Author Archives: Carol Harker

November 22, 2020

Thanksgiving Eve

Please note that St. Andrew will not be offering Wednesday Evening Prayer on November 25, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Instead, the worship team will be sharing a short recording that is meant to augment your celebration at home. Watch for a link to that in an e-mail from Allison Katsufrakis on Wednesday.

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 22, at 10:00 am for Session 5 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

An incorrect translation has led us to believe that Job was a patient man. Not so, Christiansen explains, but he was persistent and he somehow kept going in spite of the odds. Job’s story is relevant for our time in that it raises many questions about the suffering of the innocent. Click for Steve’s session outline as well as videos of earlier classes.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Worship Connection Problems?

St. Andrew’s tech team is offering a new service on Sundays for anyone having difficulty connecting to worship. Between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, you can simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 to get help from the pros.

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

The director of Family Promise has informed its host coordinators that it has funds available for people needing help paying for childcare, rent, or utilities during this time of extraordinary need. People needing assistance are welcome to call Family Promise at 971-217-8949. Please be aware that these funds need to be used by the end of this calendar year.

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Given Governor Brown’s pause in Oregon’s reopening progression for Washington County, we ask that you please limit your visits to our church building. Coronavirus numbers are surging everywhere. If it is imperative that you visit the building, please remember to make arrangements with the office first.
Thank you!

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Table Talk: What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion, we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Though we cannot gather in person, Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, December 1, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In this Table Talk we will focus on sharing reflections on the presidential election and the transition process that has followed. The voter turnout was record-setting. President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris received more votes than any ticket in U.S. history. President Trump and Vice President Pence received the second most votes ever.

In a New York Times editorial, published on November 5, two days after Election Day, when the final outcome was very much in doubt, David Brooks reflected on “What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us”. To prepare for this Table Talk I encourage all participants to read this opinion piece. In light of the election and its aftermath, we will reflect on the political responsibility of the people of St. Andrew and the church as a whole going forward.

Giving Tree

St. Andrew will be doing a Giving Tree for needy families with children enrolled at Barnes Elementary again this year. Like all of us, these parents yearn to make the holidays joyful for their children, and we can help.

Just as we did with Thanksgiving Boxes, we’ll be providing gift cards in 2020, giving parents the opportunity to shop for their families. You can donate to the cause by sending a check made out to St. Andrew with Giving Tree in the memo line. If you prefer to give electronically, select “Give” on the menu bar of St. Andrew’s website, then “Click here to give now”. Once you’ve signed in to your account, select the green “Give” button and then choose the fund “Christmas Giving Tree.”

Questions? Please call Donna Brocker at 503-502-6156.

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New Foundation Vision Statement

Debut of the St. Andrew Foundation’s new vision statement, a product of our successful strategic planning retreat.

Your St. Andrew Foundation envisions a future where it…

• Provides funding for creative worship, education, and outreach that are in alignment with Christian values
• Is a preferred choice for foundation-type giving, with trusted investment and initiatives that resonate with and excite potential donors
• Is well understood and embraced as an extension of the congregation’s ministries and priorities
• Has a sustainable fund of at least $1 million

We are excited to put this vision into practice! Are you interested in learning more? Contact Sonja Ackman.

Stock Dona!on Transfer Process for 2020

Greetings from the Financial Secretaries of St. Andrew. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to streamline the process of donating stock to the church since we are volunteering our time remotely from our homes.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of year to be deductible in 2020. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the transfer. Please start the process as soon as possible.

We ask you to take the necessary steps if you intend to donate stock to St. Andrew this tax year:

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
3. Complete the form including your intentions for the use of the donation and email a copy to our confidential e-mail address. You may instead send a copy to the church office marked confidential for Financial Secretaries. This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without this form, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will be in contact with you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to the church’s securities firm, Charles Schwab.

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

Tammy Piscitelli, 503-307-8837
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Leadership Training Opportunity

Plan now to attend a FREE leadership training institute through the magic of the Internet in December.

• Come to learn fundamental organizing skills: Individual relational meetings, listening sessions, research and action to help obtain a concrete, winnable outcome.
• Come to strengthen our institutions: Engage people systematically in a culture that is relational, action-oriented, and reflective.
• Come to learn to distinguish problems from issues: From general problems to concrete, winnable issues by using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

The eight-hour training will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm PST on:
Tuesday, December 8
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Thursday, December 17

Many St. Andrew members have taken this training (often more than once), and all have reported taking away important skills that strengthen our St. Andrew community, as well as skills that are useful in their lives outside of St. Andrew.

Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Please contact any member of the St. Andrew MACG Core Team: Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Lynn Santelmann, Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or Pastor Robyn. If you have any problems with registration, e-mail Mary Nemmers.

Reckoning with Racism

The Oregon Black Pioneers Organization, through extensive and continuing research into the origins of racism in Oregon, has brought together many valuable resources. The St. Andrew Team attending the Reckoning With Racism series would like to share these resources with the rest of the congregation. They provide an excellent background to understand systemic racism, especially in our own state of Oregon.

1. Watch the OPB Documentary: “Oregon Black Pioneers.”

2. Explore more of the history of Black Americans throughout Oregon’s history at the Oregon Black Pioneers website.

3. Read Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory, by R. Gregory Nokes, a nonfiction account of the largely forgotten story of Oregon slavery.

4. Read A Light in the Wilderness, Oregonian writer Jane Kirkpatrick’s historical novel about the lives of three women of color in early Oregon history.

Future Opportunities

Our St. Andrew Reckoning with Racism cohort is just completing our first quarter and preparing to start up again with 200 other people of faith on Zoom in January. If you’d like to join the 16 people in our cohort, please watch the videos of the sessions of our first quarter. The password is RwR*202021 .

Beginning in January, we’ll gather on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month (January 12 & 26, February 9 & 23, March 9 & 23, April 13 & 27, May 11 and 25, June 8 & 22). Please be in touch with Pastor Robyn if you would like more information or would like to join our cohort.

Pandemic Prayer

While we might be feeling worn down and depleted by ongoing pandemic restrictions, Rev. Richard Bott, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, has composed a prayer that reminds us of the link between “a simple piece of cloth” and sacrament:

A Prayer for Putting on a Face Mask

Creator God, as I prepare to go into the world,
help me to see the sacramental nature of this cloth.
Let it be a tangible and visible way of living love
for my neighbors, as I love myself.

Christ Jesus, since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart,
that people would see my smile in the crinkles around my eyes.
Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly,
not only with my words, but with my actions.

Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears,
remind me to listen carefully and caringly to all those I meet.
May this simple piece of cloth be shield and banner,
and may each breath that it holds be filled with your love.

In your name and in that love I pray.
Amen.

Practicing Patience

In her message to the Oregon Synod on Wednesday this week, Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar noted that Governor Kate Brown was joined by Dr. Esther Choo, an emergency medicine physician at Oregon Health & Science University at a press briefing the day before. The doctor delivered an emotional plea for all of us to adhere to the new restrictions, saying “Right now, we’re asking you to be our heroes.” By the actions we take, we can help save her life, the lives of her family members, neighbors and friends, and essential workers across the state.

Last week, nearly 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed across Oregon. Gatherings, even those that include small numbers of families from different households, are the source of many of these new infections.

“So, I ask you to practice love, to practice safety, and to practice patience,” Bishop Laurie writes. “Patience is an important part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

“Patience does note mean to sit and do nothing as we wait,” the bishop continues. “Patience is daring to stay in the place we are, as hard as it can be sometimes, and seeking God’s glimpses of life in the situation while trusting that something hidden will become manifest to us.

“This kind of Holy Spirit presence, waiting yet active in the already/not yet, can’t be done alone. We need the support, encouragement, love and forgiveness of God and of one another. So here are three ideas for practicing patience together. First, by simply breathing with one another in silent meditation. Second, by praying to God with each other for the patience we need. And third, by practicing gratitude, intentionally looking for, naming out loud with someone, and thanking God for what God is already doing in our lives. Remember that patience in Christ requires practice: the more we do it, the better we get at it.”

Struggling in Christ’s patience alongside of you,
Bishop Laurie

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

Strict new Oregon guidelines highly recommend that no more than six people from two different households gather together during this two-week freeze period that continues through December 2. That will make Thanksgiving look different for many of us.

While health officials prefer that we not mix households at all, steps can be taken to make the celebration safer if you do decide to gather.

In addition to wearing masks, maintaining a six-foot distance, and washing or disinfecting your hands frequently, recommendations from the CDC are to:

• Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils.
• Wear a mask, and safely store your mask while eating and drinking.
• Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as the kitchen.
• Choose single-use options, such as salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items such as food containers, plates, and utensils.
• Open windows to make celebrating indoors a bit safer.
• Have guests bring their own food and drink.
• If sharing food, designate one person to serve, relying on single-use options such as plastic utensils. Do not pass the green bean casserole.

Other options to consider are to gather electronically by Zoom, Skype, or Facetime Portal. You might decide to safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family or neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others (for example, leave them on the porch).

However you celebrate Thanksgiving in 2020, whether you’re part of a small group or alone, participate in a gratitude activity. Get creative. Make a gratitude jar filled with things you’re thankful for, or create a Blessings Garland that enumerates all the ways you’re blessed. Drape it on the mantel or over a doorway to remind you that, despite every uncertainty, life is good. Design a gratitude journal to remember this year of the pandemic and the good things that happened to see you through uncertain times.

Finally, call or write some of the people you love and tell them why you’re thankful that they are a part of your life. Dare to express your feelings—even to that stiff uncle who is really uncomfortable being hugged.

Children’s Sermon: The Oregon Grape

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Hello, I am LuAnn Staul. You may know me as Henry and Penelope’s grandma.

I want to introduce you to another native plant, the Indian Plum The Indian Plum’s scientific name is Oemleria cerasiformis and it has many common names, including the osoberry, Oregon plum, Indian peach, and bird cherry. This plant grows along the Pacific Coast of North America in British Columbia, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.

The fruits of the Indian Plum can be eaten and look like clusters of small plums which are dark blue when ripe.

This plant is especially important to pollinators. Pollinators get food in the form of energy-rich nectar and protein-rich pollen from the flowers they visit. Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, and beetles are all pollinators. Once the pollinator has visited a flower it carries the pollen to other flowers; this makes it possible for the pollinated flowers to develop and produce seed.

Pollination is required to produce many of your favorite foods—apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries. Pollinators also support our ecosystem and natural resources by helping plants reproduce.

The Indian Plum is especially important because it is one of the first plants to leaf out and develop flowers. It develops leaves and flowers in early March before many other plants begin to flower. This provides an early source of pollen for bees and other pollinators.

The indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest included Indian Plum fruit in their diets, and they used the plant’s bark and twigs to make tea and medicine. The fruit is also eaten by small mammals like mice and voles, plus foxes, coyotes, deer, bear, and many bird species.

Indian Plum is a tall shrub growing up to 15 feet high. It has multiple trunks that grow upright. The flowers are white and whitish green. The fruit occurs in clusters and is orange and yellow when young but blue-black as it ripens. The plant grows in part to full shade in soil that is dry to moist.

Planting native plants like the Indian Plum provides food for pollinators as well as other native animals. If we all begin adding these plants to our years, we will be on our way to develop a Homegrown National Park in our community.

4 Senses: Hearing, Smelling, Seeing, Feeling

Fall has never been my favorite season. I miss the warm days of summer with sunlight from early morning till mid-evening, so many flowers, bare feet, and my birthday month.

But this fall is teaching me something new. Maybe it‘s the isolation and lack of stimulation brought on by our COVID prevention measures—staying home, avoiding people outside of my household, cancelling travel, missing piano lessons. But I’ve rediscovered a childlike pleasure.

I take walks in my neighborhood most mornings. It’s early. The sun (when it shows through the clouds) is low in the eastern sky. The air is crisp. My neighborhood has lots of walk route possibilities. We have a wonderful trail that can take us across bridges over the wetlands, up hills, into the trees. But these days, I’m avoiding the trail. It doesn’t allow a six-foot distance unless someone steps off the path into the grass. And still, amazingly to me, people aren’t wearing masks, nor do they even have one resting on their chins to pull up when they do meet someone.

Instead, I’m sticking to the sidewalks. The good thing about sidewalks is that they usually are on both sides of the street. So, when you see someone approaching, you or they can switch to the other side. Sometimes, amusingly, both of you start to switch at the same time, which brings smiles and waves, and an unspoken agreement as to WHO will go.

The fall leaves are glorious right now. They are rapidly falling from the trees and piling up on the sidewalks. And I can’t help it. When I get to a pile, I start dragging my feet and swishing my way through,, leaving two trails behind me.

I find as I’m swishing, that my mind goes free from my worries about COVID, the transition of power in our nation’s leadership, my tasks for the day, what’s for dinner. I am totally in the moment, enjoying the rustling sounds, the leafy smells, the rich colors, and the crunchy leaves lightly brushing against my feet. (I haven’t tasted them yet. I’ll save that sense for the hot cider, beef stew, crisp apples, and fresh pumpkin pie.)

It happens every time I come to a pile. And no one can see it, but under my mask a big, involuntary grin crosses my face. And I begin to look ahead for the next pile of leaves. I’ll even cross the street for it. I kinda like fall this year.

Beverly Briggs
November 9, 2020

Preparing for Next Sunday

Managing Your Mental Health During a Tense Political Climate

The election may be over, but as we know, the tense climate continues. Many of us have found it particularly challenging to manage our own mental health as the pandemic continues, holiday plans are changes, and life as we knew it seems farther and farther away.

The Caring Ministries Team recommends a series of articles found on the website for Mental Health USA. This week, take a look at their suggestions for managing your mental health during a tense political climate.

Your health matters. Focus this week on one of St. Andrew’s Core Values: Self Care.

St. Andrew Caring Ministries Team

Join Our Delegate Assembly

Please join other members of MACG institutions in the tri-county area on Thursday, December 3, from 6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom. Commissioners from all three counties, including our own Pam Treece, have been invited to come and talk with us about their plans to address the housing crisis and pandemic management in the near and far term.

As a member of St. Andrew, you are a member of MACG. A link to register will be included in next week’s “Weekly News,” but for now, please put this meeting on your calendar and plan to join us if you can.

Questions? Contact Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, or any member of the St. Andrew MACG Core Team: Lynn Santelmann, Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or Pastor Robyn.

Thank You, Scouts!

As we approach Advent and the joyful season of Christmas, St. Andrew extends an enormous thank you to our Scout Troop 618, 5618, and Crew 618 for providing “Be Merry” centerpieces for many of our homebound parishioners.

Thanks, too, to the St. Andrew volunteers who will deliver the centerpieces next week.

If nothing else, 2020 has reminded us that such acts of kindness are precious, indeed. As Jesus tells us in this week’s Gospel lesson (Matthew 25:31-46), when all the nations are gathered before God, the king will say to his blessed people, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Advent is Coming

The new church year begins next Sunday, November 29, with the First Sunday of Advent. During Advent, a feature of our worship services is the lighting of the advent wreath.

Since we are joining together via the Internet this year, the Worship Planning Team encourages you to bring your own advent wreath when you connect to worship each Sunday. If you need some ideas about how to make your own wreath, check out this
website for Sunday School teachers.

These are fun! You’ll find a mobile advent wreath that kids can carry with them if they like (think pipe cleaners), traditional advent wreaths, a battery candle wreath dressed up with washi tape, paper wreaths, even a wreath you can eat! Be sure to check out the Bonus Take-Home Craft for the edible version. That last one is too tasty to last throughout Advent, but you can replicate it each Sunday.

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The Season of Advent

Did you know that Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and lasts between 22 and 28 days, ending on Christmas Eve? Advent includes the first four Sundays of the church year and it embodies a special time of anticipation.

Advent means “coming.” Historically, it was a time of preparation through repentance, but it has also become a season to look forward with hope as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s first coming as the babe in Bethlehem. Advent is a time to also ponder Christ’s coming at the end of time as our judge and redeemer.

Traditionally, the color associated with Advent was purple, a royal color for Christ the Ruler and the color of penitence. Many churches now choose blue for Advent, though, because it is believed to symbolize hope and the truth of Christ. Blue is also the color associated with Mary.

The most recognized symbol of Advent is the advent wreath, with its four candles often associated with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The candle at the center of the wreath represents Christ.

Other symbols of Advent include:

• the Alpha and Omega, meaning the beginning and the end
• an angel, a reminder of the angel who visited Mary
• trumpets, heralding Christ coming to earth and symbolizing the hope of Christ’s return
• the crown, recognizing Christ as Ruler
• the Lamb of God, echoing John the Baptist’s reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God carrying the banner of victory over sin and death.

Many of these symbols of Advent are incorporated in the white and gold Chrismons that have decorated the Christmas tree in our sanctuary for decades.

Information provided in part by Lutheran Brotherhood

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Norm Smith’s wife	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Del & Mary Nell Mahler
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Paula Yazzolino	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Steve Buske
Pete Yazzolino	Comfort and strength	Steve Buske
Colleen Warnes and her family	Effective treatment and plan for her future care	Suzanne Warnes
Bill Branch	Comfort following esophageal cancer diagnosis	Linda Fransen
Marcia Branch	Comfort and strength	Linda Fransen
Bob Cornie	Healing and recovery	Staff
Joe Baker	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Joe Baker
Alvina Heidinger (mother-in-law)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Judy Heidinger
Cole Petersburg’s grandparents	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Cole Petersburg
Hugh Newell (son) & Nicole Wilson	Blessings on their marriage (November 17)	Anne Newell
Those facing ongoing illness or distress: Tandy Brooks, Dave Bumgardner, Vic Claar, Barry Larson, Marvel Lund, Ian MacDonald, Gary Magnuson, Hugh Mason, Brian McKiernan, Ed Pacey, Corky Poppert, Jolie Reyna, Shane Throckmorton, Gary Tubbs	Healing and assurance of God’s presence	Staff
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	Blessings on our ministry	Staff
Taiwan Lutheran Church	Strength and wisdom	Staff
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church (Umatilla, OR) Grace Lutheran Church (Vale, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Islamic Center (Portland and Beaverton, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To review, St. Andrew offers livestream worship via YouTube at 8:30 am on Sundays, with worship broadcast via Zoom at 11:00 am. Both services include the opportunity to share in remote Communion. Adult Education classes and gatherings for children, Confirmation students, and high school youth are all offered via Zoom, as is Wednesday Evening Prayer.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, November 22, Christ the King Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  Job’s Response to Misery	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Tuesday, November 24

10:00 am	T’ai Chi	former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd
6:30 pm	Reckoning with Racism Gathering with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon	Zoom

Wednesday, November 25 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Reopening Committee Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Thanksgiving Devotional Service	YouTube

Thursday, November 26 – Happy Thanksgiving! Church office closed

Friday, November 27 – Church office closed for holiday

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, November 29, First Sunday of Advent

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

November 15, 2020

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 15, at 10:00 am for Session 4 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

An incorrect translation has led us to believe that Job was a patient man. Not so, Christiansen explains, but he was persistent and he somehow kept going in spite of the odds. Job’s story is relevant for our time in that it raises many questions about the suffering of the innocent. Click for Steve’s session outline as well as videos of earlier classes.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

The Service Committee is once again sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for Community Action families and we need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education. These are families that really need help.

We will not be able to see those food boxes filling the Narthex this year due to COVID-19. Instead, we will be using money donated to Thanksgiving Food Box fund to purchase Winco gift cards for these families.

Last year we were able to donate 75 food boxes, which had a value of $50 each, to families in need. We would like to achieve this goal again this year; that will require $3,750 in donations. If you wish to give electronically, select Thanksgiving Boxes—or you can send a check made out to St. Andrew with Thanksgiving Food Drive in the memo line.

This is a wonderful way to live out our faith, as well as giving a needy family the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious meal. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year. Our deadline for donation is November 15 to give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families.

Please email or call LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321, or email or call Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.

Given Governor Brown’s pause in Oregon’s reopening progression for Washington County, we ask that you please limit your visits to our church building. Coronavirus numbers are surging everywhere. If it is impera?ve that you visit the building, please remember to make arrangements with the office first.

Recognizing Our Veterans

In 2020, some 75 years after the end of World War II, we take time
to recognize all the men and women who either have served or are
currently serving our country in the armed services. Both in times
of peace and war, these individuals and their families deserve our
gratitude. Thank you for upholding our American values.

Spirituality Book Group

The Spirituality Book Group will meet via Zoom on Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 pm to discuss Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Unsheltered. According to a review in USA Today, “Unsheltered’s title suggests a roof gone missing. But it’s also a resonant call to be more alert to our social predicaments, to ‘stand in the clear light of day.’”

The Zoom link will be sent to those on the Spirituality Book Group e-mail list before the meeting. Anyone is welcome to join the discussion. Please contact Mary Smith for the Zoom link.

Since we will also be discussing future reading at this meeting, please bring your ideas and recommendations. We will try to schedule books through June 2021.

Sunday, November 15, 3:00 pm
Book: Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver
Discussion Leader: Mary Ann Snider

Sunday, December 13, 3:00 pm
Book: The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
Discussion Leader: Fran Miller

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

New Foundation President, Mission Statement

Your St. Andrew Foundation board of directors has welcomed a new president, Sonja Ackman. On two Saturdays in September and October, the board conducted a virtual strategic planning retreat facilitated by Terry Buchholz. We had a great time and got a lot accomplished, even over Zoom!

This week, we want to highlight our new mission statement: “The mission of St. Andrew’s Foundation is to provide funding for efforts that grow the spiritual health, well-being, and ability of those serving God, both today and in the future, in ways that augment or extend the reach of the Church.”

Look for additional highlights over the next few weeks! Interested in learning more? Please email Sonja Ackman.

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

The director of Family Promise has informed its host coordinators that it has funds available for people needing help paying for childcare, rent, or utilities during this time of extraordinary need. People needing assistance are welcome to call Family Promise at 971-217-8949. Please be aware that these funds need to be used by the end of this calendar year.

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking
how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.

Worship Connection Problems?

St. Andrew’s tech team is offering a new service on Sundays for anyone having difficulty connecting to worship. Between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, you can simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 to get help from the pros.

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Thanksgiving Eve

Please note that St. Andrew will not be offering Wednesday Evening Prayer on November 25, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Instead, the worship team will be sharing a recording of our pastors that is meant to augment your celebration at home.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Notes from the Adult Library

So, there are new voices in St. Andrew’s library these days. Last week you heard from one of them, Barb Gutzler, the amazing new children’s librarian, and this week there is me, Pam Farr, explorer of the incredible adult library that started in like 1960 and has been guided by Mary Nell Mahler ever since. What a job she’s done! There are some super books in our collection. I’ve been reading titles as I go along checking their numerical order. Here are a few treasures I have found so far:

If you’re in charge of children in some form or another on a daily basis, you know the stresses of remote learning, school/no school can really get to them — and you. If you look in the 249s, you’ll find some activity books that may help you out.

I picked Families Sharing God, by Barbara Owen Webb. She’s got lots of craft projects that take stuff you probably have around the house, a few baking ideas, things for special seasons, ride-in-the-care games, and activities to do outside—all with a devotion attached. If the kids are too wiggly, do the craft first and work the devotion in as you can. These activities are aimed at youngsters 6 to 12 years old.

COVID being COVID (not a nice thing), maybe you’ve been thinking more about God, searching for reassurance or trying to learn more and have gotten hung up, like I do, on the big words. This is the book for you: Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, edited by Rolf A. Jacobson. He has taken the big words and defined them in a simple, rather tongue-in-cheek way that makes you both understand and smile.

Lastly, we have a really nice copy of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the guy who wrote the Narnia books. It’s about a devil in training and how he gets on. It just might give you some ideas about what you’re up against and perhaps how to derail him.

Best of reading!

Pam Farr, Adult Librarian

Children’s Sermon: The Oregon Grape

Editor’s Note: This is the third in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Good morning. My name is Larry Bliesner and I’m here to talk about a native plant. A native plant is one that is natural to our area. My plant is the Oregon Grape, which is Oregon’s State Flower.

Thanks for Making a Happy Reunion Possible

The Oregon Grape is actually an evergreen shrub. The tall variety grows 5-8 feet high. The low variety grows to about 2 feet. The Oregon Grape has yellow flowers in the spring, which hummingbirds like. During the summer the plant forms bluish-black berries which other birds like.

The Oregon Grape is not a true grape like the ones we eat. However, Kalapuyan indigenous peoples ate the berries, which are sour. The bark
could be used as a yellow color to dye native baskets, while the berries produce the color purple.

The Oregon Grape tolerates shade or sun. It is a good plant for your soil garden and for St. Andrew’s “homegrown” National Park.

Larry Bliesner

Thanks for Making a Happy Reunion Possible

Thanks so much to all of my St. Andrew family who pitched in to help me find my rescue dog Risa. After I had her for only four days she ran off and was missing for five days. It seems like a miracle that she was found, and I so appreciate the support from so many at St. Andrew, including walking through neighborhoods searching for her, passing out flyers, even setting up a Facebook page for her. And thanks for all the kind words of support during this trying time. Risa and I are happily reunited now, and we’re getting to know each other.

Mary Smith

Table Talk: What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion, we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Though we cannot gather in person, Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, December 1, 7:00-8:00 pm.

In this Table Talk we will focus on sharing reflections on the presidential election and the transition process that has followed. The voter turnout was record-setting. President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris received more votes than any ticket in U.S. history. President Trump and VicePresident Pence received the second most votes ever.

In a New York Times editorial, published on November 5, two days after Election Day, when the final outcome was very much in doubt, David Brooks reflected on “What the Voters Are Trying to Tell Us”. To prepare for this Table Talk I encourage all participants to read this opinion piece. In light of the election and its aftermath, we will reflect on the political responsibility of the people of St. Andrew and the church as a whole going forward.

Leadership Training Opportunity

Plan now to attend a FREE leadership training institute through the magic of the Internet in December.

Come to learn fundamental organizing skills: Individual relational meetings, listening sessions, research and action to help obtain a concrete, winnable outcome.

Come to strengthen our institutions: Engage people systematically in a culture that is relational, action-oriented, and reflective.

Come to learn to distinguish problems from issues: From general problems to concrete, winnable issues by using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

The eight-hour training will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm PST on:
Tuesday, December 8
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Thursday, December 17

Many St. Andrew members have taken this training (often more than once), and all have reported taking away important skills that strengthen our St. Andrew community, as well as skills that are useful in their lives outside of St. Andrew.

Click the link below to register:
https://tinyurl.com/MACG-Leadership-Registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Please contact any member of the St. Andrew MACG
Core Team: Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Lynn Santelmann,
Scott Taylor, Victoria Kovalenko, Bob Stadel, LuAnn Staul, or
Pastor Robyn. If you have any problems with registration, e-mail
Mary Nemmers.

Reckoning with Racism

The Oregon Black Pioneers Organization, through extensive and continuing research into the origins of racism in Oregon, has brought together many valuable resources. The St. Andrew Team attending the Reckoning With Racism series would like to share these resources with the rest of the congregation. They provide an excellent background to understand systemic racism, especially in our own state of Oregon.

1. Watch the following OPB Documentary: “Oregon Black Pioneers.” Long before Oregon became a state, black people were in the Far West. Some were brought to the region as slaves, but many others arrived as freemen looking for a new life. They opened boarding houses and stores, worked farms and mined for gold. But as more white settlers arrived over the Oregon Trail, the newcomers passed discriminatory laws to keep African Americans out. “Oregon Experience” examines the largely unknown history of Oregon’s black pioneers.

2. Explore more of the history of Black Americans throughout Oregon’s history at the Oregon Black Pioneers website.

3. Nonfiction read: Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory, by R. Gregory Nokes. This is a nonfiction account of the largely forgotten story of Oregon slavery. The book was a finalist for the 2014 Oregon Book Award for nonfiction. R. Gregory Nokes is a retired journalist (Associated Press and The Oregonian), writer, and lecturer, who now lives in West Linn.

4. Historical fiction read: A Light in the Wilderness, by Jane Kirkpatrick. Members of the St. Andrew Spirituality Book group will be familiar with the works of Oregonian writer Jane Kirkpatrick. In this novel she brings together the lives of three women of color in early Oregon history.

Stock Dona!on Transfer Process for 2020

Greetings from the Financial Secretaries of St. Andrew. As the end of the calendar year approaches, we want to streamline the process of donating stock to the church since we are volunteering our time remotely from our homes.

Contributions must actually be paid before the close of year to be deductible in 2020. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the completion of the transfer. Please start the process as soon as possible.

We ask you to take the necessary steps if you intend to donate
stock to St. Andrew this tax year:

1. Download the Stock Transfer Form found on our church website or contact the church office.
2. Contact your brokerage firm to initiate an electronic transfer of securities (see form for instructions/details).
3. Complete the form including your intentions for the use of the donation and email a copy to our confidential e-mail address. You may instead send a copy to the church office marked confidential for Financial Secretaries. This form must be turned in at the beginning of the process. Without this form, we cannot complete your request.
4. Upon receipt of the form, one of the financial secretaries will be in contact with you regarding the progress of the electronic stock transfer to the church’s securities firm, Charles Schwab.

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

Tammy Piscitelli, 503-307-8837
on behalf of the Financial Secretaries and Finance Team

Finance Team: Johanna Au; Gretchen Bancroft; Bill Beavers; Brian Cheney; Joel Johnson; Anne Newell; Ted Miller; Tammy Piscitelli;
Tracie Brooks-Semenchalam

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Marilyn Hanson (mother)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Mark Hanson
Family and friends of Jean Pacey (wife)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Ed Pacey
Family and friends of Norm Smith’s wife	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Del & Mary Nell Mahler
Family and friends of Robert Zahn (brother)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Anne Newell
Family and friends of Ellie Prink (aunt)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Carol Hogan
Family and friends of Carole Harmon	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Paula Yazzolino	Peace and comfort in hospice care	Steve Buske
Pete Yazzolino	Comfort and strength	Steve Buske
Bill Branch	Comfort Following esophageal cancer diagnosis	Linda Fransen
Marcia Branch	Comfort and strength	Linda Fransen
Bob Cornie	Successful knee procedure (November 18)	Staff
Mary Brocker & Ethan Pearson	Blessings on their engagement	Mark & Donna Brocker
Louella Marie Mitchell (great niece)	Blessings on her birth	Susan Werner Reiser
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Christ the King Lutheran Church (Milton-Freewater, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Pendleton, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Congregation Shaarie Torah (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture. Please join us for any or all of these events on Wednesday, November 18:

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

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

St. Andrew will not have Wednesday Evening Prayer the week of Thanksgiving.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To review, St. Andrew offers livestream worship via YouTube at 8:30 am on Sundays, with worship broadcast via Zoom at 11:00 am. Both services include the opportunity to share in remote Communion. Adult Education classes and gatherings for children, Confirmation students, and high school youth are all offered via Zoom, as is Wednesday Evening Prayer.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  Job’s Response to Misery	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 16

1:00 pm

Memorial Service for Jean Pacey

Livestream on YouTube

Tuesday, November 17

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

Wednesday, November 18 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

10:00 am	Reopening Committee Meeting	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, November 19

10:00 am	Team Ministry Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Council Meeting	Zoom

Friday, November 20

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, November 22, Christ the King Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School Kickoff (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Zoom Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

November 8, 2020

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 8, at 10:00 am for Session 3 of his adult education course on the book of Job. You can access the class using the same Zoom link needed for Sunday worship.

An incorrect translation has led us to believe that Job was a patient man. Not so, Christiansen explains, but he was persistent and he somehow kept going in spite of the odds. Job’s story is relevant for our time in that it raises many questions about the suffering of the innocent. Click for Steve’s session outline as well as videos of earlier classes.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list and receive the Zoom link for the class.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

The Service Committee is once again sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for Community Action families and we need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education. These are families that really need help.

We will not be able to see those food boxes filling the Narthex this year due to COVID-19. Instead, we will be using money donated to Thanksgiving Food Box fund to purchase Winco gift cards for these families.

Last year we were able to donate 75 food boxes, which had a value of $50 each, to families in need. We would like to achieve this goal again this year; that will require $3,750 in donations. If you wish to give electronically, select Thanksgiving Boxes—or you can send a check made out to St. Andrew with Thanksgiving Food Drive in the memo line.

This is a wonderful way to live out our faith, as well as giving a needy family the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious meal. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year. Our deadline for donation is November 15 to give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families.

Please email or call LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321, or email or call Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.

Dismantling Racism in Institutions

Many of the stories and struggles of African Americans in Oregon are published at “A Hidden History Project.”

Other homework assigned to the 41 faith-based organizations like ours that are participating in the “Reckoning with Racism” process with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Common Table includes

• the video interview with David Swanson about his book, Rediscipling the White Church
• the book White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo
• White Too Long, by Robert P. Xones

Join us in any or all of our homework as you are so moved!

Pastor Robyn and the St. Andrew Team

St. Andrew’s Pandemic Protocols

1. Call or email ahead to arrange building access (even if you have a key).
2. Sign in at the table in the Narthex.
3. Wash your hands or use the provided hand sanitzer after signing in.
4. Wear a mask the entire time you are in the building.

With a third wave of infections sweeping the country, with the advent of flu season and cold temperatures that keep people inside, and with loving care for all members of our community so wearied by this pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to do all we can to protect ourselves and keep each other safe. Stay the course. Maintain the discipline that’s been effective so far.

Please note that the church building remains locked. Even if you have a key, we ask that you call or e-mail the church office to arrange access in advance of coming to St. Andrew. This allows us to monitor occupancy and prevent people from inadvertently interfering with others who need to come to the building to do their work. Please don’t assume you will be the only person inside. Staff continue to adjust their hours to prevent the spread of infection, while providing for online worship means that people are working in the building much of Saturday and Sunday.

When you do visit the building, we ask you to follow the protocols. Put on a mask before you even open the door, sign in at the round table in the Narthex, indicating what rooms you plan to visit, wash your hands, keep your mask on (covering both your mouth and nose) the entire time you’re inside, and remember to sign out at the time you leave. Use your own pen at the sign-in register or take a clean one from the left receptacle and deposit it in the used cup on the right.

We want you to have access to our libraries, to your mailboxes, and to the sacristy to prepare for worship. Individual Nifty Notters have worked in Fellowship Hall to finish projects. But our ministry groups are meeting online because it is so much safer. Be vigilant. Stay well! When we’re able to reopen, we want to welcome each and every one of you back inside the St. Andrew building!

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

The director of Family Promise has informed its host coordinators that it has funds available for people needing help paying for childcare, rent, or utilities during this time of extraordinary need. People needing assistance are welcome to call Family Promise at 971-217-8949. Please be aware that these funds need to be used by the end of this calendar year.

PLU Confirmation Scholarship

Last year Pacific Lutheran University expanded its PLU Confirmation Scholarship nationwide so that any student who has been confirmed in an ELCA congregation can receive the $1,500 per year Confirmation Scholarship. This award stacks on top of other PLU scholarships, including those for academic or artistic achievements.

The Confirmation Scholarship form must be completed and submitted by a church official (pastor, youth leader, etc.) before the student’s high school graduation. Go online to learn more about Pacific Lutheran University.

PLU is a private liberal arts Lutheran university in Parkland, WA, that was founded by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in 1890.

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking
how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Notes from the Children’s Library

This fall I’ve enjoyed weekly visits to St. Andrew’s Children’s Library as I work to organize, catalog, and cover books. Each time, I grow even more appreciative of the time and care Mary Nell put into developing a truly impressive collection nearing 10,000 items, more than two-thirds of which are found in the Children’s Library on the lower level.

With so many wonderful books and a beautiful facility, all we need is to find ways for our members and community to access them. Now that public and school libraries are offering very limited—if any—access, our church library has resources for students, parents, and teachers. We welcome families to contact Carol Harker in the church office and prearrange a time to visit. Everyone needs to wear a mask and follow the directions posted on the front entry doors.

Another option is to send me an e-mail and I will gather an assortment of books based on your interests, which you can then arrange to pick up in the Narthex. Let me know your child’s interests and age. If you’d like books that match your child’s reading level, send me their AR, DRA, or Lexile score.

Barbara Gutzler, Children’s Librarian

P.S. A future goal is to put our collection online so you can browse all our titles. In the meantime, here are a few new additions to the Children’s Library.

Wild Symphony, by Dan Brown
Yes, this is the author who also wrote The DaVinci Code and many other fast-paced, bestselling novels for adults. His early career led him to Hollywood as a singer, song writer, and pianist. In Wild Symphony, he puts the music and songs he composed more than 30 years ago into a story that invites children to travel with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends who visit with a sequence of friends. You’ll meet a big blue whale and a speedy cheetah, tiny beetles and graceful swans. There’s a coded message in the book, too. The poems combined with the music tell a story and reveal a funny or interesting side of each animal’s personality. Also included are directions to download a free phone app which plays Brown’s compositions for each page as recorded by the Zagreb Symphony Orchestra. Go to YouTube for a taste of this amazing, fun book. This book is on my Christmas list for my grandchildren.

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Picture and Board Books to Introduce Social Justice and Activism to Little Progressives

Woke Baby, by Mahogany Browne
“This lyrical and empowering book is both a celebration of what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke. With bright playful art, Woke Baby is an anthem of hope in a world where the only limit to a skyscraper is more blue.” -Publisher’s Description. Board Book.

Antiracist Baby, by Ibram X. Kendi
Illustrations and rhyming text present nine steps Antiracist Baby can take to improve equity. Board Book.

Sometimes People March, by Tessa Allen
“Marching is something people do together when they want to resist injustice.” Spare prose teaches the necessity of rallying together. Allen describes multiple modes of engagement, reminding readers that they can make a difference not only through in-person gatherings, but also through making art and “by/ standing up/ or sitting down/ or taking a knee.” Ages 4-8.

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For Older Readers

One Time, by Sharon Creech
Imaginative 11-year old Gina, her mysterious new neighbor, Antonio, and their classmates are inspired by an unusual young teacher to see who they are and envision who they are meant to become. Recommended grades 3-7.

Thank You Notes

You have made a difference in the life of a child. Thank you! Your recent gift ensures the children and youth we serve are connected with a permanent, loving family.

Like you, we believe every child deserves a family to call their own. Your support makes lifelong connections between children and families a reality. Since 1885, investors like you have made the work we do possible. We are grateful for your support, especially through a continued pandemic when we had to cancel six fundraising events.

With gratitude,
Suzan Huntington
President & CEO

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Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your generous donation of $400! The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) truly appreciates your commitment to supporting survivors of domestic violence in Washington County.

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

Your gift is very important to us and we are grateful for your kindness!

With gratitude,
Rosemary (Rowie) Taylor
Executive Director

Pandemic Story: The View Through the Lens

Did you know Rick & Becky LeRoy flew to Hollywood a couple of years ago to celebrate Rick’s birthday on the Ellen show? They had connections that enabled them to secure tickets to the filming and were given VIP treatment as they were led right down front to enjoy the show.

So it’s no secret that Rick enjoys the whole video environment and, during this pandemic, he’s found himself on the other side of the camera. He’s part of a tech team recording livestream worship at St. Andrew on Sunday mornings. In many ways, the challenge of delivering a pleasing worship service to the congregation has been energizing for Rick.

“After getting some initial training on our switching software and hardware from Jennifer [Trom], I started watching YouTube videos to learn how other churches handle the technical side. In the ensuing weeks, I learned how to use the free and widely used software, OBS Studio, to add a countdown timer to our livestream and hopefully provide a smoother way to integrate prerecorded videos to our services. I hope to continue to add to our production knowledge-base and keep learning new things. It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks!”

Rick covers video responsibilities, while his production partner, Paul Navarre, fills the audio role. They’ve been producing our worship services every other week.

Online Book Fair Pick-ups

Books purchased through St. Andrew’s Online Book Fair earlier this week can pick up their orders on Sunday, November 8, 2:00-4:00 pm at the church. Please come to the front entrance and wear a mask. Our new adult librarian Pam Farr will meet you inside the Narthex and give you your purchases.

If this time is inconvenient for you, please make alternative arrangements by contacting the church office via phone (503-646-0629) or e-mail.

Worship Connection Problems?

St. Andrew’s tech team is offering a new service on Sundays for anyone having difficulty connecting to worship. Between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm, you can simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 to get help from the pros.

Remember that Rebecca Fako Uecker also continues to offer technical help for church-related purposes. You can contact her via email.

Renewing Thanksgiving in a Pandemic

Have you talked with your loved ones yet about how you’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas? This year’s gatherings will no doubt be different than the ones we remember from years past.

Matia Brocker, for instance, is determined to visit her grandparents in Sunriver, but they are in that older, especially vulnerable group. So Matia and her family have decided to live in quarantine for 17 days prior to their trip. They’re making a disciplined commitment by living in isolation for an extended period in order to safely see beloved grandparents and enjoy a long-delayed visit.

In 2020, public health experts are recommending very limited travel, smaller gatherings, simpler meals, strict adherence to masks and physical distancing, and shorter gatherings overall. Frankly, they’d prefer that people forego traditional celebrations and gather virtually, perhaps sharing recipes beforehand and eating together remotely by Zoom on Thanksgiving Day.

Regardless how we approach this first holiday of the season, it will be good to pause and take time to remember the awesome gifts we can continue to number—especially since we’ve been lamenting several things we’ve had to give up during this pandemic. Despite all the challenges before us, we are blessed.

Children’s Sermon: The Snowberry

Editor’s Note: This is the second in our series of five Children’s Sermons introducing young people to Oregon’s native plants.

Good morning. My name is Carol, which means song of joy, and I’ll be talking to you today about the Snowberry plant. The Latin name for Snowberry is Symphoricarpos albus.

“Symphori” means bear together, and you can see how the snowberries hang together in a clump. “Carpos” means fruits, referring to the clustered fruits, and “albus” means white, without luster. The berries are a dull white, not shiny. The common name of this plant, Snowberry, also refers to the white fruits.

The plants bloom in the spring from mid-May to July with small white and pinkish flowers that attract hummingbirds, but these natives are mostly pollinated by bees.

When I did research for the Snowberry, I learned that the fruits of this plant are called drupes. I didn’t know that word, but it means that they have a fleshy fruit surrounding a large seed, like in a peach or a plum. Of course, Snowberry seeds aren’t that large because the berries are so small.

Symphoricarpos has about 15 different species, 12 of which are found in the United States, from southeast Alaska to southern California and all across the northern U.S. and Canadian provinces. Snowberries usually grow 3-9 feet tall and are sometimes known as Waxberry, White Coralberry, or White, Thin-leaved, or Few-flowered Snowberry.

You might wonder why there is so much fruit on the plant still, so late in the fall. Well, I grew this plant at my house in Northern Illinois for about 15 years. I planted them because they are native and they would produce berries for the birds. And I can tell you that the berries last through most of the winter into spring. The reason for this is that they have a kind of bitter taste, so it’s not the favorite berry for some of the animals that feed on it.

But the good thing is that the berries stay on the plant into spring so there is food all through the winter for the animals.

Common Snowberry has long been grown as an ornamental shrub. Winter is its most conspicuous season, when its white berries stand out against leafless branches. Its dainty pinkish flowers are also attractive in the spring.

Where can you find this plant? Snowberries are found along stream banks, in swampy thickets, and in moist clearings and open forests. St. Andrew has all of those environments in the Sanctuary of the Firs and the grounds around the church.

Snowberries tolerate poor soil and neglect. I can do that! One of the great things about growing this plant is that it does best in heavy clay soils. I have a lot of that where I live!

Who/what eats this plant? Answer: birds (robins and thrushes, grouse, sort of a brown chicken), deer, antelope, Bighorn sheep, and bears. My research tells me that “use by elk and moose varies.” I’m not sure what that means and don’t know how to ask Bullwinkle Moose the question! Snowberries are also important for providing shelter and food for small mammals.

Various indigenous peoples used the Snowberry for medicine. They created an infusion by soaking the plant in water to make an eyewash for sore eyes. They rubbed the berries on the skin to treat burns, rashes, and sores. They created a decoction of the roots and stems to treat urinary problems, like having trouble peeing. The same decoction treated people for tuberculosis and fevers associated with teething.

Some indigenous groups made brooms out of Snowberry branches, another group hollowed out the twigs to make pipe-stems, and people of one tribe ate one or two of the berries to settle the stomach after eating too much fatty food.

There is another kind of Symphoricarpos that is native in Nevada and California. Because of climate change and global warming, that means it is moving north into Oregon as a native plant. This kind is Symphoricarpos mollis, meaning creeping. It grows low to the ground.

I planted this variety about 2 years ago and the two plants looked really good last year, but one of them kind of disappeared this year. I thought at first it was because of the drought, but after a few weeks I found out the real answer.

I have a black and white cow-print kitty. She is very cute and lovable. She was adopted out of a storm sewer in southwestern Illinois, where she liked to sit with the kids waiting at the bus stop. They named her Maisy.

She likes to help me garden and follows me around doing yard work. She also likes to take dirt baths. You can see in the picture how dusty her black fur gets. Usually, she just takes her dust baths in a dusty area or if she needs a good scratch she does it on the concrete. But I caught her in the front yard giving herself a rubdown on the twigs of that dying Creeping Snowberry! Some of the twigs are still in the yard, but I had to put a white towel under them to take a picture!

How do you propagate Snowberries or get more of them? You can take cuttings of half-ripe wood in July or August or of mature wood in winter. Suckers may be divided in the dormant season. Plants re-sprout from rhizomes after a fire. Common Snowberry spreads by root suckers and is best given plenty of space to create a wild thicket.

Snowberry tolerates poor soil and neglect. I can do that, but I’ll need to put in a barrier for dirt-bath kitty! These native plants are great for controlling erosion on slopes, for restoration after forest fires, and for mine reclamation projects. They are also popular in rain gardens.

Carol Werner

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Marilyn Hanson (mother)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Mark Hanson
Family and friends of Jean Pacey (wife)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Ed Pacey
Family and friends of Robert Zahn (brother)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Anne Newell
Family and friends of Ellie Prink (aunt)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Carol Hogan
Family and friends of Carole Harmon	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as he is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Margie Lee (wife)	Strength, comfort, and healing	Robert May
Bob Cornie	Correct diagnosis and effective treatment	Staff
Peter Kindem (uncle)	Healing and recovery from lung transplant	Megan Webber
Debbie (daughter’s friend)	Healing and recovery from open heart surgery	Joanne Zenger
Elaine May	Healing and recovery from knee replacement surgery	Staff
Our Nation	Healing of deep divisions	Staff
The American people	Patience and calm in the aftermath of the election	Staff
St. Andrew Council Executive Committee Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians; India Jensen Kerr and all theology students	Encouragement and support	Staff
St. Andrew Foundation	Blessings on their ministry	Staff
Valby Lutheran Church (Ione, OR) Zion Lutheran Church (La Grande, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Masjid as-Sabr (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture.

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

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To review, St. Andrew offers livestream worship via YouTube at 8:30 am on Sundays, with worship broadcast via Zoom at 11:00 am. Both services include the opportunity to share in remote Communion. Adult Education classes and gatherings for children, Confirmation students, and high school youth are all offered via Zoom, as is Wednesday Evening Prayer.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 8, Twenty-third Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, November 9

7:00 pm

Men’s Book Club (Host, Ted Miller

Zoom

Tuesday, November 10

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

Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day, Office Closed; Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm

6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, November 12

10:00 am

Virtual Staff Meeting

Zoom

Friday, November 13

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Saturday, November 14

1:00 pm

Memorial Service for Marilyn Hanson followed by virtual reception

Zoom

Sunday, November 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday of Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School Kickoff (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Book of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

November 1, 2020

Time for a Change

It’s that time again—the weekend many of us dread, when we turn our clocks back and darkness clamps down on our day even earlier. The good news is that most of us are able to sleep in until the sun rises. Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday, October 31, and enjoy one more hour of rest this weekend.

Adult Ed: Job’s Response to Misery

Join Steve Christiansen this Sunday, November 1, at 10:00 am when he resumes his adult education course on the book of Job via Zoom. An incorrect translation has led us to believe that Job was a patient man. Not so, Christiansen explains, but he was persistent and he somehow kept going in spite of the odds. Job’s story is relevant for our time in that it raises many questions about the suffering of the innocent. Please note that the Zoom link to connect to this class is included in your Friday e-mail from St. Andrew.

Not yet receiving emails from St. Andrew? Click on the blue button to join the email list!

EMO Voter’s Guide

If you’ve not yet turned in your ballot yet, it’s time to get busy! Remember that all ballots cast in Oregon are due in drop boxes or at the County Clerk’s office no later than 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3. If you need some background information on ballot issues Oregon voters are being asked to approve or reject, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) has produced a guide for people of faith to consider when casting their ballots: https://emoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EMO_Voters_Guide_Fall2020.pdf

Troop 618 Greenery Sales

Despite pandemic separation, St. Andrew’s BSA Scout Troop 618, 5618, and Crew 618 are again selling Christmas greenery for your holiday decorations. Wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces are available, with proceeds going to benefit the Scouts. If you’re interested and would like to see a digital brochure with images and prices, act now by contacting Scout volunteer Amy Harker. All orders are due to her by Monday, November 2. Greenery orders will be delivered to your home the weekend of November 21 and 22.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

The Service Committee is once again sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for Community Action families and we need your help. Community Action works with families on parenting, financial stability, housing, and education. These are families that really need help.

We will not be able to see those food boxes filling the Narthex this year due to COVID-19. Instead, we will be using money donated to Thanksgiving Food Box fund to purchase Winco gift cards for these families.

Last year we were able to donate 75 food boxes, which had a value of $50 each, to families in need. We would like to achieve this goal again this year; that will require $3,750 in donations. If you wish to give online, select designated giving, Thanksgiving Boxes—or you can send a check made out to St. Andrew with Thanksgiving Food Drive in the memo line.

This is a wonderful way to live out our faith, as well as giving a needy family the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious meal. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year. Our deadline for donation is November 15 to give us time to purchase gift cards and get them to these families. Please email or call LuAnn Staul at 503-314-6321, or email or call Linda McDowall at 503-649-5091 with questions.

Dismantling Racism in Our Institutions

Join some members of our “Reckoning with Racism” team this Sunday at 12:30 pm in the worship Zoom room as we watch the Oregon Experience film titled “Oregon’s Black Pioneers” or watch it on your own at https://tinyurl.com/OregonBlackPioneers. Then learn more at Oregon Black Pioneers.

Long before Oregon became a state, black people were in the Far West, some brought as slaves but many others arriving as freemen looking for a new life. They opened boarding houses and stores, worked farms and mined for gold. But white settlers passed discriminatory laws to keep African Americans out or force them to leave.

Pastor Robyn

Help with Rent, Utilities, and Childcare

The director of Family Promise has informed its host coordinators that it has funds available for people needing help paying for childcare, rent, or utilities during this time of extraordinary need. People needing assistance are welcome to call Family Promise at 971-217-8949. Please be aware that these funds need to be used by the end of this calendar year.

PLU Confirmation Scholarship

Last year Pacific Lutheran University expanded its PLU Confirmation Scholarship nationwide so that any student who has been confirmed in an ELCA congregation can receive the $1,500 per year Confirmation Scholarship. This award stacks on top of other PLU scholarships, including those for academic or artistic achievements.

The Confirmation Scholarship form must be completed and submitted by a church official (pastor, youth leader, etc.) before the student’s high school graduation. PLU is a private liberal arts Lutheran university in Parkland, WA, that was founded by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in 1890.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Men’s Book Club Reading List Update

Please note this update for the Men’s Book Club: Gary Grafwallner requests that members of the group please read The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the Unknown, edited by Catherine Burns instead of his original selection for January 2021 (The Tattoist of Auschwitz). A reviewer for the Daily Mail says, “All These Wonders is a compelling read, by turns uplifting, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive. If there is a real hero of the book, it is surely the human spirit, which, time and again, transcends whatever life throws at it.”

Date	Book	Host
November 9	Strip Tease, by Carl Hiassen	Ted Miller
December 14	Too Much and Never Enough, by Mary Trump	Tim Holte
January 11	The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the Unknown, edited by Catherin Burns	Gary Grafwallner
February 8	News of the World, by Paule0e Jiles	Dan Fako
March 8	Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi	Larry Bliesner

The Men’s Book Club meets on the second Monday of the month via Zoom. If you’d like more information about the group, please contact Gary Grafwallner. To receive the Zoom link for each meeting, please contact the respective host.

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking
how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.

St. Andrew’s Pandemic Protocols

1. Call or email ahead to arrange building access (even if you have a key).
2. Sign in at the table in the Narthex.
3. Wash your hands or use the provided hand sanitzer after signing in.
4. Wear a mask the entire time you are in the building.

With a third wave of infections sweeping the country, with the advent of flu season and cold temperatures that keep people inside, and with loving care for all members of our community so wearied by this pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to do all we can to protect ourselves and keep each other safe. Stay the course. Maintain the discipline that’s been effective so far.

Please note that the church building remains locked. Even if you have a key, we ask that you call or e-mail the church office to arrange access in advance of coming to St. Andrew. This allows us to monitor occupancy and prevent people from inadvertently interfering with others who need to come to the building to do their work. Please don’t assume you will be the only person inside. Staff continue to adjust their hours to prevent the spread of infection, while providing for online worship means that people are working in the building much of Saturday and Sunday.

When you do visit the building, we ask you to follow the protocols. Put on a mask before you even open the door, sign in at the round table in the Narthex, indicating what rooms you plan to visit, wash your hands, keep your mask on (covering both your mouth and nose) the entire time you’re inside, and remember to sign out at the time you leave. Use your own pen at the sign-in register or take a clean one from the left receptacle and deposit it in the used cup on the right.

We want you to have access to our libraries, to your mailboxes, and to the sacristy to prepare for worship. Individual Nifty Notters have worked in Fellowship Hall to finish projects. But our ministry groups are meeting online because it is so much safer. Be vigilant. Stay well! When we’re able to reopen, we want to welcome each and every one of you back inside the St. Andrew building!

Children’s Sermon: The Oregon White Oak

Editor’s Note: Each week for the next five weeks, you’ll see the previous Sunday’s Children’s Sermon reprinted in Weekly News.

Good morning, boys and girls. My name is Eric Luttrell. Today I will be offering the first of five children’s sermons presented by our Community Carbon yard science team about some special native plants. Native plants are special. They developed in our regional environment, with plants and animals evolving together to develop mutually beneficial relationships. Insects, birds, and mammals evolved interacting with a very large variety of plants, eating those plants and helping those plants with pollination and see dispersal.

My sermon today is about our native Oregon Oak trees. I am standing here beside Faith, one of two Oregon Oak trees that we recently planted. We are calling the second oak tree Hope. These trees will be the large canopy trees of our Reformation Earth Garden. As they mature, these canopy trees will shade large areas of understory trees and shrubs. We are lucky that we have this large area around our church to plant oaks, as they would become too big for planting in the yards around your house.

To give you an idea about how big Oregon Oak trees can get, this is a photo of an Oregon Oak tree in LuAnn Staul’s yard, so large that not all of it fits in the photo. That’s me standing next to it. This tree is five feet in diameter, about 50 feet tall, and about 300 years old. 300 years ago, when this tree was a sapling like Faith, our United States was just a small colony of the United Kingdom, consisting of 13 sub-colonies located right along the eastern shore of North America. At that time, there would have been no white Europeans in Oregon for at least 50 more years, which was also the time that we declared independence from that United Kingdom.

Oaks of this size and age will be the direct ancestors of many generations of oak trees in an oak grove of many acres. I call them Grandparent Trees. The trees descending from the grandparent trees depended upon someone planting their seeds — what we call acorns. Who does the planting of those acorns? Squirrels. Squirrels like to dig holes and bury acorns for food for next winter. And, amazingly, they remember where they buried those acorns. They remember most of them. If they forget, those acorns will sprout and grow into new oak trees. This means that the oaks and squirrels have a symbiotic relationship—a relationship of mutual benefit. The oaks feed the squirrels and the squirrels plant the oak seeds.

Now why, specifically are we planting Oregon Oaks? Scientists have discovered that oaks in general are the most important trees upon which caterpillars feed. Caterpillars are the larval stages of butterflies and other insects that feed on tree leaves. And millions and millions and millions of caterpillars are collected every spring by adult songbirds to feed their baby chicks. And the best oak trees for hosting caterpillars are native oak trees, and Oregon Oak is our native oak tree.

While our newly planted Faith and Hope look like tall sticks now, when the young children in our church are in high school, they will be 25 to 35 feet tall, as tall as the back side of the sanctuary. Now it will take some time for our two small oak trees to grow large enough to supply lots and lots of caterpillars for baby birds. While we are waiting, the next best trees for caterpillars are native willow trees. And, lucky for us, we have several hundred native willows in the wetland on our property.

Besides caterpillars to feed baby birds, what else do oaks provide for wildlife? Acorns. All kinds of animals eat acorns—squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and deer.

In Oregon and California, the indigenous people (Indians) ate lots of acorns as a nutritious source of fats and carbohydrates. They would leach out the bitter tannins in the acorns, grind them into flour, and make a kind of bread. Since Oregon Oaks were the most common tree in the Willamette Valley (with millions of trees), and since the long-lived oaks had lots of acorns (millions and millions of acorns), acorns were an important native food source along with fish, meat, berries, and mushrooms.

Faith and Hope are the first of many trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses that we will plant in this area around me just outside our back patio. We intend to call this area our Reformation Earth Garden. With time, this garden will be the home of more than 40 different varieties of native plants. And because most of these 40 new varieties are different from the many, many varieties of native plants currently found in our wetland and forest, we are greatly expanding the diversity of our local ecosystem.

We will be planting these native plants as part of our responsibility to improve our environment for all living creatures. With time, we hope that this garden will become part of what Douglas Tallamy in his book Nature’s Best Hope calls America’s Homegrown National Park, with a variety of native plants in every yard.

Eric Luttrell

St. Andrew’s Online Book Fair

Seize these days, November 3-7, and support one of St. Andrew’s treasures—our libraries. For five days this coming week, you can shop online at Annie Bloom’s Books, indicate your purchases should benefit St. Andrew, and the bookstore will return 20 percent of the proceeds to our new library leadership team of Pam Farr and Barbara Gutzler so they can purchase new titles for our children’s and adult collections.

You can participate even without an internet connection. Simply call Annie Bloom’s at 503-246-0053 and tell the clerk to credit your purchase to St. Andrew.

If you’re hungry for some satisfying reading over the upcoming months, but don’t know where to start, check out Mary Nell Mahler’s list of some suggested titles below. You’ll see a copy of the book cover on Annie Bloom’s website and you can click on that to read more about the book.

Please remember that you need not limit your shopping to this list, however; the bookstore will use the total amount of your purchase to figure the 20 percent credit it returns to St. Andrew.

So grab a warm beverage and snuggle in to do some shopping at https://www.annieblooms.com/st-andrews-book-fair.

Suggested Titles for Your Consideration:

YA All of Us with Wings, by Michelle Ruiz Keil
F All This Could be Yours, by Jami Attenberg
F American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins
NF America’s Religious Wars, by Kathleen M. Sands
SS,F And I Do Not Forgive You, by Amber Sparks
H And Then You Die of Dysentery, by Lauren Reeves
NF The Art of Ramona Quimby, by Anna Katz
P,MG The Beadworkers, by Beth Piatote
F The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri
CPB A Big Bed for Little Snow, by Grace Lin
F,H The Big Finish, by Brooke Fossey
F Big Summer, by Jennifer Weiner
CPB Birdsong, by Julie Flett
CPB The Birth of Jesus: A Christmas Pop-Up, by Agostino Traini
CPB Bitty Brown Babe, by Deborah LeFalle & Keisha Morris
F The Boy from the Woods, by Harlan Coben
F Chosen Ones, by Veronica Roth
F The City We Became, by N.K. Jemisin
C Countdown to Christmas, by Mary Manz Simon
C Crossing on Time, by David Macaulay
NF The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, by Sue Monk Kidd
F Disappearing Earth, by Julia Phillips
C Double Bass Blues, by Andrea Loney
F Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk
F The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett
F Erasing Memory: A MacNeice Mystery, by Scott Thornley
F Faithful Place, by Tana French
F The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin
C,F Here in the Real World, by Sara Pennypacker
Bio His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope, by Jon Meacham
NF Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus, by Laura Fabrycky
CPB Little Mole Finds Hope, by Glenys Nellist
F Long Bright River, by Liz Moore
CPB Love Is…, by Diane Adams
F The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel
C The Night of His Birth, by Katherine Paterson
F The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich
F On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong
NF Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West, by David McCullough
F Red at the Bone, by Jacqueline Woodson
F Redhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler
F Royal Holiday, by Jasmine Guillory
NF Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir, by Ruth Reichl
CPB The Star in the Christmas Play, by Lynne Marie
CPB Summer Song, by Kevin Henkes
CPB This Is the Church, by Sarah Raymond Cunningham
F A Time for Mercy, by John Grisham
NF Trees in Trouble: Wildfires, Infestations, and Climate Change, by Daniel Mathews
NF When the Heart Waits, by Sue Monk Kidd
CPB Where the Best Stories Hide, by Roman Yasiejko
F With the Fire on High, by Elizabeth Acevedo
C,NF The World of the Old Testament: A Curious Kid’s Guide to the Bible’s Most Ancient Stories, by Marc Olson

Key:
Bio: Biography
C: Children’s Book
CPB: Children’s Picture Book
F: Fic8on
H: Humor
NF: Nonfic8on
P,MG: Poetry, Mixed Genre
SS: Short Stories
YA: Young Adult

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Patty Werner (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Susan Werner Reiser
Carole Harmon and her family	Peace, comfort, and support as she is in hospice care	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jim Smith (brother-in-law) and his family	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Margie Lee (wife)	Strength, comfort, and healing	Robert May
Liz Andersen	Correct diaggnosis, effective treatment, and healing	Liz Andersen
James & Tammy Vogt, Audrey Vogt and Brenna Vogt (parents & sisters)	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Kyler Vogt
Peter Kindem (uncle)	Healing and recovery from lung transplant	Megan Webber
Debbie (daughter’s friend)	Healing and recovery from open heart surgery	Joanne Zenger
Jane Quigg (sister)	Healing and recovery from hip replacement	Eric & Jan Luttrell
Ellie Prink (aunt)	Healing and recovery for multiple health issues	Carol Hogan
Elaine May	Healing and recovery from knee replacement surgery	Staff
Our nation	Integrity of the election	Staff
The American people	Patience, calm, and safety as we await election results	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
Grace Lutheran Church (Enterprise, OR) Nativity Lutheran Church (Bend, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Beit Haverim (Lake Oswego, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture.

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

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

Worship Plan

Looking ahead to the coming seasons of the church, the Worship Planning Committee is announcing that current worship practices will continue through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.

To review, St. Andrew offers livestream worship via YouTube at 8:30 am on Sundays, with worship broadcast via Zoom at 11:00 am. Both services include the opportunity to share in remote Communion. Adult Education classes and gatherings for children, Confirmation students, and high school youth are all offered via Zoom, as is Wednesday Evening Prayer.

People without internet connection are able to listen to a recording of Sunday worship by calling 503-643-9416. Please see “Connecting to Worship at St. Andrew” for details.

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, November 1, All Saints Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Misery of Job	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
12:30 pm	Viewing of “Oregon’s Black Pioneers” (with Reckoning with Racism chort)	Zoom

Tuesday, November 3

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

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

12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, November 5

12:00 pm	Team Ministry Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Executive Committee Meeting	Zoom

Friday, November 6

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

former Bales Thriftway on Cornell Rd

Sunday, November 8, Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

October 25, 2020

October 18, 2020

Adult Education: Job’s Response to Misery

St. Andrew begins another adult education class on Sunday, October 18, when Steve Christiansen leads us through an exploration of the book of Job. It is a story with obvious parallels to our time.

As Christiansen explains, “the phrase ‘the patience of Job’ was taken from an incorrect translation of the New Testament book of James (5:11, KJV), ‘You have heard of the patience of Job.’ Job was anything but patient! In his misery, he demanded answers from God, sometimes resorting to blasphemy. No, this story is not about patience, but about endurance, about persistence, about somehow putting one foot in front of the other in spite of the odds. At the end of the story, Job’s fortunes are restored, but we are left with many questions regarding the suffering of the innocent. There are no easy answers here, but much fodder for discussion.”

EMO Voter’s Guide & Forum

Oregon voters will be asked to say yay or nay to four measures on their ballots in the coming days. Do you know what the issues are or how you will respond? Once again, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) has produced a guide for people of faith to consider when casting their ballots.

You’re also invited to join an Oregon Faith Voter Forum via Zoom on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:00 pm to learn about work to support the vulnerable and to hear a faith-based perspective on the 2020 Oregon ballot measures. Register now.

Spirituality Book Group News

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom, when Sharon Fako will lead the discussion of The Mountains Sing, by Nguyen Phan Mai. According to Amazon, the book is “an epic account of Vietnam’s painful 20th-century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling.”

The Zoom link will be sent out a day before the meeting to all who are on the Spirituality Book Group list. If you would like to attend, contact Mary Smith for connection information.

Blessing Our Reformation Earth Garden

Next Sunday, the congregation is invited to return to the church for a special outdoor event: the blessing of our St. Andrew Reformation Earth Garden. We’ll all wear masks, maintain a safe distance, celebrate the planting of Faith and Hope, and learn about our Community Carbon Science Team’s ongoing efforts to be good stewards of this Earth. Join us north of the sanctuary on the patio, parking lot, or in the garden itself. The service will be short, but bring a chair if you think you will need one.

Five years ago, we mourned the loss of the majestic Douglas-fir that once centered this space, but we now marvel at another native tree, the Reformation red cedar, that’s growing up toward the sky in its place. Good soil nurtures native plants that feed birds and other wildlife—and, ultimately, us. It’s a beautiful system.

Table Talk: White Supremacy

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion, we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks.

Though we cannot gather in person, Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Thursday, October 29, 7:00-8:00 pm.

At the first Presidential Debate on Tuesday, September 29, President Trump could not bring himself to clearly and unambiguously denounce White supremacy. In the essay “White Supremacy Is a Script We’re Given at Birth,” Reggie Williams, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, observes “how prevalent and persistent White supremacy is in this country.” Williams is a member of the Board of the International Bonhoeffer Society—English Language Section. He has written a book entitled Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. According to Williams, White supremacy is not simply a problem for a small minority of violent young men; “it’s written in our flesh and rehearsed throughout history.” As a Black man Williams himself has experienced some of the consequences of the script of White supremacy.

In this Table Talk we will ask some very basic questions: What is White supremacy? How have we seen White supremacy manifested in our lives? Why is White supremacy so prevalent and persistent? To prepare for this Table Talk, you are encouraged to read Reggie Williams essay mentioned above.

Giving

The church I grew up in required every member give 10 percent of their gross income to the church. If you paid less than 10 percent, you were not allowed to do certain things, and we were told that blessings from God were being withheld.

At times in my life, my budget would not really allow for 10 percent of my gross income to go to the church. I always felt shame about giving 3 or 4 percent, so I stopped giving at all. Then I stopped talking to church leaders about it, and I eventually stopped going to church.

I didn’t want my spiritual experience for the week to feel like I was letting God down. So instead of going to church on Sundays, I started going for hikes. I felt peace and tranquility that made me feel so much better than the judgment I felt at church. And for several years, that was my church.

I know that God needs our help. We have a beautiful place of worship and, without help from the members, we would no longer have this beautiful space.

It’s easy to think about all of the wonderful things we receive from coming to this church, without thinking about the boring, behind-thescenes things that need to happen to make sure we are able to enjoy the wonderful things.

We think about the way we feel when we see our friends, the smile and hug we get from the pastors, the peace and reverence we feel as we take communion. And how often do we think about the mortgage being paid, the grounds being maintained, purchasing materials for Sunday School activities, deep cleaning the building? Well, we might think about the cleaning of the building a little more now due to the coronavirus.

We tend to focus on the things we receive more than the things we are helping to build. And we should all realize that by giving freely, we are helping to build the kingdom of God. This is not a membership fee; it is not a tax. We are giving freely so that we can be a part of the building up of His kingdom. And because we are doing that, future generations will have a beautiful place to worship. Children will have access to more opportunities to learn and to grow in faith.

If we look at our offering as an obligation, that is what it will be. But if we understand that our gifts are used by the church to make sure that we all can continue to receive the type of spiritual experience we desire, we will begin to enjoy it. We will look for additional ways to give and we will begin to make it part of our regular budget.

Andy Roberts

Donate to Outside in Oct. 1 – 24

Since 1968, Outside In has transformed lives by helping to break cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved. With COVID-19 plaguing our country, Portland still has a high number of people living on our city streets every night.

Outside In provides a safe space where youth can get their immediate needs met and begin building supportive, trusting relationships with adults who can help. Your financial gift will provide the basics—safety from the streets, showers, laundry, meals, and case management— to help these young people get on their feet with dignity.

Please donate from October 1-24 and send your donation to St. Andrew with “Service Committee Special Projects” on the memo line. Thank you for your response!

Bonnie Bliesner and the Service Committee

Just Vote: Harnessing Our Values for Justice

On the day after the election, will you be able to say that you did everything you could to turn out the vote for climate justice? Join EcoFaith Recovery for Just Vote: Harnessing Our Values for Climate and Racial Justice for 90 minutes beginning at 8:45 am on Thursday, October 15, and Thursday, October 29, via Zoom.

Learn how you can get engaged with text banking and phone banking to turn out the vote for the elections. Or create your action plan for calling two or more friends or family members in swing states to engage them in conversation about the values that will inform your vote. Take action during the meeting to make a difference in this election while grounding yourself in spiritual practice with others and cultivating the power of your own story as a catalyst for change.

Through EcoFaith’s initiative, we empower one another and our communities to “rediscover the courage to rise up with the most vulnerable and oppressed in the face of systems that escalate injustice and climate chaos.” Even if you are just getting started, you will receive valuable information on campaigns you can engage with now, mentorship on how to start an action team, and support for creating an effective plan. Go to the Just Vote website to learn more and get the Zoom link.

2020 Beaverton Virtual Art Show

Artistic talent abounds among us! This month, you can go online to see the work of some 350 artists, including St. Andrew’s own Ken Reiner, who were selected to participate in Beaverton’s 2020 Virtual Art Show. Browse the entire collection or search by artist name. The art is available for purchase, too, so if you see something you really like you can follow up with the artist.

Faith and Hope

On Thursday morning, the men’s landscape maintenance crew planted Faith & Hope, two Oregon oak trees that are the keystone plants in our Reformation Earth Garden. Hope went in easily, but Faith had to deal with some resistant substrate. A pickaxe solved that problem. Come bless our garden next Sunday (see previous article).

Caterpillars Feed Hungry Bird Babies

Bird parents raising a cluster of hungry nestlings face a gargantuan task. Unlike humans, who eat three or four meals a day, baby birds feast on 30 or 40 meals a day. Typically, both parents fly out to find food for their chicks and race back to the nest to plunge more nutrition down the gullets of the next generation.

Careful observers have long known that caterpillars are the mainstay of most bird diets here in North America. It makes sense. Caterpillars are really just soft bags of fat and protein that deliver maximum nutrition for the effort required. It’s much easier for parent birds to scoop up a single caterpillar than to round up at least 200 aphids to provide a similar serving for their young.

So, if we’re to enjoy having an abundant variety of birds visiting and living in our yards, we must make sure that caterpillars are living there, too. Need some convincing numbers? During a normal nesting period of just over two weeks, chickadee parents must find 6,000 – 9,000 caterpillars to feed their young—depending on the number of nestlings they’re raising.

How can we support the thousands of caterpillars necessary for bird reproduction? Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope, has the answer. Plant a native oak. It’s a keystone species that provides habitat for hundreds of different types of caterpillars. Other indigenous plants that are very good at ecosystem support (especially harboring caterpillars) are native cherry and willow trees.

St. Andrew is blessed to have a wealth of native species on its property already, and the Reformation Earth Garden being developed north of the sanctuary will highlight several of the keystone plants that support a thriving ecosystem.

Carol Harker

Dismantling Racism in Our Institutions

The 16 members of St. Andrew’s “Reckoning with Racism” cohort who are participating with 200 people of faith across Oregon in the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Reckoning with Racism process invite you to join us in our homework this week. We have learned that the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya Indians first made the Tualatin Valley basin their home about 10,000 years ago up until white settlers arrived. They lived in villages at Wapato Lake in what is now Forest Grove. Their villages extended out to Chakeipi, or “Place of the Beaver,” located in present day Beaverton. You can learn more here.

This week, please join our cohort in our homework of considering how we came to own the land on which our church building is located and how the previous three generations of our families came to own any land our families have owned. Who was the land purchased from? Why was it available? Where did the capital come from? What life did/does the land bear, and for whom?

If you would like to explore these questions with some of us this Tuesday, October 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., please e-mail me for the Zoom link. We would particularly love to hear directly or by e-mail from those of you who know about the history of the land on which our congregation is located!

Pastor Robyn

Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser

Help Habitat provide decent housing for low-income, hardworking families.

On Tuesday, October 27, at 8:00 am, Habitat for Humanity will host its annual Build a Home, Frame a Future fundraiser. We’ll gather virtually on YouTube to celebrate Habitat homeowners and raise funds to build and repair homes for families in Washington County. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from some of the families that have been impacted by having a Habitat home.

If you have questions or would like connection information to access the gathering, please contact Dan Fako by email or phone at 503-626-3414.

Thank You to the Faithful

Thank you to all the faithful at St. Andrew for your 2020 gift of $400. In today’s world, where everyone is banding together for the good of all, we appreciate your choice to support Willamette West Habitat for Humanity and our families. Thanks to your generosity, we can keep building affordable homes in cities throughout Washington County.

Together we are building homes for families headed by people like Ellen, who first learned about Habitat while she was volunteering on a Women Build volunteer day. After years of abuse, Ellen successfully escaped with her sons and Habitat was there with a hand up just when she needed it. Her 4-bedroom home means her autistic boys have a safe place to thrive and personal space to call their own.

Your generosity helps build and repair homes all over Washington County. With your help, we’re helping local families develop the strength, stability, and independence affordable housing brings. They, and we, can’t thank you enough.

Mark Forker
Habitat for Humanity Executive Director

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.

Remember these dates:

November 3-7, 2020
for St. Andrew’s Online Book Fair

You’ll be able to shop online, with 20% of sales proceeds coming back to benefit our libraries. Details to come!

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Diana Heidinger (sister-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Judy Heidinger
Family and friends of Dr. Philip Gehrin	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Susan Reiser
Jim Smith	Peace, comfort, and support as Jim is in hospice care	Mary Smith
Patty Werner (sister-in-law)	Comfort, strength, and successful treatment	Susan Reiser
Janet Vorvick	Comfort and courage in facing mental health challenges	Janet Vorvick
Garett McDowall	Healing and recovery from a stroke	Mike & Linda McDowall
Noah Oyen	Healing and recovery from surgery	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Jeff George’s grandmother	Healing and recovery from COVID-19	Gretchen Bancroft
Matia Brocker	Healing and recovery from surgery	Pastor Mark Brocker
Elaine May	Successful knee replacement surgery (Oct 27)	Staff
Sylvia Hazel Wood (great-granddaughter)	Blessings on her birth	Mary Nell Mahler
Our nation	Integrity of the election	Staff
Those confined to their homes: Mareline Barnes, Dave Bumgardner, Jean Fredrickson, Tara Harper, Douglas Hooke, Betty Horst, Dorothy Moore, Phyllis Morris, Ed & Jean Pacey, Helen Rogers, Dave & Sharon Roth, Margie Schindele	Assurance of God’s presence	Staff
All who are imprisoned	Peace and strength	Staff
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon Holy Trinity Catholic Church	Blessings on their work	Staff
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Madras, OR), Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Prineville, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Golden Temple of Oregon (Portland, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

Help Set the Table for Immigrant Families

Across the world, the communal bowl signifies that one does not eat alone, in isolation. For refugees and immigrants, isolation is the most threatening aspect of leaving their homeland behind and rebuilding a life in the U.S. How do families cope? They come together at mealtime and they share.

Is it possible for us to understand what our refugee families have lost? How daunting it must be to navigate a new life in America—particularly during a pandemic. The people of Lutheran Community Services NW witness the enormous challenges of rebuilding a life. They set the table for refugees to thrive by providing the emotional and practical support they need. And you can help! View the Communal Bowl video or donate now.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information. When you go to the online church calendar, you can click “List” and “Week” to see details for the week (blue buttons in screen shot, below) rather than the whole month. Click “Next >” to see the next week.

Sunday, October 18: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Tuesday, October 20

10:00 am	Worship Planning Meeting	Zoom
12:15 pm	Community Carbon Leadership Meeting	Zoom

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

6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 22

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

Sunday, October 25:  Reformation Sunday

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
1:00 pm	Blessing of St. Andrew’s Reformation Earth Garden	Next to Patio

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

Monthly Finance Report

October 11, 2020

The Political Responsibility of the Church

In the final class on the Political Responsibility of the Church, Pastor Mark Brocker will focus on “Election 2020: What Is at Stake?” this Sunday, October 11.

Plan to join the 10:00 am Adult Education class via Zoom. Session outlines are available on the Adult Ed page, where you can also see recordings of earlier class sessions.

Coming Next Week: Job’s Response to Misery

St. Andrew will begin another adult education class next Sunday, October 18, when Steve Christiansen leads us through an exploration of the book of Job. It is a story with obvious parallels to our time.

As Christiansen explains, “the phrase ‘the patience of Job’ was taken from an incorrect translation of the New Testament book of James (5:11, KJV), ‘You have heard of the patience of Job.’ Job was anything but patient! In his misery, he demanded answers from God, sometimes resorting to blasphemy. No, this story is not about patience, but about endurance, about persistence, about somehow putting one foot in front of the other in spite of the odds. At the end of the story, Job’s fortunes are restored, but we are left with many questions regarding the suffering of the innocent. There are no easy answers here, but much fodder for discussion.”

The Zoom link to connect to this class will be included in next Friday’s e-mail.

EMO Voter’s Guide

Oregon voters will be asked to say yay or nay to four measures on their ballots in the coming days. Do you know what the issues are or how you will respond? Once again, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) has produced a guide for people of faith to consider when casting their ballots: https://emoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EMO_Voters_Guide_Fall2020.pdf

Remember that Oregon’s voter registration deadline is Tuesday, October 13. Ballots will begin to be mailed to voters on October 14. Voters can use any official ballot drop site in Oregon to return their voted ballot during the 20-day voting period.

Men’s Book Club

Members of the Men’s Book Club will meet via Zoom at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 12, to discuss The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. Eric Luttrell is the host.

Rated highly by reviewers and several powerful men, the book is about “gender equity and its golden thread is empathy,” says Dr. Paul Farmer. Warren Buffet says, “I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.” And Trevor Noah adds, “This book is a beautiful and concise mission statement on what we need to do to move society forward—continue to empower women. At every level and in all places women are truly the bedrock supporting their communities.”

Melinda Gates introduces the reader to women and girls whose experiences are much different from her own. “They’ve taught her a great deal,” Dr. Farmer says, “and in this beautifully crafted and artful memoir, Melinda Gates invites the reader to learn from them, too.”

If you’d like more information about St. Andrew’s Men’s Book
Club, please contact Gary Grafwallner.

Spirituality (Women’s) Book Group News

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom, when Sharon Fako will lead the discussion of The Mountains Sing, by Nguyen Phan Mai. According to Amazon, the book is “an epic account of Vietnam’s painful 20th-century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling.”

The Zoom link will be sent out a day before the meeting to all who are on the Spirituality Book Group list. If you would like to attend, contact Mary Smith for connection information.

Coming Up for St. Andrew Book Clubs

Spirituality Book Group (Women)

Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 pm
Book: Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver
Discussion Leader: Mary Ann Snider

Sunday, December 13, at 3:00 pm
Book: The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
Discussion Leader: Fran Miller

Men’s Book Club

Monday, November 9, at 7:00 pm
Book: Strip Tease, by Carl Hiassen
Host: Ted Miller

Monday, December 14, at 7:00 pm
Book: Too Much and Never Enough, by Mary Trump
Host: Tim Holte

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture.

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

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

Donate to Outside in Oct. 1 – 24

Since 1968, Outside In has transformed lives by helping to break cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved. With COVID-19 plaguing our country, Portland still has a high number of people living on our city streets every night.

Outside In provides a safe space where youth can get their immediate needs met and begin building supportive, trusting relationships with adults who can help. Your financial gift will provide the basics—safety from the streets, showers, laundry, meals, and case management— to help these young people get on their feet with dignity.

Please donate from October 1-24 and send your donation to St. Andrew with “Service Committee Special Projects” on the memo line. Thank you for your response!

Bonnie Bliesner and the Service Committee

Telling Your Pandemic Story

Have you wondered how our ancestors managed to cope with the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, when 50 million souls were lost worldwide and 675,000 Americans died? People in the future will no doubt be wondering about us and what we did to get through this time. Like it or not, we are making history behind our masks.

Please share how you’ve been using your time, your strategies for getting through these days, things you’ve done to create joyful moments for yourself or others, the projects and passions you’ve renewed or discovered anew. What you’re doing might give others the spark needed to make 2020 a little easier to bear.

You don’t even have to write your story. Simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 and you may see it in a future issue of this newsletter.

Just Vote: Harnessing Our Values for Justice

On the day after the election, will you be able to say that you did everything you could to turn out the vote for climate justice? Join EcoFaith Recovery for Just Vote: Harnessing Our Values for Climate and Racial Justice for 90 minutes beginning at 8:45 am on Thursday, October 15, and Thursday, October 29, via Zoom.

Learn how you can get engaged with text banking and phone banking to turn out the vote for the elections. Or create your action plan for calling two or more friends or family members in swing states to engage them in conversation about the values that will inform your vote. Take action during the meeting to make a difference in this election while grounding yourself in spiritual practice with others and cultivating the power of your own story as a catalyst for change.

Through EcoFaith’s initiative, we empower one another and our communities to “rediscover the courage to rise up with the most vulnerable and oppressed in the face of systems that escalate injustice and climate chaos.” Even if you are just getting started, you will receive valuable information on campaigns you can engage with now, mentorship on how to start an action team, and support for creating an effective plan. Go to the Just Vote website to learn more and get the Zoom link.

Table Talk: The Prevalence & Persistence of White Supremacy

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion, we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Though we cannot gather in person, Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table Talk via Zoom on Thursday, October 29, 7:00-8:00 pm.

At the first Presidential Debate on Tuesday, September 29, President Trump could not bring himself to clearly and unambiguously denounce White supremacy. In the essay “White Supremacy Is a Script We’re Given at Birth,” Reggie Williams, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, observes “how prevalent and persistent White supremacy is in this country.” Williams is a member of the Board of the International Bonhoeffer Society—English Language Section. He has written a book entitled Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. According to Williams, White supremacy is not simply a problem for a small minority of violent young men; “it’s written in our flesh and rehearsed throughout history.” As a Black man Williams himself has experienced some of the consequences of the script of White supremacy.

In this Table Talk we will ask some very basic questions: What is White supremacy? How have we seen White supremacy manifested in our lives? Why is White supremacy so prevalent and persistent? To prepare for this Table Talk, you are encouraged to read Reggie Williams essay mentioned above.

2020 Beaverton Virtual Art Show

Artistic talent abounds among us! This month, you can go online to see the work of some 350 artists, including St. Andrew’s own Ken Reiner, who were selected to participate in Beaverton’s 2020 Virtual Art Show. Browse the entire collection or search by artist name. The art is available for purchase, too, so if you see something you really like you can follow up with the artist.

Where Are All the Birds?

This morning Jan asked me, “Where are all the birds?” What she was commenting on was that we are not seeing many birds in our suburban Beaverton backyard, and we’re used to seeing birds. We have a bird feeder with a diverse selection of seeds, a suet ball, a hummingbird feeder, and a bird bath, all rarely used.

I said, “I know why.” Carol Harker and I have just finished reading a book by Douglas Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard. Dr. Tallamy is a professor of wildlife ecology with a focus on the interaction between plants and wildlife. His research shows that resident birds and insects (including bees and butterflies) feed on locally native plants. The problem is that Jan and I live in a subdivision that is a non-native plant ecosystem (there are only three native plant species in our yard!).

We had lots of birds of many varieties in our previous Beaverton yard. When we lived on Cooper Mountain, there were always birds to
be seen: scrub jays, goldfinches, house finches, chickadees, several kinds of sparrows, swallows, and more. When there was an open one-acre lot across the street, we always had bluebirds in our nest boxes (It is well known that bluebirds need about an acre of open land to feed their chicks). After a large new house was built on that lot, the bluebirds moved on, but swallows now use the nest boxes.

There were also hummingbirds, usually both Anna’s and rufous, and they would have two families every year. The fledglings, which I called the “teenagers,” would fight over access to our two hummingbird feeders. The hummingbirds nested in a forest a couple of yards away.

I think that is the difference from our current yard. On Cooper Mountain, we had a very large predominantly native forest (including Jenkin’s Estate) to the north and, to the south, the 800-acre Cooper Mountain Nature Park with its open meadows and oak woodland.

You may know that we spend the winter at our house in San Antonio, Texas. There we have a different, but similarly wide variety of birds: cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, three kinds of doves, and many more. We can sit in our breakfast nook and watch them at our feeders and bird bath. Nearly every yard in our suburban neighborhood has a native live oak, and many have native cedar elm, Texas red oak, and mountain cedar. Two blocks away there is a wide native forest around a dry creek bed that forms a long linear park across San Antonio, and two miles away there is a nature park over a square mile in size. In both our San Antonio neighborhood and on Cooper Mountain, the plantings are mostly non-native, but the resident wildlife has nearby access to a variety of native plants (trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowering plants, and grasses). Unfortunately, our Beaverton home north of Sunset Highway doesn’t have a concentration of nearby native plants. As a result, our yard receives few bird visitors.

Now that we understand some of the reasons there are few birds, next week I will discuss how all of us can make a difference.

Eric Luttrell

Dismantling Racism in Our Institutions

The 15 members of St. Andrew’s “Reckoning with Racism” cohort invite you to join them in learning about the Doctrine of Discovery and the ways European descendants benefit from a violent history of land grabbing and genocide that was justified by patriotism and Christian religion. This same theology formed an international legal structure that continues to dispossess Indigenous Peoples of their land.

What does it mean to be a peacemaker today in a world where the present is defined by the violence of the past? You can watch the Doctrine of Discovery video informing the cohort’s discussion this week on YouTube.

Pandemic Story: 20 Naked Ladies

One of our St. Andrew faithful stopped by the building a week ago and shared the pleasure he’s gotten from the 20 naked ladies in his yard. True story. But it’s not as salacious as it sounds.

Larry & Phyllis Vachal were delighted by the display of belladonna lilies, aka “naked ladies,” in their yard in 2020 They inherited the planting put in by previous owners when they moved into their home in 2003. The next spring, they wondered what the green foliage by their back fence was going to produce. Then it all died back. After the plants rested for some weeks, they awakened again to put on their dazzling show.

Larry describes it this way: “All of a sudden, I noticed a sprout poking up. Then another. And another. This year I counted 20.” Soon, fragrant pink lily-like flowers emerge above the naked stalks.

Like many of us, Larry has spent more time than usual puttering around his yard during the pandemic. He and Phyllis are natives of North Dakota, where naked ladies simply won’t grow. But they flourish in zones 7-10, even during a pandemic.

Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times

What does shalom and unity look like in 2020, when racial unrest, political tensions, and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives? This year at its Collins Summit, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is asking
how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them.

The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, founder and president of FreedomRoad.us and one of today’s leading voices on the topics of poverty, racial and gender justice, and transformational civic engagement.

Register now for the virtual event to be held Wednesday, November 18.

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Dr. Philip Gehring	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Susan Reiser
Family and friends of Chris Goodwin (brother-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Debi Gustafson
Family and friends of Pat Hall (sister)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Fran Miller
Diana Heidinger (sister-in-law) and her family	Comfort, peace, and acceptance as Diana is in hospice	Judy Heidinger
Patty Werner (sister-in-law)	Comfort, strength, and successful treatment	Susan Reiser
Janet Vorvick	Comfort and courage in facing mental health challenges	Janet Vorvick
Margie Lee (wife)	Strength to endure chemotherapy	Robert May
Matia Brocker	Healing and recovery from surgery	Pastor Mark Brocker
Jeremy Bliesner (son)	Healing and recovery from eye surgery	Larry & Bonnie Bliesner
Chris Bekemeier	Healing and recovery from surgery (Oct. 2)	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Bernie Dwigans	Healing and recovery	Carol Hogan
Phil Johnson (cousin’s husband)	Healing and recovery	Linda Fransen
Ellen Cliford (daughter of a good friend)	Healing and recovery	Sharon Fako
Our nation	Integrity of the election	Staff
St. Andrew Council, Executive Committee, Staff	Wisdom and discernment	Staff
Karen Klingelhafer, Kyler Vogt, and all seminarians; India Jensen Kerr and all ministry candidates	Encouragement and support	Staff
Grace First Lutheran Church (Bend, OR) Nativity Lutheran Church (Bend, OR) Church of Living Waters Lutheran (Burns, OR) Peace Lutheran Church (Burns, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Bilal Masjid (Beaverton, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

Help Set the Table for Immigrant Families

During these uncertain times, remember how families all over the world cope; they come together and support each other at mealtime, around the Communal Bowl. Lutheran Community Services Northwest is setting the table for refugee and immigrant families as it provides the emotional and practical support to help them rebuild their lives. Click here for a sneak peek at their fundraising video. On October 15, the organization will release its complete video and ask people to take a virtual seat at the table and contribute to support local refugee and immigrant families.

A Blessing for St. Andrew’s Reformation Earth Garden

Save the date:
Sunday, October 24, 2020
1:00 pm

Everyone is invited to gather in and around the garden north of the St. Andrew Sanctuary for a short blessing ceremony.
Wear a mask; bring a chair if you’d like, and see your church friends as we celebrate our Earth Care core value.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, October 11, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Monday, October 12

7:00 pm

Men’s Book Club

Zoom

Tuesday, October 13

9:00 am	Facility Management Team Meeting	Zoom
12:30 pm	Yard Survey/Citizen Science Team Meeting	Outside-front
6:00 pm	HR Meeting	Zoom
7:00 pm	Finance Team Meeting	Zoom

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

10:00 am	Reopening Meeting	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 15

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

Sunday, October 18, Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!

October 4, 2020

The Political Responsibility of the Church

With just weeks to go before U.S. elections in November, Pastor Mark Brocker considers the church’s responsibility to respond to societal challenges. This Sunday, October 4, he’ll take up the topic of “Responsibility for Future Generations.”

Plan to join the 10:00 am Adult Education class via Zoom. Session outlines are available on the Adult Ed page, where you can also see recordings of earlier class sessions.

Wednesday Evening Meditation

Our midweek Prayer Services continue into the fall on Wednesday nights via Zoom. The service will focus on our role in creation, with music, prayer, meditations, and scripture.

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

Join us for any or all of these events. The connection link is sent out Wednesday afternoons, so please watch for it.

Donate to Outside in Oct. 1 – 24

Since 1968, Outside In has transformed lives by helping to break cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, those experiencing homelessness, and the underserved. With COVID-19 plaguing our country, Portland still has a high number of people living on our city streets every night.

Outside In provides a safe space where youth can get their immediate needs met and begin building supportive, trusting relationships with adults who can help. Your financial gift will provide the basics—safety from the streets, showers, laundry, meals, and case management— to help these young people get on their feet with dignity.

Please donate from October 1-24 and send your donation to St. Andrew with “Service Committee Special Projects” on the memo line. Thank you for your response!

Bonnie Bliesner and the Service Committee

Plan Your Vote

Oregon’s voter registration deadline is October 13. Set your mind at ease. If you ahve a computer, if only takes a minute to check to ensure that you are registered. Just follow these steps:

• go to sos.oregon.gov
• click on “Voting & Elections”
• click on “My Vote”
• click on the blue box, “Go to My Vote Now”
• fill out your first name, last name, and date of birth
• click “Submit”

Within seconds, you will see your voter registration information.

Wildfire Response

Lutheran Disaster Response stands ready to help victims of recent and ongoing wildfires. Gifts designated for “U.S. Wildfires” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires, until the response is complete.

Or go to the Oregon Synod Wildfire Relief Fund to fund direct support to congregations providing relief and aid related to the fires in Oregon.

Telling Your Pandemic Story

Have you wondered how our ancestors managed to cope with the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, when 50 million souls were lost worldwide and 675,000 Americans died? People in the future will no doubt be wondering about us and what we did to get through this time. Like it or not, we are making history behind our masks.

Please share how you’ve been using your time, your strategies for getting through these days, things you’ve done to create joyful moments for yourself or others, the projects and passions you’ve renewed or discovered anew. What you’re doing might give others the spark needed to make 2020 a little easier to bear.

You don’t even have to write your story. Simply call the church office at 503-646-0629 and you may see it in a future issue of this newsletter.

Where’s Susan?

Waldo’s not missing here at St. Andrew, but Parish Musician Susan can be hard to find. With her marriage to John Reiser earlier this year, Susan Friesen became Susan Werner Reiser. Please update your church directory with her current contact information:

Name: Susan R. Werner Reiser
Cell phone: 503-334-6353
Personal e-mail: srwerner.reiser@gmail.com
Church e-mail: srwerner.reiser@standrewlutheran.com

Let’s Talk; Let’s Listen Contues

Thanks to all of you who have been making phone calls as a part of our Let’s Talk; Let’s Listen campaign this summer. It’s not too late to participate in this project. The information we are gathering will help the St. Andrew leadership teams respond to the needs of our community.

To sign up to call someone: https://tinyurl.com/Call-Signups
To access Questions for Callers: https://tinyurl.com/Call-Questions-to-Ask
To access the Followup Form: https://tinyurl.com/Form-for-Followup

Or, contact Lynn Santelmann, Pat Christiansen, Larry Bliesner, Scott Taylor, LuAnn Staul, Victoria Kovalenko, or Bob Stadel and one of us can get you connected.

Preparing for Next Sunday

Backyard Gatherings + More!

Seize the day! One way many of us have stayed connected in recent months is through neighborhood backyard gatherings. Mary Smith, Sharon Fako, and Pastor Robyn have developed guidelines for doing this safely. The St. Andrew MACG Core team is ready to help you host and/or lead a gathering in your back yard, your front yard, or even at St. Andrew in one of the outdoor areas. Plan a gathering now while the weather remains favorable.

Have you been wanting to learn more about how to make a carbon garden in your yard? We can arrange for someone from the Community Carbon Team to come and give your group some ideas. Are you motivated to take some action before this fall’s election? Perhaps you would like to gather some people to write postcards to voters who may not know their names have been removed from voter lists, or perhaps you would like to write letters to our elected representatives. Or would you like to come together and play games with other fun-loving people? Or simply get together and catch up?

Please contact Pat Christiansen or Larry Bliesner, co-chairs of the MACG Core Team, to get started. We can help you find out who lives in your neighborhood, connect you with people who can help with your particular area of interest, and help you with guidelines to hold your gathering safely. Let’s enjoy this beautiful fall weather with some safe get-togethers with some of our favorite people.

Nature’s Best Hope – Native Plants

In his book Nature’s Best Hope, Douglas Tallamay describes a visit to Portland. Our city has a reputation for its parks, green outlook, and eco-friendliness. Yet during a walk through Portland neighborhoods he found very few native trees. Ninety-one percent of the trees he identified were introduced from other continents or ecoregions. This means that most of the trees we have in our neighborhoods are not able to support local wildlife.

Carrying capacity is the ability of a particular place to support specific species without degrading local resources. When one species exceeds the carrying capacity and degrades the habitat many species suffer. For local wildlife, plants determine the carrying capacity. The number and type of plants in the landscape play a crucial role in the abundance and diversity of animals that can live in that landscape.

Native plants not only support wildlife, but they offer additional benefits, too. Planting native plants can conserve water and reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers that can pollute local rivers and streams. Songbirds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects fight garden pests, pollinate food crops, and improve the soil. Fall is the best time for planting. If you are considering adding plants to your landscape, consider adding natives to increase the carrying capacity of your landscape.

LuAnn Staul

Men’s Book Club

Members of the Men’s Book Club will meet via Zoom at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 12, to discuss The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. Eric Luttrell is the host.

Rated highly by reviewers and several powerful men, the book is about “gender equity and its golden thread is empathy,” says Dr. Paul Farmer. Warren Buffet says, “I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.” And Trevor Noah adds, “This book is a beautiful and concise mission statement on what we need to do to move society forward—continue to empower women. At every level and in all places women are truly the bedrock supporting their communities.”

Melinda Gates introduces the reader to women and girls whose experiences are much different from her own. “They’ve taught her a great deal,” Dr. Farmer says, “and in this beautifully crafted and artful memoir, Melinda Gates invites the reader to learn from them, too.”

If you’d like more information about St. Andrew’s Men’s Book
Club, please contact Gary Grafwallner.

Spirituality (Women’s) Book Group News

The Spirituality Book Group will meet on Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom, when Sharon Fako will lead the discussion of The Mountains Sing, by Nguyen Phan Mai. According to Amazon, the book is “an epic account of Vietnam’s painful 20th-century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling.”

The Zoom link will be sent out a day before the meeting to all who are on the Spirituality Book Group list. If you would like to attend, contact Mary Smith for connection information.

Coming Up for St. Andrew Book Clubs

Spirituality Book Group (Women)

Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 pm
Book: The Mountains Sing, by Nguyen Phan Mai
Discussion Leader: Sharon Fako

Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 pm
Book: Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver
Discussion Leader: Mary Ann Snider

Sunday, December 13, at 3:00 pm
Book: The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
Discussion Leader: Fran Miller

Men’s Book Club

Monday, November 9, at 7:00 pm
Book: Strip Tease, by Carl Hiassen
Host: Ted Miller

Monday, December 14, at 7:00 pm
Book: Too Much and Never Enough, by Mary Trump
Host: Tim Holte

Monday, January 11, at 7:00 pm
Book: The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris
Host: Gary Grafwallner

Centering Prayer Training

Whether or not you’ve participated in St. Andrew’s Centering Prayer group that meets via Zoom each Wednesday at 7:30 pm, you are invited to a three-hour Zoom workshop on Centering Prayer to be held Saturday, October 17, beginning at 9:00 am. Contact the church office to register.

The workshop is appropriate for beginners or anyone wishing to refresh their practice of Centering Prayer. This approach to prayer is a form of meditation rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition and popularized in recent decades by Father Thomas Keating. The purpose of Centering Prayer is to foster deeper intimacy with God through silence and stillness.

Camp Lutherwood’s Online Harvest Festival

Visit the Spirit of Harvest online to learn more and watch Camp Lutherwood’s livestream event on YouTube at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 7. Start bidding on exclusive camp experiences and purchase raffle tickets on the online auction! (Please note: You must be registered to bid on any items.) Donate to Camp Lutherwood and encourage others to do the same!

Dismantling Racism in Our Institutions

The 15 members of St. Andrew’s “Reckoning with Racism” cohort invite you to join us in some of our reading as we begin to do the work of dismantling racism. This week we read a short article from Portland Monthly titled “How Oregon’s Racist History Can Sharpen Our Sense of Justice Now,” an article by Walidah Imarisha.

You can learn more at Common Table. Then contact Pastor Robyn or call her at the church office (503-646-0629) if you would like to participate. Upcoming Tuesday Zoom gatherings are scheduled from 6:30-8:00 pm on October 13 and 27, and November 10.

Pandemic Story: Keeping Herself in Stitches

When she’s not playing the organ or directing St. Andrew’s bell ringers, Susan Werner Reiser might very well be exercising her talent as a seamstress. Having sewn for herself, her home, her daughter, and her grandchildren for years, Susan decided to go into business and established an Etsy shop, SeasonalCoverings, in 2013.

During the pandemic, when so many small enterprises have struggled, business at SeasonalCoverings has been booming! Tree skirts in several sizes are her most popular item—and they’re not only for Christmas. Right now, people who decorate with the seasons are snapping up her reversible Halloween/Thanksgiving tree skirts.

Susan’s customers come from the world over and she’s sent orders to Australia, Japan, Canada, and Germany. In addition to tree skirts, aprons, and table runners, Susan also responds to custom requests. She’s made clothes for a stuffed animal Grinch for Kim in Florida and created an elegant tree skirt from a wedding gown. Etsy customers who’ve shopped SeasonalCoverings are unanimously impressed by the quality of her work. One buyer expressed it this way: “Truly beautiful…. When I opened it, it made me feel like it was crafted for me by someone that loves me. Hard to explain.”

Did you know that we at St. Andrew have been the recipients of Susan’s gifts in designing several banners and large wall hangings that she has made for display in the sanctuary? This summer, Kyler Vogt’s sermon on his vision for children’s ministry inspired her latest creation. It will be new to all of us when we’re able to return to worship in our building.

Do you have an online business that you’re nurturing through the pandemic? Contact the church office and let us know.

In Need of Prayers…

Family and friends of Chris Goodwin (brother-in-law)	Peace and God’s comfort at his death	Debi Gustafson
Family and friends of Pat Hall (sister)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Fran Miller
Family and friends of Lynn Dunn (friend)	Peace and God’s comfort at her death	Anne Newell
Family and friends of COVID-19 victims	Peace and God’s comfort at their deaths	Staff
Workers in the healthcare system	Protection, courage, and strength	Staff
Janet Vorvick	Comfort and courage in facing mental health challenges	Janet Vorvick
Diana Heidinger (sister-in-law)	Peace, comfort, and guidance	Judy Heidinger
Jim Heidinger and daughters	Comfort and acceptance regarding Diana’s diagnosis	Judy Heidinger
Margie Lee (wife)	Strength to endure chemotherapy	Robert May
Jeremy Bliesner (son)	Healing and recovery from eye surgery	Larry & Bonnie Bliesner
Chris Bekemeier	Healing and recovery from surgery (Oct. 2)	Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Bernie Dwigans	Healing and recovery	Carol Hogan
Phil Johnson (cousin’s husband)	Healing and recovery	Linda Fransen
Ellen Cliford (daughter of a good friend)	Healing and recovery	Sharon Fako
Judy Deal	Healing and recovery from shoulder replacement	Susan Deal
Suzanne Warnes	Healing and recovery following reactions to chemo	Suzanne Warnes
Harriett Stevens (mother)	Healing and recovery from a fall	David Stevens
Veterans suffering from PTSD during the fires	Continued healing and comfort	Pastor Susan Kintner
Carol Hogan	Thanksgiving for good test results	Carol Hogan
Noah Oyen and all firefighters	Protection and endurance	Staff
People impacted by ravages of climate change	Safety and protection	Staff
Peaceful protesters in America	Courage and protection	Staff
People working to ensure a just vote in 2020	Courage and persistence	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
Trinity Lutheran Church (Tulelake, CA) St. Timothy Lutheran Church (Portland, OR)	Serving with us in the Oregon Synod	Staff
Hoshanah Rabbah (Tigard, OR)	Blessings on our interfaith partners	Staff

Dear St. Andrew Saints,

We want to thank the Nifty Notters for the two cozy quilts gifted to us and keeping us warm. And our thanks to the Prayer Shawl knitters for the beautiful shawl whose prayers have been wrapped around us during those hard moments.

The harsh reality of losing our home and a lifetime of heirlooms is setting in and makes us feel so very sad, but then we remember all the love and care and support we have from all of you. We find ourselves often in the lament of the Psalms, but we also are comforted by the words of Psalm 91, which assures us we live in the shelter of the Most Holy, who will guard and protect us and who will answer our prayer.

You have answered our prayers with your love. Thank you!

Blessings,
John & Christine Core

Highlights for the Week

Check the church calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, October 4, Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Tuesday, October 6

10:00 am	Worship Planners	Zoom
12:30 pm	Citizen Science & Yard Survey Team Meeting	Community Garden Parking Lot
7:00 pm	MACG Meeting	Zoom

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

12:30 pm	Bonhoeffer Seminar	Zoom
6:00 pm	Handbell Ensemble Rehearsal	Sanctuary
6:30 pm	Informal Gathering Time	Zoom
7:00 pm	High School Youth Game Night	Zoom
7:00 pm	Wednesday Evening Prayer	Zoom
7:30 pm	Centering Prayer	Zoom

Thursday, October 8

12:00 pm

Team Ministry Meeting

Zoom

Sunday, October 11, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 am	Livestream Worship	YouTube
9:30 am	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom
10:00 am	Sunday School (age 3 – 5th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	Confirmation (6th – 8th Grade)	Zoom
10:00 am	High School Youth Group	Zoom
10:00 am	Adult Education:  The Political Responsibility of the Church	Zoom
11:00 am	Online Worship	Zoom
12:00 pm	Virtual Coffee Time	Zoom

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!