The annual Portland Pride Parade will happen Sunday, June 17 in downtown Portland. We would like a robust presence from Bethel to join with our sister UCC congregations. Pastor David will march again this year. If you would like to walk in our Bethel group, please RSVP to the office. Plan on meeting at the Millikan Way MAX station at 8:45 AM to ride the MAX downtown. Additional details will be provided to all those who RSVP. Click on the link to read about our participation last year: http://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/362840-242869-lgbtq-friendly-church-to-march-in-pride-parade

THIS Sunday, April 29, at 11:30 AM, Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ will host a social justice forum on the military detention of Palestinian children. Thomas Beilman, a Central Pacific Conference member who has recently returned from a fact-finding delegation focused on Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, will provide basic facts about Israel's system of military detention, including a short documentary film, "Detaining Dreams," featuring the stories of four Palestinian children and their families undergoing the ordeal of Israeli military detention. We'll learn all about the UCC Resolution which advocates for these children, as well as other steps already under way and gaining traction to help bring peace and justice to families who have lived their entire lives knowing nothing but the hardship of occupation.

Social Justice Forum
Military Detention of Palestinian Children
Sunday, April 29, 11:30 AM.

At General Synod 31 in Baltimore last summer, UCC President John Dorhauer proclaimed the UCC vision of a just world for all - a vision which includes Love of Neighbor, Love of Children, and Love of Creation. Dorhauer's prophetic voice challenged us to work together to address inequities in our world. Delegates at that Synod reflected this love of children and love of justice when they approved overwhelmingly a resolution advocating for the rights of Palestinian children living under Israeli military occupation. The main author of this UCC resolution is Thomas Beilman, a member of our Central Pacific Conference. Beilman returned recently from a fact-finding delegation focused on Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. He will provide basic facts about Israel's system of military detention, including a short documentary film, "Detaining Dreams," featuring the stories of four Palestinian children and their families undergoing the ordeal of Israeli military detention. We'll learn all about the UCC Resolution which advocates for these children, as well as other steps already under way and gaining traction to help bring peace and justice to families who have lived their entire lives knowing nothing but the hardship of occupation.

Last Sunday's Social Justice Forum on single-payer healthcare was a rousing success! We learned about the significant administrative and economic problems caused by the current private health insurance system and how a single-payer system could improve efficiency and reduce waste while providing quality healthcare for every American. Equally important, we learned what each one of us can do to help make single-payer healthcare a reality.

Tell our story.

Many of us have professional experience in the healthcare and insurance industries. Many of us have had problems with our personal health insurance (or lack thereof) or know someone who has. Legislators who are advocating for single-payer healthcare need to know we support this issue. And those who aren't need to know it too. It’s a tough battle in Salem and Washington D.C.!

Here are some convenient links for contacting your representatives. Do it now!

Hey Bethel families! Grab your galoshes, mittens, and warm coats and get ready to slide down the slippery slopes at Snow Bunny. It's a school holiday on Monday, February 19, President's Day, so let's take advantage of it and head up the highway to Mt. Hood. We'll meet at Bethel at 9:00 AM, carpool to the mountain. and spend the day snow tubing. All ages are welcome to participate.

Here’s the plan for this Sunday:
Worship - 10:00-10:45am (Sanctuary)
Annual Meeting – 10:45-11:30 (Sanctuary)
Celebration Luncheon – 11:45am (Fellowship Hall)

Come meet with Bethel’s Social Justice Advocacy Team this Sunday, Jan. 14, 11:30-12:30, to help plan upcoming Social Justice Forums. The meeting will be in Education Hall, downstairs in room 13. Past forums have provided information on homelessness, affordable housing, Oregon ballot measures, The New Jim Crow, and immigration. Our Feb. 25 forum will be about health care. Suggested topics for future forums include sexual assault/harassment, disability justice, gun violence, and international issues such as Israel/Palestine and the Cuba embargo.

Bethel's Quarterly Women's Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, January 6, 2018, 9 am - 1 pm. Our Theme is “The Gifts We Give Ourselves” with a focus on the topic of self-care. The day will begin with scripture and meditation, followed by the making of either bath salts or sachets to take home and enjoy. We will end with fellowship and lunch. 

Thanks to our awesome Bethel Family and our partners, we have enough food and bags for the Beaverton High School Homeless Teen food project. Now we are asking for bodies. On Sunday, Dec 17 around 7pm after Faith Café, we will move all the food into the fellowship hall. This is heavy work and a little chaotic. Join in if this appeals to you. On Monday, Dec. 18, we need food packers at Church by 9am. We also need drivers around 9:30 am to drive food to BHS. This is a fun community day so please join us if you are available.

Each year during Advent, Bethel offers a quieter, more meditative worship service for those who are coping with serious illness, grief, loss, or any of the other difficulties and challenges of life. The Blue Christmas Worship Service gives us an opportunity to give voice to our pain and frustration, and the opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through candle light, music, and, if desired, the ancient practice of anointing with oil. This year's Blue Christmas Worship will take place on Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm in Bethel's sanctuary.

Every 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7-8:30 pm, a group of people meet in the Conference Room at Bethel to practice our compassionate communication (NVC) skills. Come and be a part of the fun as we practice and hone our compassionate listening ears. No matter your level of experience or whether you've attended a group in the past, you are welcome to join us.

THIS Sunday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM the Beaverton Community Band will be performing a FREE public concert at Bethel UCC. An offering will be taken, and 100% of the proceeds will go to Bethel!

Invite a friend to attend THIS Sunday, and let's show the band how much Bethel appreciates them! If you've never seen the Beaverton Community Band before, here is a video from an earlier concert at Bethel. Click the link, you'll be impressed! https://youtu.be/4J-JIBjA1uk?t=131

Thursday, November 16, 2017,  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ

Join us at PFLAG Portland Washington County for a discussion on all we learned at the PFLAG National Convention! If you weren't able to attend our Convention, please join us a lively discussion on the many workshops offered, the introduction of our new National Executive Director, Dr. Jaime Grant, and the future of PFLAG. Sharing circle to follow.

Gentlemen. It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So join us for good food and conversation on the 1st Thursday of the month, 7:30 AM at Tom's Pancake House in Beaverton. Hope to see you this coming Thursday.

All Dressed Up and No Place to Go? Not anymore! On Sunday, October 29, you will have the opportunity to return to your roots… kid roots that is. It’ll be the Sunday before Halloween, and we’re having a “Dress Up in your Favorite Costume” Sunday at Bethel.