ADULT EDUCATION AND FORMATION
The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation by Richard Rohr. Our intention is to complete the study on the Trinity. Part II of this book takes the reader into a much deeper understanding of the Cosmic Christ and the Holy Spirit.
When we finish the Rohr book,
Marlene wants to focus upon
our ministry of social justice
and outreach in the world.
There is a new study by the
Episcopal Migration Ministries
which we will plan to use.
During Epiphany we read in scripture of Mary, Joseph and Jesus’ Flight into Egypt as refugees, their very lives threatened by King Herod. Similarly, refugees today leave behind everything they have to find a safe place to work and raise their children. This study on refugees could cover five Adult Education Sunday Sessions.
“It is because we are followers of Jesus, because we follow the Way of Love, that we must be passionately committed to helping refugees.”
–Bishop Michael Curry.
Join us at 9am in the Fellowship Hall for the Adult Forums each Sunday.
We strive to know Christ more deeply and bring others to his redeeming grace.
MESSAGE FROM OUR VICAR
(Adapted from the January 2019 Good News Letter)
By the grace of God, we have almost spent a year together as Vicar and Church! This is a great opportunity to review the “State of the Church” or how things are here at St.
Bede’s. First of all, you may have noticed that I am learning things. Before coming to St. Bede, I had only officiated at one funeral, and within the course of this year we have bid farewell to four of our beloved friends with 4 funerals, three of which I officiated. In addition, we celebrated Holy Week
together, my first time presiding at so many services! We baptized a beloved parishioner on Easter, and had an amazing Celebration of New Ministry. Though I have prayed with various communities and helped lead services before, it is truly different driving the car rather than being a passenger. Thanks be to God for all of you who helped shepherd the shepherd. I could not have done it without you.
I have appreciated the grace extended me by the St.
Bede community. You have accepted me even with my
great need to learn the ropes. Even though I have been
slightly in over my head, you have been gracious. Thanks be to God who does not require perfect offerings, but faithfulness. The more I learn about the ways you love God and your neighbors, the more I have come to love St. Bede’s.
I see the congregation of St Bede learning things too.
Having a non-interim vicar again after spending about
three years without, takes some adjustment. We are
learning to function as a body.
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say,
“Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose." 1Cor. 12: 12, 14-18 (NRSV)
My hope is that leadership at St Bede follows the pattern of the Holy Trinity, distinct persons, which share one substance, one will of love. Therefore, we continue to grow into one body which is less about hierarchy or power over one another and more about good communication and working together. As my transition committee shared with
me, the vicar functions best as the hub in our church network, a kind of central nervous system, which in a healthy system helps coordinate the various bodily functions. The model of the body as our church system does not denigrate any part of the body, but values each as
contributing to overall well-being, and respects the various
discipleships of its members. With that in mind, I greatly
appreciate it when you include me in planning events and
keep me in the loop when discussing various ministries or
important church matters. With more understanding of our
various ministries at St. Bede I can better support, pray for,
participate in, and help lead our work together.
Truly St. Bede is a living organism that has seen a lot of
new growth in the past year probably in too many ways to
mention. Here are just a few. We have reorganized pastoral care to ensure that our homebound folks are getting regular Eucharistic visits, both by Eucharistic Visitors and myself. Our Youth program has blossomed under the leadership of Stewart and Linda and looks forward to more growth and engagement in the coming year. We have a new librarian, who brings his skills and enthusiasm to enlivening our Godly reading, and has helped us make a library connection with the Dairy Creek Community Food Web. Margaret has helped coordinate Godly Play with parents and others. Not only that - church attendance has been really healthy, with an overall increase in participation.
I thank God for all of you as we have striven
throughout this year to love God and our neighbors,
and I look forward to what the new year brings in 2019.
As we begin my first Epiphany with you all, may it
include blessings in this season of light as we celebrate
the manifestation of Christ in our midst.
Marlene+
Members of the Saint Bede community prepare to welcome the Light of the World on Christmas Eve
LIGHT
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate,
Adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence,
and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love, 1963
If I say,
“Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,”
Darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day;
Darkness and light to you are both alike.
BCP, Evening Prayer II. 116
L I G H T
CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS
2 Holy Eucharist, 10am, Sanctuary
3 Evening Prayer, 5pm, Chapel, followed by Pub
Fellowship at Old Town Vault
5 Brotherhood of St Andrew, 8am, Fellowship Hall
6 Epiphany
Morning Prayer, 8:30am, Chapel
Godly Play. 9am, Upstairs Classroom
Adult Forum, 9am, Fellowship Hall
Holy Eucharist and Epiphany Pageant, 10am,
Sanctuary
7 Bible Study. 2:30pm, Library
8 Game Night, 6:30pm, Fellowship Hall
9 Morning Prayer, 10am, Chapel
10 Evening Prayer, 5pm, Chapel, followed by Pub
Fellowship at Old Town Vault
12 Stitchery, 9am, Fellowship Hall
13 Morning Prayer, 8:30am, Chapel
Godly Play. 9am, Upstairs Classroom
Adult Forum, 9am, Fellowship Hall
Holy Eucharist, 10am, Sanctuary
14 Bible Study, 2:30pm, Library
16 Holy Eucharist, 10am, Chapel
17 Evening Prayer, 5pm, Chapel, followed by Pub
Fellowship at Old Town Vault
19 Brotherhood of St Andrew, 8am, Fellowship Hall
20 Morning Prayer, 8:30am, Chapel
Godly Play. 9am, Upstairs Classroom
Adult Forum, 9am, Fellowship Hall
Holy Eucharist, 10am, Sanctuary
21 Bible Study, 2:30pm, Library
Dairy Creek Community Food Web Board
meeting, 6pm, Fellowship Hall
22 Community Hands Up Food Bank, 4pm, All
Saints Church, Hillsboro
23 Morning Prayer, 10am, Chapel
24 Evening Prayer, 5pm, Chapel, followed by Pub
Fellowship at Old Town Vault
27 Morning Prayer, 8:30am, Chapel
Godly Play. 9am, Upstairs Classroom
Adult Forum, 9am, Fellowship Hall
Holy Eucharist, 10am, Sanctuary
Annual Meeting, after Eucharist
28 Bible Study, 2:30pm, Library
30 Morning Prayer, 10am, Chapel
31 Evening Prayer, 5pm, Chapel, followed by Pub
Fellowship at Old Town Vault
Christmas Tea, Advent Week Four, and Greening of the Church for Christmas
J a N u a r y
ST. BEDE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1609 Elm St. Forest Grove, OR
St. Bede Episcopal Church ©