Want a printed copy of the Weekly News? Click on the printer icon to the right or download and print the PDF.

Masking Up in Love

The statistics don’t lie: COVID-19 infections are on the rise in Oregon again, many of them the extremely contagious Delta variant. Following the recommendations of the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control,
St. Andrew now requires EVERYONE—even vaccinated individuals—to wear a mask inside the building. Disposable masks are available at the Narthex entry if you need them.

As Pastor Susan reminds us, “we are building this ship as we sail.” We have made a few changes to worship, beginning this Sunday, that will help our community stay safe. You will find more information on these changes in your worship folder on Sunday, and on the St. Andrew website at https://standrewlutheran.com/the-post-pandemic-worship-experience/.

We understand that some people may feel more apprehensive about worshiping in the Sanctuary. As always, make the decision that is best for you and your household. Thankfully, we have a variety of worship options. 11:00 am worship in the Sanctuary of the Firs makes use of our outdoor space, and we are blessed with a talented team of technology wizards who make remote worship possible.

We can do this to protect each other and especially to protect our children who are not yet able to receive the vaccine. Masking is a profound and visible sign of our commitment to neighbor and community care.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

Midweek Evening Prayer Services will continue to be offered through the summer months via Zoom. Meditations will be drawn from Devotional Classics. All are welcome this Wednesday, August 3 for social time at 6:45 pm and service at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm. Participate in all or part of our scheduled time together. Look for links to this worship service at midday on Wednesdays in Allison’s email.

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, August 9 at 1:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. This month’s study is from the August Gather magazine and is entitled “Just Hope.” It is based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 and Ezekiel 37:1-14. With guided discussion, we will see that through the gift of the body of Christ our hope is bigger than our human situation. Any are welcome to join us and you need not have read the lesson to take part. If you have questions, contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Celebrating a Century

Helen Rogers turns 100 on July 31. What a milestone! Please join us after early worship on Sunday, August 1, when we’ll sing Happy Birthday and share our best wishes with her. Helen’s family is providing the cake and we’ll have coffee and tea set up and available on the front patio (please wear a face mask if you are inside the building). We’ll have a card basket for Helen, too, so she can enjoy reading any messages you’d like to share with her.

Happy Birthday, Helen! Many of us pray we could be as pinochle-sharp as you are at any age.

Gratitude for a Good and Faithful Servant

Phyllis Vachal has led and participated in the Service Committee for over 30 years. (She will tell you that she has done it forever!)

Through her service on behalf of St. Andrew, thousands have been fed and cared for due to her dedication. Over the last several years, she has been responsible for distributing the local benevolence funds of the congregation to non-profit organizations that help the hungry, houseless, survivors of domestic violence, and children and families in poverty. Her contributions have also included coordination of the collections of school bags, personal care kits and baby supplies for Lutheran World Relief. She has truly lived out the words of our Lord: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Phyllis has decided now is the time to take a much-deserved rest from this important work. The Service Committee wishes to thank her for years of service and contributions. Blessings to her in the next chapter of her life.

LuAnn Staul,
Service Committee

Community Carbon and All Creation Sings

Who knew our Community Carbon team were such music lovers? (Well, me, but it’s my job to know such things, isn’t it?)

Anyway, the Music Ministry was grateful to receive a generous gift from the Community Carbon team of ten copies of the new hymnal All Creation Sings (abbreviated as ACS in our worship folders). You’ve seen songs and liturgy from this hymnal in worship all spring and summer, and now we have enough copies that the Sanctuary Choir will be able to use them! Thanks for helping us further enhance worship with these new hymnals.

Allison Katsufrakis,
Minister of Music & Media

Nifty Notters

Come join the Nifty Notters Saturday August 7 and Saturday August 21 from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We’ll be working on twin sized quilts for LWR and Safeplace youth shelter and baby quilts for Virginia Garcia Clinic and Birthright of Hillsboro. We just recently started making donations to Birthright, and they were so excited to be able to give new baby quilts to their new moms.

Bring a lunch and join us for all or part of the day. No experience is needed and all supplies are provided. We had several wonderful fabric and supply donations these past months, and now need people to cut that fabric into squares. This can be done either at church or at home. If you’d like to help, or have any other questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Sock It to Me – Outside In

Once again we, the St. Andrew Community, have an opportunity to demonstrate Community and Neighbor Care by
improving the lives of young people in our city. Since 1968, Outside In has transformed lives by helping break
the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQA+ community, people of color,
those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved.

Currently, Outside In is in high need of socks. Please consider contributing to this request by purchasing new men’s and women’s socks and bringing them to church between July 25 and August 29. There will be a barrel in the Narthex and the socks will be delivered to Outside In at the end of August. Both staff and clients of Outside In appreciate this congregation for all of our support over the past years and send their thanks once again for your contributions.

Thank you,
Service Committee

Feeding a Multitude

Driving around Portland this summer, it’s clear that the hunger and homelessness crisis prompted by COVID-19 continues to trouble many people in our community. The saints of St. Andrew have already shown generosity in offering assistance. Given the uneven state of recovery, it’s no surprise that some individuals and families are still in
desperate straits. All contributions to the food barrel in our Narthex are delivered to the St. Matthew Food Bank for distribution to people suffering from food insecurity. Thank you for caring for others!

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 wearing 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.

Rev. Richard Bott,
Presbyterian Church of Canada

Sabbatical Blessings

Gracious God, Loving Lord,
Psalm 1 declares that those who delight in the Word of the Lord
shall be like trees, planted near streams of water,
which yield their fruit in due season.
Bless Pastor Mark in this sabbatical time,
that your river of love and delight will bring deep rest and renewal,
bless his writing, and protect his solitude.
May this be a time to receive your spacious grace.
Return him to us in September ready to share hissabbath lessons with us.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Gracious God, Loving Lord,
Bless St. Andrew in this sabbatical time as well,
that as we pray for Pastor Mark,
we also embrace this time to receive your spacious grace.
We also need deep rest and renewal as we recover from the last 18 months.
Walk with us in these weeks, as you walked with the disciples to Emmaus,
listening to their grief, that we will recognize you in the breaking of the bread
and be fed and repaired by your resurrection love.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Yoga Class Returns in August

After more than a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19, yoga class is coming back to St. Andrew! If you participated in earlier classes or are curious whether a yoga discipline might be good for you, mark your calendar for 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 11, and plan to check it out.

The St. Andrew community is so fortunate that certified teachers Geetha, Gloria, and Barbara are willing and able to continue this program. All skilled instructors, they give their time freely to help the rest of us maintain balance, flexibility, and mobility.

The class is free, no experience is required, and the teachers offer guidance for people of various levels and abilities. Instruction is provided for both chair and floor yoga, so if you find it difficult to get up from floor positions, don’t worry. Chair exercises are always an option. If you’d like to try floor yoga, please bring your own mat. Class lasts about an hour and is open to the public, so bring a friend. All are welcome.

Organ Scholarship Applications Due

Please note that applications for the St. Andrew Foundation’s church organ scholarship are due no later than Monday, October 4. To address the critical shortage of church organists, the fund awards $800 towards organ lessons with a recognized organ teacher. Applicants from age 13 through 30 are invited to apply. Go to the Foundation page on our
church website and scroll to the Organ Lesson Scholarship Fund section to download the 2021 Scholarship Announcement and Application. Applicants from a variety of faith traditions are encouraged to apply.

Worship Feedback

For the past month, people have been worshiping online and in person at St. Andrew and we continue to fine-tune the details.

8:30 am: Worship in the Sanctuary or attend via YouTube. Access this service at any time via the link distributed in Friday emails or the church app notifications on Sunday mornings at 8:15 am. This livestream is recorded and can be accessed later in the day or week by using the same link.

11:00 am: Worship in the Sanctuary of the Firs or via the Zoom link distributed in Friday emails or the church app notifications at 8:15 am on Sunday mornings.

Please note that the outdoor service presents unique challenges to our tech team, which continues to work on improving the quality of the worship experience for remote participants. If you prefer to worship at 11:00 am but want better sound quality, simply connect via the YouTube link rather than Zoom.

Minister of Music & Media Allison Katsufrakis welcomes your feedback. Simply call the church office to leave a message or contact her at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com.

In Need of Prayers…

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.

Steve Andersen	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Liz Andersen
John Fritz	Healing and recovery in rehab	Staff
Steve Yi (nephew)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Kelly Wise
Paul (friend)	Healing and recovery	Sonja Ackman
Breanna (grandniece)	Uncomplicated delivery of baby Raya	Ginny & Gary Link
Baby Raya	Healthy birth without complications	Ginny & Gary Link
Those fighting or threatened by wildfires	Protection and safety	Staff
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod & 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
Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Willamina, OR) House of Zion Lutheran Church (Woodburn, OR) Immanuel Lutheran Church (Woodburn, OR) Bethesda Lutheran Church (Eugene, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Muslim Educational Trust (Tigard, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Preparing for Sunday, August 8, 2021

Reading: Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2

Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, August 1

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Scout Court of Honor Rehearsal	Sanctuary of the Firs

Monday, August 2

6:00 pm

Troop 618 Meeting

East parking lot

Tuesday, August 3

7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Men’s Gathering & Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	Offsite
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Worship Planning Meeting	Library
1:30 pm	Service Committee Meeting	St. Andrew Room/Patio
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

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

6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, August 5

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel, Library
7:00 pm	Executive Committee Meeting	Zoom

Friday, August 6

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, August 7

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, August 8

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Want a printed copy of the Weekly News? Click on the printer icon to the right or download and print the PDF.

Confirmation Sunday

Congratulations, Lilly Au and Tanner King! On Sunday, July 18, these two confirmands affirmed their baptism and were welcomed as full voting members of St. Andrew following their three years of study and growth in confirmation.

Leading Worship Together

Returning to in-person worship is a powerful reminder of how many volunteers work together to make worship happen every week. It’s a lot of work, but if we all play our part, everything gets handled without a hiccup. In particular we are in need of Altar Guild members, Assisting Ministers, and Ushers for the 11:00 service. No experience is necessary and you will receive all the training you need. We work with your schedule so you can attend your preferred service and still worship with your family or friends.

Please contact Minister of Music & Media Allison Katsufrakis at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

Midweek Evening Prayer Services will continue to be offered through the summer months via Zoom. Meditations will be drawn from Devotional Classics. All are welcome this Wednesday, July 28 for social time at 6:45 pm and service at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm. Participate in all or part of our scheduled time together. Look for links to this worship service at midday on Wednesdays in Allison’s email.

Guest Preacher Laurie Newman

This Sunday, July 25, we welcome Pastor Laurie Newman, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care at Westminster Presbyterian, to the pulpit. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been in Full Communion with the Presbyterians since 1997. A fine musician who’s been on staff at Westminster for 20 years, Pastor Newman is another member of Women Touched by Grace, the renewal program hosted by the Benedictine Sisters in Beach Grove, IN. Even though Pastor Laurie and Pastor Susan both live in Portland, they had to go to Indiana to meet! We look forward to welcoming Pastor Laurie Newman as our first guest preacher during Pastor Mark’s sabbatical.

Celebrating a Centure

Helen Rogers turns 100 on July 31. What a milestone! Please join us after early worship on Sunday, August 1, when we’ll sing Happy Birthday and share our best wishes with her. Helen’s family is providing the cake and we’ll have coffee and tea set up and available in usual pre-pandemic fashion. We’ll have a card basket for Helen, too, so she can enjoy reading any messages you’d like to share with her.

Happy Birthday, Helen! Many of us pray we could be as pinochle-sharp as you are at any age.

Summer Routines

Summer is a great time of the year. A chance for some to change their school-year routines and take some vacation time or visit family both near and far. For grandparents, a chance to see grandkids. And this year, a chance to return to the sanctuary for worship.

One routine that is also affected is our congregational giving patterns. With June offering at 74%, we see the impact of changed routines on our church budget. Unfortunately, the church budget does not get to take a vacation. The budgeted expenses show up 52 weeks a year, every year.

Please help us stay in sync with the monthly budgets by staying solid in your weekly and monthly giving patterns.
Thanks for your continuing generosity and God’s blessing to each of you.

Jeff Smith, Chair
Stewardship Committee

Flowers on the Chancel

The flowers on the chancel today are given to the glory of God by Sharon Carlson in celebration of the marriage of her daughter, Carrie Myers, to Craig Evans on July 24, 2021.

Sock It to Me – Outside In

Once again we, the St. Andrew Community, have an opportunity to demonstrate Community and Neighbor Care by
improving the lives of young people in our city. Since 1968, Outside In has transformed lives by helping break
the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQA+ community, people of color,
those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved.

Currently, Outside In is in high need of socks. Please consider contributing to this request by purchasing new men’s and women’s socks and bringing them to church between July 25 and August 29. There will be a barrel in the Narthex and the socks will be delivered to Outside In at the end of August. Both staff and clients of Outside In appreciate this congregation for all of our support over the past years and send their thanks once again for your contributions.

Thank you,
Service Committee

Feeding a Multitude

Driving around Portland this summer, it’s clear that the hunger and homelessness crisis prompted by COVID-19 continues to trouble many people in our community. The saints of St. Andrew have already shown generosity in offering assistance. Given the uneven state of recovery, it’s no surprise that some individuals and families are still in
desperate straits. All contributions to the food barrel in our Narthex are delivered to the St. Matthew Food Bank for distribution to people suffering from food insecurity. Thank you for caring for others!

Pastor Mark’s Sabbatical

Lead Pastor Mark Brocker is currently on sabbatical, unwinding from a hectic year and writing the Chi Rho lectures he’ll deliver in Eugene this fall. His topic is likely to resonate following the overwhelming adjustments we’ve all had to make because of COVID. He will address the theme of “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”

During Pastor Mark’s time away, Pastor Susan Kintner, other staff, and numerous lay leaders will be guiding the congregation. Pastor Mark will return to his ministry at St. Andrew on September 7, just in time to launch another education year on September 12.

Sabbatical Blessings

Gracious God, Loving Lord,
Psalm 1 declares that those who delight in the Word of the Lord
shall be like trees, planted near streams of water,
which yield their fruit in due season.
Bless Pastor Mark in this sabbatical time,
that your river of love and delight will bring deep rest and renewal,
bless his writing, and protect his solitude.
May this be a time to receive your spacious grace.
Return him to us in September ready to share hissabbath lessons with us.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Gracious God, Loving Lord,
Bless St. Andrew in this sabbatical time as well,
that as we pray for Pastor Mark,
we also embrace this time to receive your spacious grace.
We also need deep rest and renewal as we recover from the last 18 months.
Walk with us in these weeks, as you walked with the disciples to Emmaus,
listening to their grief, that we will recognize you in the breaking of the bread
and be fed and repaired by your resurrection love.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Yoga Class Returns in August

After more than a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19, yoga class is coming back to St. Andrew! If you participated in earlier classes or are curious whether a yoga discipline might be good for you, mark your calendar for 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 11, and plan to check it out.

The St. Andrew community is so fortunate that certified teachers Geetha, Gloria, and Barbara are willing and able to continue this program. All skilled instructors, they give their time freely to help the rest of us maintain balance, flexibility, and mobility.

The class is free, no experience is required, and the teachers offer guidance for people of various levels and abilities. Instruction is provided for both chair and floor yoga, so if you find it difficult to get up from floor positions, don’t worry. Chair exercises are always an option. If you’d like to try floor yoga, please bring your own mat. Class lasts about an hour and is open to the public, so bring a friend. All are welcome.

Earth Camp Postscript

It’s been more than a week since Earth Camp ended, but some of us continue to recover from all the excitement and to catch up. Go to the church website to find more photos and stories from a memorable week.

Overview: https://standrewlutheran.com/helping-children-bloom-through-earth-camp
Animal Stories: https://standrewlutheran.com/animal-appreciation-stories-from-a-lifetime-of-love

Organ Scholarship Applications Due

Please note that applications for the St. Andrew Foundation’s church organ scholarship are due no later than Monday, October 4. To address the critical shortage of church organists, the fund awards $800 towards organ lessons with a recognized organ teacher. Applicants from age 13 through 30 are invited to apply. Go to the Foundation page on our
church website and scroll to the Organ Lesson Scholarship Fund section to download the 2021 Scholarship Announcement and Application. Applicants from a variety of faith traditions are encouraged to apply.

Worship Feedback

For the past month, people have been worshiping online and in person at St. Andrew and we continue to fine-tune the details.

8:30 am: Worship in the Sanctuary or attend via YouTube. Access this service at any time via the link distributed in Friday emails or the church app notifications on Sunday mornings at 8:15 am. This livestream is recorded and can be accessed later in the day or week by using the same link.

11:00 am: Worship in the Sanctuary of the Firs or via the Zoom link distributed in Friday emails or the church app notifications at 8:15 am on Sunday mornings.

Please note that the outdoor service presents unique challenges to our tech team, which continues to work on improving the quality of the worship experience for remote participants. If you prefer to worship at 11:00 am but want better sound quality, simply connect via the YouTube link rather than Zoom.

Minister of Music & Media Allison Katsufrakis welcomes your feedback. Simply call the church office to leave a message or contact her at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com.

Wanted: Chocolate

Thanks to everyone who has donated candy for St. Andrew’s welcome mugs. Donna Brocker, our Welcome Ministry’s mug maven, could still use a few more bags to fill those delightful welcome mugs our guests receive on their first visit to St. Andrew. Donna says chocolates are a particular favorite, and the candies must be individually wrapped. Please leave your donations in the office with Donna’s name on the bag. Thank you!

In Need of Prayers…

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.

Ann Landmark (Bev Briggs’s cousin)	Comfort and compassionate care in hospice	Bev Briggs
John Carlson (Bev Briggs’s brother-in-law)	Patience and correct diagnosis	Bev Briggs
Steve Andersen	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Liz Andersen
Ginny Link	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Ginny Link
Steve Yi (Kelly Wise’s nephew)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Kelly Wise
Paul (Sonja Ackman’s friend)	Healing and recovery	Sonja Ackman
Ray Venghaus	Healing and recovery	Staff
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Those fighting or threatened by wildfires	Protection and safety	Staff
Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, Dave Bumgardner, Vic Claar, Gary Grafwallner, Ian MacDonald, Gary Magnuson, Hugh Mason, Brian McKiernan, Carol Means, Ed Pacey, Corky Poppert, Jolie Reyna, Nan Thompson, Shane Throckmorton, Gary Tubbs	Healing and assurance of God’s presence	Staff
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Blessings on our ministry	Staff
Taiwan Lutheran Church	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Immanuel Lutheran Church (Silverton, OR) Trinity Lutheran Church (Silverton, OR) Fir Lawn Lutheran Church (Sweet Home, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation P’nai Or (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Preparing for Sunday, August 1, 2021

Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt will preach.

Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15

Gospel: John 6:24-35

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, July 25

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, July 26

6:00 pm

Troop 618 Meeting

East parking lot

Tuesday, July 27

7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Men’s Gathering & Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm	Community Carbon/Earth Care Leadership Meeting	Library

Wednesday, July 28 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, July 29

12:00 pm

Team Ministry Meeting

Chapel, Library

Friday, July 30

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, August 1

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Want a printed copy of the Weekly News? Click on the printer icon to the right or download and print the PDF.

Nifty Notters

The Nifty Notters welcome everyone to join them Saturday, July 17, from 9:00 am-12:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall to work on baby quilts for Virginia Garcia Clinic and larger quilts for LWR and Safeplace. All supplies are provided and no experience is needed. Bring a lunch and join us for all or part of the time. If you can’t come on Saturday, we have many cutting and sewing/tying projects that can be done at home. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917 or Pam Farr at 503-626-6657.

Wisdom Calls – Part Three

The Oregon Synod is glad to host the third part of their online storytelling series “Wisdom Speaks,” sharing stories and experiences from some of our synod’s first ordained women. This online event takes place on Saturday, July 17, at 7:00 pm. You can register for the event on the Oregon Synod Website or Facebook page. Our own Pastor Susan Kintner and Pastor Robyn Hartwig have taken part in these events in the past.

Quilt Sunday

Logan Isaacson beamed last Sunday after receiving his senior quilt thoughtfully made for him by Linda Fransen. This St. Andrew tradition from our Nifty Notters ensures that high school seniors carry the love and care of the congregation with them as they begin their adult lives. The St. Andrew Foundation also awards a $500 scholarship to seniors for their continued education.

Confirmation Sunday

This Sunday, July 18, St. Andrew once again focuses on its youth and their journey of faith formation. At the 8:30 am service, Lilly Au and Tanner King will affirm their baptism and be recognized by the congregation as full voting members of St. Andrew following their three years of study and growth in confirmation. Welcome, Lilly and Tanner!

Want to Spend Some Dollars?

We’re talking about Thrivent Choice Dollars. You do not need to be a Thrivent member to help identify St. Andrew activities that might benefit from extra funds. Interested? We will meet on Sunday, July 18, in the Fellowship Hall at (or before) 10:00 am to learn more about Choice Dollars. Many of us don’t know much about this and now we have a chance to learn, ask questions, and help discern what we would like to support in the next 12 months. We missed having meetings since 2018 but the money has come in each year and has recently been sent to the ministries designated in 2018 to receive them. We will review past decisions as we prepare to choose where we want to go
from here. The more input, the better we can consider how to best use money coming in the next 12 months.
Thrivent members who are designating choice dollars will have the opportunity to vote on suggestions at this meeting. Please join us to determine how to spend those dollars on behalf of St. Andrew ministries.

Summer Routines

Summer is a great time of the year. A chance for some to change their school-year routines and take some vacation time or visit family both near and far. For grandparents, a chance to see grandkids. And this year, a chance to return to the sanctuary for worship.

One routine that is also affected is our congregational giving patterns. With June offering at 74%, we see the impact of changed routines on our church budget. Unfortunately, the church budget does not get to take a vacation. The budgeted expenses show up 52 weeks a year, every year.

Please help us stay in sync with the monthly budgets by staying solid in your weekly and monthly giving patterns.
Thanks for your continuing generosity and God’s blessing to each of you.

Jeff Smith, Chair
Stewardship Committee

Feeding a Multitude

Driving around Portland this summer, it’s clear that the hunger and homelessness crisis prompted by COVID-19 continues to trouble many people in our community. The saints of St. Andrew have already shown generosity in offering assistance and that help is still needed. All contributions to the food barrel in our Narthex are delivered to the St. Matthew Food Bank for distribution to people suffering from food insecurity. Thank you for caring for others!

Pastor Mark Begins Sabbatical

Following worship this Sunday, July 18, Lead Pastor Mark Brocker will be on sabbatical, unwinding from a hectic year and writing the Chi Rho lectures he’ll deliver in Eugene this fall. His topic is likely to resonate following the overwhelming adjustments we’ve all had to make because of COVID. He will address the theme of “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”
During Pastor Mark’s time away, Pastor Susan Kintner, other staff, and numerous lay leaders will be guiding the congregation. Pastor Mark will return to his ministry at St. Andrew on September 7, just in time to launch another
education year on September 12.

Growing Up Lutheran: What Does This Mean?

Since I didn’t grow up Lutheran, I found this book by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Johnson Nelson to be enlightening, as well as very funny. Were you aware that being Lutheran could be funny?

Well, check out the chapter called “ushers and pews: who’s been sitting in my pew?” I also enjoyed reading
about “the Lutheran church basement women.” I feel they might be related to the Nazarene ladies social committee.
And should you feel there is nothing to learn from this book, try taking the steeple test in the chapter “even when steeples are falling.” I failed it badly.

But how interesting to find out all the things I missed, or not, by not growing up Lutheran.

Pam Farr
Librarian

Highlights from Earth Camp

On Monday, Earth Camp children were delighted to meet some baby bunnies. When Peaches the Holland lop
surprised the middle school guide holding her, Satya (our good-natured guide) ended up with a peed-upon
shirt and a story to share with her family. On Tuesday, the kids dug up shovelfuls of soil from the Sanctuary of
the Firs and then shook it up to sort out the various particles that make up soil. On Wednesday, they explored
the water cycle with Pat and discovered why we don’t get dinosaur pee raining down on our heads. During
music time, they sat silently for one whole minute while Allison explained that silence is a part of music:
“Sometimes you have to take a breath,” she said. Eric encouraged the kids to embrace their curiosity and to
find answers to their questions. They learned that learning is fun for people of all ages.

The kids studied trees and seeds and the importance of water, created art using natural materials, enjoyed games, worshiped and sang and played some wonderfully colorful percussion instruments. They enjoyed ice cream homemade just for them, renewed their energy with snacks, and went away with lots of souvenirs—snazzy Earth Camp water bottles, sit-upons, tote bags, clip-on scented sanitizer, handouts for their parents to read, and more.

“The primary purpose of Earth Camp was to cultivate a deep love of our Earth home and all its inhabitants,” Pastor Mark explains. “We wanted campers to discover how interconnected we are with our fellow creatures, to learn ways to care for our Earth home, and to have fun doing so.”

Thank you, Pastor Mark and Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt for putting everything together and keeping us organized. Thank you, teachers, for sharing your enthusiasm with another generation of eager learners, and thank you, volunteers, for supporting the kids with your time and energy and skills.

You’ll find more photos and stories at https://standrewlutheran.com/helping-children-bloom-through-earth-camp.

Guest Pastors Share the Word at St. Andrew

One of the strengths of the ELCA is our Full Communion fellowship with other Christian denominations. During Pastor Brocker’s sabbatical, we will welcome guests from three of these partners in mission, the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church. For more information, go to https://www.elca.org/Resources/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations.

Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar and Pastor Ron Werner will also be our guests, as well as our seminarian Karen Klingelhafer and Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt.

Next Sunday, July 25, we welcome Pastor Laurie Newman, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care at Westminster Presbyterian, to the pulpit. We have been in Full Communion with the Presbyterians since 1997. A fine musician who’s been on staff at Westminster for 20 years, Pastor Newman is another member of Women Touched by Grace, the renewal program hosted by the Benedictine Sisters in Beach Grove, IN. Even though Pastor Laurie and Pastor Susan both live in Portland, they had to go to Indiana to meet! We look forward to welcoming Pastor Laurie Newman as our first guest preacher during Pastor Mark’s sabbatical.

Online Exhibits at the Oregon Historical Society

The Reckoning with Racism group wants to remind all of us that the Oregon Historical Society has several exhibits online that pertain to their studies of the last year.

The People of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
and
Racing to Change: Oregon’s Civil Rights Years
Both exhibits can be found on the Oregon Historical Society website at https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/.

Wanted: Chocolate

Thanks to everyone who has donated candy for St. Andrew’s welcome mugs. Donna Brocker, our Welcome Ministry’s mug maven, could still use a few more bags to fill those delightful welcome mugs our guests receive on their first visit to St. Andrew. Donna says chocolates are a particular favorite, and the candies must be individually wrapped. Please leave your donations in the office with Donna’s name on the bag. Thank you!

In Need of Prayers…

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.

Confirmands Lilly Au and Tanner King	Blessings as they affirm their baptism	Staff
Ann Landmark (Bev Briggs’s cousin)	Comfort and compassionate care in hospice	Bev Briggs
Adam McQueen’s father	Compassionate care, peace, and comfort in hospice	Adam McQueen
Susan Reiser	Healing and quick recovery after surgery	John & Susan Reiser
John Carlson (Bev Briggs’s brother-in-law)	Patience and correct diagnosis	Bev Briggs
Ginny Link	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Ginny Link
Rod Ottenbreit (Bobbie Larson’s brother)	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Bobbie Larson
Ken Reiner	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Diane Reiner
Steve Yi (Kelly Wise’s nephew)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Kelly Wise
Ray Venghaus	Healing and recovery	Staff
Dave Gutzler	Healing and recovery	Barbara Gutzler
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	Rebecca Fako Uecker
Those threatened by wildfires	Protection and safety	Staff
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Frederickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and Strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Christ the Good Shepherd (Salem, OR) Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Salem, OR) St. Mark Lutheran Church (Salem, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Bilal Masjid (Beaverton, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Preparing for Sunday, July 25, 2021

Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Gospel: John 6:1-21

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, July 18 – Confirmation Sunday

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (also via Livestream on YouTube)	Sanctuary
10:00 am	Thrivent Distribution Meeting	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (also on Zoom)	Sanctuary of the Firs
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
3:00 pm	Spirituality Book Club	Fellowship Hall

Monday, July 19

6:00 pm

Troop 618 Meeting

East parking lot

Tuesday, July 20

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library

Wednesday, July 21 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

1:00 pm	Caring Ministry Meeting	Library
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, July 22

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel, Library
7:00 pm	IT Meeting	Offsite

Friday, July 23

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, July 25

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Want a printed copy of the Weekly News? Click on the printer icon to the right or download and print the PDF.

Hybrid Worship Offerings

What an incredible experience it was to return to in-person worship on July 4! It was a jumble of emotions—mostly joy but with a little anxiety and trepidation. Thank you for continuing to show grace to one another as we figure out how to be together in person for worship once more. Of course, we continue to offer online worship access for those that cannot be with us for any reason.

Our 8:30 am service is held indoors in the Sanctuary, with livestream access on YouTube. Our 11:00 am service is held outdoors in the Sanctuary of the Firs, with Zoom access for those worshiping remotely. Links for these online
services are shared in the Weekly News email sent on Fridays. We hope that these options allow everyone to continue worshiping in the way that feels safest and most appropriate for them.

Leading Worship Together

Returning to in-person worship is a powerful reminder of how many volunteers work together to make worship happen every week. It’s a lot of work, but if we all play our part, everything gets handled without a hiccup.

In particular we are in need of Altar Guild members, Assisting Ministers, and Ushers for the 11:00 am service. No experience is necessary and you will receive all the training you need. We work with your schedule so you can attend your preferred service and still worship with your family or friends.

Please contact Minister of Music & Media Allison Katsufrakis at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

Midweek Evening Prayer services will continue to be offered through the summer months via Zoom. Meditations will be drawn from Devotional Classics. All are welcome this Wednesday, July 7, for social time at 6:45 pm and service at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm. Participate in all or part of our scheduled time together. Look for links to this worship service at mid-day on Wednesdays in Allison’s email.

Spirituality Book Group: The Murmur of Bees

The Spirituality Book group is thrilled to return to meeting in person! They resume on Sunday, July 18, at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to discuss The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia.

“Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, The Murmur of Bees captures both the fate of a country in flux and the destiny of one family that has put their love, faith, and future in the unbelievable.” (Goodreads review).

Quilt Sunday Is July 11, 2021

It’s a little bit later in the summer than normal, but better late than never! Next Sunday, July 11th, at the 8:30 am service, we will continue our tradition of wrapping our high school seniors in handmade quilts. This year we celebrate Logan Isaacson, class of 2021! These quilts, made by members of our own Nifty Notters group, are our way of reminding these young adults that no matter where life leads them, the love and prayers of their St. Andrew community go with them.

Nifty Notters

The Nifty Notters welcome everyone to join them Saturday, July 17, from 9:00 am-12:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall to work on baby quilts for Virginia Garcia Clinic and larger quilts for LWR and Safeplace. All supplies are provided and no experience is needed. Bring a lunch and join us for all or part of the time. If you can’t come on Saturday, we have many cutting and sewing/tying projects that can be done at home. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917 or Pam Farr at 503-626-6657.

Wisdom Calls – Part Three

The Oregon Synod is glad to host the third part of their online storytelling series “Wisdom Speaks,” sharing stories and experiences from some of our synod’s first ordained women. This online event takes place on Saturday, July 17, at 7:00 pm. You can register for the event on the Oregon Synod Website or Facebook page. Our own Pastor Susan Kintner and Pastor Robyn Hartwig have taken part in these events in the past.

Helping Children Bloom through Earth Camp

St. Andrew kicks off our first Earth Camp this Monday, July 12. We delight in God’s children! We delight in God’s world. At Earth Camp, St. Andrew teachers share their love and care for our planet with another generation, the generation that will inherit both the successes and failures of our stewardship. At Earth Camp, we sing together and play and learn. We dedicate ourselves to making Eden bloom once more.

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, July 13, from 1:00-3:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. This month’s Bible study is the second of a three-part series entitled “Just L.I.F.E. (Liberation is for everyone),” taken from the July Gather magazine. It is inspired by Jesus’ proclamations, ‘if the Son make you free, you will be free indeed” [John 8:36] and “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly” [John 1:10]. This month’s session delves into “just truth.” All are welcome and you need not to have read the study to take part.

Helping the Hungry

Driving around Portland this summer, it’s clear that the hunger and homelessness crisis prompted by COVID-19 continues to trouble many people in our community. The saints of St. Andrew have already shown generosity in offering assistance and that help is still needed. All contributions to the food barrel in our Narthex are delivered to the St. Matthew Food Bank for distribution to people suffering from food insecurity. Thank you for caring for others!

Want to Spend Some Dollars?

We’re talking about Thrivent Choice Dollars. You do not need to be a Thrivent member to help identify St. Andrew activities that might benefit from extra funds. Interested? We will meet on Sunday, July 18, in the Fellowship Hall at (or before) 10:00 am to learn more about Choice Dollars. Many of us don’t know much about this and now we have a chance to learn, ask questions, and help discern what we would like to support in the next 12 months. We missed having meetings since 2018 but the money has come in each year and has recently been sent to the ministries designated in 2018 to receive them. We will review past decisions as we prepare to choose where we want to go
from here. The more input, the better we can consider how to best use money coming in the next 12 months.
Thrivent members who are designating choice dollars will have the opportunity to vote on suggestions at this meeting. Please join us to determine how to spend those dollars on behalf of St. Andrew ministries.

Wanted: Chocolate!

Donna Brocker, our Welcome Ministry’s mug maven, is in search of candy to fill those delightful welcome mugs our guests receive on their first visit to St. Andrew. Donna says chocolates are a particular favorite, and the candies
must be individually wrapped. Please leave your donations in the office with Donna’s name on the bag.

Climate Change on The Other Side of the Hill

Almost all of us who attend St. Andrew live in an urban environment, where we’ve already experienced unprecedented temperatures surpassing 115 degrees Fahrenheit in this summer of 2021. In the fall of 2020, we lived under skies turned orange by wildfires and sheltered inside to escape poor air quality.

But Oregon is a big state and home to many rural communities that have likewise been affected by climate change. The documentary The Other Side of the Hill explores the rural community of Lakeview. About 6 hours south from Portland by car, Lakeview is in the center part of our state, east of Medford and within miles of the California border.
Interfaith Power & Light invites everyone to watch the film between July 10-25 to discover some rural perspectives on a changing climate. You are invited to register at https://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/movie-series/ to watch the film at your convenience from July 10 through July 25.

Reclaiming Our Heart, Repairing Our World

The Oregon Synod invites all to join a half-day online retreat with Mushim Ikeda and Pastor Matta Ghaly (of Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church in Portland) via Zoom on Saturday July 17, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm. Reclaim the heart by attuning to the Sacred through meditation and prayer practices in the Buddhist, Christian, and Sufi traditions. Come explore the particularities and common threads of how these spirited and embodied practices can resource our lives, nurturing and cultivating our resilience as we seek to repair the world. This retreat is open to ALL, with a special invitation to BIPoC and LGBTQ2IA+ folks. Closed Captioning & ASL interpretation are provided. Tuition is on a sliding scale, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. To register, visit https://eastbaymeditation.org/calendar/online-reclaiming-our-heart-repairing-our-world/.

Gratitude for the Oregon Synod Wildfire Relief Fund

Dear Lutheran Disaster Benefactors,
The $10,000 from Bishop Laurie was received by our fire department during one of the darkest times in our community. We lost half of our fire district to the historic and devastating Holiday Farm Fire on September 8, 2020. More than half of our volunteer firefighters and board members lost everything they owned while battling the blaze and evacuating others to safety. The $10,000 was spent on generators for several of the volunteers who were living in RVs and 2 were donated to the community Tool Lending Library, to help people who had lost tools start to rebuild. The
recovery effort is a long-term project and any way we can support it, we are. We look forward to homes being re-built and people coming back to the valley and to Blue River, the town that was completely destroyed. The generators are more than just a tool—they are a symbol of life returning to the valley. Even before properties have electricity, people are able to work on projects and run their RVs with the generators. They are something necessary that the volunteers and community members could not afford to replace or purchase for use, no matter how necessary. Most of the volunteer firefighters were not insured and so are struggling to replace items and living necessities. This gift was much appreciated and has long-lasting impact on our recovery. Thank you all.

Chief Rainbow Plews and the volunteer firefighters
of Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District
(Allison Katsufrakis here: I attended a wedding in this area last weekend—much still needs
to be done to recover, but our gifts have helped a great deal!)

Oregon Historical Society Online Exhibits

The Reckoning with Racism group wants to remind you that the Oregon Historical Society has several exhibits online that pertain to their studies of the last year.

The People of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
and
Racing to Change: Oregon’s Civil Rights Years
Both exhibits can be found on the Oregon Historical Society website at https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/.

In Need of Prayers…

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.

Adam McQueen’s father	Compassionate care, peace, and comfort in hospice	Adam McQueen
Sue Cahlander	Smooth recovery from a surgical procedure	Jan & Sue Cahlander Smith
Michaela (grandchild)	Successful surgery and comfortable recovery	Jan & Sue Cahlander Smith
Mary Brown	Healing and quick recovery after surgery	Bob & Mary Brown
Susan Reiser	Healing and quick recovery after surgery	John & Susan Reiser
Lee Anne & Brian Knapp	God’s blessings during a time of transition	Lee Anne Knapp
Rod Ottenbreit (Bobbie Larson’s brother)	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Bobbie Larson
Ken Reiner	Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment	Diane Reiner
Dave Gutzler	Healing and recovery	Barbara Gutzler
Earth Camp and all other summer camps, retreat centers, and programs	Blessings on their ministries	Staff
Those threatened by wildfires	Protection and safety	Staff
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee and 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
Luther House (Corvallis, OR) Trinity Lutheran Church (Dallas, OR) Faith Lutheran Church (Keizer, OR) Our Savior Lutheran Church (Lebanon, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Chabad (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Preparing for Sunday, July 18, 2021

Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, July 11 – Quilt Sunday for High School Seniors

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (also via Livestream on YouTube)	Sanctuary
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (also on Zoom)	Sanctuary of the Firs
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, July 12

9:00 am	Earth Camp	Outdoor spaces, Kitchen
6:00 pm	Troop 618 Meeting	East parking lot
7:00 pm	Men’s Book Club	Off-site

Tuesday, July 13

9:00 am	Earth Camp	Outdoor spaces, Kitchen
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	Off Site
1:00 pm	Lydia Circle	St. Andrew Room
1:30 pm	Service Committee Meeting	Zoom
6:00 pm	Human Resources Meeting	Library
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, July 14 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

9:00 am	Earth Camp	Outdoor spaces, Kitchen
6:00 pm	Sanctuary Team Meeting	Zoom
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, July 15

9:00 am	Earth Camp	Outdoor spaces, Kitchen
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	Zoom

Friday, July 16

9:00 am	Earth Camp	Outdoor spaces, Kitchen
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall

Saturday, July 17

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, July 11

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Thrivent Distribution Meeting	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
3:00 pm	Spirituality Book Club	Fellowship Hall

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Want a printed copy of the Weekly News? Click on the printer icon to the right or download and print the PDF.

The Post-Pandemic Worship Experience

As we return to in-person worship starting on July 4th, some people have been wondering what to expect from an in-person service after more than a year of online worship. With the lifting of statewide COVID-19 restrictions on June 30, there are only a few adjustments to the familiar worship service we all know. On the St. Andrew website and as an insert in your worship folder this Sunday, we will explain the procedures our Worship Planners and Reopening Team have crafted.

Our 8:30 am service will be held indoors in the Sanctuary, and our 11:00 am service will be held outdoors in the Sanctuary of the Firs. Livestream and Zoom options will continue to be offered as they have been throughout the pandemic. We hope that these options allow everyone to continue worshiping in the way that feels safest and most appropriate for them.

Leading Worship Together

Returning to in-p0erson worship serves as a powerful reminder of how many volunteers work together to make worship happen every week. It’s a lot of work, but if we all play our part, everything gets handled without a hiccup.

In particular we are in need of Altar Guild members and Assisting Ministers. No experience is necessary and you will receive all the training you need. We work with your schedule so you can attend your preferred service and still worship with your family or friends.

Please contact Minister of Music & Media Allison Katsufrakis at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

Midweek Evening Prayer services will continue to be offered through the summer months via Zoom. Meditations will be drawn from Devotional Classics. All are welcome this Wednesday, July 7, for social time at 6:45 pm and service at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm. Participate in all or part of our scheduled time together. Look for links to this worship service at mid-day on Wednesdays in Allison’s email.

Earth Camp Needs “Shadows”

The Earth Camp team needs a couple more people to volunteer as “Shadows” for camp week, July 12-16. The camp will consist of five groups of seven kids, with each group accompanied by two youth “Guides.” The Shadow’s role is to be an adult presence with one of the five groups throughout the week. It’s the easiest volunteer role in Earth Camp! If you’d like to volunteer or have questions about this opportunity, please contact the camp’s program director, Kyler Vogt:

kvogt@standrewlutheran.com.

Quilt Sunday Is July 11, 2021

It’s a little bit later in the summer than normal, but better late than never! Next Sunday, July 11th, at the 8:30 am service, we will continue our tradition of wrapping our high school seniors in handmade quilts. These quilts, made by members of our own Nifty Notters group, are our way of reminding these young adults that no matter where life leads them, the love and prayers of their St. Andrew community go withy them.

Nifty Notters

The Nifty Notters will NOT be meeting on July 3, but all are welcome to join us Saturday, July 17, from 9:00 am-12:30 pm in Fellowship Hall to work on baby quilts for Virginia Garcia Clinic and larger quilts for LWR and Safeplace. All supplies are provided and no experience is needed. Bring a lunch and join us for all or part of the time. If you can’t come on Saturday, we have many cutting and sewing/tying projects that can be done at home. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917 or Pam Farr at 503-626-6657.

Oregon Historical Society Online Exhibits

The Reckoning with Racism group wants to remind you that the Oregon Historical Society has several exhibits online that pertain to their studies of the last year.

The People of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

and

Racing to Change: Oregon’s Civil Rights Years

Both exhibits can be found on the Oregon Historical Society website at https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/.

Helping the Hungry

Driving around Portland this summer, it’s clear that the hunger and homelessness crisis prompted by COVID-19 continues to trouble many people in our community. The saints of St. Andrew have already shown generosity in offering assistance and that help is still needed. All contributions to the food barrel in our Narthex are delivered to the St. Matthew Food Bank for distribution to people suffering from food insecurity. Thank you for caring for others!

A Rose on the Altar

The rose on the altar this Sunday is in honor of William Anthony LeRoy, the newest grandchild of Becky and Rick LeRoy. William’s parents are Eric and Jessica LeRoy. Congratulations all around to the LeRoy family!

Want to Spend Some Dollars?

We’re talking about Thrivent Choice Dollars.  You do not need to be a Thrivent member to help identify St. Andrew activities that might benefit from extra funds. Interested? We will meet on Sunday, July 18, in Fellowship Hall at (or before) 10:00 am to learn more about Choice Dollars. Many of us don’t know much about this and now we have a chance to learn, ask questions, and help discern what we would like to support in the next 12 months.

We missed having meetings since 2018 but the money has come in each year and has recently been sent to the ministries designated in 2018 to receive them. We will review past decisions as we prepare to choose where we want to go from here. The more input, the better we can consider how to best use money coming in the next 12 months.

Thrivent members who are designating choice dollars will have the opportunity to vote on suggestions at this meeting. Please join us to determine how to spend those dollars on behalf of St. Andrew ministries.

Climate Change on The Other Side of the Hill

Almost all of us who attend St. Andrew live in an urban environment, where we’ve already experienced unprecedented temperatures surpassing 112 degrees Fahrenheit in this summer of 2021. In the fall of 2020, we lived under skies turned orange by wildfires and sheltered inside to escape poor air quality.

But Oregon is a big state and home to many rural communities that have likewise been affected by climate change. The documentary The Other Side of the Hill explores the rural community of Lakeview. About 6 hours south from Portland by car, Lakeview is in the center part of our state, east of Medford and within miles of the California border.

Interfaith Power & Light invites everyone to watch the film between July 10-25 to discover some rural perspectives on a changing climate. Beginning July 1, you are invited to register here to watch the film at your convenience on July 10 and through July 25.

Mental Health Tips from the Caring Ministry Team

Many sources have used the word “transition” to describe where we are as we gradually come out of the pandemic. In Pastor Susan’s sermon on June 26, she described the unresolved grief we are carrying with us into the transition, stating “We’re tender.” She encouraged us to listen, observe, pay attention, ponder, pray, witness, care and reflect. It was a call to slow down and mark this time of transition by taking the time to discover what we’ve learned. Her comments reminded me of the work of David Kessler, an internationally known author on the topic of healing and loss. In 2018 I had the opportunity to attend his workshop which was based on material for his most recent book entitled, Finding Meaning. One phrase that stuck with me is that grief does not require a lot of time but it does require what he calls “dedicated time.”

The “Our Pandemic Year” video that Carol Harker, Allison Katsufrakis, and their contributors put together is a beautiful example of making “dedicated time” for our grief as we move ahead. It honors the losses we have shared as a community while acknowledging the strengths we have discovered. I was aware of a variety of memories and emotions as the images of so many people and events over the past 16 months invited me into “dedicated time.” It reflected some of our pandemic journey as a community and also raised memories unique to my individual journey. Perhaps your experience of watching it was similar. By taking the time to pause and reflect, we create the opportunity to be present to the organic process of loss and healing. When we “dedicate” time (even a few minutes) to acknowledge and reflect on our grief, it is invited to move through us, creating space for varied feelings and new possibilities.

Michelle Sinn

For Reflection

• In what ways do you give “dedicated time” to present or past grief? Who is one person with whom you feel safe sharing grief?
• How might you embrace Pastor Susan’s invitation to listen, observe, pay attention, ponder, pray, witness, care and reflect as we continue to move forward?

“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

When Lazarus wrote this poem in 1883, immigrants were entering the United States in great numbers, including Italians, French, Greeks, and Russian-Jewish refugees, among others. And sure enough, “The New Colossus” is itself a multicultural amalgam: an Italian sonnet written by a Jewish-Ameri8can woman, celebrating a statue forged in France, contrasting it with one in ancient Greece. She is unarmed, a light in one hand a a votive table in the other. Such tablets were common in ancient Greece for inscribing prayers, or in any case aspirations–and on this particular table is the date the United States formally broke free from English rule: July 4, 1776. It’s as if she says, We aspire to be free–now come, all you who yearn for freedom.

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, July 13, from 1:00-3:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. This month’s Bible study is the second of a three-part series entitled “Just L.I.F.E. (Liberation is for everyone),” taken from the July Gather magazine. It is inspired by Jesus’ proclamations, ‘if the Son make you free, you will be free indeed” [John 8:36] and “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly” [John 1:10]. This month’s session delves into “just truth.” All are welcome and you need not to have read the study to take part.

Book Report: Dying to Meet You, by Kate Klise

This book is found in the children’s library, but don’t let that stop you. It is one cute book, loaded with puns. If you are an old house/host and laughter fan, this is your book. It’s a nice fast read, even if you’re a kid, so check it out and put a smile on your face.

Pam Farr
Librarian

Beaked Hazelnut

On one of his frequent walks out and about church property, Don Nearhood recently took this photo of a Beaked Hazelnut. This West Coast native is recognized by the long green husks over the hazelnuts that certainly look like beaks!

In Need of Prayers…

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.

Family and friends of Gary Howard	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Deb Howard
Family and friends of Bobby Larson’s mother	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Bobbie Larson
Family and friends of Carol Grover	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Nan Thompson
Adam McQueen’s father	Compassionate care, peace, and comfort in hospice	Adam McQueen
Ann Landmark (cousin)	Compassionate care as she enters hospice	Bev Briggs
Nan Thompson	Acceptance and strength	Nan Thompson
Gary Grafwallner	Healing of his left eye from Bell’s palsy	Gary Grafwallner
Sue Cahlander	Smooth recovery from a surgical procedure	Jan & Sue Cahlander Smith
Michaela (grandchild)	Successful surgery and comfortable recovery	Jan & Sue Cahlander Smith
Carol Means	Effective treatment	Staff
Dan Fako	Pain relief	Sharon Fako
Marlene Maxwell	Continued healing	Bruce Maxwell
William Anthony LeRoy and parents Eric & Jessica LeRoy	Thanksgiving and praise at William’s birth	Rick & Becky LeRoy
Mary Brown	Healing and quick recovery after surgery	Bob & Mary Brown
Susan Reiser	Successful knee replacement surgery (July 6)	John & Susan Reiser
Lee Anne & Brian Knapp	God’s blessings during a time of transition	Lee Anne Knapp
Those threatened by wildfires	Protection and safety	Staff
Those impacted by racial injustice	Care in times of pain, violence, and crisis	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
West Linn Lutheran Church (West Linn, OR) Community of Hope Lutheran Church (Wilsonville, OR) Faith Lutheran (Albany, OR) Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Albany, OR) Grace Lutheran Church (Corvallis, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid Omar Farooq (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Preparing for Sunday, July 11, 2021

Reading: Amos 7:7-15

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, July 4

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (also via Livestream on YouTube)	Sanctuary
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (also on Zoom)	Sanctuary of the Firs
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, July 5

6:00 pm

Troop 618 Meeting

east parking lot

Tuesday, July 6

7:00 am	Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant at 158th
7:00 am	Women’s Sunrise Spirituality Group	Elmer’s Restaurant at 158th
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loave and Fishes	Off Site
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

Wednesday, July 7 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, July 8

12:30 pm

Team Ministry Meeting

Chapel/Library

Friday, July 9

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
6:15 pm	High School Youth at Superplay Bowl	Beaverton

Sunday, July 11

8:30 am	Worship with Communion Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary of the Firs Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Thank You to Our New Council Members

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!