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