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!