Author Archives: Allison Katsufrakis

February 6, 2022

Here is the Weekly News for February 6, 2022. You can read it online, print it using the print command, or download it using the button below the online viewer.

January 30, 2022

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

Horizon Team Established

What do members of our faith community envision for the future of St. Andrew? How might we evolve to support our core values? Should we be thinking about possible changes to our traditional worship patterns, norms that have already been altered by the pandemic? What possibilities might we consider to ensure our community remains vibrant and engaged in our neighborhood and the world beyond? How can we live into God’s plan for all of creation?

The Congregational Council has established a Horizon Team to be guided by Terry Moe, longtime pastor, community organizer, and author of The Bush Still Burns: How Spirituality and Organizing Transformed a Pastor and Congregation. From the congregation, Scott Anderson, Larry Bliesner, Pat Christiansen, Bobbie Larson, Barton Robison, and LuAnn Staul will form the initial corps of the Horizon Team. Next month, they will begin outlining a plan to gather information from a wide variety of individuals and groups that are invested in St. Andrew’s future.

What do you hope to see down the road, maybe in three to five years? Start envisioning what could be. Over the next several months, the Horizon Team will be listening to many, many people as they gather ideas for a report and recommendations to the Congregational Council. Stay tuned for emerging details.

St. Andrew Job Posting: Bookkeeper

St. Andrew Lutheran Church is looking for a part-time or contract bookkeeper. Flexible hours, 10-20 hours per week, Wednesday-Friday. Primary responsibilities include recording deposits, disbursements, payroll, and transfers and running reports in QuickBooks Online; reconciling month-end statements; filing; and entering payroll data in ADP. Assist with budget planning and annual report process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years’ bookkeeping experience with nonprofit, multi-fund organizations; church fund accounting experience preferred.
• 3 years of experience using QuickBooks Online accounting software, including budgeting, reporting, and account reconciliation features.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office software.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to calculate, post, and manage accounting figures and financial records.

To apply, please submit cover letter and resume to Parish Manager Carol Harker at charker@standrewlutheran.com.

2021 Giving Statement Update

We’ve recently discovered that the giving history in Fellowship One is not working properly for everyone at this time. Please disregard last week’s instruction for your giving review.

Comprehensive 2021 statements that include both online and cash/check contributions will be emailed to those with active email addresses beginning the weekend of January 29.

Once again this year, those needing printed statements mailed to them are asked to call the church office to make that request.

Please contact me (tammychef15@gmail.com) only if you see errors in the statement you receive.

Thank you for your patience while we navigate giving statement distribution in the first year since the update to our database software last spring.

Tammy Piscitelli
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries

Adult Education Classes During Epiphany

Both classes begin at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings.

“My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”

Join Jim Aageson in Fellowship Hall for a class about our life stories as he shares some reflective vignettes from his own life that are intended to prompt others to think about their own experiences. As Jim points out in his description of the class, our life stories “may…enrich the lives of the generations who come after us. They can give life, color, and texture to the family tree. They will be part of our legacies.”

Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look & How Can We Respond?

Janet Vorvick will present information about autism, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia in the Adult Education class on Sunday at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew Room. These mental illnesses are serious and not uncommon. Janet Vorvick will investigate these topics in the Adult Education class on Sunday at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew room. Janet will discuss concrete ideas for responding to the mental health needs of people already in our congregation and people who may come as visitors. This class should be of interest to those challenged by mental illness as well as those who have friends or family members who suffer. Also, anyone who has an interest in mental illness and what we, in the church, can do will be interested, too. Questions about how our worship and programs can help those with mental health challenges will also be considered.

All Creation Sings

Last summer, we introduced a new hymnal supplement from Augsburg, All Creation Sings. The hymnal focuses on our relationship with the rest of God’s creation, both our fellow human beings and the plants and animals with whom we share the planet. With two new liturgy settings and more than 200 new hymns, All Creation Sings has been a wonderful resource and the congregation has really enjoyed exploring its offerings.

Until now, St. Andrew only had a handful of copies of the hymnal that were used by worship planners and the choir, but we are hoping to soon secure enough copies to have one in every pew in the Sanctuary!

If you’d like to have your own copy for home use, it’s a bargain at only $14.50. You can also purchase versions with keyboard accompaniment or guitar chords, or even an e-book version for use with your tablet or laptop. Go to https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/category/286070/Hymnals-and-Songbooks to order a copy if you’re interested.

Allison Katsufrakis
Minister of Music & Media

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? And 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 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 online course is offered through the Oregon Synod’s SALM and Lay Education Program. We’ll meet the following Tuesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30-8:00 pm (Pacific Time): 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.

Anyone for Bridge?

A social bridge group from St. Pius Catholic Church has begun meeting weekly in Fellowship Hall and is looking for some substitutes from St. Andrew who can fill in when needed. This is a senior group that plays on Tuesdays from 12:30-4:00 pm. No partner is needed. If you’d like to play, please call Hilary at 503-526-0650 in advance and she’ll let you know when the opportunity to sub arises.

Service Committee Hosts DVRC Director

Rowie Taylor, executive director of Beaverton’s Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), and Program Director Geeta Paul recently attended St. Andrew’s Service Committee meeting via Zoom to update the committee about the work their organization does in the community. As they spoke, it became clear that our St. Andrew financial support is indeed going to a worthy cause that reflects our core values, particularly Community Care.

The DVRC provides three main types of assistance to families of women (and some men) who are victims of domestic violence:

Housing: DVRC provides emergency shelter, then traditional housing up to one year, and rental subsidies up to two years. Monika’s House Shelter is Washington County’s only confidential domestic violence shelter and is one of only five shelters in Oregon with accommodations to shelter pets as well as people.

Counseling: DVRC provides licensed counselors and social workers for victims. COVID has necessitated that most of this is currently in the form of telehealth support.

Advocates: DVRC provides legal assistance and helps victims of domestic violence manage trauma, secure protective orders, and participate in video court.

All support that DVRC offers is confidential and without cost to their clients.

DVRC receives support from many varied sources, which enabled the organization to serve 2,028 survivors in 2021. Nearly 12,000 people received crisis services, including 3,335 safe nights in shelter.

St. Andrew is proud to provide regular support to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. If you need the organization’s assistance or know summon who does, call DVRC’s 24-hour hotline at 503-469-8620. If you’d like to support the agency yourself, find out how you can help at https://www.dvrc-or.org/donate/.

Jeannine Douglas
Service Committee

The Lord Watches Over the Foreigner (Psalm 146:9)

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your generous gift of $500 to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). Because of your support, we can continue to provide much needed help to refugee and immigrant families both as they arrive and during the time it takes to build a new life. Thanks to you, children who were separated from their parents have been reunited with their loved ones and given the resources and connections needed to recover from trauma. You’re also helping us advocate with a firm resolve for ending shameful policies that tear families apart and prevent newcomers from finding refuge here.

You have shared a vitally needed voice of hope in a world too often filled with violence, a nation too often filled with hate.

Since LIRS began, congregations like yours have helped more than 500,000 migrant and refugee men, women, and children rebuild their lives in welcoming communities across the country.

By helping LIRS welcome the stranger, you are sending a powerful message of hope conquering fear and making a life-changing difference for people restarting their lives. I am eternally grateful for your congregation’s compassion and I know the families you help extend their gratitude, too.

Together in faith,
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah
President and CEO

Community Warehouse Annual Donation Drive Cancelled

The Service Committee is disappointed to report that the Community Warehouse will not be able to support our annual donation drive. The Community Warehouse collected quality, gently used and new household goods and furniture for neighbors in need. Although the organization doesn’t currently have sufficient staff to pick up donations, it is still accepting donations at its Tualatin site at 8380 SW Nyberg Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062, from 10:00 am-4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

The Community Warehouse needs kitchen wares, pots and pans, small appliances, linens, and small furniture items. To learn more about the good work being done by the Community Warehouse, check out their website: https://www.communitywarehouse.org/.

Bible Study Resumes

Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study resumes next Thursday, February 3, at 9:30 am in the St. Andrew Room. The lesson will come from Crossway’s Knowing the Bible Series, Week 5. If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact Ed Fransen. All are welcome!

New Nonfiction

Recent nonfiction titles added to the Adult Library bookshelves include:
Opening the Gospel of John, Philip Comfort / Wendell Hawley
Greed, James Childs
Jesus’ Plan for a New World, Richard Rohr
Revelation Unveiled, Tim LaHaye
Giving to God, Mark Allan Powell
Love in a Time of Fear, Cassie J.E.H. Trentaz
Simply Sane, Gerald May, MD
After the Locusts: Letters from a Landscape of Faith, Denise Ackermann /Desmond Tutu

Preparing for next Sunday, February 6, 2022

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

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 Rob Shenk (cousin)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Francine Cach
Family and friends of DC Williams	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Allison Katsufrakis
Raya (six-month-old great-grandniece)	Successful heart surgery (Feb. 3) and recovery	Ginny Link
Pam Renick (Phyllis Morris’s daughter)	Comfort and support	India Jensen Kerr
Shari Entrikin	Comfort and healing	Jerry Entrikin
Suzanne Warnes	Comfort and healing	Suzanne Warnes
Armando Sanchez	Comfort and healing	Eric Luttrell
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Strength and healing	Mary Smith
Julie Hoffmaster	Healing and recovery	Julie Hoffmaster
David, Sam, and Amy Harker	Healing and recovery from COVID	Carol Harker
The Horizon team	Blessings on their work	Staff
Students, teachers, and school staffs	Strength and support	Staff
Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church (Beaverton, OR) Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Beaverton, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Kesser Israel (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

If you know anyone who needs a Eucharistic minister or who would benefit from a monthly visit or phone call, please contact India Jensen Kerr at india@standrewlutheran.com or 503-860-5377.

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, January 30

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Monday, January 31

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

Tuesday, February 1

7:00 am	Men’s Gathering and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	Tai Chi	Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

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

12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	via Zoom
2:30 pm	Communications Team Meeting	via Zoom
6:00 pm	Bells of Grace Rehearsal	Sanctuary
7:30 pm	Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal	Sanctuary

Thursday, February 3

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

Friday, February 4

10:00 am

Tai Chi Fellowship Hall

Saturday, February 5

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 6

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Connecting to Worship

January 23, 2022

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

St. Andrew Job Posting: Bookkeeper

St. Andrew Lutheran Church is looking for a part-time or contract bookkeeper. Flexible hours, 10-20 hours per week, Wednesday-Friday. Primary responsibilities include recording deposits, disbursements, payroll, and transfers and running reports in QuickBooks Online; reconciling month-end statements; filing; and entering payroll data in ADP. Assist with budget planning and annual report process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years’ bookkeeping experience with nonprofit, multi-fund organizations; church fund accounting experience preferred.
• 3 years of experience using QuickBooks Online accounting software, including budgeting, reporting, and account reconciliation features.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office software.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to calculate, post, and manage accounting figures and financial records.

To apply, please submit cover letter and resume to Parish Manager Carol Harker at charker@standrewlutheran.com.

Adult Education Classes During Epiphany

Both classes begin at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings.

“My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”

Join Jim Aageson in Fellowship Hall for a class about our life stories as he shares some reflective vignettes from his own life that are intended to prompt others to think about their own experiences. As Jim points out in his description of the class, our life stories “may…enrich the lives of the generations who come after us. They can give life, color, and texture to the family tree. They will be part of our legacies.”

Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look & How Can We Respond?

Janet Vorvick will present information about autism, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia in the Adult Education class on Sunday at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew Room. These mental illnesses are serious and not uncommon. Janet Vorvick will investigate these topics in the Adult Education class on Sunday at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew room. Janet will discuss concrete ideas for responding to the mental health needs of people already in our congregation and people who may come as visitors. This class should be of interest to those challenged by mental illness as well as those who have friends or family members who suffer. Also, anyone who has an interest in mental illness and what we, in the church, can do will be interested, too. In the upcoming weeks, Janet will address autism, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. Questions about how our worship and programs can help those with mental health challenges will also be considered.

Omicron Delays Launching “The Roots”

COVID has once again thrown society a curve ball with its Omicron variant and that necessitates another change in plans for St. Andrew’s children’s program, The Roots. Although the program was scheduled to launch on Sunday, January 23, Pastor Mark noted in his “Grace Note” earlier this week that “we will launch ‘The Roots’ when the time is right. In the meantime, we will continue to offer a simpler alternative for our children who come” to Sunday morning’s education hour.

Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt is excited to begin The Roots when he can be confident that both children and volunteer teachers are healthy and able to participate. With so many individuals testing positive for COVID and entering into periods of quarantine, several area school districts are returning to remote learning—providing more validation to the decision to delay The Roots at St. Andrew.

Stay tuned, and please contact kvogt@standrewlutheran.com if you have questions.

Table Talk: Teaching Anti-Racism – Shaming or Empowering Our Children?

 Thursday, January 27, 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 Thursday, January 27, 7:00-8:00 pm.  

You may have seen photos of protestors at school board meetings holding signs that say “Stop Teaching Critical Racist Theory to Our Kids” or “Creating Racial Tension.” These protestors are opposed to teaching children about the United States’ racial history. Many white parents fear that reckoning with our nation’s past racial sins and injustices will make their children feel ashamed. Adam Russell Taylor of Sojourners believes that “cultivating a greater commitment to anti-racism within the next generation will empower our kids, not instill shame.”

In this Table Talk we will discuss the case Taylor makes. Do we have any reservations about teaching anti-racism? At what age should we begin such anti-racism instruction? How might we engage in dialogue with those who want to stop the teaching of Critical Race Theory and other similar theories? To prepare for this Table Talk, please read Taylor’s essay “Teaching Anti Racism Won’t Shame Kids. It Will Empower Them”: https://sojo.net/articles/teaching-anti-racism-won-t-shame-kids it-will-empower-them. 

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? And 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 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 online 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.

2021 Giving Statements

As St. Andrew’s Financial Secretaries prepare to email giving statements the weekend of January 29, they ask that you review your information now so that any needed corrections can be made beforehand.

Please log into your Fellowship One account and scan your record for 2021. Here’s how:

• Go to www.standrewlutheran.com
• Click on “Give” in the navigation bar
• Click on the picture under “Ways to Give”
• Sign into your account with your email address and password
• Click “History” and then select “Year-2021”
• Review your giving record

If you see any errors, such as a donation being directed to an account other than you intended, please contact Tammy Piscitelli, one of St. Andrew’s volunteer Financial Secretaries, at tammychef15@gmail.com.

Once again this year, those needing printed statements mailed to them are asked to call the church office to make that request. Thank you!

Girl Scout Cookie Sales

It’s cookie sale season for Girl Scouts and time to preorder boxes if you’d like to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here’s how it works. Preorders via the girls’ individual websites end on Sunday, January 23, so if you want to ensure you’re able to munch on your favorite cookies, order now. The Girl Scouts receive their cookies on February 12 and deliver preorders shortly thereafter.

As in past years, most Girl Scouts order extra boxes that can be sold on a firstcome, first-served basis. The plan is for those extra boxes to be available for purchase February 12 – March 9. But, if you wait, you may find that your favorite varieties are not available.

Two girls in the St. Andrew community are selling Girl Scout cookies this year. Click on the link to their online sales pages to order:

Josie: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/josie829920

Gloria: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/gloria35963

And thank you for supporting our St. Andrew youth.

Anyone for Bridge?

A social bridge group from St. Pius Catholic Church has begun meeting weekly in Fellowship Hall and is looking for some substitutes from St. Andrew who can fill in when needed. This is a senior group that plays on Tuesdays from 12:30-4:00 pm. No partner is needed. If you’d like to play, please call Hilary at 503-526-0650 in advance and she’ll let you know when the opportunity to sub arises.

Service Committee Hosts DVRC Director

Rowie Taylor, executive director of Beaverton’s Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), and Program Director Geeta Paul recently attended St. Andrew’s Service Committee meeting via Zoom to update the committee about the work their organization does in the community. As they spoke, it became clear that our St. Andrew financial support is indeed going to a worthy cause that reflects our core values, particularly Community Care.

The DVRC provides three main types of assistance to families of women (and some men) who are victims of domestic violence:

Housing: DVRC provides emergency shelter, then traditional housing up to one year, and rental subsidies up to two years. Monika’s House Shelter is Washington County’s only confidential domestic violence shelter and is one of only five shelters in Oregon with accommodations to shelter pets as well as people.

Counseling: DVRC provides licensed counselors and social workers for victims. COVID has necessitated that most of this is currently in the form of telehealth support.

Advocates: DVRC provides legal assistance and helps victims of domestic violence manage trauma, secure protective orders, and participate in video court.

All support that DVRC offers is confidential and without cost to their clients.

DVRC receives support from many varied sources, which enabled the organization to serve 2,028 survivors in 2021. Nearly 12,000 people received crisis services, including 3,335 safe nights in shelter.

St. Andrew is proud to provide regular support to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. If you need the organization’s assistance or know summon who does, call DVRC’s 24-hour hotline at 503-469-8620. If you’d like to support the agency yourself, find out how you can help at https://www.dvrc-or.org/donate/.

Jeannine Douglas
Service Committee

The Lord Watches Over the Foreigner (Psalm 146:9)

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your generous gift of $500 to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). Because of your support, we can continue to provide much needed help to refugee and immigrant families both as they arrive and during the time it takes to build a new life. Thanks to you, children who were separated from their parents have been reunited with their loved ones and given the resources and connections needed to recover from trauma. You’re also helping us advocate with a firm resolve for ending shameful policies that tear families apart and prevent newcomers from finding refuge here.

You have shared a vitally needed voice of hope in a world too often filled with violence, a nation too often filled with hate.

Since LIRS began, congregations like yours have helped more than 500,000 migrant and refugee men, women, and children rebuild their lives in welcoming communities across the country.

By helping LIRS welcome the stranger, you are sending a powerful message of hope conquering fear and making a life-changing difference for people restarting their lives. I am eternally grateful for your congregation’s compassion and I know the families you help extend their gratitude, too.

Together in faith,
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah
President and CEO

Preparing for next Sunday, January 30, 2022

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

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 Nan Thompson	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Nan’s family & Staff
Family and friends of Linda Heidinger (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Judy Heidinger
Family and friends of Susan Palo Cherwien	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Allison Katsufrakis
Shari Entrikin	Comfort and healing	Jerry Entrikin
Suzanne Warnes	Comfort and healing	Suzanne Warnes
Armando Sanchez	Comfort and healing	Eric Luttrell
Lindsay Danahay (relative)	Comfort and healing	Jean Fredrickson
Madeleine (granddaughter)	Strength and healing	Mary Smith
Barton Robison	Healing and recovery	Kyler Vogt
Glenda Claborne	Healing and a swift recovery	Steve Claborne
David Harker (grandson)	Healing and recovery from COVID	Carol Harker
Leif Cahlander (nephew)	Healing and recovery from COVID	Sue Cahlander & Jan Smith
Students, teachers, and school staffs	Strength and support	Staff
Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, Dave Bumgardner, Vic Claar, Gary Grafwallner, Ian MacDonald, Gary Magnuson, Hugh Mason, Brian McKiernan, Carol Means, Ed Pacey, Corky Poppert, Jolie Reyna, Shane Throckmorton, Gary Tubbs	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
Trinity Lutheran Church (Gresham, OR) Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Hood River, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Bethany Musallah (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

If you know anyone who needs a Eucharistic minister or who would benefit from a monthly visit or phone call, please contact India Jensen Kerr at india@standrewlutheran.com or 503-860-5377.

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, January 23

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Monday, January 24

6:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Meeting	Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room
7:00 pm	Eucharistic Ministries Meeting	via Zoom

Tuesday, January 25

7:00 am	Men’s Gathering and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	Tai Chi	Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm	Community Carbon Leadership Meeting	Library and via Zoom
6:30 pm	Girl Scout Leadership Team	St. Andrew Room

Wednesday, January 26– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

Thursday, January 27

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
7:00 pm	IT Meeting	offsite
7:00 pm	Table Talk	via Zoom

Friday, January 28

10:00 am

Tai Chi Fellowship Hall

Saturday, January 29

9:00 am

Nifty Notters

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, January 30

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Connecting to Worship

January 16, 2022

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

Adult Education Classes During Epiphany

With the New Year, we get new Adult Education classes. St. Andrew’s six-week Epiphany term began between services on Sunday, January 9.

“My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”

Join Jim Aageson in Fellowship Hall for a class about our life stories as he shares some reflective vignettes from his own life that are intended to prompt others to think about their own experiences. As Jim points out in his description of the class, our life stories “may…enrich the lives of the generations who come after us. They can give life, color, and texture to the family tree. They will be part of our legacies.”

Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look & How Can We Respond?

Depression is the common cold of mental illness. Every normal life includes some times of mild depression. What makes a normal depressive episode different from depression that is mental illness? Can we pull ourselves out of depression? Janet Vorvick will investigate these topics in the Adult Education class on Sunday at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew room. Janet will discuss concrete ideas for responding to the mental health needs of people already in our congregation and people who may come as visitors. This class should be of interest to those challenged by mental illness as well as those who have friends or family members who suffer. Also, anyone who has an interest in mental illness and what we, in the church, can do will be interested, too. In the upcoming weeks, Janet will address autism, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. Questions about how our worship and programs can help those with mental health challenges will also be considered.

All classes begin at 10:00 am and are offered in person. Details about any online offerings are yet to be worked out.

Omicron Delays Launching “The Roots”

COVID has once again thrown society a curve ball with its Omicron variant and that necessitates another change in plans for St. Andrew’s children’s program, The Roots. Although the program was scheduled to launch on Sunday, January 23, Pastor Mark noted in his “Grace Note” earlier this week that “we will launch ‘The Roots’ when the time is right. In the meantime, we will continue to offer a simpler alternative for our children who come” to Sunday morning’s education hour.

Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt is excited to begin The Roots when he can be confident that both children and volunteer teachers are healthy and able to participate. With so many individuals testing positive for COVID and entering into periods of quarantine, several area school districts are returning to remote learning—providing more validation to the decision to delay The Roots at St. Andrew.

Stay tuned, and please contact kvogt@standrewlutheran.com if you have questions.

Table Talk: Teaching Anti-Racism – Shaming or Empowering Our Children?

 Thursday, January 27, 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 Thursday, January 27, 7:00-8:00 pm.  

You may have seen photos of protestors at school board meetings holding signs that say “Stop Teaching Critical Racist Theory to Our Kids” or “Creating Racial Tension.” These protestors are opposed to teaching children about the United States’ racial history. Many white parents fear that reckoning with our nation’s past racial sins and injustices will make their children feel ashamed. Adam Russell Taylor of Sojourners believes that “cultivating a greater commitment to anti-racism within the next generation will empower our kids, not instill shame.”

In this Table Talk we will discuss the case Taylor makes. Do we have any reservations about teaching anti-racism? At what age should we begin such anti-racism instruction? How might we engage in dialogue with those who want to stop the teaching of Critical Race Theory and other similar theories? To prepare for this Table Talk, please read Taylor’s essay “Teaching Anti Racism Won’t Shame Kids. It Will Empower Them”: https://sojo.net/articles/teaching-anti-racism-won-t-shame-kids it-will-empower-them. 

St. Andrew Job Posting: Bookkeeper

St. Andrew Lutheran Church is looking for a part-time or contract bookkeeper. Flexible hours, 10-20 hours per week, Wednesday-Friday. Primary responsibilities include recording deposits, disbursements, payroll, and transfers and running reports in QuickBooks Online; reconciling month-end statements; filing; and entering payroll data in ADP. Assist with budget planning and annual report process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years’ bookkeeping experience with nonprofit, multi-fund organizations; church fund accounting experience preferred.
• 3 years of experience using QuickBooks Online accounting software, including budgeting, reporting, and account reconciliation features.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office software.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to calculate, post, and manage accounting figures and financial records.
• To apply, please submit cover letter and resume to Parish Manager Carol Harker at charker@standrewlutheran.com.

A Huge Thank You

The Christmas decorations and greens are put away now for the season entitled “Time after
Epiphany.”

A big thanks to everyone who helped to take the decorations and greens down on Saturday, January 8: Susan Werner Reiser, Judy Montague, Dan & Sharon Fako, Allison Katsufrakis, Tim Holte, Don Nearhood, the Harker family, Bob Brown, and Larry Vachal.

Tammy Piscitelli

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? And 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 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 online 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.

Pandemic Protocols at St. Andrew

Vaccinations: In concert with St. Andrew’s commitment to Neighbor and Community Care, we expect all worship participants and all individuals coming into the building for a meeting or activity to be vaccinated if they are eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Online worship options (on YouTube and via Zoom) continue to be available for everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Some meetings also continue to be held via Zoom.

Masks: In Oregon, masks are required for everyone over the age of 5 inside public spaces. 

Food & Drink: St. Andrew is not yet serving food or drink. Individuals are welcome to bring beverages with them, but to remove their masks only momentarily while drinking. Communal beverage service is not permitted during meetings and food is  not served. A pilot project allowing food in the Youth Room is strictly limited to that space and those individuals. 

Worship: Masks can be lifted briefly to receive communion, but otherwise are to be worn at all times. Worship leaders may remove their masks as appropriate and when physical distancing is possible. We ask worshipers to stay in their pews and greet others outside their family group with a wave, praying hands, or a peace sign when we “share the peace.” People are encouraged to share in communion at their individual comfort level, partaking of wine and bread, bread only, or asking for a blessing by folding their arms instead.

Girl Scout Cookie Sales

It’s cookie sale season for Girl Scouts and time to preorder boxes if you’d like to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here’s how it works. Preorders via the girls’ individual websites end on Sunday, January 23, so if you want to ensure you’re able to munch on your favorite cookies, order now. The Girl Scouts receive their cookies on February 12 and deliver preorders shortly thereafter.

As in past years, most Girl Scouts order extra boxes that can be sold on a firstcome, first-served basis. The plan is for those extra boxes to be available for purchase February 12 – March 9. But, if you wait, you may find that your favorite varieties are not available.

Two girls in the St. Andrew community are selling Girl Scout cookies this year. Click on the link to their online sales pages to order:

Josie: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/josie829920

Gloria: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/gloria35963

And thank you for supporting our St. Andrew youth.

Remembering Susan Palo Cherwien

Susan Palo Cherwien, acclaimed Lutheran hymnwriter and poet, passed away on
December 28, 2021 after a battle with brain cancer. On top of her talents in poetry
and prose, she was also a beloved friend of several members of the St. Andrew
community. She was the author of 16 hymns in the Lutheran hymnals we use, one
of which is this one, “Signs and Wonders” (ELW 672):

Signs and wonders lead the dancing
From the heart God frees from fear;
Wings of angels greet the maiden,
And God finds a dwelling here;
Boldly may we lift our hands,
Bow the head, and voice Amen;
Thus does glory shine at midnight:
Open hearts invite the starlight.

Hope and freedom join the circle:
Mary to the garden came,
Saw the radiance of the marvel,
Heard the Risen call her name;
Boldly may we heed Christ’s call,
Step beyond the garden wall:
Beautiful the feet proceeding
With good news of death’s defeating.

Cast aside all fear and hiding;
Hand in hand we dance the round.
God is with us, Christ, abiding,
And the Spirit’s gifts abound.
Called by God to holiness,
Let us boldly serve and bless,
And to hearts that sigh and hunger
May our lives dance signs and wonders.

Susan Palo Cherwien is survived by her husband David, their children and grandchildren, and many beloved friends and collaborators.

Allison Katsufrakis
Minister of Music & Media

Sunday’s Sermon

Children & Youth Minister Kyler Vogt is preaching this Sunday and will use the gospel story of Jesus turning water into wine as a starting point for his remarks. Expect his sermon to reveal a fresh perspective on a familiar reading.

Snug, Multi-layered Masks Work

Taken from the Oregon Health Authority’s Covid Blog

The best protection we have against COVID-19 continues to be vaccines plus booster shots. Early data from South Africa and the United Kingdom indicates a booster shot provides 75% effectiveness against infection with the Omicron variant.

But we can’t relax our behavior when it comes to masking. COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and tiny particles that contain the virus. Other people can then inhale these droplets and particles. Because the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the Delta Variant, wearing a well-fitting mask is more important than ever to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Everyone should wear a mask indoors and in crowded outdoor settings to protect themselves and those around them. Wearing two masks, in fact, is even better. Start with a disposable surgical mask next to the face, followed by a cloth mask on top that fits snugly so that less breath (and particles) escapes. Do not wear two disposable masks. You can also consider a single high filtration efficiency mask designed for a tight fit to the face. These include N95, KN95, and KF94 respirators from trusted sources.

Dr. Ali Hamade, senior health advisor at the Oregon Health Authority, said, “To maximize mask efficiency, you need effective filtering material and a tight fit to the face. The better the combination of these two qualities, the fewer particles you release or inhale. Fewer virus particles in the air can result in a lower risk of transmission from an infected person.”

Hamade also noted the importance of good ventilation indoors to refresh the air. An air purifier (HEPA, preferred) can also help reduce the number of any virus-containing particles in indoor air when ventilation is not adequate.

Summary of Masking Tips

• Masks must be worn over the mouth and nose, which are both potential habitats for viruses.
• A cloth mask may be worn over a disposable mask. This adds a layer and improves the poor fit of disposable masks. Do not layer two disposable masks.
• A high-filtration efficiency mask with a tight fit to the face is another option. These include N95, KN95, and KF94 respirators. Be careful of counterfeit items among these products that might not have the desired filtration efficiency.
• Do not wear masks with ventilation valves. These ventilation valves allow particles and droplets to escape into the air.
• Choose a mask that fits snugly against your face and is secure under your chin. A mask that has gaps around your nose or along your cheeks allows air to freely leave or enter. Masks with nose wires can improve the fit and ensure most air and breath is being filtered through the mask.
• A cloth mask with multiple layers of washable, breathable, tightly woven fabric blocks more droplets than a cloth mask with only one layer of fabric. A study by the University of Illinois found the first layer reduces the speed of the droplets that escape, thereby allowing the second layer to trap and block most of the remaining droplets, as much as 94 percent total. Some masks have space for an additional layer of fabric to be inserted.

Preparing for next Sunday, January 23, 2021

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Old Testament Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Gospel: Luke 4:14-21

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 Nan Thompson	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Nan’s family & Staff
Family and friends of Linda Heidinger (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Judy Heidinger
Family and friends of Susan Palo Cherwien	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Allison Katsufrakis
Lindsay Danahay (relative)	Comfort and healing	Jean Fredrickson
Barton Robison	Healing and recovery	Kyler Vogt
Glenda Claborne	Successful surgery and a swift recovery	Steve Claborne
Secelia Holte (sister)	Healing and recover from elbow surgery	Tim Holte
Leif Cahlander (nephew)	Healing and recovery from COVID	Sue Cahlander & Jan Smith
Lynn Valenter (daughter)	Healing and recovery from COVID	Hal & Jeannine Douglas
Aimee (granddaughter) and her family	Healing and recovery from COVID	Rick & Becky LeRoy
Paul Blouin	Healing and recovery from health issues	Sonja Ackman
Donna Faught	Strength and recovery after surgery	Gretchen Bancroft
Warren McAlpine	Healing and recovery	Donna McAlpine
Ethel Ritchey	Healing and recovery from hip surgery	Staff
Joyce Bianucci (sister)	Thanksgiving for successful surgery, as well as healing and recovery	Judy Scholz
Dan Bianucci	Strength and support	Judy Scholz
Erica (niece)	Strength and recovery	Kelly Wise
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
St. Peter Lutheran Church (Tillamook, OR) HoodlandLutheran Church (Brightwood, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Nevah 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, January 16

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Monday, January 17

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, January 18

7:00 am	Men’s Gathering and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	Tai Chi	Fellowship Hall
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library

Wednesday, January 19 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

1:00 pm	Caring Ministry Meeting	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Scout Troop 618 Committee Meeting	St. Andrew Room

Thursday, January 20

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
7:00 pm	Council Meeting (also via Zoom)	St. Andrew Room

Friday, January 21

10:00 am

Tai Chi Fellowship Hall

Saturday, January 8

1:00 pm

Nan Thompson Memorial Service

Sanctuary

Sunday, January 23

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Connecting to Worship

January 9, 2022

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

New Adult Ed Classes Begin January 9

With the New Year, we get new Adult Education classes. St. Andrew’s six-week Epiphany term begins between services on Sunday, January 9.

“My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”

Join Jim Aageson in Fellowship Hall for a class about our life stories as he shares some reflective vignettes from his own life that are intended to prompt others to think about their own experiences. As Jim points out in his description of the class, our life stories “may…enrich the lives of the generations who come after us. They can give life, color, and texture to the family tree. They will be part of our legacies.”

Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look & How Can We Respond?

Has the COVID crisis increased the incitence of mental illness in the United States? How are people struggling with mental illness dealing with the anxiety and isolation of COVID? Janet Vorvick will investigate these topics in an Adult Education class on Sundays at 10:00 am in the St. Andrew room. Janet will discuss concrete ideas for responding to the mental health needs of people already in our congregation and people who may come as visitors. This class should be of interest to those challenged by mental illness as well as those who have friends or family members who suffer. Also, anyone who has an interest in mental illness and what we, in the church, can do will be interested, too. In the upcoming weeks, Janet will address depression, autism, borderline personality disorder, and other specific mental illnesses. Questions about how our worship and programs can help those with mental health challenges will also be considered.

All classes begin at 10:00 am and are offered in person. Details about any online offerings are yet to be worked out.

The Roots Launches January 23!

St. Andrew’s brand new Sunday morning children’s program, The Roots, is launching on Sunday, January 23! We will start off at 10:00 am in the Children’s Commons downstairs.

This completely original program is designed with the fun of summer day camps in mind–kids will move through rotations of storytelling, games, art, service, science, and music as they engage with stories from the Bible. The Bible stories we will be teaching have been hand-picked to emphasize our five core values of God care, Earth care, Neighbor care, Community care, and Self care. This program is open to all kids of vaccination age, kindergarten through grade 5. We are so excited and look forward to seeing you all again! 

If you are interested in participating in The Roots as a volunteer, we still need help specifically in leading games/arts and crafts. Contact kvogt@standrewlutheran.com to join the team! 

Taking Down the Greens

Your help is needed this Saturday, January 8, at 10:00am for putting away the Christmas decorations and taking down the greens.  Thank you in advance!

I would like to thank those who helped to hang the greens and decorations: The Harker Family, Susan Werner-Reiser, Ed Fransen, Roger & Pat Sandquist, Judy Montague, Pam Jelineo, Allison Katsufrakis, Tim Holte, Pastor Mark, Rick LeRoy, Larry Vachal, Scott Taylor, and anyone else. We had such a good turnout and so much fun!

Happy New Year and much gratitude,
Tammy Piscitelli

Parish Chaplain Installation

India Jensen Kerr will be installed as Parish Chaplain at both worship services on Sunday, January 9. In her new role, she will minister to those in crisis; provide and coordinate hospital and home visits; recruit, train, and coordinate Eucharistic Ministers; preach once a month; and provide guidance on self-care and spiritual issues.

Please join everyone on staff in welcoming her to this new position. India can be reached at 503-646-0629, ext. 211, or at india@standrewlutheran.com.

An Opportunity

The Service Committee is in need of volunteers to work at Clothes for Kids, previously known as the Beaverton Clothes Closet. The area of need is on Wednesdays from 2:15-4:30 & 4:15-6:30. Jobs include sorting donated clothes, making phone calls for appointment reminders, and working with a small number of families as they select clothing. It would be helpful if we could provide someone who speaks Spanish, but it is not necessary. This is a ministry that St. Andrew has participated in for several years. We had to take a break during COVID, but now we are trying to fulfill a need within our community once again. If interested or you have questions, please contact Bonnie Bliesner at larrybliesner@comcast.net or call 503-830-7001.

Thank you for your interest and your service.

Resolving to Become Smarter about Plastic

Several people on St. Andrew’s Earth Care Team have made it their mission to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. According to data from 2010, each person in the U.S. discards more than 225 pounds of plastic a year and much of it ends up polluting the environment for all living beings. Plastic is everywhere, including the food chain that humans depend on for sustenance. A recent study carried out by scientists at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and the World Wildlife Fund showed that “each of us consumes about 5 grams of [micro] plastic each week. In short, it is as if every week we are eating a credit card.”

But, there are increasingly more alternatives to plastic packaging and Portland is an area rich with resources to investigate. Liz Hardy recently put together a list of retail stores that help people make the transition to a plastic-free lifestyle, as well as a sampling of online options and some excellent online resources. Pick up a handout from the Earth Care Kiosk in the Narthex and make 2022 the year you reduce the single-use plastic in your life.

The Work of Christmas

Howard Washington Thurman was an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. A prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in several social justice movements. Thurman died in 1981.

Finding Liturgy in Life and Life in Liturgy

An Oregon Synod Lay Education Course

How does liturgy shape us? And 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 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 online 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.

Giving to a Designated Fund

How does the church’s Finance Team manage donations to St. Andrew? The team works collectively to make sure contributions are handled properly. The Financial Secretaries receive and record income from contributing members and other sources, ensure all receipts are disbursed to the appropriate funds, and prepare a report of individual giving at the end of the calendar year. The Treasurers keep the books of account of the congregation, receive records of receipts from the Financial Secretaries, disburse funds, and provide a report to the Church Council each month.

It’s common for donors to specify that a portion of their contribution go to the Mortgage Fund, with another portion going to the Ministry & Mission Fund. If money donated to the church is not designated, it goes automatically to the Ministry & Mission fund to support ongoing operations.

In addition, donors can direct their contributions to an array of different initiatives—the COVID Fund, a fund for IT Equipment, the PIPE Fund (for property improvement and repair), Lutheran Disaster Relief, etc. Throughout the year, other funds are identified as part of the Service Committee’s work to support local agencies helping people in our community. Our faith community typically collects socks (Outside In) for homeless teens in September, school supplies (Lutheran World Relief) June-October, warm winter clothing (Western Farm Workers) in September, household items (Community Warehouse) in January, and so forth. You’ll find a complete calendar of Service Committee projects online. All of them accept cash donations as well as in-kind contributions.

Whenever possible, the Financial Secretaries request that parishioners support a particular project at the same time that the Service Committee is focused on that initiative. If you’re over 70, though, and must take a Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account, that might not work, since this is something that is typically done at the end of the calendar year. If you’d like your contribution to go somewhere other than the Ministry & Mission Fund, simply identify the account you want your donation to support by selecting the appropriate drop-down option of designated funds on our website or writing it in the comment line on your check.

St. Andrew people have a history of generous giving to support our Ministry & Mission. For Christians who strive to live as God wants, giving is one way we show love for our most marginalized neighbors. We give joyfully to ensure people have food on their tables and all those necessities that allow them to live in dignity. We give when disaster strikes. We give to support agencies working on behalf of refugees or people facing homelessness. Whether modest or magnified, we thank you for your gifts!

Table Talk: Teaching Anti-Racism – Shaming or Empowering Our Children?

 Thursday, January 27, 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 Thursday, January 27, 7:00-8:00 pm.  

You may have seen photos of protestors at school board meetings holding signs that say “Stop Teaching Critical Racist Theory to Our Kids” or “Creating Racial Tension.” These protestors are opposed to teaching children about the United States’ racial history. Many white parents fear that reckoning with our nation’s past racial sins and injustices will make their children feel ashamed. Adam Russell Taylor of Sojourners believes that “cultivating a greater commitment to anti-racism within the next generation will empower our kids, not instill shame.”

In this Table Talk we will discuss the case Taylor makes. Do we have any reservations about teaching anti-racism? At what age should we begin such anti-racism instruction? How might we engage in dialogue with those who want to stop the teaching of Critical Race Theory and other similar theories? To prepare for this Table Talk, please read Taylor’s essay “Teaching Anti Racism Won’t Shame Kids. It Will Empower Them”: https://sojo.net/articles/teaching-anti-racism-won-t-shame-kids it-will-empower-them. 

Fantasy Football Champion: Barton Robison

The 2021 fantasy football season has come to a close, and the St. Andrew Fantasy Football league has a new champion: Barton Robison! After needing a tie-breaker to get past Suzanne Warnes and advance to the league championship, Barton defeated Paul Navarre in the championship matchup to claim the crown. Though this was Barton’s first time ever playing fantasy football, he had a veteran on his team: 44-year old quarterback Tom Brady helped carry his team all season long. Congrats, Barton! 

Thanks to everyone who played fantasy football this year! The age range of participants in this months-long event spanned  from 17 to 85 years old…a whopping 68-year gap between the youngest and oldest participant. It has been so fun to use football to stay connected during another pandemic season. See you again next year!

Kyler Vogt
Children & Youth Minister

Pandemic Protocols at St. Andrew

Vaccinations: In concert with St. Andrew’s commitment to Neighbor and Community Care, we expect all worship participants and all individuals coming into the building for a meeting or activity to be vaccinated if they are eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Online worship options (on YouTube and via Zoom) continue to be available for everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Some meetings also continue to be held via Zoom.

Masks: In Oregon, masks are required for everyone over the age  of 5 inside public spaces. 

Food & Drink: St. Andrew is not yet serving food or drink. Individuals are welcome to bring beverages with them, but to remove their masks only momentarily while drinking. Communal beverage service is not permitted during meetings and food is  not served. A pilot project allowing food in the Youth Room is strictly limited to that space and those individuals. 

Worship: Masks can be lifted briefly to receive communion, but otherwise are to be worn at all times. Worship leaders may remove their masks as appropriate and when physical distancing is possible. We ask worshipers to stay in their pews and greet others outside their family group with a wave, praying hands, or a peace sign when we “share the peace.” People are encouraged to share in communion at their individual comfort level, partaking of wine and bread, bread only, or asking for a blessing by folding their arms instead.

After Epiphany, the Twelfth Night of Christmas

Do you know the traditions surrounding the days that follow Epiphany, which Christians celebrate on January 6 to mark the revelation of Jesus as God incarnate? In medieval times, once the 12 Days of Christmas concluded, tradition prescribed that women take up the work of spinning again, turning raw wool, cotton, or flax into thread that could then be woven into clothing and all sorts of textiles needed by the family.  

Thus, January 7 has long been known as St. Distaff’s Day. The distaff is a stick or spindle onto which wool or flax was wound for spinning. Since spinning was a basic daily task customarily done by women, the distaff became the symbol for women’s work. Even today, spinners mark St. Distaff’s Day, although the tasks they undertake in the fiber arts are much less a necessity and more recreational.

Depending on the year during the Middle Ages, men might enjoy a few extra days of relative leisure following the 12 Days of Christmas. Plough Monday dates back to the 15^th century and marked the day men would return to work in the fields. Plough Monday was the traditional start of the English agricultural year and it followed—can you guess?—Plough Sunday. Plough Sunday celebrations usually involved bringing a ploughshare into a church with prayers for the blessing of the land. 

Thou Shalt Not Lie, Pinocchio

Have you ever actually read the tale of Pinocchio? I hadn’t and there is much more to it than I’d ever heard. Nor did I think of it as a fairy tale, but I guess it is. I must recommend it to you, and to this particular copy as well. The pictures are so odd and captivating that I was quite taken in.

It is what would be known as a cautionary tale, wherein the reader is warned of the pitfalls of certain behaviors or ways of thinking in a story told in such a light and fanciful manner that it’s impossible to dwell on the grave results of wrong-doing. Instead, like Pinocchio himself, the reader skips along into the next scene of mischief. But Pinocchio does eventually learn his lessons, as should we, so that all turns out well in the end. Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi with art
by Sara Fanelli, is a fast and pleasant read offering a new take on the art of illustration.

Pam Farr
Adult Librarian

Men’s Book Club

Remember when seers foretold the paperless office? Well, that has not happened. Paper continues to be one of the simplest and most essential pieces of human technology used worldwide. This Monday, January 10, Gary Link will lead the discussion of Paper: Paging Through History, by Mark Kurlansky. According to Amazon’s description of the book, “For the past two millennia, the ability to produce [paper] in ever more efficient ways has supported the proliferation of literacy, media, religion, education, commerce, and art; it has formed the foundation of civilizations, promoting revolutions and restoring stability. By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the
contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay.”

The Men’s Book Club will meet at 7:00 pm in the St. Andrew Library.

Preparing for next Sunday, January 16, 2021

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Gospel: John 2:1-11

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 Bruce Maxwell	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Marlene Maxwell & Staff
Family and friends of Carl Cash, especially his wife Sydney (niece) and their 2 young children	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Judy Deal
Barton Robison	Successful surgery, healing and recovery	Kyler Vogt
Glenda Claborne	Successful surgery and a swift recovery	Steve Claborne
Secelia Holte (sister)	Healing and recover from elbow surgery	Tim Holte
Lynn Valenter (daughter)	Healing and recovery from COVID	Hal & Jeannine Douglas
Aimee (granddaughter) and her family	Healing and recovery from COVID	Rick & Becky LeRoy
Paul Blouin	Healing and recovery from health issues	Sonja Ackman
Donna Faught	Strength and recovery after surgery	Gretchen Bancroft
Warren McAlpine	Healing and recovery	Donna McAlpine
Joyce Bianucci (sister)	Thanksgiving for successful surgery, as well as healing and recovery	Judy Scholz
Dan Bianucci	Strength and support	Judy Scholz
Erica (niece)	Strength and recovery	Kelly Wise
Ethel Ritchey	Healing and recovery from hip surgery	Staff
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee, and staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminary students India Jensen Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
St. Andrew Foundation	Blessings on their ministry	Staff
Faith Lutheran Church (Clatskanie, OR) Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Seaside, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Islamic Center of Portland (Portland and Beaverton, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff
Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer	Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud	Everyone

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, January 9, Baptism of Jesus

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
10:00 am	Children’s Ministry	Children’s Library
10:00 am	Confirmation (for grades 6-8)	Library and via Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Youth Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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	Scouts Tree Recycling	East Parkin Lot

Monday, January 10

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

Tuesday, January 11

7:00 am	Men’s Gathering and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
9:00 am	Facility Management Team Meeting	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Tai Chi	Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm	Lydia Circle	St. Andrew Room
1:30 pm	Service Committee	via Zoom
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	via Zoom

Wednesday, January 12– Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

Thursday, January 13

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
5:30 pm	HR Meeting	via Zoom

Friday, January 14

10:00 am Tai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, January 8

10:30 am

Memorial Service: Keith Poppert

Sanctuary

Sunday, January 16- Second Sunday after Epiphany

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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

Connecting to Worship

January 2, 2022

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

New Adult Ed Classes Begin January 9

With the New Year, we get new Adult Education classes. St. Andrew’s six-week Epiphany term begins between services on Sunday, January 9.

“My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way”

Join Jim Aageson in Fellowship Hall for a class about our life stories as he shares some reflective vignettes from his own life that are intended to prompt others to think about their own experiences. As Jim points out in his description of the class, our life stories “may…enrich the lives of the generations who come after us. They can give life, color, and texture to the family tree. They will be part of our legacies.”

Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look & How Can We Respond?

Janet Vorvick knows that mental illness affects lots of individuals, some of whom come to church with special needs. What can we do? Janet will explore several types of illness and offer concrete ideas for how to talk to people who suffer from depression, autism, or some other category of illness. She’ll share ideas from other churches, explore what we can learn about mental illness from the Bible and our hymns, and encourage open conversations. Join her in the St. Andrew Room.

All classes begin at 10:00 am and are offered in person. Details about any online offerings are yet to be worked out.

The Roots Launches January 23!

St. Andrew’s brand new Sunday morning children’s program, The Roots, is launching on Sunday, January 23! We will start off at 10:00 am in the Children’s Commons downstairs.

This completely original program is designed with the fun of summer day camps in mind–kids will move through rotations of storytelling, games, art, service, science, and music as they engage with stories from the Bible. The Bible stories we will be teaching have been hand-picked to emphasize our five core values of God care, Earth care, Neighbor care, Community care, and Self care. This program is open to all kids of vaccination age, kindergarten through grade 5. We are so excited and look forward to seeing you all again! 

If you are interested in participating in The Roots as a volunteer, we still need help specifically in leading games/arts and crafts. Contact kvogt@standrewlutheran.com to join the team! 

Welcome, India, Parish Chaplain

St. Andrew is delighted to welcome India Jensen Kerr as our Parish Chaplain. While many in our faith community know India and her family as longtime members, you may not know that she earned her undergraduate degree in Comparative Religious Studies at the University of Oregon, went to seminary at Marylhurst University, and is a current PhD student at Claremont School of Theology in Hebrew Bible. She also has a post-baccalaureate certificate in Women’s Studies from Portland State University.

India served as a volunteer chaplain at Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin for more than three years and has worked and volunteered in social services, as well as volunteering to preach at a nursing home. At St. Andrew, India has served with the RIC Team, worked with Safe and Healthy Congregations, Domestic Violence, and Centering Prayer. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister for years.

In her new role, she will minister to those in crisis; provide and coordinate hospital and home visits; recruit, train, and coordinate Eucharistic Ministers; preach once a month; and provide guidance on self-care and spiritual issues. India can be reached at 503-646-0629, ext. 211, or at india@standrewlutheran.com.

Nifty Notters

This year you’re invited to make a New Year’s resolution to join the Nifty Notters. Come see what we’re doing on Saturday, January 8^th and 29^th between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Stay for all or part of the time as we work on quilts for Lutheran World Relief and NW Children’s Outreach. We have projects for all skill levels and no experience is needed. All materials are provided. 

A special thanks goes to Judy Heidinger for her research in finding NW Children’s Outreach after Virginia Garcia Clinic cut back on their need for baby quilts. Also thanks to those who have made some wonderful fabric donations. If you have questions, please contact Mary Brown at 503-439-3917. 

Please note: we will NOT meet on January 1^st or 15^th. 

Thank You, Pastor Susan

As Pastor Susan Kintner eases back into a well-deserved retirement, we thank her for filling the role of Pandemic Pastor at St. Andrew for the past nine months. Thank you for your thoughtful sermons, for recognizing that the pandemic has transported us to a new kind of wilderness, and for guiding us through a liminal time when certainty is rare and our destination largely unknown. God be with you as you explore your creative talents and forge your best future!

Baby Rose

The rose on the altar today celebrates the birth of Ayla Marie Poloahilani Myers, born on December 23 to parents Erik & Dominique. Erik is Sharon Carlson’s youngest son and Ayla is her first grandchild. Welcome, Ayla. Congratulations to one and all!

Giving to a Designated Fund

During Advent, several St. Andrew people donated additional funds to support the Giving Tree project for Barnes Elementary families and immigrant families in need. Thank you for your most generous support! Your expression of Christian love has had an enormous impact on families struggling to make ends meet.

How does the church’s Finance Team manage donations to St. Andrew? The team works collectively to make sure contributions are handled properly. The Financial Secretaries receive and record income from contributing members and other sources, ensure all receipts are disbursed to the appropriate funds, and prepare a report of individual giving at the end of the calendar year. The Treasurers keep the books of account of the congregation, receive records of receipts from the Financial Secretaries, disburse funds, and provide a report to the Church Council each month.

It’s common for donors to specify that a portion of their contribution go to the Mortgage Fund, with another portion going to the Ministry & Mission Fund. If money donated to the church is not designated, it goes automatically to the Ministry & Mission fund to support ongoing operations.

In addition, donors can direct their contributions to an array of different initiatives—the COVID Fund, a fund for IT Equipment, the PIPE Fund (for property improvement and repair), Lutheran Disaster Relief, etc. Throughout the year, other funds are identified as part of the Service Committee’s work to support local agencies helping people in our community. Our faith community typically collects socks (Outside In) for homeless teens in September, school supplies (Lutheran World Relief) June-October, warm winter clothing (Western Farm Workers) in September, household items (Community Warehouse) in January, and so forth. You’ll find a complete calendar of Service Committee projects online. All of them accept cash donations as well as in-kind contributions.

Whenever possible, the Financial Secretaries request that parishioners support a particular project at the same time that the Service Committee is focused on that initiative. If you’re over 70, though, and must take a Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account, that might not work, since this is something that is typically done at the end of the calendar year. If you’d like your contribution to go somewhere other than the Ministry & Mission Fund, simply identify the account you want your donation to support by selecting the appropriate drop-down option of designated funds on our website or writing it in the comment line on your check.

St. Andrew people have a history of generous giving to support our Ministry & Mission and, right now, many are focusing their gifts to pay down the mortgage, too. We anticipate that the current Hope for All campaign to retire the mortgage will succeed and that the mortgage will be paid off in time for the congregation’s 70^th anniversary in 2023.

For Christians who strive to live as God wants, giving is one way we show love for our most marginalized neighbors. We give joyfully to ensure people have food on their tables and all those necessities that allow them to live in dignity. We give when disaster strikes. We give to support agencies working on behalf of refugees or people facing homelessness. Whether modest or magnified, we thank you for your gifts!

The

An Opportunity

The Service Committee is in need of volunteers to work at Clothes for Kids, previously known as the Beaverton Clothes Closet. The area of need is on Wednesdays from 2:15-4:30 & 4:15-6:30. Jobs include sorting donated clothes, making phone calls for appointment reminders, and working with a small number of families as they select clothing. It would be helpful if we could provide someone who speaks Spanish, but it is not necessary. This is a ministry that St. Andrew has participated in for several years. We had to take a break during COVID, but now we are trying to fulfill a need within our community once again. If interested or you have questions, please contact Bonnie Bliesner @ larrybliesner@comcast.net or call 503-830-7001.

Thank you for your interest and your service.

Taking Down the Greens

Your help is needed next Saturday, January 8, at 10:00am for putting away the Christmas decorations and taking down the greens.  Thank you in advance!

I would like to thank those who helped to hang the greens and decorations: The Harker Family, Susan Werner-Reiser, Ed Fransen, Roger & Pat Sandquist, Judy Montague, Pam Jelineo, Allison Katsufrakis, Tim Holte, Pastor Mark, Rick LeRoy, Larry Vachal, Scott Taylor, and anyone else. We had such a good turnout and so much fun!

Happy New Year and much gratitude,
Tammy Piscitelli

New in the Adult Library

We can barely keep up with Pam Farr as she stocks St. Andrew’s Adult Library with lots of new books. Here are some of the latest:

Fiction

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong

Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate

Gray Mountain, John Grisham

Edge of Eternity, Ken Follett

Prodigal Summer, Barbara Kingsolver

West with Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge

Non-Fiction

Keys to Bonhoeffer’s House, Laura M. Fabrycky

The Last Days of the Incas, Kim Macquarie

Dispatches, Michael Herr

Separated by the Border: A Birth Mother, A Foster Mother, & a Migrant Child’s 3,000-Mile Journey, Gena Thomas

Preparing for next Sunday, January 9, 2021

Baptism of Our Lord

Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

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

Resolving to Become Smarter about Plastic

Several people on St. Andrew’s Earth Care Team have made it their mission to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. According to data from 2010, each person in the U.S. discards more than 225 pounds of plastic a year and much of it ends up polluting the environment for all living beings. Plastic is everywhere, including the food chain that humans depend on for sustenance. A recent study carried out by scientists at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and the World Wildlife Fund showed that “each of us consumes about 5 grams of [micro] plastic each week. In short, it is as if every week we are eating a credit card.”

But, there are increasingly more alternatives to plastic packaging and Portland is an area rich with resources to investigate. Liz Hardy recently put together a list of retail stores that help people make the transition to a plastic-free lifestyle, as well as a sampling of online options and some excellent online resources. Pick up a handout from the Earth Care Kiosk in the Narthex and make 2022 the year you reduce the single-use plastic in your life.

The Work of Christmas

Howard Washington Thurman was an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. A prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in several social justice movements. Thurman died in 1981.

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 Bruce Maxwell	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Marlene Maxwell & Staff
Family and friends of Carl Cash, especially his wife Sydney (niece) and their 2 young children	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Judy Deal
Warren McAlpine	Successful knee surgery (January 4)	Donna McAlpine
Joyce Bianucci (sister)	Successful surgery (January 5)	Judy Scholz
Dan Bianucci	Strength and support	Judy Scholz
Erica (niece)	Strength and recovery	Kelly Wise
Ethel Ritchey	Healing and recovery from hip surgery	Staff
Amy Fiegenbaum	Healing and recovery	Ed and Linda Fransen
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Ayla Marie Poloahilani Myers (grandchild)	Blessings on her birth	Sharon Carlson
The homeless	Shelter, protection, and hope	Staff
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod and Staff	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Refugees and immigrants	Acceptance, safety, and just treatment	Staff
Military personnel, especially Justina Hailey Hope Brocker, Evan Dahlquist, Dawson Dethlefs, Neil Fiegenbaum, and Jerami Reyna	Courage and protection	Staff
First Lutheran Church (Astoria, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Astoria, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Islamic Center of Portland (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, January 2, Second Sunday of Christmas

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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	Scouts Tree Recycling	East Parking Lot

Monday, January 3

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, January 4

7:00 am	Men’s Gathering and Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant (1250 NW Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	Meals on Wheels / Loaves and Fishes	Off Site
10:00 am	Worship Planners Meeting	Library
10:00 am	Tai Chi	Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	St. Andrew Room

Wednesday, January 5 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

Thursday, January 6

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Chapel/Library
7:00 pm	Executive (Council) Committee Meeting	via Zoom

Friday, January 7

10:00 am Tai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Saturday, January 8

8:00 am	Scouts Tree Recycling	East Parking Lot
9:00 am	Nifty Notters	Fellowship Hall

Sunday, January 9 – Baptism of Jesus

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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
10:00 am	Adult Ed: Mental Illness in Our Midst: How Does It Look and How Can We Respond?	St. Andrew Room
10:00 am	Adult Ed: My Journey: What I’ve Learned Along the Way, and What Difference Does It Make	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	Scouts Tree Recycling	East Parkin Lot

Connecting to Worship

December 19, 2021

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

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 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 19: Elaine May will lead Living in the Shadows of Hope. Join Elaine in putting it all together. Where do we go from here? How can we be White Allies?

Racial Equity Challenge suggestions: 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge — America & Moore
Read: Ally or Co-conspirator? What it means to act #InSolidarity
Listen: Do the Work podcast (episodes 30-50 mins)
Watch: Black Lives Matter: How Can We Win? Kimberly Jones’ Powerful Speech
Notice: Notice how much of your day you are speaking about racism? Who are you engaging with on these issues? Who are you not? Why do you think this is?
Connect: Racial Equity Tools
Engage: Research racial justice speakers and see who might be coming to your local university, church, community center, or speaker series.
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

Allison Katsufrakis will offer a meditation focused on how darkness holds God at Advent Evening Prayer this Wednesday, December 22. Join in worship in the Sanctuary or via Zoom at 7:00 pm. Our theme for the season is “Holy Darkness.”

A Christmas Tradition

Commemorating a Project for the Good of All

The Butner Road that runs in front of our church building looks different now than it did a couple of years ago. During the pandemic, the Butner Road project initiated by our neighbor Betty Baldwin was completed. Although Betty has since died, she would celebrate the difference this project has made for people living along Johnson Creek and for all those who walk, ride bicycles, or drive on our street. Continually impacted by high water, Betty and her neighbors were regularly sandbagging their homes or cleaning up after the floodwater receded. Now, a much larger culvert under Butner Road enables creek water to move toward its destination without encroaching so much into yards and homes. Plus, a stepping stone water collection system installed between two of our church driveways slows and contains water rushing toward the creek from higher ground.

Working in conjunction with Vic Claar, former Council president, and others at St. Andrew, Betty endorsed expanding her project to include the installation of bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and a crosswalk at 126th Avenue for safety and community livability. The church joined Betty in advocating for the project and hosted community gatherings to keep people informed and to build support.

As the Clean Water Services sign posted across Butner Road near Johnson Creek says, “Thanks to Betty’s advocacy, the project became the impetus for an Oregon Solutions designation and the eventual creation of the Tualatin Watershed Enhancement Collaborative.” This was St. Andrew’s first Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good sort of project and it worked— for the good of all.

Thanksgiving Thanks

The good news for today is that St. Andrew has no shortage of generosity. Donations for the Thanksgiving food drive allowed us to provide $50 gift cards for needy families to buy food for Thanksgiving. When Linda McDowell and I met with Leslie from Community Action of Washington County we learned of the work they do to support families at risk. Community Action provides hope, help, and change for families in transition to reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect. In addition to the gift cards we donated in the amount of $3,750, we are also able to donate $3,000 to the St. Matthew Food Pantry. The pantry uses monetary donations to purchase items to supplement food donations it receives and spends about $5,000 per month to make purchases. The generosity of St. Andrew members makes life a bit easier for those in need. Thank you.

LuAnn Staul and the Service Committee

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!

Community Action Appreciation

Dear People of St. Andrew,

On behalf of Community Action, please accept our sincere thanks for your generous in-kind donation of 75 $50 Winco gift cards for our Healthy Families program. These gift cards were a big help to the families we serve, especially during this holiday season.

Your partnership with Community Action is bringing hope, help, and change to the thousands of local families who are striving to overcome conditions of poverty and build a safe and secure future for their children. Together we are creating opportunities for families and communities to thrive.

Again, thank you for joining us in our efforts to ensure that all Washington County residents can live with dignity and security. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,
Kemp Shuey
Executive Director

How Cool is That?

Members of St. Andrew’s Earth Care Team are getting started on an ambitious agenda for 2022, having just submitted two entries to Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Congregations Challenge. The team applied for Sacred Grounds Steward and Community Inspiration recognition, two of the six categories available.

Although judging doesn’t conclude until February, team members marveled at how much they’ve accomplished since 2019:

• Conducted 15 yard surveys
• Published more than 100 Earth Care articles in our newsletter
• Consulted with United Church of Christ, Lake Oswego; provided a tour of our property for United Church of Christ, Waverly; made a presentation to the Pachamama Alliance, etc.
• Presented commentary in forums following the viewing of the documentaries The Human Element and Kiss the Ground, which were made possible by Interfaith Power & Light
• Inspired Camp Lutherwood to implement additional Earth Care content in their curriculum
• Created an Earth Care informational kiosk for the church
• Performed 5 Soil Garden blessings at the church and members’ homes
• Added 2,500 native trees and shrubs to our forested upland with the help of Clean Water Services
• Provided Earth Care children’s sermons during Advent and Lent, focusing on carbon storage and native plants
• Added 5 mason bee houses near our Community Garden
• Created a Reformation Earth Garden with the planting of 2 native Oregon white oaks and several other native trees, as well as 80 native shrubs and more than 60 native perennials
• Conducted a congregation survey to evaluate current soil garden practices
• Held our first Earth Care Camp for 30 children 6-11 years old
• Incorporated Earth Care-focused music and liturgy into our weekly worship

If you would like to join the Earth Care Team and do more to protect the planet, contact LuAnn Staul, Eric Luttrell, or Carol Harker.

Disaster Response for Tornado Victims

On the night of December 10 and early morning of December 11, an outbreak of at least 30 powerful tornadoes swept through six states, leaving swaths of destruction and dozens of people dead.

Lutheran Disaster Response is collaborating with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod and other partners in the area to assess the damage and develop an immediate and a long-term response plan, sharing hope with our neighbors in their time of greatest need.

If you give electronically, you may now direct funds to Lutheran Disaster Response (a designated fund) on the church website. If you prefer to write a check, please indicate “U.S. Tornadoes” on the subject line. Gifts will be used in full to help people impacted by the tornadoes.

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 26, 2021

First Sunday of Christmas

Readings: Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

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 Nan Thompson	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Staff
Family and friends of Lynsie Paul	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Eric Luttrell
Family and friends of Roy Winkel (uncle)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Susan Werner Reiser
Herb	Peace and God’s comfort	Sharon Fako
Susan Palo Cherwien	Peace and God’s comfort	Michelle Sinn
John Fritz	Peace and comfort	Staff
Aaron Miller	Successful treatment and recovery	Jan Smith & Sue Cahlander
Faith (granddaughter)	Successful treatment and recovery	Judy Heidinger
Barb Zurstadt	Healing and recovery	Jan Smith & Sue Cahlander
Max Lampros (grandson)	Healing and recovery	Liz Andersen
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
Dr. Cara Steinkeler	Strength as she supports dying COVID patients and their families	Gary & Gail Grafwallner
Midwest tornado victims	Comfort and assistance as they recover	Staff
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Frederickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Atonement Lutheran Church (Newport, OR) Faith Lutheran Church (North Bend, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjed As-Saber (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, December 19, Fourth 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 20

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

Fellowship Hall, St. Andrew Room

Tuesday, December 21 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 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, December 22

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

Thursday, December 23

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	IT Meeting	offsite

Friday, December 24 – Office Closed

4:00 pm	Christmas Eve Children’s Worship Service (masks required)	Sanctuary
7:00 pm	Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service (masks required)	Sanctuary and Livestreamed
10:00 pm	Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service (masks required)	Sanctuary and via Zoom

Saturday, December 25

11:00 am

Christmas Day Worship Service (masks required)

Sanctuary

Sunday, December 19, Fourth Sunday in Advent

8:30 am	Worship with Communion (masks required)	Sanctuary and YouTube
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 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 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