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Community of ChristChurch
Faith News Update for September 10, 2020
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Online Interactive Worship with
Holy Communion
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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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Dear Friends,
The month of September traditionally marks the beginning of the church program year. Some churches refer to the first Sunday after Labor Day as Rally Sunday or Homecoming Sunday. I imagine the latter refers to the idea that many have been away over the summer months on vacations and weekend getaways, before the school year picks back up. I am not sure this makes much sense in 2020. While some have managed to get away, many of our people have been doing what they started doing back in March: staying at home, sheltering in place, quarantining themselves and their loved ones— doing what they can to stay safe in the midst of a global pandemic.
Also, this September marks over 100 consecutive nights that people in Portland, and other large cities around the country, have been protesting in the streets, raising their voices in support of the lives of our BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) siblings, and against the systemic and institutional racism and violence that has plagued our nation since before its founding.
And now, our state, along with the whole Pacific coast region, is literally ablaze as the combination of dry vegetation and high winds have caused devastating wildfires to grow so rapidly as to overtake many homes, businesses, first responders, and has taken several lives. It is all quite a lot. For many in the world, and in our own communities, our capacity for grief and lament is being stretched.
And while there are times, I must admit, that my own capacity for hope is also being stretched, I realize that— for today at least— it is hope that is stretching me. It is the hope of the Gospel, the good news that no matter what we face in our lives and in our world, the God who created the universe; the God who loved each one of us into existence; the God who became one of us and pitched a tent in our midst; this God of justice, reconciliation, grace, and love will have the last word.
So I am hopeful today. And I am also thankful. I am thankful that I am not alone. I am thankful for all of you, my community of faith who have been, and continue to be, my companions on this journey of life and faith. I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday. We are returning to the book of Genesis to begin another trip through our sacred texts, a yearlong journey that takes us along the narrative arc of scripture. Together we will join in fellowship, sing the songs, and pray the prayers. Together, we will hear the Word of God. Together we will wrestle with its meaning for us and what it has to say, not only about our God and our ancestors in the faith, but also about us. And together will find the courage to live into our calling to be God’s children… earth creatures… alive with the very breath of God… in this time and this place. God’s got this! Let's go!
Peace,
Pastor David
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PERIOD collection from ChristChurch Update
Community of ChristChurch donated enough pads and tampons to make 95 period packs, which each include six pads and nine tampons, with only six tampons left over! These generous donations will help 95 people in need for an entire month of their period.
We also received 26 reusable water bottles, 158 face masks and one face shield, 2,270 ibuprofen tablets, 1,074 Band-Aids, 98 vials of saline solution, 200 gauze sponges, 23 tubes of triple antibiotic ointment, nine sets of earplugs, two pairs of safety goggles, 23 draw-string bags, 540 nitrile and vinyl gloves, five energy bars, and 27 bottles of hand sanitizer.
The collection for PERIOD was extremely successful, and we received every item that was requested on the list from the Seattle PERIOD chapter! The generosity and support displayed by the congregation is very much appreciated, and the donations will now be brought to PERIOD, where they will be distributed to those who need them most.
Thank you for your continued support of this cause, and your donations that will aid those in need, especially during this difficult time.
- Elsa Buchholz, Project Leader |
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Ecumenical Eats- Food, Fellowship & Fun: Labor Day 2020 edition
As part of the Ecumenical Zoom Worship service on Labor Day Weekend (September 6th @ 10am) we put together an Ecumenical Church Potluck Cookbook.
We had a strong representation from ChristChurch. Thank you!
Download a PDF of the cookbook here.
If you find typos or grammatical errors, please send them my way. I did my best to review all the recipes but there was a good amount to read through rather quickly.
Enjoy! Share! Eat!
-Rachael Jans |
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FINAL REMINDER!
Donations are being accepted in memory of
Marjorie Ann Ehlen
Sept. 27, 1941 – Feb. 10, 2020
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 clothing, shoes, blankets, first aid kits: contact Eileen Gross by September 15 for pick up.
Monetary donations: please mark “in Memory of Marjorie Ehlen” on the form.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” — Proverbs 19:17
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Opportunities to stay connected online are listed below: |
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Community of ChristChurch
This is Christ's church. There is a place for you here.
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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
Our mailing address:
Community of ChristChurch
3300 NW 185th Ave #224
Portland, OR 97229
If you are mailing donations (thank you!) please note the change...or help us save our resources and sign up for online giving. Online giving reduces staff and volunteer processing time. How to sign up for online giving....
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 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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Mailing address:
Community of ChristChurch
3300 NW 185th Ave #224
Portland, OR 97229
(503) 617-9526
www.comchristchurch.org
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