Join Us for Earth-Honoring Faith

Join Us for Earth-Honoring Faith

THIS Sunday, June 24, begins a special summer sermon series called "Earth - Honoring Faith." How does our relationship to God - the Creator - affect the way we live on the earth? What if we lived truly connected to God's Creation? God created all things and called them "good." Throughout the series, we will look at the ways we live with the community of earth in a way that deepens our reverence for all of life. How does living in reverence for all of life inform our actions for justice and the ways we care for the earth?

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Mental Health Sunday at Bethel

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Mental Health Sunday at Bethel

Sunday, June 10 will be Mental Health Sunday at Bethel. Jane Zilk and Jean Doane are planning the worship service with a focus on mental health awareness. Mental Health Sunday is a way for congregations to begin or to continue to provide education and support to members around mental health challenges. We hope to break down the wall of silence and stigma around mental illness by speaking openly about personal experiences with such challenges. Jane and Jean led Bethel’s first Mental Health Sunday in April, 2016.

After worship on June 10, Rosemary (Rosebud) Kirwin-Alvord of National Alliance for Mental Illness Washington County (NAMI) will speak in the Fellowship Hall. Rosemary’s adult daughter has struggled with schizophrenia for many years. Rosemary has journeyed from disbelief and helplessness at the diagnosis, through study, to compassion and advocacy for both those with mental illnesses (brain disorders) and their families. She is a volunteer teacher of the Family-to-Family classes at NAMI Washington County.

What's Happening?

What's Happening?

Do you ever wonder what activities are going on at Bethel and just don't have time to wade through the myriad of calendar events? Well we have good news! One of our dedicated volunteers, Jan Hodge, has put together the Bethel UCC Activity Calendar. This rolling 2 month calendar groups events and activities by type - Family/Multi-Generational, Children/Youth and Adults. You can scan through the type of activity you're looking for and put what interests you on your calendar.

Beaverton Literacy Council Storybook 2018

Beaverton Literacy Council Storybook 2018

The Storybook is a yearly tradition for Beaverton Literacy Council. This book gives our students the chance to work on their writing skills and provides them the chance to see their improvement in mastering what they are learning. English can be very frustrating and the students have made a huge commitment to learn the language. This is published to showcase their writing and perspectives. 

The theme this year is “That was then, this is now…” We commend our students’ success and effort on this journey. The stories are published as written by the students with some spelling corrections, but no other editing or modifications. We are hoping you will take pleasure in reading the stories from our hard working students. Click here to visit the BLC website and read the Storybook 2018!

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Bethel Shows Pride 

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Bethel Shows Pride 

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

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THIS Sunday! Justice for Palestinian Children

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THIS Sunday! Justice for Palestinian Children

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.

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Military Detention of Palestinian Children

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Military Detention of Palestinian Children

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.

What R U Up 2? - Holy Week Schedule

What R U Up 2? - Holy Week Schedule

This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Bethel begins the celebration with a very special Palm Sunday service, March 25 as well as our regular Adult Discussion Group at 9 am; a Maundy Thursday service, March 29; Ecumenical Walk of the Cross, March 30 and culminating in a beautiful celebration of Easter and the risen Christ followed by a fun Easter egg hunt for all ages, April 1. You and your family are invited to join us for any and all of the Holy Week activities. Click here to download our Holy Week flyer or pick up a pew card this Sunday.

What is a Sabbatical?

What is a Sabbatical?

A sabbatical is a designated “time away” from regular work responsibilities. A sabbatical requires a specific plan of study, rest, discernment, skill building, reading, prayer and play.

A sabbatical for UCC pastors is a customary benefit; grounded in Christian scripture and practice. The word sabbatical, comes from the Greek word sabatikos, which means “of the Sabbath,” the day of rest that happens every seventh day. Regular worship on Sundays is one way of keeping the Sabbath.

The book of Genesis makes clear that God values rest – not just inactivity, but special set aside time intended for spiritual, emotional, and physical renewal. Jesus frequently took time away to rest, and invited his disciples to join him.

Sabbatical leave time is often confused with vacation leave.

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Churches To Feed 110 Homeless Beaverton High School Students Over Spring Break

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Churches To Feed 110 Homeless Beaverton High School Students Over Spring Break

Matthew 25:35-36 guides our behavior toward others:  "...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."  Recognizing our common humanity and desiring a fair allocation of community resources is a golden thread running through the Bible.

Beaverton High Principal Anne Erwin challenged the Community Team to find a way to support homeless teens during Spring and Winter Breaks when school district food programs are closed. Bethel chose to take this project on. Many other Churches and groups help us. Holy Trinity Church, Jesuit High School Alumni, St. Cecelia School, Safeway, New Seasons and other groups have teamed up with Bethel to let these students know we care about them. We also have a dedicated group of seamstresses who make a canvas sling bag for each student.

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Single Payer Healthcare Forum - What Now?

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Single Payer Healthcare Forum - What Now?

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!

CPC Starling Project

CPC Starling Project

Have you witnessed a starling flock in flight? These flocks -- called murmurations -- move as one, turning, twisting, diving, and pulsing. Each starling is an individual, and yet they are connected together to form a larger and magnificent whole. Starling murmurations are a beautiful example of an interconnected community.

What if we, as UCC churches in the Central Pacific Conference, were connected like starlings?

Lent Begins on February 14

Lent Begins on February 14

What R U Up 2? Join us on for the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday, on February 14 at 6:30 PM for a light supper and a special service for the whole family. This will be a wonderful way to recognize God's love for us and the love we have for each other. This Lent we will look at what Jesus was "up to" in his ministry and what we are called to be "up to" in the name of Jesus - both individually and as a church community.

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Bethel Goes Tubing!

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Bethel Goes Tubing!

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.

Bethel Youth's Got Talent!

Bethel Youth's Got Talent!

This year's Christmas Pageant showcased the talents of all of our youth. As a result, Owen and I would like to start a Youth Choir as well as have more people join the Hot Shots Worship Band. If you are a youth and love to sing or you play an instrument, please contact Owen or Beth. Owen is offering a free lesson to any youth who would like to share their musical talents at Bethel.  

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Social Justice Advocacy Team Meets This Sunday

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Social Justice Advocacy Team Meets This Sunday

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.

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Women's Gathering

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Women's Gathering

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. 

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Beaverton High School Homeless Students Food Bag Delivery Day

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Beaverton High School Homeless Students Food Bag Delivery Day

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.