Blog

December 12, 2021

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

Donations Needed

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to making the season more festive for Barnes Elementary School families in need. This year we are collecting donations to put toward gift cards for these families. Please make your gift no later than Sunday, December 12. For each donation that is received, we’ll add an ornament to our Giving Tree.

One of the families St. Andrew is assisting suffered an apartment fire a few months ago, where they lost everything. That family is currently living in a shelter. In another situation, grandparents are caring for four young children and trying to make ends meet after their son went to prison. They are doing all they can to make life safe and secure for their grandchildren.

In addition, our area is welcoming hundreds of Afghan refugees who are navigating a new culture after having to leave so much and so many behind.

Organizer Donna Brocker is working to assist these families and many more. If you have questions, call Donna at 503-502-6156.

Adult Ed: “The Kairos Hermeneutic” with Kyler and the HS Youth!

It’s hard to read the Bible. Modern biblical readers have massive separations in history, culture, and language to overcome in the process. Yet, reading the Bible gets even tougher when Christian tradition tells us that the Bible—containing fantastic tales of miracles, gory acts of violence, and outdated legal text all set in a culture bearing little resemblance to our own—is supposed to be the pinnacle of truth and the ultimate authority for our modern lives. To many modern people, this has become a deal-breaker in their faith. In this class, I will show you a way I have learned over the last several years that allows me to read the Bible as truthful, authoritative, and deeply meaningful—even if it isn’t always right.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! My vision for this class is to give our congregation a glimpse into a typical Sunday morning with our high school youth. You’ll get to see how we check-in about our weeks, what kind of conversations we have, and witness how deeply we can dive into difficult and complex issues together. So you can get the full experience, this class will be held in-person at 10:00 am in the Youth Room on December 12 and 19. If you have any questions, or if you just want to let me know you’ll be there, contact me at kvogt@standrewlutheran.com. I hope you will join us!

An Advent Journey Towards Anti-Racism

Please join St. Andrew’s Reckoning With Racism cohort in a six-part exploration of how racism has played a role in the history of Oregon, and how we can all move toward being anti-racist.

Whether or not you are able to attend the class sessions, you are invited to take part in a congregation-wide Racial Equity Challenge. The goal is to do at least one thing each week that brings each of us closer to becoming anti-racist. The website 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore is filled with suggestions for ways to read, listen, watch, notice, connect, engage, act, reflect, and stay inspired in the journey. Watch this newsletter for a description of each week’s class and suggestions for which challenges are related to that topic. A complete schedule can be found on the St. Andrew website.

We are hoping to document our efforts as a community of faith toward the goal of becoming anti-racist. In the narthex, you will find a display board and paper candle cut-outs. Please write what you did in the past week on one of the candles, and add it to the board. Together, we can shine some light in the darkness of racism.

December 12: Scott Taylor will explore Immigrants and Latinx Americans in Oregon, from a historic background through modern day issues.

Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge — America & Moore
Read: Struggling to Stay Home: Latino Renters in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Listen: You Cannot Divorce Race from Immigration
Watch: What Being Hispanic and Latinx Means in the United States
Notice: What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows? Movies?
Connect: Families Belong Together
Engage: Work to stay engaged even when your mind and body start sending you signals to shrink or walk away.
Act: Disrupt inappropriate language by offering alternative language you yourself are learning.
Reflect: Take time everyday to reflect on what you chose to do, what you’re learning, and how you are feeling.
Stay inspired: Create a Soundtrack4Justice playlist that fuels you and/or can serve as a conversation starter with people of all ages.

Advent Evening Prayer

India Jensen-Kerr will offer a meditation on the promise of darkness at Advent Evening Prayer this Wednesday, December 15. Join in worship in the Sanctuary or via Zoom at 7:00 pm. Our theme for the season is “Holy Darkness.”

Baby Rose

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, December 14 at 1:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. Our Bible study is taken from the December Gather magazine and is entitled “Women of Advent.” We’ll be looking at the lives of Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna and find inspiration in their stories as our spiritual grandmothers. All are welcome and you need not have read the lesson to take part. If you have questions, contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Nifty Notters

You are invited to join the Nifty Notters on Saturday, December 18, for our last meeting of the year. We meet from 9:00 am-2:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Come for all or part of the time to help work on quilts for Lutheran World Relief and NW Children’s Outreach. All materials are provided and no experience is necessary. Home projects are also available. Children’s Outreach is a new recipient of our baby quilts and the people there were excited to get their first donation of quilts. They distribute the quilts to local benevolent agencies requesting baby quilts for their clients. If you have questions, contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917. We will NOT meet Saturday, January 1.

Candle Lighting Litanies

If you have an Advent wreath in your home and ceremoniously ignite another candle each week prior to Christmas, you might appreciate the Advent litanies we share on the church website. To help proclaim that God’s new world is at hand, the people of the Salt Project begin each litany by telling the truth about our broken world and then cry out with all people of faith—past, present, and future—that God is, even now, overwhelming the world!

Thanks and a Request

The staff of St. Andrew are enjoying the delicious food gifts that have been brought to the office thus far!

We do have one simple request, however. Please be sure you label any baked goods or foods that may have nuts in them, as at least one of our staff is sensitive to nuts. You don’t need to omit any nuts from a recipe, just indicate if they are included. That way, everyone can have a healthy and happy holiday season!

Prayer for Unpacking the Christmas Creche

Do you have a manger scene or creche among your Christmas decorations? This prayer, to be used as you unpack each piece, was shared with us by Libby Calhoun and originally printed in Alive Now!, a Methodist magazine, in 1983.

As we unpack the Christmas creche, let each piece become a prayer that our lives will be changed during Advent.

As we place the stable, let us remember how a place never meant to be a home sheltered our Lord. Let us pray that our own homes will be places of hospitality for all who enter them.

As the star shone to give direction to the magi, let us hold high to a faith in Christ to give direction to our lives.

As the shepherds were the most common of folk and yet the only ones to be summoned by angels, may we never forget that God calls the simplest among us to tasks of greatest glory.

As the magi moved in the deep belief that God was acting in this world, may we always look for that same redemptive activity and never be so proud that we cannot seek our Lord with childlike faith.

As sheep and donkey, oxen and lamb looked on the holy miracle in wonder and sang the newborn child to sleep, may we too stand in awe before each miracle, wondrous or simple, which our God will work.

As the angel proclaimed the tidings of God, may we be open to hear God calling us to be a part of God’s plan.

As Joseph wondered, then obeyed where he could not understand, may we be obedient—even in the face of our own lack of understanding.

As Mary opened herself to the miraculous working of God through her, may we be instruments of God’s love in whatever humble way we are summoned.

As God was in Christ, reconciling the world, may we in prayer kneel before the manger and wonder again at the miracle of Christmas. Amen.

Preservice Music on Christmas Eve

The Music Ministry team is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to share Christ-mas Eve worship with all of you. As usual, we are planning a set of pre-service musical selections to get us all in the mood for worship. This will start 15 minutes before each of the candlelight services on Christmas Eve, so please arrive in plenty of time to find your seat and enjoy the music. For those worshiping online, the livestream and Zoom rooms will be turned on in plenty of time for you to enjoy the music!

Spirituality Book Group News

The Spirituality Book Group will discuss the memoir/novel of Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, on Sunday, December 19. This book achieved much literary praise when it was published in 2019 and was nominated for several book awards.

“Lyrical…with this book, [Vuong] is creating an account of lives that are at once overlooked and thoroughly American. These days, this feels like a political act.”

Wall Street Journal

We will meet via Zoom, at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 19. The Zoom link will be sent to those on the Spirituality Book Group email list a few days before the meeting. If you would like to attend, contact Mary Smith to get the link, at dbits1@gmail.com.

Future Spirituality Book Group Reading

January 23
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
Discussion Leader: Mary Smith

February 20
Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
Discussion Leader: Carol Horton

March (TBA)
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Discussion Leader: Susan Reiser

Preparing for next Sunday, December 19, 2021

Lessons and Carols Service
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

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

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.

Susan Palo Cherwien	Peace and God’s comfort	Michelle Sinn
John Fritz	Peace and God’s comfort	Staff
Amy Fiegenbaum	Healing and recovery	Ed and Linda Fransed
Christopher Foss	Healing and recovery	Isaac Brocker
Carlos Sosaguerra	Healing and recovery	Isaac Brocker
Sister Ann Clare Keeler	Healing and recovery	Isaac Brocker
Ron Means	Healing and recovery	Staff
Marcie Welge	Healing and recovery	Allison Katsufrakis
Sam Harker	Healing and recovery	Carol Harker
Angie Mitlehner	Healing and recovery	Angie Mitlehner
Chris Entrikin	Healing and recovery	Jerry Entrikin
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Joy Alexandra (granddaughter)	Thanksgiving for her birth	Joel & Beth Johnson
Hudson Lawrence Fako (grandson)	Thanksgiving for his birth	Dan & Sharon Fako
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee, & Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians India Jensen-Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
St. Andrew Foundation	Blessings on their ministry	Staff
New Life Lutheran Church (Florence, OR) Bethany Lutheran Church (Gold Beach, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Hoshanah Rabbah (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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, December 12, Third Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Ed: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 2	Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Chapel
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group with Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Chapel
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, December 13

6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room
7:00 pm	Men’s Book Club	Library

Tuesday, December 14– Weekly News submissions due by 12:00 pm

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 Leadership Meeting	Library
1:00 pm	Lydia Circle	St. Andrew Room
1:30 pm	Service Committee	via Zoom
6:00 pm	Girl Scouts Adult Meeting	Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	via Zoom

Wednesday, December 15

10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Committee Meeting	Children’s Library
7:00 pm	High School Youth Christmas Party	Youth Room
7:00 pm	Advent Evening Prayer	Sanctuary or via Zoom
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, December 16

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	St. Andrew Room/via Zoom

Friday, December 17

10:00 am

Tai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, December 18

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, December 19, Fourth Sunday in Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Ed: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 2	Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Chapel
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group with Adult Ed	Chapel
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

December 5, 2021

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

Welcome Sunday

At the 8:30 am service this Sunday, December 5, we welcome Sam Harker, Julie Hoffmaster, Bobbie Larson, and Ginny Vick as they reaffirm their baptisms and join in membership. Welcome to St. Andrew!

Donations Needed

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to making the season more festive for Barnes Elementary School families in need. This year we are collecting donations to put toward gift cards for these families. Please make your gift no later than Sunday, December 12. For each donation that is received, we’ll add an ornament to our Giving Tree.

One of the families St. Andrew is assisting suffered an apartment fire a few months ago, where they lost everything. That family is currently living in a shelter. In another situation, grandparents are caring for four young children and trying to make ends meet after their son went to prison. They are doing all they can to make life safe and secure for their grandchildren.

In addition, our area is welcoming hundreds of Afghan refugees who are navigating a new culture after having to leave so much and so many behind.

Organizer Donna Brocker is working to assist these families and many more. If you have questions, call Donna at 503-502-6156.

Adult Ed: “The Kairos Hermeneutic” with Kyler and the HS Youth!

It’s hard to read the Bible. Modern biblical readers have massive separations in history, culture, and language to overcome in the process. Yet, reading the Bible gets even tougher when Christian tradition tells us that the Bible—containing fantastic tales of miracles, gory acts of violence, and outdated legal text all set in a culture bearing little resemblance to our own—is supposed to be the pinnacle of truth and the ultimate authority for our modern lives. To many modern people, this has become a deal-breaker in their faith. In this class, I will show you a way I have learned over the last several years that allows me to read the Bible as truthful, authoritative, and deeply meaningful—even if it isn’t always right.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! My vision for this class is to give our congregation a glimpse into a typical Sunday morning with our high school youth. You’ll get to see how we check-in about our weeks, what kind of conversations we have, and witness how deeply we can dive into difficult and complex issues together. So you can get the full experience, this class will be held in-person at 10:00 am in the Youth Room on December 5, 12, and 19. If you have any questions, or if you just want to let me know you’ll be there, contact me at kvogt@standrewlutheran.com. I hope you will join us!

An Advent Journey Towards Anti-Racism

Please join St. Andrew’s Reckoning With Racism cohort in a six-part exploration of how racism has played a role in the history of Oregon, and how we can all move toward being anti-racist.

Whether or not you are able to attend the class sessions, you are invited to take part in a congregation-wide Racial Equity Challenge. The goal is to do at least one thing each week that brings each of us closer to becoming anti-racist. The website 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore is filled with suggestions for ways to read, listen, watch, notice, connect, engage, act, reflect, and stay inspired in the journey. Watch this newsletter for a description of each week’s class and suggestions for which challenges are related to that topic. A complete schedule can be found on the St. Andrew website.

We are hoping to document our efforts as a community of faith toward the goal of becoming anti-racist. In the narthex, you will find a display board and paper candle cut-outs. Please write what you did in the past week on one of the candles, and add it to the board. Together, we can shine some light in the darkness of racism.

December 5: Janet Vorvick will explore Asian Americans in Oregon, from an historic background through modern day issues.

Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge — America & Moore
Read: Infographic: What Is Tone Policing And Why Is It Wrong?
Listen: Do the Work
Watch: What kind of Asian are you?
Notice: What are the last five books you read? What is the racial mix of the authors?
Connect: APIAHF – Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Engage: Find a mentor within your own racial group to support and guide your growth.
Act: Interrupt the pattern of white silence by speaking openly with family, friends, and colleagues about what you’re doing and learning in the 21-Day Challenge.
Reflect: Take time everyday to reflect on what you chose to do, what you’re learning, and how you are feeling.
Stay inspired: Create a Soundtrack4Justice playlist that fuels you and/or can serve as a conversation starter with people of all ages.

Advent Evening Prayer

Julie Aageson will offer a meditation on the beauty of darkness at Advent Evening Prayer this Wednesday, December 8. Join in worship in the Sanctuary or via Zoom at 7:00 pm. Our theme for the season is “Holy Darkness.”

Baby Rose

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, December 14 at 1:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. Our Bible study is taken from the December Gather magazine and is entitled “Women of Advent.” We’ll be looking at the lives of Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna and find inspiration in their stories as our spiritual grandmothers. All are welcome and you need not have read the lesson to take part. If you have questions, contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Nifty Notters

You are invited to join the Nifty Notters on Saturday, December 18, for our last meeting of the year. We meet from 9:00 am-2:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Come for all or part of the time to help work on quilts for Lutheran World Relief and NW Children’s Outreach. All materials are provided and no experience is necessary. Home projects are also available. Children’s Outreach is a new recipient of our baby quilts and the people there were excited to get their first donation of quilts. They distribute the quilts to local benevolent agencies requesting baby quilts for their clients. If you have questions, contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917. We will NOT meet Saturday, January 1.

Candle Lighting Litanies

If you have an Advent wreath in your home and ceremoniously ignite another candle each week prior to Christmas, you might appreciate the Advent litanies we share on the church website. To help proclaim that God’s new world is at hand, the people of the Salt Project begin each litany by telling the truth about our broken world and then cry out with all people of faith—past, present, and future—that God is, even now, overwhelming the world!

End-of-Year Stock Donations

Greetings from your Financial Secretaries. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to remind you of the process for donating stock to the church.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of the year to be deductible in 2021. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the stock transfer sale. If you intend to donate stock this tax year, please start the process as soon as possible.

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form from the church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities.
3. Complete the form, including your intentions for the use of the donation, and email a copy to financial-secretary@standrewlutheran.com. Or you may send a copy to the church office marked “Confidential for Financial Secretaries.” This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without it, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will contact you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to Charles Schwab, the church’s securities firm.

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

Tammy Piscitelli
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? How might we shape it? Gather with people from across the Oregon Synod this January and February to explore liturgy in daily life, communal worship, and public witness. We’ll pay particular attention to the seasons of the church year, the flow of worship, the invitation of sacraments, and daily practices that help us cultivate a life of depth and meaning. We’ll create space for the integration of blessing, celebration, lamentation, prayer, song, symbols, and ritual crafting. You’re encouraged to bring your whole self as we seek to live in holy rhythm. Pr. Matta Ghaly will be the primary instructor. The course is designed with a Lutheran lens and inclusive heart; all are welcome.

This on-line course is offered through the Oregon Synod’s SALM and Lay Education Program. We’ll meet the following eight Tuesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm (Pacific Time): January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, and March 1. Authentic participation and relationship-building are the priority. Course participants and/or their congregations are encouraged to donate, as they are able, on a sliding scale between $20-$160, but donations are not required to register. If you’d like to sign up for the course, please do so through the registration form.

A Used Book Sale Success!

Thank you for a most successful used book sale! Once everyone’s paid up, we’ll have made $611. Plus we have a credit at Powell’s, where we were able to sell some of our remainders.

A huge thank you to Dan & Sharon Fako, Bob & Mary Brown, Rob Dieffenbach, Don Near-hood, and Barb Gutzler, my trusty sidekick. Also to my poor old worn-out husband and to Pam Meredith, who stood ready to function as backup cashier.

Donna Brocker took several books for the kids at Barnes School and some carefully selected titles for Afghan refugees. All the lovely Bibles are going to Portland Rescue Mission with some children’s books for their women’s and children’s shelter. I have already begun feeding the Little Free Libraries with books Powell’s won’t buy. This is a real pleasure for me as I have indulged in them quite often.

To all of you who came to the sale, saw, shopped, and bought books, thank you. And to everyone who donated so many lovely books, thank you huge for allowing me to have such a good time!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Congratulations!

Dear Mark, Susan, and Saints,
You have made great progress on your loan with the Mission Investment Fund. Congratulations! With gratitude for you and all the good work that you do, may God bless your ministry.

Joel
Mission Investment Fund
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Second Sunday of Advent

Happy New Year! The Christian year begins with the season of Advent, and this way of beginning is itself significant. You might think the year would begin with the trumpets of Easter, or the softness of Christmas Eve, or the fires of Pentecost — but on the contrary, we begin in the shadows of despair, war, sorrow, and hate. For it’s precisely there that the God of grace will arrive, and accordingly, it’s precisely there that God’s church is called to light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. It’s worth remembering this deep poetry: as the Christian new year begins, we join hands and enter the darkness, actively waiting, singing, and praying anew for God’s light to overwhelm the world.

from SALT Project

Preparing for next Sunday, December 12, 2021

Lesson: Isaiah 12:2-6
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

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

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 Keith Poppert	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Claris & Corky Poppert
Family and friends of Jack Warnes (brother-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Suzanne Warnes
Joe Baker and all who mourn the death of his parents Bill & Marna	Peace and God’s comfort	Pastor Mark
John Fritz	Comfort and wisdom in a time of transition	Staff
Sam Harker	Successful surgery (December 8) and a smooth recovery	Carol Harker
Angie Mitlehner	Healing and recovery	Angie Mitlehner
Chris Entrikin	Healing and recovery	Jerry Entrikin
Lynn Santelmann	Healing and recovery	Paul Navarre
John Trom	Healing and recovery	Pastor Susan Kintner
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
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	Protection and safety	Staff
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Coos Bay, OR) Faith Lutheran Church (Coquille, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
The Jewish community	Blessings for Hanukkah	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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, December 5, Second Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Ed: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 2	Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Youth Room
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group with Adult Ed	Chapel
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, December 6

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, December 7 – Weekly News submissions due by 12:00 pm

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
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	Offsite
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

Wednesday, December 8

10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	Sanctuary Team Meeting	Library
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Advent Evening Prayer	Sanctuary or via Zoom
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, December 9

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
7:00 pm	HR Meeting	via Zoom

Friday, December 10

10:00 am

Tai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, December 12, Third Sunday in Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Ed: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 2	Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Chapel
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group with Adult Ed	Chapel
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

November 28, 2021

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

Book Sale Sunday

The magical day is here and you’re going to be amazed by the rich diversity of used books on our sale tables! Thank you for all the great books you’ve brought in to make this fundraiser for our St. Andrew libraries happen.

Go to Fellowship Hall between services (9:30-11:00 am) or after the second service (12:00-2:00 pm) this Sunday, November 28, to shop. Cash and checks accepted. Book tables will be arranged by topic.

We have a complete set of yellow spine Nancy Drew mysteries for $1 each, but you must purchase the entire 56-book set. (Note: This set is available on ebay for $175.) Also for sale are two complete sets of the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, each with some damaged books that are priced accordingly.

And the prices for everything are really good!

$2:    Hardcover adult and young adult books

$1:    Soft cover and mass market (smaller, old-style paperbacks)

$2: Newer, nicer children’s hardcover books

$1: Older children’s hardcovers

$1: Children ‘s paperbacks with spine

3/$1 or 50 cents each:   Children’s paperbacks without a spine

4/$1:   Magazines

Plus, we have a huge box of free books. While damaged, all except two of these are complete, with no pages missing. The free box also includes magazines. Please note that the quilt magazines available may not have all their pages, so be sure to check that the quilt pattern you want is all there.

So, do come! And, if you don’t like the prices, we’ll be glad to negotiate—or you can always pay more!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Advent Evening Prayer

Beginning this week, Advent Evening Prayer will be offered on Wednesday evenings with worship in-person in the Sanctuary. Our theme for the season is “Holy Darkness.”

At 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 1, Randy Sinn will offer a reflection on “Darkness Is Holy,” drawn from the creation story in Genesis 1:1-19.

Giving Tree Donations Needed

As the Christmas season approaches, we look forward to once again sharing our love and care with Barnes Elementary School families in need. This year we will collect donations to put toward gift cards to make the season more festive for these families. Please make your gift no later than Sunday, December 12. For each donation that is received, we’ll add an ornament to the Giving Tree in the Narthex.

One of the families St. Andrew is assisting suffered an apartment fire a few months ago, where they lost everything. That family is currently living in a shelter, but receiving help that they did not expect to receive. The family is overcome with gratitude.

In another situation, grandparents are caring for four young children and trying to make ends meet after their son went to prison. They thought their child-rearing days were done, but are now doing all they can to make life safe and secure for the grandchildren.

In addition, our area is welcoming refugees from Afghanistan who are navigating a new culture after having to leave so much and so many behind.

Along with the Barnes Elementary counselors, project organizer Donna Brocker is working to assist these families and many more. If you have questions, please contact Donna at 503-502-6156.

Welcome Sunday

We will celebrate Welcome Sunday on December 5. If you would like to affirm your baptism and become a member of St. Andrew, please contact Pastor Mark Brocker, 503-646-0629, ext. 201, or email brockerms@standrewlutheran.com.

Flooring Feedback

The Facilities Management Team is seeking input on Sanctuary flooring. Should the carpet be replaced or should we investigate hard-surface options and costs? A pending gift to St. Andrew would cover 90-100 percent of the cost of new carpet and its installation. Moneys in the PIPE (Property Improvement) Fund itself are not sufficient to cover either the carpet option or a hard surface alternative. Please submit your feedback via this Google form or call Pam Meredith at 503-475-3568. Responses will be accepted through Friday, November 26. Thank you!

Hanging of the Greens

Please join us Saturday, December 4, at 9:30 am for the “Hanging of the Greens.” We’ll set up the Christmas tree and decorate the church for all to enjoy as we celebrate Advent and
the birth of Christ. Boy Scout Troop 618 is generously donating the wreaths and greens to deck our church again this Christmas season. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Piscitelli.

Table Talk: Back from the Climate Brink

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. To cultivate this kind of spirited discussion we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, November 30, 7:00-8:00 pm.

Seminarian Karen Klingelhafer is currently working on a course paper focused on how the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. can help us address the climate crisis and move us toward a safer planet. She has offered to lead our November Table Talk. In preparing us for this Table Talk she writes: “The smoke – layered on top of a housing crisis wrought by last year’s wildfires, a resurgent strain of COVID-19 and a crippling drought – has left many in the region teetering on the brink. Among the most vulnerable to the overlapping crises: people experiencing homelessness and those who work in the agriculture industry.” Are we at a crisis situation with climate change? Is there a consensus throughout the world? With so many concerns, what do we focus on? How
can we (as a church, as individuals) make an impact?” This is an especially timely topic given that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31 – November 12.

Advent Classes

Following this week’s Used Book Fair, another pairing of Adult Education classes will be offered at St. Andrew during Advent. All classes begin at 10:00 am.

St. Andrew’s Reckoning with Racism cohort will continue its focus on “A Journey towards Anti-Racism,” which will again be offered in-person in Fellowship Hall and via Zoom.

In a second course during the Advent season, Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt will share the approach to reading the Bible that he’s been using with high school youth. This class will meet in-person only in the Chapel. See the article below for details:

“The Kairos Hermeneutic” with Kyler and the HS Youth!

It’s hard to read the Bible. Modern biblical readers have massive separations in history, culture, and language to overcome in the process. Yet, reading the Bible gets even tougher when Christian traditions tells us that the Bible–containing fantastic tales of miracles, gory acts of violence, and outdated legal text all set in a culture bearing little resemblance to our own–is supposed to be the pinnacle of truth and the ultimate authority for our modern lives. To many modern people, this has become a deal-breaker in their faith. In this class, I will show you a way I have learned over the last several years that allows me to read the Bible as truthful, authoritative, and deeply meaningful . . . even if it isn’t always right.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! My vision for this class is to give our congregation a glimpse into a typical Sunday morning with our high school youth. You’ll get to see how we check-in about our weeks, what kind of conversations we have, and witness how deeply we can dive into difficult and complex issues together. So you can get the full experience, this class will be held in-person at 10:00 am in the Chapel on December 5, 12, and 19. If you have any questions or if you just want to let me know you’ll be there, contact me at kvogt@standrewlutheran.com. I hope you will join us!

End-of-Year Stock Donations

Greetings from your Financial Secretaries. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to remind you of the process for donating stock to the church.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of the year to be deductible in 2021. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the stock transfer sale. If you intend to donate stock this tax year, please start the process as soon as possible.

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form from the church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities.
3. Complete the form, including your intentions for the use of the donation, and email a copy to financial-secretary@standrewlutheran.com. Or you may send a copy to the church office marked “Confidential for Financial Secretaries.” This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without it, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will contact you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to Charles Schwab, the church’s securities firm.

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

Tammy Piscitelli
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? How might we shape it? Gather with people from across the Oregon Synod this January and February to explore liturgy in daily life, communal worship, and public witness. We’ll pay particular attention to the seasons of the church year, the flow of worship, the invitation of sacraments, and daily practices that help us cultivate a life of depth and meaning. We’ll create space for the integration of blessing, celebration, lamentation, prayer, song, symbols, and ritual crafting. You’re encouraged to bring your whole self as we seek to live in holy rhythm. Pr. Matta Ghaly will be the primary instructor. The course is designed with a Lutheran lens and inclusive heart; all are welcome.

This on-line course is offered through the Oregon Synod’s SALM and Lay Education Program. We’ll meet the following eight Tuesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm (Pacific Time): January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, and March 1. Authentic participation and relationship-building are the priority. Course participants and/or their congregations are encouraged to donate, as they are able, on a sliding scale between $20-$160, but donations are not required to register. If you’d like to sign up for the course, please do so through the registration form.

Food Pantry Help Wanted, 2022

St. Andrew members have continued to serve at the Food Pantry at St. Matthew during the pandemic. We had to make a few changes. Families came and met us outdoors while we all wore masks. While families have missed the opportunity to come inside and select food, they were fed well with fresh produce and a bounty of packaged food, meat, dairy products, and also some surprises such as pumpkin pie. Our volunteers took orders in English, and sometimes in Spanish, and we packed bags with creativity and a prayer. On some dark rainy nights, our main challenge was to find the correct car for each grocery cart of food. Thank you: Steve Grover (and friends); Jim & Pat Hilliker; Roger & Pat Sandquist; Dan & Sharon Fako; and Eric & Jan Luttrell.

We look forward to getting our families back into the pantry sometime in 2022. In the meantime, here is a plea for more volunteers.

In addition to helping serve families at the center, we need volunteer pairs of two to deliver food to families who are not able to come to the center. Volunteers pick up a pre-packed box for the family and add fresh and frozen or refrigerated items. Deliveries could be scheduled on a Sunday afternoon or a weekday between 2:00-8:00 pm. The time involved is 1-2 hours. You do have to have a car and be ready to locate the address. You will be given information for 2-3 families and you will call to learn more about food preferences and a time that will work for delivery. This does not have to be a long-term commitment. A team can serve one time only or once a month or twice a year, or whatever works with their schedules.

This seems to be a great family opportunity and folks can try this out and see how it works. If you have questions, contact Sharon Fako at sfako24@comcast.net or erica97229@gmail.com.

New Books on the Shelves

Adult Librarian Pam Farr has added several new titles to the bookshelves in recent months:

Preparing for next Sunday, November 21, 2021

Lesson: Malachi 3:1-4
Gospel: Luke 3:1-14

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

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 Keith Poppert	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Claris & Corky Poppert
Family and friends of Jack Warnes (brother-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Suzanne Warnes
Joe Baker and all who mourn the death of his parents Bill & Marna	Peace and God’s comfort	Pastor Mark
Angie Mitlehner	Successful surgery (December 4)	Angie Mitlehner
John Fritz	Comfort and wisdom in a time of transition	Staff
Lynn Santelmann	Healing and recovery	Paul Navarre
Ginny Link	Healing and recovery	Ginny Link
John Trom	Healing and recovery	Pastor Susan Kintner
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Victims of parade violence in Waukesha, WI	Healing in body and soul	Staff
Those facing ongoing illness or distress	Healing and assurance of God’s presence	Staff
	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
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Blessings on our ministry	Staff
Taiwan Lutheran Church	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Grace Lutheran Church (Vale, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation P’nai Or (Portland)	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

Fast Girls: Another Time, Another Context

This is a book I picked out my own self, and it’s not a bad read. It is written as fiction, but based on many facts. I learned some things I didn’t know–like treadmills for horses. Plus some things I’d rather not have learned, but, well, you be the judge and read it yourself.

Fast Girls, by Elise Hooper, is historical fiction. It’s about the 1936 Olympics and three young women who worked through individual challenges to make the Olympic track team. I learned things about Hitler that made me wonder if they were true and things about racial unfairness that I’m sure were true.

This book is a fast read–no pun intended–and I hope enough of you read it to justify my spending the money.

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Most of us express gratitude for the meal before we consume it, but poet Wendell Berry–renowned American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer–a man known to be an ardent champion of a good, simple life, wrote his prayer for after the feast is finished.

Prayer After Eating
I have taken in the light
that quickened eye and leaf.
May my brain be bright with praise
of what I eat, in the brief blaze
of motion and thought.
May I be worthy of my meat.

Wendell Berry

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, November 28, First Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Livestreamed
9:30 am	Used Book Sale to Benefit St. Andrew Libraries	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and via Zoom
12:00 pm	Used Book Sale to Benefit St. Andrew Libraries	Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 29

10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	Off Site
6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, November 23 – Weekly News submissions due by 12:00 pm

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
7:00 pm	Table Talk	Zoom

Wednesday, December 1

10:00 am	Yoga	Fellowship Hall
12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	via Zoom
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Advent Evening Prayer	Sanctuary
7:00 pm	Wednesday Night Youth Hangout	Youth Room
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, December 2

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
7:00 pm	Executive (Council) CommitteeMeeting	via Zoom

Friday, December 3

10:00 am

Tai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, December 4

8:00 am	Scouting for Food	Fellowship Hall
9:00 am	Nifty Notters	Fellowship Hall
9:30 am	Hanging of the Greens	Sanctuary

Sunday, December 5, Second Sunday in Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Ed: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 2	Fellowship Hall or via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: The Kairos Hermeneutic	Chapel
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group with Adult Ed	Chapel
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

November 21, 2021

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

An Advent Journey Towards Anti-Racism

Please join St. Andrew’s Reckoning With Racism cohort in a six-part exploration of how racism has played a role in the history of Oregon, and how we can all move toward being anti-racist.

Whether or not you are able to attend the class sessions, you are invited to take part in a congregation-wide Racial Equity Challenge. The goal is to do at least one thing each week that brings each of us closer to becoming anti-racist. The website 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore is filled with suggestions for ways to read, listen, watch, notice, connect, engage, act, reflect, and stay inspired in the journey. Watch the Weekly News for a description of each week’s class and suggestions for which challenges are related to that topic. A complete schedule can be found on the St. Andrew website.

We are hoping to document our efforts as a community of faith toward the goal of becoming anti-racist. In the Narthex, you will find a display board and paper candle cut-outs. Please write what you did in the past week on one of the candles, and add it to the board. Together, we can shine some light in the darkness of racism.

November 21: Sharon Fako and Liz Hardy will lead a session about Black Americans in Oregon, providing an historic background for modern-day issues.

Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore.

Read: Redlining Was Codified Racism that Shaped American Cities and This Exhibit Shows It Still Exists

Listen: 1619, a podcast from the New York Times

Watch: We the People — the three most misunderstood words in US history, Mark Charles, TEDxTysons

Notice: Test your awareness: Do the Test

Connect: Movement for Black Lives (https://m4bl.org/)

Engage: Join a Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) chapter in your area.

Act: Prepare yourself to interrupt racial jokes. Click HERE for some advice about how.

Stay Inspired: Create a Soundtrack4Justice playlist that fuels you and/or can serve as a conversation starter with people of all ages.

“Leading in a Liminal Season”

This Sunday, Pastor Susan continues her Adult Education class, “Leading in a Liminal Season,” at 10:00 am via Zoom. The class is based on Susan Beaumont’s 2019 book, How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Leading in a Liminal Season, published by Rowman and Littlefield. We will be on Zoom; please bring your bible.

Pastor Susan

Advent Evening Prayer

Beginning December 1, Advent Evening Prayer will be returning, with worship offered in-person in the Sanctuary as well as via Zoom if that can be arranged. The theme for the season of Advent is “Holy Darkness.”

In lieu of gathering on Wednesday, November 24, worship planners encourage you to use the Thanksgiving Devotional being emailed to the congregation. Hard copies are also available in the Narthex.

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, November 21, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out to all book group members a few days before the meeting. If you would like to attend, but are not on the Spirituality Book Group email list, please contact Mary Smith at dbits1@gmail.com.

Sharon Fako will lead our discussion of Kristin Hannah’s novel, The Four Winds, which an Associated Press writer described as “an ode to the strength and ferocity of mothers.” The book reveals the battle between the haves and the have-nots escalated by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl storms that accompanied it, but it also testifies to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Future Reading

Giving Tree Donations Needed

As the Christmas season approaches, we look forward to once again sharing our love and care with Barnes Elementary School families in need. This year we will collect donations to put toward gift cards to make the season more festive for these families. Please make your gift no later than Sunday, December 12. For each donation that is received, we’ll add an ornament to the Giving Tree in the Narthex.

Along with the Barnes Elementary counselors, project organizer Donna Brocker is working to assist immigrant families this year. If you have questions, please contact Donna at 503-502-6156.

Welcome Sunday

We will celebrate Welcome Sunday on December 5. If you would like to affirm your baptism and become a member of St. Andrew, please contact Pastor Mark Brocker, 503-646-0629, ext. 201, or email brockerms@standrewlutheran.com.

Flooring Feedback

The Facilities Management Team is seeking input on Sanctuary flooring. Should the carpet be replaced or should we investigate hard-surface options and costs? A pending gift to St. Andrew would cover 90-100 percent of the cost of new carpet and its installation. Moneys in the PIPE (Property Improvement) Fund itself are not sufficient to cover either the carpet option or a hard surface alternative. Please submit your feedback via this Google form or call Pam Meredith at 503-475-3568. Responses will be accepted through Friday, November 26. Thank you!

Hanging of the Greens

Please join us Saturday, December 4, at 9:30 am for the “Hanging of the Greens.” We’ll set up the Christmas tree and decorate the church for all to enjoy as we celebrate Advent and
the birth of Christ. Boy Scout Troop 618 is generously donating the wreaths and greens to deck our church again this Christmas season. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Piscitelli.

Book Sale Help Needed

I’m going to need help setting up for the big day of St. Andrew’s Used Book Sale. Needed are three people who can stand still holding ten pounds over their heads for five minutes, repeatedly. It won’t be for hours and hours, just long enough for me to hand down books above the top shelf, after which they’ll be put on carts and pushed into Fellowship Hall. So, 3 people, 10 pounds over your head, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 27; go home when you get tired. Thank you!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Table Talk: Back from the Climate Brink

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. To cultivate this kind of spirited discussion we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, November 30, 7:00-8:00 pm.

Seminarian Karen Klingelhafer is currently working on a course paper focused on how the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. can help us address the climate crisis and move us toward a safer planet. She has offered to lead our November Table Talk. In preparing us for this Table Talk she writes: “The smoke – layered on top of a housing crisis wrought by last year’s wildfires, a resurgent strain of COVID-19 and a crippling drought – has left many in the region teetering on the brink. Among the most vulnerable to the overlapping crises: people experiencing homelessness and those who work in the agriculture industry.” Are we at a crisis situation with climate change? Is there a consensus throughout the world? With so many concerns, what do we focus on? How
can we (as a church, as individuals) make an impact?” This is an especially timely topic given that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31 – November 12.

Book Sale Next Sunday, November 28

The magical day is coming soon! Thank you for all the great books you’ve brought in to make it happen. And it’s not too late to bring in more. Just look at how much neater all your houses are simply from going through your books. Think of what more you can do in the coming week—and all the new reads you’ll pick up at the sale next Sunday. You’ll be ready to welcome the cold and wet with some special finds. And the prices are really good!

$2:    Hardcover adult and young adult books

$1:    Soft cover and mass market (smaller, old-style paperbacks)

$2: Newer, nicer children’s hardcover books

$1: Older children’s hardcovers

$1: Children ‘s paperbacks with spine

3/$1 or 50 cents each:   Children’s paperbacks without a spine

4/$1:   Magazines

We have a complete set of yellow spine Nancy Drew mysteries for $1 each, but you must purchase the entire 56-book set. (Note: This set is available on ebay for $175.) Also for sale are two complete sets of the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, each with some damaged books that are priced accordingly.

Plus, we have a huge box of free books. While damaged, all except two of these are complete, with no pages missing. The free box also includes magazines. Please note that the quilt magazines available may not have all their pages, so be sure to check that the quilt pattern you want is all there.

Go to Fellowship Hall between services (9:30-11:00 am) or after the second service (12:00-2:00 pm) to shop. Book tables will be arranged alphabetically by topic, but some of those topics are a bit creative as I couldn’t think what to call them.

So, do come! And, if you don’t like the prices, we’ll be glad to negotiate—or you can always pay more! Cash and checks accepted. Wows welcome!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Baby Roses

What joy! Two St. Andrew families have welcomed newborn daughters, born on the same day and just in time for Thanksgiving. The roses on the altar this Sunday celebrate their births.

Congratulations to Carl & Laura Geczy-Haskins on the birth of Florence Margaret, who joins three-year-old Honoria in the family. Florence Margaret was born November 12.

Congratulations also to John Giddens & Sovathana Ly on the birth of Kakruna Giddens Ly on November 12. This new little one, whose name means compassion in Cambodian, is exactly what big sister Meta (now two) insisted she wanted: a little sister to love!

End-of-Year Stock Donations

Greetings from your Financial Secretaries. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to remind you of the process for donating stock to the church.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of the year to be deductible in 2021. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the stock transfer sale. If you intend to donate stock this tax year, please start the process as soon as possible.

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form from the church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities.
3. Complete the form, including your intentions for the use of the donation, and email a copy to financial-secretary@standrewlutheran.com. Or you may send a copy to the church office marked “Confidential for Financial Secretaries.” This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without it, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will contact you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to Charles Schwab, the church’s securities firm.

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

Tammy Piscitelli
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Celebrating a Milestone

Bill and Sandi Beavers are celebrating a milestone. Congratulations to both of you on your 50^th wedding anniversary! Bill & Sandi were married on November 27, 1971 at Bethany Lutheran Church in northeast Portland.

An Ordinary Sunday

November 26 is the birthday of American writer Marilynne Robinson, born in Sandpoint, Idaho, in 1943. Robinson is most famous for her Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel, Gilead, written in the form of letters from an elderly, ailing pastor to his young son. 

Here’s a taste: “Sometimes I have loved the peacefulness of an ordinary Sunday. It is like standing in a newly planted garden after a warm rain. You can feel the silent and invisible life. All it needs from you is that you take care not to trample on it. And that was such a quiet day, rain on the roof, rain against the windows, and everyone grateful, since it seems we never do have quite enough rain. At times like that I might not care particularly whether people are listening to whatever I have to say, because I know where their thoughts are.”

Robinson said: “I have spent my life watching, not to see beyond the world, but merely to see, great mystery, what is plainly before my eyes. I think the concept of transcendence is based on a misreading of creation. With all respect to heaven, the scene of the miracle is here, among us.”

And again: “At this point, right across the traditions, there is nothing more valuable to be done than to make people understand that religion is beautiful and it is large.”

The article above is excerpted from Salt’s
Theologian’s Almanac for Week of November 21, 2021

Council Decision on BSA Charters

Thank you to everyone in the congregation who took the time to provide input on whether or not the Council should authorize signing BSA charter agreements for 2022 with the two Scouts BSA Troops (618 and 5618) and Venturing Crew that St. Andrew currently charters.

To summarize, respondents shared a wide range of views. Generally, the people responding to the request for input were either all-for or all-against signing charters for next year. The majority of feedback received came from individuals with longstanding relationships with the Scouts.

After reviewing the feedback and entering into extended open and honest discussion, the Council voted not to sign charters with the two BSA Troops and Venturing Crew for next year. Instead the Council approved a motion to seek to enter a Facilities Use Agreement with the units for 2022. The Council also concurred that all groups seeking to use St. Andrew facilities be required to sign a Facilities Use Agreement that will be developed.

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? How might we shape it? Gather with people from across the Oregon Synod this January and February to explore liturgy in daily life, communal worship, and public witness. We’ll pay particular attention to the seasons of the church year, the flow of worship, the invitation of sacraments, and daily practices that help us cultivate a life of depth and meaning. We’ll create space for the integration of blessing, celebration, lamentation, prayer, song, symbols, and ritual crafting. You’re encouraged to bring your whole self as we seek to live in holy rhythm. Pr. Matta Ghaly will be the primary instructor. The course is designed with a Lutheran lens and inclusive heart; all are welcome.

This on-line course is offered through the Oregon Synod’s SALM and Lay Education Program. We’ll meet the following eight Tuesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm (Pacific Time): January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, and March 1. Authentic participation and relationship-building are the priority. Course participants and/or their congregations are encouraged to donate, as they are able, on a sliding scale between $20-$160, but donations are not required to register. If you’d like to sign up for the course, please do so through the registration form.

Food Pantry Help Wanted, 2022

St. Andrew members have continued to serve at the Food Pantry at St. Matthew during the pandemic. We had to make a few changes. Families came and met us outdoors while we all wore masks. While families have missed the opportunity to come inside and select food, they were fed well with fresh produce and a bounty of packaged food, meat, dairy products, and also some surprises such as pumpkin pie. Our volunteers took orders in English, and sometimes in Spanish, and we packed bags with creativity and a prayer. On some dark rainy nights, our main challenge was to find the correct car for each grocery cart of food. Thank you: Steve Grover (and friends); Jim & Pat Hilliker; Roger & Pat Sandquist; Dan & Sharon Fako; and Eric & Jan Luttrell.

We look forward to getting our families back into the pantry sometime in 2022. In the meantime, here is a plea for more volunteers.

In addition to helping serve families at the center, we need volunteer pairs of two to deliver food to families who are not able to come to the center. Volunteers pick up a pre-packed box for the family and add fresh and frozen or refrigerated items. Deliveries could be scheduled on a Sunday afternoon or a weekday between 2:00-8:00 pm. The time involved is 1-2 hours. You do have to have a car and be ready to locate the address. You will be given information for 2-3 families and you will call to learn more about food preferences and a time that will work for delivery. This does not have to be a long-term commitment. A team can serve one time only or once a month or twice a year, or whatever works with their schedules.

This seems to be a great family opportunity and folks can try this out and see how it works. If you have questions, contact Sharon Fako at sfako24@comcast.net or erica97229@gmail.com.

Thanksgiving Devotionals

Check your email inbox for St. Andrew’s devotional to guide a short service of gratitude before your Thanksgiving meal.

Preparing for next Sunday, November 21, 2021

Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11
Gospel: Luke 1:5-20

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

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.

Jack Warnes (brother-in-law) and family	Peace and God’s comfort as his death nears	Suzanne Warnes
Nan Thompson	Affirmation of her decision to forego further cancer treatment and acceptance by family and loved ones	Nan Thompson
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Lynn Santelmann	Successful surgery (November 23) and recovery	Paul Navarre
Ginny Link	Healing and recovery	Ginny Link
John Trom	Healing and recovery	Pastor Susan Kintner
Chris Sinn (brother)	Healing	Randy & Michelle Sinn
John Fiegenbaum	Comfort and pain relief	Amy Fiegenbaum
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Strength and healing	Mary Smith
Jason and family	God’s direction and support	A. Grapa
Kakruna Giddens Ly	Thanksgiving for her birth	John Giddens & Sovathana Ly
Florence Margaret Geczy-Haskins	Thanksgiving for her birth	Carl & Laura Geczy-Haskins
Kay (mother)	Blessings as she celebrates her 90th birthday	Linda Olshausen
Those confined to their homes	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
	Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Peace Lutheran Church (Pendleton, OR) Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church (Umatilla, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Bilal Masjid (Beaverton)	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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, November 21

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Livestreamed
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and via Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 22

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, November 23 – Weekly News submissions due by 12:00 pm

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

Wednesday, November 24

10:00 am

Yoga

Fellowship Hall

Thursday, November 25

Thanksgiving, Church Closed

Friday, November 26

Staff Holiday, Church Closed

Saturday, November 27

9:00 am

Book Sale Preparation

Library, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, November 28

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
9:30 am	Book Sale to Benefit St. Andrew Libraries	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
12:00 pm	Used Book Sale to Benefit St. Andrew Libraries	Fellowship Hall

Connecting to Worship

November 14, 2021

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

An Advent Journey Towards Anti-Racism

Please join St. Andrew’s Reckoning With Racism cohort in a six-part exploration of how racism has played a role in the history of Oregon, and how we can all move toward being anti-racist.

Whether or not you are able to attend the class sessions, you are invited to take part in a congregation-wide Racial Equity Challenge. The goal is to do at least one thing each week that brings each of us closer to becoming anti-racist. The website 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore is filled with suggestions for ways to read, listen, watch, notice, connect, engage, act, reflect, and stay inspired in the journey. Watch the Weekly News for a description of each week’s class and suggestions for which challenges are related to that topic. A complete schedule can be found on the St. Andrew website.

We are hoping to document our efforts as a community of faith toward the goal of becoming anti-racist. In the Narthex, you will find a display board and paper candle cut-outs. Please write what you did in the past week on one of the candles, and add it to the
board. Together, we can shine some light in the darkness of racism.

November 14: Lynn Santelmann will lead an exploration of Native Americans in Oregon, from an historical background through modern-day issues.

Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore.

Learn: Learn more about the indigenous people who lived where you live now or where you grew up. Go to Native-Land.ca and type in an address in the search box on the left. The map will zoom in and show the name of the group who lived there. What do you know about these people? What can you learn?
Read: How White People Got Made, by Quinn Norton (The Message)
Listen: All My Relations (Podcast)
Watch: The Iroquois Influence on the Constitution (4 minutes)
Notice: What percentage of the day are you able to be with people of your own racial identity?
Connect: National Congress of American Indians: NCAI
Engage: Notice your biases and judgments as they arise. These are gold for you to excavate your subconscious!

“Leading in a Liminal Season”

This Sunday, Pastor Susan continues her Adult Education class, “Leading in a Liminal Season,” at 10:00 am via Zoom. The class is based on Susan Beaumont’s 2019 book, How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Leading in a Liminal Season, published
by Rowman and Littlefield. We will be on Zoom; please bring your bible.

Pastor Susan

Midweek Evening Prayer

Throughout the pandemic, Midweek Evening Prayer services have been a regular occurrence on Zoom, but in November they will be taking a little break. All are invited to join in the practice of Centering Prayer at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 10, via Zoom.

Beginning December 1, Advent Evening Prayer will be returning, with worship offered in person in the Sanctuary as well as via Zoom.

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, November 21, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out to all book group members a few days before the meeting. If you would like to attend, but are not on the Spirituality Book Group email list, please contact Mary Smith at dbits1@gmail.com.

Sharon Fako will lead our discussion of Kristin Hannah’s novel, The Four Winds, which an Associated Press writer described as “an ode to the strength and ferocity of mothers.” The book reveals the battle between the haves and the have-nots escalated by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl storms that accompanied it, but it also testifies to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Future Reading

Flooring Feedback

The Facilities Management Team is seeking input on Sanctuary flooring. Should the carpet be replaced or should we investigate hard-surface options and costs? A pending gift to St. Andrew would cover 90-100 percent of the cost of new carpet and its installation. Moneys in the PIPE (Property Improvement) Fund itself are not sufficient to cover either the carpet option or a hard surface alternative. Please submit your feedback via this Google form or call Pam Meredith at 503-475-3568. Responses will be accepted through Friday, November 26. Thank you!

Hanging of the Greens

Please join us Saturday, December 4, at 9:30 am for the “Hanging of the Greens.” We’ll set up the Christmas tree and decorate the church for all to enjoy as we celebrate Advent and
the birth of Christ. Boy Scout Troop 618 is generously donating the wreaths and greens to deck our church again this Christmas season. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Piscitelli.

Food Pantry Help Wanted, 2022

St. Andrew members have continued to serve at the Food Pantry at St. Matthew during the pandemic. We had to make a few changes. Families came and met us outdoors while we all wore masks. While families have missed the opportunity to come inside and select food, they were fed well with fresh produce and a bounty of packaged food, meat, dairy products, and also some surprises such as pumpkin pie. Our volunteers took orders in English, and sometimes in Spanish, and we packed bags with creativity and a prayer. On some dark rainy nights, our main challenge was to find the correct car for each grocery cart of food. Thank you: Steve Grover (and friends); Jim & Pat Hilliker; Roger & Pat Sandquist; Dan & Sharon Fako; and Eric & Jan Luttrell.

We look forward to getting our families back into the pantry sometime in 2022. In the meantime, here is a plea for more volunteers.

In addition to helping serve families at the center, we need volunteer pairs of two to deliver food to families who are not able to come to the center. Volunteers pick up a pre-packed box for the family and add fresh and frozen or refrigerated items. Deliveries could be scheduled on a Sunday afternoon or a weekday between 2:00-8:00 pm. The time involved is 1-2 hours. You do have to have a car and be ready to locate the address. You will be given information for 2-3 families and you will call to learn more about food preferences and a time that will work for delivery. This does not have to be a long-term commitment. A team can serve one time only or once a month or twice a year, or whatever works with their schedules.

This seems to be a great family opportunity and folks can try this out and see how it works. If you have questions, contact Sharon Fako at sfako24@comcast.net or erica97229@gmail.com.

Table Talk: Back from the Climate Brink

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. To cultivate this kind of spirited discussion we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, November 30, 7:00-8:00 pm.

Seminarian Karen Klingelhafer is currently working on a course paper focused on how the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. can help us address the climate crisis and move us toward a safer planet. She has offered to lead our November Table Talk. In preparing us for this Table Talk she writes: “The smoke – layered on top of a housing crisis wrought by last year’s wildfires, a resurgent strain of COVID-19 and a crippling drought – has left many in the region teetering on the brink. Among the most vulnerable to the overlapping crises: people experiencing homelessness and those who work in the agriculture industry.” Are we at a crisis situation with climate change? Is there a consensus throughout the world? With so many concerns, what do we focus on? How
can we (as a church, as individuals) make an impact?” This is an especially timely topic given that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31 – November 12.

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? How might we shape it? Gather with people from across the Oregon Synod this January and February to explore liturgy in daily life, communal worship, and public witness. We’ll pay particular attention to the seasons of the church year, the flow of worship, the invitation of sacraments, and daily practices that help us cultivate a life of depth and meaning. We’ll create space for the integration of blessing, celebration, lamentation, prayer, song, symbols, and ritual crafting. You’re encouraged to bring your whole self as we seek to live in holy rhythm. Pr. Matta Ghaly will be the primary instructor. The course is designed with a Lutheran lens and inclusive heart; all are welcome.

This on-line course is offered through the Oregon Synod’s SALM and Lay Education Program. We’ll meet the following eight Tuesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm (Pacific Time): January 11, January 18, January 25, February 1, February 8, February 15, February 22, and March 1. Authentic participation and relationship-building are the priority. Course participants and/or their congregations are encouraged to donate, as they are able, on a sliding scale between $20-$160, but donations are not required to register. If you’d like to sign up for the course, please do so through the registration form.

End-of-Year Stock Donations

Greetings from your Financial Secretaries. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to remind you of the process for donating stock to the church.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of the year to be deductible in 2021. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the stock transfer sale. If you intend to donate stock this tax year, please start the process as soon as possible.

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form from the church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities.
3. Complete the form, including your intentions for the use of the donation, and email a copy to financial-secretary@standrewlutheran.com. Or you may send a copy to the church office marked “Confidential for Financial Secretaries.” This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without it, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will contact you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to Charles Schwab, the church’s securities firm.

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

Tammy Piscitelli
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Making a Difference “One House at a Time”

Thank you for partnering with Rebuilding Together Washington County (RTWC). For 26 years, we have been able to help so many of our neighbors in need remain safely in their homes. We could not have done it without the countless donors, volunteers, and advocates. It has not been easy, but we have never been alone or lost in our community, and I thank you for that.

I want to specifically thank St. Andrew Lutheran Church and your congregants for your gift of $400. With every dollar we receive, we are able to provide $2 of home repairs by using volunteers and donated materials. We have big goals for the future and these funds help us continue to expand and serve more homeowners-in-need. Thank you so much!

Danielle Schira
Rebuilding Together Washington County

Book Sale Help Needed

I’m going to need help setting up for the big day of St. Andrew’s Used Book Sale. Needed are three people who can stand still holding ten pounds over their heads for five minutes, repeatedly. It won’t be for hours and hours, just long enough for me to hand down books above the top shelf, after which they’ll be put on carts and pushed into Fellowship Hall. So, 3 people, 10 pounds over your head, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 27; go home when you get tired. Thank you!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Green Circles

Learn about issues of climate, faith, and justice, and how to take action through Green Circles, an interfaith statewide gathering held via Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 16. Register online to get involved.

The program is a collaboration between EcoFaith Recovery and Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice.

Preparing for next Sunday, November 21, 2021

Lesson: Daniel 7:9-10,13,14
Gospel: John 18:33-37

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

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 Deanna Rhoda (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at their deaths	Doris Larson
Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Nan Thompson	Affirmation of her decision to forego further cancer treatment and acceptance by family and loved ones	Nan Thompson
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Ginny Link	Successful surgery (November 17) and recovery	Ginny Link
Chris Sinn (brother)	Healing	Randy & Michelle Sinn
John Fiegenbaum	Comfort and pain relief	Amy Fiegenbaum
Chris Williams (son)	Peace, comfort, and healing from COVID	Jerry & Anne Williams
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Strength and healing	Mary Smith
Maverick Dixon (nephew)	Thanksgiving for his birth and successful surgery	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Jason and family	God’s direction and support	A. Grapa
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee, Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians India Jensen-Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
St. Andrew Foundation	Blessings on their ministry	Staff
Christ the King Lutheran Church (Milton-Freewater, OR) St. Paul Lutheran Church (Ontario, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Chabad (Portland)	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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, November 14

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Livestreamed
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and via Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 15

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

East Parking Lot

Tuesday, November 16

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
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library

Wednesday, November 17– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom
7:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Committee Meeting	Children’s Library
7:00 pm	Wednesday Night Youth Hangout	Youth Room
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, November 18

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	St. Andrew Room and Zoom

Friday, November 19

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm	Middle School Bowling Party	Superplay Bowling Alley

Saturday, November 20

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, November 21

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

November 7, 2021

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

An Advent Journey Towards Anti-Racism

Please join St. Andrew’s Reckoning With Racism cohort in a six-part exploration of how racism has played a role in the history of Oregon, and how we can all move toward being anti-racist.

Whether or not you are able to attend the class sessions, you are invited to take part in a congregation-wide Racial Equity Challenge. The goal is to do at least one thing each week that brings each of us closer to becoming anti-racist. The website 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore is filled with suggestions for ways to read, listen, watch, notice, connect, engage, act, reflect, and stay inspired in the journey. Watch the Weekly News for a description of each week’s class and suggestions for which challenges are related to that topic. A complete schedule can be found on the St. Andrew website.

We are hoping to document our efforts as a community of faith toward the goal of becoming anti-racist. In the Narthex, you will find a display board and paper candle cut-outs. Please write what you did in the past week on one of the candles, and add it to the
board. Together, we can shine some light in the darkness of racism.

November 7: Mary Smith will lead an Introduction to the Series. Topics will include moving from “not being racist” to becoming an anti-racist, acknowledging white supremacy, and changing our bodies as well as our minds.

This week’s Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge—America & Moore. We encourage you to explore one or more of the following actions to begin your journey.

Read: Explaining White Privilege To A Broke White Person
Listen: Do the Work podcast (episodes 30 – 50 mins)
Watch: Systemic Racism Explained (4 minutes)
Notice: Who is and is not represented in ads on television, periodicals, billboards, etc?
Connect: Follow organizations on social media. This week, consider: Antiracism Center—IXK
Engage: Enter the process to learn and bridge knowledge gaps.
Act: Invite friend(s), family, and/or colleagues to do the 21-Day Challenge with you.
Reflect: Take time every day to reflect on what you chose to do, what you’re learning, and how you are feeling.
Stay inspired: Create a Soundtrack4Justice playlist that fuels you and/or can serve as a conversation starter with people of all ages.

“Leading in a Liminal Season”

Discernment is the faithful practice of listening and sifting to determine the next step. As disciples, one primary place to listen is scripture, as well as neighbors, creation, and tradition. In this three-week class we will practice discernment with three parables of Jesus, using the Kaleidoscope Bible Study Model, which includes Mutual Invitation and Respectful Communication Guidelines. This class is designed for you to attend one session or two or all three. We will be on Zoom; please bring your bible.

Pastor Susan

Midweek Evening Prayer

Throughout the pandemic, Midweek Evening Prayer services have been a regular occurrence on Zoom, but in November they will be taking a little break. All are invited to join in the practice of Centering Prayer at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 10, via Zoom.

Beginning December 1, Advent Evening Prayer will be returning, with worship offered in person in the Sanctuary as well as via Zoom.

Pastor Mark’s Chi Ro Lectures

This November 12-14, Pastor Mark will be delivering a weekend of lectures titled “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer” at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. German pastor and theologian Bonhoeffer is often celebrated as an example of a modern Christian martyr for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler, while he himself avoided justifying his actions. What does it mean to “do ethics in extraordinary times”? What does Bonhoeffer’s witness mean for us today?

All lectures will be held in person and via livestream and are free and open to all.

LECTURE, Friday, November 12, 7:30 pm
Creating Courageous Human Beings: The Work of the Holy Spirit in Bonhoeffer’s Ethics (Livestream link)

WORKSHOP, Saturday November 13, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (Zoom link; Meeting ID: 873 5470 025 Passcode: 149731)

LECTURE, Saturday, November 13, 7:30 pm
When the Ground Moves Under Our Feet: Being Responsible in Extraordinary Situations (Livestream link)

SERMON, Sunday, November 14, 8:30 am
Worship at Central Lutheran Church, Eugene (Livestream link)

ADULT EDUCATION, Sunday, November 14, 9:45 am
What Does It Mean to Tell the Truth? (Livestream link)

If you plan to attend in person, please note that the Saturday morning workshop will be held at Bushnell University, Library, Room 203, 1188 Kincaid, while all other events will take place at Central Lutheran Church, 1857 Potter Street. For details, go to https://welcometocentral.org/chi-ro-brocker/.

Thanksgiving Thanks

He has done marvelous things! Our Thanksgiving Food Drive goal has been met. With the funds in our account from last year and giving this year, we have sufficient funds to purchase $50 Winco gift cards for 75 Community Action families. This will be a welcome gift to families who really need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education.

Thank you for your generous gifts! Any additional donations to the Thanksgiving Food Drive fund will be donated to the St. Matthew Food Pantry for feeding anyone in the community who needs food assistance.

Please contact LuAnn Staul (ljstaul@gmail.com, 503-314-6321) or Linda McDowall (mcdowall.ml@gmail.com, 503-649-5091) with questions.

Welcoming Afghan Refugees

The St. Andrew Sanctuary Team is following news of the wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the United States currently underway. Some 75,000 refugees are now being held, vaccinated, and vetted at US army bases. Salah Ansary, director of the Portland office of Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW)—and himself uprooted from Afghanistan in 1978—said up to 200 Afghans are expected to be resettled in Portland by March 2022.

St. Andrew has a history of responding to such crises. After the fall of Saigon, St. Andrew was among the Lutheran congregations that helped resettle more than 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. More recently, we worked with LCSNW to provide shelter and support to the Alajrab family from Syria.

The Sanctuary Team has committed itself to updating the congregation on developments and helping to discern our response. LCSNW anticipates need for sponsors and volunteers in the coming months. However, the critical need now is financial support as the Portland office ramps up to staff and resource the program for this new population of refugees. Online donations may be made directly to lcsnw.org by clicking on the “Donate” button,
specifying “Refugee Services,” and indicating “Portland Metro Area” as the preferred office.

If you are interested in volunteering in the future, please contact Bonnie Bliesner at larrybliesner@comcast.net or Cindy Stadel at cstadel@hevanet.com.

Our Children’s Library Is in the Cloud

Each time I work in the Children’s Library, my appreciation for the wonderful collection Mary Nell Mahler added continues to grow. It’s a library any elementary school would love to have! Our picture book section is especially bountiful. During the pandemic, I’ve tried to think of ways to help you better appreciate and use this beautiful library and wonderful collection of books.

I decided to start putting our collection on the Internet (or in the Cloud ), so you can see what we have and search for items. My goal is to have our more than 5,000-6,000 books uploaded by January 2022. So far, we have only about half of the books uploaded. You can take a peek at what’s there so far by going to: https://www.librarycat.org/lib/standlib. Either click on one of the book covers parading across the screen, or use the search box and search by topic, title, or author. If you want to read more about the book and/or read reviews, click on the LibraryThing or Amazon link at the very bottom of your selected book page.

All of these books, and also the ones I haven’t yet uploaded, are available for checkout. Please just use the book pockets and cards to check out, for now. Eventually, we hope to use electronic checkout.

One problem I’ve encountered is that many times the call numbers showing on the web, do not match the call number spine label which shows where it is located in our library. This is because the uploads automatically assign Library of Congress Dewey Decimal Classification numbers for every book. The Dewey numbers in the nonfiction section are pretty close, but our picture books, early leveled readers, and fiction are in separate sections. If you can’t find a book, just send me a note, and I’ll find it for you. Check the link often as we add more books to the cloud every week.

Barbara Gutzler
Children’s Librarian

Table Talk: Back from the Climate Brink

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. To cultivate this kind of spirited discussion we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, November 30, 7:00-8:00 pm.

Seminarian Karen Klingelhafer is currently working on a course paper focused on how the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. can help us address the climate crisis and move us toward a safer planet. She has offered to lead our November Table Talk. In preparing us for this Table Talk she writes: “The smoke – layered on top of a housing crisis wrought by last year’s wildfires, a resurgent strain of COVID-19 and a crippling drought – has left many in the region teetering on the brink. Among the most vulnerable to the overlapping crises: people experiencing homelessness and those who work in the agriculture industry.” Are we at a crisis situation with climate change? Is there a consensus throughout the world? With so many concerns, what do we focus on? How
can we (as a church, as individuals) make an impact?” This is an especially timely topic given that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31 – November 12.

Book Sale Help Needed

I’m going to need help setting up for the big day of St. Andrew’s Used Book Sale. Needed are three people who can stand still holding ten pounds over their heads for five minutes, repeatedly. It won’t be for hours and hours, just long enough for me to hand down books above the top shelf, after which they’ll be put on carts and pushed into Fellowship Hall. So, 3 people, 10 pounds over your head, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 27; go home when you get tired. Thank you!

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Grateful and Amazed

I am delighted with the number and great quality of the books you people have brought in for the book sale. Thank you! Some, I must admit, I have kept out to put in the library itself. So if you don’t see your book at the sale, that’s probably why. I am also amazed at the number of very smart people this church has! I mean, I knew there were smart people; I just never realized how many, or the divergent number of subjects you read. It’s been a challenge deciding how to sort some of them.

Please note also that it is not too late to bring in more books. There can never be too many books, (or too much chocolate). You are welcome to bring in books, make-and-do type magazines, and beat-up volumes for the free box right up to the day before the sale. I am sorting as I go, so you can bring in books on Saturday, November 27, (the day before the sale), if you can’t get them here sooner.

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Hanging of the Greens

Please join us Saturday, December 4, at 9:30 am for the “Hanging of the Greens.” We’ll set up the Christmas tree and decorate the church for all to enjoy as we celebrate Advent and
the birth of Christ. Boy Scout Troop 618 is generously donating the wreaths and greens to deck our church again this Christmas season. If you have questions, please contact Tammy Piscitelli.

Don’t Forget to Fall Back

his weekend, we turn back time. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before heading to bed on Saturday night. It’s a good practice to replace the batteries in your fire alarms on time-change weekends, too.

Preparing for next Sunday, November 14, 2021

Lesson: Daniel 12:1-3
Gospel: John 11:32-44

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

St. Andrew and the Scouts

For almost 50 years, St. Andrew has had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, or BSA. The BSA offers several scouting programs and recently renamed their core program, formerly the “Boy Scouts,” to “Scouts BSA” when girls were invited to enter the ranks a few years ago. St. Andrew has three BSA units today:

• Scouts BSA Boys’ Troop 618 (ages 11-17); chartered ~1972
• Scouts BSA Girls’ Troop 5618 (ages 11-17); chartered in 2020
• Venturing Crew 618 (coed, ages 14-20); chartered in 2019

The BSA operates their scouting programs by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organizations to implement their scouting programs for youth within their communities. The chartering organization owns the assets and liability for the BSA units. Units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers. Our troops at St. Andrew are organized within BSA’s Cascade Pacific Council, which approves charters.

Per the BSA Charter, units have the following organizational structure overseeing the youth Scout leadership and must abide by both the BSA and chartered organization’s guidelines and rules of operation.

• Scouting Executive (the president or CEO of the chartered organization): Scott Taylor, council president
• COR: Chartered Organization Representative (appointed by the Scouting Executive annually): Gordon Teifel, church member
• Troop Committee Chair (established by COR and BSA unit leadership): Jay Locke, troop parent
• Scoutmasters (for each unit): Keith Covington, Troop 618; Cynda Machuca, Troop 5618; Chris Shortell, Crew 618, all troop parents

And St. Andrew appointed an additional person to act as liaison with our Troop units.

• Council Scout Liaison (appointed by St. Andrew Council): Dwight Jerde, council member

In order for the BSA units to continue operating, the Church Council must renew St. Andrew’s charters for each of our BSA units, and it is time to do that again this year. However, given a shifting landscape, the Council is seeking feedback, insights, questions, comments, and viewpoints from interested members of the congregation.

Why are we asking specifically for congregation input?

• The BSA filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020, largely as a result of sex abuse court judgments against the BSA, local councils, and units. More than 83,000 unique claims were filed by the November 16, 2020 filing deadline for abuse claims.
• Organizations that sponsored BSA units are currently NOT included in the bankruptcy plan deal and may be sued by claimants, as chartering organizations legally own liability for the operations of BSA units.

To be clear, there have been no abuse claims associated with BSA Troop 618 or any of the St. Andrew BSA units. These units are respected as being exceptionally well run and have a solid history of youth protection.

It is also clear that St. Andrew would be liable for any claims filed through our current charter agreement, just as the church would be liable for sex abuse claims arising from its own Children & Youth Ministry.

What we need to decide is how to continue to support our BSA units going forward. Do we sign new charters for 2022? Do we offer a facility use agreement instead, allowing the Scouts the use of our space without signing charters? The Oregon Synod and ELCA require each individual church to make its own decision and do not offer any liability protection for us. The congregation does have liability insurance, which includes specific limits for sex abuse/molestation coverage (which we purchase; this is not provided by the ELCA or Oregon Synod). The BSA also will provide primary liability insurance coverage for the charter organization as part of the BSA charter agreement.

Recently the United Methodist Church decided that it will no longer allow individual churches to charter Scout units. Current charters between Methodist churches and BSA units are being extended through March 2022 so Scout units have time to enter into new charter relationships that will allow them to continue to function.

Members of St. Andrew’s Congregation Council want your input before making their decision. You are invited to provide feedback through any of the following three channels:

1. Email Scouts@standrewlutheran.com with your questions, concerns, comments.
2. Fill out a Google Form (which you can do anonymously).
3. Talk to Council President Scott Taylor, Council Member Barton Robison, or Council Scout Liaison Dwight Jerde.

We value our partnership with Scouts BSA, support the youth our units serve, and seek to protect the well-being of St. Andrew Lutheran Church going forward. We ask that you not take this discussion onto Facebook, and that you share your views no later than Friday, November 12, via any or all of the three channels identified above.

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 Deanna Rhoda (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at their deaths	Doris Larson
Family and friends of Dick and Janet	Peace and God’s comfort at their deaths	Carol Hogan
Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Nan Thompson	Affirmation of her decision to forego further cancer treatment and acceptance by family and loved ones	Nan Thompson
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Chris Sinn (brother)	Healing	Randy & Michelle Sinn
Chris Williams (son)	Peace, comfort, and healing from COVID	Jerry & Anne Williams
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Strength and healing	Mary Smith
Phyllis Vachal	Comfort and pain relief	Larry Vachal
Chris Entrikin	Healing and recovery	Jerry Entrikin
Maverick Dixon (nephew)	Thanksgiving for his birth and successful surgery	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
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	Protection and safety	Staff
Hope Lutheran Church (Heppner, OR) Zion Lutheran Church (La Grande, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid Omar Farooq (Beaverton)	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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, November 7

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and Livestreamed
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and via Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 8

6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	East Parking Lot
7:00 pm	Men’s Book Club	Bliesner Home

Tuesday, November 9

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)
9:00 am	Facility Management Team Meeting	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm	Lydia Circle	St. Andrew Room
1:30 pm	Service Committee Meeting	Library
6:00 pm	Girl Scouts Adult Meeting	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	HR Meeting	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Adult Education Meeting	Library
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	via Zoom

Wednesday, November 10– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:00 pm	Sanctuary Team Meeting	Library
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, November 11 – Veterans Day (church office closed)

Friday, November 12

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, November 14

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

October 31, 2021

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

The Doctrine of Discovery

In 2016, the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopted the “Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.” The Doctrine of Discovery originated with a papal bull in the 15th century and codified both colonialism and religious intolerance into international law. The Doctrine of Discovery created a theological framework that supported racism, colonialism, and the annihilation of Indigenous people. Today it continues to support those evils and injustices
found in our church, U.S. law, and legal interpretation.

We’ll learn more about this important topic—both how it impacted the founding of our country and how it impacts us today—in our special Adult Education class between services on Sunday, October 31. You can ATTEND ANYWHERE. We’ll meet in Fellowship Hall or you can participate via Zoom.

Fall Adult Education Classes

A new semester of adult education offerings will begin next Sunday, November 7. Inspired by a book by Susan Beaumont entitled How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Pastor Susan Kintner will teach “Leading in a Liminal Season” via Zoom at 10:00 am. At the same time, the Reckoning with Racism cohort will teach Part I of their class, “A Journey towards Anti-Racism,” another ATTEND ANYWHERE event. Participants may join this class in person in Fellowship Hall or attend via Zoom.

Midweek Evening Prayer

Throughout the pandemic, Midweek Evening Prayer services have been a regular occurrence on Zoom, but in November they will be taking a little break. Beginning Wednesday, November 3, Centering Prayer will be held on Zoom at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to join in this receptive method of silent prayer.

Beginning December 1, Advent Evening Prayer will be returning, with worship offered in person in the Sanctuary as well as via Zoom.

Pastor Mark’s Upcoming Chi Ro Lectures

This November 12-14, Pastor Mark will be delivering a weekend of lectures titled “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer” at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. German pastor and theologian Bonhoeffer is often celebrated as an example of a modern Christian martyr for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler, while he himself avoided justifying his actions. What does it mean to “do ethics in extraordinary times”? What does Bonhoeffer’s witness mean for us today?

All lectures will be held in person and via livestream and are free and open to all. Visit www.welcometocentral.org/chi-rho/ to learn more and watch this newsletter for further details to come.

Reformation Sunday

This Sunday, October 31, is a red-letter day for Protestants worldwide, when we mark Reformation Sunday. At St. Andrew, many elect to wear red in celebration. Whether you worship at home or in the Sanctuary, we invite you to wear red this Sunday. We’re happy to be part of a church body that is continually evaluating and reforming itself as we struggle to live out God’s will on Earth.

Welcoming Afghan Refugees

The St. Andrew Sanctuary Team is following news of the wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the United States currently underway. Some 75,000 refugees are now being held, vaccinated, and vetted at US army bases. Salah Ansary, director of the Portland office of Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW)—and himself uprooted from Afghanistan in 1978—said up to 200 Afghans are expected to be resettled in Portland by March 2022.

St. Andrew has a history of responding to such crises. After the fall of Saigon, St. Andrew was among the Lutheran congregations that helped resettle more than 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. More recently, we worked with LCSNW to provide shelter and support to the Alajrab family from Syria.

The Sanctuary Team has committed itself to updating the congregation on developments and helping to discern our response. LCSNW anticipates need for sponsors and volunteers in the coming months. However, the critical need now is financial support as the Portland office ramps up to staff and resource the program for this new population of refugees. Online donations may be made directly to lcsnw.org by clicking on the “Donate” button,
specifying “Refugee Services,” and indicating “Portland Metro Area” as the preferred office.

If you are interested in volunteering in the future, please contact Bonnie Bliesner at larrybliesner@comcast.net or Cindy Stadel at cstadel@hevanet.com.

Wanted: Your Leftover Halloween Candy

No, you don’t have to eat that leftover Halloween candy all by yourself! Donna Brocker would love to have it for St. Andrew’s Welcome Mug Ministry. Just drop off any leftovers (partial bags are fine) at the church office and Donna will share your treats with newcomers visiting St. Andrew. What a sweet way to make people feel welcome!

Nifty Notters

Join the Nifty Notters Saturday, November 6, and Saturday, November 20, and help us get a head start on quilts for the next Lutheran World Relief Ingathering. We’ll also be working on baby quilts for Virginia Garcia Clinic when we meet from 9:00 am-2:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. We have projects for both people with no experience and those who can sew. You can come for all or part of the time and all supplies are provided. We also have home projects for those unable to participate on Saturdays. We have an ongoing need for people who can cut fabric in 11-inch or 5 ½-inch squares so they can be pieced into quilt tops. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Lydia Circle

Lydia Circle will meet Tuesday, November 9, at 1:00 pm in the St. Andrew Room. Our Bible study will be taken from the November issue of Gather magazine. All are welcome and you need not have read the lesson to participate. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917.

Thanksgiving Thanks

He has done marvelous things! Our Thanksgiving Food Drive goal has been met. With the funds in our account from last year and giving this year, we have sufficient funds to purchase $50 Winco gift cards for 75 Community Action families. This will be a welcome gift to families who really need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education.

Thank you for your generous gifts! Any additional donations to the Thanksgiving Food Drive fund will be donated to the St. Matthew Food Pantry for feeding anyone in the community who needs food assistance.

Please contact LuAnn Staul (ljstaul@gmail.com, 503-314-6321) or Linda McDowall (mcdowall.ml@gmail.com, 503-649-5091) with questions.

Our Children’s Library Is in the Cloud

Each time I work in the Children’s Library, my appreciation for the wonderful collection Mary Nell Mahler added continues to grow. It’s a library any elementary school would love to have! Our picture book section is especially bountiful. During the pandemic, I’ve tried to think of ways to help you better appreciate and use this beautiful library and wonderful collection of books.

I decided to start putting our collection on the Internet (or in the Cloud ), so you can see what we have and search for items. My goal is to have our more than 5,000-6,000 books uploaded by January 2022. So far, we have only about half of the books uploaded. You can take a peek at what’s there so far by going to: https://www.librarycat.org/lib/standlib. Either click on one of the book covers parading across the screen, or use the search box and search by topic, title, or author. If you want to read more about the book and/or read reviews, click on the LibraryThing or Amazon link at the very bottom of your selected book page.

All of these books, and also the ones I haven’t yet uploaded, are available for checkout. Please just use the book pockets and cards to check out, for now. Eventually, we hope to use electronic checkout.

One problem I’ve encountered is that many times the call numbers showing on the web, do not match the call number spine label which shows where it is located in our library. This is because the uploads automatically assign Library of Congress Dewey Decimal Classification numbers for every book. The Dewey numbers in the nonfiction section are pretty close, but our picture books, early leveled readers, and fiction are in separate sections. If you can’t find a book, just send me a note, and I’ll find it for you. Check the link often as we add more books to the cloud every week.

Barbara Gutzler
Children’s Librarian

Book Review: The Ink-Keeper’s Apprentice

This book by Allen Say is found downstairs, but don’t let that stop you. It is an interesting tale about a cartoonist, rather like the author, whose signature, cartoon, and picture will surely make you smile.

Here is a boy who does not do well in school, and while we are never told how bright he is, it does seem he could do better. But all he wants is to be a cartoonist. So he hunts down the master of them all, and convinces him to take him on.

This is what happens. The master has another apprentice, an older boy who maybe does, or does not, like the boy, and is, or is not, better than him at drawing. The pull-tug of these two, the older boy’s interest in dangerous things, the younger boy’s uncertainty about where he should stand, make up this story. The solution makes a rather surprising ending to a very satisfying story and the pictures are quite good.

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Ridwell Free Trial

If anyone was intrigued by the Ridwell information presented in “Weekly News” two weeks ago, I can get you a one-month free trial. That would give you two free pickups. Just email me at lizchrishardy@comcast.net.

I have been a Ridwell customer for three months and have already collected a large bag of clear plastic clam shells! For my next pickup, it will only cost me $1 for Ridwell to take them away. They will then go to a company that makes things from the clear plastic.

Liz Hardy

Preparing for All Saints Sunday, November 7, 2021

First Lesson: Wisdom 3:1-9
Second Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a
Gospel: John 11:32-44

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

Bonhoeffer, The Church, and the Climate Question

Pacific Lutheran University invites the public to attend its 16th Annual David & Marilyn Knutson Lecture at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 2, via Zoom. This year’s speaker is James B. Martin-Schramm, professor emeritus of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

The lecture will begin with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s provocative 1933 essay on “The Church and the Jewish Question” and draw parallels to climate change. Where virulent anti-Semitism was the most important issue facing the church in Bonhoeffer’s day, Martin-Schramm argues Bonhoeffer would have grave concerns about the impacts of climate change on present and future generations. Martin-Schramm explains how Martin Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms shaped Bonhoeffer’s critique of the church and state in his day regarding “the Jewish Question” and ponders how Bonhoeffer might challenge the feeble responses of both the state and the church to the climate crisis. The lecture explores tensions between patriotism and resistance and considers how God is at work in the world today among all who are striving for climate justice.

For detailed information and to register for the free event, go to http://plu.edu/religion/knutson-lecture.

More on “Leading in a Liminal Season”

Discernment is the faithful practice of listening and sifting to determine the next step. As disciples one primary place to listen is scripture, as well as neighbors, creation, and tradition. In this three-week class we will practice discernment with three parables of Jesus, using the Kaleidoscope Bible Study Model, which includes Mutual Invitation and Respectful Communication Guidelines. This class is designed for you to attend one session or two or all three. We will be on Zoom; please bring your bible.

Pastor Susan

Earth Care Kiosk

You’ll find a new fixture in the Narthex and you should check it out. Members of the Community Carbon/Earth Care Team are highlighting best practices for you to consider as they continue to work to protect our planet by educating others.

One panel of the rotating kiosk showcases St. Andrew’s Reformation Earth Garden and the native plants incorporated there. You’ll find lists and descriptions of plants, nursery sources, and lots of photos to entice you to add some of these natives to your own landscape.

Another panel highlights the Soil Your Undies challenge and our own experiment undertaken during this past summer’s Earth Camp. This is a great project to do with children and a fun way to learn about soil vitality.

And the third panel (in development) offers ideas for reducing reliance on single-use plastic. We offer reprints of all the articles we did just before the pandemic hit and other
useful handouts.

More is coming, so plan to stop by the kiosk often. Two articles of particular interest right now focus on “The Good of Leaves” and “Why You Should Do Your Spring Planting in the Fall.” Pick up copies!

St. Andrew and the Scouts

For almost 50 years, St. Andrew has had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, renamed Scouts BSA when girls were invited to enter the ranks a few years ago. St. Andrew has three BSA units today:

• Scouts BSA Boys’ Troop 618 (ages 11-17); chartered ~1972
• Scouts BSA Girls’ Troop 5618 (ages 11-17); chartered in 2020
• Venturing Crew 618 (coed, ages 14-20); chartered in 2019

The BSA operates Scouting by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organizations to implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. The chartering organization owns the assets and liability for the BSA units. Units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers. Our troops at St. Andrew are organized within BSA’s Cascade Pacific Council, which approves charters.

Per the BSA Charter, units have the following organizational structure overseeing the youth Scout leadership and must abide by both the BSA and chartered organization’s guidelines and rules of operation.

• Scouting Executive (the president or CEO of the chartered organization): Scott Taylor, council president
• COR: Chartered Organization Representative (appointed by the Scouting Executive annually): Gordon Teifel, church member
• Troop Committee Chair (established by COR and BSA unit leadership): Jay Locke, troop parent
• Scoutmasters (for each unit): Keith Covington, Troop 618, Cynda Machuca, Troop 5618; Chris Shortell, Crew 618, all troop parents

And St. Andrew appointed an additional person to act as liaison with our Troop units.

• Council Scout Liaison (appointed by St. Andrew Council): Dwight Jerde, council member

Each year, the Church Council must renew St. Andrew’s charters with our BSA units, and it is time to do that again this year. However, given a shifting landscape, the Council is seeking feedback, insights, questions, comments, and viewpoints from interested members of the congregation.

Why are we asking specifically for congregation input?

• The BSA filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020, largely as a result of sex abuse court judgments against the BSA, local councils, and units. More than 83,000 unique claims were filed by the November 16, 2020 filing deadline for abuse claims.
• Organizations that sponsored BSA units are currently NOT included in the bankruptcy plan deal and may be sued by claimants, as chartering organizations legally own liability for the operations of BSA units.

To be clear, there have been no abuse claims associated with BSA Troop 618 or any of the St. Andrew BSA units. These units are respected as being exceptionally well run and have a solid history of youth protection.

It is also clear that St. Andrew would be liable for any claims filed through our current charter agreement, just as the church would be liable for sex abuse claims arising from its own Children & Youth Ministry.

What we need to decide is how to continue to support our BSA units going forward. Do we sign new charters for 2022? Do we offer a facility use agreement instead, allowing the Scouts the use of our space without signing charters? The Oregon Synod and ELCA require each individual church to make its own decision and do not offer any liability protection for us. The congregation does have liability insurance, which includes specific limits for sex abuse/molestation coverage (which we purchase; this is not provided by the ELCA or Oregon Synod). The BSA also will provide primary liability insurance coverage for the charter organization as part of the BSA charter agreement.

Recently the United Methodist Church decided that it will no longer allow individual churches to charter Scout units. Current charters between Methodist churches and BSA units are being extended through March 2022 so Scout units have time to enter into new charter relationships that will allow them to continue to function.

Members of St. Andrew’s Congregation Council want your input before making their decision. You are invited to provide feedback through any of the following three channels:

1. Email Scouts@standrewlutheran.com with your questions, concerns, comments.
2. Fill out a Google Form (which you can do anonymously).
3. Talk to Council President Scott Taylor, Council Member Barton Robison, or Council Scout
   Liaison Dwight Jerde.

We value our partnership with Scouts BSA, support the youth our units serve, and seek to protect the well-being of St. Andrew Lutheran Church going forward. We ask that you not take this discussion onto Facebook, and that you share your views no later than Friday, November 12, via any or all of the three channels identified above.

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 Dick and Janet	Peace and God’s comfort at their deaths	Carol Hogan
Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Phyllis Vachal	Comfort and pain relief	Larry Vachal
Chris Entrikin	Healing and recovery	Jerry Entrikin
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Grunewald Guild staff and teachers	Support and wisdom	Susan Kintner
Sunriver Christian Fellowship (Sunriver, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Ahavath Achim (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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, October 31

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Education Special Topic: The Doctrine of Discovery	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 1

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

East Parking Lot

Tuesday, November 2

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
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes	Offsite
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

Wednesday, November 3 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Reopening Team Meeting	Library
12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	via Zoom
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Night Youth Hangout	Youth Room
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir	Sanctuary

Thursday, November 4

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Adult Library
2:30 pm	Communications Team Meeting	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Executive (Council) Committee Meeting	St. Andrew Room and via Zoom

Friday, November 5

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, November 5

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, November 7 – All Saints Sunday

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Adult Education: A Journey Towards Anti-Racism, Part 1	Fellowship Hall and via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education: Leading in a Liminal Season	via Zoom
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

October 24, 2021

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

Fall Adult Education Classes

The Fall session of Adult Education ends this Sunday.

Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful

This Sunday, October 24, the Stewardship team presents its final session of “Making Giving More Meaningful” at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall. If you’re unable to attend in person (either this session or earlier ones in the series), you can find a summary online at https://standrewlutheran.com/making-giving-more-meaningful.

Road Trip! The Missionary Journeys of Paul

What legacy did the Apostle Paul leave for the church and for us today? In his final class session this Sunday, Steve Christiansen will share ideas from Paul for a New Day, by Robin Scroggs. The author tries to clarify Paul’s message in today’s terms and highlights some theological ideas we could put into practice ourselves—ideas about justification, faith, the church community, and ethics.

Join Steve Christiansen via Zoom at 10:00 am on Sunday, October 24, to learn more about how Paul shaped the church.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

All are welcome this Wednesday, October 27, when midweek evening prayer services continue via Zoom. Informal gathering time begins at 6:45 pm, with the devotion at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm for those who would like to participate in this receptive method of silent prayer.

The Doctrine of Discovery

In 2016, the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopted the “Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.” The Doctrine of Discovery originated with a papal bull in the 15th century and codified both colonialism and religious intolerance into international law. The Doctrine of Discovery created a theological framework that supported racism, colonialism, and the annihilation of Indigenous people. Today it continues to support those evils and injustices
found in our church, U.S. law, and legal interpretation.

We’ll learn more about this important topic—both how it impacted the founding of our country and how it impacts us today—in our special Adult Education class between services on Sunday, October 31. You can ATTEND ANYWHERE. We’ll meet in Fellowship Hall or you can participate via Zoom.

Christmas Greenery Orders

The deadline to order Christmas greenery from Scout Troops 618 and 5618 is this Sunday, October 24. Please check the product flyer and price list on the communications table in the Narthex for details regarding the items available, or contact Amy Harker (email mimiweasel@gmail.com) and she’ll send you that information electronically. Prepayment is not required and can be handled at delivery on November 20-21.

Table Talk: What is Patriotism?

Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-8:00 pm (via Zoom)

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. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table
Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In March 1941, German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer traveled to Switzerland on behalf of the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler. His role was to communicate with the Allies through ecumenical church leaders. At an evening gathering one ecumenical leader asked him, “What do you pray for in the current situation?” He responded, “Since you ask me, I must say that I pray for the defeat of my country, for I believe that this is the only way in which it can pay for the suffering which it has caused the world.” In April 1945 Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis for committing treason. But one could make a case that he was a true patriot fighting for the well-being of his nation.

In this Table Talk we will discuss what constitutes true patriotism in a time such as ours. Prior to our conversation, you are encouraged to read David Brooks’ New York Times editorial “How to Love America: Patriotism in a Time of Division”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/opinion/america-patriotism.html).

Pastor Mark’s Upcoming Chi-Rho Lectures

This November 12-14, Pastor Mark will be delivering a weekend of lectures titled “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer” at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. German pastor and theologian Bonhoeffer is often celebrated as an example of a modern Christian martyr for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler, while he himself avoided justifying his actions. What does it mean to “do ethics in extraordinary times”? What does Bonhoeffer’s witness mean for us today?

All lectures will be held in person and via livestream and are free and open to all. Visit www.welcometocentral.org/chi-rho/ to learn more and watch this newsletter for further details to come.

A Blessing for Learning to Delight Again

This Sunday, Pastor Susan Kintner will reference Kate Bowler, author of Everything Happens and No Cure for Being Human.

You can learn more at http://katebowler.com or check out Bowler’s podcast, “Everything Happens.”

Bowler shares several blessings on her website and this one seems appropriate for us today:

A blessing for learning to delight again.

blessed are you, the pragmatic. you who have run the math and know what adds up…and what doesn’t. you have set it all down. you who don’t hope or dream or plan anymore because…what’s the point?

but blessed are you, learning to live here. your world has shrunk. pain or grief or fear has sucked up every bit of oxygen from the room and every ounce of delight has been squeezed from your hands.

but blessed are we, who discover that even in the smallness, our attention might compress even more.

we who pull out a magnifying glass to discover…to notice…to taste…to smell…the small joys and simple pleasures that make a life worth living.

you who wear the fancy blouse because it makes you feel nice, long after you thought your body was worth decorating. you who eat the over-the-top meal because that is what today can afford.

you who make the memory and plan the trip and who snap a picture because we know that this one, wild, precious life might cost us everything…so why not make it not just bearable, but beautiful.

Thank You

Dear Friends at St. Andrew,
Thank you so much for your generous donation of $400. The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) truly appreciates your commitment to supporting survivors of domestic violence in Washington County and we’re grateful for your kindness.

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

Rosemary (Rowie) Taylor
Executive Director

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.

Last year, generous donations from St. Andrew members enabled us to purchase $50 Winco gift cards for 75 families. We would like to achieve this goal again. Any donations that exceed our goal of $3,750 will be donated to the St. Matthew Food Pantry for feeding anyone in the community who needs food assistance.

If you wish to give on-line, select the Thanksgiving Food Drive fund 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 truly celebrate Thanksgiving. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year.

To give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families, our deadline for donation is Sunday, November 14.

Please contact LuAnn Staul (ljstaul@gmail.com, 503-314-6321) or Linda McDowall (mcdowall.ml@gmail.com, 503-649-5091) with questions.

Farm Workers Drive a Success

The Western Farm Workers Association fall drive was successful with more than 330 food and clothing items collected.

Among items donated were 183 articles of clothing, which included 40 coats, 31 sweatshirts, and 11 sweaters, as well as work pants, rain jackets, work boots, and other miscellaneous clothing items.

A total of 148 food items were collected, including 65 cans of tuna, 21 bags/cans of pinto beans, 9 bags of rice, 9 jars of peanut butter, 5 jars of jam, 7 bottles of cooking oil—plus other miscellaneous food items.

Everything was delivered to the Western Farm Workers office in Hillsboro on Monday, October 4. Peter Berger, WFWA operations manager, thanks the people of St. Andrew for their generosity.

Service Committee

Lutheran World Relief Ingathering Volunteers Needed

Your help is needed. Twice a year, St. Andrew coordinates the Lutheran World Relief Fall Ingathering for churches in Oregon, SW Washington, and Idaho, when we collect School Kits and Quilts. Churches are donating these gifts to communities around the globe. To learn more, go to https://lwr.org/kits/school-kits.

We are preparing for our Fall LWR Ingathering and looking for volunteers to help load the shipping container. Volunteers are organized in shifts of 2 hours. That’s right—we’re looking for just two hours of your time for this important ministry.

Churches will deliver their donations to St. Andrew on Friday, October 29, or Saturday, October 30. We need volunteers to unload boxes from cars or pack the boxes in the shipping container. The boxes weigh up to 45 pounds. The Friday shifts are 8:00 am to 10:00 am, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The single 3-hour shift on Saturday is 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. St. Andrew COVID-19 guidelines apply to this activity.

If you haven’t already signed up or have questions please contact Roger Sandquist (503-840-0001 or rogersandquist@frontier.com).

Preparing for Reformation Sunday, October 31, 2021

Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Gospel: John 8:31-36

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

Bonhoeffer, The Church, and the Climate Question

Pacific Lutheran University invites the public to attend its 16th Annual David & Marilyn Knutson Lecture at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 2, via Zoom. This year’s speaker is James B. Martin-Schramm, professor emeritus of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

The lecture will begin with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s provocative 1933 essay on “The Church and the Jewish Question” and draw parallels to climate change. Where virulent anti-Semitism was the most important issue facing the church in Bonhoeffer’s day, Martin-Schramm argues Bonhoeffer would have grave concerns about the impacts of climate change on present and future generations. Martin-Schramm explains how Martin Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms shaped Bonhoeffer’s critique of the church and state in his day regarding “the Jewish Question” and ponders how Bonhoeffer might challenge the feeble responses of both the state and the church to the climate crisis. The lecture explores tensions between patriotism and resistance and considers how God is at work in the world today among all who are striving for climate justice.

For detailed information and to register for the free event, go to http://plu.edu/religion/knutson-lecture.

Keep Fright Away

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) advises that hosting a Halloween party for grownups this year is doable, but with the highly transmittable Delta variant, it does take some planning and caution.

“Make sure you’re vaccinated; that’s number one,” said Ali Hamade, OHA senior health advisor and deputy state epidemiologist. “Number two, wear a good face covering that is at least two layers thick. A Halloween mask will not do the job.”

Hamade adds that outdoor events are best because the risk of transmission is much lower than socializing indoors. Keep the guest list small and stick with vaccinated guests (no children under 12); discourage people from crowding together; wash your hands before and after eating; and don’t touch your face with unwashed hands. If guests go inside, remind them to wear their masks and physically distance. Open windows and run a fan or air purifier to maximize ventilation.

If your party takes place during trick-or-treating, please wear a mask when handing out candy.

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.

Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Effective treatment and healing	Mary Smith
Robert and Channa	Support and Comfort	Carol Harker
St. Timothy Episcopal Church (Brookings, OR)	Positive resolution to community opposition	India Jensen Kerr
Grunewald Guild staff and teachers	Support and wisdom	Susan Kintner
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
Zion Lutheran Church (Redmond, OR) Shepherd in the Hills Lutheran Church (Sisters, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid Abu Bakr (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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, October 24

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Road Trip: The Missionary Journeys of Paul	via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Faith and Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, October 25

6:00 pm	Scout Troop Leaders	St. Andrew Room
6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	East Parking Lot

Tuesday, October 26

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)
9:00 am	Facilities Team Meeting	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm	Community Carbon Leadership Meeting	Adult Library
7:00 pm	Table Talk: “What Is Patriotism?”	via Zoom

Wednesday, October 27 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Pumpkin Carving	Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 28

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Adult Library
7:00 pm	IT Meeting	Offsite

Friday, October 29

7:00 am	Lutheran World Relief Ingathering	Garden Parking Lot
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall

Saturday, October 30

7:00 am

Lutheran World Relief Ingathering

Garden Parking Lot

Sunday, October 31 – Reformation Sunday (Wear Red!)

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Education Special Topic: “The Doctrine of Discovery”	Fellowship Hall and Zoom
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

October 17, 2021

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

Fall Adult Education Classes

Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful

This Sunday, October 17, at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall, the discussion will center around what we give. We’ll talk about time and talents, as well as financial resources, and we’ll examine various websites that can direct us to multiple opportunities to give to our community and world.

Road Trip! The Missionary Journeys of Paul

Paul’s story becomes even more interesting after his third missionary journey and return to Jerusalem. Some of his enemies stir up the crowd there and Paul is taken into protective custody. He’s allowed to speak to the people, though, and it all goes well until he says that God has called him to take his message to the Gentiles, whom the Jews perceive as enemies. The notion that Paul would minister to foes enrages the crowd and rekindles the riot. Ultimately, Paul is put
on a boat to Rome, where he wants to speak to the emperor. The boat crashes on the island of Malta, Paul proceeds to Rome anyway, and there he’s once more incarcerated, this time under house arrest. And that’s the end of Luke’s story of Paul. Was he executed in Rome? Or did Paul gain his release and continue his missionary work?

Join Steve Christiansen via Zoom at 10:00 am on Sunday to learn more about Paul’s life and preaching.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

All are welcome this Wednesday, October 20, when midweek evening prayer services continue via Zoom. Informal gathering time begins at 6:45 pm, with the devotion at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm for those who would like to participate in this receptive method of silent prayer.

A Hope For All Update

St. Andrew has just passed another milestone in the Hope For All Campaign. As of October 1, 2021, we now owe about $691,630 on the mortgage. A little more than a year ago that balance was just over $1,000,000.

The Financial team continues to make sound financial decisions in paying down the mortgage expeditiously, while keeping an adequate reserve for any unforeseen shortfalls. Now for every $1.00 contributed, about $.82 is applied to the principal on the loan. As the mortgage continues to be paid down, the percentage going to pay off principal will increase.

I want to thank everyone for your continued generosity and will continue to update you as we pass each $100,000 milestone. Our goal is to pay off the mortgage as soon as possible. Thank you.

Ken Reiner

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, October 17, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out to all book group members a few days before the meeting. If you would like to attend, but are not already on the Spirituality Book Group email list, please contact Mary Smith at dbits1@gmail.com.

On October 17, Kristin Sacks will lead our discussion of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson.

This outstanding book is more than a book on racism, more than history, more than social commentary, more than a lamentation. Although it is all of those things. The New York Times book review from July 2020 put it this way: “It’s an extraordinary document, one that strikes me as an instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far. It made the back of my neck prickle from its first pages, and that feeling never went away.”

Future Reading:

Christmas Greenery Orders

Believe it or not, it’s not too early to begin thinking about decorating for Christmas. Scout Troops 618 and 5618 are once again selling wreaths, centerpieces, garlands, swags, and plants. Orders are due to Amy Harker (email mimiweasel@gmail.com) by Sunday, October 24, and will be delivered the weekend of November 20 and 21.

Please check the product flyer and price list on the communications table in the Narthex for details regarding the items available, or email Amy and she’ll send you that information electronically. Prepayment is not required and can be handled at delivery.

Farm Workers Drive a Success

The Western Farm Workers Association fall drive was successful with more than 330 food and clothing items collected.

Among items donated were 183 articles of clothing, which included 40 coats, 31 sweatshirts, and 11 sweaters, as well as work pants, rain jackets, work boots, and other miscellaneous clothing items.

A total of 148 food items were collected, including 65 cans of tuna, 21 bags/cans of pinto beans, 9 bags of rice, 9 jars of peanut butter, 5 jars of jam, 7 bottles of cooking oil—plus other miscellaneous food items.

Everything was delivered to the Western Farm Workers office in Hillsboro on Monday, October 4. Peter Berger, WFWA operations manager, thanks the people of St. Andrew for their generosity.

Service Committee

Special Topic Announced

What is the “Doctrine of Discovery” and how did it shape our country? Plan to join the Reckoning with Racism cohort on Sunday, October 31, at 10:00 am during a Sunday morning Adult Education special topic hour. We’ll take an enlightening look into this 15th century doctrine and explore its impact, especially on Native Americans. Details on how to participate will be forthcoming.

And the Bells Rang Out!

Happy Anniversary, Jerry and Anne!

The bells rang out (at least figuratively) 58 years ago on October 4, 1963, when Anne LeRoy walked down the aisle at St. Andrew to marry Jerry Williams. These longtime members have been faithful servants and frequent volunteers ever since. Congratulations on almost six decades of married life.

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.

Last year, generous donations from St. Andrew members enabled us to purchase $50 Winco gift cards for 75 families. We would like to achieve this goal again. Any donations that exceed our goal of $3,750 will be donated to the St. Matthew Food Pantry for feeding anyone in the community who needs food assistance.

If you wish to give on-line, select the Thanksgiving Food Drive fund 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 truly celebrate Thanksgiving. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year.

To give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families, our deadline for donation is Sunday, November 14.

Please contact LuAnn Staul (ljstaul@gmail.com, 503-314-6321) or Linda McDowall (mcdowall.ml@gmail.com, 503-649-5091) with questions.

Table Talk: What is Patriotism?

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. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table
Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In March 1941, German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer traveled to Switzerland on behalf of the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler. His role was to communicate with the Allies through ecumenical church leaders. At an evening gathering
one ecumenical leader asked him, “What do you pray for in the current situation?” He responded, “Since you ask me, I must say that I pray for the defeat of my country, for I believe that this is the only way in which it can pay for the suffering which it has caused the world.” In April 1945 Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis for committing treason. But one could make a case that he was a true patriot fighting for the well-being of his nation.

In this Table Talk we will discuss what constitutes true patriotism in a time such as ours. Prior to our conversation, you are encouraged to read David Brooks’ New York Times editorial “How to Love America: Patriotism in a Time of Division”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/opinion/america-patriotism.html).

Pastor Mark’s Upcoming Chi-Rho Lectures

This November 12-14, Pastor Mark will be delivering a weekend of lectures titled “Doing Ethics in Extraordinary Times: The Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer” at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. German pastor and theologian Bonhoeffer is often celebrated as an example of a modern Christian martyr for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler, while he himself avoided justifying his actions. What does it mean to “do ethics in extraordinary times”? What does Bonhoeffer’s witness mean for us today?

All lectures will be held in person and via livestream and are free and open to all. Visit www.welcometocentral.org/chi-rho/ to learn more and watch this newsletter for further details to come.

Preparing for Next Sunday, October 24, 2021

Reading: Psalm 126
Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

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

Bonhoeffer, The Church, and the Climate Question

Pacific Lutheran University invites the public to attend its 16th Annual David & Marilyn Knutson Lecture at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 2, via Zoom. This year’s speaker is James B. Martin-Schramm, professor emeritus of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

The lecture will begin with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s provocative 1933 essay on “The Church and the Jewish Question” and draw parallels to climate change. Where virulent anti-Semitism was the most important issue facing the church in Bonhoeffer’s day, Martin-Schramm argues Bonhoeffer would have grave concerns about the impacts of climate change on present and future generations. Martin-Schramm explains how Martin Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms
shaped Bonhoeffer’s critique of the church and state in his day regarding “the Jewish Question” and ponders how Bonhoeffer might challenge the feeble responses of both the state and the church to the climate crisis. The lecture explores tensions between patriotism and resistance and considers how God is at work in the world today among all who are striving for climate justice.

For detailed information and to register for the free event, go to http://plu.edu/religion/knutson-lecture.

Aging with Grace

Coronavirus…wildfires…political uncertainty…social unrest…. This is a crazy and stressful time for all of us. What does current research reveal about how these stresses are impacting seniors? What do we know about effective coping strategies? How do we use what we’ve learned to move to a “new normal”?

Viva Village invites the public to join psychologist Meghan Marty and gerontologist Carolyn Aldwin for an online presentation and discussion on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 1:00-4:00 pm via Zoom.

Register at vivavillage.org or call 503-746-5082. Viva Village members and volunteers may participate at no cost. The public participation fee is $10.

What to Do with All Those Single-Use Plastics? UGH!

Don’t you just hate throwing away all that plastic that you can’t put into the recycle bin? I sure do!

Luckily, help is on the way. There is a company called Ridwell that collects difficult to recycle items. And they make it so easy! They provide collection bins and bags for those difficult to recycle items and pick them up from your doorstep every 2 weeks. The basic categories they collect are plastic film, “threads” (cloth), batteries, and light bulbs. Your stuff gets recycled or reused by local partners dedicated to wasting less.

What’s What?

Plastic Film is anything that’s “scrunchable” and a single material (meaning it does not have metal or paper in it or affixed to it. Ziplock bags, bubble wrap, air pillows, grocery bags, Amazon Prime shipping bags, plastic wrap, and cereal
bags are all examples of plastic film. But the plastic has to be clean and can’t have food on it. Ridwell also recently started collecting those clear plastic clamshells that a lot of produce comes in.

“We learned plastic film is a component of decking material like Trex and are thrilled that our plastic film is used for this purpose instead of ending up in the landfill.”

Ridwell.com

“Threads” includes shoes, towels, sheets, fabric scraps. Anything that is not wet or contaminated or mildewed.

“We work with partners who will sort threads based on their condition. 45% of the clothes, shoes, and linens that get collected is reused or repurposed as secondhand clothing. Often times these go to low income members of the community who may not otherwise be able to afford clothing and shoes. 30% of what is collected is recycled into new things. This set eventually becomes things like insulation, pet bedding, and athletic equipment. An additional 20% is turned into fiber that can be used for carpet padding, home insulation, and raw material for automotive industries. Only 5% is sent to landfills and that number is even lower if people send contaminated material elsewhere.”

Ridwell.com

Batteries includes all used household batteries; alkaline, rechargeable, small electronics, and hearing aid batteries. Basically all batteries used around the house.

“While batteries are no longer toxic for the environment, they still have valuable materials for recycling.”

Ridwell.com

Light Bulbs includes LEDs, compact fluorescent, fluorescent, and incandescent. No broken bulbs or fluorescent tubes.

“We take all of your spent light bulbs and our partner separates the metal, glass, and plastic for further materials recycling. CFLs (the curly ones) have mercury in them so they need to be disposed of responsibly! And we want to make that easy. Just put them in your light bulb bag and we can take care of the rest. If you have light bulbs that are still good but you don’t need anymore, try your local Buy Nothing group for reuse in the community!”

Ridwell.com

Monthly Featured Categories Each month Ridwell also collects a 5th category such as Styrofoam, corks, small electronics, cords, chargers, printer cartridges, holiday lights, nonperishable foods, diapers, eye glasses, bottle caps, kitchen ware, etc.

Pricing Ridwell charges a household $16/month for a 3-month plan, $14/month for 6 months, and $12/month for a year. They pick up every 2 weeks. For more information, go to ridwell.com or contact me to learn about my own experience as a subscriber to Ridwell.

Liz Hardy, Earth Care Team

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.

Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Effective treatment and healing	Mary Smith
Robert and Channa	Support and Comfort	Carol Harker
St. Timothy Catholic Church (Brookings, OR)	Positive resolution to community opposition	India Jensen Kerr
Bee Bops	Thanksgiving for the childcare they’ve provided	Staff
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Madras, OR) Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Prineville, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Havurah Shalom (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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, October 17

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Road Trip: Paul’s Missionary Journeys	via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Faith and Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, October 18

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

East Parking Lot

Tuesday, October 19

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

Wednesday, October 20– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

7:00 am	Bell Tree Practice	Sanctuary
1:00 pm	Caring Ministry Team Meeting	Library
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Committee Meeting	Children’s Library
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 21

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel, Library
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	St. Andrew Room and Zoom

Friday, October 22

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, October 24

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Road Trip: The Missionary Journeys of Paul	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

October 10, 2021

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

Fall Adult Education Classes

Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful

This Sunday, October 10, at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall, the discussion will center around the “when” of giving. The focus will not be on giving on Sundays, but the “when” of giving from a congregational, synod, and personal perspective. Do we give when we are joyful, refreshed humble, thankful?

Road Trip! The Missionary Journeys of Paul

Paul’s Third Mission Journey is a four-year jaunt, wherein he continues to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to strengthen the churches he’d planted earlier. He spends more than two years in Ephesus, where his message is so popular that he ends up angering the silversmiths who make a living creating idols to the goddess Artemis. A riot ensues and Paul leaves town to take his message elsewhere. While traveling, Paul is also writing letters to Christians in Thessaloniki and Corinth. He may also have written the letter we know as the Book of Romans during this journey.

Join Steve Christiansen via Zoom at 10:00 am on Sunday to learn more about Paul’s preaching and the work he did to encourage and extend the Christian Church on his third journey.

Wednesday Evening Prayer

All are welcome this Wednesday, October 13, when midweek evening prayer services continue via Zoom. Informal gathering time begins at 6:45 pm, with the devotion at 7:00 pm. Centering Prayer follows at 7:30 pm for those who would like to participate in this receptive method of silent prayer.

Wanted: Zoom Hosts

Are you a Zoom master? Can you spare an hour of your time once a month and host the Zoom meeting for St. Andrew’s education hour on Sunday morning?

The job is pretty simple: Log into the Zoom meeting room and send everyone to the appropriate Breakout Room for the class requested. Then send attendance numbers to Carol Harker after classes end.

Volunteering as a Zoom host is a great way to reconnect with people in our community and it would be a very big help on Sunday mornings. To volunteer, please email Allison Katsufrakis at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com.

Men’s Book Club

Members of the Men’s Book Club will meet Monday, October 11, at 7:00 pm at the home of Dan Fako to discuss This Tender Land: A Novel, by William Kent Krueger. Described “as big-hearted as they come,” the novel tells the unforgettable story of four orphans in the summer of 1932 who band together to flee the Lincoln Indian Training School in Minnesota to make their way south to relatives in St. Louis, where they hope to find a better life. On their odyssey into the unknown, they encounter others who are adrift and experience a variety of adventures. Somewhat reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, This Tender Land shows how the American landscape connects us.

For more information about the Men’s Book Club, contact Gary Grafwallner or Tim Holte. The group reads novels, biographies, poetry, politics, spiritual books, science fiction, and more. Participants rotate hosting and selecting books to discuss. The Men’s Book Club meets monthly on the second Monday.

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, October 17, at 3:00 pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out to all book group members a few days before the meeting. If you would like to attend, but are not already on the Spirituality Book Group email list, please contact Mary Smith at dbits1@gmail.com.

On October 17, Kristin Sacks will lead our discussion of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson.
This outstanding book is more than a book on racism, more than history, more than social commentary, more than a lamentation. Although it is all of those things. The NY Times book review from July 2020 put it this way: “It’s an extraordinary document, one that strikes me as an instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far. It made the back of my neck prickle from its first pages, and that feeling never went away.”

Future Reading:

BottleDrop Fundraiser

Over the past several months, St. Andrew has raised more than $800 for youth programs…just by cashing in our cans! These funds will go toward youth events over this next year, especially the National Youth Gathering coming up next summer. To join in, you can find BottleDrop bags on the shelves in Fellowship Hall. Fill them with recyclable cans/bottles, and then drop them through the outdoor hatch at any BottleDrop Center. Thanks to everyone who is
taking part in this awesome fundraiser!

Financial Review Team

Two volunteers are needed for St. Andrew’s Financial Review Team and, if you have accounting or bookkeeping experience, that is helpful. I am the third team member.

The time commitment is only a few hours annually, when the Financial Review Team does a review of St. Andrew’s finances.

Currently St. Andrew is working with Portland’s St. Luke Lutheran Church to review each other’s finances. A St. Luke team will review our finances and our team will review theirs.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact me [larrybliesner@comcast.net].

Larry Bliesner

Christmas Greenery Orders

Believe it or not, it’s not too early to begin thinking about decorating for Christmas. Scout Troops 618 and 5618 are once again selling wreaths, centerpieces, garlands, swags, and plants. Orders are due to Amy Harker (email mimiweasel@gmail.com) by Sunday, October 24, and will be delivered the weekend of November 20 and 21.

Please check the product flyer and price list on the communications table in the Narthex for details regarding the items available, or email Amy and she’ll send you that information electronically. Prepayment is not required and can be handled at delivery.

Special Topic Announced

What is the “Doctrine of Discovery” and how did it shape our country? Plan to join the Reckoning with Racism cohort on Sunday, October 31, at 10:00 am during a Sunday morning Adult Education special topic hour. We’ll take an enlightening look into this 15th century doctrine and explore its impact, especially on Native Americans. Details on how to participate will be forthcoming.

Table Talk: What is Patriotism?

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. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table
Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In March 1941, German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer traveled to Switzerland on behalf of the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler. His role was to communicate with the Allies through ecumenical church leaders. At an evening gathering
one ecumenical leader asked him, “What do you pray for in the current situation?” He responded, “Since you ask me, I must say that I pray for the defeat of my country, for I believe that this is the only way in which it can pay for the suffering which it has caused the world.” In April 1945 Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis for committing treason. But one could make a case that he was a true patriot fighting for the well-being of his nation.

In this Table Talk we will discuss what constitutes true patriotism in a time such as ours. Prior to our conversation, you are encouraged to read David Brooks’ New York Times editorial “How to Love America: Patriotism in a Time of Division”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/opinion/america-patriotism.html).

A Hope for All Update

St. Andrew has just passed another milestone in the Hope For All Campaign. As of October 1, 2021, we now owe about $691,630 on the mortgage. A little more than a year ago that balance was just over $1,000,000.

The Financial team continues to make sound financial decisions in paying down the mortgage expeditiously, while keeping an adequate reserve for any unforeseen shortfalls. Now for every $1.00 contributed, about $.82 is applied to the principal on the loan. As the mortgage continues to be paid down, the percentage going to pay off principal will increase.

I want to thank everyone for your continued generosity and will continue to update you as we pass each $100,000 milestone. Our goal is to pay off the mortgage as soon as possible. Thank you.

Ken Reiner

Earth Camp 2022: Save the Dates

Dates have been set for next summer’s Earth Camp for grade school children. Mark your calendars now to save the week of Monday, June 27-Friday, July 1, 2022. The full-day program (9:00 am-3:00 pm) helps youngsters cultivate a deep love for our Earth home, learn about climate challenges, and discover several things they can do to protect God’s creation. The theme for 2022 is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”

Preparing for Next Sunday, October 17, 2021

Reading: Isaiah 53:4-12
Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

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

Bonhoeffer, The Church, and the Climate Question

Pacific Lutheran University invites the public to attend its 16th Annual David & Marilyn Knutson Lecture at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 2, via Zoom. This year’s speaker is James B. Martin-Schramm, professor emeritus of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

The lecture will begin with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s provocative 1933 essay on “The Church and the Jewish Question” and draw parallels to climate change. Where virulent anti-Semitism was the most important issue facing the church in Bonhoeffer’s day, Martin-Schramm argues Bonhoeffer would have grave concerns about the impacts of climate change on present and future generations. Martin-Schramm explains how Martin Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms
shaped Bonhoeffer’s critique of the church and state in his day regarding “the Jewish Question” and ponders how Bonhoeffer might challenge the feeble responses of both the state and the church to the climate crisis. The lecture explores tensions between patriotism and resistance and considers how God is at work in the world today among all who are striving for climate justice.

For detailed information and to register for the free event, go to http://plu.edu/religion/knutson-lecture.

Aging with Grace

Coronavirus…wildfires…political uncertainty…social unrest…. This is a crazy and stressful time for all of us. What does current research reveal about how these stresses are impacting seniors? What do we know about effective coping strategies? How do we use what we’ve learned to move to a “new normal”?

Viva Village invites the public to join psychologist Meghan Marty and gerontologist Carolyn Aldwin for an online presentation and discussion on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 1:00-4:00 pm via Zoom.

Register at vivavillage.org or call 503-746-5082. Viva Village members and volunteers may participate at no cost. The public participation fee is $10.

Thank You for Supporting Our Ministry

St. Andrew is able to do God’s work because of your generous gifts supporting our ministries. Thank you!

To learn more about the many ways you can give (by mail, text, church app, online, etc.), please go to www.standrewlutheran.com/giving.

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.

Kay (mother)	Comfort, peace and God’s love as death nears	Linda Olshausen
Corine Walker (mother-in-law)	Comfort and peace in hospice care	LuAnn Staul
Melissa and Noah Stone (daughter and grandson)	Support and God’s comfort	Julie Hoffmaster
Linda Fransen	Effective treatment and healing	Ed Fransen
Richard Walker	Comfort & healing from COVID-19	LuAnn Staul
Susan Jacobi, Dr. Cara Steinkeler, Lee Anne Knapp, and all healthcare workers	Endurance, strength, and safety in working with COVID patients	Staff
Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew)	Complete healing in the womb	AJ & Rebecca Uecker
Barton Robison & Jason Wing	Blessings on their married life together	Staff
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee, Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians India Jensen Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
Church of Living Waters (Burns, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Burns, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Al-Furqan Islamic Center (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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, October 10

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Road Trip: Paul’s Missionary Journeys	via Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Faith and Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, October 11

6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	East Parking Lot
7:00 pm	Men’s Book Club	Zoom

Tuesday, October 12

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)
9:00 am	Facility Management Team Meeting	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm	Lydia Circle	St. Andrew Room
1:30 pm	Service Committee	Zoom
6:00 pm	Girl Scouts Adult Meeting	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	HR Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	Zoom

Wednesday, October 13– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

7:00 am	Bell Tree Practice	Sanctuary
10:00 am	Yoga Class	Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:45 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 14

9:30 am	Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study	St. Andrew Room
12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel, Library

Friday, October 15

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, October 16

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, October 17

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Livestream Worship with Communion	Sanctuary YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry with Donna Brocker	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Adult Library
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Road Trip: The Missionary Journeys of Paul	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful	Fellowship Hall
10:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Worship with Communion (masks required) Zoom Worship with Communion	Sanctuary Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!