We need your questions! 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? September 5 is your chance! Pastor David will offer impromptu answers to your questions. For the rest of the month, you can submit your "Stump the Pastor" questions. We will have a box for questions in the Narthex on Sunday, or you may email the church office at: office@bethelbeaverton.org.
Outreach Committee Donation Projects
Did you know that Outreach committee has several projects that help our climate and our community? We are currently accepting your donations for the following projects. You may bring your donation during office hours Monday through Wednesday from 9 am - noon, and 1 pm - 3 pm.
We take recyclable cans and bottles to benefit Family Promise.
We take slightly used clothing that is appropriate for school-aged kids to Beaverton School District clothes closet.
We take used, clean plastic and paper bags for the Food Cupboard.
Maybelle Center for Community Mosaic Mural Project
Nikki Manley-Smith is participating in a community art project organized by Old Town Portland's Maybelle Center for Community, a nonprofit community center that specifically addresses issues of social isolation. Maybelle Center for Community is currently fundraising by working with community members to sponsor, design, and create mosaic tiles to create a large mosaic mural for a courtyard space at their assisted living facility. Donors who give $150 receive a kit to create a 1' tile for the mural installation. So far, Nikki and other Bethel members have purchased/donated one tile kit, and are halfway to raising the funds to purchase/donate a second tile kit.
If you would like to participate in this fundraising opportunity for the Maybelle Center for Community, Nikki Manley-Smith is collecting funds to pool for tile donations, and plans to meet at the Bethel campus to assemble the tiles outdoors on either Saturday, August 21 or Sunday, August 22 following service. If interested, please contact Nikki directly by emailing nikki.manley.smith@gmail.com.
To learn more about the mural project, you can watch this video: https://youtu.be/hxP0aVE-B3Q
Beaverton Chalk Art Festival
The annual La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival in Beaverton will be held August 13-14. This year’s festival is being hosted in collaboration with the Beaverton Night Market. Activities will be held along a five block stretch of SW 1st Street in downtown Beaverton. The event is free to attend. If you're interested in volunteering, you can contact Sue Pike at swpike@frontier.com. For more information, view the event website at: https://www.2d4d.org/la-strada/
Outdoor Fellowship Time Starting July 25
On Sunday, July 25 following the congregational meeting, those who would like to are invited to gather outside in the courtyard for a fellowship time complete with cookies and coffee! Masks outside are optional. However, if you are not vaccinated, we strongly suggest you wear one. There will be other dates for outdoor fellowship time in August. More details to come.
Vacation Bible School
Bethel will be hosting Vacation Bible School for all children who have completed Kindergarten - 5th grade the week of August 9 through 13. This summer, our VBS will be held outdoors from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Everyone in attendance will be required to wear a mask, and all of our teachers and volunteers have been fully vaccinated. Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends are all welcome.
To register please click on this link and complete the registration form: https://forms.gle/9qEAg7cuyvo6YdHG8
This summer, we'll be following the series Knights of North Castle:
North Castle is hidden in a frozen land. The King’s valiant knights are on a quest in search of the king’s armor. But the armor isn’t what they think it is. Knights of North Castle invites children to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power by exploring how we put on the armor of God. They’ll explore Old and New Testament stories and discover different pieces of protective armor — the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Justice, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation — at work in the lives of familiar Bible characters, and explore how that armor works in their own lives as they follow and serve God.
If you have any questions about VBS or safety protocols, please contact Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
Independence Day Holiday
In observance of Independence Day, the Bethel office and Food Cupboard will be closed on Monday, July 5.
Pride Beaverton
Hybrid Worship at Bethel
We are delighted to announce that we will begin in-person (hybrid) worship on Sunday, June 27! We will be using a sign up system to assist with planning, safety, and to make sure we are adhering to occupancy requirements. To sign up for an upcoming June or July worship date, visit our sign up form here: https://forms.gle/w17UFoCY5ANzgXZ46
After you have submitted your request, the office will follow up with a confirmation email on Friday prior to that week's service. This is so we can accommodate the largest number of people depending on how many requests we receive for socially distanced seating, which will determine the attendance capacity of that service.
Things to know about hybrid worship and safety:
Everyone is required to wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth.
Please maintain social distancing when not seated in Sanctuary.
We are providing both socially distanced (required for children and adults who are not vaccinated, and available for those would would prefer to stay socially distanced) and non-socially distanced seating (everyone in group must be vaccinated). Ushers will guide you to your seats.
No congregational singing in the Sanctuary.
Pastor David will greet congregants OUTSIDE after worship. Please plan to do your personal socializing outside.
Our services will continue to be live-streamed to Zoom and Facebook. There will NOT be a coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall after worship. We will continue to offer breakout rooms on Zoom after worship.
If you have reason to suspect that someone in your household may have or have been exposed to COVID-19 or you are experiencing symptoms of illness, we ask you to please worship from home.
If you need to make a modification to your sign up for an upcoming Sunday service after the office has closed on Friday at 3:00 p.m., please email Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
If you have any additional questions, please email the office at office@bethelbeaverton.org.
Drinking Deeply from the Psalms
This Sunday, June 13, we begin our sermon series "Drinking Deeply from the Psalms." This worship and preaching series on the psalms is meant to move through the psalms in a manner that reflects both how the Psalter progresses, but also in a manner that reflects how we actually experience life. With regard to how the Psalter progresses, this series moves from Psalm 1 (the introduction to the Psalter) to Psalm 150 (the “exclamation mark” on the Psalter) — and also from “lament” to “praise.” With regard to how we actually experience life, the series follows a pattern where we move from “orientation” through “disorientation” and then to “reorientation.”
A big thank you to Lynne Marie Elbert, who designed and created the chancel visuals for this series. The visuals represent:
Orientation: When life is stable and the world seems trustworthy (Psalms 1 and 113). Praise and celebration.
Disorientation: When the bottom drops out and the tradition feels like a lie (Psalm 69). Worries and personal chaos.
Reorientation: When faith in a trustworthy God and creation are found again, but the experience of disorientation is not forgotten (Psalms 27, 40 and 146). Renewal and joy.
Bethel Awarded City of Beaverton Grant!
The Outreach Committee is happy to report that Bethel has been awarded a City of Beaverton grant for $5000 to help finance the 2021-22 Beaverton High School winter and spring break food bags for homeless students. This is our second year of being awarded this grant! A special congratulations to our Outreach committee chairs Fran Jensen and Nancy Winston.
Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Sites
Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Sites
If you plan to receive a COVID-19 vaccine but have received one yet, there are two upcoming vaccine sites available to the public.
The first opportunity is this Saturday, May 29 at Parkside Fellowship from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Details:
Pfizer First Vaccination Shot
When: May 29, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Parkside Fellowship in Beaverton
Sign Up Online: https://www.ohsu.edu/health/vaccine-scheduling-npar
The second opportunity is on Monday, June 14 at Beaverton First United Methodist Church from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Details:
COVID-19 Vaccine #1
When: June 14, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Beaverton First United Methodist Church
Sign Up Online: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d45aeae29a7ffc61-beaverton
To ensure enough doses, this clinic asks you to please reserve an appointment ahead of time.
Phasing Forward Update
Here is an update on Bethel's Phasing Forward plans from Mac Macpherson, chair of the Phasing Forward Task Force:
What’s happening in regard to Bethel’s return to in-person worship?
Good question! Please read on for more information about “hybrid services”, where we have both in-person and remote worship.
So, we will still be having Zoom and Facebook Live virtual services even when people can attend in the Sanctuary?
Yes. Many who now attend remotely will wish to continue to worship remotely, and early in the Phase Forward planning we committed to serving those who could not worship in person.
What will these hybrid services look like?
Safety of worshipers and staff is our top priority. Currently Washington County is rated high risk for COVID-19. That means we can safely have roughly 50 people in our Sanctuary for worship. The changes as we move forward into this will include:
Temperature checks
COVID health questions upon entering
Masks required
Social distance seating
Changes in how we receive offerings and communion
Use of our new HVAC units throughout Bethel, including the Sanctuary, that provide not only heat and AC, but also air purification
Extra volunteers and AV equipment needed to facilitate our worship filming
What will music be like?
Initially it will be instrumental and maybe some solos. We won’t sing hymns together yet. At some point we will be able to resume in-person choir.
How will we decide who may attend worship in person?
We’ll have a reservation system through the church office. More information will follow as we develop procedures.
What has to be done to get ready?
The biggest tasks are to purchase, install and test the new equipment that will facilitate high-quality simultaneous live and remote Zoom and Facebook worship. The Board has approved funding but there is much work to do. Training volunteers in their various roles is also important.
Will we have fellowship time in the Fellowship Hall?
Not yet. There are many safety and logistical issues we have to work out. But we will get there someday - and I, for one, can’t wait!
What can I do to help?
Volunteer! We’ll still need ushers, readers, and greeters. We especially need people to help with the Zoom and Facebook Live broadcasting.
And if you haven’t yet done so, please complete and submit the questionnaire about your vaccination status, and your comfort level with attending in-person worship. Link: https://forms.gle/PxBUwQjBzdyDQeHb9
When will we start these hybrid services?
We are not yet able to set a date, but we are hopeful that at some point this summer we will be able to kick-off our new hybrid services.
How do the new CDC recommendations affect our decisions?
The Phase Forward Task Force is discussing and discerning the best way to move forward. We'll share updates as we have them.
Beaverton Garden Club Plant Sale
Beaverton Garden Club will be holding their 13th annual plant sale on Saturday, May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the St. Cecilia Catholic School parking lot. Proceeds from the garden sale will support Veterans Memorial Park, Elsie Stuhr Remembrance Garden, scholarships, reforestation projects, the library, youth group programs, and other charitable and community causes. You'll find 1000+ perennials, trees, shrubs, veggie and herb starts, houseplants, and container gardens!
UCC General Synod - Rooted in Love - July 11-18
The UCC General Synod will take place July 11-18 and with a virtual format this year. Registration opens on May 1.
The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has faithfully convened a meeting every two years. This year, the General Synod will take place entirely online. A virtual General Synod presents a significant opportunity for this body of Christ to join together in full participation at General Synod. This is an exciting opportunity for those who have always wanted to attend General Synod, or those curious about this gathering of members of the UCC. Thousands of people can join in full virtual participation.
We will gather under the theme: Rooted in Love, July 11-18, 2021. You can expect the vibrancy of Spirit-led worship with prophetic preaching, music- and art-filled experiences that will anchor us. You can expect the same Spirit-filled energy in an engaging meeting of the General Synod that tends to the business and forward-momentum of the United Church of Christ. And, you can expect to learn more and connect with the UCC by attending workshops and other opportunities being prepared for you.
This year's keynote speakers will be Valarie Kauer, social activist and filmmaker, and Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, Author & Minister.
To learn more or register, visit the website at: https://www.generalsynod.org/
Spring Book Study
As part of our work around racial justice, this spring we will host a book study based on "The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing." You are invited to join others at Bethel for this book study beginning Tuesday, May 11 at 7 pm. We will meet every Tuesday from May 11 - June 15.
Link to the book: https://smile.amazon.com/Racial-Healing-Handbook-Activities-Collective/dp/1684032709/
The Racial Healing Handbook offers practical tools to help you navigate daily and past experiences of racism, challenge internalized negative messages and privileges, and and handle feelings of stress and shame. You'll also learn to develop a profound racial consciousness and conscientiousness and heal from grief and trauma. Most importantly, you'll discover the building blocks to creating a community of healing in a world still filled with racial microaggressions and discrimination. This book is not just about ending racial harm -it's about racial liberation.
If you need assistance in purchasing the book, please contact Beth Astarte by emailing ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
Habitat HopeBuilder Virtual Breakfast Fundraiser
Habitat for Humanity Portland Region will be holding their "Hope Builder" virtual fundraising breakfast on Wednesday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m., featuring keynote speaker journalist Ann Curry. This virtual event is free to attend. Paul Griffo will be our host and organizer. You can learn more about the event and RSVP by visiting the event website here.
If you plan to support Habitat for Humanity Portland Region at this event, remember to add “Griffo/Bethel Table” when you register. There is a fun bonus for those in attendance - you will be automatically entered into a drawing for an Alaska Airlines trip!
Thank you!
New Sermon Series - Just As He Told You: When in Doubt, Read the Instructions
Join us this Sunday, April 18 as we begin a new sermon series entitled "Just as He Told You: When in Doubt, Read the Instructions." Jesus' time with his disciples was short. But from the beginning he began to prepare them to continue his ministry once he was no longer with them. Using this Worship Design Studio series by Marcia McFee, this Easter season we will encounter teachings of Jesus that end up coming in handy as the early church struggles and thrives… ultimately handing on the instructions to us. What will we do with them?
Grab your "dancin' shoes" for Pentecost
During the Lenten season of healing, one of the things we learned is that people were joyous and happy after they were healed. They often could not keep quiet and would go off "dancing and leaping and praising God." As we head towards Pentecost, we're going to carry forward the joy of the resurrection by connecting with each other through dance and music.
During the pandemic in February 2020, Fenómenos do Semba, a group in Angola, south-west Africa, recorded themselves dancing to the song "Jerusalema" while eating and without dropping their plates. "Jerusalema" is in the Zulu language and is by South African DJ and musician Master KG. This dance went viral on the internet and inspired a worldwide Jerusalema Dance Challenge, as more and more people uploaded their own dance videos. The dance is simple to learn and we would like everyone to learn the dance with their families and friends, record themselves dancing to it and email the video to Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
There will be opportunities to gather on the south lawn at Bethel and do the dance in a group if you live on your own (socially distanced and masked) or would like to do it in a group. If you can't dance, we will have other options so you, too, can still participate!
Don't worry - you've got time to have some fun and learn this dance. All videos must be in no later than Sunday, May 16, and then a compilation of Betheleans dancing separately, yet together, will be shared on Pentecost as a celebration of the Holy Spirit moving in all of us!
Here's a couple of videos to learn the steps. You can use either of these dance tutorials. They are slightly different but we want you to add your unique spin to the dance. https://youtu.be/6efHtpJK-Ns or https://youtu.be/YtuVWAQzGtE
This is the version of the song that we will be using: https://youtu.be/3JCJskzryKc
Contact Beth Astarte with any questions at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
Special Worship Service - April 11
On Sunday, April 11, we will join in worship with our sister churches around the Central Pacific Conference at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Drawing from Psalm 133 and Acts 4:32-35, we will celebrate the joy of being held together in God’s Spirit with the theme of “Kindred: Celebrating our CPC Connections”. The service will be led by clergy and lay leaders from around the Conference, and our preacher will be Rev. Kathy Abend from Wright UCC in Boise.
Make plans now to join this unique worship service on Sunday, April 11. A special Zoom link will be sent out in the Highlights on April 9. We will also stream the worship service to Bethel UCC's Facebook page for those that prefer to participate in worship through Facebook.