Everyone post-grad and pre-retirement is invited to join us for some community, drinks and bites on Friday July 28th from 7 PM to 8:30 PM in our church courtyard. Please feel free to bring your favorite appetizer to share with the group. Childcare will be provided for parents of kids age 3-12.
Please RSVP with Erin Barber by Wednesday July 26th!
Sunday School Summer Field Day - July 30th
On Sunday July 30th, our preschool and elementary kids can participate in a day of summer games on our lawn during service in place of traditional Sunday School. Please dress kids in clothes that are easy to move in and can get wet and a little messy. We hope you will join us on this day of fun! Please reach out to Erin Barber with any questions!
Habitat For Humanity Volunteer Opportunity
Folks who would like a volunteer opportunity for Habitat that is a bit less arduous than working on a construction site and help assemble Simpli Home Furniture for resale at the Habitat Restore at the Restore Development Office at 12413 NE Marx St, Portland, OR 97230. This is an ongoing project so you and a group of friends can schedule times on a regular basis. If interested you can contact TC Schumacher at tc.schumacher@habitatportlandregion.org to schedule a time.
The Beaverton Habitat Restore on Millikan way in Beaverton can always use volunteers. It's open from 10am to 6pm every day except Tuesday. If interested you can find more information here: Volunteer - Portland Region ReStores (pdxrestore.org)
We are working towards setting a build day for our congregation, but it may be aways out.
If you have further questions you can email Leon at mr.leon.taylor.new@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 4th, Volunteers Needed
Join us on July 4th at Bethel!
Besides Bethel serving free ice cream and coffee for the July 4th event in the park ,THPRD will have live entertainment in the park. The band is Americana/Country... Chris Carpenter & The Collective. The will have at least one inflatable on our back grass area, but also a few new kids activities - like a bubble station and balloon artist, in addition to the face painting and yard games in the park.
They will again block off 7th and have a pickle ball area set-up and the rest of 7th for people to move back and forth between the church and the park. Last year, our ice cream line was in the street and even back into the park at our busiest time.
It’s bound to be lots of fun. 😀
On Tuesday, July 4th, the event runs from 11:00am-2:00pm. We will start serving coffee at 10:00am and ice cream cones starting at 11:00am until 2:00pm (possibly earlier if we run out of ice cream again)
JOBS:
Ice Cream Scooping or running ice cream from the indoor freezers to outside (choose one or the other)
11am-12 Noon (3 people to scoop and one to run)
12pm-1pm (3 people to scoop and one to run)
1pm-2pm (3 people to scoop and one to run)
Coffee making or running coffee pots and supplies out to our booth (choose one or the other)
9:30am-10:30am (one coffee maker and one runner)
10:30am-11:30am (one coffee maker and one runner)
11:30am-12:30pm (one coffee maker and one runner)
12:30-1:30pm (one coffee maker and one runner)
A couple people to sit inside in the Food Cupboard area and have eyes on people coming in to use our restrooms.
10-11am (need 2 people)
11am-12 Noon (need 2 people)
12 Noon-1pm (need 2 people)
1pm-2:00pm-ish (need 2 people)
9:30am…Set up canopy, tables, and chairs (need 4-5 people)
Starting around 1:45pm…Clean up (5-6 people)p. Her email is timmelin@comcast.net or sign up before church in the Narthex or after the service in the Fellowship Hall.
Let Linda Timmel know how you can help. Her email is timmelin@comcast.net or sign up before church in the Narthex or after the service in the Fellowship Hall.
Lynne Marie Elbert, Office Administrator.
M-F, 9am-3pm Office 503-646-1191r
Join us for "Pint with the Pastor!"
The sun is shining, the days are getting longer, and it's time for our first “pint with the pastor” of the Summer on Thursday, June 29th from 7-8:30pm. We're excited for everyone to join us for good drinks and better company.
Pastor David will provide the “pint” – of beer or lemonade. (We want everyone to feel comfortable). If these beverages don’t fit your taste, feel free to bring your own. If you’d like to bring a snack to share that would be great.
We’ll gather outside at Bethel around the tables with purple umbrellas and enjoy conversation and fellowship together.
If this appeals to you, please RSVP to David drb@bethelbeaverton.org.
Bethel Participates in Beaverton Pride – Sunday, June 25th
Once again this year, Bethel UCC will support and participate in Beaverton Pride! We will have a hospitality booth for the Festival to be held after the parade in the Farmer’s Market Parking lot.
Neomie Lemke has offered to coordinate this event. This event requires at least 8-10 volunteers. If you would like to participate, please be in touch with Neomie or contact the church office or 503-646-1191.
Come Hiking with Us!
Join us for a multigenerational Hike at Tualatin Hills Nature Park after service on Sunday June 11th. We will be doing a relatively flat trail ideal for all ages. In place of traditional Sunday school our kids will meet with Erin in the fellowship hall to prepare some simple lunches for the hike. Contact Erin Barber with any questions about the hike at eb@bethelbeaverton.org and let her know if you plan on coming by June 7th.
Click HERE to check out Tualatin hills Nature Park.
Board Games and Brunch, June 10th
Back by popular demand, we will be holding another Board Games and Brunch gathering on Saturday June 10th, from 10 AM to noon in the Fellowship Hall.
This event will be a potluck and be open to the whole congregation. Kids will be welcome--we will have a movie and activities set up for them in the Kids Corner if they do not want to play games.
Please bring a favorite brunch item for the group to enjoy and any games you'd like to share.
RSVP with Erin Barber (eb@bethelbeaverton.org) by Thursday, June 8th. You're welcome to bring other game-loving friends too!
To Mars and Beyond Vacation Bible School is coming to our Summer Sundays!
This summer, prepare for fun as we explore where God's power can take you. We'll be offering six special Sundays throughout our Summer months where we will enjoy crafts, science experiments, games, and lessons in place of our normal Sunday School.
Save the dates for:
Sunday, July 2nd
Sunday, July 9th
Sunday, July 16th
Sunday, August 13th
Sunday, August 20th
Sunday, August 27th
Email Erin for more information (eb@bethelbeaverton.org)
We're Celebrating Youth Sunday on June 4th
Kids are invited to participate in Youth Sunday! This is a special service where our youth take on roles to help lead worship—from greeting to reading, from singing to speaking. We present bibles to students who have just completed third grade and we honor and bless our graduating seniors. It’s a Sunday you won’t want to miss!
Sign up with our program coordinator, Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org
Resources to Advance our Response to Racism:
Bethel UCC established a Respond to Racism (R2R) committee, January 2021. A series of violence against people of color that occurred in the summer of 2020 (precipitated by the murder of George Floyd) demanded that we take action to confront systemic racism. Last fall, the R2R team members offered a six week class using the UCC curriculum called “White Privilege: Let’s Talk”. We also sponsored a day-long DEI Retreat for church leadership led by Carla D. Gary, JD. This column in the Highlights is provided by the R2R committee.
FROM OUR LEXICON FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Inclusion: Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision/policy making in a way that shares power. Inclusion promotes broad engagement, shared participation, and advances authentic sense of belonging through safe, positive, and nurturing environments. Inclusion is key to eliminating systemic inequality.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
An Evening with Slam Poet Alex Dang
Thursday, May 11 | 6:30-8 PM
Beaverton Main Library, Meeting Rooms A & B
Alex Dang is a poet from Portland. A former TEDx speaker, Dang competed at the National Poetry Slam, was a Portland and Eugene Poetry Slam grand slam champion, and has performed in seven countries. He has strong opinions about burgers and wants to know what your favorite song is. His performance - followed by a writing workshop for attendees - will focus on his identity, the different ways he sees himself, and how that may or may not align with the way the world perceives him. No advanced sign-up is necessary.
Voices from the Our City, Our Stories Project
Thursday, May 25 | 6:30-8 PM
Beaverton Main Library, Auditorium
Our City, Our Stories: An Expanded History of Beaverton focuses on how Beaverton has been
shaped by the experiences and stories of those who have lived, worked, or passed through this city. Hear the voices of some of the current-day individuals featured in the project during this interactive panel discussion with the researchers. Learn about how the city and Five Oaks Museum are working together to expand Beaverton’s narrative, why it matters, and how we’re redefining whose stories are considered history. No advanced sign-up is necessary.
Monday, May 22, 6:30pm
Save the date! Lake Oswego Respond to Racism, Lake Oswego Public Library, and
Lakewood Center for the Arts present a free showing of Vanport Mosaic’s “Walking through Portland with a Panther: The Life of Mr. Kent Ford. All Power!” – a solo play by Don Wilson Glenn, directed by Damaris Webb, and featuring La’Tevin Alexander. The play celebrates the life of Mr. Kent Ford, co-founder of Portland’s chapter of the ’60s-era black empowerment organization, and it incorporates archival footage and storytelling to understand the legacy of local resistance, rediscover lost neighborhoods where the Panthers used to patrol, and learn the intimate makings of unsung leaders of protest andrevolution.
This play is offered free of charge, but ticket reservations are required CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets.
RESOURCES FOR EXPLORING THE TOPIC OF RACISM
Bethel staff and the R2R committee, with the help of folks who attended our DEI retreat, have put together listings of resources for those who are interested in exploring the topic of racism. This week we are sharing the listing of Books and Articles.
The link is:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qJucuat1Vr9ODV07q8RBLP9EbBwC1U715WOPVDsPZOk
"Youngish" Adults Board and Game Night, Saturday April 29th
The Youngish Adults Group is hosting a fun Board Games and Brunch time together on Saturday April 29th, from 10 AM to noon in the Fellowship Hall. Kids will be welcome--we will have a movie and activities set up for them in the Kids Corner.
This will be a great time to get to know each other better over coffee and bagels, and of course games! We'll have One Night Werewolf (think Mafia, but better), Settlers of Cataan, Apples to Apples, and more! Please feel free to bring your favorite game to share with a group!
RSVP with Erin Barber (eb@bethelbeaverton.org) by Wednesday April 26th. You're welcome to bring other game-loving friends too!
Bethel's Women's Retreat
All those who identify as women are invited to come and enjoy a morning retreat. We will be exploring Friendship and Fellowship. Time to visit, enjoy lunch, and maybe even learn a little about yourself, others, and our relationships with each other and God. RSVP to Paige Unangst at either paige@unangst.net or 503-567-9946 by Saturday April 8th if you plan to come.
Habitat for Humanity Upcoming Event on April 26th!
Join the Portland Region Habitat for Humanity community at this year’s free HopeBuilder lunch on Wednesday, April 26th at the Oregon Convention Center from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Discover the work Habitat for Humanity is doing to address our local housing crisis. Help build a Portland region where everyone has an opportunity to have an affordable place to call home.
Learn more and RSVP today at https://habitatportlandregion.org/events/hopebuilder-lunch/.
The featured keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson. His memoir Survival Moth: Notes on an All-American Family examines the hardships that shaped his life in Oregon, his family, and his community.
Leon Taylor is hosting a Bethel UCC and friends table –reach out to Leon at mr.leon.taylor.new@gmail.com.
If you are unable to attend the event, and still want to support Habitat Portland Region, use this link, donate here.
Peace & Blessings
Holy Week and Easter
Please join us this year for Holy Week and Easter Sunday, beginning with Palm Sunday on April 2nd!
See a detailed schedule of our Holy Week and Easter opportunities.
Holy Week and Easter
Please join us this year for Holy Week and Easter Sunday! Click here to download this year's schedule of Holy Week and Easter offerings. This helpful guide includes a detailed schedule of our Holy Week and Easter opportunities.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday – Simple Supper and Worship – Wednesday, February 22 – 6:30pm
We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a light supper of soup and bread to launch our Lenten theme: wilderness.
Our gathering will include an activity designed to draw us into the season of Lent. There will also 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 if you plan to attend the service.
INVITATION TO AN INTERFAITH EVENT Jan. 29, 2023
You are invited to an Interfaith Event on Sunday, January 29, 3:00-5:00 PM hosted by Bilal Masjid, 4115 S.W. 160th Ave. Beaverton.
The goal of this event is to begin to build a diverse interfaith coalition to expand understanding of various traditions; build community and enjoy one another’s company; encourage respect and unity in the Beaverton area.
The afternoon will include: panelists from diverse faith traditions; small group conversations; choosing actions/activities to build the coalition.
Epiphany Season Worship Series – January 8 – February 19, 2023
The season of Epiphany follows the celebration of Christmas. This is the liturgical season when we celebrate the “manifestations” of the birth of the Messiah. In the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle stories of Jesus for example turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. in other words, this is the season of “ah-ha” moments. The reality of God’s Incarnation in human form, keeps showing up. The Biblical examples of the season of Epiphany are the “wise men” who came from distant countries, the presentation of Jesus at the temple, the
Our creative and imaginative task during this season is to hear these ancient accounts of God’s Incarnation as invitations to see how and where Christ is showing up in our world today.
This Epiphany, Rev. David R-B will offer lectionary preaching from the book of Matthew. David will build the worship series from The Working Preacher online resource. Working preacher is an on-line community of Biblical scholars from seminaries around the U.S. and other clergy who want to hone their preaching skills thus bringing the Good News of God’s love alive TODAY!
Epiphany Season Worship Series – January 8 – February 19, 2023
See last week’s blog post about the John Nilsen Trio performing this Sunday, Jan. 1st.
The season of Epiphany follows the celebration of Christmas. This is the liturgical season when we celebrate the “manifestations” of the birth of the Messiah. In the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle stories of Jesus for example turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. in other words, this is the season of “ah-ha” moments. The reality of God’s Incarnation in human form, keeps showing up. The Biblical examples of the season of Epiphany are the “wise men” who came from distant countries, the presentation of Jesus at the temple, the
Our creative and imaginative task during this season is to hear these ancient accounts of God’s Incarnation as invitations to see how and where Christ is showing up in our world today.
This Epiphany, Rev. David R-B will offer lectionary preaching from the book of Matthew. David will build the worship series from The Working Preacher online resource. Working preacher is an on-line community of Biblical scholars from seminaries around the U.S. and other clergy who want to hone their preaching skills thus bringing the Good News of God’s love alive TODAY!