4 or 5 glass plates of different sizes, shapes, colors, patterns/no patterns
4 small ashtrays to separate the plates
Anything to adorn your art--glass beads, costume jewelry, trinkets, etc.

Marcia will let us know what kind of glue to purchase that will hold these things together!

Because these art pieces take 72 hours to dry, Marcia will instruct us on how to put them together at home. We can bring our supplies to our gathering on July 17th at 6:30pm at church. It will be fun to see what each person is going to use! Maybe we can even trade "ornaments" that we bring!

I'm thinking that it probably won't take very long to learn how to put our yard art together. I'm checking to see if there's any way we can see the movie, "Heaven is for Real" that evening at church. It would be fun to project it on the wall! :) If we don't have time to see the movie, perhaps we can just visit and enjoy some snacks, and we can save the movie for another time.

You're Invited ...
As the new fiscal year gets under way and the new council begins to meet, we will be trying something a little bit different this year. We will be reading a book together entitled, Holy Currencies, by Eric Law.

In this book, Law focuses on six blessings that characterize many missional and sustainable faith communities. These six blessings are: Time & Place, Relationship, Truth, Wellness, Gracious Leadership and Money. He refers to these blessing as currencies because in order for these blessings to thrive they must flow like the current of a river.

We invite you to consider reading Holy Currencies along with the council. We will be purchasing a few copies that will be available in the library, but you are also invited to purchase your own copy. This book is available on Amazon and from Chalice Press. We will also be offering an Adult Faith Conversation opportunity for the Winter session (beginning in January) that will focus on Holy Currencies and the six blessings it highlights. We hope you'll join us in this valuable learning for the sake of the whole community.

Dear Friends & Family - as most of you know, I've been serving a Lutheran church in inner city North Portland - Bethel Lutheran Church. Part of Bethel’s work in the community is providing basic needs for a number of homeless folks in the neighborhood. We serve mostly men, although two or three women also take advantage of our offers. We are already providing food for 2 –3 meals a week, and a hygiene program wherein we open the shower room at Bethel weekly, providing soap, shampoo, etc. for a hot shower.

As we have more discussions with these folks about their basic needs, we’re now finding that adequate clothing is a huge hole. As a result of this need for clothing, I’m asking folks like you, who are aware of the needs of others, to keep Bethel’s outreach in mind when you next go through the clothes closets and bureau drawers at your home. I would surely find a use for any gently used & laundered socks, underwear briefs, jeans, belts shirts of any kind (t-shirts or casual shirts), sweatshirts, etc. I might even find a use for a pair of shoes now and again. In this case, truly size does not matter! I know we’re in the middle of ‘summer’, but as colder weather comes on, I’ll be looking for gloves/hat/scarves and jackets.

Please do not stop giving to your regular charities to fill the Bethel community’s need – but if the clothing was going to a Goodwill or the curb, yet still has some life, trust that I’ll find a new – and grateful -- home.

Thank you so much. Blessings to each of you this day. Christine Core