OUR MISSION:

To Seek & Save the Lost

August 23, 2024

A Moment with Pastor David

Good evening, Stone Tower SDA Church,

I hope and pray that you and your family are doing well!

It was a pleasure to spend time with many of you at the Outdoor Sabbath last weekend. (And to be fair, I used more Spanish in the prior 4 days than I had in the last 4 years!)

Last Tuesday, I shared this anecdote (amazing fact :) with our church board.

During a study at Harvard in 1957, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water.  On average they'd give up, sink and drown after 15 minutes.

But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try, how long do you think they lasted?

Remember, they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago...

How long do you think?

- Another 15 minutes?

- 10 minutes?

- 5 minutes?

NO! 60 HOURS!

That's not an error. That's right!

60 HOURS of swimming, which is 2.5 DAYS!

The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible.

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

There is power in hope.

“The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” - I Sam. 17:37a

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— " - II Cor. 4:6-9

What gives you hope, today? :)

By the way, I will be conducting an evangelistic series entitled: "The Creator and the Counterfeit" on Thursday evening, Friday evening and Sabbath mornings, from Oct. 10 to Nov. 2 at the Lents Activity Center. If that's something you'd like to attend and support (and pray for), please stay tuned for further announcements!

I'll be at Lents this Sabbath (and then heading to Canada for a Revival Series, and to visit my parents). I will be back with you all the week of the Outdoor Sabbath at McIver Park.

Let's continue to lift each other (and both Stone Tower and Lents) in prayer!

David Kokiong

Pastor, Stone Tower SDA Church

Email: pastor@stonetowersda.org

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR CHURCH

SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON STUDY

(Click on the picture & choose the lesson for the current week.)

Click the picture above for our 11 AM church service livestream 

Stone Tower Church Announcements & Activities

Sabbath, August 24

11:00 am: Elder Stephen Mundall & the Testimony Team 

12:30 pm: Sabbath Fellowship group 

August 24-25 Men's retreat! Frank Brenckle is hosting a Stone Tower men’s retreat at his property in Lyle, WA. This will be an after-church event with Sabbath evening vespers, overnight stay and a Sunday morning breakfast devotional, along with other activities if desired. The address is 71 Meadows Loop, Lyle, WA 98635

First reading of membership transfers from Stone Tower:   

Daniel Ursu from Stone Tower Church to Kingsport SDA Church (Kingsport, TN)  

Shashu Tesfazion from Stone Tower Church to Sunnyside Adventist Church (Portland, OR) 

First reading of membership transfers to Stone Tower:  

Sue Lee from Desert Cove SDA Church (El Mirage, AZ) to Stone Tower Church 

Tiyamike Chabwera from Kabula Hill SDA Church in Malawi to Stone Tower Church 

SILVER FALLS OUTDOOR CHURCH REPORT

Click the picture below for a 5-1/2-minute slideshow report

of the beautiful Outdoor Church blessings!

August 25th at 2:00 pm: Sacred Music Study Part 2 happens in the Stone Tower fellowship hall. Plan to come and bring a friend to dig deep in God's word as we study the intricate connection between music and worship. See you there!

1-bedroom apartment needed: A young man who will be attending NUNM (National University of Natural Medicine) in Portland is looking for a 1-bedroom apartment to rent. If you know of one, please email the church secretary address at the bottom of the newsletter.

August 28 & September 4, 6:30 pm: Prayer meeting

Sabbath, August 31

11:00 am: Elder Jed Lee Speaking

12:30 pm: Sabbath Fellowship group

September 7: Join us for Outdoor Church at the Cedar Shelter at Milo McIver State Park! The shelter has electricity, water and 10 picnic tables. ADA restrooms are 40 yards away. Pre-paid parking passes will be available at the shelter when you arrive. 

Suggested items to bring:

Fellowship meal dish and serving utensils (plates and eating utensils will be supplied)

Camping chair, lawn blankets

Sunshade or canopy

Water bottle

Supper if you plan to stay later

The Stone Tower Music Department is seeking a church organist to play twice a month for our church services. If you or someone you know would be interested in this ministry, please contact Jeanine Goodwin at womensministry@stonetowersda.org.

Sidewalk Evangelism: Please take some Bible study cards to hand out to people around Portland.  

Sabbath School teachers needed for children's departments, grades 2-4 and 5-7. If you are able to help, please talk to Melissa Brownell or Elder Leo.

An on-line share from Pastor David:

Sabbath Fellowship Group

meets at 1:15 downstairs in the

ABC classroom when there are

no other afternoon meetings.

Click the picture for

lots of great resources.

PRAYER TIME

"Pray without ceasing."

(1 Thess. 5:17)

We have a special prayer time at 9:30 Sabbath mornings in the front of the sanctuary to pray for our church and our members.

Come to the Hour of Power at Stone Tower Prayer Meetings

Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Please ring the doorbell or knock hard.

We meet in the kitchen.

THIS WEEK'S CHILDREN'S SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON:

Click on the picture for a video corresponding with

My Bible First Kindergarten and Primary lessons

BIBLE STUDY TRAINING RESOURCES:

To browse a variety of personal evangelism resources, click below:

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS

Announcements from Portland Adventist Academy:

1) There is still time to enroll this year at Portland Adventist Academy (paasda.org)

If you or someone you know is looking for a Christ-centered and character-driven high school experience, now is the perfect time to book a personal tour of Portland Adventist Academy. Learn about our award winning teachers, explore spiritual programs and service options, and find out about scholarships available to help with tuition. Click HERE to discover the many reasons PAA is the place parents want to send their children and students long to be! Ask for more information or book a tour HERE. 

2) Portland Adventist Academy Substitute Teachers Needed!

PAA is looking for responsible substitute teachers for the coming school year. Subs work with friendly and energetic high school students. Teacher’s provide all material so all you have to do is be present and follow instructions. No college degree is necessary but you must be 21 or older. Work would be occasional and only during school hours on weekdays. All candidates must pass a background check (paid for by PAA). To apply or learn more about the job, email djohnson@paasda.org or call 503-255-8372.

3) Save the date! Portland Adventist Academy Scholarship Fundraiser on November 3 

PAA will hold its annual student scholarship (PAASS) fundraising auction on Sunday, November 3 in the PAA gym. This year's theme is Welcome to the Jungle. There will be games, contests, and food, along with the silent and live auction. Please reserve the date now. Over 50% of PAA's students and families rely on your financial support. 

Don't miss the first-ever Adventist World Radio Camp Meeting 

August 30 - September 2, 2024 in Jasper, OR

WHERE:

Laurelwood/Jasper Campus

37460 Jasper Lowell Road

Jasper, OR 97438

PRAY WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ON ZOOM

Prayer Group meets EVERY evening at 7:00pm PDT. Join the North America Prayer Group through zoom by clicking this link:

Meeting passcode: 247247

Don't miss the latest Conference & Northwest news here.

The links are updated weekly.

Communication Card

We want to hear from you! If you have questions or concerns you would like to voice, or if you would like a personal visit, phone call or another service offered by our church leadership, click the button below. If you need to speak to an elder or would like Bible studies or to be baptized or if you’d like to transfer to Stone Tower from another church, all of this can happen through our one point of contact below. Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate ministry leader for consideration.

Things to send to the Secretary email at the bottom of the newsletter:

1. Event stories, reports & photos
2. Vegetarian or vegan recipes you'd like to share

Bulletin & Newsletter info. due: Wednesdays by 12:00 pm 

E-mail items to: secretary@stonetowersda.org

Stone Tower Seventh-day Adventist Church

3010 NE Holladay St., Portland, OR 97232

(503) 232-6018 | StoneTowerSDA.org