Coming in January – The Gospel of Mark

St. Andrew’s Adult Education offering in January will focus on “The Gospel of Mark: A Narrative Theology,” taught by Jim Aageson. Mark’s gospel presents its theology in narrative form where the actions and words of Jesus reveal a powerful vision of God’s reign. As Aageson notes, “in this kingdom, things are turned upside down: the first are last, the sinners and the dishonored are invited to the table of fellowship, and those closest to Jesus are often filled with fear rather than faith.” The class will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday, January 10.

Resolutions 2021

What will you do for the Earth in 2021? Even though we’ve already cheered the arrival of a new year, it’s not too late to make a plan to increase our commitment to Earth Care. For the good of the planet and generations to come, why not challenge ourselves to live more sustainably this year?

Even small efforts, repeated again and again, can make an impact. Write down your goal. Keep track of the actions you take. I did this a year ago, pledging to rack up at least one no-drive-day a week. Even before the pandemic hit, it was clear I could easily make my goal. Imagine how many no-drive-days we’ve accumulated together this year!

One of the benefits of living our values comes from the example
we set. Our enthusiasm for a healthy planet can infect others and
encourage them to do their part. And that’s a good thing.

Carol Harker

Fantasy Football: Won & Done!

Congratulations to Julia Emerson and her dad, Jeff Smith, owners of The Wingmen, who bested Ben Moore’s COVID Crushers to win the championship for this year’s St. Andrew Fantasy Football League.

The Wingmen victory proves anything can happen in Fantasy Football! With an overall record of 6-7, the Emerson/Smith team actually finished 8th in league standings. At season’s end, the top three teams with the best records overall were Mark and Kofi Brocker’s FC Aortic Power, Ben Moore’s COVID Crushers, and Carol and Sam Harker’s Gridiron Greats!

Family Promise Update 2020

Thanks to the strong participation and support of our congregation, St. Andrew’s commitment to being a host site for Family Promise has remained steady this year.

We hosted on-site in January and February and then the world turned upside down! When host sites closed, families were then moved to the new day center on Erickson Ave. in Beaverton and also to an extended stay hotel. Hosting then became “remote.” This involved providing meals, groceries, or restaurant gift cards to be delivered to families wherever they were staying. We hosted remotely in October and November using both gift cards and a team of “on-call” cooks. Flexibility is a Family Promise mantra that we have embraced!

Thanks to generous donations to the Family Promise designated fund, we have also been able to give much-needed money to a Family Promise COVID-19 fund. This has assisted “graduated” families who have struggled with the financial impact of the pandemic. In addition, we sponsored a graduated family for Christmas.

Remote hosting will continue in 2021. The hosting schedule will be made on a quarterly basis at this point. St. Andrew is scheduled for the weeks of January 24 and February 21. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!

Many thanks for your donations of time, meals, money, and prayers. We are making a difference.

The Family Promise Leadership Team

Raise Your Voice and Sing!

Opportunities to sing special music for upcoming worship services are now available. I will be organizing duets, solos, and other small ensembles for the offertory during the Epiphany season. Rehearsal time will be scheduled with the person(s) singing and myself and each offering will be pre recorded at a time that works for one of St. Andrew’s tech teams. If you’re interested, please contact me.

Susan Werner Reiser
srwerner.reiser@standrewlutheran.com
503-334-6353

A Winter Prayer

There is a winter in all of our lives, a chill and darkness that makes us yearn for days that have gone by or put our hope in days yet to be.

Father God, you created seasons for a purpose. Spring is full of expectation –buds breaking, frosts abating, and an awakening of creation before the first days of summer. Then the sun gives warmth and comfort to our lives, reviving aching joints, bringing color, new life, and crops to produce their harvests. Autumn gives nature space to lean back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of its labor. Then in winter, cold and bare, nature takes stock, rests, unwinds, and sleeps until the time is right. An endless cycle and yet a perfect model.

We need a winter in our lives, a time of rest, a time to stand still, a time to reacquaint ourselves with the faith in which we live. It is only then that we can draw strength from the one in whom we are rooted, take time to grow and rise through the darkness into the warm glow of your springtime to blossom and flourish, to bring color and vitality into this world, your garden.

Thank you, Father, for the seasons of our lives. Amen.

Bread for the Day and Daily Texts Available

The 2021 edition of Daily Texts, Bible texts selected annually by the Moravian Church and shared worldwide since 1731, are now available, as are copies of Bread for the Day, a book of Bible readings and prayers published by Augsburg Fortress. A donation of $9.00 is suggested to defray the cost of each book.

If you’d like one or more copies, please contact the church office at
office@standrewlutheran.com or call 503-646-0629.

Preparing for Next Sunday

January 10, 2020

Reading: Genesis 1:1-5
Gospel: Mark 1:4-11

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

Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen Reboot

Last summer, the St. Andrew MACG Core Team organized a listening campaign, encouraging members to make phone calls to people we missed seeing at church. Now that we’re in the midst of another alarming surge in coronavirus cases and our colder weather prevents outdoor gatherings, it’s time to check in once again. Look for details coming soon about how to be a part of our calling initiative reboot.

In the meantime, please let the Core Team know if you have ideas on ways to improve the program. Contact any of us—Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Scott Taylor, Bob Stadel, Victoria Kovalenko, Lynn Santelmann, or Pastor Robyn—if you have any feedback.

A Milestone Birthday

This Sunday is Jean Fredrickson’s 95th birthday! Make her day special by remembering her with a card or phone call. Please note, though, that Jean’s contact information changed after the printing of St. Andrew’s photo directory. You can direct mail to her at 280 SW 150th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97006, or call her at 971-294-8740.

Spread even more cheer and remember others on our January birthday list, too. And if you’re curious how it could be that 11 people in our community share New Year’s Day birthdays, be aware that they probably don’t. If we’re missing an actual birth date for anyone, we designate the first day of their birth month as an unofficial birthday. If you’d like to be remembered on your real birthday, let the church office know when that is.

January Birthdays

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Colleen Warnes	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Staff
Tom (friend’s father)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Rebecca Fako Uecker
Jude Augustine Blandy & Charlotte Lovelace Blandy	Thanksgiving for their birth	Bob & Terry Buchholz (grandparents)
Everyone affected by COVID-19	Strength and support	Staff
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod and Staff	Strength and Wisdom	Staff
Refugees and immigrants	Acceptance, safety, and just treatment	Staff
Military personnel, especially Justina Hailey Hope Brocker, Evan Dahlquist, Dawson Dethlefs, Neil Fiegenbaum, and Jerami Reyna	Courage and Protection	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone
First Lutheran Church (Clatskanie, OR) Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Seaside, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Al Furqan Islamic Center (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.

Creation Justice Summit

Saturday, January 30, 2021
1:00-4:15 pm
Our Kinship with
Oregon’s Sacred Waters

The 8th annual Creation Justice Summit (formerly the Earth Care
Summit) will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Columbia
River Watershed Pastoral Letter. The virtual event will include a
keynote panel, breakout workshops, and a closing address from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.

Register now
$20 general, $10 students,
scholarships available
Presented by EMO’s Creation Justice and
Oregon Interfaith Power & Light.

Baby Roses

Congratulations to Megan Buchholz Blandy and Harry Blandy, who welcomed twins Jude Augustine (6 lb, 10 oz) and Charlotte Lovelace (5 lb, 3 oz) on Christmas Eve. What a gift! Grandparents celebrating the babies’ births are Bob & Terry Buchholz and Simon & Sarah Blandy. We’re delighted to report that everyone is healthy and happy!

Thank You

Dear People of St. Andrew,
“I don’t know where I’d be without you,” 29-year-old mother and recent college graduate Adrianna says. She joins thousands who have found stability and hope through Outside In’s comprehensive line of medical and mental health programs and supporting social services—made possible by you.

Thank you, St. Andrew Lutheran, for your $300 gift supporting our Day Program! Your donation helps to build brighter tomorrows for the more than 11,000 people we serve every year.

Your contribution heals, feeds, houses, educates, inspires, and renews lives. This year, donations like yours made it possible for us to:

• Improve Health: More than 5,350 patients of all ages, 77 percent experiencing poverty, received medical and mental health care.
• Educate: 219 youth accessed our education services, developed job skills, and worked on goals to become self-sufficient.
• Prevent Chronic Homelessness: 96 percent of graduates from our housing program found safe, stable new homes off the streets.
• Provide Nutritious Meals: Nearly 1,000 youth experiencing homelessness welcomed more than 32,000 healthy meals. More than ever, in these exceptionally challenging times, your compassion and investment in our work helps us reach those who need our services the most. Thank you.

With warm gratitude,
Lori Slaughter
Director of Development

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, January 3, Second Sunday of Christmas

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
2:00 pm	Mason Bee House Installation with the Yard Science Team	outside near Reformation Earth Garden

Tuesday, January 5

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, January 6 – 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	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer & Other Breakout Room Opportunities	Zoom

Thursday, January 7

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Zoom
2:00 pm	Website Review Subcommittee Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Executive committee (Council) Meeting	Zoom

Thursday, January 8

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, January 10: Baptism of Our Lord

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School Online: Baptism Lesson with Pastor Mark	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: The Gospel of Mark	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!

Christmas Week Worship

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 4:00 pm
Birthday Party for Jesus!
Zoom – link in email

For a family-focused celebration, please join us at 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 24, via Zoom for a special Birthday Party for Jesus. We’ll be featuring carols, games, and a visit from our favorite furry friends! Families are encouraged to dress for the occasion, whether in ugly Christmas sweaters or with party hats and balloons! Plus, we’ll be giving a special birthday gift to Jesus by purchasing Shoes That Grow for children in need around the world. If you’d like to contribute to this gift, you can do so online via the church website or by mailing a check to the church; just make sure to mark it for the Birthday Party for Jesus. Follow the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve.

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Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24,
6:45 pm Musical Prelude begins
7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Livestream will be on the homepage; no link required

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Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 1:00-4:00 pm
Stay Home, but Not Alone!
Zoom – link in email

1:00 pm: Christmas Social Time—share your favorite Christmas stories.
2:00 pm: Games—join Scott Taylor, Pastor Robyn, and Janet Parker for hilarious fun.
3:00 pm: Show & Tell—share your favorite gift or play us a Christmas song.
Anytime: Notify Rebecca Fako Uecker to be assigned a Zoom breakout room whereyou can meet with family or friends to support one another in Staying Home to Save Lives.

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A-Caroling We Go

Sing along or just listen. The Werner sisters invite you to enjoy a short recording of favorite carols (all in the public domain) on our website.

Scroll to the bottom of St. Andrew’s worship page to find the video.

Family Promise Update 2020

Thanks to the strong participation and support of our congregation, St. Andrew’s commitment to being a host site for Family Promise has remained steady this year.

We hosted on-site in January and February and then the world turned upside down! When host sites closed, families were then moved to the new day center on Erickson Ave. in Beaverton and also to an extended stay hotel. Hosting then became “remote.” This involved providing meals, groceries, or restaurant gift cards to be delivered to families wherever they were staying. We hosted remotely in October and November using both gift cards and a team of “on-call” cooks. Flexibility is a Family Promise mantra that we have embraced!

Thanks to generous donations to the Family Promise designated fund, we have also been able to give much-needed money to a Family Promise COVID-19 fund. This has assisted “graduated” families who have struggled with the financial impact of the pandemic. In addition, we sponsored a graduated family for Christmas.

Remote hosting will continue in 2021. The hosting schedule will be made on a quarterly basis at this point. St. Andrew is scheduled for the weeks of January 24 and February 21. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!

Many thanks for your donations of time, meals, money, and prayers. We are making a difference.

The Family Promise Leadership Team

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of
the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Luke 2:13-14

Coming in January – The Gospel of Mark

St. Andrew’s Adult Education offering in January will focus on “The Gospel of Mark: A Narrative Theology,” taught by Jim Aageson. Mark’s gospel presents its theology in narrative form where the actions and words of Jesus reveal a powerful vision of God’s reign. As Aageson notes, “in this kingdom, things are turned upside down: the first are last, the sinners and the dishonored are invited to the table of fellowship, and those closest to Jesus are often filled with fear rather than faith.” The class will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday, January 10.

Meet the EcoFaith Match

EcoFaith Recovery has been offered a $2,000 year-end matching grant that will match every first-time donation, the amount of increase of any annual donation, and/or the one-year value of any monthly sustaining donation that you set up before December 31. Your generous gifts help EcoFaith Recovery fund this year’s “Just Vote Harnessing Our Values for Climate and
Racial Justice Initiative” and our “Community Carbon” pilot community initiative. Thank you so much for helping EcoFaith meet the match
with your generous donations to

www.EcoFaithRecovery.org/Give
or EcoFaith Recovery, P.O. Box 12612, Portland,
OR 97212.
With gratitude,
Pastor Robyn Hartwig

Resolutions 2021

Preparing for Next Sunday

January 3, 2020

Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Gospel: John 1:10-18

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

May PEACE & HEALTH be your gifts this Christmas season –
and your blessings all the year through!

Raise Your Voice and Sing!

Opportunities to sing special music for upcoming worship services are now available. I will be organizing duets, solos, and other small ensembles for the offertory during the Epiphany season. Rehearsal time will be scheduled with the person(s) singing and myself and each offering will be pre recorded at a time that works for one of St. Andrew’s tech teams. If you’re interested, please contact me.

Susan Werner Reiser
srwerner.reiser@standrewlutheran.com
503-334-6353

Fantasy Football Championship

Throughout a National Football League season like none before, members of St. Andrew’s Schmalkaldic Fantasy Football League have followed their players on the field and off to escape some of the pressures of the pandemic. And it’s been entertaining. A couple of weeks ago, the twelve teams were pared down to eight for the playoffs. And now there are two!
This week, Ben Moore’s COVID Crushers take on The Wingmen, owned by Jeff Smith and his daughter Julia Emerson, for the championship. Good luck!

Bee-Attitudes

Not all bees make honey. Not all bees sting. And not all bees swarm around a communal hive.

Meet the MASON BEE, a bee that chooses solitude even when no pandemic requires it. These busy insects are pollinating powerhouses!

Thanks to an idea from Brian Cheney, St. Andrew’s Yard Science Team (part of our Community Carbon initiative with EcoFaith Recovery) has begun exploring the super powers that MASON BEES bring to the garden. Stay tuned to learn more in 2021.

Pastoral Care

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

Pastor Robyn Hartwig (on call Sundays & Mondays)
Office: 503-646-0629 (extension 211)
PastorRobyn@standrewlutheran.com

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

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Ali Alajrab	Peace and God’s comfort at his death from COVID-19	Staff
Family and friends of Bobbie Jo Lynn (friend)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Bev Briggs
Mary Lynn	Support and assistance in securing care	Bev Briggs
Colleen Warnes	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Suzanne Warnes
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Judy Heidinger
Carol Hogan	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Carol Hogan
Pam	Successful radiation treatment	Patty Jones
Tammy Piscitelli	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Ed & Linda Fransen
Elaine May	Healing and recovery from knee replacement surgery	Elaine May
Gary Grafwallner	Healing and recovery from skin cancer surgery	Gary Grafwallner
Melanie Waller, Aniyah and Tanner Alcorn	Support and well-being	Melanie Waller
Dr. Don Scholz (Bob’s father)	Thanksgiving for coronavirus vaccination (12/30)	Bob & Judy Scholz
Hank Scholz (son)	Thanksgiving for coronavirus vaccination (12/17)	Bob & Judy Scholz
Everyone	Availability of effective vaccine and few side effects	Judy Scholz
Everyone affected by COVID-19	Strength and support	Staff
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, David Bumgardner, Vic Claar, 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
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Blessings on our ministry	Staff
Taiwan Lutheran Church	Strength and wisdom	Staff
First Lutheran Church (Astoria, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Astoria, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Beth Israel (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.

Refugee Family Suffers a COVID Death

Ali Alajrab, patriarch of the Syrian family St. Andrew assisted when they first came to the US from a refugee camp in Jordan in 2016, died on November 21, 2020, due to COVID-19. He was the sole support of his wife Fouza and two younger children, Omar and Ahed. The already-struggling family, which left Portland for Southern California in 2017 and later moved to Ohio, now faces even more challenges. For more information or to help them meet their needs, go to their GoFundMe site.

Creation Justice Summit

The 8th annual Creation Justice Summit (formerly the Earth Care Summit) will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Columbia River Watershed Pastoral Letter. The virtual event will include a keynote panel, breakout workshops, and a closing address from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.

Register now
$20 general, $10 students, scholarships available
Presented by EMO’s Creation Justice and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light.

Highlights for the Week

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

Thursday, December 24: Christmas Eve; Church Office Closed

4:00 pm	Birthday Party for Jesus	Zoom
7:00 pm	Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service	YouTube

Friday, December 25: Christmas Day, Church Office Closed

1:00 pm

Stay Home, but Not Alone! Gathering

Zoom

Sunday, December 27, First Sunday of Christmas

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

Tuesday, December 29 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Wednesday, December 30

6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Holden Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer & other breakout room opportunities	Zoom

Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day; Church Office Closed

Sunday, January 3: Second Sunday of Christmas

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Confirmation (6th – 8th 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
2:00 pm	Mason Bee House Installation with the Yard Science Team	outside near Reformation Earth Garden

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

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.

Adult Education: The Miseries of Job

Steve Christiansen concludes his exploration of the Book of Job at 10:00 am on Sunday, December 20, with Session 8. You’ll find a course outline on St. Andrew’s website and can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

Holden Evening Prayer on Wednesdays

This coming Wednesday, Julie Aageson will offer a meditation from her new book, Finding Home, as part of Holden Evening Prayer. Please join us on Wednesday, December 23:

• 6:30 pm: Informal Gathering Time
• 7:00 pm Holden Evening Prayer
• 7:30 pm: Centering Prayer & Other Opportunities

Advent offers the perfect opportunity to engage in Centering Prayer as we sit in silence to await the celebration of Christ’s coming.

The Zoom connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so watch your inbox for it.

Coming in January –
The Gospel of Mark

St. Andrew’s Adult Education offering in January will focus on “The Gospel of Mark: A Narrative Theology,” taught by Jim Aageson. Mark’s gospel presents its theology in narrative form where the actions and words of Jesus reveal a powerful vision of God’s reign. As Aageson notes, “in this kingdom, things are turned upside down: the first are last, the sinners and the dishonored are invited to the table of fellowship, and those closest to Jesus are often filled with fear rather than faith.” The class will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday, January 10.

A-Caroling We Go

Sing along or just listen. The Werner sisters invite you to enjoy a short recording of favorite carols (all in the public domain) on our website.

Scroll to the bottom of St. Andrew’s worship page to find the video.

Christmas Week Worship

Sunday, December 20, 4:30 pm
Blue Christmas Service
Zoom – link in email

While Advent is a season of hope and Christmas is a season of joy, not everyone feels hopeful or ready to celebrate. Grief, illness, aging, depression, loneliness, unemployment and loss are magnified, especially during a pandemic. As we enter into the longest night of the year 2020, join us at sunset for a Blue Christmas worship service in the St. Andrew worship/community Zoom room. Then, if you’d like to share in some conversation with our caring ministers and Pastor Robyn, just bring your own tea or hot apple cider and stick around to talk.

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Sunday, December 20, 7:00 pm
Advent/Christmas Vespers
Livestream – link in email

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Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 4:00 pm
Birthday Party for Jesus!
Zoom – link in email

For a family-focused celebration, please join us at 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 24, via Zoom for a special Birthday Party for Jesus. We’ll be featuring carols, games, and a visit from our favorite furry friends! Families are encouraged to dress for the occasion, whether in ugly Christmas sweaters or with party hats and balloons! Plus, we’ll be giving a special birthday gift to Jesus by doing something nice for others. If you’d like to contribute to this gift, you can do so online via the church website or by mailing a check to the church; just make sure to mark it for the Birthday Party for Jesus. Keep an eye out for the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve.

Keep an eye out for the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve. We hope to see you there!

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Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24,
6:45 pm Musical Prelude begins
7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Livestream will be on the homepage; no link required

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Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 1:00-4:00 pm
Stay Home, but Not Alone!
Zoom – link in email

1:00 pm: Christmas Social Time—share your favorite Christmas stories.
2:00 pm: Games—join Scott Taylor, Pastor Robyn, and Janet Parker for hilarious fun.
3:00 pm: Show & Tell—share your favorite gift or play us a Christmas song.
Anytime: Notify Rebecca Fako Uecker to be assigned a Zoom breakout room whereyou can meet with family or friends to support one another in Staying Home to Save Lives.

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Foundation Core Values, Part 2

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 highlight three of these core values:

COMPASSIONATE/CARING: We are compassionate and caring in all that we do, aligning with the core values: God care, Earth care, community care, neighbor care, and self care.

ACCOUNTABILITY: We are transparent, we acknowledge gifts and we communicate our efforts with the congregation. We will regularly monitor that we are being inclusive and acting within our Christian values.

PARTNERSHIPS: We are partnering with the congregation and other organizations in the community to provide for the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole.

Did you know that last year the Foundation awarded $5,550 in grants (to four organizations) and $2,300 in scholarships (to four individuals)? We are actively seeking new members for our Board of Directors as we carry out our core values and vision.

Are you interested in learning more? Contact Sonja Ackman.

Meet the EcoFaith Match

EcoFaith Recovery has been offered a $2,000 year-end matching grant that will match every first-time donation, the amount of increase of any annual donation, and/or the one-year value of any monthly sustaining donation that you set up before December 31. Your generous gifts help EcoFaith Recovery fund this year’s “Just Vote Harnessing Our Values for Climate and Racial Justice Initiative” and our “Community Carbon” pilot community initiative. Thank you so much for helping EcoFaith meet the match with your generous donations to
www.EcoFaithRecovery.org/Give
or EcoFaith Recovery, P.O. Box 12612, Portland, OR 97212.

With gratitude,
Pastor Robyn Hartwig

Preparing for Next Sunday

Sound Investments

As equipment has reached the end of its useful life, the sound system in St. Andrew’s Sanctuary has gone through various upgrades in recent years in an attempt to make the spoken word more understandable throughout the room.

• 2010: We switched from lapel microphones to earloops to reduce feedback problems.
• 2013: We replaced the amplifier and crossover to further reduce potential feedback and to equalize amplified voice sound in the room.
• 2016: We replaced the speakers to distribute sound better into pews beyond the center of the room. This also finally opened up the top of the tapestry to full view. (project cost—$7,800)
• 2017-2019: We replaced all wireless microphones due to changes made to the wireless spectrum by the FCC. (cost—$2,000+)

And, in just the past few weeks, Chris Weiss spent about 15 hours installing new wiring and setting up a new (currently borrowed) soundboard, aka mixer, in the Sound Room. As Weiss points out, our needs and expectations for the audio mixer shifted once the pandemic forced St. Andrew to stream its services. At this time, when we are all worshiping remotely, we need to mic things that don’t need amplification when we worship in-person, namely the organ, piano, bells, and vocalist. And, when we move back to in-person worship, we’ll also need to mic the congregation and the choir to provide a full experience for those who continue to worship from their homes.

As Weiss explains, “On any given Sunday before the pandemic, we were only mixing 4-5 microphones, whereas I am now using 16 channels on the new mixer.” He anticipates using 20-24 channels when in-person worship resumes.

Managing Your Mental Health During this Holiday Season

Many of us have found it particularly challenging to manage our own mental health as the pandemic continues, holiday plans are changed, 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 “Latest News & Updates” and read one or more of the four short articles on their page. Devote some time this week to work on one of St. Andrew’s Core Values: Self Care.

St. Andrew Caring Ministries Team

Pastoral Care

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

Pastor Robyn Hartwig (on call Sundays & Mondays)
Office: 503-646-0629 (extension 211)
PastorRobyn@standrewlutheran.com

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

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Ali Alajrab	Peace and God’s comfort at his death from COVID-19	Staff
Family and friends of Bobbie Jo Lynn (friend)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Bev Briggs
Mary Lynn	Support and assistance in securing care	Bev Briggs
Colleen Warnes	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Suzanne Warnes
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Judy Heidinger
Carol Hogan	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Carol Hogan
Pam	Successful radiation treatment	Patty Jones
Tammy Piscitelli	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Ed & Linda Fransen
Elaine May	Healing and recovery from knee replacement surgery	Elaine May
Gary Grafwallner	Healing and recovery from skin cancer surgery	Gary Grafwallner
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength and protection	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Melanie Waller, Aniyah and Tanner Alcorn	Support and well-being	Melanie Waller
Dr. Don Scholz (Bob’s father)	Thanksgiving for coronavirus vaccination (12/30)	Bob & Judy Scholz
Hank Scholz (son)	Thanksgiving for coronavirus vaccination (12/17)	Bob & Judy Scholz
Everyone	Availability of effective vaccine and few side effects	Judy Scholz
Everyone affected by COVID-19	Strength and support	Staff
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
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
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Zion Lutheran Church (Port Orford, OR) Zion Lutheran Church (The Dalles, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid An-Noor (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.

Refugee Family Suffers a COVID Death

Ali Alajrab, patriarch of the Syrian family St. Andrew assisted when they first came to the US from a refugee camp in Jordan in 2016, died on November 21, 2020, due to COVID-19. He was the sole support of his wife Fouza and two younger children, Omar and Ahed. The already-struggling family, which left Portland for Southern California in 2017 and later moved to Ohio, now faces even more challenges. For more information or to help them meet their needs, go to their GoFundMe site.

Creation Justice Summit

The 8th annual Creation Justice Summit (formerly the Earth Care Summit) will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Columbia River Watershed Pastoral Letter. The virtual event will include a keynote panel, breakout workshops, and a closing address from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.

Register now
$20 general, $10 students, scholarships available
Presented by EMO’s Creation Justice and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light.

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th 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
4:30 pm	Blue Christmas Service	Zoom
7:00 pm	Advent/Christmas Vespers	YouTube

Tuesday, December 22 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Wednesday, December 23

6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Holden Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer & other breakout room opportunities	Zoom

Thursday, December 24 – Christmas Eve; Church Office Closed

4:00 pm	Birthday Party for Jesus	Zoom
7:00 pm	Christmas Eve Candlelight Service	Livestream on Website

Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day; Church Office Closed

1:00 pm

Stay Home, but Not Alone! Gathering

Zoom

Sunday, December 27, First Sunday of Christmas

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	NO Confirmation (6th – 8th 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

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

December Movie Night

Have you watched the classic film, A Christmas Carol, yet this season? If not, do so yet today and then join other St. Andrew people for our first Movie Night tonight, Friday, December 11, at 7:00 pm. We’ll talk about the classic, which you can find in no less than 20 versions. 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 today’s “Weekly News” e-mail.

Mary Smith

Holden Evening Prayer on Wednesdays

During Advent, St. Andrew’s Wednesday evening services will center around the beloved Holden Evening Prayer, with Julie Aageson offering meditations from her new book, Finding Home. Please join us for any or all of these events on Wednesday, December 16, and December 23:

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

Advent offers the perfect opportunity to engage in Centering Prayer as we sit in silence to await the celebration of Christ’s coming.

The Zoom connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so watch your inbox for it.

Adult Education: The Miseries of Job

Steve Christiansen will continue his exploration of the Book of Job at 10:00 am on Sunday, December 13, with Session 7. You’ll find a course outline on St. Andrew’s website and 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 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.

Christmas 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 sparkle 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 what their families need most. 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. And read about the challenges one family is facing below:

One Family’s Story

Diana and her daughters just moved into their new apartment. It is a great relief for them after months of living in a shelter for abused women. Diana’s challenges in raising her daughters—ages 17 and 8—are complicated by her diabetes. Just about a month ago, she had to have one of her legs amputated as a result of her illness. Fortunately, her older daughter can drive and has been a big help as she adjusts. Diana continues to be troubled by pain and the challenges of shopping. As for so many families in need this year, Diana’s Christmas wish is that she’ll have enough food for herself and her girls. As she re-starts her life, food is her family’s most basic need. Full stomachs are a great comfort in uncertain times.

Thank You!

Donna Brocker, who organizes the Giving Tree, meets with the families, and scrambles to meet their needs, joins all the Barnes families she’s reached out to this year in thanking you for your heartfelt help in continuing and expanding this ministry. By sharing your resources, you’re demonstrating God’s love in this world. Thank you, all!

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.

Foundation Core Values, Part 2

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 highlight three of these core values:

COMPASSIONATE/CARING: We are compassionate and caring in all that we do, aligning with the core values: God care, Earth care, community care, neighbor care, and self care.

ACCOUNTABILITY: We are transparent, we acknowledge gifts and we communicate our efforts with the congregation. We will regularly monitor that we are being inclusive and acting within our Christian values.

PARTNERSHIPS: We are partnering with the congregation and other organizations in the community to provide for the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole.

Did you know that last year the Foundation awarded $5,550 in grants (to four organizations) and $2,300 in scholarships (to four individuals)? We are actively seeking new members for our Board of Directors as we carry out our core values and vision.

Are you interested in learning more? Contact Sonja Ackman.

Advent Devotional

Allison Katsufrakis, Libby Calhoun, and Deacon Susan Reiser have created a family friendly devotional for every day in Advent. There is an Advent wreath to color as the weeks progress. For each day of the season, there is a picture to color, a scripture passage, and a suggestion for an action to take in your home. The scripture passages come from a variety of sources, so even if you think you know the story you might discover new insights. Take some time during this busy season to pause and reflect on the gift of the Word made flesh. Visit the St. Andrew website Worship page to find the Advent Devotional.

Pastoral Care

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

Pastor Robyn Hartwig (on call Sundays & Mondays)
Office: 503-646-0629 (extension 211)
PastorRobyn@standrewlutheran.com

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

Caroling in 2020

December is the opportunity to sing Christmas Carols to those in our congregation unable to join us for worship and other activities. But, this year, of course, the pandemic means we’re unable to visit people in person.

In order to fill that gap, the three sisters—Carol Werner, Susan Werner Reiser, and Kristie Werner Gladhill—have created a short recording of our favorite carols. We hope they are your favorites, too.

After this weekend, you can find the recording on the St. Andrew website Worship page. Simply click on “Worship” on the menu/navigation bar at the top of this website.

Please sing along!

Christmas Week Worship

Sunday, December 20, 4:30 pm
Blue Christmas Service
Zoom – link in email

While Advent is a season of hope and Christmas is a season of joy, not everyone feels hopeful or ready to celebrate. Grief, illness, aging, depression, loneliness, unemployment and loss are magnified, especially during a pandemic. As we enter into the longest night of the year 2020, join us at sunset for a Blue Christmas worship service in the St. Andrew worship/community Zoom room. Then, if you’d like to share in some conversation with our caring ministers and Pastor Robyn, just bring your own tea or hot apple cider and stick around to talk.

Sunday, December 20, 7:00 pm
Advent/Christmas Vespers
Livestream – link in email

A service of Word and Song as we prepare for the birth of the Christ Child.

Thursday, December 24, 4:00 pm
Christmas Eve
Birthday Party for Jesus!
Zoom – link in email

For a family-focused celebration, please join us at 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 24, via Zoom for a special Birthday Party for Jesus. We’ll be featuring carols, games, and a visit from our favorite furry friends! Families are encouraged to dress for the occasion, whether in ugly Christmas sweaters or with party hats and balloons! Plus, we’ll be giving a special birthday gift to Jesus by doing something nice for others. If you’d like to contribute to this gift, you can do so online via the church website or by mailing a check to the church; just make sure to mark it for the Birthday Party for Jesus. Keep an eye out for the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve.

Keep an eye out for the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve. We hope to see you there!

Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve
6:45 pm, Musical Prelude
7:00 pm, Candlelight Service
Livestream will be on the homepage; no link required

Friday, December 25, 1:00-4:00 pm
Stay Home, but Not Alone!
Zoom – link in email

1:00 pm: Christmas Social Time—share your favorite Christmas stories.
2:00 pm: Games—join Scott Taylor, Pastor Robyn, and Janet Parker for hilarious fun.
3:00 pm: Show & Tell—share your favorite gi7 or play us a Christmas song.
Anytime: Notify Rebecca Fako Uecker to be assigned a Zoom breakout room whereyou can meet with family or friends to support one another in Staying Home to Save Lives.

Managing Your Mental Health During an Unusual Holiday Season

Many of us have found it particularly challenging to manage our own mental health as the pandemic continues, holiday plans are changed, 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 maintaining your own mental health during this unusual holiday season

Take some time this week to work on one of St. Andrew’s Core Values: Self Care.

St. Andrew Caring Ministries Team

Writing to Reclaim Our Vote

Thank you to Carol Horton, who coordinated St. Andrew volunteers in another round of postcard writing with “Relcaim Our Vote,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to help disenfranchised voters know how they can exercise their right to vote. Thank you also to all of those who worked with Carol to put faith into action, including Sharon Fako, Joel & Beth Johnson, Donna McAlpine, Fran Miller, Jan Smith, Sue Cahlander, Larry & Bonnie Bliesner, Liz Hardy, Bob & Cindy Stadel, and Karen Zocchi. Their collective efforts generated 500 postcards that were sent to Georgia this week! Let me know if you would like to be added to the list of people willing to write postcards in the future.

Pastor Robyn

Spirituality Book Group News

Fran Miller will lead the discussion when the Spirituality Book Group meets on Sunday, December 13, at 3:00 pm to discuss The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2020.

“Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers,” says one review on Amazon.

A Zoom link will be sent out to all who are on the Spirituality Book Group e-mail list a few days before the meeting. If you are not on the list, but would like to attend, please contact Mary Smith.

Future Reading

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

February (Date TBA)
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Discussion Leader: TBA

Meet the Match for EcoFaith Recovery

EcoFaith Recovery has been offered a $2,000 year-end matching grant that will match every first-time donation, the amount of increase of any annual donation, and/or the one-year value of any monthly sustaining donation that you set up before December 31. Your generous gifts help EcoFaith Recovery fund this year’s “Just Vote Harnessing Our Values for Climate and Racial Justice Initiative” and our “Community Carbon” pilot community initiative. Thank you so much for helping EcoFaith meet the match with your generous donations to
www.EcoFaithRecovery.org/Give
or EcoFaith Recovery, P.O. Box 12612, Portland, OR 97212.

With gratitude,
Pastor Robyn Hartwig

Scouting for Food

Due to to good organization, planning, and commitment, members of St. Andrew’s Scout Troop 618 and 5618 collected 1,723 pounds of food for the Food Bank at St. Matthew Lutheran Church on December 5. Almost 50 Scouts and leaders participated, accompanied by several siblings and even a couple of dogs. Thank you!

Sound Investments

As equipment has reached the end of its useful life, the sound system in St. Andrew’s Sanctuary has gone through various upgrades in recent years in an attempt to make the spoken word more understandable throughout the room.

• 2010: We switched from lapel microphones to earloops to reduce feedback problems.
• 2013: We replaced the amplifier and crossover to further reduce potential feedback and to equalize amplified voice sound in the room.
• 2016: We replaced the speakers to distribute sound better into pews beyond the center of the room. This also finally opened up the top of the tapestry to full view. (project cost—$7,800)
• 2017-2019: We replaced all wireless microphones due to changes made to the wireless spectrum by the FCC. (cost—$2,000+)

And, in just the past few weeks, Chris Weiss spent about 15 hours installing new wiring and setting up a new (currently borrowed) soundboard, aka mixer, in the Sound Room. As Weiss explains, “Probably the biggest factor that has stopped us from replacing the mixer until recently was that it would require someone to sit at the board for the entirety of both services every Sunday morning.” And that’s a big commitment!

But our needs and expectations for the audio mixer shifted once the pandemic forced St. Andrew to stream its services. Now, we need to mic things that don’t need amplification when we worship in-person, namely the organ, piano, bells, and vocalist. And, when we move back to in-person worship, we’ll also need to mic the congregation and the choir to provide as full an experience as possible for those who continue to worship from their homes.

As Weiss explains, “On any given Sunday before the pandemic, we were only mixing 4-5 microphones, whereas I am now using 16 channels on the new mixer.” He anticipates using 20-24 channels when in-person worship resumes.

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Larry Mostaert (cousin)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Judy Heidinger
Carol Hogan	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Carol Hogan
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength and protection	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Gary Grafwallner	Successful surgery (Dec. 16) for facial skin cancer	Gary Grafwallner
All those struggling with mental health challenges	Healing and calm	Staff
Everyone affected by COVID-19	Strength and support	Staff
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
US election officials, volunteers, and support staff to ensure free and fair elections	Safety and protection	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
Atonement Lutheran Church (Newport, OR) Faith Lutheran Church (North Bend, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Kesser Israel (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.

Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen Reboot

Last summer, the St. Andrew MACG Core Team organized a listening campaign, encouraging members to make phone calls to people we missed seeing at church. Now that this unusual holiday season has arrived, and the colder weather prevents outdoor gatherings, it’s time to check in once again. Look for details in early January about how to be a part of this reboot.

In the meantime, please let the Core Team know how we can improve the program. Contact any of us—Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Scott Taylor, Bob Stadel, Victoria Kovalenko, Lynn Santelmann, or Pastor Robyn—if you
have any feedback.

A Thanksgiving Thank You

Thanks to the generous donations of St. Andrew members, we were able to raise $3,921 to purchase grocery gift certificates for needy families identified by Washington County Community Action. Your gifts are truly appreciated! Thank you.

The Service Committee

Greeting Cards Redux

Many thanks for both the used and the unused greeting cards put into the collection box in Fellowship Hall. I have turned many used cards into gift tags and gift bags. The unused cards are matched with envelopes and sent
on to bless both senders and receivers. Thank you for recycling!

Pam Meredith

Editor’s Note:
If you’d like to contribute to Pam’s Card Ministry while the pandemic continues to keep the church doors locked, simply drop them off at the Narthex entrance. You’ll find a bin behind the food collection barrel. We’ll make sure Pam continues to be well-stocked with cards.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, December 13, Third Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th 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, December 14

7:00 pm

Men’s Book Club

Zoom

Tuesday, December 15

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

Wednesday, December 16 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

5:45 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Holden Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Hangout	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer & other breakout room opportunities	Zoom

Thursday, December 17

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

Friday, December 18

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, December 20, Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th 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
4:30 pm	Blue Christmas Service	Zoom
7:00 pm	Advent/Christmas Vespers	Livestream

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

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 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.

Holden Evening Prayer on Wednesdays

During Advent, St. Andrew’s Wednesday evening services will center around the beloved Holden Evening Prayer, with Julie Aageson offering meditations from her new book, Finding Home. Please join us for any or all of these events on Wednesday, December 9, December 16, and December 23:

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

Advent offers the perfect opportunity to engage in Centering Prayer as we sit in silence to await the celebration of Christ’s coming.

The Zoom connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so watch your inbox for it.

Adult Education: The Miseries of Job

Steve Christiansen will continue his exploration of the Book of Job at 10:00 am on Sunday, December 6, with Session 6. You’ll find a course outline on St. Andrew’s website and 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 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.

Christmas 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 sparkle 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 what their families need most. 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. And read about the challenges one family is facing below:

One Family’s Story

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.

Matt & Carolyn worry about when they’ll be able to return to work, 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 relieve their worries, please donate to St. Andrew’s Giving Tree ministry.

Advent Devotional

Allison Katsufrakis, Libby Calhoun, and Deacon Susan Reiser have created a family friendly devotional for every day in Advent. There is an Advent wreath to color as the weeks progress.

For each day of the season, there is a picture to color, a scripture passage, and a suggestion for an action to take in your home. The scripture passages come from a variety of sources, so even if you think you know the story you might discover new insights. Take some time during this busy season to pause and reflect on the gift of the Word made flesh. Visit the St. Andrew website Worship page to find the Advent Devotional.

Let’s Talk, Let’s Listen Reboot

Last summer, the St. Andrew MACG Core Team organized a listening campaign, encouraging members to make phone calls to people we missed seeing at church. Now that this unusual holiday season has arrived, and the colder weather prevents outdoor gatherings, it’s time to check in once again. Look for details in early January about how to be a part of this reboot.

In the meantime, please let the Core Team know how we can improve the program. Contact any of us—Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Scott Taylor, Bob Stadel, Victoria Kovalenko, Lynn Santelmann, or Pastor Robyn—if you
have any feedback.

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.

Pastoral Care

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

Pastor Robyn Hartwig (on call Sundays & Mondays)
Office: 503-646-0629 (extension 211)
PastorRobyn@standrewlutheran.com

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

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.

Greeting Cards Redux

Many thanks for both the used and the unused greeting cards put into the collection box in Fellowship Hall. I have turned many used cards into gift tags and gift bags. The unused cards are matched with envelopes and sent
on to bless both senders and receivers. Thank you for recycling!

Pam Meredith

Editor’s Note:
If you’d like to contribute to Pam’s Card Ministry while the pandemic continues to keep the church doors locked, simply drop them off at the Narthex entrance. You’ll find a bin behind the food collection barrel. We’ll make sure Pam continues to be well-stocked with cards.

Caroling in 2020

December is the opportunity to sing Christmas Carols to those in our congregation unable to join us for worship and other activities. But, this year, of course, the pandemic means we’re unable to visit people in person.

In order to fill that gap, the three sisters—Carol Werner, Susan Werner Reiser, and Kristie Werner Gladhill—have created a short recording of our favorite carols. We hope they are your favorites, too.

After this weekend, you can find the recording on the St. Andrew website Worship page. Simply click on “Worship” on the menu/navigation bar at the top of this website.

Please sing along!

Managing Your Mental Health During an Unusual Holiday Season

Many of us have found it particularly challenging to manage our own mental health as the pandemic continues, holiday plans are changed, 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 maintaining your own mental health during this unusual holiday season

Take some time this week to work on one of St. Andrew’s Core Values: Self Care.

St. Andrew Caring Ministries Team

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.

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:

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
3. 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.
4. 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

Spirituality Book Group News

Fran Miller will lead the discussion when the Spirituality Book Group meets on Sunday, December 13, at 3:00 pm to discuss The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2020.

“Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers,” says one review on Amazon.

A Zoom link will be sent out to all who are on the Spirituality Book Group e-mail list a few days before the meeting. If you are not on the list, but would like to attend, please contact Mary Smith.

Future Reading

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

February (Date TBA)
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Discussion Leader: TBA

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Larry Mostaert (cousin)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
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
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
Carol Hogan	Effective treatment and improved test results	Carol Hogan
Joyce Larsen (grandmother)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Cole Petersburg
All those struggling with mental health challenges	Healing and calm	Staff
Suzanne Warnes	Thanksgiving for the end of her radiation treatment	Staff
Health care workers	Strength, courage, protection, and support	Staff
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod and Staff	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Refugees and immigrants	Acceptance, safety, and just treatment	Staff
Military personnel, especially Justina Hailey Hope Brocker, Evan Dahlquist, Dawson Dethlefs, Neil Fiegenbaum, and Jerami Reyna	Courage and protection	Staff
New Life Lutheran Church (Florence, OR) Bethany Lutheran church (Gold Beach, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Bethany Musallah (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.

Christmas Eve: Birthday Party for Jesus!

This Advent, our annual family-focused Christmas Eve service will look a little different than usual. At 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 24, join us via Zoom for a special Birthday Party for Jesus, featuring carols, games, and a visit from our favorite furry friends! We would love it if you would join us to celebrate the holiday. Families are encouraged to dress for the occasion, whether that be with ugly Christmas sweaters or with party hats and balloons!

Plus, we’ll be giving a special birthday gift to Jesus during the event by doing something nice for others. If you’d like to contribute to this gift, you can do so online at the church website or by mailing a check to the church; just make sure to mark it for the Birthday Party for Jesus. Keep an eye out for the Zoom link for this event in the “Worship Links” e-mail the week of Christmas Eve. We hope to see you there!

Thank You

Again, I say thank you to my caring and loving friends at St. Andrew for the prayers, cards, calls, and encouraging words that you shared as I underwent an additional procedure on my right knee. I am progressing well in my rehab and anticipate returning to long walks and golf all in good time. I am truly blessed. Your ongoing kindness, caring, and support are much appreciated.

Gratefully,
Bob Cornie

Preparing for Next Sunday

Highlights for the Week

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

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 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th 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, December 8

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

Wednesday, December 9 – 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	Holden Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer & other breakout room opportunities	Zoom

Thursday, December 10

12:00 pm

Team Ministry Meeting

Zoom

Friday, December 11

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
7:00 pm	St. Andrew Movie Night Discussion : The Christmas Carol	Zoom

Sunday, December 13, Second Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th 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!