News archive
Blessing of the Animals October 3, 2021
Let’s be honest, during these last 18 months, those of us with animals in our households have already been bringing our pets into our worship space. So let’s really invite them in - to give thanks for them, to acknowledge the gift they are to us, and to bless them! On Sunday, October 3rd, during our 9:30am worship time, we will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis by blessing our pets and beloved creatures! We invite you to share your beloved animals with the whole worshiping community in two ways…
First, consider sending in a picture… it could be a faithful companion of many years, it could be a pandemic puppy or COVID kitty, it could be the birds or other creatures that you have been sharing your outdoor space with. Please attach your photos to an email and send it to pastordavid@comchristchurch.org by Thursday, September 30th.
Second, if possible, have your furry (or scaly, or feathered) family member with you in your sacred Zoom worship space. Together we will give thanks for and bless all God’s creatures!
Let’s be honest, during these last 18 months, those of us with animals in our households have already been bringing our pets into our worship space. So let’s really invite them in - to give thanks for them, to acknowledge the gift they are to us, and to bless them! On Sunday, October 3rd, during our 9:30am worship time, we will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis by blessing our pets and beloved creatures! We invite you to share your beloved animals with the whole worshiping community in two ways…
First, consider sending in a picture… it could be a faithful companion of many years, it could be a pandemic puppy or COVID kitty, it could be the birds or other creatures that you have been sharing your outdoor space with. Please attach your photos to an email and send it to pastordavid@comchristchurch.org by Thursday, September 30th.
Second, if possible, have your furry (or scaly, or feathered) family member with you in your sacred Zoom worship space. Together we will give thanks for and bless all God’s creatures!
Pastor David's 10 Year Celebration
Every wondered what Weird Church could be like?
Join us as we celebrate the blessing of David's 10 year anniversary with Community of ChristChurch. Enjoy a special worship service including guest speakers and uplifting songs.
When: Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 9:30am on Zoom
Where: Gather for a celebration on ZOOM! Use our Sunday morning worship link.
Three ways to participate in this virtual celebration:
1) We are creating a gratitude video for Pastor.
Send in your video submission, up to 20 seconds long.
Ideas for the gratitude video:
- Say congratulations and thank you in your own words
- Read a poem
- Hold up signs with words that convey your kudos
- Sing a song or make up a song or chant
- Lip sync part of a song
- Dance
- Use your imagination!
Send in your video by Tuesday, September 14, 2021 to Eileen Gross via Admin@comchristchurch.org.
2) Card Shower - Send a card or e-card to David sharing favorite memories, gratitude, whatever you would like.
Send a physical card to the church PO Box by Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
3300 NW 185th Ave #224
Portland, OR 97229
Or an e-card to pastordavid@comchristchurch.org
3) During the worship service celebration, have a glass of your favorite drink nearby for a toast to David.
Email Admin@comchristchurch.org for more details, otherwise stay tuned to this website and our Facebook page.
Summer Worship Series: the FRUIT of the SPIRIT
22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against such things.
Galatians 5:22-23
There is no law against such things.
Galatians 5:22-23
Beginning on Sunday, June 6th, we will enter into a ten-week Summer Worship Series based on the Apostle Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) which he shares with the Galatian church in Galatians 5:22-23.
We will explore how these nine ways of being in the world can be beneficial not only for those who practice them, but also for the communities in which they live, work, worship and play.
As I have been preparing for this series, one thing that continues to stand out for me is that none of these behaviors, or virtues (or whatever we want to call them) is particularly Christian. Or, to put it another way, Christianity has not cornered the market on these nine ‘fruits’. It seems rather clear to me that they are universally valued across cultures, religions and geographical regions— which then begs the question: Can the Holy Spirit move and work beyond our limited expectations and perceived constraints to accomplish the Creator’s will inside and outside the bounds of Christianity, or even organized religion in general?
How we answer this question has profound implications for how we think about ourselves as Christians in a religiously diverse and pluralistic world. To assist us in exploring this idea, I will attempt to draw wisdom and insights from a variety of sources, including theologians, poets, artists, and deep thinkers inside and outside of the Christian tradition.
One of the sources I plan to use is a book entitled Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor. I invite you all to consider joining me in adding this book to your summer reading list. In Holy Envy, the author reflects on her years teaching world religions in a college setting. Quoting Father James Martin from the back of the book:
“By turns inspiring, enchanting, and provocative, Taylor reminds us that God is bigger than any one religion. Prepare to be surprised and, best of all, to come to know God in a new way.”
Let’s think of Holy Envy as a companion piece to our summer exploration of the fruit of the Spirit. If there is interest, we will provide opportunities outside of Sunday mornings for folks to gather on occasion for discussion about the book and the ideas, questions and insights contained within.
I am looking forward to going on this summer journey together with all of you!
Peace (one of the fruits!),
Pastor David
We will explore how these nine ways of being in the world can be beneficial not only for those who practice them, but also for the communities in which they live, work, worship and play.
As I have been preparing for this series, one thing that continues to stand out for me is that none of these behaviors, or virtues (or whatever we want to call them) is particularly Christian. Or, to put it another way, Christianity has not cornered the market on these nine ‘fruits’. It seems rather clear to me that they are universally valued across cultures, religions and geographical regions— which then begs the question: Can the Holy Spirit move and work beyond our limited expectations and perceived constraints to accomplish the Creator’s will inside and outside the bounds of Christianity, or even organized religion in general?
How we answer this question has profound implications for how we think about ourselves as Christians in a religiously diverse and pluralistic world. To assist us in exploring this idea, I will attempt to draw wisdom and insights from a variety of sources, including theologians, poets, artists, and deep thinkers inside and outside of the Christian tradition.
One of the sources I plan to use is a book entitled Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor. I invite you all to consider joining me in adding this book to your summer reading list. In Holy Envy, the author reflects on her years teaching world religions in a college setting. Quoting Father James Martin from the back of the book:
“By turns inspiring, enchanting, and provocative, Taylor reminds us that God is bigger than any one religion. Prepare to be surprised and, best of all, to come to know God in a new way.”
Let’s think of Holy Envy as a companion piece to our summer exploration of the fruit of the Spirit. If there is interest, we will provide opportunities outside of Sunday mornings for folks to gather on occasion for discussion about the book and the ideas, questions and insights contained within.
I am looking forward to going on this summer journey together with all of you!
Peace (one of the fruits!),
Pastor David
2021 Annual Congregational Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 6, 2021 after worship. We voted and approved the 2021-2022 fiscal budget, church council slate and became a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
We reflected on the past year and looked ahead to the challenges and opportunities that face us in the year ahead. Thank you to everyone for participating in the online edition of the annual meeting.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 6, 2021 after worship. We voted and approved the 2021-2022 fiscal budget, church council slate and became a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
We reflected on the past year and looked ahead to the challenges and opportunities that face us in the year ahead. Thank you to everyone for participating in the online edition of the annual meeting.
Reconciling in Christ Vote: June 6, 2021
At our Annual Meeting on June 6, 2021 congregation members will voted on a proposal to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation.
RIC Partners Public Commitments:
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, and we commit to work for racial justice in our church and the world. Regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, 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:
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 married or single or partnered or divorced, you are welcome
If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual, aromantic, or straight, you are welcome
If you are male, female, transgender, intersex, or non-binary, you are welcome
If you cannot hear or see or speak, 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!
At our Annual Meeting on June 6, 2021 congregation members will voted on a proposal to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation.
RIC Partners Public Commitments:
- Your community explicitly states a welcome to people of “all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions” or “LGBTQIA+” and names its commitment to "racial equity" or "anti-racism" in its welcome statement.
- Open to calling an LGBTQIA+ and Black, Brown, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) Rostered Leader.
- Will allow community space/sanctuary to be used for LGBTQIA+ weddings and blessings.
- Will make a meaningful contribution annually to support the national RIC program.
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, and we commit to work for racial justice in our church and the world. Regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, 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:
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 married or single or partnered or divorced, you are welcome
If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual, aromantic, or straight, you are welcome
If you are male, female, transgender, intersex, or non-binary, you are welcome
If you cannot hear or see or speak, 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!
Mission and Vision Conversation
Thursday, May 27 at 7pm - 8pm
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82978869370?pwd=VHRkbURyVWQxcjkxYmFyQ0t3R2FLQT09
Church Council members Suze Engbretson and Larry Wade invite you to continue the conversation on the topic of Mission and Vision for ChristChurch. All are welcome, even if you have not attended previous sessions.
Please bring updated mission, vision, and value statements that you have come across and want to share with the group.
Thursday, May 27 at 7pm - 8pm
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82978869370?pwd=VHRkbURyVWQxcjkxYmFyQ0t3R2FLQT09
Church Council members Suze Engbretson and Larry Wade invite you to continue the conversation on the topic of Mission and Vision for ChristChurch. All are welcome, even if you have not attended previous sessions.
Please bring updated mission, vision, and value statements that you have come across and want to share with the group.
Special Congregational Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone that attended the March 14, 2021 special congregational meeting. A motion passed to approve Mark and Inga Henderson to be voting members for the upcoming 2021 Oregon Synod Annual Assembly.
Tracy Litterer provided an update from the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) team and shared the rationale behind their decision to postpone the vote until the June 6th Annual Meeting. She cited new feedback from ReconcilingWorks regarding our proposed Welcome Statement and said the team will use the time until June to make small but important wording changes and educate the congregation on the changes and their significance.
Save the date for our annual meeting: Sunday, June 6th, 2021 after worship.
Thank you to everyone that attended the March 14, 2021 special congregational meeting. A motion passed to approve Mark and Inga Henderson to be voting members for the upcoming 2021 Oregon Synod Annual Assembly.
Tracy Litterer provided an update from the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) team and shared the rationale behind their decision to postpone the vote until the June 6th Annual Meeting. She cited new feedback from ReconcilingWorks regarding our proposed Welcome Statement and said the team will use the time until June to make small but important wording changes and educate the congregation on the changes and their significance.
Save the date for our annual meeting: Sunday, June 6th, 2021 after worship.