A Safe Reopening at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 Calendar & Life Transions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3 Children Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Current Events and Informaon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Care & Discipleship Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Financial Corner & “Peace be with you!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 JULY Chimes 2020 THE CHIMES Volume 2020 - Issue 138 Bend Church Reimagining Life Together I Corinthians 10:23-24 “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are awful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. ” Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ” The passages above are the scriptural cornerstones I am holding in tension with my longing to worship together with all of you once again in person. As deep as our desire to gather together is, we need to remember that we must first do no harm. No amount of faith can stop this virus. It will be the scientists, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who will lead us to a vaccine that may save our lives. In the meantime, we will practice social distancing and focus on healthy practices like we never have before. My prayer is that we will be able to worship in our building on Easter 2021. That date may be aspirational, but I’m holding out hope that we will have enough knowledge about Covid-19 by then to be able to worship together in relative safety. As we watch the numbers of Covid-19 spike across the country, I find myself thankful to be under the leadership of Bishop Elaine Stanovsky. Our Bishop has tasked each of her churches with putting together a plan of opening that is grounded in good theology, good science, and the work of the people. On the next page you will find The Phases of Safe Reopening and the requisite plans needed to move to the next phase. Currently our church is still in Phase 1. We are working on a plan to send to our District Superintendent in order to move to Phase 2, but you will notice that not much changes in these early phases. What I need from you is a group of members who are willing to do the hard work of putting together the plans that will move us to Phases 3 and eventually 4. In Phase 3 we can open the building to our 12 Step Groups, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Jazzersize and all of the other non -essential assemblies that use our building. We need to think long and hard about our core values, and how they align with the use of our building. What, if anything, will change if we align our values with our behaviors? This time of physical separation allows us the space to discern where our priorities as a church will lead us. This is hard work. This is a challenging time, but I know we are up to the task. If you are willing to serve on this important committee please email me at [email protected]. You continue to be in my daily prayers Bend Church. You inspire and uplift so many in this community. Never forget that. Much love, Pastor Jen
JULY Chimes 2020 THE CHIMES Volume 2020 - Issue 138
Bend Church Reimagining Life Together
I Corinthians 10:23-24 “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are awful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good,
but the good of his neighbor.”
Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
The passages above are the scriptural cornerstones I am holding in tension with my longing to worship together with all of you once again in person. As deep as our desire to gather together is, we need to remember that we must first do no harm. No amount of faith can stop this virus. It will be the scientists, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who will lead us to a vaccine that may save our lives. In the meantime, we will practice social distancing and focus on healthy practices like we never have before.
My prayer is that we will be able to worship in our building on Easter 2021. That date may be aspirational, but I’m holding out hope that we will have enough knowledge about Covid-19 by then to be able to worship together in relative safety. As we watch the numbers of Covid-19 spike across the country, I find myself thankful to be under the leadership of Bishop Elaine Stanovsky. Our Bishop has tasked each of her churches with putting together a plan of opening that is grounded in good theology, good science, and the work of the people. On the next page you will find The Phases of Safe Reopening and the requisite plans needed to move to the next phase. Currently our church is still in Phase 1. We are working on a plan to send to our District Superintendent in order to move to Phase 2, but you will notice that not much changes in these early phases. What I need from you is a group of members who are willing to do the hard work of putting together the plans that will move us to Phases 3 and eventually 4. In Phase 3 we can open the building to our 12 Step Groups, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Jazzersize and all of the other non-essential assemblies that use our building. We need to think long and hard about our core values, and how they align with the use of our building. What, if anything, will change if we align our values with our behaviors? This time of physical separation allows us the space to discern where our priorities as a church will lead us. This is hard work. This is a challenging time, but I know we are up to the task. If you are willing to serve on this important committee please email me at [email protected].
You continue to be in my daily prayers Bend Church. You inspire and uplift so many in this community. Never forget that.
If you would like the password so you can access the lessons with your grandkids (or if you are young at heart and like cartoons with your Bible lessons!) please email me. :-)
Natural Popsicle Ideas:
1. Frozen banana on a stick (tastes better than you’d think!)
2. Peach Yogurt + Fresh Strawberries (blend, then freeze)
3. Mango + Coconut Milk (blend, add honey if needed, then freeze)
5. Mad Scientist Fruit Party (put every kind of fruit you have in the blender,
freeze, taste and enjoy!)
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News from the United Methodist Women The UMW Bazaar is on!
The UMW Executive Board just met (online) to discuss the possibility of
a limited, online, Holiday Bazaar. We plan to sell some crafts online, possibly host an online silent auction, and sell high quality second hand
items in Grandma’s Parlor. A new feature will allow you to donate directly for specific needs of local non-profits (for those of you who don’t
want to buy “stuff”). More information to follow as this is a work in progress!
Anna, Jeff and I want to thank everyone who has sent a card, delivered flowers, messaged or prayed for us. We thank you all so much!
Anna is doing well at the St Charles in Madras. She would rather be home, of course, but we're praying that will happen in a few weeks.
Pastor Dave will lead the 50/50 study with Zoom discussion on Thursday, July 2 from 7-8. The
scripture will be Luke 5:1-11 when Jesus went fishing with his
friends. A short video will be available by the Monday before.
All are welcome.
SMALL GROUPS FORMING Small online/phone Covenant groups are forming. If you seek
connection with other church members, and are willing to commit one hour of your week to meeting online, please send an email to
Pastor Jen ([email protected]) so she can assign you to an appropriate group.
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I looked back at last year’s July Chimes as I began to think about what I wanted to write this time around. It was a simple column about our excitement around Vacation Bible School, Summer Travel plans and an invitation to join us in worship “when you are in town.” I guess I would describe last summer as a “normal summer.” To the extent that we could be, as a community, we were in control of our day to day lives and we were comfortable.
I have preached at different times about how looking back can be constructive, tradition can be helpful to us, history insightful, but that lingering in nostalgia can be paralyzing and at times inaccurate. Looking back and yearning for the past can be a poor coping mechanism for what is happening right in front of us. We often remember fondly times when we had the most control with the least effort and we are drawn to yearn for them. The reality of racism leading to injustice, pain and death made plain to us through video footage and in the cries of protestors, activists, preachers and writers, inciting a long overdue awareness in this country, and the expectations of altruistic behavior in response this real world-wide pandemic causing physical, emotional and economic suffering for individuals and communities have snapped us to a place of reality. If we choose to look, we are continually struck with information that confronts us about our own failings, our lack of control, and our vulnerability. Surely we are tempted, as we most often are, to be lulled back into finding our new “normal” where everything is “stable” and palatable again where the exhausting effort of change will be relaxed. In fact, I have heard those terms very often in the longings of folks I speak with. But as people following the way of Jesus I am hopeful that we draw from the wells that
we have been filling all along together. That we declare change. Work for change.
Embody the change. When I look back next year at my July Chimes article from 2020 I
hope I am able to say again, wow things are completely different, not back to the
comfort of the “good old days,” but toward a better world. That we as individuals and
as a church have been transformed, our hearts being even more like the heart of God.
Because what we are being called to is not the “good old days” but a new way. That’s
always been the call, and some moments in our lives we catch a glimpse of what the
work of that really means.
Nicole
Care & Discipleship Ministry
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Financial Corner
From your bookkeeper & contribution's clerk:
Now that we're doing social distancing, we wanted to tell you
that there are 3 ways you can still give.
These are the easiest & cleanest ways to make sure your giving can still happen.
Our hope is that with money coming into the budget, we can still continue to pay
our church staff. We pray that you will continue to give as you are able.
1. Simply go to our website www.bendumc.org and click on GIVING. Then click
DONATE NOW. It will take you to our secure online giving site: myEoffering.
Click REGISTER. It will ask you for an email and password then send you an
email with the instructions. Set up your giving to the budget or other fund
and make it continuous (monthly is preferred) and you're done! I don't have
to touch dirty money and you are set!!
2. You can always mail in your check to the church.
3. Contact your bank or credit union and ask if they can mail the check directly
from your account to the church monthly (bill pay).
greeting us during the Passing of the Peace. Record yourself saying those statements and send the recordings to [email protected].
(Horizontal recordings are always best) Thank you!!
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The Chimes is a monthly newsletter published for the members and friends of Bend Church. Send correspondence and address changes to 680 NW Bond St., Bend, Oregon 97703; or email to [email protected] (Attention: Erin)
