October 25, 2020
Learn about the news of the week here: read the articles below or download the PDF.
We hope you find a way to get connected!
EMO Voter’s Guide & Forum
Oregon voters will be asked to say yay or nay to four measures on their ballots in the coming days. Do you know what the issues are or how you will respond? Once again, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) has produced a guide for people of faith to consider when casting their ballots.
Blessing Our Reformation Earth Garden
Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2020, at 1:00 pm
This Sunday afternoon the congregation is invited to return to the church for a special outdoor event: the blessing of our St. Andrew Reformation Earth Garden. We’ll all wear masks, maintain a safe distance, celebrate the planting of Faith and Hope, and learn about our Community Carbon Science Team’s ongoing efforts to be good stewards of this Earth. Join us north of the sanctuary on the patio, parking lot, or in the garden itself. The service will be short, but bring a chair if you think you will need one.
Some years ago, we mourned the loss of the majestic Douglas-fir that once centered this space, but we now marvel at another native tree, the Reformation red cedar, that’s growing up toward the sky in its place. Good soil nurtures native plants that feed birds and other wildlife—and, ultimately, us. It’s a beautiful system.
Wednesday Evening Meditation
During our midweek Prayer Services this Wednesday, October 28, Judy Scholz will share a meditation on “Love in COVID Time.” As Judy explains, COVID has given us a new measurement of time where we take things slower, but safer. We bear the risks we have to, but with care.
Wednesday Evening Prayer Services via Zoom include music, prayer, meditation, and scripture. You can find the bulletin on the Preparing for Worship page.
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 Zoom connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch your inbox for it.
Giving
The church I grew up in required every member give 10 percent of their gross income to the church. If you paid less than 10 percent, you were not allowed to do certain things, and we were told that blessings from God were being withheld.
At times in my life, my budget would not really allow for 10 percent of my gross income to go to the church. I always felt shame about giving 3 or 4 percent, so I stopped giving at all. Then I stopped talking to church leaders about it, and I eventually stopped going to church.
I didn’t want my spiritual experience for the week to feel like I was letting God down. So instead of going to church on Sundays, I started going for hikes. I felt peace and tranquility that made me feel so much better than the judgment I felt at church. And for several years, that was my church.
I know that God needs our help. We have a beautiful place of worship and, without help from the members, we would no longer have this beautiful space.
It’s easy to think about all of the wonderful things we receive from coming to this church, without thinking about the boring, behind-thescenes things that need to happen to make sure we are able to enjoy the wonderful things.
We think about the way we feel when we see our friends, the smile and hug we get from the pastors, the peace and reverence we feel as we take communion. And how often do we think about the mortgage being paid, the grounds being maintained, purchasing materials for Sunday School activities, deep cleaning the building? Well, we might think about the cleaning of the building a little more now due to the coronavirus.
We tend to focus on the things we receive more than the things we are helping to build. And we should all realize that by giving freely, we are helping to build the kingdom of God. This is not a membership fee; it is not a tax. We are giving freely so that we can be a part of the building up of His kingdom. And because we are doing that, future generations will have a beautiful place to worship. Children will have access to more opportunities to learn and to grow in faith.
If we look at our offering as an obligation, that is what it will be. But if we understand that our gifts are used by the church to make sure that we all can continue to receive the type of spiritual experience we desire, we will begin to enjoy it. We will look for additional ways to give and we will begin to make it part of our regular budget.
Andy Roberts
Join Andy Roberts for his adult education forum on Budgeting for Giving at 10:00 am on Stewardship Sunday, October 25. Connect via Zoom. Need the link? Join the email list by clicking on the blue button:
2020 Beaverton Virtual Art Show
Artistic talent abounds among us! This month, you can go online to see the work of some 350 artists, including St. Andrew’s own Ken Reiner, who were selected to participate in Beaverton’s 2020 Virtual Art Show. Browse the entire collection or search by artist name. The art is available for purchase, too, so if you see something you really like you can follow up with the artist.
Table Talk: White Supremacy
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 Thursday, October 29, 7:00-8:00 pm.
At the first Presidential Debate on Tuesday, September 29, President Trump could not bring himself to clearly and unambiguously denounce White supremacy. In the essay “White Supremacy Is a Script We’re Given at Birth,” Reggie Williams, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, observes “how prevalent and persistent White supremacy is in this country.” Williams is a member of the Board of the International Bonhoeffer Society—English Language Section. He has written a book entitled Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. According to Williams, White supremacy is not simply a problem for a small minority of violent young men; “it’s written in our flesh and rehearsed throughout history.” As a Black man Williams himself has experienced some of the consequences of the script of White supremacy.
In this Table Talk we will ask some very basic questions: What is White supremacy? How have we seen White supremacy manifested in our lives? Why is White supremacy so prevalent and persistent? To prepare for this Table Talk, you are encouraged to read Reggie Williams essay mentioned above.
Preparing for Next Sunday
November 1, 2020
Reading: Revelations 7:9-17
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Thanksgiving Is Coming, 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 online, in the “Give to” drop-down boxes, select “3-Designated” in the first box and “Thanksgiving Boxes” in the second box. 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.
Contact LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321 or
Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.
Dismantling Racism in Our Institutions
The 16 members of St. Andrew’s “Reckoning with Racism” cohort gathered this week to consider questions of how the past three generations of our families and congregation came to own particular land and the various kinds of value those lands hold. Kristin Sacks recommended a book she is reading, How We Go Home, Voices from Indigenous North America, edited by Sara Sinclair. She also recommends Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which is a beautifully written book about plants through the eyes of Native American traditions and Western science.
Pastor Robyn
Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser
Help Habitat provide decent housing for low-income, hardworking families.
On Tuesday, October 27, at 8:00 am, Habitat for Humanity will host its annual Build a Home, Frame a Future fundraiser. We’ll gather virtually on YouTube to celebrate Habitat homeowners and raise funds to build and repair homes for families in Washington County. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from some of the families that have been impacted by having a Habitat home.
If you have questions or would like connection information to access the gathering, please contact Dan Fako by email or phone at 503-626-3414.
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.
Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.
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.
Creating Our Homegrown National Park
We are fortunate to live in an area that has many acres of parks with forests and native species. So why do we also need to be adding native plants to attract pollinators, insects, birds, and wildlife to our own landscapes?
In his book, Nature’s Best Hope, author and wildlife ecologist Douglas Tallamy tells us that conservation that is confined to parks will not preserve species in the long run, because these areas are too small and too separated from one another. Restoring habitat where we live, work, and worship, on the other hand, can serve to build biological corridors that connect preserved habitat fragments with one another. Creating biological corridors will enlarge the populations of plants and animals within protected habitat and enable them to weather normal population fluctuations indefinitely.
Tallamy postulates that if each us converted half of our lawns to productive native plant communities that it would provide more natural habitat than what exists in more than 12 of our national parks, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic. By working together, we could create 20 million acres of a Homegrown National Park. This park wouldn’t be confined to one location, but it would permeate communities across the country, helping to preserve lives and ecosystems in all bioregions and all biomes.
At St. Andrew we are well on our way to contributing to a Homegrown National Park with the plantings of several thousand native plant species in our wetland and forest, as well as the very recent plantings of two Oregon white oaks. Join us as we gather to bless our new Reformation Earth Garden at 1:00 pm on Sunday, October 25, and advance our efforts to build a Homegrown National Park.
LuAnn Staul
Troop 618 Greenery Sales
Despite pandemic separation, St. Andrew’s Scout Troop 618, 5618, and Crew 618 are again selling Christmas greenery for your holiday decorations. Wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces are available, with proceeds going to benefit the BSA Scouts.
If you’re interested and would like to see a digital brochure with images and prices, act now by contacting Scout volunteer Amy Harker. All orders are due by Monday, November 2. Greenery orders will be delivered to your
home the weekend of November 21 and 22.
Remember these dates:
November 3-7, 2020
for St. Andrew’s Online Book Fair
You’ll be able to shop online at https://www.annieblooms.com/st-andrews-book-fair
with 20% of sales proceeds coming back to benefit our libraries.
Online Book Fair
Support one of St. Andrew’s treasures—our libraries. This November 3-7, you can shop online at Annie Bloom’s Books, indicate your purchases should benefit St. Andrew, and the bookstore will return 20 percent of the proceeds to our new library leadership team of Pam Farr and Barbara Gutzler in order to purchase new titles for our children’s and adult collections. You can participate even without an Internet connection. Simply call Annie Bloom’s at 503-246-0053 and tell the clerk to credit your purchase to St. Andrew.
If you’re hungry for some good reading over the upcoming months, but don’t know where to start, check out Mary Nell Mahler’s list of some suggested titles below. Please remember that you need not limit your shopping to this list:
Suggested Titles for Your Consideration:
| YA | All of Us with Wings, by Michelle Ruiz Keil | Faithful Place |
| F | All This Could be Yours, by Jami Attenberg | Fifth Season |
| F | American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins | Here in the Real World |
| NF | America’s Religious Wars, by Kathleen M. Sands | His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power |
| SS | And I Do Not Forgive You, by Amber Sparks | Keys to Bonhoeffer |
| H | And Then You Die of Dysentery, by Lauren Reeves | Little Mole Finds Hope |
| NF | The Art of Ramona Quimby, by Anna Katz | Long Bright River |
| P, MG | The Beadworkers, by Beth Piatote | Love Is… |
| F | The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri | Mirror and the Light |
| CPB | A Big Bed for Little Snow, by Grace Lin | Night of His Birth |
| F,H | The Big Finish, by Brooke Fossey | Night Watchman |
| F | Big Summer, by Jennifer Weiner | On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous |
| CPB | Birdsong, by Julie Flett | Pioneers: The Heroic Story |
| CPB | The Birth of Jesus: A Christmas Pop-Up, by Agostino Traini | Red at the Bone |
| C | Bitty Brown Babe, by Deborah LeFalle & Keisha Morris | Redhead by the Side of the Road |
| F | The Boy from the Woods, by Harlan Coben | Royal Holiday |
| F | Chosen Ones, by Veronica Roth | Save Me the Plums |
| F | The City We Became, by N.K. Jemisin | Star in the Christmas Play |
| C | Countdown to Christmas, by Mary Manz Simon | Summer Song |
| C | Crossing on Time, by David Macaulay | This Is the Church |
| NF | The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, by Sue Monk Kidd | Time for Mercy |
| F | Disappearing Earth, by Julia Phillips | Trees in Trouble: Wildfires |
| C | Double Bass Blues, by Andrea Loney | When He Heart Waits |
| F | Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk | Where the Best Stories Hide |
| F | The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett | With the Fire on High |
| F | Erasing Memory: A MacNeice Mystery, by Scott Thornley | World of the Old Testament |
| C: Children’s Book |
| CPB: Children’s Picture Book |
| F: Fic#on |
| H: Humor |
| NF: Nonfic#on |
| P,MG: Poetry, Mixed Genre |
| SS: Short Stories |
| YA: Young Adult |
Shop online here! https://www.annieblooms.com/st-andrews-book-fair
November Birthdays
| Logan Uecker | November 1 |
| Ronald Olshausen | November 1 |
| Ted Miller | November 1 |
| Dan Flood | November 2 |
| Jennifer Hooson | November 2 |
| AJ Uecker | November 4 |
| Jill Folkestad | November 4 |
| LeAnn Haslett | November 4 |
| Debi Gustafson | November 6 |
| Nora Duggan | November 6 |
| Blaine Covert | November 7 |
| Joani Wardwell | November 7 |
| Sylvia Lei | November 7 |
| Sara Hays | November 9 |
| Allison Katsufrakis | November 10 |
| Emily Moore | November 12 |
| Lydia Ragan | November 13 |
| Noelle Mehlhorn | November 13 |
| Benjamin Matsuo | November 14 |
| Rebecca Uecker | November 14 |
| Marley Myers | November 15 |
| Mary Brown | November 15 |
| Melissa Allen | November 15 |
| Tandy Brooks | November 15 |
| Mary Carroll | November 16 |
| Carol Kreger | November 18 |
| Gretchen Bancroft | November 18 |
| Jack Scholz | November 19 |
| Sue Cahlander | November 20 |
| Carol Hogan | November 21 |
| Marlene Maxwell | November 22 |
| Nils Ackman | November 22 |
| Tiffany Lo | November 23 |
| Jim Aageson | November 24 |
| Shelley Jelineo | November 25 |
| Susan Kintner | November 27 |
| Jack Dunlap | November 28 |
| Dee Piscitelli | November 29 |
| Steve Christiansen | November 29 |
| Gordon Teifel | November 30 |
In Need of Prayers…
| Family and friends of Patty Werner (sister-in-law) | Peace and God’s comfort at her death | Susan Werner Reiser |
| Family and friends of Diana Heidinger (sister-in-law) | Peace and God’s comfort at his death | Judy Heidinger |
| Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family | Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care | Mary Smith |
| Liz Andersen | Comfort, strength, and successful treatment | Susan Reiser |
| Jane Quigg (sister) | Comfort and courage in facing mental health challenges | Janet Vorvick |
| Ellie (aunt) | Healing and recovery from a stroke | Mike & Linda McDowall |
| Garett McDowall | Healing and recovery from surgery | Pastor Robyn Hartwig |
| Noah Oyen | Healing and recovery from COVID-19 | Gretchen Bancroft |
| Jeff George’s grandmother | Healing and recovery from surgery | Pastor Mark Brocker |
| Elaine May | Successful knee replacement surgery (Oct 27) | Staff |
| Our Nation | Integrity of the election | Staff |
| Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, David Bumgardner, Vic Claar, Marilyn Hanson, Barry Larson, Marvel Lund, Ian MacDonald, Gary Magnuson, Hugh Mason, Brian McKiernan, Ed & Jean 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 |
| Zion Lutheran Church (Redmond, OR) Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Sisters, OR) Sunriver Christian Fellowship (Sunriver, OR) |
Serving with us in the Oregon Synod | Staff |
| Muslim Educational Trust (Tigard, OR) | Blessings on our interfaith partners | Staff |
Help Set the Table for Immigrant Families
Across the world, the communal bowl signifies that one does not eat alone, in isolation. For refugees and immigrants, isolation is the most threatening aspect of leaving their homeland behind and rebuilding a life in the U.S. How do families cope? They come together at mealtime and they share.
Is it possible for us to understand what our refugee families have lost? How daunting it must be to navigate a new life in America—particularly during a pandemic. The people of Lutheran Community Services NW witness the enormous challenges of rebuilding a life. They set the table for refugees to thrive by providing the emotional and practical support they need. And you can help! View the Communal Bowl video or donate now.
It’s Red for Reformation
Although we’ll all be worshiping at home again this weekend, remember that we are celebrating Reformation Sunday and its liturgical color is red. It’s been a tradition at St. Andrew to wear red on this anniversary of the Reformation. You can retain this tradition at home— and get away with donning red jammies if that’s your preference!
Thank You!
The Service Committee thanks the congregation for the generous $1,654 contributed to the Western Farm Workers Association during our September drive. These funds provide food and clothing for Washington Country’s farm workers and supports the Hillsboro offices, where legal help is offered to WFWA clients.
This organization has a record of fighting on behalf of the lowest paid workers in our area and winning improved conditions for them. WFWA has no paid staff; all office workers are volunteers.
Highlights for the Week
Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information. When you go to the online church calendar, you can click “List” and “Week” to see details for the week (blue buttons in screen shot, below) rather than the whole month. Click “Next >” to see the next week.
Sunday, October 25: Reformation Sunday
| 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: Budgeting for Giving | Zoom |
| 11:00 am | Online Worship | Zoom |
| 12:00 pm | Virtual Coffee Time | Zoom |
| 1:00 pm | Blessing of St. Andrew’s Reformation Earth Garden | Outside – North of patio |
Wednesday, October 28 – 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, October 29
| 12:00 pm | Team Ministry Meeting | Zoom |
Sunday, November 1: All Saints Day
| 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 | Online Worship | Zoom |
| 12:00 pm | Virtual Coffee Time | Zoom |
Connecting to Worship
8:30 am: Watch worship via livestream on YouTube.
The link will be sent via email and by notification from the church app.
- The same link will bring you to the recording of the service to watch anytime after the livestream ends.
- An audio recording of the 8:30 am service will be available Sunday afternoon by simply dialing 503-643-9416.
11:00 am: Participate in worship via Zoom
The link will be sent via email and by notification from the church app.
- To participate via Zoom, you can use a smart phone, computer, tablet, or a telephone.
- To participate in “Virtual Coffee Time” simply log in early or stay logged in after the Zoom worship service ends.
Not getting church emails? Click on the green button below to contact the church office to recieve the livestream worship link and zoom invitations.
Need Help? If you discover that you need help connecting to St. Andrew’s online worship services and meetings, please email Rebecca Fako Uecker. She will be available by 9:30 am on most Sunday mornings and 5:30 pm on most Wednesday evenings to provide same-day help for church-related purposes.
Ways to Give
As we maintain social distancing for physical health, it is important to support the fiscal health of St. Andrew. We thank you for your support of the ministries of St. Andrew. If you are able, please give now using any of the following options:
Postal Mail: Simply mail a check to the church office. Let us know if you’d like giving envelope mailed to your home each month by contacting the church office.
Text Giving: Simply text any amount to 503-386-9646 to donate to the Ministry & Mission Fund. To donate to another fund, text keyword to get a list of funds, then type the dollar amount and fund name to give. For example, to give to the local food bank, text 50 food to give $50 for food.
Give via Church App: Download “Church by MinistryOne” from the App store and watch sermons, submit prayer requests, and give a one-time or recurring gift.
Give Online: On the St. Andrew website, click on “Give” at the top of the page. Here you can view your giving, set recurring gifts, and print your Contribution Statement.
Direct Deposit / “Simply Giving:” Request a form from the church office to enable automated giving from your checking or savings account through the “Simply Giving” program.
Stock Donation: Download the form to donate stock. Please contact our Financial Secretaries in advance of processing the form or if you have questions.
Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!