Starfire is a High School Youth Choir from Los Altos United Methodist Church. They will be performing a Concert, Sunday, July 24th, 7:30pm, here at Bethel. They will also be singing in our 10am Worship Service on the 24th. Their music director is Carol Demonte, Cathy Thoma's sister.
Concert Details:
Weave, an original musical by Dirk and Carol Damonte, celebrates the stories that make us who we are, and the ways the strands of our individual stories weave together with the stories of others we encounter to create a beautiful tapestry. Created around the life experiences of the singers and actors on stage, Weave, through story-telling and music, invites all of us to embrace the creative story that God continues to weave in and through us every day.
July 10 – Bethel Serves Faith Café – In Person
Bethel will take its first turn since February 2020 to serve Faith Café guests in the Fellowship Hall. This is a BIG shift from the way Faith Café meals have been prepared and served since the pandemic began.
We will need a full contingent of volunteers July 10th. We will need a contingent of 10 volunteers, including 4 cooks, for July 10th.
In full transparency, the decision to begin serving meals inside has some important aspects to consider. The Faith Café board decided that guests would not be required to wear masks upon entering the building, nor will they be asked to show proof of vaccination. Many of the guests do not enjoy adequate health care. As a result, there will be, most likely, a higher unvaccinated percentage of persons gathering in the Fellowship Hall.
Faith Café has taken precautions to limit this potential additional risk. There will be fewer tables and chairs set up thus creating more distance between guests and a room that is not crammed with people. Additionally, Faith Café is requiring that all volunteers be fully vaccinated and masked during their volunteer shifts.
Remember, too that our new HVAC system provides enhanced ventilation including filters that help with the spread of any air born disease.
We want to support Faith Café’s decision to serve meals inside. However, we believe it is important to inform our volunteers of the policies in place to make assessments based on their own risk tolerance. Please consider donating a couple hours of your Sunday afternoon to serve this critical need. Contact Susan (SusanBauer@comcast.net) or Peter Bauer (PeterWBaueriii@comcast.net) for more specifics or to volunteer.
Christian Identity New Worship Series
Join us as we begin a 6-week worship series on Brian McLaren's book, "Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?: Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World." This series helps to answer the questions, Can you be a committed Christian without having to condemn or convert people of other faiths? Is it possible to affirm other religious traditions without watering down your own? How can we stand in solidarity with "the other" as Jesus did and cultivate empathy and humility?
To help us focus on peace, our visuals will include peace cranes. The peace cranes you see were made by Darren Damonte's art students in Japan who created them as a gift to Los Altos United Methodist Church - LAUMC (Cathy Thoma's sister's church.) They are on loan from LAUMC to further peace and good will around our country and the world.
Click here to watch the story of the peace cranes: https://youtu.be/5wRabZXQ-hQ. Beginning this Sunday and every Sunday throughout the series, you'll have the opportunity to make peace cranes to add to the communion table during the song after the sermon. Packets with paper and instructions will be available in the narthex before service.
Here's a YouTube video that will show you how to make the cranes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfnyopxdJXQ. Here are the instructions for those that prefer written instructions: https://www.instructables.com/How-to-make-a-Paper-Crane-1/
Questions? Contact Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
Bethel Visits Oregon Gardens June 28th
Join us for a visit to Oregon Gardens on Tuesday June 28th. We will meet at Bethel at 9:45 and car pool from there. The drive takes a bit over 1 hour. You can explore the gardens on paved paths or take a 30-minute tram tour. There is a café there or you can bring your own lunch and eat at convenient picnic tables.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (60+ years old), and $9 for students age 12-17, $6 for children 5-11 and free for children 4 and under. The optional tram tour costs $3 and is available 1st come 1st serve. Please email macmacpherson@hotmail.com or call 503 641 6598 if you plan on joining us and also let him know if you can drive.
City of Beaverton - 2022-2023 Social Services Grant
Dear Bethel Congregational UCC, Thank you for the time and energy you put into your application to the City of Beaverton's Social Service Funding Committee (SSFC). We greatly appreciate the support that your organization provides to the Beaverton community. Beaverton City Council voted to fully fund Bethel, $6,000 for BHS homeless teens food bags for Winter and Spring break for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, starting July 1.
We, at Bethel, are grateful for this grant to help us feed these teens
Pride Beaverton
Pride Beaverton’s GAY Celebration will be SunGAY June 26, 2022 at City Park and the Beaverton Farmer’s Market Parking Lot. Link to Pride Beaverton 2022
Neomie Lemke has agreed to coordinate the Bethel Booth.
If you are able to help with setup/cleanup, or sitting at the booth for 1-2 hour shifts, please contact Neomie.Lemke@gmail.com
Phase Forward Covid Update Report
Masks in Worship:
The Phase Forward Team recently met to work through the complicated subject of when to require masks at Bethel. We tried to balance the need for safety with the desire to have face coverings be optional. We reviewed the Covid numbers for our area, along with CDC guidelines, and came up with the following:
If the CDC community risk level for Washington County is “Low”, masks will be optional. Even though it will be up to each individual, it is likely some folks will still choose to wear masks. We will honor people’s personal choices, whichever option they choose to make.
If the CDC community risk level is “Medium” or “High” we will require masks.
Right now, Washington County is in the “Medium” risk level and masks are required. When the current outbreak fades we hope to again be in the “Low” category.
CDC updates its ratings every Thursday, but you won’t need to research the CDC community risk level before coming to worship. Instead, you should come prepared to wear a mask. There will be signage in the Narthex saying whether masks are required or optional that particular Sunday.
When it’s best to worship remotely:
We would love to see you in church, but if you have any Covid symptoms like congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, shortness of breath or fatigue, please stay home and worship remotely.
Also, please worship remotely if you have been exposed to someone within Covid within the last 5 days.
The Phase Forward Team will continue to meet to make assessments and adjustments to our policies as time goes on. We thank everyone for being flexible and respectful of everyone’s masking choices.
Thank you for your understanding, support and involvement with Bethel.
VBS is MONUMENTAL!
It's time to register for this Monumental Vacation Bible School happening July 25-29, 2022 from 9 am - 11:30 am outside at Bethel. This program is free for all children who have finished Kindergarten through 5th grades.
Click here to register: https://forms.gle/RumFmvFjZf7bxxEx7
If you are part of the youth group (6th-12th grades) or an adult and would like to help (we need about 2-4 helpers) then please contact Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org. If you're not available that week, you can still help out by participating in our work days scheduled after service on Sunday, July 10th and the morning of Wednesday, July 13th.
Strengthen the Church Offering- June 5th - United Church of Christ
The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.
As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. Bethel will receive the STC offering on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022. You can place your offering in the offering plate or online at any time here.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
That's right! It's time for Bethel to head back out to a Hillsboro Hops baseball game. Join us on Friday, July 8 at 7 PM when the Hillsboro Hops take on the Eugene Emeralds. Friday nights are fireworks nights so it will be a blast! Kathy McCullough will be our fearless leader! In order to have an idea of how many tickets to purchase, please sign up in the Narthex on Sunday or email Beth: ba@bethelbeaverton.org. Tickets are $17 for adults and kids are free. You may pay by check(put into envelope and put Hops and ticket quantity on check or envelope) Drop envelope in offering plate, in the mail, or the Bethel mailbox on Watson St. or by cash to Kathy or church office. Handicap seating is available. The deadline for sign-up is May 15. Tickets will be distributed on July 1. Don't strike out! Hit a home run and have some fun with your friends from Bethel!
Freeing Jesus
The liturgical season of Eastertide marks the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. This year, Pastor David will be offering a worship series based on Diana Butler Bass’ book – Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way and Presence.
Ms. Butler Bass relies on experiences from her own life to share how her understanding of Jesus has changed over time. Story-telling is at the heart of this book. Diana Butler Bass’ models the way listening to our own stories can uncover new insights and experiences of Jesus. She invites us to look in the mirror to see how and when Jesus showed up or didn’t show up.
Freeing Jesus serves as an excellent sequel to Richard Rohr’s, The Universal Christ. The shift toward a more narrative approach to spiritual growth and faith formation will help root the alternative orthodoxy that God is in everyone and in everything.
The series will begin May 1st. There will not be a formal, structured study group for this series; but, you are encouraged to get a copy of the book and follow along with Rev. David’s sermon series.
May 1 – Liberating Jesus
May 8 – Jesus as Friend and Teacher
May 15 – Guest Preacher – Rev. Jennifer Brownell (series interrupted)
May 24 – Jesus as Savior and Lord
May 29 – Jesus as Way and Presence
Habitat for Humanity: HopeBuilder Lunch with Soledad O'Brien
Bethel’s long standing dedication and support of Portland Region Habitat for Humanity continues in 2022.
Mark your calendars for the annual Habitat's HopeBuilder Virtual Lunch next Wednesday, April 27th at noon. Join virtually for a powerful and inspiring event which will raise funds to build and repair homes for families and individuals across the Portland region. Award-winning journalist and extraordinary thought leader Soledad O’Brien is the guest speaker. Learn more about the importance of affordable homeownership, especially at this time of housing crises in our nation, and how systemic racism continues to impact access to homeownership.
During the live program, there will be an update on Habitat Portland Region's plan to scale its impact, what the future holds for our mission, and more.
How do I participate in the virtual event?
Click on the livestream link here before the event goes live on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 12PM (PT).
If you need any technical assistance during the event, you can call or text our tech support line at 503-564-3044 on April 27 from 11AM–1:30PM (PT)
How can I donate to Habitat for Humanity Portland Region?
To make a donation before or during the livestream event, click here or text HABITATPDX to 44-321. Reference ‘Bethel Beaverton’ as enter your information in the Name field to cross reference your support as part of the Bethel community.
Reach out to Paul Griffo (paul.griffo@msn.com) with any questions.
Grief Recovery Group
These last couple of years have been filled with grief for all of us. Not only may some of us have lost loved ones, but the pandemic itself has brought varying levels of grief at different times. Trish Schuetz and the Called to Care Group is offering an online Grief Recovery Group that will meet for 6 weeks on Sunday afternoons from 1:30-3:30 pm beginning May 1st.
This group will allow us to connect together online to discuss loss in all its forms and provide support as well as encourage healing. We will process thoughts around moving beyond death, divorce, loss of health, career or faith. We will assign and discuss homework designed to inspire inner search for personal meaning after loss. We will discuss common myths around grief and loss in our society. We will discuss a Loss History Graph, and the concept of an “incomplete loss”. We will discuss a Relationship Graph and convert that into recovery components. And lastly we will discuss guidelines for dealing with specific losses.
The group will use "The Grief Recovery Handbook" by John W. James and Russell Friedman as a guide. However, you do not need the book to participate. To sign up for this class, please email Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org.
ISing Chorus Performing at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 30th, and Sunday, May 1st
The ISing Community Chorus will perform at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 30th, at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, May 1st, at 3:00 pm. The mission of the Beaverton-based chorus is "to share innovative and exceptional choral music while supporting nonprofit organizations." The diverse music of ISing has given them with opportunities to perform internationally. These performances will include music from South and North America, including an arrangement of "La Llorona" featuring Mercedes Estevez of Los Gallos Rumba. Music from northwest composer, Morten Lauridsen will also be featured.
This concerts will benefit HomePlate Youth Services, Washington County's only nonprofit provider of drop-in centers and street youth outreach for young people who experience homelessness. The link below will provide more information regarding the concert and how to purchase tickets.
https://www.isingchoir.org/events.
Click here to download the Press Release.
If you have questions, please contact Sue Pike at swpike@frontier.com.
Holy Week and Easter Sunday Guide / Clean up for Palm Sunday
Please join us this year for Holy Week and Easter Sunday! Click here to download this year's schedule of Holy Week and Easter offerings. This helpful guide includes a detailed schedule of our Holy Week and Easter opportunities.
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During the Pandemic we tried to have organized Grubby Saturdays or Sundays, but we never had many people show up. The Facilities Team (and a few others) tried to keep the campus cleaned up. Now we need lots of members to give a little time to help us on Saturday and/ or Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd. We are concentrating on outside weeding, trimming, and edging. Can you help us…just a little bit?
Saturday, April 2…1:30 pm-3:30 pm drop in any time (this gives the market goers time to vacate parking around the church)
Sunday, April 3rd…immediately following church until 2:00 pm.
On Sunday, wear your gardening clothes to church. Stay for 30 minutes, if that’s all you can do. Every minute is appreciated. If you have your own tools, please bring them. We also have some that you can use.
The jobs we will try to cross off the list are:
-EDGING We have an electric edger we’ll need someone to run and another person (or two) to follow scooping up the mess. If you have your own edger you’d rather use, you’ll hear no objections from us.
-FERN TRIMMING Before the new shoots get any higher, now is the time to cut off the old fronds.
-WEEDING Easy weeding in front of the church, along Watson, and near the outside tables. If we finish these areas, we can move to the circle areas around the trees and signs along 7th. You can do it from the ground, either kneeling or sitting. If you have a folding garden bench, those are very helpful used upside down for kneeling, or as a seat, to weed from that position.
If you aren’t available this weekend, but have other times you are available to help, please contact Linda Timmel at timmelin@comcast.net to see what’s left to do next wee
Holy Week and Easter Sunday Guide
Please join us this year for Holy Week and Easter Sunday! Click here to download this year's schedule of Holy Week and Easter offerings. This helpful guide includes a detailed schedule and description of each of our Holy Week and Easter opportunities.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the United Church of Christ's four special offerings. We will receive this offering on March 27, 2022. You can also give online.
This Lenten offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ within the Wider Church Ministries. For more information, please click on the following video link. https://www.ucc.org/giving/ways-to-give/our-churchs-wider-mission/one-great-hour-of-sharing/.
St. Patrick's Youth Event
Calling all Bethel children and youth! The Faith Development Committee has planned a fun-filled Saint Patrick's Day event to allow our children and youth to see each other, learn about this important Irish holiday, talk about Lent and eat some yummy food. So put on something green, and make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 -7 pm on Friday, March 18, 2022 (yes, this is technically the day after St. Patrick's Day but it is the closest day that was not a school night.)
Parents: You are welcome to stay for the festivities or drop off your child and come back at 7 pm.
Youth (Middle School & High School): You are encouraged to come and help the younger children with the various crafts and to be a "buddy" to our younger children.
Please have your child wear their mask (unless they are actively eating or drinking.) We will be in the Fellowship Hall that has special filters for filtering out allergens and viruses.
Please RSVP to Beth Astarte at ba@bethelbeaverton.org by Monday, March 14, so we know how many to expect for food and crafts.
Questions? Contact Beth Astarte.
Respond to Racism (R2R)
The 2022 budget that was approved by the congregation on January 30, included a $7,000 allocation to the Respond to Racism team. Why so much money? The money will be used to provide training from an outside consultant who will help us address our #1 goal: To build our individual and collective consciousness around race and racism, and to examine our implicit biases and areas of privilege.
Consultants who specialize in implicit bias and other aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise are in high demand. We hope to hold a one-day retreat in the fall for lay leaders and staff. The outcome of the training will help us discern where we need to focus our attention and efforts to grow into a community who makes decisions that honor diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We also intend to offer an opportunity for the congregation to participate in the United Church of Christ curriculum on systemic racism, "White Privilege: Let's Talk--A Resource for Transformational Dialogue." Our tentative plan is to integrate the curriculum into a worship/study series in the fall of 2022.
If you have any questions, please reach out to any member of the R2R team. Team members include Bob Abbey, Barbara Cormack, Donna Fowler, Paul Griffo, Sia Linstrom, Monique Manley-Smith, Nikki Manley-Smith, David Randall-Bodman, and Nancy Winston. We welcome the opportunity to discuss and share our efforts.
Revolutionary Love For Ukraine
As we all are concerned for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine,
we remember our journey through Valerie Kaur's book, "Revolutionary Love".
Valerie sent a very informative email, that included a prayer and guided process
to help us know how to grieve with and support the Ukrainian people.
Click here for the copy of the email.
Here's what you can do immediately.
#1 Click here for a curated list of organizations you can choose from to support the people of Ukraine. These have been vetted by partner organizations we trust and our friends on the ground.
#2 Contact your elected officials to voice your support for peace in Ukraine.