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Community of ChristChurch
Faith News Update for October 15, 2020
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Online Interactive Worship with
Holy Communion
Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 9:30am
1 Samuel
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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 is part of our online worship. We encourage you to prepare by putting together your own communion set from whatever you have handy in your kitchens and pantries. Please have these items nearby when you join us online.
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Joining by phone:
If you are not able to join worship via your personal computer, tablet or
smartphone you are welcome to join using your phone.
- Call this number: 1-669-900-6833
- Use the meeting ID: 669 927 281
- Enter password 080114
You will find yourself in our Zoom worship space.
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TEXTtalks
Are you interested in getting a head start on engaging with the scripture texts that form the basis for preaching each Sunday morning in worship?
Join us for TEXTtalks… a monthly conversation on the texts we hear in worship. Join me and others as we read through the upcoming Bible stories and ask ourselves… what do we notice? what do we wonder about?
The next conversation is on Wednesday, October 21st from 7 to 8:30pm.
We will discuss the following stories for the month of November:
1 Kings 17:1-24 - Elijah and the Widow: Nov 1
Jonah - Running from God/Exclusive Grace: Nov 8
Isaiah 6:1-8 - Whom Shall I Send: Nov 15
Jeremiah 36; 31:31-34 - Scrolls in Our Hearts: Nov 22
Daniel 6:6-27 - In the Lion’s Den: Nov 29
I look forward to this opportunity to engage with God’s word in community.
I invite you to read these texts ahead of time and come ready to join the discussion.
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88456309441?pwd=Qm85dzZpamw0eGY2RkJOMnlUSWIyQT09
Peace,
Pastor David
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Starting on October 18th, and every third Sunday after, the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) team is offering education and conversation on RIC topics.
Please join us to learn more about our journey. If you have questions or comments about the letter (below) the conversation on Sunday is a great opportunity for discussion. |
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Hi ChristChurch Members,
Our RIC team has been hard at work on making our community a more welcoming and inclusive place.
Our committee members recently created a welcome statement and sent it out to ChristChurch members for feedback and to gauge the temperature of our people.
In our non-binding straw poll, we asked this question:
The Welcome Statement affirms this community’s commitment to welcoming, including, and celebrating people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expression. If a vote were held today on the Welcome Statement, how would you respond?
YES wholeheartedly.
YES, but I would appreciate more education.
YES, but I would appreciate more scriptural engagement
YES, but I would suggest the following changes to the statement…
NO, because I need more____________. (fill in the blank)
I am pleased to share that nearly 90% of survey participants said they would support the welcome statement wholeheartedly.
A couple of people asked for education and scriptural engagement which we intend to offer you. We are starting on October 18th, and every third Sunday after, to provide some sort of education and conversation from the RIC committee. Please join us after coffee hour to learn more about our journey.
We will be offering a book study after church soon and we are still working with our friends at the WQRC to provide community education on LQBTQ+ topics.
We also received some suggestions for minor changes and additions which we took to heart and we fine-tuned the statement last week. See below for the updated Welcome Statement.
For the very small number of survey respondents who answered NO, the committee had robust conversation, discussed the concerns with the church council, and made the decision to move forward with the process. The committee is committed to ensuring that there will continue to be open dialogue throughout this process.
We have shared our survey results and action plan with our Church Council, and they are supportive of our work.
In the future, we will be asking the congregation to vote, in a special congregational meeting, to approve our new welcoming statement and to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation, publicly welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Your committee members are available to meet with you to answer questions and to have a dialogue about our goals and dreams for this welcoming journey.
Your RIC Committee:
Sallie Bullock
Tracy Litterer
Rhonda Eppelsheimer
Ilena Schultz
Chris Radford
Michael Gross
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Revised Welcome Statement for Community of ChristChurch - September 2020
Community of ChristChurch is an open and affirming Christian community that lives in God’s love and grace. We strive to welcome and include all people because we believe God loves and welcomes all people. Regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical or mental ability, political stance or theological perspective or anything else that might divide us, you are welcome here.
What this means is:
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here:
If you are young or old, you are welcome
If you have brown skin, black skin, white skin, or any color of skin, you are welcome
If you are an immigrant or refugee, you are welcome here.
If you are married or single or partnered, separated or divorced, you are welcome
If you are gay or straight or queer, you are welcome
If you are transgender, you are welcome
If you are a man or a woman or non-binary, you are welcome
If you cannot hear, see or speak, or have physical or intellectual differences, you are welcome
If you are sick or well, you are welcome
If you are happy or sad, you are welcome
If you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, you are welcome
If you believe in God some of the time or none of the time or all of the time, you are welcome
You are welcome here.
Come with your gifts, your pain, your hope, your fears
Come with the traditions that have helped you and hurt you
Come with your experiences that have made you and broken you
Come with a mind ready to engage, and a heart open to discern
Come and listen for the Sacred Spirit that calls you to love your neighbor wholeheartedly, seek justice, create peace and practice compassion
You are welcome here!
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Sock collection for Lifeline Connections |
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Crafting, Gardening and Creativity Share (Zoom)
Special time on 10/17
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OR Synod Assembly: a two-day Zoom event!
- Friday, November 6: 3:00 pm-8:30 pm
- Saturday, November 7: 8:30 am-4:00 pm
What is the Oregon Synod?
The Oregon Synod is one of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a strong belief in God, as made known in Jesus Christ. Through service, advocacy, worship, and education, we practice our faith, grow in our relationship with God, and experience God’s grace in our lives.
Here in Oregon, we are over 30,000 some Lutherans in 111 congregations (including Trinity Lutheran in Tulelake, CA.) We welcome you everywhere we are, and we thank you for helping make the world a better place for everybody.
What is the Synod Assembly?
One way to understand the Synod Assembly is to think of it as the OR Synod's Annual meeting. There are votes and resolutions to review. Assembly will only be $25 a person.
ChristChurch gets to send two (2) voting members. Violet Thetford has already volunteered to be one of our voting members. We are still looking for one more volunteer. If you are interested please email Pastor David by Friday, October 16th. |
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REVEALING RELATIONSHIPS:
RACISM AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
Why are Communities of Color disproportionately affected by the coronavirus? How does our society treat a largely Black and migrant labor force of service and agricultural workers? When disaster strikes, who is served, and who isn’t? Are racism and disaster response interrelated? If so, what can we do about it?
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NEW DATE!
Friends, the launch of the Oregon Synod Disaster Preparedness and Response Congregational Network has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 29th, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Bring Yourself – Bring a Fellow Member - Bring a Team!
To Register, email your name & congregation name to beprepared@oregonsynod.org
As we have learned over these last months, Oregon does and will continue to experience disasters and times of emergency. As people of faith we are called to be ready to provide comfort and assistance to those in need. How do we get ready? By having a response plan in place….by starting NOW to learn what we as local congregations can do to help—including creative ideas for responding in this time of COVID.
The OR Synod Disaster Preparedness & Response Network will offer regular gatherings, resources, trainings, and team development activities to help you form a team and engage your congregation. Please join us as we begin the preparedness journey together! |
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Community of ChristChurch
This is Christ's church. There is a place for you here.
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Mailing address:
Community of ChristChurch
3300 NW 185th Ave #224
Portland, OR 97229
(503) 617-9526
www.comchristchurch.org
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Online Office Information
As of August 2020, Community of ChristChurch operates as an online office with staff working remotely.
Currently, all gatherings are online, using Zoom.
Staff contact information:
Pastor David Eppelsheimer
pastordavid@comchristchurch.org
Administrative & Communications Coordinator
Rachael Jans admin@comchristchurch.org
Prayer Requests
admin@comchristchurch.org
Electronic Giving
Since we can't pass our offering basket during online worship, we encourage you to automate your giving. Online giving reduces staff and volunteer processing time. Electronic giving also offers an easy way to give on a recurring basis.
THANK YOU to everyone that has signed up!
Go to https://app.easytithe.com/App/Giving/comchristchurch and select the checkbox ‘Make this gift recurring’.
You will be walked through the steps for setting
up an account with Easy Tithe.
Submissions for Faith News:
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.
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