“You are only free when you realize you belong no place – you belong every place – no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.” – Maya Angelou
This fall, starting on September 13, we will begin a sermon series called “Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging.” It is based on the book by Brené Brown. We will explore what it means to truly belong versus “fitting in,” what it means to risk speaking and acting with personal authenticity and integrity, and how Jesus demonstrated true belonging because he was grounded in his relationship and dedication to God.
With the upcoming election, the pandemic and the unrest of racial injustice, this sermon series will give you spiritual practices to help and support you in your quest for true belonging while standing in your truth. Along with Sunday mornings, Pastor David will offer a book study via Zoom every Tuesday evening, September 19 – October 27 from 7-8:30 pm. Please purchase a copy of the book “Braving the Wilderness” to participate in the book study and to accompany the sermon series. If you want to participate and cannot afford a book, please contact Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org and a book will be provided for you.
"Stump the Pastor" - August 30
Your questions wanted! Do you have a theological question, or a question about the life of faith or the way the church works that you’ve always wanted to ask but were afraid to ask it? August 30 is your chance! Pastor David will offer impromptu answers to your questions. For the rest of the month, you can email your "Stump the Pastor" questions to us. Write out your question and email to the church office at: office@bethelbeaverton.org.
Bethel Movie Discussion on Race: John Lewis: Good Trouble
On Thursday, August 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM, we will be discussing the documentary film John Lewis: Good Trouble on Zoom. The film can be rented through online movie rental services such as RedBox, Amazon, YouTube, Apple, and Microsoft, etc. Please watch John Lewis: Good Trouble before August 6. In our Zoom discussion, we will discuss the movie, share what feelings it brought up, what it made us think about, and what insights we may have gained. This will be a safe place for all of us, including staff, to continue to educate ourselves on the complex issues surrounding white privilege and racial injustice. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86401912246?pwd=eTZxNVpxR2ZDbGlkY2RQWW5scWxPdz09. The password is 760759.
Thank you!
Grace and peace,
We Are Opening the Sanctuary for Quiet Prayer on Sunday Afternoons
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have missed being on the Bethel campus and in the sanctuary in particular. As you know, the Bethel Board decided to keep our building closed for Sunday morning worship during the summer months. However, we will be making the sanctuary available for quiet prayer and meditation once a week on Sundays from 12:30-1:30 pm.
To honor the COVID-19 safety protocols we will require you to:
Sign up in advance by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/bnEr1PQc6LcJEvEo9. You can reserve your place for future Sundays and come back to the form as often as you want. The number of people is limited to 12 each Sunday. You will receive a confirmation email the Thursday before to let you know that you have a spot for the following Sunday. Please sign up by end of day on Wednesday for the following Sunday.
Wear a mask.
Use hand sanitizer when you arrive in the Narthex.
Follow instructions from the host (Pastor David, Beth or Paige) about where to sit.
Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.
Refrain from visiting with others before and after inside the building.
Refrain from hugs, handshakes and singing.
If you would like to come to the Sanctuary on an upcoming Sunday, please sign up today by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/bnEr1PQc6LcJEvEo9.
May this opportunity to be in the sanctuary bless you and feed your soul.
Movie Discussion - The Hate U Give
Although Bethel has discussed the concepts of white privilege and racial inequality in the past, it is more important than ever that we provide a place for conversation and dialogue. This will require us to draw on all of our compassionate listening skills as we listen to other's opinions that we might not agree with and humility as we say things that may not be politically correct.
So, with all that in mind, Bethel is going to jump in with both feet and provide a place for you to come and dialogue with each other. We have decided to center our discussions around the viewing of a film. On July 23 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM, we will be discussing the film The Hate U Give on Zoom. The film can be rented through online movie rental services such as RedBox, Amazon, YouTube, Apple, and Microsoft, and is currently included in the Hulu and HBO subscriber catalog. Please watch The Hate U Give before July 23. In our Zoom discussion, we will discuss the movie, share what feelings it brought up, what it made us think about, and what insights we may have gained. This will be a safe place for all of us, including staff, to continue to educate ourselves on the complex issues surrounding white privilege and racial injustice.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86401912246?pwd=eTZxNVpxR2ZDbGlkY2RQWW5scWxPdz09. The password is 760759.
Other movie discussion dates will be provided throughout the summer. In the meantime, Pastor David will be looking at materials for an in depth study of white privilege in the fall.
Congregational Meeting - July 19
We will be holding a congregational meeting on Sunday, July 19 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Zoom. Link: https://zoom.us/j/140844207. Note: this is the same link as Sunday worship, so if you are joining us for worship that morning, just stay logged into the same Zoom session and we'll reconvene for the congregational meeting after a quick pause following worship. In this meeting, we'll be discussing the upcoming HVAC replacement project and other congregational updates.
Movie Discussion - Just Mercy
Although Bethel has discussed the concepts of white privilege and racial inequality in the past, it is more important than ever that we provide a place for conversation and dialogue. This will require us to draw on all of our compassionate listening skills as we listen to other's opinions that we might not agree with and humility as we say things that may not be politically correct.
So, with all that in mind, Bethel is going to jump in with both feet and provide a place for you to come and dialogue with each other. We have decided to center our discussion around the viewing of a film. There are many great movie choices available to stream online. The staff has chosen the 2019 film Just Mercy as the first movie for us to discuss. This is free to view on Amazon, even without a Prime video subscription. You can located the movie here: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mercy-Michael-B-Jordan/dp/B082YJ8THX. Please watch Just Mercy before June 25. We will be hosting a Zoom meeting on June 25 from 7-8:30 pm for us to discuss the movie, share what feelings it brought up, what it made us think about, and what insights we may have gained. This will be a safe place for all of us, including staff, to continue to educate ourselves on the complex issues surrounding white privilege and racial injustice.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86401912246?pwd=eTZxNVpxR2ZDbGlkY2RQWW5scWxPdz09
Other movie discussion dates will be provided throughout the summer. In the meantime, Pastor David will be looking at materials for an in depth study of white privilege in the fall. Staff is putting together a resource list of movies, books and podcasts about white privilege. If you have some favorites, please email them to ba@bethelbeaverton.org so we can add them to the list. We'll post the list next week.
Bethel's Response to Racial Injustice
Bethel’s Senior Pastor Rev. David Randall-Bodman shares this pastoral response:
I have given considerable thought and prayer to a pastoral response to the murder of George Floyd and the resulting expression of public protest. The situation we find ourselves in has a long history. The outrage being expressed across the country is a symptom of a very complex system of institutional racism that has plagued our country since 1619 when the first African Americans were brought to this country and forced to serve as slaves. Everything from economic disparity, home ownership, opportunity to vote, mass incarceration, and access to quality education and healthcare, and disproportionate representation in traditional positions of power and authority have contributed to where we find ourselves today.
Here’s what I believe:
Racism is real.
Current and past claims of injustice are legitimate.
Injustice against African Americans and other people of color will stop when whites see it, own it and make “justice for all” a priority not just an empty phrase.
Baby steps toward stemming the tide of racial injustice demand spiritual and emotional strength:
To acknowledge our own (white) privilege;
To stop dismissing and taking offense when African Americans speak their truth;
To listen with open minds and hearts.
In his sermon “The Cross and the Lynching Tree: A Requiem for Ahmaud Arbery” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6985UG0Z3k), The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III observed that over the course of American history, every time black resistance to racial injustice has been expressed, it was met with white resentment laced with violence. (A visit to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture drove that point home to me last August.) He also made the brilliant connection: we are suffering from two viruses – COVID-19 and COVID-1619 (the virus of racism that has continued to morph over hundreds of years).
I want to share a personal example. When I attended Union Theological Seminary, I was deeply influenced by African American professors, Rev. Dr. James Cone and Rev. James Forbes. Even more so, I was shaped by the friendships I had with fellow African American students: Robina Winbush, Gary Simpson, Greg Groover, Mark Chapman, and Kelly Brown-Douglas (my Systematic theology tutor). I would never have begun the hard work of acknowledging my white privilege had I not been loved enough by my professors and colleagues to show me.
It is easy to dismiss racial injustice until you witness it. In seminary, I confessed to an African American friend that I just really didn’t get why black folk believed they had it so much harder than white folk. He suggested we go to a nearby grocery store to buy groceries.
As we approached the store, he told me that we’d go in together and then split up to do our own shopping. He suggested we meet in about 10 minutes toward the back of the store. When we found each other, he faced me and asked, “Is there a guy about 15 feet behind me?” “Yeah” I said. “Well he’s been following me around ever since I entered the store. Anyone following you?” “No”…it hadn’t even occurred to me that someone would be following me. My friend said, “He’s a plain clothed store security officer.” “Keep shopping,” my friend said, “let’s meet up at the cash registers in a few minutes.” We met at the check-out line. “You go ahead of me” my friend said. I unloaded my groceries and paid for them by personal check. “Thank you” the clerk smiled at me as she gave me my receipt. My friend then unloaded his groceries and prepared to pay by check (By the way – we both had checking accounts from the same bank). The clerk glared at him and said “I’ll need to see three forms of ID and two of them have to be photo ID’s.” He looked at me and said, “Are you starting to get it?”
My friend and I had both graduated from prestigious liberal arts colleges. Both students at the seminary a few blocks away. Both from middle class, professional families. We were dressed and groomed almost identically. The only difference was the color of our skin. He was tailed by a security officer and forced to prove his identity, while I experienced neither.
If you are a black person, you’d know that this sort of thing happens all the time. If you are a white person, you’d be inclined to think this was an isolated incident. Surely my friend wouldn’t experience this every time he shopped? This is an example of the blindness of white privilege. Because we take so much for granted, we are stunned when we discover that not everyone enjoys the same privileges; and what’s worse, rather than being given the benefit of the doubt, they are considered guilty until proven innocent.
I find racial injustice deeply troubling. If you are like most kind-hearted people, you want to be a positive force for justice, but you may not know what to do or what to say. That isn’t a good enough excuse to do nothing or to stay silent.
My African American friends and colleagues would rather I/we try to be a force for good….to support the hard fight for racial justice in America, than to be paralyzed by our own fear that we’ll say or do the wrong thing.
With God’s help, we’ll be a force for good.
Guest Worship Leaders - May 24!
Several weeks ago the Council of Conference Ministers UCC sent a “gift” to all local church pastors. The gift was a complete worship service for “weary local church pastors and staff members”. You’ll have a chance to see and hear UCC clergy from around the country lead worship. Our Moderator Paige Unangst and Personnel chair Heather Griffo agreed to accept the gift on Bethel’s behalf. As a result, Pastor David, Beth, Owen and Chad are getting a break from preparing and presenting worship this holiday weekend. Monique Manley-Smith also gets a break from her work to sync Facebook Live with Zoom. Paige Unangst has graciously offered to host the Zoom worship presentation at 10am. (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/140844207)
If you join Sunday worship on Facebook, the service will be posted. Liz Patch will schedule a “watch party”. If you join via Zoom, Paige will serve as your “live” host. We hope you appreciate the opportunity to see other clergy from around the country lead worship. Pray for David, Beth, Owen and Chad to enjoy Sabbath and rest and relaxation this weekend.
Bethel's Got Talent
Bethel is having a virtual talent show this Saturday, May 16 at 6 pm! The deadline for submissions is TODAY, Friday, May 15 at midnight, so you have until the end of the day today to send us a video of your amazing talent.
The Bethel Talent Show will be held on Zoom using the following link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89756592556). If you have a talent to share we want to hear from you! Whether it's a musical talent, a poetic talent, a talent for physical movement, photography or any other type of talent, please join in the fun!
This talent show will consist of pre-recorded clips. You'll submit your clips ahead of time. It's easy to submit. You can submit a video (preferred) or audio file. It's easy to record an audio file in your Voice Memos app on your smartphone or tablet. To submit material contact music director, Owen (ohs@bethelbeaverton.org). Audio files can be emailed, video files can be easily uploaded to Dropbox. Email Owen for easy-to-follow instructions for the Dropbox upload.
Staying Connected during COVID-19 via Zoom and Facebook Live
We will be broadcasting Sunday worship live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/) and Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207, or by phone at 1-301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 140 844 207) on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. We will be mailing Sunday School materials to our Bethel families with children enrolled in Sunday School. If you are having trouble accessing worship or other programs online on Facebook or Zoom, please contact Nancy Winston at winstonj@comcast.net or (503) 544-3323 for assistance.
Young Adults are meeting Mondays at 4:30 PM via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/593887934
Mid-Week Prayer Service at 6 pm on Wednesday via Zoom. The Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/287178245, or by phone at +1 253 215 8782 US, Meeting ID: 287 178 245.
Pastor David will be hosting an open drop in session for checking in on Zoom each Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM here: https://zoom.us/j/8946314945
Beth will be hosting an open drop in session for checking in on Zoom each Monday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM here: https://zoom.us/j/8946314945
Bookies will meet next on May 26 at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/764394963
Check back with Highlights each week for links to other special events and programs going on that we
Easter Service and Hallelujah Chorus Music
We will celebrate Easter and the risen Christ this Sunday, April 12 at 10:00 AM. Join us on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/) or on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207 or by telephone at +1 301 715 8592, Meeting ID: 140 844 207). This all-generational virtual worship will celebrate Christ’s resurrection with special music, prayers and liturgy. An invitation to sing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus will conclude worship.
Hallelujah Chorus Music
On Easter Sunday our service will conclude with the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. If you'd like to sing along the sheet music can be downloaded in pdf form here (http://music.untraveledroad.com/Handel/Hallelujah.pdf). You will be singing along with a recording from Bethel's performance of Handel's Messiah with Mt Hood Community College Orchestra in 2015.
Holy Week Schedule
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!