Sign Up for our Respond to Racism Class on the Book: His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope By Jon Meacham

Before he was a congressional representative, John Lewis, a faith leader and the civil rights leader we learn about in school, he was a young man fueled by hope and a vision of a world that could be. In the book, His Truth is Marching On, Jon Meacham gives us an overview of the life of John Lewis from childhood to 1968.

While many books and television specials have been produced about Rep. John Lewis, Jon Meacham offers us another opportunity to remember his humble yet profound work and the bigger implications it has for people of faith. As a child and young man, he believed his calling was to be a preacher; but his understanding of the Gospel moved him to put his understanding of God’s love up against the empire. May his life and struggle be an open invitation for us to continue the work of the Beloved Community.

During this this 7-week study, we will be become cover the following themes and figures:

• Nonviolent resistance in the Civil Rights Movement

• Racism in the United States

• Creating Beloved Community

• Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.

Each session will be held in-person each Sunday before service at 9:00 am with a repeat session the following Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm via zoom. The first session will be Sunday, 9/14 and Tuesday 9/16.
Please RSVP so we can order the appropriate number of books. This will be set up so even if you can only attend a single class, it will be worth your while! We hope you can attend all!
RSVP by signing up in the Narthex on Sunday or email Tim Moe.

Kids and Family Hike - Saturday, Aug 23rd from 10 am - Noon

Since we are missing out on Camp Adams this year, we are planning a family hike at Tryon Creek to share memories and enthusiasm for our good times at camp and enjoy the great outdoors together. We are inviting other families from UCC churches in the area to share in this outing with us. Plan on bringing a brown bag lunch and water!
Tryon Creek
11321 S Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, OR 97219
https://www.tryonfriends.org/visit-tryon-creek

Welcome Our Returning Guest Worship Leader: Rev Linda Jaramillo

This summer we get to welcome back Rev. Linda Jaramillo to share her teachings with us while Pastor David is on his vacation from August 4th through August 31st. You might remember Linda from last summer when she was able to fill in as a Sabbatical Minister before health issues called her away. We are overjoyed to have her back with us!

The Rev. Linda Jaramillo is a member of Ainsworth United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. She served for 10 years as Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and Officer of the Church in the national headquarters of the United Church of Christ. Guided by the prophets and Gospel teachings, Linda is particularly motivated by HOPE for a more loving and caring social culture as we set our course for a peace-filled, nonviolent future. She cherishes engagement with interfaith, inter-cultural and multilingual communities grounded in the belief that we are each responsible for sharing wisdom and stories across generations. Linda is the proud mother of two and grandmother of five beautiful and brilliant grandchildren!

Congratulations Jean Avison, Elected As General Synod 36 Moderator!

Jean Avison of Beaverton, Oregon the current Assistant Moderator, was elected as Moderator by the body. The Rev. Dr. Susan Cartmell of Amherst, Massachusetts was elected Assistant Moderator.

Jean Avison has served in many settings of the United Church of Christ. She serves her local church, Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ, as Treasurer, on the Investment Committee, and chair of the Nominating Committee. In the Central Pacific Conference Avison is co-chair of the Committee on Ministry. In the national setting she has served in many roles related to governance. Avison and her husband, David, have a large blended family and live with Gracie, whom she describes as a “very spoiled Golden Retriever.”

Get to Know Bethel's Food Cupboard Ministry!

With so much bad going on in the world, we want to share some good that you can do! Bethel's food ministry cares deeply for our community through the efforts of our Food Cupboard. This is open on Mondays from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM and on Wednesdays from 6 - 7 PM. 

Our Outreach Committee will be offering an opportunity for people to learn more about how we run our Food ministry.

Outreach will be holding a Food Cupboard Open House

on Sunday, July 27 after the service at 11:10.

We’ll be showing all the areas of the church that are used by the food cupboard and how we manage it all.
If you do not have time to be a volunteer during the week, there is more you can do to help!  Click this link to head to our giving page and select Food Ministry from the drop down menu:

https://giving.myamplify.io//app/giving/bethelucc

Every little bit helps to feed someone in need!

R2R: Good Trouble Lives On: A Day of Action - Thursday, July 17th Virtual and In-Person Events

Time: Thursday, July 17th.
               3-4 pm (6-7 pm EDT)
Location: Virtual event
               Join from anywhere
              Hosted in Boston, MA 02133

About this event

Good Trouble Lives On: A Day of Action
On July 17, the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, People Power United is hosting a virtual event to honor his legacy and defend our rights and freedoms.
As Trump and his allies push voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act and criminalize protest, we’re rising up in nonviolent resistance—because in America, the power belongs to the people.

This isn’t just a virtual rally. It’s a moral stand. It’s Good Trouble—alive and marching forward. Join us.
 
3:30 - 6 PM In Person Event - Beaverton City Library
Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people.

Time: Thursday, July 17th.
               3:30 - 6pm
Location: Beaverton City Library, library lawn
               12375 SW 5th St
              Beaverton, OR 97005

Click Here to learn more about this in person event!

Bethel helps Beaverton Habitat for Humanity

A group from Bethel volunteers monthly at the Beaverton Habitat for Humanity Restore. We help with various projects around the Restore, such as culling old merchandise, tidying up sections, assembling furniture, and whatever else is needed. It's always interesting. 

All are welcome to join us on Friday July 18 from 10am to 1pm. If you have any questions, check in with Leon Taylor or Paul Griffo. 

Join us for 'Pint with the Pastor', June 27th

The sun is shining, the days are getting longer, and it's time for our first “pint with the pastor” of the summer on Friday, June 27th from 7-8:30pm. We're excited for everyone to join us for good drinks and better company. 
Pastor David will provide the “pint” – of beer or lemonade. (We want everyone to feel comfortable). If these beverages don’t fit your taste, feel free to bring your own. If you’d like to bring a snack to share that would be great.
 
We’ll gather outside at Bethel around the tables with purple umbrellas and enjoy conversation and fellowship together.
 
If this appeals to you, please RSVP to Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org

Summer Fruit Potluck, June 22nd, Fellowship Time

It's time for celebrating summer and the bounty of fruits!
 
If you've ever wanted to contribute towards our fellowship treats and refreshments but felt a little overwhelmed by the scope, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss! Please bring a fruit of your choice to the kitchen before service on Sunday, 22nd.
 Even one pint of berries, an orange, (whatever you can find!) will be welcome!
 You don't need to plate or cut up your fruit. We will do the prep work, and you can enjoy the first fruits of the season with your Bethel friends.

Beaverton Pride is Sunday, June 29th - Come Volunteer!

We are looking forward to celebrating Pride in our community next month. Here's what we're asking for to make this event a success:

Water bottles: Please bring a package of water bottles to the office or to Erin for us to hand out at Pride. 
Volunteers to help with set up (8 - 9:45 am) or cleanup (5 - 6 pm) or help greet people at our booth for an hour (11 am - 5 pm).

Please email Erin if you can be a volunteer. Thank you!

Summer Worship Series – Faces of Faith: Bold and Untold

This summer, Pastor David will be exploring lesser-known Biblical characters. Using A Sanctified Art series: Faces of Faith – Bold and Untold Stories. The series will be augmented by the beautiful artists renderings of these bold and untold characters.
From the series…

“There are many heroes of the faith, people we admire and wish to be. However, there are even more ordinary people of faith—those doing what they can with what they have to make a difference. This summer, we’ll dig deep into the bold and untold stories of those often overlooked in our biblical narratives, hoping these characters remind us that we all play a role in shaping God’s story of redemption and grace.”

Respond to Racism (R2R) to Celebrate Juneteenth Outreach Booth-Volunteers Needed!

Respond to Racism will host an outreach booth at the Beaverton Farmers Market on Saturday, June 21st, following the Juneteenth commemoration on June 19th. We invite members of the Bethel congregation to join us in this community engagement initiative. Volunteers will have the opportunity to distribute information,  interact with market attendees, fostering connections and raising awareness of Bethel congregation's commitment to inclusivity and community well-being. This event offers a valuable platform to demonstrate the vibrant presence and caring ethos of our church within the Beaverton community. If you would like to join R2R for a 2-hour spot starting at 9:30 and ending at 1:30 please email 
Nancy winstonj@comcast.net or Mo memoney@comcast.net or come see us during fellowship. 

Bethel's Bottle Drop

On April 4, 2024, Bethel’s Bottle Drop account was approved by the State of Oregon. During the year that we’ve had the account, your bottle and can contributions have provided more than $2,000 to Bethel’s Outreach Ministry. During that time, we’ve given $600 to Family Promise of Washington County and used the balance to support our Bethel food programs and other Outreach efforts. 

If you do not already know how to support this project here is a short video giving you details on how the process works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKsNC5zpRmo
I especially wanted to thank Bob Burris for his help in taking the filled blue bags to the bottle drop sites most weeks and picking up new bags and labels when needed. In addition, I want to thank Susan Chauvie and Gail Njos for putting the labels on the blue bags, and Susan, Stan Davis and Monique Manley-Smith for making the Bottle Drop video that I have linked to above.
I’d also like to thank Jonathan Schlueter for his many years of taking care of the cans and bottles prior to Bethel having our own account when our cans and bottles supported the Family Promise of Washington County’s bottle drop account. 
We’ve been averaging about $500 per quarter so far. I want to challenge you to see if we can get that number up to $750 per quarter so we can break $3,000 per year from this project as our needs keep rising and our support is being reduced. See if you can get your friends, families, and coworkers to fill a blue bag on a regular basis to support Bethel’s Outreach ministries. 
If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them in the Fellowship Hall after service.
Leon Taylor 

Join us for an All Church Movie Night! - May 30th

This month, Bethel Bookies is reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, and the group had a great idea to gather everyone to watch the movie together. We will meet in the sanctuary on Friday, May 30th at 6:30 pm to enjoy the family film. The run time is 1 hour and 42 minutes. Please RSVP with Erin at eb@bethelbeaverton.org, so we know how many folks to expect.

Click here to watch a preview of the movie!

And if you feel like reading the book in advance, our book club meets on Tuesday, May 27th at 10 am in the conference room or via Zoom and you would be more than welcome to join us!

BHS Backpack Project Push to the Finish Line

We have 5 more packouts!  The students have let us know that they would really like more Ramen, Mac & Cheese, and Cup Noodles! (Kids, what can I say?)  Chef Boyardee and Chili would be great too.  They’d prefer Hispanic vs general soup flavors.  With that in mind, please consider donating: 

- Small Milk (48 needed)          - Mac & Cheese Cups (62 needed)
- Cereal (43 needed)                - Chef Boyardee (62 needed)
- Ramen (97 needed)               - Chili (31 needed)
- Cup Noodles (116 needed)    - Soup (31 needed)

Our Lives in Stories - Women's Retreat Saturday, May 17th at 10 AM

Join us for our Spring Women's Retreat centered around the role of stories in our lives and how they transform the varied moments we experience from snapshots into chapters. Our time together in this retreat will be spent in fellowship with one another and study/creative sessions.
Saturday, May 17th in the fellowship hall from 10 am to 12:30 pm!
Please email Erin Barber at eb@bethelbeaverton.org with any RSVP's or questions!
Lunch will not be served, but breakfast items will be provided.
All who identify as women or nonbinary are encouraged to attend!

New Member Orientation - May 4th and 18th (Make Up Session May 25th)

Interested in joining the church or learning about membership?

Then join us for our two-part membership class.

These two sessions give basic information about the life of the church: organization, mission, vision, and hopes for the future.

The last couple of years we’ve offered these sessions virtually via Zoom.

This fall, we would like to gather in person in the Conference Room at Bethel. 
Session 1 – Sunday, May 4th from 12:30pm – 2:00pm in the conference room at Bethel following Congregation Informational Meeting ( a light lunch will be provided).
Session 2 – Sunday, May 18th from Noon – 1:30pm (light lunch)
Session 3 – Sunday, May 25th - a “make up session” if some of you can’t make the 4th or the 18th work.
Receive new members in worship June 8th

To help Pastor David prepare for the sessions, RSVP to Pastor David at your earliest convenience by emailing drb@bethelbeaverton.org.

HOLY WEEK EVENTS

Palm/Passion Sunday - April 13th 

Holy Week begins with worship on Palm Sunday. The children and choir members will gather at the Front entrance of the church

and in the Narthex for a congregational procession into the sanctuary with palms waving!

Congregants can decide if they would like to join the processional or be seated in the sanctuary at the start of service.

Worship will conclude with the building of the cross (made from the trunks of our Christmas trees).

Maundy Thursday - April 17th, 7pm

On Thursday, April 17th at 7pm, we will be offering a Maundy Thursday hybrid worship service.

You can participate in person or join us virtually via Zoom and Facebook. If you're joining us virtually, please have a candle with you. 
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/) and Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207
The Maundy Thursday worship service draws its purpose and themes from historical events that our Christian tradition believed happened on the Thursday before Easter.

“Maundy” is the English form of the Latin word meaning commandment. Jesus’ new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you,” is the focus of Maundy Thursday.
 
This day brings us to the lowest point of Holy Week, but there is an important message to remember: “We Are Blessed, Regardless”. Our service will walk us through our "blessings for when we don't feel blessed," we will receive communion in memory of the Last Supper, and following our final scripture reading and choir anthem, we will leave the sanctuary in silence. 

Good Friday Quiet Prayer - April 18th - 12-3pm

Join us on April 18th from 12-3 p.m. for a Good Friday quiet prayer, in-person at Bethel in our chapel.

We will offer an opportunity for those who would like to come to Bethel for a contemplative sit.

Come and stay for as little or as long as you would like.

Prayer materials will be provided for your time of quiet prayer and contemplation. 

Easter Sunday - April 20th - 10am

Please join us this year for Easter Sunday!

Worship will take place on April 20th at 10:00am both in person and virtually via Zoom and Facebook.

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BethelBeaverton/) and Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/140844207 

This all-generational worship will 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.

Our children and youth will once again have an opportunity to Flower the Cross inside.

We invite you to come forward to the chancel and sing Handel’s "Hallelujah Chorus" to conclude worship.  

Easter Egg Hunt 

Join us after our Easter Service on April 20th, for an Easter Egg Hunt for all our children up through 5th grade.

Please have your child bring their own Easter basket.  We will have bags available for those who forget.

Following the egg hunt, you are invited to continue celebrating with us in the Fellowship Hall with special treats.

All Church Talent Show - Saturday April 5th at 1 PM

Bethel's All Church Talent Show is coming together! Please note we are changing the time of our show to begin at 1 pm.

 On Saturday April 5th, we will start in the sanctuary for a performance starting at 1:00 pm, to see our live artists. Afterwards we will head into the fellowship hall to enjoy the bakers and makers and crafts of our visual artists. We hope you come join us!

Performers, keep in mind that there will be a rehearsal on Sunday March 30th, 1pm. Chad will be on hand to support with his amazing skills. On the day of the performance, there will be a sound check a half hour before the show starts. Please arrive ready to go by 12:30 pm.

Visual Artists and Makers, please arrive at least a half hour before the show with your creations to set them up in the fellowship hall. If you need to coordinate with Erin to get them to the church earlier in the week, please reach out!

Questions? Contact Erin or Melanie at eb@bethelbeaverton.org or mm@bethelbeaverton.org.

UCC - One Great Hour of Sharing, March 30th

Be the Light

“One Great Hour of Sharing is one of the United Church of Christ's four special offerings. We will receive the offering on Sunday, March 30th.

You can also give online. Bethel E-Giving

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/.