Community of ChristChurch
Faith News 11.18.21
Online Interactive Worship
with Holy Communion
 
November 21, 2021, at 9:30 am 
 

 

Online Worship Logistics: 

Announcements & Updates:
 
 
The full 'Letter from our Pastor: Observing the Advent Season through the Lens of the Prophetic Imagination is available on our website here. Scroll down below the electronic bulletin section. 
 

Speaking of Advent!


The Advent season will be upon us before we know it… the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov 28th) to be exact! So, we encourage you to begin thinking about how you are going to mark the weeks and days of Advent in your homes. Perhaps you still have the Advent Wreath kit you received from the Advent Breakfast planners last year; perhaps you have a family heirloom that holds special memories for you during this season; perhaps your plan is to purchase or create something new for your Advent observance this year. However you choose to mark the weeks of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in your homes this year, we hope you will consider placing them in your sacred Zoom worship space so that we can share them with one another. We will light the Advent Wreath candles toward the beginning of each worship service in Advent beginning on Sunday, November 28th.

If the idea of an Advent Wreath is new to you, here is all you really need to know: The key components to any Advent Wreath are four candles, one for each week of the season. We light the first candle on the first Sunday in Advent, the first and second candles on the second Sunday, and so on. As the name “wreath” suggests, some kinds of greens, in the form of a wreath, traditionally surround the candles. Typically, the candles are blue or purple to match the liturgical color of the season - and sometimes the third candle is pink. You choose which ever color of candle suits your mood for this season. Feel free to be creative - follow traditions or start your own. And together, may we await the coming of hope, peace, joy, and love into our hearts and into our word. 

Thanksgiving Week Office Hours
 
Rachael Jans, our church administrator will be working a full day on Tuesday, 11/23, and until noon on Wednesday, 11/24. The virtual office will be closed for the remainder of Thanksgiving week. Catch Rachael back in the virtual office on Tuesday, November 30. 
 
Faith News will arrive in your email inbox next Wednesday AM.
Reconciling in Christ Team Updates:

 

Join us for the next session:

Sunday, Nov 21st, after worship
7. Six Options for the Churches
8. If This Is Where You Get Off the Bus

 

Save the Date: 

Wednesday, Dec 8th at 6:30pm

Chapters 9 & 10


Come even if you missed the other sessions or cannot attend all the sessions.
 
ChristChurch donated $1,675.00 to the ELCA Hunger Sunday program. Thank you for your generous donations!

Special Collection in Celebration of Thanksgiving

 

During the Thanksgiving season, ChristChurch invites you to contribute to sponsoring a family via The Molly Thompson Memorial Fund.

 

ChristChurch November 2021 goal: $500. 

Current amount raised: $320

Help us reach our goal, only $180 more to go!

 

Donations are made directly at the Molly Thompson website. There are special instructions on our website so your donations will be counted towards the ChristChurch goal.

 

At the Molly Thompson giving page, you must click on the pencil to add 'ChristChurch’ as shown below. Go here for full details and how to donate.

 

Questions? Email Admin@comchristchurch.org.

Get to know a Church Council Member:
Our November Council member feature is Cindy Kinnie.

Where were you born and raised?

I grew up in a small town in NE Colorado and lived there until attending college. I began my married life (to my high school sweetheart, Craig), living nearly 10 years in Cupertino. CA. Intel transferred Craig’s group to Oregon in 1978 and we have been here since. I treasure times returning to rural Colorado and being part of a lifestyle that is so connected and much slower-paced. However, it’s the plains of Colorado and the landscape is a stark contrast to Oregon. I also get what it means to leave your heart in San Francisco – holding amazing memories.

Who is in your family?

I am the firstborn in my family with two brothers. Both my parents and one brother are deceased. Craig and I were blessed with two children, Kristin and Ryan. Kristin started her career life in social work and has recently transitioned to nutrition – a great marrying of two careers. Ryan and his wife Sarah live on Maui and have given us a wonderful place to visit (but we miss them dearly). Ryan is a freelance videographer by degree and is currently a master of all trades remodeling their house and managing rentals. Sarah is an MRI Technologist with Kaiser.

 

What is your occupation or favorite hobby?

My degree is in Business Administration from the University of Colorado. I worked several years before Kristin was born as the Office Administrator for a spin-off of the pharmaceutical company Syntex (long gone now). After Kristin was born I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom. Hobbies have transitioned through the years from many volunteer positions in every church I have attended, volunteering and chauffeur to kids and friends during school years to going to seminary. I received my Master’s from George Fox Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Spiritual Direction – my “hobby career” after Kristin and Ryan left for college. I have always enjoyed craft projects and I enjoy a variety of them to this day – love learning something new.

How did you find ChristChurch?

I think I need to say that ChristChurch found me. While in seminary I had a professor who had started a new church in the Salem area. He and I connected with the pastor of the church where I attended and discovered my pastor’s interest in starting a new church plant. Craig and I became part of the team of 10 people who were challenged and blessed for three years before the first ChristChurch service at the Hillsboro Library was held in 1997. So many wonderful adventures to share on this journey – blessed in many ways.

 

The pandemic has been tough for all of us and tragic for some. Are there silver linings from the pandemic you’d like to share?

Oh what a challenge – I would have never guessed my life would be so changed and challenged by a pandemic!!!! My dad survived polio during that pandemic and oh how I wish I could talk to family members about that time and era – how did they get through it? One of my silver linings has been a much greater appreciation of connections with people and nature. I have totally enjoyed the challenge of finding ways to be with others outdoors and move previous indoor activities outside. Many may not share the same enthusiasm I’ve had for layered clothing, blankets, and heaters, umbrellas, etc. but

nothing beats the great outdoors, looking at nature all around and the beauty of the sky – day and night surrounded by (safe) friends and family.

What are you looking forward to?

I long for the day when I can be out and about for whatever reason without needing to figure out how I’m safe for myself and others. I want to be able to freely be with others in their homes, to worship in person at ChristChurch, to invite others into my home – and more. I also hope that the slowing down that has happened with continue to be part of my life – taking much more time to smell the roses and appreciate the gift of friendship and close relationships.

 

Is there a Bible verse that speaks to you right now?

I have always loved the verse in Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This is kind of my landing place in whatever situation I am in – if I remember!!!! Each blessed and challenging life experience has the opening and opportunity for new ways of thinking, believing and being, trusting as best I can that God will provide what is needed. That for me is a “new heart” and “new spirit” within.

Other Reminders
- Sacred Circles November meeting is postponed due to the Thanksgiving holiday. 

- Church Council Minutes from the October 13, 2021 meeting are here. 

- Prayer Email list: Want to join the prayer email list? Join by clicking here.

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
 
Staff:
Pastor David Eppelsheimer
pastordavid@comchristchurch.org  

Rachael Jans: Administrative &
Communications Coordinator
Online office hours
T & TH: 8am -5 pm & W 1pm-5pm
 admin@comchristchurch.org
We are a Reconciling in Christ Congregation. We are a faith community that is committed to the welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; that work for racial equity and are committed to antiracism. Find out more here.
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Community of ChristChurch - Mailing address 3300 NW 185th Ave #224 Portland, OR 97229 - www.comchristchurch.org


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