St Mark
Presbyterian
Church
Good News
October 2008
This month in the Good News…
World Communion Sunday
Fasting for Discernment
Emergency Preparedness
Songs of Faith & Freedom II
Operation Nightwatch
Church Eco-Party
Edible Garden Tending
Donation of Thread
Habitat Team
For more information…
The following links provide more
information about items in this
month’s Good News.
Peacemaking Offering
St Mark Calendar
Fasting for Discernment
Contact Us
http://www.stmarkpres.org.com
Pastor Barbara Campbell
bjcam33@comcast.net
World Communion Sunday October 7 2008.
As we celebrate World Communion Sunday on October 5th w
this opportunities:
1)
Sign up to bring ethnic bread (let Pastor Barbara know)
2)
Wear ethnic clothing
3)
Bring food for Food Box
4)
Bring contributions to PCUSA Peacemaking Offering.
(http://www.pcusa.org/peacemakingoffering/)
From the Pastor
Faithful St Markers,
Can it really be October already? It must be that our hearts a
other thoughts, for the season of summer to have passed so q
much to reflect upon as people of faith; the election, the econ
planet, the concern over ethnic profiling, to name just a few. A
with these issues, St Mark elders must once again consider th
this faith community and faithfully create a responsible budge
for this faith community to raise a faithful voice concerning the
communities and world, we must continue to provide for an in
community together.
In order to prepare for their work, the session of St Mark asks
pledge to the church how much they can contribute in the com
are difficult to make and require serious consideration and pra
coming year will bring? How much of each individual’s incom
We operate under a system of pledging, though, because we
we can reasonably expect to receive. The amount we receive
Sunday can only be estimated and can depend on such indet
weather. This year, we will be kicking off our stewardship sea
potluck dinners in homes of members. As in the past, these d
opportunities for fun and fellowship and for getting better acqu
This year an elder will be present at each dinner to talk about
budget for 2008 and answer any questions you may have abo
Worship Schedule
October 7
(Communion Sunday)
resources. Please sign up following worship in the next few w
that works for you. I look forward to sharing these meals with
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Barbara
PCUSA Fasting for Discernment
October 17
The Presbyterian Church USA is inviting all congregations to
month for a year as we seek to discern faithful responses to th
Those who choose may modify this fast by eating lighter mea
vegetarian meals. The fasts will end with Communion on Sun
would be fasting on the Saturday proceeding the first Sunday
Information on this fast is available at www.pcusa.org/foodcris
October 24
October 31
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.
Emergency Preparedness for St Mark Community
We are looked for someone to attend two evenings of training
preparing congregations to meet the needs of our communitie
emergency or disaster. The trainings are Monday and Tuesda
7th, from 6-9 pm at the University of Portland, Buckley Center
cost, Registration deadline is Monday, Sept 29. If you are inte
bringing back the information to present to session, please let
possible.
A Festival of Faith
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Capi Reed
Mary Van Horton
Kathryn Stewart-Smith
Amelia Holcombe
Mart Stewart-Smith
Bob Voll
Vickie Curtiss
Sophie Abbassian
5-Oct
11-Oct
15-Oct
18-Oct
18-Oct
22-Oct
25-Oct
27-Oct
sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland on Oc
to 5:00 p.m.. at Portland State University, Smith Memorial Stu
Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, This annual con
alliances, will serve to counterbalance the effects of the radica
Along with workshops on many faiths, there will be three pres
during that day. The presenters this year will include Dr. Kha
Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Portlan
Executive Director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Check
http://www.ifcgp.org/ for more information on workshops to be
Church Eco-Party, Sunday, October 12, 11:30 am
A trained volunteer from the Northwest Earth Institute will join
make our homes and our church more earth friendly. Some o
covered include:
Waste Reduction- Effective composting, making an efficient re
packaging and junk mail Taking out Toxics- Identifying toxic p
effective alternatives Energy Savings- Weatherization audits,
and new technologies Water Conservation- Savings through m
use and yard irrigation
Edible Garden Tending, Oct 19th
P’nai Or and St Mark is joining at 11:30 on Sunday, Oct 19th
in recognition of World Food Day, Oct 16th. Bring gloves, whe
berries, etc.
Come and Join the Singing!
The choir practices every Wednesday evening from 7:30-9:00
to sing is welcome to come join the fun!
Songs of Faith & Freedom II
October 18, 7:00 pm Congregation Neveh Shalom, 2900 Pea
More than 200 singers will bring us together for an evening of
local choirs gather for Songs of Faith & Freedom II. Under the
David York, the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Ainsworth United
Metropolitan Community Church, First Unitarian Church, three
Spiritual Living, and others will share their talents in celebratio
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Each choi
and join for a mass choir grand finale. Music is the universal l
for this hope filled event benefiting the Community of Welcom
your friends. All are welcome. This year, this will be the only r
Operation Nightwatch Shoe Collection Month
October is the month that Operation Nightwatch, a downtown
homeless operated by First Presbyterian Church, collects sho
They prefer athletic shoes is good condition. Please bring any
Mark and we will see that they get downtown.
Donation of Thread for India.
On October 8th, a group of eight women is headed to Hope C
the center which Pastor Barbara visited with Riverdale Studen
like to take donations of sewing machine thread and embroide
Vocational Training Center which teaches local women to sew
Donations can be left in basket in church foyer.
Presbyterian Habitat Team
Presbyterians in Portland are joining together to build a “Pres
the area. Churches can work with their own team of 10 or join
other churches to form a team. St Mark will be working on de
Saturday, December 6th. Save the Date! If you are interested
Men and women welcome. No experience necessary.
St Mark Thank you’s !
 To the crew who worked cleaning up the St Mark grounds
Thane Norton, Eric and Sue Graf, Susie Petterson, Carrie
John Salmon, Capi Reed, Barbara Campbell, Peg Anders
Chase who made us a great, hot lunch!!
 To Leas Averill for all his work throughout the Spring and
mural installation, siding project, and capital campaign.
 To Molly Dusenbury for a short term loan to St Mark for th
 To Eric Graf and Thane Norton for work on new website fo
 To Bill Coddington and Eric Graf for work on designing an
postcards and to Bill for installing a plastic flyer holder bel
on the mural for passers-by.
 To Cherie Kennedy for preparing our fall curriculum for Ea
Run.
 And to all you other folks who help out in many ways, all t
 Special Thanks to Exteriors, Inc. Siding Company. We ar
work done by our siding company. Jeff Elliot, owner, is al
Mark members and friends. See Pastor for details.