Happenings around Parkrose United Methodist Church
September 2009, Volume 2, Issue 9
http://www.parkroseumc.org/ welcome@parkroseumc.org.

What’s Cooking at PUMC? Here’s the short story:

Harvest Festival- Friday, October 2nd. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Parkrose Heights Community Garden 111th & Knott St.- Katrina Kellmer, garden coordinator invites you to a celebration for the first season of our neighborhood garden. It’s a potluck, so bring a dish to share. Come join with your neighbors and garden participants; including Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors, Oromo Church, Iglesia Del Jesucristo Vida Abundante, David’s Harp, PUMC and others. A special garden blessing and music will be provided by Katrina’s brother, Buckley McWilliams, a Native American Shaman. Congratulations to Katrina for the great article in September Mid County Memo about the garden. Read the article in Mid County Memo click on Urban Farmer in the list on the bottom of the left side of the home page.

“Lion in the Park” Monday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m. You are encouraged to attend a Town Hall meeting where we will be acting on the recommendations of the Administrative team that were laid out in the “Lion in the Park” flyer. For those of you who did not receive a copy of this flyer in worship you may click on this link Lion in the Park. Those who receive this newsletter by mail will find the flyer enclosed.

Pounding in the Sanctuary-Tom Bossert and Brett Leines are busy constructing a lift for the bell choir tables. A generous donation was given to complete this project which will elevate the back row of “ringers” so you may see all of our “Bells of Praise” group when they resume on Sunday, September 20th.

Summer Reading Program-Betty Keast and her team of volunteers just completed the final week of this program that helps young readers maintain and improve their reading skills during the summer school break. The readers met for two weeks after school ended in June and again before school started in September. This is a cooperative ministry with Sacramento Elementary School.

Parking Lot Sale deemed ”A Success!” Linda Allen sends a big THANK YOU to all who helped by donating, “manning” the BBQ, and those that spent hours receiving, sorting and pricing. The sale was a BIG success because of the great group of volunteers who worked to make this happen. Over $1,800.00 was earned to help support our mission and ministry here in the community and the world.
Powerhouse-During worship on August 30, Linda James shared with the congregation a newsletter article from Powerhouse, an agency working to “empower young adults as they transition from foster care.” This article was specifically about the need for more men to come forward as mentors to boys. There are, of course, many other needs at an agency like this. If you take a minute and visit their web site, powerhouse you will see what a valuable service they are providing to young men and women who are trying to find their place in the community. Linda is convinced that awareness of what our children face will be a blessing to them as it moves us to prayer and action.

Administrative Teams at Work:

Trustees: Have been busy preparing a playground for the Lily Field Montessori Community (School) that began meeting in rooms 5-6 in the McKinnon Education Wing September 8th. Students will be in the building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and will follow the Parkrose Public Schools calendar. Shirley Peterson, director, is looking forward to this partnership with PUMC. She just has four young students at present, but hopes to increase the class size. (the playground will be open to all groups that meet at PUMC as soon as Lily Field completes a fundraiser to provide bark dust for the play structures)

We’ve Lost a Friend: Russ Lahn, passed away early Thursday morning, September 3, 2009. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 13, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at PUMC with a reception to follow in the McKinnon Education Wing.

In Our Prayers: Russ Lahn’s family, Marian Bowman and family, Bev and Julian (Scotty) Scott
Marian Bowman: Pastor Bill visited Marian on Tuesday, Sept. 8th and shares this update: She has been moved from cardiac care to her own patient room at St. Vincent’s. Doctors are working on balancing medications, etc. and will send her home when they think she’s ready to go home. She continues to be the courageous, focused, retired-nurse-that-knows-more-than-probably-is-healthy, faithful person that has been at death’s threshold before. This time it’s a little different. Marian has bounced back many times before – she warns us (with doctors’ affirmation) that this time she probably will not. She asks for your understanding and your prayers. With limited energy she would like no phone calls, and very limited visitation. Please feel free to send cards: 11802 NE Knott St. 97220

Welcome Home! Bonnie Ives is now at home recuperating from a recent critical illness; we give thanks for her recovery.