Beaverton Welcomes Afghanistan Refugees

In response to the current political situation in Afghanistan, the Beaverton City Council approved a resolution during their Aug. 24 meeting declaring the city a sanctuary for Afghanistan refugees. As Bethel organizes around a multi-pronged recommendation to respond to racism, this opportunity to live our progressive Christian beliefs comes face to face with the very real condition of Afghan refugees. Pastor David will share more about this as part of his sermon series. If you are looking for a way to show support alongside others, consider participating in Beaverton's upcoming Welcoming Week.

• The City of Beaverton will be hosting a Welcoming Week September 10th through 19th, and is one of many cities participating in a larger national Welcoming Week campaign. Beaverton's 2021 theme is “Belonging Begins With Us.” To learn more about events scheduled in Beaverton, visit the website at: https://www.beavertonoregon.gov/welcomingweek

• National Welcoming Week is an annual series of events designed to bring together immigrants, refugees, and U.S.-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. The week’s activities celebrate the contributions of newcomers and provide opportunities to build cross-cultural relationships and understanding.

• To learn more about Beaverton's broader Welcoming Beaverton initiatives and activities, visit the website here: https://www.beavertonoregon.gov/1634/Welcoming-Beaverton

See No Stranger Fall Sermon Series and Book Study

“Love is a form of sweet labor: fierce, bloody, imperfect, and life giving – a choice we make over and over again. Love can be taught, modeled, and practiced…’Revolutionary love’ is the choice to enter into labor for others, for our opponents, and for ourselves in order to transform the world around us. It is not a formal code or prescription but an orientation to life that is personal and political and rooted in joy.” – Valerie Kaur, p. 310

Beginning September 12, 2021 and for 7 weeks, Bethel UCC will begin a study of Valerie Kaur’s book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. Join us as we explore what it means to enter into labor for others, our opponents and ourselves while we are rooted in joy. The first two weeks we’ll explore Love for Others through wonder, grief and fight. The next two weeks we’ll look at Love for Opponents by investigating rage, listening and reimagining. The follow two weeks we’ll focus on Love for Ourselves through the labor metaphor of breathe, push and transition. In the final week of the series, we’ll see how we can be rooted in joy as part of our commitment to Revolutionary Love.

You are invited to join the book group that will delve more deeply into the topics presented on Sunday morning. The book group will start on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 7 pm. If you need assistance purchasing a book, please contact the office at office@bethelbeaverton.org.

Book group Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82579532974?pwd=OVhLaGdsclJVbmNHeEN4TkxrZlFxZz09

To find out more about Revolutionary Love, watch Valerie Kaur's TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/valarie_kaur_3_lessons_of_revolutionary_love_in_a_time_of_rage?language=en and join us for the upcoming sermon series beginning September 12, 2021.

To hear Valerie's Keynote Address at the UCC General Synod this year: https://vimeo.com/573828542 or go to https://www.generalsynod.org/keynote-speakers/ and click on "Watch Keynote" under her picture.

Hybrid Worship Updates

As a response to the Delta variant of COVID-19 and new state health mandates, we are making some adjustments to our hybrid worship practices. We will begin using a sign up system again, with some changes. We will be asking everyone to sign in before attending worship - not to reserve a seat, but to make sure Bethel has accurate attendance information if any contact tracing becomes necessary. You may sign up online prior to Sunday, or you may sign in on the sign in sheet in the Narthex.

Online sign up sheet: https://forms.gle/LedhojGYTa1X4b5VA

Things to know about hybrid worship and safety:

• Everyone is required to wear a mask that covers both the nose and mouth at all times.

• Please maintain social distancing between households while indoors and outdoors.

• Refrain from hugging or touching those outside of your household.

• All seating will be socially-distanced for now.

• 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. 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.

• Our newly installed HVAC system includes air ionizing technology, which not only filters the air that circulates in the Sanctuary, but works to remove virus particles from the air!

  
  If you have any additional questions, please email the office at office@bethelbeaverton.org.

Stump the Pastor

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!