FEBRUARY Chimes 2021 THE CHIMES Volume 2021 - Issue 146 Lent 2021 - sacrifice noun: the act of giving up something that you want to keep especially in or- der to get or do something else or to help someone verb: to give up (something that you want to keep) especially in order to get or do something else or to help someone In the last year we have learned what it means to sacrifice for the common good. It has been a painful and powerful lesson. We will never take the gift of community for granted again, but if we are honest, we remain vexed by all of the sacrifices we have had to make in order to protect one another from this deadly virus. We remember what our ancestors sacrificed during WWII, but we’ve forgotten the rhythms of living in a time where we could not have all that we want. What if, like our biblical forebears, we chose to look at our sacrifices in a more cohesive and positive light? To be willing to sacrifice for the common good is a core Christian value. During the 2021 season of Lent we will be exploring the part that sacrifice has in our Gospel stories and throughout the span of biblical history. May we remember and live into the words found near the end of The Great Thanksgiving: ...And so, In remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, We offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice, In union with Christ’s offering for us, As we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Erin And the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his Letter from a BirminghamKyle Jail: But the judgement of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificialTina spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Blessings, Pastor Jen Stuart Pastor Jen Message from Pastor Jen & Preaching Schedule. Page 2 Children & Family Ministry, Bend Church Podcast & “Unlearning”. Page 3 Open Door Café Update, Welcome Micheal Harris & UMW 2021 Update. Page 4-5 Invitation to the Observance of Lenten Discipline . Page 6 Lent Walking Cards . Page 7-10 Lent 2021 . .. Page 11 A Message from Pastor Jen My Grandma Pike had half a lung removed in the 1980’s due to lung cancer. She never smoked. In 1992, while Derek and I were still in college, his father died from pancreatic cancer one week after he was diagnosed. In 1994 Derek’s mother died after a 10-year fight against breast cancer. In the mid 1990’s my maternal aunt was treated for breast cancer. In 2004 Derek’s sister died from breast cancer. In 2005 my mother was treated for thyroid cancer. In 2019 my sister had a double mastectomy with reconstruction because of breast cancer. We also found out that both of us were positive for the Chek-2 gene mutation. In 2020 my father died from esophageal cancer. In between these dates, I’ve stood with countless friends and church members as they faced their own cancer diagnosis and sometimes death. I don’t note these things so that you will feel sorry for me. You’d be hard pressed to find a family that hasn’t dealt with a cancer diagnosis. I note them so that you have some understanding of how seriously I take the thought of cancer in my own body. Currently, the protocol for someone of my genetic disposition and family history is to have a mammogram every year followed six months later by a breast MRI, for the rest of my life. This is an expensive and anxiety ridden process. Every time they see something a little unusual I go in for a biopsy and hope that it is not cancer. Thus, after much prayer, and speaking with my genetic counselors, my husband, doctors and surgeon, I will be having a prophylactic bi-lateral mastectomy (PBM) with reconstruction in the coming months. Scientists are learning more all the time about how our genes affect our ability to combat cancers. The CHEK2 gene is associated with autosomal dominant predisposition to breast, colon, thyroid and prostate cancers. I can watch my diet and live as healthy a life as possible, but removing my breast tissue will bring my now very high possibility of getting breast cancer down to less than 1%. I admit to a little sadness over saying goodbye to beloved body parts, but hey, they’ve done a good job all these years. They fed my children when they were babies, and helped me to love this body that God gave me. We debated whether I should have this surgery during COVID, but the truth is that I want to be healed and ready to be back at work by the time, God willing, our buildings open back up later this year. I am fine. I have insurance that will cover most of the bills. I have family and friends that will be here supporting and loving me. I have this amazing church family, many of whom have gone through your own cancer troubles. I know that God is right here with me and whatever happens I will be held in love. During my time away this congregation will be led by our gifted Associate Pastor Nicole Berry. You will also get to hear some great homileticians; Dave Beckett, Thom Larson, Debbie Pitney and John Pitney have all agreed to preach while I am away! I know that you will appreciate all they have to offer as I take time away to heal. Pastor Jen will be out for most of Lent recovering from surgery, but she leaves us in the capable hands of Reverend Nicole Berry, along with many of our generous retired clergy. Preaching Schedule: Transfiguration 2/14: Rev. Dave Beckett Mark 9:2-9 Ash Wed 2/17 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Lent 1 - 2/21: Rev. Thom Larsen Mark 1:9-15 Lent 2 - 2/28: Rev. Nicole Berry Mark 8:31-38 Lent 3 - 3/7: Rev. John Pitney John 2:13-22 Lent 4- 3/14: Rev. Debbie Pitney John 3:14-21 Lent 5- 3/21: Rev. Nicole Berry John 12:20-33 Palm/Passion 3/28: Scripture and Music Mark 14: 1-15:47, or Mark 15:1-39 Easter 4/4/21: Rev. Jen Stuart John 20:1-18 2 Children and Family Ministries Heart to Heart Reveal Party! Sunday Feb. 14th! Our Heart to Heart Secret Pal Reveal Party will be on Zoom this year on Sunday, February 14th at noon. Julie will send out the Zoom link to all the participants! Bible Blast! We are doing BIBLE BLAST Sunday School now! Each Sunday the kids will be getting the Bible verses to blast off the page and into their lives with art, games, skits and service opportunities! Julie Hanney will introduce the verses and blasting opportunities via email. Make sure to join us weekly at 8:45am on Sundays for the Sunday School Zoom Hangout. Please call Julie if you are interested in receiving Family News emails. 541-382-1672 Ext 6 In the last year we have discovered that there are “facts” that are not factual. We have held beliefs based on aphorisms and not shared experiences or expert knowledge. Based on the goals set by your Church Council we are taking time this year to deepen our understanding of issues facing our community. Join us for conversations around mental illness, homelessness and racism as we seek to “unlearn” harmful perceptions, challenge our assumptions, and listen well. Together with open hearts and open minds we can work as a community to make positive changes in Central Oregon. February 20th - Dr. Wil Berry 2pm webinar "Persons with Serious Mental Illness in Oregon's Past and Present" A historical perspective on Oregon and America's treatment of persons with serious mental illness with a goal of understanding how we have arrived at our current moment. March 21st - Chuck Hemingway 2pm webinar “Homelessness in Bend” Learn about the ways that this church is partnering with other community organizations to combat homelessness. April 7th - 28th (Wednesdays) Book study of “Caste: The Origins of our Discontent” by Isabel Wilkerson Join Pastor Jen and New Member and retired Teacher Jeanine Black for a 4 week study of this Pulitzer Prize winning book. Wednesdays April 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th at 7pm via Zoom "Commune: A Generous Conversation" podcast coming soon: What if, instead of leaving the worship space after communion, we all stayed around the table for conversation? All are invited to pull up a chair, share in sacrament, listen and engage with generous dialogue around topics such as, faith, grace, grief, and justice. Watch for ways to listen. 3 Open Door Café/Day Center As it settles in emotionally and mentally that we have 2020 behind us and the whole of 2021 lies ahead, we are excited about what the year may hold for our Bend Church Open Door Café/Day Center ministry and for the outreach ministry of Bend Church as a faith community. Last year at this time, pre-COVID, we were hosting upwards of 150 guests each week in the Fellowship Hall for breakfast, showers, haircuts, mail, clothing and other needs. When 2021 comes to an end will we back once more to hosting guests inside? Having our building reopened once more and providing a space where our guests can decompress from the worries of the outside world, even if just for a few hours, is what we hope for.