Introducing EarthBeat's 'Lens on Creation'
series for the Season of Creation 2020

Today begins the Season of Creation. What is the Season of Creation? Click Here

Lens on Creation "There is no way to separate caring for the planet from caring for the health and dignity of individual persons and families," photographer and journalist Paul Jeffrey writes in today's opening reflection.

For the full series click HERE.

In his 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," Pope Francis said that "contemplation of creation allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us." He went on to say, "An integral ecology includes taking time to recover a serene harmony with creation, reflecting on our lifestyle and our ideals."

"If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs," Francis wrote.

UNITY IN COMMUNITY
47th Annual Neil Kelly Memorial Virtual Auction
Benefitting the St Andrew Community Center

Main Event: Oct 24th 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRAMS

Food Programs – 350 families per month. Helping to stretch budgets and keep families healthy.
Walnut Park Emergency Shelter – Cook 3 meals each week for the 40 shelter residents.
Utilities & Rent – 10 to 15 families per month. Keeping families in their homes.
Dental Clinic – For people without insurance - some have never been to a dentist before!

SERVICES PROVIDED WITH OUR PARTNERS

Health Services

Pacific University’s School of Dental Hygiene and Optometry
Providence Health & Services - Promotorés de Salud (Health Promoters)
Telehealth Clinics

Community Services

St Vincent de Paul – serving those living on the margins
Oregon Food Bank – weekly food pantry and monthly fresh free produce market
People’s Institute Northwest – educating and training individuals to undo institutional racism
Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good – making the Metro Area a better place to live and thrive
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty – working together to alleviate poverty

Education

St. Andrew Nativity School – Tuition free Jesuit middle school for low income and underserved youth
Self-Enhancement Inc. – Individual and family support services
Minds Matter – Mentoring high performing underserved high school youth

St Andrew parishioners take church outside! Join us in solidarity with our black and brown neighbors. Their smiles will make your day.

Guest speaker will be Cole Merkel, “Here Together”, Outreach and Community Engagement Deputy Director.

He will be speaking about Metro Tax Measure 26-210, which was passed in May and will be providing millions of dollars for "services" related to homelessness. He will be updating us on "what happens next" and how the Alliance can help influence how the money is spent. The Alliance was an official (Voter's Pamphlet) sponsor of the measure. Prior to his role with Here Together, he served for over 7 years as director of the street vendor program for Street Roots.

St Andrew is a member of the Interfaith Alliance. All are welcome to the meetings. They're engaging and informative. Remember to copy and paste the Zoom link to your calendar!

Join Zoom Meeting: SEPTEMBER 3, 12:00 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83716642091?pwd=cGVQMTlXNC9rUTZKMCtMU3RSaUU4UT09

CREATION JUSTICE

Care for creation intersects with racial justice and the health of the soil, water and air. This work looks unique in different parts of the state based on the people who live there, ways the land has been used, and species and landscape elements present in each region. We will learn about some of Oregon's environmental justice concerns and the organizations working on them through a series of six webinars this summer. Mark your calendars for the following events:
Sept. 2, 7-8:30 p.m.: Eloheh Center for Earth Justice's Randy Woodley (learn more | register)
Sept. 16, 7-8:30 p.m.: to be announced (register)
Sept. 30, 7-8:30 p.m.: EcoFaith Recovery: Just Vote, Personal Stories for Community Action (register)

Watch previous webinars:
July 23, Webinar 1: Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Aug. 17, Webinar 2: Verde
Aug. 19: Webinar 3: Rogue Climate

Do you know someone who is thinking about becoming a catholic?

The RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process for welcoming adult newcomers into the Catholic Church. If you are thinking about becoming Catholic, and have not received one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), then this process is for you.To keep everyone safe during the pandemic, our preparation for the Sacraments will consist of short videos to watch at home, Zoom sessions on Sunday from 11:00-12:30 PM and informal weekly check-ins on Wednesdays evenings.. We will formally begin our sessions on Sunday September 13, 2020. For more information contact Michael Prendergast mprendergast@archdpdx.org

FRESH FLOWERS FOR MASS

Thanks to Marilyn Anderson, Trish Bradley and Michael Prendergast who have been providing fresh flowers each week for our live stream Mass. Anyone who would like to bring flowers for Sunday place them on the picnic table on the deck between the church and the community center by 8:30 Am on Sunday mornings. We try to have 3 .vases of flowers each week, at the ambo, at the black lives matter shrine and under the crucifix.

To see previous Newsletters click HERE.

Alpenglow over Bubbs Creek - photo by Ian Vorster

Introducing EarthBeat's 'Lens on Creation' series for the Season of Creation 2020

Guest speaker will be Cole Merkel, “Here Together”, Outreach and Community Engagement Deputy Director.

Introducing EarthBeat's 'Lens on Creation'
series for the Season of Creation 2020