October 17, 2021

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Fall Adult Education Classes

Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful

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

Road Trip! The Missionary Journeys of Paul

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

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

Wednesday Evening Prayer

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

A Hope For All Update

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

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

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

Ken Reiner

Spirituality Book Group

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

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

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

Future Reading:

Christmas Greenery Orders

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

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

Farm Workers Drive a Success

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

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

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

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

Service Committee

Special Topic Announced

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

And the Bells Rang Out!

Happy Anniversary, Jerry and Anne!

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

Thanksgiving is Coming

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

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

If you wish to give on-line, select the Thanksgiving Food Drive fund or you can send a check made out to St. Andrew with “Thanksgiving Food Drive” in the memo line.

This is a wonderful way to live out our faith, as well as giving a needy family the chance to truly celebrate Thanksgiving. Please consider helping with a donation of any amount this year.

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

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

Table Talk: What is Patriotism?

Gathered around the table in his home, Martin Luther talked freely and openly with his colleagues and students about matters of faith, theology, and varied aspects of daily life. In an effort to cultivate this kind of spirited discussion we have a tradition at St. Andrew of gathering for Table Talks. Pastor Brocker invites you to participate in the next Table
Talk via Zoom on Tuesday, October 26, 7:00-8:00 pm.

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

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

Pastor Mark’s Upcoming Chi-Rho Lectures

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

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

Preparing for Next Sunday, October 24, 2021

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

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

Bonhoeffer, The Church, and the Climate Question

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

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

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

Aging with Grace

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s What?

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

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

Ridwell.com

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

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

Ridwell.com

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

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

Ridwell.com

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

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

Ridwell.com

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

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

Liz Hardy, Earth Care Team

In Need of Prayers…

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

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

Highlights for the Week

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

Sunday, October 17

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

Monday, October 18

6:00 pm

Scout Troop 618 Meeting

East Parking Lot

Tuesday, October 19

7:00 am	Sunrise Women	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
7:00 am	Men’s Gathering & Bible Study	Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave)
10:00 am	T’ai Chi	Fellowship Hall

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

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

Thursday, October 21

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

Friday, October 22

10:00 am

T’ai Chi

Fellowship Hall

Sunday, October 24

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

Connecting to Worship

Ways to Give: Thank you for supporting our ministries!

Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Andrew!