Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 9:30am

 

 Online Worship Logistics: 

• The online doors to our Zoom worship will open at 9:00am. 

• From 9am to 9:30am, the worship space will be open for folks to gather and get settled in. Our worship service will begin at 9:30am. 

•  Holy Communion will be a part of our online worship, so we encourage everyone to prepare by putting together your own communion set from whatever you have handy in your kitchens and pantries. Please have these items nearby and handy when you join us online.

Forgotten Books of the Bible Preaching Series: 

“Ruth” or “The ‘On the Road’ Edition” continued...

 

This Sunday, we will continue exploring the book of Ruth in worship. As promised, we will delve more deeply into the ways this immigrant story subverts (and sometimes problematically supports) anti-immigrant rhetoric. 

 

I believe this exploration will challenge us as a faith community to notice how our implicit biases and learned behaviors, if left unexamined, might be stumbling blocks on our journey toward becoming the Jesus followers we long to be.

 

I also believe that the story of Ruth can spark our curiosity and invites us to dream of what it truly means to be a place where all are welcome. 

 

And last, but not least, a shout out to Steve Delamarter and Michael Gross, who will serve as our technical host and worship leader for the next two Sundays while I take a couple weeks of vacation. 

 

And another shout out to Violet Thetford, who will lead the prayers this Sunday, and Karlene Hart, who will lead the prayers on the 16th.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

I feel blessed to continue on this journey with all of you!

Pastor David

 

If you are curious, take a look at the outline of the summer preaching series, available via PDF here. 

In Memoriam

Marjorie Ann Ehlen, Sept. 27, 1941 – Feb. 10, 2020

 

Marjorie Ann Ehlen was born at Staten Island Hospital in New York to Barry and Lillian Ehlen. She had one sister, Doris, who is also deceased. Marjorie is survived by her niece Karen and her great nephews Thomas, Ryan, and Kurt, all of whom live in North Carolina.

 

Marjorie attended Phoenix College in Phoenix, Arizona, and the University of California in Berkeley, California. She had a diverse career that included work in theater, social services and retail. In the theater world, she served as production coordinator of a community theater complex in Phoenix; receptionist and secretary in a theatrical press office in New York City; and artistic director of Northwest Repertory Company in Beaverton.

 

In social services, she was childcare supervisor at a residential treatment center in Rochester, New York, and director of social activities at a 1200-unit apartment complex in Mira Loma, California. She also served as activity coordinator at Glendoveer Nursing Home and West Hills Convalescent Center in Portland.

 

Her career in retail included working as general manager of a chain of bead and jewelry stores in San Francisco. With her business partner Elizabeth Callahan, she owned and operated Expressions of Faith, a Christian book and gift shop located in the St. Johns area of Portland.

 

After the death of her fiancé many years ago, Marjorie remained single. She embraced life with enthusiasm, applying her unique talents and passions to every project. Marjorie was tireless in her support for church events and activities. She is well-known for coordinating services at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and for the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

 

Marjorie was active on the ChristChurch community service team during the Habitat for Humanity building project, organized sock and sandwich drives, and led efforts to reach out to the homeless in Portland.

In 2009, a variety of health problems brought Marjorie to Glisan Care Center in Southeast Portland. Once her condition stabilized, she began making connections at the center, serving several terms as resident council president, organizing coat drives for the needy, and advocating for the rights of her fellow residents.

 

Marjorie took a keen interest in current events, and always made it a point to find out what was going on in the world, in the community, at ChristChurch, and at the facility where she lived. She had a deep heart of compassion for people in need and gave of herself generously. She also had a tremendous capacity for empathy and understanding. She knew when to speak and when to be silent, and she always seemed able to laugh at herself and at life’s absurdities.

 

A memorial service was originally planned for Marjorie in April 2020, but the pandemic made an in-person gathering impossible. Instead, Eileen Gross and Chris Moore have organized a community service project in her honor to support people in need in our area. Project Homeless Connect Washington County  is a collaborative effort to help individuals and families get critical care, services, and information. It is part of a nationwide movement to increase access to services for the homeless and engage the community in finding a solution for homelessness.

 

In-kind and financial donations help to provide shelter, provisions and personal necessities for our homeless friends. Click here for donation information. If you choose to give a financial gift, please write “In memory of Marjorie Ehlen” in the optional note field on the form. If you choose to give an in-kind gift, please contact Eileen Gross to arrange pickup.

 

At the time of her death, Marjorie had many items from the inventory of her gift shop, including pottery, wall art and other objects. If you are interested in having one of these items, please contact Chris Moore. She will send you photos of what’s available and arrange pickup or delivery. Items not taken will be donated at the end of 2020.

Sacred Circles Update

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) invite you into new ways of being, loving, and acting together by engaging in immigrant justice and anti-racism work. 

Sacred Circles will provide accountability, direction, and support for people of faith and fierce love as we collectively learn and live our way into courageous action for racial and immigrant justice. 

Sacred Circles is starting up for all people of faith in Western Washington County. As we ramp up to take action for social justice, we will let you know what we are currently focusing on so you can join with us if you’d like. All meetings will be held on zoom a couple of times a month.
Activities may include such tasks as:

• Writing letters to various fed, state and local lawmakers,. 

• Attending and testifying at local state and federal hearings 

• Meeting with various church leaders 

• Meeting with people who are helping those in need so we can help.

• Signing petitions

• Sharing information about opportunities to actually help others

• Sharing information on the various social media platforms

Click here for a PDF detailing more information on Sacred Circles. 

There's still time to join! If this sounds like something you may be interested in, please contact Violet Thetford or Tracy Litterer. 

Collection extended through
Sunday, August 30th!

UPDATE FROM ELSA:
Thank you to those of you who have given generous donations of supplies to PERIOD in the last month, and thank you for the congregation’s continued support of the cause in this difficult time. 
===================================================
Continuing through August, ChristChurch is collecting donations to the nonprofit organization PERIOD, whom we have helped in past years with donations of feminine hygiene products for care packages. PERIOD helps those who are in need of feminine hygiene products, and do not have access to them or cannot afford them. This is an issue in many countries across the world, but also in our own community.
 
Items needed:
This year especially, many people need help, and PERIOD has expressed the need for supplies other than exclusively feminine hygiene products, including:

Pandemic Emergency Economic Relief (PEER)

In the midst of this pandemic, many families who were already marginalized and pressured are now facing acute economic and food insecurity.  At the same time, most of us are feeling isolated and longing to act.  What if we could GROW connection during this time and ACT together to relieve pressure in our communities?

 

How it works:

ChristChurch has received a $500 matching gift grant from the Oregon Synod (ELCA). We are combining that with funds dollars from our benevolence fund and the pastor’s compassion fund for a total of $2,000. We will then buy grocery gift cards and deliver them to counselors at Evergreen Middle School, who will in turn get these grocery gift cards to families.

What can you do:

Help us double these funds by clicking on the PEER category in our online GIVE button so that we can purchase even more grocery gift cards to impact local families in need. 

Thank you to everyone that has already donated!
To date, we have received $1,750.00 Total!

If you have questions about the program please contact Rachael Jans or Pastor David Eppelsheimer. 

Electronic Giving
Since we can't pass our offering basket during virtual worship, we encourage you to automate your giving. Electronic giving also offers an easy way to give on a recurring basis.

THANK YOU to everyone that has signed up!
We are so grateful for the response. 

Go to https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/comchristchurch and select the checkbox ‘Make this gift recurring’. You will then be walked through the steps for setting up an account with Easy Tithe.

Community of ChristChurch

This is Christ's church. There is a place for you here.

Mailing address:
 Community of ChristChurch

3300 NW 185th Ave #224
Portland, OR 97229

(503) 617-9526
www.comchristchurch.org

https://www.facebook.com/comchristchurch

Pastor David Eppelsheimer: pastordavid@comchristchurch.org  
         

Administrative & Communications Coordinator, Rachael Jans

admin@comchristchurch.org

Prayer Requests: admin@comchristchurch.org

Do you have an article or piece of news to share with the congregation? 
Email your submission for Faith News by 2pm on Wednesday via email.