pm. Thanks in advance for your help with this
CPC Conference Minister Rev. Tyler Connoley Visiting
We will be joined by a special visitor this Sunday! Rev. Tyler Connoley, our newest CPC Conference Minister, will be visiting Bethel on March 1.
From his bio on the CPC website: Rev. Tyler Connoley is fifth-generation clergy, so you could say church is in his DNA. He has spent most of his adult life serving in the church, first as a lay leader and then as an ordained minister. He grew up in Zambia, where his parents were missionaries in the Wesleyan Church. He came to the United Church of Christ in 2004, and has served in the conference setting of the UCC since 2014. This is his first position as Conference Minister.
Tyler loves connecting people, and helping them find their calling, and has years of experience in group and individual discernment processes. He has been a prophetic voice, advocating for full LGBTQ+ religious inclusion since he came out in 1992. He has more-recently been on the streets advocating for racial and economic justice, taking arrest for the first time in 2019 in an action for Immigrant Justice at the Federal Building in St. Louis. A biblical theologian and storyteller, Tyler has a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity, both from Earlham School of Religion. His undergraduate degree is in Business and Economics from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Entering the Passion of Jesus
Mark your calendars for a very special Lent series - Entering the Passion of Jesus. Inspired by Amy-Jill Levine’s book by the same name, this Worship Design Studio series takes us deeply into the events of the last week of Jesus' life. The events of Christ’s Passion often don’t receive enough time in our worship and study. These stories are important to our faith journey and our identity as followers of Jesus. And yet, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter moves so quickly that we have little time to take in the dramatic story of that last week. During the weeks of Lent, we will “freeze-frame” moments in Holy Week so we might put ourselves in the picture, thereby “Entering the Passion of Jesus.” How might taking a closer look at the ancient story open us to deeper conviction for our role in its ongoing message? More details will follow in the weeks ahead.
"We Care" About the Homeless
The Bethel UCC Youth are raising money this winter to put together 100 "We Care" bags for anyone who wants to take 2 or 3 bags to keep in their car and distribute to homeless persons in our community. (This is similar to the Blessing Bag project we did a couple of years ago.)
To reach our goal, we need to collect items or donations between now and March 29. A cash donation of $20 earmarked for this project will fund a "We Care" Bag that contains basic toiletries, healthy snacks, warm clothing articles and special notes from Bethel youth. Donations by check should be made out to Bethel UCC. We would also appreciate (in lieu of a donation) a contribution of any items on the shopping list. Many of these items are inexpensively available at a Dollar Tree, Walmart or K-Mart, and some come packaged in multiples which will help stretch your contribution across more than one Blessing Bag. Many thanks for your help from the Bethel UCC youth! If you have any question, please contact Beth Astarte.
Black Girls in Suburbia Documentary
Join us for a screening and community dialogue of Black Girls in Suburbia, a Documentary by Melissa Lowey on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 4-6 pm at Southridge High School in the Community Room. This was shown at the Community Conversation about Race last week. It would be wonderful to have a contingent of Bethel people show up. If you're interested, please contact Beth. Suggested donation is $10 but all are welcome. Click here to see the trailer and a longer sneak peek by clicking here.
Faith Cafe
It's a new year and it's time for another Bethel/CHUCC Faith Cafe command performance on Sunday, February 9. Please let Susan or Peter Bauer know whether or not you will be able to help out as soon as you are able. (It helps us plan!) As before, please indicate whether you would like to help out with cooking (2 pm arrival), set-up (3:00-3:15 pm arrival), or serving (4:15-4:30 arrival).
After February 9, our next Faith Cafe volunteer opportunity will be March 29. Please mark your calendars.
A Beaverton Community-Wide Conversation Around Race
There will be a sign-up sheet for this event in the Fellowship Hall. Let's show up as a Bethel contingent!
Who Are You?
You are invited to join us in the new year as we explore a new series from Worship Design Studio called Who Are You? beginning Sunday, January 12.
The new year is a great time to re-look at questions such as "Who are you?" and "Where are you going?" We find ourselves making New Year's Resolutions in an effort to become who we want to be. Sometimes they last but most of the time we end up making the same resolutions year after year. This year we'll delve deeply into the question of "Who are You?" and discover that it is linked indelibly to "Whose You Are?" What amazing things could happen if you lived
into your best, most passionate, loving self? Let's find out together!
Quarterly Women's Gathering: Aim Your Arrow 2020
Join us on Saturday, January 11 from 9:30 AM to 1 PM as we start off 2020 with a special workshop designed and facilitated by Rev. Kathleen Verigin.
Are you ready to step off the edge of 2019 to a new edge that is one of your choosing? That’s what January is for! In this this fun and meaningful workshop—through meditation, reflection, and ceremony— we will together take aim for a fabulous 2020. The outcome is a Word of Intention that will guide and support you through the next calendar year.
Invite your mothers, daughters, aunts and nieces and friends. Lunch will be provided. Please bring a morning snack to share. Donations will be accepted to help offset costs. If you need child care let Paige know when you register. RSVP to Paige@unangst.net or 503-567-9946.
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 29, 2019 at 10:00 AM!
2 Christmas Eve Services
Christmas Eve Family-Friendly Service
Join us in the sanctuary for a celebration of Christmas that is fun and festive for families with young children, or children of any age. Our early Christmas Eve service on December 24 at 5 pm will include the lighting of the special "mystery" advent candle, a participatory reenactment of the Christmas story as recorded in Scripture and an opportunity to spread the joy by lighting candles and singing Silent Night. With carols, costumes and prayers, this service provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas eve at an earlier hour.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
You are invited to join us at a new time - 10 pm on December 24 for a candlelight service as we continue our theme of Heaven and Nature Sing: 300 Years of Joy to the World. Listen to readings, sing carols and hear beautiful music by our Chancel Choir and special guests. The service will end with the lighting of candles and the singing of Silent Night. It is a wonderful way to celebrate God's love through the birth of Jesus!
Faith Cafe
Last year we had the privilege of serving a turkey dinner the Sunday after Thanksgiving to 130 guests! More than one mentioned that it was the best Thanksgiving in a long time. This year we have the honor of serving Christmas dinner on Sunday, December 22. We expect a great turnout as we turn out a great meal. I know it's a busy time of year; please consider helping make a difference in our guests' holiday.
As always, please let Susan or me know whether or not you will be able to help out as soon as you are able, indicating whether you would like to help out with cooking (2 pm arrival), set-up (3:00-3:15 pm arrival), or serving (4:15-4:30 arrival). After December 22, our next Faith Cafe volunteer opportunity will be February 9, 2020. Please mark your calendars.
Dan Miller
This Sunday, December 1, we will have a special guest joining us for worship: Dan Miller, internationally renowned organist! 2019 marks Dan's 20th year as Rodgers Artist and Tonal Professional at Rodgers Instruments US LLC, one of the world’s leading organ builders and maker of Bethel's very own organ, located in Hillsboro. As you attend worship this Sunday, enjoy a special demonstration of virtuosic organ alongside our talented music team and chancel choir.
Unpacking the Sabbatical Retreat Update
Last Saturday, October 19, Bethel hosted an Unpacking the Sabbatical retreat to reflect on Pastor David's sabbatical, and what was gleaned by both pastor and congregation from the experience. To read David's summary of the event, please click here.
Looking Back
Matthew 22:15-22
It's a Wonder-Full Life Sermon Series Begins October 20th
Join us this Sunday, October 20th as we launch our 2020 Stewardship Campaign and sermon series - It's a Wonder-Full Life! Click here to see the trailer!
Spiritual practice feeds that part of ourselves that is oriented toward serenity, harmony, truth, compassion, gratitude, love and joy. But these are not always words we use to describe the role of money in our lives. In the classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a crisis of money creates vastly diverse reactions from several characters that can hold up a mirror to our own relationships with money. In this four-week series, we will “look” squarely in the face of our money issues in compassionate ways that can offer more depth of meaning, healing, and wholeness and a whole new “outlook” on what constitutes a wonderful life.
To delve deeper into this topic, join the Conversations for the Curious Class on Sunday mornings or sign up for Pastor David's Class on Money and Meaning, Tuesdays at 11:30 am or 7 pm.
Unpacking the Sabbatical Retreat
Join us on Saturday, October 19 from 9 am - 3 pm in the Fellowship Hall as we Unpack the Sabbatical with consultant Margaret Marcusen. This is the time for the congregation to share about their experiences over the summer and for Pastor David to share more about his and then, as a group, see where we go from here. All congregants, especially leadership, are encouraged to attend. Please sign up on Sunday so we can plan for set up and lunch. Thank you!
Let your voice be heard!
HomePlate - special video projecT
HomePlate is working on a special video project to highlight their many programs, and will be filming at Fellowship Hour this Sunday, September 29! For more information about this project, read on:
Over the past few months, HomePlate Youth Services has been working with Devin Tau, a local documentarian, on a youth-focused video for HomePlate. He has joined them on outings, come to their main office for a "mock drop-in," and filmed at both Sit-n-Stay and It Takes A Village. All of the interviews have been with the youth, which is the biggest difference when compared to our other videos that feature the staff and/or volunteers. Last on the list of filming opportunities is HomePerk. Devin and his camera operator, along with the two new core HomePerk volunteers, will be present at filming at Bethel's Fellowship Hour on September 29. We imagine that they would like to take some wide shots of the line coming through for coffee, maybe the dining area, and will probably want to film Maddison or Christian interacting with people (for those who are comfortable and would like to help with the project and be featured). Please feel free to check in with Devin the filmmaker, who is very friendly. HomePlate ultimately hopes to use the video as promotional material to have on their website, use at presentations, etc. We're really excited to help provide some good footage of HomePerk in action and help our friends at HomePlate.
Rummage Sale
The Bethel Rummage Sale is approaching and we need everyone to pitch in! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and a great way for you to give to Bethel is to help with the annual Rummage Sale. Here are some ideas for how to get involved:
1. Now is a good time to sort through your cupboards, closets, and garages. There will be boxes in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall every Sunday in September for you to take home home and fill up. Drop off days and hours are attached to every box. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ITEMS BEFORE SEPT 30th. WE HAVE NO SPACE FOR STORAGE.
2. We also need your time!
-Can you spend time hanging up clothing as donations come in?
-On Sept 30 and Oct 3, can you unpack a box and set items on a table? Evening hours are available.
-On Oct 3, can you help stick prices on items?
-On Oct 4 and 5, can you sit or stand in a designated area and greet shoppers, answer questions, like where to check out? Can you add up purchases using a calculator? Can you bag purchases?
3. Volunteering is probably one of the best ways to meet people and make connections. If you are new to Bethel or a long time member, we would love your help at the Rummage Sale!