This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

To view a video of this worship service, we invite you to follow this link to our “streamed” service on our facebook page, while our production team catches up: https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/videos/959403425928888

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

To view a video of this worship service, we invite you to follow this link to our “streamed” service on our facebook page, while our production team catches up: https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/videos/783153860348688

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

To view a video of this worship service, we invite you to follow this link to our “streamed” service on our facebook page, while our production team catches up:

https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/videos/3653200954950917

This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.

As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.

In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows, seeks and wanders. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.

This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.

Bethel UCC is one of the most vibrant and friendly churches in the Beaverton/Portland Oregon Area, an inclusive Christian congregation, welcoming and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, affirming their full participation in the life of the church. Join us in worship 10:00 AM Pacific Time Sundays In person at 5150 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005, on Facebook Live: Https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton or Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/140844207/

To view a video of this worship service, we invite you to follow this link to our “streamed” service on our facebook page, while our production team catches up: https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/videos/6904442452999205

Join us on Easter Sunday as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection with special music, prayers and liturgy. Our sanctuary will be flooded with color from flowers given in honor or memory of loved ones. An invitation to sing Handel’s Halleluiah Chorus will conclude worship. This service will be a hybrid service – in person with masks on or virtually via Zoom and Facebook.

Join us on Palm Sunday for a special service as we begin Holy Week. We will be offering a hybrid worship service – in person with masks on and singing or virtually via Zoom and Facebook. Palms will be available for you to take home. Worship will conclude with the building of the cross (made from the trunks of our Christmas trees).

Easter resurrection is the ultimate story of healing. In following the liturgical year.

Lent 6 (Palm/Passion): Holy, Wholly 

Integrated Health

 We have seen that the stories of Jesus’ healing ministry are filled words and deeds. Our ability to forgive ourselves and others is the foundation that can transform infirmities and allow us to move on. We integrate our beliefs and actions for the health of the whole. The parade of compassionate power we celebrate today is underscored by a story of transformation, symbolizing our ability to fuel our movement of healing. We glorify God for beautiful words and works of wholeness and share that treasured beauty with others. We know there will still be pain, but we also know love will win.

 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town. And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. - Matt 9: 1-8 [also Palm/Passion narratives as desired]

Lent 5: Restoration

The demands of following Jesus are great. He shows us that sometimes we must make extraordinary efforts to move in a new direction. As we consider the health of humanity, we cannot ignore the need to heal the very planet that sustains us. We live in increasing chaos of a beleaguered environment and the hoarding of resources. We want to be “saved” by something or someone else, but we discover this week that we are in the boat with the One who shows us our power to turn it around, to calm the storm. We protect the jewel that is our home, making something beautiful from scars of the past.

 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.  A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” - Matt 8: 18-27

Different Pictures (pp) Holy Vessels, A Lenten Season of Healing

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Intellectual Health

Pastor David Randall-Bodman

Intellectual health in the COVID era

Six dimensions of healing

COVID has broken spirits like glass washed up on a beach.

Woman healed by her faith when touching the hem of Jesus' garment

What are the two key pieces to intellectual health?

Did Jesus raise a woman from the dead or was she sleeping?

How to recover your mind from the Pandemic

Beth Astarte: Program Coordinator, producer, speaker

Owen Hofmann-Smith: Music Director

Monique Manley-Smith, Zoom Host

Stanford Davis - Post processing (pp) by

An Ancient Word, Matthew 9:18-26, Read by Carolyn Rundorff

Contemporary Reading by Carolyn Rundorff-

Singers:

Beth Asmann, Peter Bauer, Mark Clift, Lynne Marie Elbert, Rod Etter, Greg Johnson, Nancy Macpherson, Diana Marsden, Kala Mulcahy, George Patch, Liz Patch, Cathy Thoma,David Thoma, Terry Varner

Owen Hofmann-Smith – vocals, guitar, cello, producer, camera

Chad Halligan – piano

Cathy Thoma and Nancy Macpherson – Worship Visuals

Threshold Moment Videography and voice - Owen Hofmann-Smith

Worship Service Camera and Editing - Stanford Davis.

Credits

“Grave of the Fireflies: Main Theme.” Music by Michio Mamiya.

“Für Elise.” Music by Wolfgang von Beethoven.

“Oh Love that Will Not Let Me Go.” Music by Albert L. Peace, 1885. Words by George Matheson, 1882. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-723031. All rights reserved.

“I Dream a World.” Music by Andre J. Thomas. Words by Langston Huges. Heritage Music Press, 2002. Used by Permission. CCLI License # 20676673 and 20676659.

“Give Us Vision.” Words and Music by Jeff Olmstead, 2008. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-723031. All rights reserved.

“I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.” Traditional spiritual. Arranged by Mark Hayes. Lorenz Publishing 2020.

Worship series design © Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee. Used, adapted, and live-streamed with permission. www.worshipdesignstudio.com.

 Those who collect beach glass often become “archeologists”–seeking out any markings or clues as to the story of the original piece. It often takes much time to bring out the truth behind it. This week we acknowledge the power of truth-telling as a healing property. There are stories that have shaped our lives, leaving us without the ability to see who we truly are in the eyes of God and leaving us without the ability to speak the depth of our stories of struggle. We focus on the importance of healing of mental health, reclaiming our sense of who we are and being able to proclaim new redemptive stories of divine worth.

 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district. After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” -Matt 9: 27-33

Safe Keeping (Community/Economic Health)

 God gathers us as a Beachcomber gathers and marvels at every precious surviving piece of beach glass she finds. We are never alone, we are never lost to the One who seeks humanity’s wholeness. We affirm our commitment to be the Body of Christ that knows we cannot be personally healed until we see the interconnected community as part of the process of healing. Jesus has the power to re-vision the family of God in which false boundaries are overcome. In a year of devastating loss of livelihood, we consider the economic health that reimagines status quo.

 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour. - Matt 8: 5-13

Treasure (Physical Health)

 Beach glass begins as something whole and yet discarded. As it is tumbled by the sea, it is broken and polished until it becomes a treasured “mineral gem.” We do not embrace that suffering is necessary or God-given, but that suffering is a part of life. When pain comes and brokenness enters our lives, Jesus reaches out to touch and remind us of the Treasure that we all are–worthy of new life in the midst of hopelessness. In a year when pandemic has wreaked havoc on our world, we begin by affirming our journey to physical health.

 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” - Matt 8: 1-4

 That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” - Matt 8: 16-17

Noon - 12:30 pm or 6:30 - 7:00 pm.

Ash Wednesday: Shattered

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. This year for Ash Wednesday on February 17, we will be offering a procession in the sanctuary to receive ashes from noon to 12:30 pm and from 6:30 to 7:00 pm. As we did for All Saints Day in November, we will observe social distancing, require mask wearing, and use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the sanctuary.

We will process down the center aisle, which will be marked in six foot increments. At the base of the steps to the chancel, a table with ashes will be in place. On the table will be a sign with instructions about how to impose the ashes, and which words to use as the ashes are imposed in the form of a cross on the forehead, or on the back of the hand.

For public safety purposes, ashes will be available in our disposable communion cups. Each person, couple or family will be able to use their own individual portion of ashes mixed with oil. Couples or families are encouraged to give to one another the ashes.

Those attending the service by themselves will have the option of imposing their own ashes, or by visiting Pastor David or Beth at a separate station to receive ashes from them.

As you exit the sanctuary via the side door near the church office, you will have the opportunity to pick up a theme object (beach glass) that will serve as the anchor image for the Lenten worship theme: “Holy Vessels: A Season of Healing”. For those of you who pre-ordered soup, Nikki Manley-Smith will be distributing to-go orders of Ash Wednesday soups.

To help in the preparation of ashes, please RSVP to the church office office@bethelbeaverton.org if you intend to participate. Please indicate whether you will attend from noon - 12:30 pm or 6:30 - 7:00 pm.

 Ash Wednesday is a time of naming brokenness. As we enter the season of Lent, we commit to enter also into a season of healing that requires the naming of what has been shattered as a first step. We take “the yoke” of responsibility as disciples of Jesus to be the Body of Christ–a body of those who need healing and offer healing in the world. The promise of Jesus is that he is with us in our weariness and burdens.

 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matt 11: 28-30