Today’s sermon, “Anger: In Defense of Justice” is the third in Pastor David Randall-Bodman’s sermon series based on the book, “The Passionate Jesus,” by Reverend Peter Wallace.
Here is the link for Bethel's YouTube play list for the series 'The Passionate Jesus" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SpWgk6ONgg&list=PLkolLLTsvkir-zbXDgQSjToi5nIv2ZNmr&index=3
This year's Christmas Pageant showcased the talents of all of our youth. As a result, Owen and I would like to start a Youth Choir as well as have more people join the Hot Shots Worship Band. If you are a youth and love to sing or you play an instrument, please contact Owen or Beth. Owen is offering a free lesson to any youth who would like to share their musical talents at Bethel.
Come meet with Bethel’s Social Justice Advocacy Team this Sunday, Jan. 14, 11:30-12:30, to help plan upcoming Social Justice Forums. The meeting will be in Education Hall, downstairs in room 13. Past forums have provided information on homelessness, affordable housing, Oregon ballot measures, The New Jim Crow, and immigration. Our Feb. 25 forum will be about health care. Suggested topics for future forums include sexual assault/harassment, disability justice, gun violence, and international issues such as Israel/Palestine and the Cuba embargo.
Bethel's Quarterly Women's Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, January 6, 2018, 9 am - 1 pm. Our Theme is “The Gifts We Give Ourselves” with a focus on the topic of self-care. The day will begin with scripture and meditation, followed by the making of either bath salts or sachets to take home and enjoy. We will end with fellowship and lunch.
A giant thank you to all of you for helping collect, organize, bag and drive food to Beaverton High School! This project is simply impossible without your help!
Is your hard work worth it? Mac and Nancy Macpherson came back from Beaverton High saying how thrilled and amazed the counselors were to see all this food (it filled two rooms). They couldn’t believe that a church the size of Bethel could do all this. The counselor reported that some family members were in tears...
Thanks to our awesome Bethel Family and our partners, we have enough food and bags for the Beaverton High School Homeless Teen food project. Now we are asking for bodies. On Sunday, Dec 17 around 7pm after Faith Café, we will move all the food into the fellowship hall. This is heavy work and a little chaotic. Join in if this appeals to you. On Monday, Dec. 18, we need food packers at Church by 9am. We also need drivers around 9:30 am to drive food to BHS. This is a fun community day so please join us if you are available.
Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ will be hosting a FREE Social Justice Forum on February 25, 2018 at 11:30 AM. We will screen the new documentary movie "Fix It - Healthcare at the Tipping Point" followed by a Q&A discussion with local healthcare activists. A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to socialjustice@bethelbeaverton.org.
A powerful documentary that reaches across the political and ideological divide, "Fix It" makes the case for business leaders support for major healthcare reform. The film was two years in the making, with more than forty voices advocating for reform, including: activists, health policy experts, economists, physicians, nurses, patients, business and labor leaders.
Each year during Advent, Bethel offers a quieter, more meditative worship service for those who are coping with serious illness, grief, loss, or any of the other difficulties and challenges of life. The Blue Christmas Worship Service gives us an opportunity to give voice to our pain and frustration, and the opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through candle light, music, and, if desired, the ancient practice of anointing with oil. This year's Blue Christmas Worship will take place on Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm in Bethel's sanctuary.
THIS Sunday, December 3 you'll have an opportunity to "Live Abundantly in Uncertain Times" by dedicating your pledge of time, talent, and treasure. Please bring your pledge card with you THIS Sunday. Extra pledge cards and hard copies of the Time & Talent will be available at the church. Remember you can complete your Time and Talent form online by clicking on this link. If you are unable to attend, drop them in the offering plate the next Sunday you're with us or deliver to the office.
Every 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7-8:30 pm, a group of people meet in the Conference Room at Bethel to practice our compassionate communication (NVC) skills. Come and be a part of the fun as we practice and hone our compassionate listening ears. No matter your level of experience or whether you've attended a group in the past, you are welcome to join us.
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?
