Join us in the community room between services to review our history as an inclusive and welcoming congregation for LGBTQIA folks and discuss how we can expand that welcome. 

Join a six-week online study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker, editor of volume 16 of Bonhoeffer's Works. Written from Bonhoeffer’s experience leading the underground seminary of the Confessing Church during the rise of Nazi Germany, Life Together witnesses to faith in times of crisis and explores how prayer, service, and confession sustain Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s leadership in the Confessing Church and his ultimate resistance to the Nazi regime have made his writings relevant for the global church today.

Sponsored by the Sunset Cluster of the Oregon Synod (ELCA) and hosted by Spirit of Grace. Free-will donation invited. 

Join us in the community room for a time of sharing and lament as we face genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. Our Holy Land Ministry leads—Rev. Brian Brandt, Benneth Husted, and Jennifer Grosvenor—will open our discussion with our new ELCA policy Toward Ending the Occupation of Palestine and a message from our Palestinian Lutheran siblings. Together, we will wrestle with biblical Israel not being the State of Israel today, and the actions we might take.

Join a six-week online study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker, editor of volume 16 of Bonhoeffer's Works. Written from Bonhoeffer’s experience leading the underground seminary of the Confessing Church during the rise of Nazi Germany, Life Together witnesses to faith in times of crisis and explores how prayer, service, and confession sustain Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s leadership in the Confessing Church and his ultimate resistance to the Nazi regime have made his writings relevant for the global church today.

Sponsored by the Sunset Cluster of the Oregon Synod (ELCA) and hosted by Spirit of Grace. Free-will donation invited. 

Storyteller—Rev. Kevin Yell

Join a six-week online study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker, editor of volume 16 of Bonhoeffer's Works. Written from Bonhoeffer’s experience leading the underground seminary of the Confessing Church during the rise of Nazi Germany, Life Together witnesses to faith in times of crisis and explores how prayer, service, and confession sustain Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s leadership in the Confessing Church and his ultimate resistance to the Nazi regime have made his writings relevant for the global church today.

Sponsored by the Sunset Cluster of the Oregon Synod (ELCA) and hosted by Spirit of Grace. Free-will donation invited. 

Join a six-week online study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker, editor of volume 16 of Bonhoeffer's Works. Written from Bonhoeffer’s experience leading the underground seminary of the Confessing Church during the rise of Nazi Germany, Life Together witnesses to faith in times of crisis and explores how prayer, service, and confession sustain Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s leadership in the Confessing Church and his ultimate resistance to the Nazi regime have made his writings relevant for the global church today.

Sponsored by the Sunset Cluster of the Oregon Synod (ELCA) and hosted by Spirit of Grace. Free-will donation invited. 

Join a six-week online study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, led by Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker, editor of volume 16 of Bonhoeffer's Works. Written from Bonhoeffer’s experience leading the underground seminary of the Confessing Church during the rise of Nazi Germany, Life Together witnesses to faith in times of crisis and explores how prayer, service, and confession sustain Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s leadership in the Confessing Church and his ultimate resistance to the Nazi regime have made his writings relevant for the global church today. Learn more or register here.

Sponsored by the Sunset Cluster of the Oregon Synod (ELCA) and hosted by Spirit of Grace. Free-will donation invited. 

This month’s storyteller—Alison Killeen—will share perspectives on how being queer has affected their relationship with faith, the Bible, church, God, and themselves. They will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis!

Refreshments will be provided.

Childcare available by request at least one week in advance.

This month’s storyteller—Adhamh Hoetzel (he/him)—will share perspectives on how being queer has affected his relationship with faith, the Bible, church, God, and himself. He will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis!

Refreshments will be provided.

Childcare available by request at least one week in advance.

This month’s storyteller—Dr. Abby Mulcahy (none/all)—will share on the intersections between sexual orientation, gender identity, God, and faith. They will then be joined by a conversation partner, followed by a Q&A session. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis!

Refreshments will be provided.

Childcare available by request at least one week in advance.

RSVPs to PastorRobyn@spiritofgracepdx.org are appreciated but not required.

This free workshop with Father Kevin Yell invites you to rediscover the fire and power within the words they are given – or give themselves – to say. Preachers, worship leaders, and actors are all trying to do one thing: make the words on the page come alive, making the texts of their respective authors “flesh” in real time and space—to invite the congregation into an experience of some mix of truth, beauty, hope, and reconciliation.

Join us for this educational forum between Sunday services, as Kate Bernklau Halvor and Sarah Hallberg share insights on autism. The session will explore what autism is and how it presents in areas like social differences, sensory needs, repetitive behaviors, masking, and overload. This is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding and engage in meaningful conversation on neurodiversity.

This month’s storyteller—Sam Julian Gage (they/them)—will share about their gender journey and its intersection with chronic illness, disability identity, and spirituality. They will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! Refreshments will be provided. Childcare available by request at least one week in advance. RSVPs to PastorRobyn@spiritofgracepdx.org are appreciated but not required.

Join us as we explore and share practices, actions, and efforts we can undertake during Lent that will plant and germinate justice and hope in our world.

This month’s storyteller— Haven Wetmore (he/they)—will speak about their experience as a queer internationalist activist, and the relationship between the liberation of queer people and the fight to end injustice against migrants and other oppressed people. He will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session.

All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! Refreshments and childcare will be provided.

RSVPs to PastorRobyn@spiritofgracepdx.org are appreciated, but not required.

In preparation for Lent, we'll discuss the ten values Indigenous people use to live a life that brings well-being to humans and to the earth as outlined in Randy & Edith Woodley's book Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. We’ll meet on Zoom on January 29, February 5, and 12 (an optional session on February 19 will weave together our learnings.) Please consider purchasing the book from a local bookstore (or requesting the last free copy from Don.) To sign up contact Don Manghelli.

In preparation for Lent, we'll discuss the ten values Indigenous people use to live a life that brings well-being to humans and to the earth as outlined in Randy & Edith Woodley's book Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. We’ll meet on Zoom on January 29, February 5, and 12 (an optional session on February 19 will weave together our learnings.) Please consider purchasing the book from a local bookstore (or requesting the last free copy from Don.) To sign up contact Don Manghelli.

Have you wondered about the Bible, Israel, and U.S. politics? Join us between services for the second of this two-part series, presented by our Holy Land Ministry. 

In preparation for Lent, we'll discuss the ten values Indigenous people use to live a life that brings well-being to humans and to the earth as outlined in Randy & Edith Woodley's book Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. We’ll meet on Zoom on January 29, February 5, and 12 (an optional session on February 19 will weave together our learnings.) Please consider purchasing the book from a local bookstore (or requesting the last free copy from Don.) To sign up contact Don Manghelli.

Have you wondered about the Bible, Israel, and U.S. politics? Join us between services for the first of this two-part series, presented by our Holy Land Ministry. 

In preparation for Lent, we’ll meet on Zoom on January 29, February 5, and 12 (an optional session on February 19 will weave together our learnings.) to discuss the ten values Indigenous people use to live a life that brings well-being to humans and to the earth as outlined in Randy & Edith Woodley's book Journey to Eloheh: How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being. 

1. Session 1 (January 29) will start our journey by discussing the ten Indigenous values (found on pages 123 and following).

2. Session 2 (February 5) will focus on how harmony and well-being played out in both Edith and Randy’s life story (pages 45-123).

3. Session 3 (February 12) will compare and contrast the harmony way with a Western worldview, and how they have affected people and the world (introduction to page 45).

4. Session 4 (February 19) will look at the land acknowledgment we read every Sunday and discuss what next steps Native people would like us to take.

You may attend all or any one of the study groups. Please consider purchasing the book from a local bookstore. To sign up contact Don Manghelli.

This month’s storyteller— Deacon Bonnie—will share her story of place and healing from religious trauma. She will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis. Refreshments and childcare will be provided. RSVPs to Pastor Robyn are appreciated but not required.

Listening deeply is essential for communities to make informed discernment and decision. This listening can be done in forums, but may be limited by how many people speak. For more personal connection, 1:1 conversations provide more inclusion of members and allow for those uncomfortable speaking at a forum to have their input heard. To learn more and prepare for this MACG training, please read this article by the Franciscan Action Network. Preceded by a light lunch.

Please register

The Nonviolence Team is forming a book group and will discuss Culture Shift: Nonviolence at Work by Kit Miller as their first book. Mark your calendars now! If you are interested, please contact Karen Moore. This is open to the public. Bring a friend!

With threats of mass deportation in the news, many immigrants are feeling scared for themselves or their family and friends. Our current pastoral leaders and newer members were not a part of our community's previous efforts to support sanctuary for immigrants. Join us as we learn more about the decision in February 2018 to become a “sanctuary-supporting church.” Pastor Robyn will converse with Christie Bernklau-Halvor on what we voted to approve and what the very active Sanctuary Team did from 2017-2020. Your questions, comments, and conversation will also be invited. 

Facilitated by palliative care chaplain Kaitlin Pabo-Eulberg, learn more about preparing for your future healthcare and life decisions. This is especially vital work for people who are marginalized by healthcare institutions, but advance care planning empowers all folks to explicitly state their wishes regarding end-of-life care to ensure their trusted people can make decisions on their behalf in the event of a crisis or health change. 

Storytellers: Lisa & Lige Armstrong