STONE TOWER MISSION: To Seek & Save the Lost | | |
Good afternoon, everyone,
After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to pause our Building Biblical Community series for now, given the unique plans for International Sabbath. I will still share a message this Sabbath that touches on the role of a pastor, but I’ll be doing so through the lens of my call to ministry and how that journey connects to the international mission of the church. I pray it will still be a meaningful time for us all.
I also want to share a more personal update regarding my dad.
His condition has worsened over the past week. One night, he experienced severe chills and general discomfort that made it difficult for him to rest. Though he’s still able to eat small meals, his strength has declined significantly. He now requires assistance to stand or walk, and we are doing everything possible to keep him comfortable at home. His care team is visiting to help support his well-being.
He recently shared with us that he feels very tired and discouraged. As a family, we reminded him, gently and prayerfully. That even in our weakness, God’s strength is made perfect. We’re holding onto that promise together and trusting God with each new day.
| |  | |
At this time, it’s unclear whether he will be strong enough to move forward with his upcoming blood test on June 10 and chemotherapy on June 12. We are taking things one day at a time and resting in God’s leading.
As mentioned previously, I plan to head back to Canada this coming week. I won’t be around next Sabbath, which is normally my week at Lents. Also, since I’ll be concluding Vacation Bible School at Stone Tower on Saturday, June 28, I’ll be speaking at Lents on June 21 instead of Stone Tower.
Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support—for me, for my family, and especially for my dad, Juan (or “John”—yes, he has a Spanish name, even though he’s Chinese!). Your love and intercession mean more to us than I can express.
Please continue to lift him up in your prayers for peace, comfort, and strength.
Prayers and Blessings,
David Kokiong
Pastor, Stone Tower SDA Church
Cell: 503-567-9315
Email: pastor@stonetowersda.org
| | |
Sabbath School
Lesson Study
(Click on the image, select the lesson for this week)
| | | | Worship Service Information | | Click the image on the right to join our 11 AM church service livestream. | | | Stone Tower Church Announcements & Activities | | |
Sabbath June 7th
09:30: Sabbath School Services
11:00: Special International Program, Pastor Kokiong; International Sabbath
01:00: International Potluck Fellowship Meal
01:30: Deaconess Meeting in the Kindergarten Room
02:30: Door-to-Door Evangelism
04:30: Youth/Young Adult Group at Scooters Mountain (Meet in the Main Parking Lot)
| | |
June 8th
09:00: Work Bee at Stone Tower
| | |
🌟 Door 2 Door Ministries – VBS Outreach Today! 🌟
Calling all mother figures and families! After today’s International Potluck, join us for a special outreach to our community. Vacation Bible School is just 2 weeks away, and we want to ensure every family with children has a personal invitation from our Stone Tower family.
Let’s come together to share food, fellowship, and the love of Jesus by going door-to-door and inviting our neighbors to this exciting event for kids.
Plan for Today:
🍽️ Enjoy the International Potluck
🚪 Stay a little longer to knock on a few doors
🙏 Help us reach the children and families in our neighborhood
Together, we can make a lasting impact. Let’s bring VBS to every doorstep!
| | The Stone Tower Youth and Young Adult group will meet at Scouters Mountain on June 7th at 4:30 p.m. to explore the nature park. All youth (and their parents/guardians) and young adults welcome! This is the first of several youth and young adult group activities to come. Please continue to keep these ministries in earnest prayer. Contact Pastor David david.kokiong@gmail.com, Mark Zakhariya zakhariya.mark@gmail.com, or Jeanine Goodwin healthycoupleshealthyfamilies@gmail.com with questions. Thank you! | | |
Sabbath, May 31st Fellowship Hike
On Saturday afternoon, May 31, a group of us met at the Scappoose Ruley Trailhead for a refreshing hike. The weather was just right — not too hot, with a soft breeze and plenty of sunshine. We followed the trail for about 4 miles round-trip, taking in the peaceful scenery, vibrant spring greenery, and enjoying meaningful conversation along the way.
After the hike, we gathered at the Magnusons' home, where we were warmly welcomed. Everyone pitched in for a light potluck supper, simple, delicious fare that hit the spot after our time on the trail.
We closed the evening with a time of worship and fellowship, sharing songs, prayers, and reflections in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere.
It was a wonderful blend of nature, connection, and spiritual refreshment — a beautiful way to wrap up the month of May. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who came and helped make it such a meaningful time!
| | |
Les Chanticleers Acapella choral ensemble is coming back to Stone Tower on June 14th in a benefit concert to raise funds for travel to the 2025 General Conference Session. Doors open at 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served following the concert. Click here for more information about this incredible music ministry!
| | Women's Ministry presents Sewing Seeds, a Sunday morning sewing circle led by Jane Rogers. If you have an interest in sewing--whether you're a novice or experienced seamstress--please consider joining this small group! An introductory meeting will be held in the church kitchen on June 22nd at 10 a.m. Click the link below to sign up! | |
|
Mark your calendars
Father's Day Picnic Lunch June 14, 2025
In honor of our dads, granddads, brothers, sons, uncles, and friends, we will have Sabbath lunch picnic style after church service on June 14th at Oregon Park, located on NE 30th Avenue and NE Pacific Street in Portland, just one block south of the Stone Tower Church building.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Bring your own camping chair/picnic blanket
Wear comfortable shoes
There are no barbecue pits or places to heat up food at the park
Ladies, click here for the meal signup sheet (a hard copy will also be available on June 7th)
Tables will be provided for food setup
Plan to have an amazing time outdoors with your church family!
Send your questions to womensministry@stonetowersda.org
Women's Meetup: June 21st at 2 pm
Calling all ladies! Your input and help is needed! Want to know more? Bring your enthusiasm and ideas to the meetup in the Fellowship Hall. See you there!
Kerns Neighborhood Picnic August 5th
Plan to come and serve ice cream. Stay to pray, invite, and mingle!
August 15th, 16th, and 17th - Mercy Ballard and Dr. Joyce Choe
Promises to bless all who attend.
Saturday, October 11th-November 8th Brian McMahon
Prophecy Unsealed Series
| | |
Vacation Bible School registration is now open!
Please visit stonetowersda.org to register, or scan the QR code. VBS is coming to Stone Tower June 22nd through June 26th with a special Sabbath Service on June 28th!
Pray for the children, invite those you know, and contact Melissa Brownell or Sue Lee to volunteer to help!
| | Prayer Ministry at Stone Tower | | |
Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm every Wednesday downstairs in the ABC classroom. Please ring the doorbell or knock hard at the downstairs door. We invite you to join us for a powerful time of prayer and study as we explore Acts of the Apostles.
Contact: Judy Duncan or Kenny Smith for details.
International Prayer Group every evening, 7:00 pm PDT. Join the North America Prayer Group through Zoom by clicking this link:
Meeting passcode: 247247
| | | ST Prayer Ministry Group on the Signal App: Connect with Stone Tower members to share your praises and prayer requests and to pray for your fellow members. Click on the QR code below or take a picture of it to become a member (includes a link to download Signal). The group asks that messages be limited to praise and prayer requests only. | | | |
THIS WEEK'S CHILDREN'S SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON:
Click on the picture for a video corresponding with My Bible First Kindergarten and Primary lessons
| | |
Sabbath June 14th
09:30: Sabbath School Services
11:00: Kenny Smith
01:00: Father's Day Picnic Lunch at the Park
05:00: Les Chanticleers Fundraiser Concert and Reception
| | WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS | | |
Are Foster/Kinder Care and Orphans Getting the Support They Need?
Many children, through no fault of their own, end up in foster care, kinship care, or orphanages. The cost of caring for these kids far outweighs what federal or state subsidies cover. As a result, countless children lack the stability and resources needed to thrive.
Learn more: https://www.peopletopeopleministries.com/sponsor-children
#SupportChildren #FosterCare #MakeADifference #PeopleToPeopleMinistries
| | A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JOANNE KELLOGG: Joanne Kellogg, fell asleep in Jesus on May 10, 2025. She and her husband, Don, served in the Oregon Conference from 1982-1990. All are invited to a celebration of life next Saturday, June 7, at 4:00 pm at Pleasant Valley Church, located at 11125 SE 172nd Avenue, Happy Valley, OR 97086. | | Study at Weimar University | |
Support Adventist education!
| | |
First Friday
Your church family is invited to our next First Friday on June 6. First Friday is a once-monthly inspirational community fellowship event. It will be held at Adventist Health Portland Medical Center. It begins at 7:15 p.m. on the lower level in Amphitheaters C & D.
This First Friday will feature an inspirational talk by Les Zollbrecht and music by Alive Worship. We would like to invite you to join us for this FREE event and we encourage you to invite your friends and family members. Please download the flyer attached to this email for additional information.
Registration for the free soup and salad dinner is open now through June 4. Remember that dinner registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and please let us know how many guests you will be bringing with you. Soup and salad will be served from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Here is the link to register:
https://adventisthealth.org/portland/events/ahpl-first-friday/
Adventist Health Portland AHPL First Friday
Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit, integrated health system serving more than 90 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii with over 400 sites of care, including 26 acute care facilities.
adventisthealth.org
| | |
Upstream Camp, June 23-27, 2025.
Give your family an extra dose of discipleship in nature at Upstream Camp from June 23-27, 2025! Your children will enjoy an incredible week of fun and discipleship training–of learning to go against the flow–at a faith-based day camp on the E. Fork Lewis River in Battle Ground, WA. Camp for the week or attend day camp style. Free for children whose parents volunteer for the week, $150 for kids with parents on-site, and $350 per child who needs a camp counselor. $40 for a one-day pass per family. Go to www.upstreamcamp.org to register, or text Highest Education Director William Hurtado at 360-600-1561.
William Hurtado, Dir.
| | |
PACS has job openings!
Job descriptions and necessary qualifications can be found in the
Hiring Info link above.
| | |
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's email at the bottom of the newsletter:
- Event stories, reports & photos
- Vegetarian and vegan recipes you'd like to share
| | Sabbath begins at 8:57 pm today | | | | |
