St Mark Presbyterian Church

St Mark Presbyterian Church

Good News

February 2009

Volume 2, Number 2

For more information…

The following links provide more information about items in this month’s Good News.

St Mark Calendar

http://www.stmarkpres.org.com

Pastor Barbara Campbell

bjcam33@comcast.net

Are you Signed Up?

If you would like to help prepare for worship by reading, lighting candles, greeting, making coffee or bringing flowers or treats, please sign up on the clip board in the Jarrett Wing during fellowship following worship or contact Pastor Campbell at bjcam33@comcast.net or at the office phone 503-244-8177.

Birthdays

Kris Voss-Rothmeier	2-Feb
Leas Averill	6-Feb
Anna Hansen	6-Feb
Ruth Oliver	17-Feb
George Watson	17-Feb
Gretchen Doering	25-Feb
Brian Averill	28-Feb

St Mark Team Travels to India
Another team of visitors will head to central India in May to visit our mission partners at BIRDS. Cost for the trip will be approximately $1,700/person including airfare, room, board, and ground transportation. Projects being planned for this trip include a bio-diesel project, as well as work practicing English with boarding home children, visiting diocese boarding homes to establish future contacts with Presbyterian churches in Oregon, and observing the many integral programs of BIRDS as they seek to improve the lives of the Dalit poor. Exact dates have not been set, but we plan to be away for 2-3 weeks. The team will live on site in modern semi-private rooms with indoor plumbing, lights, and fans. If you would like more information on the trip, or know of someone who might like to join the trip, please contact Barbara Campbell soon at 503-504-3340.

Presbyterian Summer Camps
Whether you are in Preschool or a Senior in high school, a family with young children, or retirees, the Presbytery of the Cascades Summer Camp program has something for you. This summer they are offering 14 different sessions including a day camp at Menucha, Youth camps at both Magruder on the Coast and Suttle Lake in the Cascades, and a Family camp at Honeyman State Park. Open enrollment has begun and camp brochures and registration information is available in the church office.
This year, Pastor Campbell will be Deaning the Mom and Me Camp for K-2nd graders and their Moms or Grandmoms, at Camp Magruder near Rockaway, OR over the weekend of July 17-19. The cost for Mom and Me Camp is $205 if registered before May 5 for one child and one adult.
St. Mark has a designated fund for camp scholarships for children, so please let us know if you would like some financial assistance.

Adult Education Class
“Anatomy of Scripture” with John Salmon today. Like the human body, scripture is made up of a variety of parts (within the books of the Bible) — its “bones”, “flesh”, and “vital organs”, so to speak. John Salmon helps us explore some of those parts, and how they come together to form the body of scripture following morning worship today and through to Sunday, February 15.

Tu B’Shevat

Members of St. Mark are invited to join P’nai Or as it celebrates the holiday of Tu B’Shevat at 7 pm on Sunday, Feb 8th, at St. Mark. Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of a "New Year for Trees." This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. Jewish congregations mark the day of Tu B'Shevat with a Seder meal of grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

Women’s Gathering

All women are invited to the home of Ginger Edwards and Bob Meehan, 6730 N. Wilbur Ave, 97217 on Thursday, February 10 at 7pm. Come and celebrate Valentine’s Day by reflecting on giving and receiving support to/from each other. You are welcome to bring a snack, a project you are working on to show us your interests, or just come and sit, eat, talk, and listen. For more information call (503) 286-4903.

Supper and Game Night

A Supper and Game Night will be held on Sunday, Feb 15. Please join us from 4:30-6:30 pm at St. Mark, to enjoy a light supper and play board and card games. Many tables of games are set up with room for everyone and lots of choices. If you get the urge, you may bring munchies or a salad or bread to add to our soup supper, but nothing is required. Game Night has been a hit with our student friends from Lewis and Clark College. Come and make some new friends.

Cascades Leadership Fair

Whether you are a church officer, a staff person or a member interested in growing your faith, there is something for you at the Cascades Leadership Fair to be held Saturday, February 28, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian, Portland. Hear nationally known speakers and attend two of many appealing workshops. Pick up a brochure in the office or visit the website, www.cascadespresbytery.org

The Community of Welcoming Congregations Celebration Dinner & Silent Auction will be February 28 at Central Lutheran Church, Portland, at 6:00pm! Dr. Bernie Schlager, interim deputy director & program director for the Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies in Religion & Ministry will speak on "Building a Legacy of Social Justice: CWC and the Welcoming Church Movement.” The Portland Lesbian Choir will also perform. Silent Auction Items are still needed. Tickets are $40.

SW Hope Food Drive
The annual food drive to support the food box program at Neighborhood House in SW Portland will begin February 22nd and run through April 5th. The need for food to stock their shelves is greater than ever this year as so many families are out of work and in need of assistance. A large plastic barrel will be placed in the church foyer on the 22nd for collecting on non-perishable food items. Lorena Galindo-Spires is coordinating our efforts this year and the congregation of P'nai Or will be joining us in our efforts to fill the barrel again and again with food.

Lenten Wednesday Night Soup Suppers
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 25th, we will gather for a simple soup supper at 6:30 at the church. On the 25th our supper will be followed with worship and the imposition of ashes. On following Wednesday nights we will share a brief Lenten Bible study and meditation from 7-7:30 pm. If you are interested in providing soup for one of our suppers please let pastor Campbell know.

Volunteers Needed to Help Clean St Mark

In an effort to reduce our expenses in this present economy, we have cancelled our twice monthly cleaning service and are looking for volunteers that would be willing to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon cleaning toilets and sinks in our two bathrooms, mopping the bathroom floor, wiping off sink area and cupboards in Jarrett Wing and vacuuming carpets and wiping off tables in classrooms and nursery. We only envision needing to do this twice a month and with enough volunteers, you may only need to serve once or twice a year. We'd like to have at least teams of two people signed up for each cleaning to make the work more "enjoyable." Please contact Pastor Barbara to sign up and we will assign you to a Saturday team. All cleaning supplies and equipment will be provided along with clear directions on what cleaning is needed and where to find supplies. P'nai Or and our AA rental groups do a good job vacuuming the sanctuary, foyer, and Jarrett Wing each week, so we will not have to vacuum very often.

St Mark Leadership Teams Looking for More Members

If you are interested in working with one of the St Mark Leadership Teams that help coordinate Worship, Administration, Building Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, Education and Fellowship, or Mission, please contact Pastor Barbara. There is lots to do at St Mark and many leaders are needed to help coordinate the many ministries that we are involved in.

Rummage Sale Update

As Spring cleaning begins, remember that St. Mark is already receiving boxed rummage for our 2009 August Rummage Sale. All rummage needs to be boxed, if at all possible so that we can store the quantity we receive in the storage room in the basement. With Preschool in session weekday mornings, rummage should only be delivered to church after 2 pm weekdays or on the weekends.
Our annual rummage sale usually brings in close to $2,500 for our operating budget and we appreciate all donations, except computers, exercise equipment, and worn clothing. Large pieces of furniture may have to be stored elsewhere until August but are a great fund raiser.