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

Are you striving for peace within your family? Are you wondering how to set limits and support self-regulation with your child, while also strengthening the parent-child connection?

Healthy families are pivotal to building just and peaceful communities, and the root of healthy families are healthy parents. Join parent educator Julie Salwasser for this FREE three-part series of gatherings in which parents and caregivers are invited to learn concrete strategies to support their children's behavior with grace, connection, and joy. Julie is trained in the "Empowered to Connect" and "Trauma Based Relational Intervention" parenting methods. The workshop, cosponsored by the Oregon Synod, will lead parents from permissive or authoritative approaches to parenting with grace, connection, and joy. By equipping those at the front lines (parents, whose daily interactions shape how children show up in the world), we can raise regulated, secure, peace-filled, compassionate change-makers. Join us on the following Sundays from 1-3:30 pm: September 15, October 20, and November 17. Each session can stand alone, but are most impactful when taken as a series. Attend as many as you can!

Register here.

Join us for Queer Grace and a Dance Party. This month’s storyteller celebrates 35 years of ordained ministry this year. Pastor Janet Parker (she/her) will reflect on her journey of self-acceptance and coming out as a lesbian woman in ministry. She will then be joined by a panel of LGBTQIA+ conversation partners before opening up to a Q&A session. Queer Grace will begin at 7:00 pm, followed by the dance party at 8:30. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.

Are you striving for peace within your family? Are you wondering how to set limits and support self-regulation with your child, while also strengthening the parent-child connection?

Healthy families are pivotal to building just and peaceful communities, and the root of healthy families are healthy parents. Join parent educator Julie Salwasser for this FREE three-part series of gatherings in which parents and caregivers are invited to learn concrete strategies to support their children's behavior with grace, connection, and joy. Julie is trained in the "Empowered to Connect" and "Trauma Based Relational Intervention" parenting methods. The workshop, cosponsored by the Oregon Synod, will lead parents from permissive or authoritative approaches to parenting with grace, connection, and joy. By equipping those at the front lines (parents, whose daily interactions shape how children show up in the world), we can raise regulated, secure, peace-filled, compassionate change-makers. Join us on the following Sundays from 1-3:30 pm: September 15, October 20, and November 17. Each session can stand alone, but are most impactful when taken as a series. Attend as many as you can!

Register here.

Our September 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. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.

Are you striving for peace within your family? Are you wondering how to set limits and support self-regulation with your child, while also strengthening the parent-child connection?

Healthy families are pivotal to building just and peaceful communities, and the root of healthy families are healthy parents. Join parent educator Julie Salwasser for this FREE three-part series of gatherings in which parents and caregivers are invited to learn concrete strategies to support their children's behavior with grace, connection, and joy. Julie is trained in the "Empowered to Connect" and "Trauma Based Relational Intervention" parenting methods. The workshop, cosponsored by the Oregon Synod, will lead parents from permissive or authoritative approaches to parenting with grace, connection, and joy. By equipping those at the front lines (parents, whose daily interactions shape how children show up in the world), we can raise regulated, secure, peace-filled, compassionate change-makers. Join us on the following Sundays from 1-3:30 pm: September 15, October 20, and November 17. Each session can stand alone, but are most impactful when taken as a series. Attend as many as you can!

Register here.

Please join between services in the community room to:

• Share a personal experience that causes you to work against gun violence

• Help the Nonviolence Team select signs and questions for our poll for the Welcoming Nonviolence event at the Beaverton Library lawn on September 21 from 10-2 pm

Welcoming Nonviolence is a community event in which folks from Spirit of Grace can reach out to potential voters with our concerns about gun violence.

Our July storyteller—Kate Bernklau Halvor— will share their journey of self-discovery around asexuality, aromanticism, gender, and neurodivergence while growing up in a supportive family and faith community. Kate will then be joined by a panel of queer conversation partners, followed by a Q&A session. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.

This month’s storyteller— Kelsey Khaw— will share her perspectives on how being queer has affected her relationship with faith, the Bible, church, God, and being a parent. She will 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.

A dance party will follow from 8:30-9:30 pm.

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

We are again invited to work with "Reclaim our Vote," a grassroots, 501(c)(3) campaign that focuses on increasing voter turnout through postcards, texts, and phone banking in voter suppression states.
 
Andrea Miller will share why people of faith should care about voter suppression and how this movement is engaging voters of color. As the founding board member of the Center for Common Ground, executive director of People Demanding Action, and founding president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia, Andrea has expertise in voting rights, climate, and the Equal Rights Amendment. In 2008 she was the Democratic nominee for the Virginia 4th congressional district. This event is being co-sponsored by Spirit of Grace and EcoFaith Recovery. Click here for more information or to register. 
 
Schedule
12:45 pm: Gathering on Zoom
1:00 pm:  Andrea Miller shares her story and leads discussion 
2:00 pm:  Training to engage our community in postcard writing with "Reclaim our Vote"
2:30 pm:  Close

After our three previous forums on Eucharist, we'll meet in the community room to reflect and share on how sharing in the Eucharist changes and challenges you. How does it support and equip you to live out your faith the other six days of the week?

Additional reflections on the Eucharist with Rev. Dr. Matta Ghaly.

In Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm, author Kazu Haga blazingly reclaims the energy and assertiveness of nonviolent practice and shows that a principled approach to nonviolence is the way to transform not only unjust systems but broken relationships. Facilitation of this group will be shared by group members.

Contact: Mary Ryan Hotchkiss

This series runs from February 5-April 15 on the 1st and 3rd Mondays. Registration deadline is Monday, February 5.

This forum will continue our overview of the shared understandings and differences in Roman Catholic and Lutheran teachings using U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement on "The Eucharist" with the ELCA’s “Use of the Means of Grace” document, with Rev. Michael Keys, retired ELCA bishop.

This forum will be an overview of the shared understandings and differences in Roman Catholic and Lutheran teachings using U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement on "The Eucharist" with the ELCA’s “Use of the Means of Grace” document, with Rev. Michael Keys, retired ELCA bishop.