If you were unable to attend our online worship on Sunday, view it here:
A Pastoral Update on our COVID-19 Response
A letter from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky:
Dear Siblings in Christ,
We are making progress, but we are not quite there yet. It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life as we knew it. We continue to persevere, exhausted at times, yet anticipating the day when we can gather, greet each other, share communion and other precious rhythms of life and spiritual practice in person without risking harm to one another. Hopeful also that we now carry with us new learnings and practices, hard lessons of necessity that will continue to connect us in new ways in life and ministry…
Read her entire letter here
Data for Community Engagement
Do you have a heart for meeting the needs of the community but you’re not exactly sure who lives in your community? The Census Bureau can help! Here’s an opportunity to take free, online seminars on how to use the data, including in the areas of housing, ethnicity, LGBTQ population, aging population, food security, and migrant workers.
The Census Bureau's detailed data can strengthen grant applications, help focus engagement activities, and aid service providers in better assisting those in need. Learn how to utilize the power of Census data at your organization with the 2021 Data Summit series!
Designed for the novice data user, the Census Bureau's 2021 Data Summit series presents a high-level overview of several data products and demonstrates how they can be used to assist organizations and businesses to identify data-driven solutions to challenges. These free, webinar-based sessions will teach you how your responses to Census Bureau surveys are used to create publicly available data products, how to explore data tools on census.gov, and how you can utilize the Census Bureau's online resources to help transform your communities.
To review the complete list of scheduled summits, visit this page on census.gov. (Click the "Show More" button at the top right of the summit list to ensure you're seeing everything.) Space is limited, so be sure to sign-up early!
Most of the webinars begin at 11:00 am weekdays and last 90 minutes.
Sharing for Apr 18
Share from your week; where have you seen God at work?:
Pastor Brett – Some background on why we do God Sightings. If you remember on Easter, Mary Magdalene shows up at the tomb and she runs back and tells the disciples, the men, “I’ve seen The Lord!” This was her God Sighting. So, what we are doing when we share our God Sightings is we are witnessing to ways that we’ve seen God at work in the hopes of encouraging one another to look for God during our weeks.
I was able to go on a walk with Brian Shimer this week. He came over to my neighborhood, we took Levi out in the stroller for an hour or so. Almost immediately, you probably know Brian better than I do, we were laughing down the street. And people are working in their yards. This woman, who I think is a grandma to two small children and helps take care of them so her daughter can work, she was out doing some yardwork with the kids. We were just walking down the street pushing the stroller and laughing; Brian was howling at something I said. She says – Wow, it is so good to hear laughter. She looks right at Brian and says - You just made my day! So, it was just a powerful moment in a world where we’re trying to be cautious & safe and we aren’t trying to spread anything – that laughter & joy are more contagious than any virus ever could be. That was a really encouraging moment for me.
Michele – Well I think something is happening with me is in the condominium complex that I’ve lived in… I’ve been here since 2012 and it’s really sad the names of how few of the people I know. I’ve made it a goal to try and learn the names of different people around here and remember them – there’s the key remembering them! It’s really interesting that I’ve walked by these people a number of times and they maybe commented on my dogs. This week four different people I really stopped and talked. I said – By the way my name is Michele, what is your name? They are surprised, you know, and then the key is for me remembering the names; I’ll work on that. That would be my God Sighting, because people get big smiles on their face and it means something to them. They are like me, they’ve been here, one lady has lived here for nine years and I finally got her name. So, that’s my God Sighting and it makes people happy.
Susan D. – Our God Sighting was that our entire adult family got our first Covid-19 shots this week! Yes!!! There’s a future ahead!
Bonnie – I just want to thank everyone for the prayers. I put my son in law, Ray, on the prayer team this week. He was in the hospital for four days. He has another massive infection in his foot that has been going on for about four years now. They thought they may have to remove some toes, but at this point they don’t. He was able to go home on Thursday with a picc line in & massive antibiotics going through his body to kill this whole infection. So, thank you everyone for the prayers! I totally believe in prayer!
Martha – This is my God Sighting right here, this is Ada Marie Tunall; she is 4 ½ years old. She’s going to help me with the Children’s Sermon today.
Kari – Joe was able to get his first vaccination this last week so, that was a huge God Sighting right there. And we had great time at the beach last weekend; just amazing with the ocean and all the shells. We went on a hike the other day and we saw five or six different wildflowers starting to peek out this spring. Just being out in nature was great. It’s also been nice to see that more people are not wearing their masks when outside, which to me is a good thing to get some fresh air and be exposed to some good sunshine; good air and seeing people’s smiles is amazing.
You Socked It to March!
Thank you to everyone who donated socks for our March Random Acts of Kindness. Over 300 pairs of new socks were distributed to the different non-profit groups we partner with: Family Promise, HomePlate Youth Services, CityTeam, and Western Farm Workers Association.
This month’s RAoK is for the migrant camps that gather here in Oregon. We are collecting toiletries, towels, bedding, and household items. These vital workers literally put food on our tables. Let’s do our best to help where we can.
Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b4babaf22ab9-april or donate cash (we’ll do the shopping!) on our website.
Collection day is Saturday, May 1, between 10:00 am and noon.
Worship Video for April 18
If you were unable to attend our online worship on Sunday, view it here:
April RAoK is for Migrant Workers
Our April Random Acts of Kindness will be collecting toiletries for migrant workers at Heike's Berry Farm in Hillsboro. Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b4babaf22ab9-april. This lets us know what we may need to purchase with any cash donations.
Items will be collected on Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 - noon.
You are also welcome to bring new or gently used household items - bed linens, towels, dishes, silverware, pots and pans. All will be appreciated and put to good use.
If you prefer, you may donate and have the shopping done for you. Donate on our secure website at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JRWF6TGN7EGN or mail a check to the church. Be sure to designate RAoK.
Communion This Sunday
Please join us this Sunday at 10:45 am to celebrate communion.
We will be socially distanced with masks as we receive the pre-packaged juice and bread in the parking lot.
Phase 2 Continues
Just a reminder - our district superintendent, Tim Overton-Harris, has informed us that we are to remain in Phase 2 this Sunday.
Phase 2 limits attendance in the Lighthouse to 10 persons. If you are able to worship at home, please do so.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we do our best to “do no harm.”
Worship Video for April 11
If you were unable to attend our online worship on Sunday, view it here:
IMPORTANT! Please Read
Due to an increase in COVID cases in our county, our District Superintendent has informed us that we must move back to Phase 2 until we hear from him again.
Phase 2 limits our in-person attendance to 10 people.
The plan for this Sunday, Apr 11, is for Gayellyn to facilitate a “watch party” in the Lighthouse for those unable to participate at home, as we have previously done. Those of you who can connect through Webex, please worship from home.
Thank you for getting vaccinated, continuing to wear your masks, and being patient. As DS Tim says, “We will only be able to move beyond this pandemic when everyone makes the effort to care for their neighbors in these ways.”
April Random Acts of Kindness
Our April Random Acts of Kindness will be collecting toiletries for migrant workers at Heike's Berry Farm in Hillsboro.
Items will be collected on Saturday, May 1, from 10:00 - noon.
You are also welcome to bring new or gently used household items - bed linens, towels, dishes, silverware, pots and pans. All will be appreciated and put to good use.
Please sign up to bring toiletries here.
If you prefer, you may donate and have the shopping done for you. Donate on our secure website at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9JRWF6TGN7EGN or mail a check to the church. Be sure to designate RAoK.
Sharing for Apr 4
From the Sanctuary Early Service:
Bonnie – It feels like home in here, we’re a family and we haven’t been together for months. Yes, we can see each other on the screen, but it’s not the same. I can’t wait for the day that we can all be back in here.
Michele M. – I just tend to be kind of optimistic. There was a point in this year when we didn’t even think we could have this. You look outside we’ve had a blessed day, it’s so beautiful; the fact that He has Risen…I thank you so much, He’s gotten us this far and it’s getting better, and it’s getting worse in some ways…but mostly it’s getting better. All of us who are here and all of us who are online, we are here! There are so many now who aren’t. So, I just think it’s a blessing.
Jan – Good morning. You know I can’t have any grief when Christ is alive! I know we’re trying to lay down our sorrows; our griefs are behind us. Ahead is the mighty God. I watched Sandy Patty & Lionel Harris sing I’ve just seen Jesus. Honestly, when she comes out with that voice and then he comes out with his… He is Alive! There is nothing that is able to overcome us when we have Him. Have you seen Him? I saw Him just this morning…Awesome, awesome is our God; He never changes! He never wears a mask! He’s always got his full face; we can see his eyes and his nose and his mouth. How I long to see some of the eyes and the noses and some of the mouths…It’s not the same without seeing the whole face. But we can see Him, Hallelujah!
Mark – This last year has not been one of my happiest years. I’ve just found that more than any time in my life I’ve really had to just depend on God. When I haven’t been able to figure things out; I don’t really know what’s going on. And I have a feeling it’s going to feel more like a blessing when it’s over, this time of dependence.
Dianne – Happy Easter, He has Risen! A couple of weeks ago, I threw my back out. And it’s been going out pretty much every 3 – 4 weeks. I’ve been trying to do gardening, clean up my shed and yardwork. I said – Lord, I just can’t do it…I can’t plant the tree that I bought…I can’t fix my little terrarium thing where the water line broke. All these things are happening and I’m thinking - what’s next? So, I’m just going to give it to you God. If you really want me to fix this place up you are going to have to send some help. So, there was a knock at the door…dog is yipping…I told them there is a sign right there that says - No Soliciting! There’s these two young fresh faces going – Hi, (I told them I’m not buying anything…) we’re missionaries. We talk and they turn out to be Mormons, they want to come and help the neighborhood…and I really don’t know that much about the Mormon religion…They say – your neighbor said you could really use the help. I said – Boy, do I. So I listened to them for a while…they read me a Mormon scripture…gave me their number and said they could bring all these young men here and do this work for you. I ask if I should give them some money? They said – No, no, we do it for free. I was raised that there are no free lunches, they must want something from me. So, I tell them that I go to church and I’m a Christian…. They say – no, no, no, we just want to help. So a week or so goes by and my back is getting better, and I’m out there working on something and I feel my back start to go out again…I say – Lord! I can’t do this! Just show me what you want! I hear a knock at the door and it’s the guys again. They say – Hey, you didn’t call us! We’re here to help…. So, 10 young men between 20 & 30 years old are going to come on Wednesday morning to mow my lawns, trim, plant my tree; work on my garden. I told the girls at Bible study and they said - They’ll never stop coming… And I said – That’s okay, they’re helping me. They are not going to change my mind…In fact, it’s my mission to tell them about Jesus and who he is - He is a Spiritual God, not just flesh… That to me was a God sighting to motivate me to go on and get better. And to work on my house and have a more positive view.
From the Lighthouse Service:
Kat – Happy Easter! So, on Monday Markus and I celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary! It was beautiful and it was wonderful; God is great indeed. I don’t know what I did when I was younger to make him so happy that he blessed me with such a wonderful marriage. If you had asked me when I was young if I would be this happy 18 years into a marriage, I would have never have dreamed this. I think it’s because God is just amazing. In this household, my husband & I love God together, we worship God together; through thick and thin we have always turned to God for help. God is Good; He blesses us all! And Glory be to God! Happy Easter everyone.
Pastor Brett – Amen, Amen! Thank you Kat and congratulations on 18 years & Markus congratulations. I know we had another anniversary in the house on Friday, Joe & Kari celebrating 16 years!
Kari & Joe – Yes, 16 years on Friday! So, that was very great. Our big date night was to go see our nephew play soccer. He made the varsity team for Franklin High School. We got to see him score a goal! And his team won! So, it was a great finish to our special day! Thank you Brad & Jakki!
Jakki – 16 years already? Just the reality of it. It was a God thing. He just used us as a vessel.
Pastor Brett – For those of you who do not know the story, apparently, Brad & Jakki are the ones responsible for putting Kari & Joe in each other’s paths… Amen, Amen! Wendy & Gavin Pursinger are having their Anniversary tomorrow! 36 years! Sandy & Rich – Celebrating 31 years on the 7th! We have all sorts of love going on in this congregation. Awesome!
Wendy F. – Yesterday was a total God moment. Many of us support Western Farm Workers Association and particularly during the holidays they give food deliveries; there was a surprise amount of food that was available yesterday. 100 meals in boxes, 30 pound boxes. Our delivery van was able to take the 3,000 pounds and move it from the location to the church where it would be distributed. So, it was just everything having to happen in the moment – it had perishable goods. So, if it had happened a day earlier it wouldn’t have worked. But because it happened on distribution day, it worked. Everything was able to line up. The food went 30 pounds to a family x 100 families on top of the food that they already had. It was just a perfect God moment!
Kevin – So many people were grateful at the vaccine clinic yesterday as they received their 2nd shots. The relief was palpable. Glory to God!!!
IMPORTANT! Please Read
Due to an increase in COVID cases in our county, our District Superintendent has informed us that we must move back to Phase 2 until we hear from him again.
Phase 2 limits our in-person attendance to 10 people.
The plan for this Sunday, Apr 11, is for Gayellyn to facilitate a “watch party” in the Lighthouse for those unable to participate at home, as we have previously done. Those of you who can connect through Webex, please worship from home.
Thank you for getting vaccinated, continuing to wear your masks, and being patient. As DS Tim says, “We will only be able to move beyond this pandemic when everyone makes the effort to care for their neighbors in these ways.”
No Bible Study on Wednesday
Just a reminder to those of you participating in the “Acts” bible study - we will not meet this Wednesday, Apr 7.
See you next week!
Worship Videos for Easter
If you were unable to attend our online worship on Sunday, view it here:
“Meet Me at the Tomb” held in the sanctuary
Easter Morning Worship
Reminder: Good Friday Service
Join us tonight at 7:00 pm to observe Good Friday. In partnership with Vermont Hills and West Portland UMC, we will hear Jesus’ last words. This is a powerful tenebrae service that you won’t want to miss.
We will be extinguishing seven candles as we descend into darkness throughout the service. You are invited to participate by gathering your candles/tealights before the service.
Here is the Zoom link
Renewal Leave
Pastor Brett will be on renewal leave from April 5 - 11, per Bishop Elaine’s recommendation to the clergy.
Please respect his need to relax and recharge by avoiding emailing or calling him, except in the case of an emergency.
Gayellyn will host a group in the Lighthouse for worship on Sunday, Apr 11, if you have difficulty connecting to Zoom.
Sharing for Mar 28
Share from your week; where have you seen God at work?:
Kari – I’ll start with the obvious one – my Beavers are in the Elite 8! Go Beavs! I did do the Labyrinth this past Wednesday and it was really a great experience; my feet stayed really warm. The team did a great job of putting it all together. You can either listen to people reading or you can read the sheets with scriptures yourself, if you want to do it that way. I really want to encourage you to go through it, and it took me probably about an hour. It was a great time to be alone in the sanctuary. So, if you get a chance to do it, I highly recommend it. Also, seeing Levi smiling on the screen with Janelle!
Pastor Brett – Thank you Kari, awesome. I also was able to go through it briefly with my son, Ky, yesterday. It was amazing because he was able to get some of the tactile things that Sandy set out. Particularly, the spice bag and he was able to smell that; we were talking about how they anointed Jesus’ body with spices. So, even something as small as that for a 5 year old was really meaningful to him. Q: How do you get in to see that? A: You have to sign up online
Bonnie – This week I had lunch with one of the families that I kept in contact with from Family Promise. The mom is now one of the maintenance managers at 5 domestic violence centers, which is where she and her daughter live as well. She was telling me how she set up a food pantry, and a clothing pantry; a cleaning supplies pantry so they could come there if they can’t afford to buy the stuff. She said – I’m really in need of some hangers. And I thought that shouldn’t be too hard to get. After I had lunch with them, I went to the parsonage and helped Gerry do some cleaning; we opened all the closets and I brought home about 200 hangers. So, God put me in the right place at the right time. She’s very excited to come and get the hangers from me!
Pastor Brett – Amen! Thank you Bonnie – God providing hangers. Thank you for standing in the middle of the supply chain – between those who need it and those who have it.
Jan – Yesterday I went over to help my sister with her quilting. I had a lot of stuff to take with me, and I had my keys in my hand; I set my purse apparently on the back of the car while I’m loading. So, I take off and didn’t realize my purse was still on the back of the car on top. I arrived at my sisters and said – Oh, I didn’t bring my purse; I didn’t think any more about it because I thought I had left it at home. Anyway, when I got home my husband says – Were you missing something? And he’s holding my purse! I said – I thought that I left it at home. He says – This lady came to the door. She said – She saw your car go by and she saw the purse drop off the car. She went out, took the purse, looked in it for the address, didn’t take one thing out, and brought it to the house. Now, that has got to be a God thing. So, I was just praising the Lord for that; I’m praising him still this morning. Because everything was in that purse. Anyway, Glory to God, He is good!
Pastor Brett – Wow, a Good Samaritan at its finest returning the purse to Jan, it’s amazing.
Kevin – I got the privilege of volunteering at the Covid Vaccination event at the Hillsboro Stadium. Our shift vaccinated 562 people.
Pastor Brett – Awesome! That’s great!
Paige – We had an amazing week at the beach with fabulous lifelong friends of ours. While I was at the beach, I got this email that says I was eligible for my vaccination. So, I used the link and I signed up & I got my slot for Easter Sunday. Then I got the email that says – Oops, we sent this out to 11,000 people that shouldn’t have got it. But, if you got in and got your appointment, we’re honoring those. So, I’m pretty sure I’m one of those oops, but I got my spot and I am going in Easter Sunday afternoon to get my vaccine! So, all kinds of good things this week.
Pastor Brett – Wow, that’s awesome Paige! Thanks for sharing, that’s amazing! Lots of good things going on people of God!
Easter Worship & Sign-Up
This Sunday is Easter!
Along with our usual 9:00 am worship service in the Lighthouse, there will be a special “Meet Me at the Tomb” in the sanctuary at 8:30 am. Pastor Brett will offer a short reflection and communion there. Both will be broadcast on Webex, for your participation at home.
If you wish to attend Easter Sunday worship in person, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4BABAF22AB9-easter. (Contrary to what Pastor Brett shared in worship last Sunday, you will need to sign up)
Thank you for observing our maximum of 25 people in order to keep all safe and healthy.