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.

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.

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.

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.

The people of Parkrose Community United Church of Christ will celebrate
the life and ministry of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday,
January 20th during a 10 a.m. worship service.

The service will include readings from Scripture and several of Dr. King’s
sermons and speeches. Congregants will sing Amazing Grace, written by a
former slave trader, and We Shall Overcome, the anthem of the civil rights
movement.