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.

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.

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.

Hundreds of Lao, Hmong and Mien people gathered at the Buddhist temple, Wat Buddhatham-arm on Sandy Boulevard in Sunday for Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh,  one of two festivals held in the Lao calendar year that honors deceased loved ones and ancestors in solemn ceremonies, similar to Western Christianity’s All Souls Day. Like All Souls Day, on Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh, the living pay homage and respect to the deceased.

Hundreds of Lao, Hmong and Mien people gathered at the Wat Buddhatham-arm buddhist temple for Boun Haw Khao Padap dinh, a festival honoring departed loved ones and ancestors.

Your April issue of the Mid-county Memo is posted online. The re-cap of its online content follows …

This month’s edition has stories about: the Senior Prom held at Care Center East; the Parkrose High School bond vote in May; a round up of east Portland high school winter activities; Bradford’s Sports Lounge — formerly the Candy Store; the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission meeting where activists demanded action on the many plans to make life better in east Portland; the Portland Plan Fair held last month at Mid-county’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization and the Portland Airport Master Plan’s final approval from the city .

March 2011 Mid-county Memo online edition re-cap

The March issue of the Mid-county Memo was posted online last week. This month’s issue has stories about Portland City Council’s Citywide Tree Project hearing; an interview with Don Grotting, new David Douglas School District Superintendent; Fir Ridge Campus’ African American Family Night; CherryWood Village’s ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Oregon’s largest senior retirement community solar array; Mid-county Memo founder Tom Pry’s obituary and photos of last month’s one-day snow event Thursday, Feb. 24.

And, as always, the informative departments: Memo Calendar, Memo Pad, Business Memos, Memorable Menus, Letters to the Editor and Loaves & Fishes’ monthly menu.