October 3, 2021
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Fall Adult Education Classes
Faith in Finance: Making Giving More Meaningful
This Sunday, October 3, at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall, the discussion will center around the “how” of giving. We’ll talk about the many ways we can give (cash/check/electronic), as well as the many sorts of gifts we can share (money/time/talents). We’ll talk about how we make giving decisions and how we find meaning in giving.
Road Trip! The Missionary Journeys of Paul
Paul is accompanied by Silas on his second road trip, this one taking him to places we readily recognize, including the seaside city of Ephesus in modern-day Turkey, plus Thessoloniki, Corinth, and Athens in Greece. Again, the travelers encounter trouble in several places. Tune in via Zoom Sunday morning at 10:00 am to find out more.
Wednesday Evening Prayer
All are welcome this Wednesday, October 6, 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.
Wrapped in Healing Prayer
Satya has TREASURED the prayer shawl that we picked up at St. Andrew the day before her spinal surgery on September 1. Beginning in the hospital, but especially at home as Satya was healing on her back, she would cover her arms and tummy with the shawl, along with a hot pad. That shawl’s embrace as symbol of so many people praying for her, so often eased the nausea and pain during that first ten days following surgery. Even just last night, she asked for it, having trouble falling asleep. If you ever doubted whether those shawls make a difference…they do!
The church community is alive and well in Satya’s heart. In fact, she’s asked me many times, “Do you think I feel so little pain because so many people are praying for me?” ABSOLUTELY is always my reply.
Tracie Semenchalam
A Heartfelt Thank You!
Thank you to all my St. Andrew friends for the prayers, cards, emails, calls, books, lemon pie, and Prayer Shawl. They have strengthened me as I continue on my cancer journey.
Carol Means
Financial Review Team
Two volunteers are needed for St. Andrew’s Financial Review Team and, if you have accounting or bookkeeping experience, that is helpful. I am the third team member.
The time commitment is only a few hours annually, when the Financial Review Team does a review of St. Andrew’s finances.
Currently St. Andrew is working with Portland’s St. Luke Lutheran Church to review each other’s finances. A St. Luke team will review our finances and our team will review theirs.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact me [larrybliesner@comcast.net].
Larry Bliesner
School Bag Stuffing Party
St. Andrew seamstresses have done their work and have the school bags ready to stuff with all the supplies members of the congregation have provided for Lutheran World Relief’s school bag project. Each year St. Andrew packs up more than 100 bags for Lutheran World Relief’s Fall Ingathering. Now that the bags have been sewn and the supplies gathered, it’s time to put the two together.
Join the School Bag Stuffing Party from 9:00 am-Noon next Thursday, October 7, in Fellowship Hall. It’s a good time to catch up with your St. Andrew friends and do a good deed at the same time. If you have questions, please contact Amy Bailey.
Wanted: Zoom Hosts
Are you a Zoom master? Can you spare an hour of your time once a month and host the Zoom meeting for St. Andrew’s education hour on Sunday morning?
The job is pretty simple: Log into the Zoom meeting room and send everyone to the appropriate Breakout Room for the class requested. Then send attendance numbers to Carol Harker after classes end.
Volunteering as a Zoom host is a great way to reconnect with people in our community and it would be a very big help on Sunday mornings. To volunteer, please email Allison Katsufrakis at allisonk@standrewlutheran.com.
Earth Camp 2022: Save the Dates
Dates have been set for next summer’s Earth Camp for grade school children. Mark your calendars now to save the week of Monday, June 27-Friday, July 1, 2022. The full-day program (9:00 am-3:00 pm) helps youngsters cultivate a deep love for our Earth home, learn about climate challenges, and discover several things they can do to protect God’s creation. The theme for 2022 is “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”
Dear People of St. Andrew,
“Because kind people like you take action, lives like mine are transformed,” Ollie says. After scary times on the streets as a youth, Ollie found Outside In and the stability needed to earn scholarships, a high-end tech job, and a future full of hope.
Thank you for your donation of socks valued at $2,844 in support of our mission! Your gift, received on September 17, 2021, helps Outside In serve more than 11,000 people whose needs are great and whose way is difficult every year.
Your contributions heals, feeds, houses, educates, inspires, and renews lives. Donations like yours make it possible for us to:
- Improve medical and mental health for more than 10,000 patients experiencing poverty and homelessness each year.
- Create brighter futures for 1,000 young people experiencing homelessness each year by providing education and job training.
- Prevent Chronic Homelessness through our successful housing program where 96 percent of those who participate are able to maintain safe and stable housing off the streets.
- Provide 32,000 nutritious meals to nearly 1,000 youth experiencing homelessness.
Your investment in our work helps us reach those who need our services the most. Thank you!
With Warm Thanks,
Lori Slaughter
Director of Development
Outside In
BottleDrop Fundraiser
Over the past several months, St. Andrew has raised more than $800 for youth programs…just by cashing in our cans! These funds will go toward youth events over this next year, especially the National Youth Gathering coming up next summer. To join in, you can find BottleDrop bags on the shelves in Fellowship Hall. Fill them with recyclable cans/bottles, and then drop them through the outdoor hatch at any BottleDrop Center. Thanks to everyone who is
taking part in this awesome fundraiser!
Preparing for Sunday, October 10, 2021
Reading: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31
Go to the “Preparing for Worship” webpage for the bulletins, the complete Lectionary, and more.
Council Update
At their monthly meeting on September 16, members of the Congregational Council approved a recommendation from the Reopening Team and Executive Committee to require all volunteers and staff working with youth on the St. Andrew campus (and all sponsored activities) to be vaccinated. Following a thoughtful discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic, our core care values, individual and group rights and responsibilities, and the ramifications of such a policy for the church community, particularly Scouts and Bee Bops staff and families, council members voted (10 in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstaining) to adopt the following policy:
All employees and volunteers supporting the church or using church facilities who specifically work with youth, including organizations such as Scouts and Bee Bops Learning Center who use St. Andrew facilities, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021. The only exceptions are for reasons documented by a licensed personal physician.
Since the decision one week ago, St. Andrew children and youth programs have restarted and will operate in compliance with all safety policies. Likewise, the BSA Scouting programs continuing at St. Andrew will incorporate the vaccine requirement for adult volunteers into their existing youth protection policies.
Bee Bops, however, has informed us of their decision to close the learning center at St. Andrew on October 15. We had hoped that the Bee Bops directors would be willing to abide by the policy for the safety of the children, their families, Bee Bops staff, and the community. While we are sad about the impact this closure will have on those connected with Bee Bops, we feel we did what was necessary to provide appropriate care for children and families. St. Andrew will likely take a collective breath and wait before discerning together the best use of the children’s learning space for enhancing the lives of our families and community.
In living out our faith, we acknowledge the rights and freedoms granted to everyone, along with our responsibilities. We are to love and respect one another just as God has loved us. We have an opportunity to show our love and respect for the community during this pandemic by being responsible; wearing masks and being vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective at preventing the disease. And if COVID-19 is contracted, being vaccinated lessens the severity of illness and reduces transmission to others.
The Council and leaders are grateful for the love and grace, strength and perseverance that St. Andrew has displayed during this pandemic. May we continue to protect, love, and care for one another, our neighbors, and especially our youth, who are not yet able to be vaccinated.
Mark Brocker, Lead Pastor
Scott Taylor, Council President
Carol Harker, Parish Manager
COVID Relief Funds Requested
While the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon dropped below 1,000 a few days ago, the virus is still wreaking havoc with people’s lives. If you would like to assist Bee Bops families and staff as they go through a period of transition, please consider donating to St. Andrew’s COVID Relief Fund.
Since the pandemic began, we have been able to provide a measure of relief to families and individuals struggling to meet their basic needs. We’d like to continue to show God’s love in that way, particularly for Bee Bops families and staff who may not have the financial resources they need at this time.
Deadlines to Note
Monday, October 4
Organ lesson scholarship applications due. For more information and to apply, go to: https://standrewlutheran.com/give/st-andrew-foundation/.
Now—Mid-November
This fall, make room on your bookshelves and help the St. Andrew libraries at the same time by pruning your collection. Drop off your donations in the Adult Library. A Used Book Sale to fund purchases of new books is scheduled for Sunday, November 28.
A Note about Yoga
Our yoga teachers are traveling in September. Wednesday morning classes for both floor and chair yoga will resume
October 13 at 10:00 am in Fellowship Hall.
Thank You for Supporting Our Ministry
St. Andrew is able to do God’s work because of your generous gifts supporting our ministries. Thank you!
To learn more about the many ways you can give (by mail, text, church app, online, etc.), please go to www.standrewlutheran.com/giving.
In Need of Prayers…
If you know someone in need of prayers, please contact the church office by phone at 503-646-0629 or email office@standrewlutheran.com Tuesday-Friday, prayerchain@standrewlutheran.com Saturday-Monday.
| Family and friends of Paul Roblyer (nephew) | Peace and God’s comfort at his death | Jim & Teri Brosh |
| Corine Walker (mother-in-law) | Comfort and peace in hospice care | LuAnn Staul |
| Melissa and Noah Stone (daughter and grandson) | Support and God’s comfort | Julie Hoffmaster |
| Kay (mother) | Good care and recovery | Linda Olshausen |
| Linda Fransen | Effective treatment and healing | Ed Fransen |
| Sandi Beavers | Healing and recovery from surgery | Sandi Beavers |
| Richard Walker | Comfort & healing from COVID-19 | LuAnn Staul |
| Laura & Honoria Geczy-Haskins | Healing and recovery from COVID-19 | Laura Geczy-Haskins |
| Susan Jacobi, Dr. Cara Steinkeler, Lee Anne Knapp, and all healthcare workers | Endurance, strength, and safety in working with COVID patients | Staff |
| Maverick Dixon (unborn nephew) | Complete healing in the womb | AJ & Rebecca Uecker |
| Refugees and immigrants | Acceptance, safety, and just treatment | Staff |
| Military personnel, especially Justina Hailey Hope Brocker, Evan Dahlquist, Dawson Dethlefs, Neil Fiegenbaum, and Jerami Reyna | Protection and safety | Staff |
| Grace Lutheran Church (Bend, OR) Nativity Lutheran Church (Bend, OR) |
Serving with us in the Oregon Synod | Staff |
| Congregation Beth Israel (Portland, OR) | Blessings on our interfaith partners | Staff |
| Individual friends and loved ones in need of prayer | Whatever they most need; say their names in your heart or aloud | Everyone |
Highlights for the Week
Go to the complete online church calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Sunday, October 3
| 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 4
| 6:00 pm | Scout Troop 618 Meeting | East Parking Lot |
Tuesday, October 5
| 7:00 am | Sunrise Women | Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave) |
| 7:00 am | Men’s Gathering & Bible Study | Elmer’s Restaurant on 158th (1250 Waterhouse Ave) |
| 10:00 am | T’ai Chi | Fellowship Hall |
| 10:00 am | Meals on Wheels/Loaves and Fishes | Offsite |
| 10:00 am | Worship Planners Meeting | Library |
| 7:00 pm | MACG Meeting | St. Andrew Room |
Wednesday, October 6 – Weekly News submissions due by 4:00 pm
| 12:30 pm | Bonhoeffer Seminar | Zoom |
| 6:00 pm | Bells of Grace Rehearsal | Sanctuary |
| 6:45 pm | Informal Gathering Time | Zoom |
| 7:00 pm | Wednesday Evening Prayer | Zoom |
| 7:30 pm | Centering Prayer | Zoom |
Thursday, October 7
| 9:00 am | School Bag Stuffing | Fellowship Hall |
| 9:30 am | Seekers of the Heart of God Bible Study | St. Andrew Room |
| 12:00 pm | Team Ministry Meeting | Chapel, Library |
| 2:30 pm | Communications Team Meeting | Zoom |
| 7:00 pm | Executive (Council) Committee Meeting | via Zoom |
Friday, October 8
| 10:00 am | T’ai Chi | Fellowship Hall |
Sunday, October 10
| 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 |