November 29, 2020

No Education Classes This Week

Please remember that there will be no education classes this coming Sunday. Adult Education, High School Youth Group, Confirmation, and Sunday School will all resume at 10:00 am on Sunday, December 6, the Second Sunday of Advent.

Worship Connection Problems?

St. Andrew’s tech team is offering a new service on Sundays for anyone having difficulty connecting to worship. Between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, you can simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 to get help from the pros.

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

The director of Family Promise has informed its host coordinators that it has funds available for people needing help paying for childcare, rent, or utilities during this time of extraordinary need. People needing assistance are welcome to call Family Promise at 971-217-8949. Please be aware that these funds need to be used by the end of this calendar year.

Table Talk: What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion, we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Though we cannot gather in person, Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, December 1, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In this Table Talk we will focus on sharing reflections on the presidential election and the transition process that has followed. The voter turnout was record-setting. President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris received more votes than any ticket in U.S. history. President Trump and Vice President Pence received the second most votes ever.

In a New York Times editorial, published on November 5, two days after Election Day, when the final outcome was very much in doubt, David Brooks reflected on “What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us”. To prepare for this Table Talk I encourage all participants to read this opinion piece. In light of the election and its aftermath, we will reflect on the political responsibility of the people of St. Andrew and the church as a whole going forward.

Giving Tree

St. Andrew will be doing a Giving Tree for needy families with children enrolled at Barnes Elementary again this year. Like all of us, these parents yearn to make the holidays joyful for their children, and we can help.

Just as we did with Thanksgiving Boxes, we’ll be providing gift cards in 2020, giving parents the opportunity to shop for their families. You can donate to the cause by sending a check made out to St. Andrew with Giving Tree in the memo line. If you prefer to give electronically, select “Give” on the menu bar of St. Andrew’s website, then “Click here to give now”. Once you’ve signed in to your account, select the green “Give” button and then choose the fund “Christmas Giving Tree.”

Questions? Please call Donna Brocker at 503-502-6156.

Family Stories from Barnes Elementary

Matt & Carolyn, both of whom lost their jobs due to the coronavirus, have eight children—two biological children, Carolyn’s sister’s four kids, and two younger foster children, one of whom has special needs. They’ve been fortunate to be able to keep their apartment, but food is their number one priority this Christmas season. Carolyn is also determined to emphasize reading in her home, so books suitable for children ages 2-10 are another wish she has for Christmas. In addition, at least a couple of the children need coats. Little bodies grow quickly.

Then there’s Chelsea, a single mom of three children, who are in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade at Barnes. When she was asked what she needed most this holiday season, she replied that she would take less for her family if we could direct some help to her neighbor, Alicia, and her children as well. Alicia recently moved to Oregon from Georgia with her husband and three children, but she’s now parenting alone as he recently died from a heart attack at the age of 42. Alicia, who had a job in food service, is now unemployed and wanting to provide a lovely Christmas meal for her kids, who are in 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. To conserve their very limited resources, Chelsea and Alicia and their children are planning to share an apartment. For these families, too, the most urgent need is food.

Matt & Carolyn, Chelsea, and Alicia worry about keeping their children fed and healthy, about keeping them warm and well-occupied when so much of normal life has been disrupted. If you have the wherewithal to help them bring a little joy into their Christmas this year, please donate to St. Andrew’s Giving Tree ministry.

Foundation Core Values, Part 1

Your St. Andrew Foundation adopted six core values at our recent strategic planning retreat. These are fundamental principles that guide the Foundation’s activities and decision-making. This week, we’ll highlight three of the new values.

VISIONARY: We are an active part of doing God’s will on earth. We are taking generational wealth and using it to seed bold, visionary efforts.
INTEGRITY: We are stewards of donations and a partner to grant recipients. We operate at the highest ethical standard and take responsibility for our actions.
SUSTAINABILITY & FINANCIAL STABILITY: We are proactive in growing and maintaining our finances so that they are sustainable into the future. We are investing money in ways that advance the St. Andrew Core Values.

Are you interested in learning more? Contact Sonja Ackman.

Stock Donation Transfer Process for 2020

Greetings from the Financial Secretaries of St. Andrew. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to streamline the process of donating stock to the church since we are volunteering our time remotely from our homes.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of year to be deductible in 2020. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the transfer. Please start the process as soon as possible.

We ask you to take the necessary steps if you intend to donate stock to St. Andrew this tax year:

Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
Complete the form including your intentions for the use of the donation and email a copy to our confidential e-mail address. You may instead send a copy to the church office marked confidential for Financial Secretaries. This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without this form, we cannot complete your request.
Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will be in contact with you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to the church’s securities firm, Charles Schwab.

Thank you for your generosity to the Mission and Ministry of St. Andrew.

Tammy Piscitelli, 503-307-8837
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Leadership Training Opportunity

Plan now to attend a FREE leadership training institute through the magic of the Internet in December.

Come to learn fundamental organizing skills: Individual relational meetings, listening sessions, research and action to help obtain a concrete, winnable outcome.
Come to strengthen our institutions: Engage people systematically in a culture that is relational, action-oriented, and reflective.
Come to learn to distinguish problems from issues: From general problems to concrete, winnable issues by using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

The eight-hour training will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm PST on:
Tuesday, December 8
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Thursday, December 17

Many St. Andrew members have taken this training (often more than once), and all have reported taking away important skills that strengthen our St. Andrew community, as well as skills that are useful in their lives outside of St. Andrew.

Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Please contact any member of the St. Andrew MACG Core Team: Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Lynn Santelmann, Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or Pastor Robyn. If you have any problems with registration, e-mail Mary Nemmers.

Opportunities for Reckoning with Racism

Our St. Andrew Reckoning with Racism cohort is just completing our first quarter and preparing to start up again with 200 other people of faith on Zoom in January. If you’d like to join the 16 people in our cohort, please watch the videos of the sessions of our first quarter. The password is RwR*202021 .

Beginning in January, we’ll gather on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month (January 12 & 26, February 9 & 23, March 9 & 23, April 13 & 27, May 11 and 25, June 8 & 22). Please be in touch with Pastor Robyn if you would like more information or would like to join our cohort.

To learn more about the origins of racism in Oregon:

1. Watch the OPB Documentary: “Oregon Black Pioneers.”

2. Explore more of the history of Black Americans throughout Oregon’s history at the Oregon Black Pioneers website.

3. Read Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory, by R. Gregory Nokes, a nonfiction account of the largely forgotten story of Oregon slavery.

4. Read A Light in the Wilderness, Oregonian writer Jane Kirkpatrick’s historical novel about the lives of three women of color in early Oregon history.

Rebuilding and Recovery

It has been a couple of months now since John and Christine Core lost their home and almost everything they owned in one of the wildfires that ravaged Oregon. If you’d like to help them get reestablished, please consider donating to their Go Fund Me account, which was set up to make this season more joyful for them. If you have questions, please contact Michael & Barbara Keys at 971-219-2820.

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Jim Smith (Gerald’s twin)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Mary Smith
Eunice Harrum	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Francine Cach
Colleen Warnes	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Suzanne Warnes
Suzanne Warnes	Comfort and strength	Staff
Bill Branch	Comfort following esophageal cancer diagnosis	Linda Fransen
Marcia Branch	Comfort and strength	Linda Fransen
Dan (brother-in-law)	Proper diagnosis and effective treatment	Judy Scholz
Joyce (sister) and husband Dan	Safety while Dan is in a hospital plagued by COVID	Judy Scholz
Bob Brown	Successful treatment for diabetic retinopathy	Mary Brown
Bob Cornie	Healing and recovery	Staff
Joe Baker	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Joe Baker
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Judy Heidinger
Joyce Larsen (grandmother)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Cole Petersburg
Cole Petersburg’s grandparents, Floyd & Marian	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Cole Petersburg
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Coos Bay, OR) Faith Lutheran Church (Coquille, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Neveh Shalom (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.

December Movie Night

Do you like going to the movies? And talking about them afterward? We are planning monthly St. Andrew movie nights, COVID-style. We will select some movies to stream at home and then each month, we’ll invite you to bring out the popcorn and gather around your computer screens as we talk about what we liked (and didn’t like) about that month’s movie.

Our first Movie Night will be Friday, December 11, at 7:00 pm. Since it’s December, lets watch a classic—A Christmas Carol. I counted no less than 20 versions of this movie that can be streamed. Some are old black and white classics from as far back as 1938, some are animated, some are modern interpretations, as recent as 2020. You can stream many different versions on Amazon, some for free, some for a small rental fee. Or you may have your own favorite DVD of this classic at home. It will be fun to compare highlights with each other, as well as reflect on this beautiful story of redemption. This will also be a time to make suggestions for films for future movie nights.

You’ll find the Zoom link for our first Movie Night in Carol’s “Weekly News” e-mail on Friday, December 11.

Mary Smith

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To review, St. Andrew offers livestream worship via YouTube at 8:30 am on Sundays, with worship broadcast via Zoom at 11:00 am. Both services include the opportunity to share in remote Communion. Adult Education classes and gatherings for children, Confirmation students, and high school youth are all offered via Zoom, as is Wednesday Evening Prayer.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Preparing for Next Sunday

December 6, 2020

Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Gospel: Mark 1: 1-8

Go to “Preparing for Worship” for the bulletins, the complete Lectionary, and more.

Given Governor Brown’s pause in Oregon’s reopening progression for Washington County, we ask that you please limit your visits to our church building. Coronavirus numbers are surging everywhere. If it is imperative that you visit the building, please remember to make arrangements with the office first.
Thank you!

Pastoral Care

Pastor Mark Brocker
is on call Fridays & Saturdays.
office: 503-646-0629 ext. 201
cell: 503-502-8762
brockerms@standrewlutheran.com

Pastor Robyn Hartwig
is on call Sundays & Mondays.
503-646-0629 ext. 211
pastorrobyn@standrewlutheran.com

Both pastors are on call Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Highlights for the Week

Go to the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 29, First Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Sunday School (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	NO High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Adult Education	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 30

10:00 am

Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes

off site

Tuesday, December 1

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	off site
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Zoom
6:00 pm	MACG Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, December 2 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Advent: Holden Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Night Youth Hangout	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, December 3

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Executive Council Committee Meeting	Zoom

Friday, December 4

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, December 6, Second Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Job’s Response to Misery	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

November 22, 2020

Weekly News (PDF)Download

Thanksgiving Eve

Please note that St. Andrew will not be offering Wednesday Evening Prayer on November 25, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Instead, the worship team will be sharing a short recording that is meant to augment your celebration at home. Watch for a link to that in an e-mail from Allison Katsufrakis on Wednesday.

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 22, at 10:00 am for Session 5 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

An incorrect translation has led us to believe that Job was a patient man. Not so, Christiansen explains, but he was persistent and he somehow kept going in spite of the odds. Job’s story is relevant for our time in that it raises many questions about the suffering of the innocent. Click for Steve’s session outline as well as videos of earlier classes.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Worship Connection Problems?

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

Given Governor Brown’s pause in Oregon’s reopening progression for Washington County, we ask that you please limit your visits to our church building. Coronavirus numbers are surging everywhere. If it is imperative that you visit the building, please remember to make arrangements with the office first.
Thank you!

Table Talk: What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us

Giving Tree

Questions? Please call Donna Brocker at 503-502-6156.

Pastoral Care

Pastor Mark Brocker
is on call Fridays & Saturdays.
office: 503-646-0629 ext. 201
cell: 503-502-8762
brockerms@standrewlutheran.com

Pastor Robyn Hartwig
is on call Sundays & Mondays.
503-646-0629 ext. 211
pastorrobyn@standrewlutheran.com

Both pastors are on call Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

New Foundation Vision Statement

Debut of the St. Andrew Foundation’s new vision statement, a product of our successful strategic planning retreat.

Your St. Andrew Foundation envisions a future where it…

Provides funding for creative worship, education, and outreach that are in alignment with Christian values
Is a preferred choice for foundation-type giving, with trusted investment and initiatives that resonate with and excite potential donors
Is well understood and embraced as an extension of the congregation’s ministries and priorities
Has a sustainable fund of at least $1 million

We are excited to put this vision into practice! Are you interested in learning more? Contact Sonja Ackman.

Stock Dona!on Transfer Process for 2020

We ask you to take the necessary steps if you intend to donate stock to St. Andrew this tax year:

Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
Complete the form including your intentions for the use of the donation and email a copy to our confidential e-mail address. You may instead send a copy to the church office marked confidential for Financial Secretaries. This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without this form, we cannot complete your request.
Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will be in contact with you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to the church’s securities firm, Charles Schwab.

Thank you for your generosity to the Mission and Ministry of St. Andrew.

Tammy Piscitelli, 503-307-8837
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Leadership Training Opportunity

Plan now to attend a FREE leadership training institute through the magic of the Internet in December.

Come to learn fundamental organizing skills: Individual relational meetings, listening sessions, research and action to help obtain a concrete, winnable outcome.
Come to strengthen our institutions: Engage people systematically in a culture that is relational, action-oriented, and reflective.
Come to learn to distinguish problems from issues: From general problems to concrete, winnable issues by using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

The eight-hour training will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm PST on:
Tuesday, December 8
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Thursday, December 17

Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.

Reckoning with Racism

The Oregon Black Pioneers Organization, through extensive and continuing research into the origins of racism in Oregon, has brought together many valuable resources. The St. Andrew Team attending the Reckoning With Racism series would like to share these resources with the rest of the congregation. They provide an excellent background to understand systemic racism, especially in our own state of Oregon.

1. Watch the OPB Documentary: “Oregon Black Pioneers.”

2. Explore more of the history of Black Americans throughout Oregon’s history at the Oregon Black Pioneers website.

3. Read Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory, by R. Gregory Nokes, a nonfiction account of the largely forgotten story of Oregon slavery.

4. Read A Light in the Wilderness, Oregonian writer Jane Kirkpatrick’s historical novel about the lives of three women of color in early Oregon history.

Future Opportunities

Pandemic Prayer

While we might be feeling worn down and depleted by ongoing pandemic restrictions, Rev. Richard Bott, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, has composed a prayer that reminds us of the link between “a simple piece of cloth” and sacrament:

A Prayer for Putting on a Face Mask

Creator God, as I prepare to go into the world,
help me to see the sacramental nature of this cloth.
Let it be a tangible and visible way of living love
for my neighbors, as I love myself.

Christ Jesus, since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart,
that people would see my smile in the crinkles around my eyes.
Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly,
not only with my words, but with my actions.

Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears,
remind me to listen carefully and caringly to all those I meet.
May this simple piece of cloth be shield and banner,
and may each breath that it holds be filled with your love.

In your name and in that love I pray.
Amen.

Practicing Patience

In her message to the Oregon Synod on Wednesday this week, Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar noted that Governor Kate Brown was joined by Dr. Esther Choo, an emergency medicine physician at Oregon Health & Science University at a press briefing the day before. The doctor delivered an emotional plea for all of us to adhere to the new restrictions, saying “Right now, we’re asking you to be our heroes.” By the actions we take, we can help save her life, the lives of her family members, neighbors and friends, and essential workers across the state.

Last week, nearly 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed across Oregon. Gatherings, even those that include small numbers of families from different households, are the source of many of these new infections.

“So, I ask you to practice love, to practice safety, and to practice patience,” Bishop Laurie writes. “Patience is an important part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

“Patience does note mean to sit and do nothing as we wait,” the bishop continues. “Patience is daring to stay in the place we are, as hard as it can be sometimes, and seeking God’s glimpses of life in the situation while trusting that something hidden will become manifest to us.

“This kind of Holy Spirit presence, waiting yet active in the already/not yet, can’t be done alone. We need the support, encouragement, love and forgiveness of God and of one another. So here are three ideas for practicing patience together. First, by simply breathing with one another in silent meditation. Second, by praying to God with each other for the patience we need. And third, by practicing gratitude, intentionally looking for, naming out loud with someone, and thanking God for what God is already doing in our lives. Remember that patience in Christ requires practice: the more we do it, the better we get at it.”

Struggling in Christ’s patience alongside of you,
Bishop Laurie

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

Strict new Oregon guidelines highly recommend that no more than six people from two different households gather together during this two-week freeze period that continues through December 2. That will make Thanksgiving look different for many of us.

While health officials prefer that we not mix households at all, steps can be taken to make the celebration safer if you do decide to gather.

In addition to wearing masks, maintaining a six-foot distance, and washing or disinfecting your hands frequently, recommendations from the CDC are to:

Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils.
Wear a mask, and safely store your mask while eating and drinking.
Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as the kitchen.
Choose single-use options, such as salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items such as food containers, plates, and utensils.
Open windows to make celebrating indoors a bit safer.
Have guests bring their own food and drink.
If sharing food, designate one person to serve, relying on single-use options such as plastic utensils. Do not pass the green bean casserole.

Other options to consider are to gather electronically by Zoom, Skype, or Facetime Portal. You might decide to safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family or neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others (for example, leave them on the porch).

However you celebrate Thanksgiving in 2020, whether you’re part of a small group or alone, participate in a gratitude activity. Get creative. Make a gratitude jar filled with things you’re thankful for, or create a Blessings Garland that enumerates all the ways you’re blessed. Drape it on the mantel or over a doorway to remind you that, despite every uncertainty, life is good. Design a gratitude journal to remember this year of the pandemic and the good things that happened to see you through uncertain times.

Finally, call or write some of the people you love and tell them why you’re thankful that they are a part of your life. Dare to express your feelings—even to that stiff uncle who is really uncomfortable being hugged.

Children’s Sermon: The Oregon Grape

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Hello, I am LuAnn Staul. You may know me as Henry and Penelope’s grandma.

I want to introduce you to another native plant, the Indian Plum The Indian Plum’s scientific name is Oemleria cerasiformis and it has many common names, including the osoberry, Oregon plum, Indian peach, and bird cherry. This plant grows along the Pacific Coast of North America in British Columbia, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.

The fruits of the Indian Plum can be eaten and look like clusters of small plums which are dark blue when ripe.

This plant is especially important to pollinators. Pollinators get food in the form of energy-rich nectar and protein-rich pollen from the flowers they visit. Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, and beetles are all pollinators. Once the pollinator has visited a flower it carries the pollen to other flowers; this makes it possible for the pollinated flowers to develop and produce seed.

Pollination is required to produce many of your favorite foods—apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries. Pollinators also support our ecosystem and natural resources by helping plants reproduce.

The Indian Plum is especially important because it is one of the first plants to leaf out and develop flowers. It develops leaves and flowers in early March before many other plants begin to flower. This provides an early source of pollen for bees and other pollinators.

The indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest included Indian Plum fruit in their diets, and they used the plant’s bark and twigs to make tea and medicine. The fruit is also eaten by small mammals like mice and voles, plus foxes, coyotes, deer, bear, and many bird species.

Indian Plum is a tall shrub growing up to 15 feet high. It has multiple trunks that grow upright. The flowers are white and whitish green. The fruit occurs in clusters and is orange and yellow when young but blue-black as it ripens. The plant grows in part to full shade in soil that is dry to moist.

Planting native plants like the Indian Plum provides food for pollinators as well as other native animals. If we all begin adding these plants to our years, we will be on our way to develop a Homegrown National Park in our community.

4 Senses: Hearing, Smelling, Seeing, Feeling

Fall has never been my favorite season. I miss the warm days of summer with sunlight from early morning till mid-evening, so many flowers, bare feet, and my birthday month.

But this fall is teaching me something new. Maybe it‘s the isolation and lack of stimulation brought on by our COVID prevention measures—staying home, avoiding people outside of my household, cancelling travel, missing piano lessons. But I’ve rediscovered a childlike pleasure.

I take walks in my neighborhood most mornings. It’s early. The sun (when it shows through the clouds) is low in the eastern sky. The air is crisp. My neighborhood has lots of walk route possibilities. We have a wonderful trail that can take us across bridges over the wetlands, up hills, into the trees. But these days, I’m avoiding the trail. It doesn’t allow a six-foot distance unless someone steps off the path into the grass. And still, amazingly to me, people aren’t wearing masks, nor do they even have one resting on their chins to pull up when they do meet someone.

Instead, I’m sticking to the sidewalks. The good thing about sidewalks is that they usually are on both sides of the street. So, when you see someone approaching, you or they can switch to the other side. Sometimes, amusingly, both of you start to switch at the same time, which brings smiles and waves, and an unspoken agreement as to WHO will go.

The fall leaves are glorious right now. They are rapidly falling from the trees and piling up on the sidewalks. And I can’t help it. When I get to a pile, I start dragging my feet and swishing my way through,, leaving two trails behind me.

I find as I’m swishing, that my mind goes free from my worries about COVID, the transition of power in our nation’s leadership, my tasks for the day, what’s for dinner. I am totally in the moment, enjoying the rustling sounds, the leafy smells, the rich colors, and the crunchy leaves lightly brushing against my feet. (I haven’t tasted them yet. I’ll save that sense for the hot cider, beef stew, crisp apples, and fresh pumpkin pie.)

It happens every time I come to a pile. And no one can see it, but under my mask a big, involuntary grin crosses my face. And I begin to look ahead for the next pile of leaves. I’ll even cross the street for it. I kinda like fall this year.

Beverly Briggs
November 9, 2020

Preparing for Next Sunday

November 29, 2020

Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37

Go to “Preparing for Worship” for the bulletins, the complete Lectionary, and more.

Managing Your Mental Health During a Tense Political Climate

The election may be over, but as we know, the tense climate continues. Many of us have found it particularly challenging to manage our own mental health as the pandemic continues, holiday plans are changes, and life as we knew it seems farther and farther away.

The Caring Ministries Team recommends a series of articles found on the website for Mental Health USA. This week, take a look at their suggestions for managing your mental health during a tense political climate.

Your health matters. Focus this week on one of St. Andrew’s Core Values: Self Care.

St. Andrew Caring Ministries Team

Join Our Delegate Assembly

Please join other members of MACG institutions in the tri-county area on Thursday, December 3, from 6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom. Commissioners from all three counties, including our own Pam Treece, have been invited to come and talk with us about their plans to address the housing crisis and pandemic management in the near and far term.

As a member of St. Andrew, you are a member of MACG. A link to register will be included in next week’s “Weekly News,” but for now, please put this meeting on your calendar and plan to join us if you can.

Questions? Contact Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, or any member of the St. Andrew MACG Core Team: Lynn Santelmann, Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or Pastor Robyn.

Thank You, Scouts!

As we approach Advent and the joyful season of Christmas, St. Andrew extends an enormous thank you to our Scout Troop 618, 5618, and Crew 618 for providing “Be Merry” centerpieces for many of our homebound parishioners.

Thanks, too, to the St. Andrew volunteers who will deliver the centerpieces next week.

If nothing else, 2020 has reminded us that such acts of kindness are precious, indeed. As Jesus tells us in this week’s Gospel lesson (Matthew 25:31-46), when all the nations are gathered before God, the king will say to his blessed people, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Advent is Coming

The new church year begins next Sunday, November 29, with the First Sunday of Advent. During Advent, a feature of our worship services is the lighting of the advent wreath.

Since we are joining together via the Internet this year, the Worship Planning Team encourages you to bring your own advent wreath when you connect to worship each Sunday. If you need some ideas about how to make your own wreath, check out this
website for Sunday School teachers.

These are fun! You’ll find a mobile advent wreath that kids can carry with them if they like (think pipe cleaners), traditional advent wreaths, a battery candle wreath dressed up with washi tape, paper wreaths, even a wreath you can eat! Be sure to check out the Bonus Take-Home Craft for the edible version. That last one is too tasty to last throughout Advent, but you can replicate it each Sunday.

The Season of Advent

Did you know that Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and lasts between 22 and 28 days, ending on Christmas Eve? Advent includes the first four Sundays of the church year and it embodies a special time of anticipation.

Advent means “coming.” Historically, it was a time of preparation through repentance, but it has also become a season to look forward with hope as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s first coming as the babe in Bethlehem. Advent is a time to also ponder Christ’s coming at the end of time as our judge and redeemer.

Traditionally, the color associated with Advent was purple, a royal color for Christ the Ruler and the color of penitence. Many churches now choose blue for Advent, though, because it is believed to symbolize hope and the truth of Christ. Blue is also the color associated with Mary.

The most recognized symbol of Advent is the advent wreath, with its four candles often associated with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The candle at the center of the wreath represents Christ.

Other symbols of Advent include:

the Alpha and Omega, meaning the beginning and the end
an angel, a reminder of the angel who visited Mary
trumpets, heralding Christ coming to earth and symbolizing the hope of Christ’s return
the crown, recognizing Christ as Ruler
the Lamb of God, echoing John the Baptist’s reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God carrying the banner of victory over sin and death.

Many of these symbols of Advent are incorporated in the white and gold Chrismons that have decorated the Christmas tree in our sanctuary for decades.

Information provided in part by Lutheran Brotherhood

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Norm Smith’s wife	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Del & Mary Nell Mahler
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Paula Yazzolino	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Steve Buske
Pete Yazzolino	Comfort and strength	Steve Buske
Colleen Warnes and her family	Effective treatment and plan for her future care	Suzanne Warnes
Bill Branch	Comfort following esophageal cancer diagnosis	Linda Fransen
Marcia Branch	Comfort and strength	Linda Fransen
Bob Cornie	Healing and recovery	Staff
Joe Baker	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Joe Baker
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Judy Heidinger
Cole Petersburg’s grandparents	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Cole Petersburg
Hugh Newell (son) & Nicole Wilson	Blessings on their marriage (November 17)	Anne Newell
Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, Dave Bumgardner, Vic Claar, Barry Larson, Marvel Lund, Ian MacDonald, Gary Magnuson, Hugh Mason, Brian McKiernan, Ed Pacey, Corky Poppert, Jolie Reyna, Shane Throckmorton, Gary Tubbs	Healing and assurance of God’s presence	Staff
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Blessings on our ministry	Staff
Taiwan Lutheran Church	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church (Umatilla, OR) Grace Lutheran Church (Vale, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Islamic Center (Portland and Beaverton, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Dear God,
We thank you for food
and we remember the hungry.
We thank you for health
and we remember the sick.
We thank you for freedom
and we remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances
stir us to service in your name.
Amen.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Go to the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 22, Christ the King Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Job’s Response to Misery	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Tuesday, November 24

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
6:30 pm	Reckoning with Racism Gathering with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon	Zoom

Wednesday, November 25 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Reopening Committee Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Thanksgiving Devotional Service	YouTube

Thursday, November 26 – Happy Thanksgiving! Church office closed

Friday, November 27 – Church office closed for holiday

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, November 29, First Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

November 15, 2020

Weekly News (PDF)Download

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 15, at 10:00 am for Session 4 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

The Service Committee is once again sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for Community Action families and we need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education. These are families that really need help.

We will not be able to see those food boxes filling the Narthex this year due to COVID-19. Instead, we will be using money donated to Thanksgiving Food Box fund to purchase Winco gift cards for these families.

Last year we were able to donate 75 food boxes, which had a value of $50 each, to families in need. We would like to achieve this goal again this year; that will require $3,750 in donations. If you wish to give electronically, select Thanksgiving Boxes—or you can send a check made out to St. Andrew with Thanksgiving Food Drive in the memo line.

This is a wonderful way to live out our faith, as well as giving a needy family the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious meal. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year. Our deadline for donation is November 15 to give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families.

Please email or call LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321, or email or call Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.

Given Governor Brown’s pause in Oregon’s reopening progression for Washington County, we ask that you please limit your visits to our church building. Coronavirus numbers are surging everywhere. If it is impera?ve that you visit the building, please remember to make arrangements with the office first.

Recognizing Our Veterans

In 2020, some 75 years after the end of World War II, we take time
to recognize all the men and women who either have served or are
currently serving our country in the armed services. Both in times
of peace and war, these individuals and their families deserve our
gratitude. Thank you for upholding our American values.

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet via Zoom on Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 pm to discuss Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Unsheltered. According to a review in USA Today, “Unsheltered’s title suggests a roof gone missing. But it’s also a resonant call to be more alert to our social predicaments, to ‘stand in the clear light of day.’”

The Zoom link will be sent to those on the Spirituality Book Group e-mail list before the meeting. Anyone is welcome to join the discussion. Please contact Mary Smith for the Zoom link.

Since we will also be discussing future reading at this meeting, please bring your ideas and recommendations. We will try to schedule books through June 2021.

Sunday, November 15, 3:00 pm
Book: Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver
Discussion Leader: Mary Ann Snider

Sunday, December 13, 3:00 pm
Book: The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
Discussion Leader: Fran Miller

January (date TBA)
Book: She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, by
Jennifer Boylan
Discussion Leader: TBA

New Foundation President, Mission Statement

Your St. Andrew Foundation board of directors has welcomed a new president, Sonja Ackman. On two Saturdays in September and October, the board conducted a virtual strategic planning retreat facilitated by Terry Buchholz. We had a great time and got a lot accomplished, even over Zoom!

This week, we want to highlight our new mission statement: “The mission of St. Andrew’s Foundation is to provide funding for efforts that grow the spiritual health, well-being, and ability of those serving God, both today and in the future, in ways that augment or extend the reach of the Church.”

Look for additional highlights over the next few weeks! Interested in learning more? Please email Sonja Ackman.

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking
how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Worship Connection Problems?

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Thanksgiving Eve

Please note that St. Andrew will not be offering Wednesday Evening Prayer on November 25, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Instead, the worship team will be sharing a recording of our pastors that is meant to augment your celebration at home.

Preparing for Next Sunday

November 22, 2020

Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Notes from the Adult Library

So, there are new voices in St. Andrew’s library these days. Last week you heard from one of them, Barb Gutzler, the amazing new children’s librarian, and this week there is me, Pam Farr, explorer of the incredible adult library that started in like 1960 and has been guided by Mary Nell Mahler ever since. What a job she’s done! There are some super books in our collection. I’ve been reading titles as I go along checking their numerical order. Here are a few treasures I have found so far:

If you’re in charge of children in some form or another on a daily basis, you know the stresses of remote learning, school/no school can really get to them — and you. If you look in the 249s, you’ll find some activity books that may help you out.

I picked Families Sharing God, by Barbara Owen Webb. She’s got lots of craft projects that take stuff you probably have around the house, a few baking ideas, things for special seasons, ride-in-the-care games, and activities to do outside—all with a devotion attached. If the kids are too wiggly, do the craft first and work the devotion in as you can. These activities are aimed at youngsters 6 to 12 years old.

COVID being COVID (not a nice thing), maybe you’ve been thinking more about God, searching for reassurance or trying to learn more and have gotten hung up, like I do, on the big words. This is the book for you: Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, edited by Rolf A. Jacobson. He has taken the big words and defined them in a simple, rather tongue-in-cheek way that makes you both understand and smile.

Lastly, we have a really nice copy of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the guy who wrote the Narnia books. It’s about a devil in training and how he gets on. It just might give you some ideas about what you’re up against and perhaps how to derail him.

Best of reading!

Pam Farr, Adult Librarian

Pastoral Care

Pastor Mark Brocker
is on call Fridays & Saturdays.
office: 503-646-0629 ext. 201
cell: 503-502-8762
brockerms@standrewlutheran.com

Pastor Robyn Hartwig
is on call Sundays & Mondays.
503-646-0629 ext. 211
pastorrobyn@standrewlutheran.com

Both pastors are on call Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Children’s Sermon: The Oregon Grape

Editor’s Note: This is the third in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Good morning. My name is Larry Bliesner and I’m here to talk about a native plant. A native plant is one that is natural to our area. My plant is the Oregon Grape, which is Oregon’s State Flower.

Thanks for Making a Happy Reunion Possible

The Oregon Grape is actually an evergreen shrub. The tall variety grows 5-8 feet high. The low variety grows to about 2 feet. The Oregon Grape has yellow flowers in the spring, which hummingbirds like. During the summer the plant forms bluish-black berries which other birds like.

The Oregon Grape is not a true grape like the ones we eat. However, Kalapuyan indigenous peoples ate the berries, which are sour. The bark
could be used as a yellow color to dye native baskets, while the berries produce the color purple.

The Oregon Grape tolerates shade or sun. It is a good plant for your soil garden and for St. Andrew’s “homegrown” National Park.

Larry Bliesner

Thanks for Making a Happy Reunion Possible

Thanks so much to all of my St. Andrew family who pitched in to help me find my rescue dog Risa. After I had her for only four days she ran off and was missing for five days. It seems like a miracle that she was found, and I so appreciate the support from so many at St. Andrew, including walking through neighborhoods searching for her, passing out flyers, even setting up a Facebook page for her. And thanks for all the kind words of support during this trying time. Risa and I are happily reunited now, and we’re getting to know each other.

Mary Smith

Table Talk: What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us

In this Table Talk we will focus on sharing reflections on the presidential election and the transition process that has followed. The voter turnout was record-setting. President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris received more votes than any ticket in U.S. history. President Trump and VicePresident Pence received the second most votes ever.

Leadership Training Opportunity

Plan now to attend a FREE leadership training institute through the magic of the Internet in December.

Come to learn fundamental organizing skills: Individual relational meetings, listening sessions, research and action to help obtain a concrete, winnable outcome.

Come to strengthen our institutions: Engage people systematically in a culture that is relational, action-oriented, and reflective.

Come to learn to distinguish problems from issues: From general problems to concrete, winnable issues by using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

The eight-hour training will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm PST on:
Tuesday, December 8
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Thursday, December 17

Click the link below to register:
https://tinyurl.com/MACG-Leadership-Registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Please contact any member of the St. Andrew MACG
Core Team: Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Lynn Santelmann,
Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or
Pastor Robyn. If you have any problems with registration, e-mail
Mary Nemmers.

Reckoning with Racism

1. Watch the following OPB Documentary: “Oregon Black Pioneers.” Long before Oregon became a state, black people were in the Far West. Some were brought to the region as slaves, but many others arrived as freemen looking for a new life. They opened boarding houses and stores, worked farms and mined for gold. But as more white settlers arrived over the Oregon Trail, the newcomers passed discriminatory laws to keep African Americans out. “Oregon Experience” examines the largely unknown history of Oregon’s black pioneers.

2. Explore more of the history of Black Americans throughout Oregon’s history at the Oregon Black Pioneers website.

3. Nonfiction read: Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory, by R. Gregory Nokes. This is a nonfiction account of the largely forgotten story of Oregon slavery. The book was a finalist for the 2014 Oregon Book Award for nonfiction. R. Gregory Nokes is a retired journalist (Associated Press and The Oregonian), writer, and lecturer, who now lives in West Linn.

4. Historical fiction read: A Light in the Wilderness, by Jane Kirkpatrick. Members of the St. Andrew Spirituality Book group will be familiar with the works of Oregonian writer Jane Kirkpatrick. In this novel she brings together the lives of three women of color in early Oregon history.

Stock Dona!on Transfer Process for 2020

We ask you to take the necessary steps if you intend to donate
stock to St. Andrew this tax year:

Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
Complete the form including your intentions for the use of the donation and email a copy to our confidential e-mail address. You may instead send a copy to the church office marked confidential for Financial Secretaries. This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without this form, we cannot complete your request.
Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will be in contact with you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to the church’s securities firm, Charles Schwab.

Thank you for your generosity to the Mission and Ministry of St.
Andrew.

Tammy Piscitelli, 503-307-8837
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Finance Team: Johanna Au; Gretchen Bancroft; Bill Beavers; Brian Cheney; Joel Johnson; Anne Newell; Ted Miller; Tammy Piscitelli;
Tracie Brooks-Semenchalam

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Marilyn Hanson (mother)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Mark Hanson
Family and friends of Jean Pacey (wife)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Ed Pacey
Family and friends of Norm Smith’s wife	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Del & Mary Nell Mahler
Family and friends of Robert Zahn (brother)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Anne Newell
Family and friends of Ellie Prink (aunt)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Carol Hogan
Family and friends of Carole Harmon	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Paula Yazzolino	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Steve Buske
Pete Yazzolino	Comfort and strength	Steve Buske
Bill Branch	Comfort Following esophageal cancer diagnosis	Linda Fransen
Marcia Branch	Comfort and strength	Linda Fransen
Bob Cornie	Successful knee procedure (November 18)	Staff
Mary Brocker & Ethan Pearson	Blessings on their engagement	Mark & Donna Brocker
Louella Marie Mitchell (great niece)	Blessings on her birth	Susan Werner Reiser
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Christ the King Lutheran Church (Milton-Freewater, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Pendleton, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Shaarie Torah (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture. Please join us for any or all of these events on Wednesday, November 18:

     6:30 pm:  Informal Gathering Time
     7:00 pm:  Wednesday Evening Prayer
     7:30 pm:  Centering Prayer

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

St. Andrew will not have Wednesday Evening Prayer the week of Thanksgiving.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Job’s Response to Misery	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 16

1:00 pm

Memorial Service for Jean Pacey

Livestream
on YouTube

Tuesday, November 17

10:00 am	Worship Planning Meeting	Zoom
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
12:15 pm	Community Carbon Leadership Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, November 18 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Reopening Committee Meeting	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, November 19

10:00 am	Team Ministry Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	Zoom

Friday, November 20

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, November 22, Christ the King Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School Kickoff (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

November 8, 2020

Weekly News (PDF)Download

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 8, at 10:00 am for Session 3 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

Please email or call LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321, or email or call Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.

Dismantling Racism in Institutions

Many of the stories and struggles of African Americans in Oregon are published at “A Hidden History Project.”

Other homework assigned to the 41 faith-based organizations like ours that are participating in the “Reckoning with Racism” process with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Common Table includes

the video interview with David Swanson about his book, Rediscipling the White Church
the book White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo
White Too Long, by Robert P. Xones

Join us in any or all of our homework as you are so moved!

Pastor Robyn and the St. Andrew Team

St. Andrew’s Pandemic Protocols

Call or email ahead to arrange building access (even if you have a key).
Sign in at the table in the Narthex.
Wash your hands or use the provided hand sanitzer after signing in.
Wear a mask the entire time you are in the building.

With a third wave of infections sweeping the country, with the advent of flu season and cold temperatures that keep people inside, and with loving care for all members of our community so wearied by this pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to do all we can to protect ourselves and keep each other safe. Stay the course. Maintain the discipline that’s been effective so far.

Please note that the church building remains locked. Even if you have a key, we ask that you call or e-mail the church office to arrange access in advance of coming to St. Andrew. This allows us to monitor occupancy and prevent people from inadvertently interfering with others who need to come to the building to do their work. Please don’t assume you will be the only person inside. Staff continue to adjust their hours to prevent the spread of infection, while providing for online worship means that people are working in the building much of Saturday and Sunday.

When you do visit the building, we ask you to follow the protocols. Put on a mask before you even open the door, sign in at the round table in the Narthex, indicating what rooms you plan to visit, wash your hands, keep your mask on (covering both your mouth and nose) the entire time you’re inside, and remember to sign out at the time you leave. Use your own pen at the sign-in register or take a clean one from the left receptacle and deposit it in the used cup on the right.

We want you to have access to our libraries, to your mailboxes, and to the sacristy to prepare for worship. Individual Nifty Notters have worked in Fellowship Hall to finish projects. But our ministry groups are meeting online because it is so much safer. Be vigilant. Stay well! When we’re able to reopen, we want to welcome each and every one of you back inside the St. Andrew building!

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

PLU Confirmation Scholarship

Last year Pacific Lutheran University expanded its PLU Confirmation Scholarship nationwide so that any student who has been confirmed in an ELCA congregation can receive the $1,500 per year Confirmation Scholarship. This award stacks on top of other PLU scholarships, including those for academic or artistic achievements.

The Confirmation Scholarship form must be completed and submitted by a church official (pastor, youth leader, etc.) before the student’s high school graduation. Go online to learn more about Pacific Lutheran University.

PLU is a private liberal arts Lutheran university in Parkland, WA, that was founded by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in 1890.

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

Preparing for Next Sunday

November 15, 2020

Reading: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Notes from the Children’s Library

This fall I’ve enjoyed weekly visits to St. Andrew’s Children’s Library as I work to organize, catalog, and cover books. Each time, I grow even more appreciative of the time and care Mary Nell put into developing a truly impressive collection nearing 10,000 items, more than two-thirds of which are found in the Children’s Library on the lower level.

With so many wonderful books and a beautiful facility, all we need is to find ways for our members and community to access them. Now that public and school libraries are offering very limited—if any—access, our church library has resources for students, parents, and teachers. We welcome families to contact Carol Harker in the church office and prearrange a time to visit. Everyone needs to wear a mask and follow the directions posted on the front entry doors.

Another option is to send me an e-mail and I will gather an assortment of books based on your interests, which you can then arrange to pick up in the Narthex. Let me know your child’s interests and age. If you’d like books that match your child’s reading level, send me their AR, DRA, or Lexile score.

Barbara Gutzler, Children’s Librarian

P.S. A future goal is to put our collection online so you can browse all our titles. In the meantime, here are a few new additions to the Children’s Library.

Wild Symphony, by Dan Brown
Yes, this is the author who also wrote The DaVinci Code and many other fast-paced, bestselling novels for adults. His early career led him to Hollywood as a singer, song writer, and pianist. In Wild Symphony, he puts the music and songs he composed more than 30 years ago into a story that invites children to travel with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends who visit with a sequence of friends. You’ll meet a big blue whale and a speedy cheetah, tiny beetles and graceful swans. There’s a coded message in the book, too. The poems combined with the music tell a story and reveal a funny or interesting side of each animal’s personality. Also included are directions to download a free phone app which plays Brown’s compositions for each page as recorded by the Zagreb Symphony Orchestra. Go to YouTube for a taste of this amazing, fun book. This book is on my Christmas list for my grandchildren.

Picture and Board Books to Introduce Social Justice and Activism to Little Progressives

Woke Baby, by Mahogany Browne
“This lyrical and empowering book is both a celebration of what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke. With bright playful art, Woke Baby is an anthem of hope in a world where the only limit to a skyscraper is more blue.” -Publisher’s Description. Board Book.

Antiracist Baby, by Ibram X. Kendi
Illustrations and rhyming text present nine steps Antiracist Baby can take to improve equity. Board Book.

Sometimes People March, by Tessa Allen
“Marching is something people do together when they want to resist injustice.” Spare prose teaches the necessity of rallying together. Allen describes multiple modes of engagement, reminding readers that they can make a difference not only through in-person gatherings, but also through making art and “by/ standing up/ or sitting down/ or taking a knee.” Ages 4-8.

For Older Readers

One Time, by Sharon Creech
Imaginative 11-year old Gina, her mysterious new neighbor, Antonio, and their classmates are inspired by an unusual young teacher to see who they are and envision who they are meant to become. Recommended grades 3-7.

Thank You Notes

You have made a difference in the life of a child. Thank you! Your recent gift ensures the children and youth we serve are connected with a permanent, loving family.

Like you, we believe every child deserves a family to call their own. Your support makes lifelong connections between children and families a reality. Since 1885, investors like you have made the work we do possible. We are grateful for your support, especially through a continued pandemic when we had to cancel six fundraising events.

With gratitude,
Suzan Huntington
President & CEO

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your generous donation of $400! The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) truly appreciates your commitment to supporting survivors of domestic violence in Washington County.

Since 1975, DVRC has been providing lifesaving services to survivors of domestic violence, but our work would not be possible without the help of people like you! We thank you for continuing to support our mission of educating, supporting, and empowering those affected by domestic violence after so many years.

Your gift is very important to us and we are grateful for your kindness!

With gratitude,
Rosemary (Rowie) Taylor
Executive Director

Pandemic Story: The View Through the Lens

Did you know Rick & Becky LeRoy flew to Hollywood a couple of years ago to celebrate Rick’s birthday on the Ellen show? They had connections that enabled them to secure tickets to the filming and were given VIP treatment as they were led right down front to enjoy the show.

So it’s no secret that Rick enjoys the whole video environment and, during this pandemic, he’s found himself on the other side of the camera. He’s part of a tech team recording livestream worship at St. Andrew on Sunday mornings. In many ways, the challenge of delivering a pleasing worship service to the congregation has been energizing for Rick.

“After getting some initial training on our switching software and hardware from Jennifer [Trom], I started watching YouTube videos to learn how other churches handle the technical side. In the ensuing weeks, I learned how to use the free and widely used software, OBS Studio, to add a countdown timer to our livestream and hopefully provide a smoother way to integrate prerecorded videos to our services. I hope to continue to add to our production knowledge-base and keep learning new things. It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks!”

Rick covers video responsibilities, while his production partner, Paul Navarre, fills the audio role. They’ve been producing our worship services every other week.

Online Book Fair Pick-ups

Books purchased through St. Andrew’s Online Book Fair earlier this week can pick up their orders on Sunday, November 8, 2:00-4:00 pm at the church. Please come to the front entrance and wear a mask. Our new adult librarian Pam Farr will meet you inside the Narthex and give you your purchases.

If this time is inconvenient for you, please make alternative arrangements by contacting the church office via phone (503-646-0629) or e-mail.

Worship Connection Problems?

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Renewing Thanksgiving in a Pandemic

Have you talked with your loved ones yet about how you’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas? This year’s gatherings will no doubt be different than the ones we remember from years past.

Matia Brocker, for instance, is determined to visit her grandparents in Sunriver, but they are in that older, especially vulnerable group. So Matia and her family have decided to live in quarantine for 17 days prior to their trip. They’re making a disciplined commitment by living in isolation for an extended period in order to safely see beloved grandparents and enjoy a long-delayed visit.

In 2020, public health experts are recommending very limited travel, smaller gatherings, simpler meals, strict adherence to masks and physical distancing, and shorter gatherings overall. Frankly, they’d prefer that people forego traditional celebrations and gather virtually, perhaps sharing recipes beforehand and eating together remotely by Zoom on Thanksgiving Day.

Regardless how we approach this first holiday of the season, it will be good to pause and take time to remember the awesome gifts we can continue to number—especially since we’ve been lamenting several things we’ve had to give up during this pandemic. Despite all the challenges before us, we are blessed.

Pastoral Care

Pastor Mark Brocker
is on call Fridays & Saturdays.
office: 503-646-0629 ext. 201
cell: 503-502-8762
brockerms@standrewlutheran.com

Pastor Robyn Hartwig
is on call Sundays & Mondays.
503-646-0629 ext. 211
pastorrobyn@standrewlutheran.com

Both pastors are on call Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Children’s Sermon: The Snowberry

Editor’s Note: This is the second in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Good morning. My name is Carol, which means song of joy, and I’ll be talking to you today about the Snowberry plant. The Latin name for Snowberry is Symphoricarpos albus.

“Symphori” means bear together, and you can see how the snowberries hang together in a clump. “Carpos” means fruits, referring to the clustered fruits, and “albus” means white, without luster. The berries are a dull white, not shiny. The common name of this plant, Snowberry, also refers to the white fruits.

The plants bloom in the spring from mid-May to July with small white and pinkish flowers that attract hummingbirds, but these natives are mostly pollinated by bees.

When I did research for the Snowberry, I learned that the fruits of this plant are called drupes. I didn’t know that word, but it means that they have a fleshy fruit surrounding a large seed, like in a peach or a plum. Of course, Snowberry seeds aren’t that large because the berries are so small.

Symphoricarpos has about 15 different species, 12 of which are found in the United States, from southeast Alaska to southern California and all across the northern U.S. and Canadian provinces. Snowberries usually grow 3-9 feet tall and are sometimes known as Waxberry, White Coralberry, or White, Thin-leaved, or Few-flowered Snowberry.

You might wonder why there is so much fruit on the plant still, so late in the fall. Well, I grew this plant at my house in Northern Illinois for about 15 years. I planted them because they are native and they would produce berries for the birds. And I can tell you that the berries last through most of the winter into spring. The reason for this is that they have a kind of bitter taste, so it’s not the favorite berry for some of the animals that feed on it.

But the good thing is that the berries stay on the plant into spring so there is food all through the winter for the animals.

Common Snowberry has long been grown as an ornamental shrub. Winter is its most conspicuous season, when its white berries stand out against leafless branches. Its dainty pinkish flowers are also attractive in the spring.

Where can you find this plant? Snowberries are found along stream banks, in swampy thickets, and in moist clearings and open forests. St. Andrew has all of those environments in the Sanctuary of the Firs and the grounds around the church.

Snowberries tolerate poor soil and neglect. I can do that! One of the great things about growing this plant is that it does best in heavy clay soils. I have a lot of that where I live!

Who/what eats this plant? Answer: birds (robins and thrushes, grouse, sort of a brown chicken), deer, antelope, Bighorn sheep, and bears. My research tells me that “use by elk and moose varies.” I’m not sure what that means and don’t know how to ask Bullwinkle Moose the question! Snowberries are also important for providing shelter and food for small mammals.

Various indigenous peoples used the Snowberry for medicine. They created an infusion by soaking the plant in water to make an eyewash for sore eyes. They rubbed the berries on the skin to treat burns, rashes, and sores. They created a decoction of the roots and stems to treat urinary problems, like having trouble peeing. The same decoction treated people for tuberculosis and fevers associated with teething.

Some indigenous groups made brooms out of Snowberry branches, another group hollowed out the twigs to make pipe-stems, and people of one tribe ate one or two of the berries to settle the stomach after eating too much fatty food.

There is another kind of Symphoricarpos that is native in Nevada and California. Because of climate change and global warming, that means it is moving north into Oregon as a native plant. This kind is Symphoricarpos mollis, meaning creeping. It grows low to the ground.

I planted this variety about 2 years ago and the two plants looked really good last year, but one of them kind of disappeared this year. I thought at first it was because of the drought, but after a few weeks I found out the real answer.

I have a black and white cow-print kitty. She is very cute and lovable. She was adopted out of a storm sewer in southwestern Illinois, where she liked to sit with the kids waiting at the bus stop. They named her Maisy.

She likes to help me garden and follows me around doing yard work. She also likes to take dirt baths. You can see in the picture how dusty her black fur gets. Usually, she just takes her dust baths in a dusty area or if she needs a good scratch she does it on the concrete. But I caught her in the front yard giving herself a rubdown on the twigs of that dying Creeping Snowberry! Some of the twigs are still in the yard, but I had to put a white towel under them to take a picture!

How do you propagate Snowberries or get more of them? You can take cuttings of half-ripe wood in July or August or of mature wood in winter. Suckers may be divided in the dormant season. Plants re-sprout from rhizomes after a fire. Common Snowberry spreads by root suckers and is best given plenty of space to create a wild thicket.

Snowberry tolerates poor soil and neglect. I can do that, but I’ll need to put in a barrier for dirt-bath kitty! These native plants are great for controlling erosion on slopes, for restoration after forest fires, and for mine reclamation projects. They are also popular in rain gardens.

Carol Werner

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Marilyn Hanson (mother)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Mark Hanson
Family and friends of Jean Pacey (wife)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Ed Pacey
Family and friends of Robert Zahn (brother)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Anne Newell
Family and friends of Ellie Prink (aunt)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Carol Hogan
Family and friends of Carole Harmon	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as he is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Margie Lee (wife)	Strength, comfort, and healing	Robert May
Bob Cornie	Correct diagnosis and effective treatment	Staff
Peter Kindem (uncle)	Healing and recovery from lung transplant	Megan Webber
Debbie (daughter’s friend)	Healing and recovery from open heart surgery	Joanne Zenger
Elaine May	Healing and recovery from knee replacement surgery	Staff
Our Nation	Healing of deep divisions	Staff
The American people	Patience and calm in the aftermath of the election	Staff
St. Andrew Council Executive Committee Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians; India Jensen Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
St. Andrew Foundation	Blessings on their ministry	Staff
Valby Lutheran Church (Ione, OR) Zion Lutheran Church (La Grande, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid as-Sabr (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture.

     6:30 pm:  Informal Gathering Time
     7:00 pm:  Wednesday Evening Prayer
     7:30 pm:  Centering Prayer

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 8, Twenty-third Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 9

7:00 pm

Men’s Book Club (Host, Ted Miller

Zoom

Tuesday, November 10

9:00 am	Facility Management Team Meeting	Zoom
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
1:30 pm	Service Committee	Zoom
6:00 pm	HR Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Finance Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day, Office Closed; Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, November 12

10:00 am

Virtual Staff Meeting

Zoom

Friday, November 13

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Saturday, November 14

1:00 pm

Memorial Service for Marilyn Hanson followed by virtual reception

Zoom

Sunday, November 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School Kickoff (age 3 – 5^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6^th – 8^th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom