Bethel Weekly Highlights

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Voter Resources

GET OUT THE VOTE 2018!!


Important Dates:
10/16/2018:  Voter Registration Deadline
10/17/2018: Ballots mailed
11/6/2018: General Election

Check your voter registration status: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do


Find out your precinct, register online and more!
Washington County: https://www.co.washington.or.us/elections/
Multnomah County:  Multnomah County Elections Division

View the Online Voters’ Guide: http://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide/english/votersguide.html

General Election Information:
League of Women Voters:  https://www.vote411.org/
Rock the Vote: https://www.rockthevote.org/voting-information/oregon/
Ballotpedia – measure information and sample ballet lookup:

VoteSmart: https://votesmart.org/elections/voter-registration/OR#.W7t2_5WWxZU
Oregon Ballot Measures SJAA Forum:  Please join the Social Justice Advocacy in Action Committee for a discussion of Oregon Ballot Measures on October 28, 2018 at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall.  Carolyn Rundorff will moderate.
 

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Register to Vote - Last Day October 16

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Register to Vote - Last Day October 16

VOTE411.ORG
Want to know what is going to be on YOUR November ballot? VOTE411.org will go live in early October. Find nonpartisan information on candidates and ballot measures on your ballot.

PAPER VOTER'S GUIDES
Want nonpartisan voter information for all of Oregon & Multnomah Co? Look for the English and Spanish guides at LWV Election Forums, all branches of the Multnomah County Library, Multnomah County Elections Office, New Seasons, college/university and community college campuses, Gresham City Hall, and other locations.

CANDIDATE & BALLOT MEASURE FORUMS, 7 TO 9 PM, OCTOBER 2 & OCTOBER 9
Hear from candidates and advocates at nonpartisan Election Forums at Multnomah County Board Rm, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Videos available on Iwvpdx.org a few days later.

  • Tuesday, October 2 - Portland Commissioner, Position 3; Oregon Ballot Measure 103, no tax/fees on "groceries"; Portland Ballot Measure 26-201, surcharge for clean energy projects.

  • Tuesday, October 9 - Multnomah County Auditor (in partnership with City Club of Portland); Metro Ballot Measure 26-199 & Oregon Ballot Measure 102, affordable housing bonds; Oregon Ballot Measure 105, repeals law limiting enforcement of federal immigration laws.

INTERVIEWS with CANDIDATES for OREGON LEGISLATURE
In early October watch Video Voters' Guide Recordings of interviews with state legislative candidates running for election in Multnomah County at lwvpdx.org.

October 16 is the last day to register to vote. October 17, ballots mailed to voters. Change your address on an existing Oregon Voter Registration up to election day, Nov. 6. Other Election Information - oregonvotes.org and lwvpdx.org

Outside My Own Little World Worship Series

Outside My Own Little World Worship Series

For the next eight weeks, our Sunday morning worship will focus on the theme, “Outside My Own Little World”. Each week there will be a participatory component to worship. You will be invited to come forward and add to the building of a “Vision Board.” A vision board brings a visual collage of our thoughts, dreams and visions for Bethel’s ministry. A question or prompt will appear in the Weekly Highlights the Friday before Sunday. You’ll have time to ponder your response. When you arrive Sunday we will have the materials necessary to post your contribution to the Vision Board. This Sunday, September 23 – Theme: “I Try To Stay Awake!”Question/Prompt: What would you change about Bethel to get us “Outside Our Own Little World?”

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Affordable Housing Social Justice Forum

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Affordable Housing Social Justice Forum

On Sunday, September 30 at 11:30 AM the Social Justice Advocacy in Action committee will host a forum on Affordable Housing featuring guest speaker Komi P. Kalevor, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Washington County. And Bethel members Paul Griffo and Carolyn Rundorff will update us on the latest volunteer opportunities with Habitat for Humanity and Family Promise. Don't miss it!

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Compassionate Communication - Outside My Own Little World

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Compassionate Communication - Outside My Own Little World

This Fall we will begin the sermon series, "Outside My Own Little World" from Worship Design Studio. It seems the world these days teeters between those who seek to protect “their own” and those who dare to declare that all are worthy of compassion and care.  In this series, we will remember why we are a Body together—being the hands and feet of Christ in a frightened and hurting world. What better way to do that then joining Bethel's Compassionate Communication Learning Community (CCLC). The CCLC is designed to help us get out of our own little world and really see people for who they are and where they are at. Learn about making observations without judgments and interpretations, embracing feelings as need messengers, identifying needs - ours and others and getting to the "ask." We will experiment with a blended learning style that will have an online component as well as in-person practice opportunities. It will be held September 10 - November 12. Click here for an overview. Be sure to register for the class by emailing Beth. The overview and orientation is September 10 at 7 pm in the conference room.

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Blessing of the Animals

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Blessing of the Animals

All are invited to join us for the Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, September 9, at 10 am. The service will be held in Beaverton's Veteran's Memorial Park located at 7th and SW Watson. All are welcome to attend and bring their pets for a blessing. If your pet isn't comfortable around lots of people and pets, you are invited to bring a photo. Some children even bring their favorite stuffed animals -- all options are encouraged.

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Quarterly Women's Gathering - September 15

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Quarterly Women's Gathering - September 15

Bethel’s Quarterly Women’s Gathering is Saturday, September 15, 2018, 9 AM – 1 PM. Please join us and bring a friend for “Casting Your Cares.” (Yes, we're holding on to summer with a beach theme.) We will be exploring what is ready to be released this fall so we can be beacons of God's love. Lunch is provided. Bring a breakfast snack item like muffins or fruit, or a dessert for after lunch. RSVP to Paige Unangst, text: 503-567- 9946, email: paige@unangst.net Let us know if you need child care.

Compassionate Communication

Compassionate Communication

Are you looking for ways to transform the world to a more kind and compassionate place, but don’t know where or how to start? Do you consider yourself a spiritual person but would like to live a more spiritually connected life? Are you wanting to have more authentic relationships with others at home, at work, or in your community, but just don’t know how? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Bethel UCC’s Compassionate Communication Learning Community (CCLC) is the place to be. We are a community of learners learning in community. Compassionate communication (also known as Nonviolent Communication) is more than just a process for communicating in a way that enables us to connect with others more authentically and more honestly. It is a way for us to manifest our spirituality in terms of compassion – the kind of compassion that supports incremental, wholistic and transformational change on three levels: within one’s self, among and within others, and societies at large. Compassionate communication is a habit of mind and a life-long practice with a spiritual basis.

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Gun Violence Forum

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Gun Violence Forum

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 11:30 AM the Social Justice Advocacy in Action Committee will present a Gun Violence Social Justice Forum. Speakers will include Bethel's own Diane Imel and Vivian Knudsen plus a presentation and Q&A with Ceasefire Oregon. A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to office@bethelbeaverton.org if you require childcare.

Guest Speaker Rev. Tara Wilkins - Sunday, August 12

Guest Speaker Rev. Tara Wilkins - Sunday, August 12

Rev. Tara Wilkins will be speaking at Bethel THIS Sunday, August 12. She has served as pastor of Bridgeport United Church of Christ since August of 2012. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Community of Welcoming Congregations in Oregon and SW Washington. Rev. Tara has earned a solid reputation in the Pacific Northwest as an inspiring speaker, workshop leader and preacher and is often a guest lecturer at colleges and universities. She is a fierce advocate and justice warrior, proclaiming an inclusive Gospel that honors the many paths to God. Pastor, leader, activist, writer, contemplative, and mother are just some of her roles, but her favorite job is being Gram to her 9 grandchildren.

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Bethel Beaverton Bash

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Bethel Beaverton Bash

Join us after church on September 9 for the Third Annual Bethel Beaverton Bash. There will be carnival games, sno-cones, face painting, bouncy house and even a dunk tank where you can "Dunk the Pastor" and others. There will be a table with information about the various committees at Bethel along with fun, food and fellowship. This year, we are having a Hawaiian theme so dig out your favorite Hawaiian attire and join us! We are looking for volunteers for set-up and clean up. Please contact Beth Astarte if you're available. Check out the Facebook Event!