Each month Council Corner will highlight a few items that were discussed at the last Church Council Meeting.

As the new Council gets oriented and settled in, one of the goals is to make the congregation aware that there will be opportunities for church members to become more involved in the life of ChristChurch.  One way that will happen will be presented Sunday, September 21st at a Ministry Fair, much like a job fair where each of the current ministry teams/leaders will be showcased.  During this Fair, you will be asked for input in regards to new small groups.

If you think summer time is slow, one needs to only listen to all that our people have been involved in since May - from attending Synod Assembly to serving at Habitat Builds to Picnic/Barbecue Youth Events to the annual picnic to the upcoming campout.  The involvement is easy to see.


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.

BOUNDARIES, facilitated by Chris Moore, will focus on the book, Boundaries, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. This book addresses specific issues that confront today’s Christians, such as having trouble saying no and living a life that feels out of control. Often, Christians focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. Let’s explore together what it means to set healthy boundaries in our lives.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS: WISDOM OF THE TWIN will be facilitated by Anke Brandstater. Using a book written by Lynn Bauman, we will explore the Gospel of Thomas,
a non-canonical gospel that was written in the early second century. This gospel consists only of sayings of Jesus – no miracles, no journey descriptions, no birth or death narrative. But they are often so powerfully expressed that they force the reader to stop still for a moment and take a whole new look at life.

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