Sabbatical Supply Minister Dianne Rodriguez and Office Administrator,Courtney Czarnecki,
Introducing Sabbatical Supply Minister Dianne Rodriguez
We are delighted to introduce our sabbatical supply minister, Dianne Rodriguez, who will be joining us starting June 1st!
After graduating from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in May of 2005, Pastor Dianne Rodriguez was called as minister to First Parish Church, U.C.C. in Jamesport, NY on Long Island. That same year she was ordained as a U.C.C. minister, of Word and Sacrament. Prior to this call she served at Bethany Congregational in East Rockaway for two years as a licensed minister and Spiritual Director. During these years she volunteered at Christa House, a resident home for those dying of AIDS. She also worked with a colleague to help facilitate spiritual gatherings for those with brain trauma. She completed a three year spiritual formation certification as a Spiritual Director from the Cenacle Retreat Center in Ronkonkoma, NY.
Spiritual direction brought a discerning depth into her ministry at First Parish Church, U.C.C. as she helped the congregation discern God's will and vision of what it meant to be a church in the 21st Century. In addition to working with her own parish Dianne collaborated with a lay leader from Bethany Congregational, U.C.C. to explore developing a Spiritual Lifelines ministry which would serve to help enrich the spiritual life of a congregation challenged by our ever changing world. Dianne was overjoyed having been given the opportunity to serve at Forest Grove UCC for 3 months as sabbatical supply pastor several years ago. Upon her return Dianne completed Intentional Ministry Training which is part of a transitional ministry training through the Interim Ministry Network.
In her last eight years at First Parish Church, U.C.C. she helped the congregation discern a Spiritual Renewal Ministry, that actively seeks to model and be a community in which spirit and service come together. Dianne was the settled part time pastor at Hubbard UCC in Hubbard Oregon, helping the worshiping congregation close on January 6, 2019; and birth The Heart2Soul Spiritual Project. She has had an ongoing spiritual direction ministry and is affiliated with The Interfaith Spiritual Center. After having moved to Oregon, Dianne has completed restorative justice training at Resolutions Northwest, facilitated women's retreats, leadership annual visioning retreats, and serves on the committee on ministry of the Central Pacific Conference.
Pastor Dianne is loved and supported by her husband of 39 years, Lazaro, her son David and daughter-in-law Katrina, and her two grandsons Xavier and Quintin. As a former dancer Dianne has a great appreciation and love for ballet and all the arts that can be used as instruments of God experience in body, soul, and mind. Her special interests in life are reading, bicycle riding on her yellow and hot pink Del Sol, beading, nature, the arts, theatre, music and dance, Feldenkrais body awareness movement classes, gardening, traveling and dining with friends. Her passion in ministry is rooted and founded in spiritual direction.
Staff Announcement - Courtney Czarnecki, Office Administrator
Hello to the congregation of Bethel UCC! I wanted to introduce myself to you in this week’s Highlights, and I look forward to meeting you in person as I settle into my role as your new Office Administrator! My name is Courtney Czarnecki, and I relocated from Seattle, WA, where I was born and raised, to Portland this past summer. While in Seattle, I worked as an office administrator and program coordinator in the nonprofit sector, mostly working in the arts and humanities. As I job hunted in Portland, my new home, I had my heart set right away on this position at Bethel and was very moved by the dedication to community support and direct outreach that Bethel provides to its community, along with the uplifting values of the congregation and the perspective Rev. David Randall-Bodman shares as Senior Pastor. I knew it would be a great fit, and it has been a wonderful first couple weeks of training and getting to know the community! When I’m not at work, I’m usually trying to cook a new recipe, reading a classic novel, taking a long walk, sewing, or exploring Portland. Being a lifelong learner and staying curious are so important to me, and I love to learn and talk about travel, culture, philosophy, literature, theology, history, science, you name it! Please stop by the office any time to say hi, and I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received.
BHS Homeless Spring Food Bags
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the BHS Homeless Teen food project. Donations of food, money and time are so appreciated.
We want to tell you about one family you are helping. Three siblings attending Beaverton High are living together with no adults. The oldest, a senior boy, is working 2 jobs and getting good grades. He supports his younger sisters. They are renting an uninsulated garage for $600 per month because they don’t want to be separated into different homes. These are just 3 of the 143 students you are supporting.
Principal Anne Erwin says students who receive support because they are food and housing insecure graduate at a higher percentage rate than their peers who do have secure food and housing. You all are part of the reason these students are graduating! Please join us Sunday evening after Faith Café (6:15-ish PM). We need movers and counters. On Monday morning please come a few minutes before 9 AM to help us get the spring break food to the school. We need packers and drivers. And sincere thanks to Sara Edmiston and Mac McPherson for getting us organized and food moved.
Where is Heaven?
"Summer of Adventures" Planning and Don't Forget to Spring Ahead
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour on Saturday or you will be late.
Come help us plan for a fabulous “Summer of Adventure.” Join the Lilly Grant sabbatical team to discuss and fine tune some ideas for adventures in worship, service & mission, fellowship and personal growth. We will gather this Sunday, March 10, from 11:30 am - 12:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Beyond the Fear
BHS Homeless Spring Food Bags
CAN YOU HELP? Jesuit has donated 124 Fred Meyer cards for the food drive, however, we still need 25 more. We can also use donations of cash. Checks can be made out to Bethel with BHS homeless in memo line. We will lay out food after Faith Cafe on Sunday, March 17 and assemble and deliver bags on Monday, March 18th starting at 9:00. There are already 143 students that qualify as homeless, so we are again collecting chunky/hearty soup. The donation site is the wooden box outside the chapel. Thanks for your help!!
Beyond the Hype
Ash Wednesday Service
Join us Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall for a special Ash Wednesday service to mark the beginning of the season of Lent (See above "Special Lenten Opportunities - Love Wins.) A light soup supper will be provided followed by a time of worship and reflection and the traditional imposition of ashes. This is a family-friendly service so you are encouraged to attend with your entire family. The Diaconate needs 2-3 people to bring rolls. If you are willing to help in this way, please contact Monique Manley-Smith at memoney@comcast.net
Beyond the Chaos
Women's Spring Gathering
Women's Retreat March 16, God's Extravagant Love! based on Ephesians 5:2 Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant.
Join us from 9:00-1:00. RSVP to Paige. If you'd like to help plan, fix lunch, or need child care let us know.
Beyond the Boundaries
Grubby Sunday And Potato Bar Fundraiser
On Sunday, March 17, the Faith Development Committee will host a Baked Potato and Salad Bar after church. This is our fundraiser for Camperships. A donation basket will be available. Each week at Camp Adams costs $420. This is a great bargain, and our Bethel kids LOVE camp. Camperships make sure all kids can attend. Each year we have more and more youth who would like to attend. Plan to join us after church and support the kids at camp.
This is also GRUBBY SUNDAY. What is Grubby Sunday? Every Spring and Fall we set aside a Sunday afternoon and come to church in our work/grubby clothes and stay after church and spruce things up. We will have a wall full of job cards for you to choose. There will be many inside and outside jobs; jobs that might take a partner, and many that you can do alone. Some jobs take a bit of thought, but most are fairly mindless and just require a little "elbow grease." Faith Development will provide the food to fortify you for this fun, community building activity. Come and help make Bethel sparkle for Easter.
Beyond the Horizon
Beaverton School District Clothes Closet
The Beaverton School District Clothes Closet is in special need of girls’ heavy coats in sizes 7-8 and boys new boxer style underwear in XL (14/16) right now. There’s a labeled clothes basket near the chapel for drop offs which Kathy Bleyle takes to Clothes Closet on Wednesday’s. Other school appropriate clothing sizes 4T and up would also be much appreciated by the kids and their families. Questions? Contact Kathy at dbleyle@hotmail.com or 971-570-9040. Thank you!
Beyond Belief
Habitat for Humanity Build Day
There will be a Habitat morning work day on Saturday, February 16 at the Denney Road site from 8 to noon. This is a chance to show your skills working to build homes for families who otherwise couldn’t afford a home of their own. The site is well-marked and on the Scholls Ferry end of Denney. Steve Thomas will be signing up a work crew on the next several Sundays after church or contact him at caroleth@aol.com or (503) 645-1997.
Bath
2019 Annual Meeting-All are Welcome
Mark your calendars, Bethel’s annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 27th after worship. In our tradition, the annual meeting provides a living example of how UCC congregations govern themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The moderator (the chief lay leader of our organization) presides at the meeting. Reports from the various committees and teams are reviewed and accepted. A mission revenue and spending plan (a.k.a. the church budget) is presented, discussed and adopted. Past year successes and challenges are highlighted. Priorities and goals for the upcoming year are shared and celebrated. A slate of officers and lay leaders will be presented by the Nominating committee.
If you are new to Bethel, this is a GREAT way to understand how our church “works”. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend. For issues that require a formal vote, the official members of the congregation qualify to express a “yes”, “no” or “abstain”. Bethel friends who have not formally joined the church are encouraged to ask questions and share their insights and perspectives with respect to the topic “on the floor”. While essential decisions need to be authorized by a formal motion and vote, Bethel strives to make decisions through a process of dialogue and consensus. Deepen your understanding and investment in Bethel’s ministry by participating in the annual meeting January 27! Grace abounds….