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Clergy and People of Faith March for Justice

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Clergy and People of Faith March for Justice

On Monday, August 28th, 2017, one thousand ministers of all denominations will convene in Washington, D.C. to reaffirm their commitment to the social justice movement and stand in solidarity with the spirit and legacy of Dr. King, on the anniversary of the March for Jobs & Justice.  
 
In an act and action of solidarity, the Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance is sponsoring an event in Portland that will bring together Clergy and People of Faith of all traditions to recommit to being at the forefront of justice and civil rights, to call into accountability President Trump, Attorney General Sessions and all public officials, and to return to its rightful place in the words of Dr. King as the "headlight" in the struggle for justice. We are calling on religious leaders from ALL religions and community leaders to join us!  The event on Facebook can be found here. Join us Monday, August 28th at 11 AM at Terry Schrunk Plaza in downtown Portland.

Beaverton High School Homeless Students 

Beaverton High School Homeless Students 

It's almost time to go back to school and sales are starting. We are collecting pens, markers, 3-ringed spiral notebooks (college ruled) and backpacks for Beaverton High School homeless students. We would also appreciate any kind of toiletries- shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, razors. These can be travel sizes. There is a donation box outside the chapel. Thanks!

A Response to Violence in Charlottesville

A Response to Violence in Charlottesville

A UCC pastor's response to the violence in Charlottesville, VA this past weekend. Thank you, Reverend Tara Wilkins.

"Dear CWC Members and Friends,

The heinous acts of violence over the weekend reveal a sickness that lurks in our society. The disease is active, not extinct. It impacts more than half of our population, and yet, it continues like an unchecked pathogen. 
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The world watched the horror unfold in real time in Charlottesville, Virginia this weekend. It wasn't a movie or lesson in history, it was the contemporary implementation of intentional terrorism meant to employ fear and chaos. I hesitate (in this letter) to use words like white supremacy, neo-Nazi, KKK etc., for fear that their mention is reducing them to jargon that we easily can distance ourselves from.

We mustn't pull away from the atrocity, we step forward so that we can learn and understand just exactly what happened, so we will no longer continue to be complicit in creating the environment where this disease can be incubated.

What can we do to make it be different?

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Governor Kitzhaber to Speak on Death Penalty Abolition

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Governor Kitzhaber to Speak on Death Penalty Abolition

Mark your calendar for August 24 when Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will hold their annual meeting at the Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ in Beaverton, Oregon.

The featured speaker will be Gov. John Kitzhaber. Governor Kitzhaber, has served the State of Oregon for over three decades as a member of the legislature and as a three-term governor. He is a hero among death penalty abolitionists as the person who first declared a moratorium on executions in November of 2011. That halting of executions continues today. The governor will speak to his earlier fateful experience with the death penalty and proclaim his outspoken passion for abolition now.

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PFLAG Portland Washington County Welcomes the Rosetown Ramblers Square Dance Club!

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PFLAG Portland Washington County Welcomes the Rosetown Ramblers Square Dance Club!

08/17/2017, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The Rosetown Ramblers is a square dance club for the LGBTQ community and allies in Portland, Oregon. They have been active in Portland since 1983. They welcome all square dancers, regardless of age, race, color, gender, religion, ethnic background, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. So lace up your dancing shoes and get ready to square dance!

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Honored Elders Celebration

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Honored Elders Celebration

You are cordially invited to a 80+ Birthday Celebration on Sunday, July 30 at 10:00 am Service & 11:15 am Fellowship Time. Bethel will honor all our Elders who are Celebrating their 80th (or up!) Birthday with a Special Worship Service and Fellowship Time! We will be having Birthday Cake and Tea Sandwiches in your honor. Please join us!

Beaverton Church Carnival, Free to the Public, September 10

Beaverton Church Carnival, Free to the Public, September 10

Are you looking for a free, child-friendly summer activity in Beaverton for you and your family? Do you like carnival games and inflatables? Do you like free hot dogs? Make plans to join us on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 11:30 am when Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ will host its 2nd Annual Bethel Beaverton Bash - a FREE, fun, and family-friendly carnival with inflatable bouncy house, free hot dogs and drinks, a wide selection of carnival games, and more!

Bethel Weekly Highlights

Bethel Weekly Highlights

At the 31st General Synod of the United Church of Christ held earlier this month in Baltimore, Rev. Jean Doane was appointed to serve on the board of directors for the Common Global Ministries Board (CGMB). CGMB is a joint ministry between the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ denominations. The news was shared with Jean by Rev. Jim Moos, Executive Minister, UCC Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive, Global Ministries...

Bethel’s Social Justice Forums

Bethel’s Social Justice Forums

Come meet with Bethel’s Social Justice Advocacy Team on Sunday, July 23, 11:30-12:30 in the Narthex Room to help plan this fall’s Social Justice Forums. Past forums have provided information on homelessness, affordable housing, the 2016 ballot measures, The New Jim Crow, and immigration. So far, suggested topics for our fall forums include health care, disability discrimination, housing/evictions, sexual assault prevention, and Israel/Palestine.

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Beaverton Community Rummage Sale and Music Fundraiser

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Beaverton Community Rummage Sale and Music Fundraiser

Bethel's Rummage Sale

Bethel’s Rummage Sale this year will be held on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7. As in the past, proceeds from this sale will benefit our music program. Donated items may be brought to the church Monday and Tuesday, (October 2 and 3) between the hours of NOON and 8 PM. If you need assistance with your donations, please contact George Patch at 2lula@frontier.net or (503) 625-0910.

PLEASE NOTE: The Monday and Tuesday hours are a departure from previous years. Volunteers will start working at noon, rather than 9 AM, so that donations can be received later in the evening. We are hoping that the later evening hours (to accommodate those working during the day) will also mean more volunteers to help with this enormous undertaking of sorting and pricing, or to help during the actual sale, on Friday and Saturday. Last year during the sale, at times, we were swamped with customers and there weren’t enough workers (critical to the success of the rummage sale).

If you can volunteer for any amount of time, please contact our volunteer coordinators, Carolyn Rundorff at carolyn@rundorff.com or Cathy Thoma at cdthoma4@comcast.net. Thank you for your contributions to Bethel’s Music Program!