Bethel Weekly Highlights

“On both side of the river is the tree of life…; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev. 22:2b

Much about our nation and the other nations of the world is broken. The same is true in our personal lives. We yearn for healing. Recognizing this yearning for healing and wholeness in a broken world, Bethel is offering a healing worship service on Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 PM. There will be quiet prayer, soothing music, and the option of anointing with oil for healing. Whether your concerns are for society, for your family, or for your own life, you are invited to come to experience God’s loving presence and power to strengthen, guide, and uphold you. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Bethel Weekly Highlights

Guest speaker Jo Ann Hardesty, President of the Portland NAACP, will speak at Bethel's Social Justice Forum THIS Sunday, February 26 at 11:30 AM. The forum will focus on the award-winning book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” by Michelle Alexander, which describes how the War on Drugs and associated racial bias in laws, policing, courts, prison systems, media, and government programs continue to devastate black communities with many of the same problems seen in the Jim Crow era.

Hardesty served in the United States Navy and was elected to the Oregon House in 1994, holding office until 2001. She later served as executive director of Oregon Action and became president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP in January 2015. She provides consultation and training on a wide variety of social justice issues, including a 6-hour workshop on how to "Organize a Movement to End the New Jim Crow."

Click for the latest news on Oregon's "Unequal Justice" system featuring Jo Ann Hardesty.

Bethel Weekly Highlights

Discussion of “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander is underway now at 9:00 AM on Sundays, and it's not too late to join in. Books are available in the church office for $12.00.

February 12, 2017 Chapters 4 & 5

These chapters illustrate that overt racial hostility is not the most insidious attribute of this process of otherization.

Dehumanization: What happens when we begin to view people as less than human, as shameful or characterless? What parallels between the “get tough” movement aimed at immigrants and the “get tough” laws aimed at African Americans?

Human Rights: Laws that discriminate in employment, housing, education, and public benefits make it difficult if not impossible, for people to find work in the legal economy, and greatly increase the likelihood of repeated offence. Are these laws necessary? Under what circumstances? In certain professions? For how long?

Shame, White Privilege and Human Failings: What can we do to address the shame and self-hatred that keeps communities impacted by mass incarceration divided? What can be done to cultivate more concern, understanding, and cooperation across racial lines? As we are all sinners and have failings, do you agree that in order to end mass incarceration, a cultural shift is needed? Do you agree that mass incarceration is rooted in racial indifference – a lack of care and concern across lines of race and class?

Bethel Weekly Highlights

How are you doing using your non-violent communication skills as you talk to people about the current state of the nation? If you are feeling challenged in listening with a compassionate heart, then join us the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7-8:30 pm for a Compassionate Communication Practice Group. We'll review the concepts and then work as a group to support each other in practicing and using the skills. Beth Astarte, Jean Doane and Patti Matson will take turns facilitating. The first group will meet on Monday, February 13 at 7 pm in the Narthex Conference Room.

Bethel Weekly Highlights

Headline's from this week's Highlights email newsletter:

New Member Classes
Landscaping Cleanup Jobs: A Plea for HELP!
Pancake Breakfast Youth Fundraiser
Ladies' Lunch
Thanksgiving Concert At Bethel
PFLAG
2016 Children's Christmas Pageant
Scrip News
Imbrie Farewell
Amazon Smile
UCC Hurricane Matthew Relief
BHS Winter Break Food Assembly
LGBTQ Veterans Day
MET's 2016 Online Auction
Bethel Financial Update

Mark Your Calendars

New Members Received/Pancake Brunch - November 13
Thanksgiving Concert - November 17
Stewardship Dedication - November 20
Beaverton Community Band Concert  - November 20
ISing Concert - December 2-4
Cinderella - A British Panto - December 9-10
Children's Christmas Pageant - December 11