Faith Formation and Coherency

Faith Formation and Coherency

I hear the word faith quite often, especially here at church in regards to our religion; but what does faith really mean? According to my dictionary; Faith is something that is believed especially with strong conviction. What a vague definition! I needed to know more, so, like any good researcher I began asking questions; What does faith look like? What do others believe in? What does strong conviction look like? I looked at home, I looked at school, I even looked at gym practice. But I ended up right back where I started; here at Bethel.

So I asked other people what they believed in. Most people said they believed in God, or maybe their church. Some weren’t sure what they believed in.

I asked myself these questions too. What do I believe in?

The Healing Power of a Loving, Accepting Church Community

The Healing Power of a Loving, Accepting Church Community

As many of you know, we are Monique and Nikki Manley-Smith. We have been members here at Bethel UCC for close to a year and a half now (give or take). Which seems odd to think about because we feel like Bethel is so ingrained in our lives now that it’s hard to believe that there was a time (and it wasn’t that long ago) when it wasn’t. Today we are going to share with you the blessings of community that we have witnessed at Bethel. But before we go putting the horse before the cart how about we give you a bit of our history. 
 
I, unlike Mo, did not grow up in the church. I actually found Christ while smack dab in the middle

Diane Imel Moment for Stewardship

Diane Imel Moment for Stewardship

When David asked me to share with you some of the reasons I’m so devoted to this church, I had my doubts. How to abbreviate almost 80 years into a few minutes was going to be tough, but I decided to tap into the passionate side (as David puts it) of my persona and share a few incidences that make this church, this Bethel, my faith community home and, indeed, an emerging pillar of Beaverton society. Let me give you a wee bit of my family history.

My mother, at 11 months in age and having lost her own mother to the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1917, was raised by the Designers who were next door neighbors and two of the original members of this church. They were also parents to 3 boys and 1 girls of their own. The family then was

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Beaverton Community Band Concert Supports Bethel

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Beaverton Community Band Concert Supports Bethel

THIS Sunday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM the Beaverton Community Band will be performing a FREE public concert at Bethel UCC. An offering will be taken, and 100% of the proceeds will go to Bethel!

Invite a friend to attend THIS Sunday, and let's show the band how much Bethel appreciates them! If you've never seen the Beaverton Community Band before, here is a video from an earlier concert at Bethel. Click the link, you'll be impressed! https://youtu.be/4J-JIBjA1uk?t=131

Brueggmann "Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now" GoodReads Review

Brueggmann "Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now" GoodReads Review

I read this book, a birthday present from my son Michael, while flying to Cleveland for the Common Global Ministries Fall 2017 meetings. Why not get closer to God while a citizen of the City in the Sky, part of the one million people in flight at any given moment in time? Walter Brueggemann is one of my favorite theologians, an elder statesman of the United Church of Christ. In under 100 pages, he insightfully lays out the case for Sabbath observance as a revolutionary act, an act of resistance against the 24/7/365, BUY NOW culture of ceaseless activity and endless greed in which we live in 21st century America. 

Brueggemann is a noted Hebrew Scriptures scholar. His analysis of the socio-economic realities surrounding the commandment to cease work on the seventh day reveals the depth and breadth of his knowledge of the ancient Hebrew texts. He makes a compelling case that

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Beaverton High School Homeless Students Need Winter Break Meals

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Beaverton High School Homeless Students Need Winter Break Meals

Beaverton High School has identified 86 students who are currently homeless. Some are doubled up with other families, and 7 are in motels or unsheltered. These homeless students depend on the meals they receive at BHS each school day, but the BHS cafeteria is closed for 15 days during Winter Break. This means they must do without the school meals they so rely on. Principal Anne Erwin believes that caring for these homeless students is a key to their HS graduation. Graduating positively changes these students’ lives forever.
 
What can you do?

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Looking Back at the PFLAG National Convention

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Looking Back at the PFLAG National Convention

Thursday, November 16, 2017,  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ

Join us at PFLAG Portland Washington County for a discussion on all we learned at the PFLAG National Convention! If you weren't able to attend our Convention, please join us a lively discussion on the many workshops offered, the introduction of our new National Executive Director, Dr. Jaime Grant, and the future of PFLAG. Sharing circle to follow.

ISing Choir Presents Christmas with a Japanese Twist

ISing Choir Presents Christmas with a Japanese Twist

Friday, December 1, 2017 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ
5150 SW Watson Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Cost: Free admission

ISing Choir, under the direction of Stephen Galván, presents Christmas with a Japanese Twist inspired by the choir’s successful concert tour to Japan this past summer. These concerts feature a superb collection of Christmas carols arranged by the conductor of New York City’s Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Julian Wachner. With grand gestures standing alongside the gentle and mysterious, Mr. Wachner’s unique and festive settings will come to life in a whole new way accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments.

ISing will perform a number of Christmas favorites like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” as well as the lovely “Niño lindo” from Venezuela and the

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Mad Hatter Unbirthday Party

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Mad Hatter Unbirthday Party

Join us THIS Sunday, October 15, 2017 after service in the Fellowship Hall for our very own "Mad Hatter Unbirthday Party" You are invited to wear your favorite hat, be it zany and fun or chic and sophisticated... Anything goes!!! Sombrero, Stetson, or beret, flowered swim cap, or your worn old lucky Cubs baseball cap. Wear it to Bethel and tip your hat to all the fun. We'll be decorating hat shaped cakes and eating them too. To help everyone decorate the cakes, please bring an edible cake decoration/candy for everyone to share to. You can bring your items and drop them off in one of the baskets either in the Narthex or the Fellowship Hall starting this Sunday.