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Clickable Table of Contents |
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Thoughts from Pastor Sarah |
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Dear Kindred in Christ,
I'm looking forward to a full and busy evening tonight. From 4-7 I will be participating in training in nonviolent protests offered by Christian Peacemaker Teams alongside (virtually) an interfaith group of colleagues from this city. And from 7-9 I'll be meeting (virtually) with your stewardship team to work on a budget for this year. Last Thursday I received a short training in Kingian*Nonviolence through the Poor People's Campaign. I am deeply committed to the principle of nonviolence and know that it takes a lifetime of study and practice to live a nonviolent life-- particularly because we live in a tremendously violent world.
Part of what I learned last week, is that there is a difference between non-violence and nonviolence. Non-violence, with a hyphen, is abstaining from acts of violence, i.e. I'm not going to hit you. Nonviolence is a more all encompassing commitment to changing the ways we think, speak, understand, and show up in the world. Both are of value. I think that I have been committed to non-violence previously and now am seeking to grow into nonviolence.
Another more concrete learning is that two basic human responses in conflict are aggression and conciliation. It is common for aggression to be directed at people and conciliation to systems. Let me be concrete about this. This is like directing aggression at police officers because we are upset about the treatment of people of color in our society, but doing little to nothing to change the policies that keep people of color oppressed. Kingian nonviolence suggests that we rather direct aggression at systems and conciliation at people. Love our neighbors while aggressively working to change the policies, systems, and structures that are producing injustice.
Let me know if you'd like me to keep sharing what I'm learning. I believe that nonviolence is a deeply faithful embodiment of gospel teaching.
As I prepare for my other meeting tonight, I have a correction to offer to the Session report that ran in the last few e-news. We did in fact use the Payroll Protection Program loan to help sustain our operations in a year with distinctly depressed rental and other income. But the generosity of this congregation and the frugality of your Session allowed us to end the year with a bit of a cushion as we head into another challenging year. Thank you for your faithfulness. And thank you to the faithful members of the stewardship team working hard to help us be fiscally responsible and faithfully generous.
These may seem like entirely unrelated matters- nonviolence and finances- but, in fact, if nonviolence is a holistic commitment, it should inform our use of finances, and certainly the way in which we work with one another in this task. That is the spirit I will bring to our meeting tonight.
I hope to worship with all of you this Sunday morning. We start admitting worshippers around 9:45 on Zoom, and start streaming on Facebook at that time. All are welcome to worship with us.
Peace be with you and with our world,
Pastor Sarah
P.S. I really hope you're submitting your beloved hymns! See below.
*Kingian- derived from the teachings, philosophy, and practice of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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January 17
Luke 4:14-30; Psalm 146
January 24
Luke 5:1-11; Psalm 90:14-17
Read these passages online here. |
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JOIN OUR MINISTRIES at FIRST SATURDAY DONATION DROP OFF!
The New Year rolled out at St Andrew’s with a cavalcade of service. There was a minor traffic jam in front of St. Andrew’s on the First Saturday as people arrived to drop off casseroles, bring donations and pick up hygiene bags to distribute to our vulnerable neighbors. First Saturdays promise to be a great time of fellowship at St. Andrew’s in the year to come! Increased needs continue for our monthly hygiene kits and for the Neighborhood House Food pantry. Drop by to donate on the First Saturday of each month at 11:45 in front of the church. Contact Marilyn Palumbo with questions, or just sign up!
Signup to donate hygiene bag supplies
Signup to bake a casserole
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ST. ANDREW'S PARTNERS WITH BOB THROUGH PROVIDENCE FOUNDATION
The Providence Better Outcomes thru Bridges (BOB) program is our newest partner for the hygiene kits that St. Andrew’s assembles each month. 40 bags were delivered to Providence for BOB team outreach to houseless individuals in December, 2020. BOB teams regularly contact houseless individuals living in camps and in their cars. BOB Team Mentors walk alongside these clients, building relationships and connecting them with essential services. Teams distributed kits packaged at St. Andrew’s which include food, hydration and hygiene essentials. St. Andrew’s is expanding production to maintain this outreach with BOB. If you can help by donating supplies, here’s a link - just sign up!
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CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING!
For many years now we have hosted Christmas Tree Recycling in our parking lot. At present this is a project for one of the Boy Scout troops we host, Troop 150. There will be two more weekends of tree recycling. If you want to bring a tree to the lot the Boy Scouts will be there through the 23rd between 9 and 4. They request a $10 donation for drop offs. If you live in one of several neighboring zip codes they will also pick up your tree for a $15 donation. Here is a link to a form you can use to arrange pick up or schedule drop off. We are grateful to the Boy Scouts for continuing this ministry to our neighbors and wish blessings on their efforts.
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Our Semi-Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, February 7. Please send your annual reports to the Church Office by Friday, January 15, so that they may be included in the larger document. Please also contact the office if you have questions or would like a copy of last year's report for reference. Thank you! |
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THE BELOVED HYMN SURVEY RETURNS!
Three years ago, Pastor Sarah asked the membership to let her know of favorite hymns and worship songs. With this list, she and the Worship Team have planned accordingly, making sure that as many requests were honored as possible, without too much repetition.
She and the worship team have also introduced new music over the past three years, and perhaps some new favorites have emerged. We also have new friends and members in our fellowship. It seems wise to survey you again!
Once again your help is needed in planning our worship. PLEASE CLICK HERE to submit a list of your favorite hymns and songs - as many as you like. If you remember another favorite later, just click again. We will be collecting this data until the end of January, 2021
If you don't want to use an online form, just send an e-mail to Cynthia with your favorite hymns and songs. Or even call her and tell her!!
Thank you for helping us sing all of our favorites! |
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ANTI-RACISM STUDY GROUP- NEXT WEEK
In January,we will wrap up our study of
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. Please read the last three chapters of the book, transcribe one quote from each chapter that you think best answers the question in the title of the book - How to Be an Anti-Racist. And bring ideas for what you'd like to do next. This is the zoom link for our gatherings (the same link works for both gatherings). We meet on the second Saturday at 1 p.m. and the third Thursday (January 21) at 7 p.m. Questions? Please contact Pastor Sarah. |
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Learning & Fellowship Opportunities |
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Members of all classes and groups are encouraged to continue reading and studying at home. Please contact your group
leader if you do not find a list or link below.
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MEN'S BIBLE STUDY
Several St. Andrew's men meet twice a month (facilitated by Charles Duncombe, often accompanied by Pastor Sarah and/or Pastor Tom) for an early Wednesday morning Bible Study. Given COVID numbers at present, this is once again an on-line only gathering. They meet the first and third Wednesday of every month. Let us know if you want to get connected. They are currently making their way through the Book of Exodus and have arrived at the long journey of Israel in the wilderness.
Here is the zoom link (good for every session!). (The passcode is: breakfast.
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ENNEAGRAM DISCUSSION GROUP
Having completed our basic introduction, we are turning our attention for the next several months to the Enneagram and relationships. In October we began reading
The Path Between Us, by Suzanne Stabile. We are taking a break in December, we'll resume our discussions using the second lesson in the study guide for this book on the fourth Saturday in January (January 23) at 1 pm.. If you haven't been able to attend for the past several months this is a great opportunity to reconnect. Even if you've never joined us, but want to get involved, you're welcome! Join us on zoom. Contact Pastor Sarah with questions. |
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We know that there are many requests for basic needs assistance right now. Please contact the Church Office Admin or Mission Team Leader if you have questions or need help with drop-off or deliveries. We hope that you find one or more opportunities that call to you, and please know that any amount
of support is appreciated and makes a big difference! |
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URGENT NEED FOR FOOD DONATIONS
Due to increased demand, the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) and other essential food suppliers of the Neighborhood House Food Pantry are experiencing food shortages. As a result, our Food Pantry is unable to purchase specific foods that our clients rely on. In particular, the Pantry currently needs:
- Rice
- Beans (canned and dried)
- Pasta
- Canned Meats
- Canned/Dry Fruit
- Flour/Baking Mix
- Cereal/Oats
- Fresh produce
- Meat (fresh or frozen as long as it is wrapped and labelled)
The Food Pantry relies entirely on the generosity of community members. If you are able, please donate these food items to the Pantry at 3445 SW Moss St during donation hours:
- Mondays & Wednesdays, 9-4
- Tuesdays, 9-12
- Thursdays, 9-5
- Closed Fridays
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FACE MASK MINISTRY
Please consider making masks for one or more of the following situations:
1. Masks for the West Women’s and Children’s Shelter in both adult and child sizes in any style.
2. Fabric and purchased paper masks for the St Andrew’s Service Project the last Saturday of each month when we assemble 50-75 hygiene bags for the houseless.
3. Inventory of fabric masks for use at St Andrew’s. Hopefully most people will wear their own masks, but we want to have some available to use and keep if they need to.
Fabric and materials are available. Please contact me if you can help with masks and/or quilts for children in hospitals and foster care.
Blessings,
Connie Jo Blumthal |
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WEST WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER
Each month on the first Saturday St. Andrew’s delivers casseroles for a weekend meal at the shelter. You can join the effort by signing up to bake casseroles.
You may also sign-up to provide supplies. Here are the most pressing needs:
- Toilet Paper
- Toddler diapers (size 4)
- Paper towels
- Disinfectant
- Washcloths
- Laundry detergent
Thanking God for this opportunity to serve,
St. Andrew’s Mission Team
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ST. ANDREW'S YARD WORK
If you and your family are craving fresh air and exercise, please consider working on the St. Andrew's grounds, getting them ready for spring! Contact Steve Ihrig for assignments and scheduling. Thank you! |
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Online Gatherings & Events Links
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Every Wednesday
6:30 pm - Evening Prayer on Zoom
Every Friday
10:00 am - Noon Coffee Chat on Zoom |
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENTS
Thanks to everyone who made commitments in advance of our dedication of those commitments in November. If you haven't done so already, please don't hesitate to do so at your earliest convenience. You can fill out a commitment card and drop it in the mail or to make a commitment on-line.
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT
St. Andrew's has received notice of construction that will be ongoing from August 2020 to August 2021. The City of Portland will be repairing sewer pipes all along Dosch Road and around Hillsdale Crest. Please be aware of street closures, flagging, and delays. For more information, including street closures and scheduling, please visit the City's website here. |
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For on-line giving please visit:
standrewspdx.com/give
Thank you for continuing to support the ministries of St. Andrew's through your online donations and checks sent by mail.
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