To meet the emergency needs of homeless families in the community this winter, 60 shelter beds were opened for homeless families with children in November by the Family Shelter-to-Housing Partnership, a group of faith-based and non-profit agencies. However, before November was over, the Homeless Family Winter Shelter exceeded its 60-person capacity.

On any night this winter, dozens of homeless families spend the night at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in east Portland. Dozens of kids fill the hallways including, from left, nine-year-old Marley McFallo, five-year-old Daniel, and his seven-year-old brother Elisha Smith, six-year-old Jeremiah Moreno and eight-year-old Dante McFallo. The Human Solutions run shelter needs volunteer overnight hosts. Mid-county Memo photos/Tim Curran

ikoniHuman Solutions’ 10th annual Epiphany Choir Fest will be held Sunday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. at Parkrose United Methodist Church, 11111 N.E. Knott St. in east Portland. The Epiphany Choir Fest is a celebration of the culmination of the holiday season, as well as a fundraising event to benefit Human Solutions’ Daybreak Shelter and other services for homeless families.

Local church choirs plus a bell choir will perform Christmas anthems and carols, and the combined choirs will perform the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” A reception with light refreshments will follow the concert.

Now in its third season, the Parkrose Heights Community Garden, in addition to growing flowers, fruits and vegetables, has seeded the growth of community in its soil. The once empty 5,400 square foot plot houses 22 raised beds farmed by neighbors both within the church’s many faith communities and beyond. Gardeners have grown squash, peppers, spinach, sunflowers, okra, fennel, corn, and an abundance of tomatoes. This year, the garden donated 600 pounds of tomatoes to the SnowCap charities thanks to efforts from tomato-grower extraordinaire Clay Osburn.

It is Bazaar weekend in east Portland with three area churches holding bazaars. Beginning today, tomorrow and Sunday, three local churches are holding holiday bazaars; a rummage sale too.

Crossroads Church
Christmas Bazaar at Crossroads Church, 2505 N.E. 102nd Ave., on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Handmade gifts, decorations, food, rugs, wood products, knitted items, weaving looms, tank chimes, dolls, greeting cards, crafts and more.

Lents-Gilbert Church of God
The bazaar and rummage sale at Lents-Gilbert Church of God, 12230 S.E. Harold St., is Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church Bazaar at Gateway Church
The St. Matthew Anglican Episcopal Church Bazaar has moved to Gateway Church, 13300 N.E. San Rafael St. Shop for holiday décor, gourmet foods, dishtowels, baby gifts, pies and arts and crafts on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Rev. Caroline Litzenberger was recently assigned to serve the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church parish as priest-missioner. A history professor at Portland State University, she will serve at St. Matthew’s on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Litzenberger and Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence extend a personal invitation to those not currently attending a church to worship on Sunday or stop by for a visit during the week to learn more about St. Matthew’s and the Episcopal Church

Rev. Caroline Litzenberger is the new priest-missioner at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parkrose.

Rev. Litzenberger invites neighbors to join the St. Matthew’s community for worship, Sun., Nov. 13 at 9 a.m.

A rummage sale in support of Eastminster Presbyterian Church’s community mission projects is set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Never know what you will find at a rummage sale. Eastminster Presbyterian is holding its annual rummage sale Friday and Saturday.

The deacons’ regular monthly mission includes financial support to a local chaplain, SnowCap Community Charities and the Portland Rescue Mission’s Shepherd’s Door. The church is located at 12505 N.E. Halsey St. in Gateway.

Faithful Savior Ministries, 11100 N.E. Skidmore St., is a host site for “Word among Us”, a cover-to-cover study of the Bible. Beginning with Genesis, participants will journey through the Bible, including the inter-testament books. Classes will look at the Bible in the context of history, archaeology, culture and customs of the people at the time.

Faithful Savior Ministries Lutheran Church, 11100 N.E. Skidmore St.

This study group is non-denominational and open to the community. This is a safe environment to study the Bible, as no church membership solicitation is allowed.

Classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Register now at 503-257-9409 or pr.kurt@fsmpdx.com.

We all have things in our life that we wish we could change — mistakes, broken relationships or bad decisions that we wish we could undo. Something that can help is grace — the opportunity to leave our past behind and start anew. In a special, movie-based series, “The Grace Card,” you will discover how to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by giving and receiving grace.

Woodland Park Church offers this series beginning with a free movie night featuring “The Grace Card” on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m., Refreshments will be served. Free childcare will include a movie just for kids.

Woodland Park Church is located at 11375 N.E. Halsey St. To learn more, contact Pastor Ken Blondeaux at 503-253-1944.

The images and sounds of Sept. 11, 2001 will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of those who witnessed the tragedies of that day.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 N.E. Prescott St., will host an ecumenical service of remembrance and hope on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Other participants include Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, Parkrose United Methodist Church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, and Gresham’s  St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

The service will include hymns, a passage from Holy Scripture, a reflection, a litany of renewal, silence, and will conclude with the lighting of candles and singing “Amazing Grace.” A time of fellowship will follow.

Crossroads Church, 2505 N.E. 102nd Ave., will host a celebration in commemoration of the powerful resolve of the American people to rise from tragedy on Sunday, Sept 11 from noon to 5 p.m.
Visitors to the east Portland church will enjoy live music, arts and crafts, international foods, community information, games for kids and more. This is a free event. The public is invited.