Since we’re so close to Gresham, and so many east Portland  Churches are near, or on the border with Gresham, we thought we’d pass along this e-mail missive from the Gresham Police Department. If you have any information, please call Sergeant LeDuc — the Gresham police officer handling the case — at 503-301-5182.

“The Gresham Police Department is issuing this advisory to inform the public of a thief who targets special events at local churches.

“In the last 35 days, thefts have occurred at the following Gresham Churches: Sanctuary Church on Southeast Orient Drive, Mountain View Church on Northeast Cleveland Ave, Powell Valley Covenant Church on Southeast 282nd Ave and the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Southeast Cleveland Ave.

We received a note from Rev. Chuck Currie of the Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, 4715 N.E. 106th Avenue in Parkrose.  Currie is on the cutting edge where it comes to recognizing injustice, and man’s inhumanity to man. The subject of this Sunday’s sermon is about the gun-totin’ Kentucky man of the cloth, and, apparently, the bullet. Rev. Currie’s press release follows:

“Recently, a pastor in Kentucky had his parishioners bring their guns to church for a special celebration of guns and God.  “I don’t see any contradiction in this,” the Rev. Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church, told The New York Times.

We received a note from über Parkrose schools volunteer Allison Newman Woods. It follows. It seems Allison, along with Superintendent Dr. Karen Fischer Gray are the progenitors behind the formation of a new group of Parkrose Patrons focused on enhancing the music experience at Parkrose Schools.

“Hello, as many of you know, Dr. Gray and I have been spreading the word about an exciting new program designed to raise funds and offer volunteer support for the Parkrose Scool District’s music programs throughout the District. We settled on a date for our kick off meeting, Tuesday, July 7 at 4 p.m. at the District Office., 10636 N.E. Prescott St.

A summary of feature stories from the May 2009 edition of the Mid-county Memo:

The Gateway Green Project gets going with a grant for planning and an anonymous donation.

To meet Mayor Sam Adams’ first round of budget cuts, Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer  cuts the number of police precincts from five to three.  The Northeast Precinct will now stretch from Linnton to Gresham.

Western States Chiropractic College, the 105-year-old institution in Mid-county seeks to become a university.

Up next, Perlman’s Potpourri: news items from across the Gateway and Parkrose neighborhoods of mid-Multnomah County from veteran Beat Reporter Lee Perlman.

A couple of weeks ago, at the east end of the off-leash area in Argay Park, three new light poleswere installed. Not knowing the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau had scheduled this upgrade, we put a called them, only to discover the money for this improvement came from Mayor Tom Potter’s Interbureau Task Force.

Mark Warrington, public safety manager for Portland Parks & Recreation said the impetus for the additional lighting came from the IBTF.

The task force is comprised of representatives from each City Council office, a representatives from the Portland Police and Development Services Bureau code inspections division. The IBTF’s objective is to address livability, crime and fear of crime in neighborhood areas with long-term and complex public safety issues.

The Rev. Chuck Currie of Parkrose Community United Church of Christ in east Portland and Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross of First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Portland will exchange pulpits for an Earth Day celebration Sunday, April 20th.

Both will be preaching on the state of the environment and God’s call that everyone be righteous stewards of creation.

Ministers in the United Church of Christ have been encouraged to set aside a Sunday before Earth Day 2008 on Tuesday, April 22 to expound on environmental stewardship issues.

On Saturday, April 26th from 5 to 8 p.m. Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is holding its annual spaghetti dinner and fundraiser.

The church invites the community to dine on pasta, enjoy entertainment, experience ambiance and help with its fundraising efforts.

For an all-you-can eat dinner, the prices are reasonable; adults $10, Children 12 and under, $5, ages two and under dine free.

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ is located at 4715 N.E. Wygant St., one block South of Sandy Blvd. in east Portland, with Handicap Accessibility at the church’s 105th Avenue entrance.

If you’re out and about next weekend, drop by the St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church Rummage Sale. There will be bargains galore as the church has accumulated lots it items for sale.

What do you want or need? You can probably find it, or maybe you’ll find something you didn’t think you need, but now must have it.
 
The sale begins Friday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continues on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
They’ll have Kids clothes, bedding and linens, CDs, DVDs, tapes, books, games, toys, cooking equipment, dishes, mugs, glasses and so much more …

Arleene Freecke from (the new) Faithful Savior Ministries invites the community to a showing of the film “Passion of Christ” at their church on Good Friday, March 21st.

Faithful Savior Ministries is at 11100 N.E. SKidmore St. They offer a complimentary dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. with the movie beginning at 6. A 30 minute intermission halfway thru the movie will include dessert and a question and answer session with Faithful Savior Pastors.

This event is free, although donations will be accepted. Call Arleene at 503-256-3570 today to reserve your dinner.

St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church at 17405 N.E. Glisan St. will host a variety of events open to the public during Lent, which is from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6 through Easter Sunday, March 23. For information on any services, please contact the church at 503-252-6128.

On Ash Wednesday there will be three events: the Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m., followed by a Simple Supper at 6:30 p.m., finishing with a study of St. Francis of Assisi for an hour.