Rev. John Wallace,
Interim Pastor
Pastor John has been acting as our Visitation Pastor for some time and will be filling the role as our Interim Pastor until November 2011 as we find what direction our church congregation and building is headed.

Rev. Carley Friesen,
Associate Pastor

About Me: Mid-life has brought me to a time of reflection. What will life be like in the "second half?" It is a new start, full of possibilities. Interaction with others on this journey is one part of this new life. I am a mystic -- always have been. I am getting to the point where I am trying to approach what life offers with openness and amusement -- what else can you do sometimes, but laugh?!
Interests: Beauty - especially as it is found in the world outside; hiking, walking, photography, people.
Favorite Movies: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Love Actually, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Everything Is Illuminated, Wall-E, Dreamland...
Favorite Books: Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes, Children of Men, by P.D. James, Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, mysteries by Tony Hillerman or Dorothy Sayers, or P.D. James..., The Secret Message of Jesus, by Brian McClaren
Favorite Music: Manhattan Transfer, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Chicago, The Beach Boys, Iona and Taize worship music
Favorite Food: Fruit -- I am certainly an "apple-a-day" type, chocolate cake, soups -- all kinds, and I am really into Thai food!
A Spiritual Practice which I Find Meaningful: Observation of beauty -- looking for at least one thing every day that makes me smile out of wonder and amusement.

Heidi Kohne,
Music Director
& Financial Secretary

About Me: There are a few high priorities in my life -- the Pipe Organ, for one. My college training was in organ performance and church music, and I have been organist for two Presbyterian churches. I am currently the American Guild of Organists Portland chapter’s Membership Coordinator and Webmaster. Another priority is my family and friends. My parents are very supportive of me, and I am very supportive of them. My good friends are very close to me, and I cherish them wholeheartedly, for they help keep me sane.
Interests: Yard work at home, volunteer stage hand for Portland Baroque Orchestra, Legos (I have a whole town in my basement!)
Favorite Movies: The whole Star Wars series ( I've been a fan since college.)
Favorite Books: Organists and Organ Playing in Nineteenth-Century France and Belgium, by Orpha Ochse. Another favorite is Molto Agitato, by Johanna Fiedler. She was a press secretary for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City for a number of years.
Favorite Music: Obviously, classical music, especially organ, choral, and orchestral music. My favorite composers are Johann Sebastian Bach and Cesar Franck. I also listen to pop/rock music often while driving in my car.
Favorite Food: Pepperoni pizza, pineapple (fresh or canned), and chocolate. You're going to have to work hard to keep me away from any of these if I get a craving!
A Spiritual Practice Which I Find Meaningful: I spend some time at least a couple of times a week with my Bible. Sometimes I also attend Trinity Episcopal Cathedral's Evensong to help "recharge my batteries".

Mary Mellone,
Children's Ministries & Office Staff

About me: I am currently a student at Warner Pacific College finishing up my Bachelor's degree. I am originally from the Central Coast of California. I love children, which is why I am going to school to be a teacher and I absolutely love and enjoy teaching children about God's Word with Bible stories.
Interests: Volleyball, swimming, and horseback riding
Favorite Movies: Return to Me, Sweet Home Alabama, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Star Wars.
Favorite Books: The Left Behind Series, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Prydain Chronicles, and Jeanette Oake Romantic Novels
Music: any Worship music, Christian Contemporary, Country, some R&B, and Bluegrass
Food: Italian and Chinese food, but my favorite fast food is Taco Bell
A Spiritual Practice Which I Find Meaningful: Being still and listening to God's still, small voice, and praying without ceasing.

Ben Allinson,
Facilities Director, etc.

About Me: I have an AA in Church Ministry through Patten University of Oakland, California. I am married to Mary Mellone, the Children's Director.
Interests: I love big rig trucks, as I used to drive one long haul. I also enjoy working on cars, landscaping, and gardening.
Favorite Books: The Bible. Other than that, I don't read much.
Favorite Movies: Smokey and the Bandit, Black Dog, Tommy Boy, and anything with Robin Williams.
Favorite Music: Southern Gospel, Country (all kinds), Classic Rock, and Oldies Classics.
Favorite Foods: Mexican and Chinese
A Spiritual Practice Which I Find Meaningful: Meditating on God while I am listening to worship music. Also my prayer time is very important to me.

Dana Harden,
Office Staff/Divorce Recovery

About me: Mid-life has brought significant changes to my life - I left my job of 13 years to spend weekday mornings with my mom, who lives in a nearby retirement center. Weekday afternoons I now help out in the church office, and work toward setting up a nonprofit to expand the divorce recovery work that we have been doing since January 2006. Fridays are devoted to family - Mom, my two daughters, my two grandsons, and Phil. It is a wonderful change for me to be out of the corporate world and focusing on work that truly matters to me.
Interests: Family, knitting, crocheting, reading, gardening, playing in the greenhouse that Phil built for me, and staying connected with five friends that I met the first semester of college, September 1970.  
Favorite Movies: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Quiet Man, Young Frankenstein, all the Shirley Temple movies.
Favorite Books: To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings, Little Women, anything by Shakespeare.
Music: classical, gospel, old-timey country (think Hank Williams, Patsy Cline), and bagpipes.
Food: southern comfort food, Italian, Thai, ice cream, anything chocolate (except white chocolate)
A Spiritual Practice Which I Find Meaningful: Every morning I go to a website that provides a bible verse for the day - I write the verse in a journal, then read the chapter that contains the verse - it is amazing how often the verse will speak to something that I am experiencing at that time.

Kevin Gates,
Worship
& Music Ministries

Holly Roesler,
Nursery Staff
& Church Barista

Rev. Darrell Hall,
Honorably Retired, 2010

Darrell can be contacted at his personal email on the "Contact" page.
In a recent letter to the congregation, Rev. Hall wrote:
"Kathy and I would like to thank you for your love and support over the years and for wishing us well on our retirement journey. We thank you for the wonderful party; the memory sharing meant a lot to us. We also thank you for the beautifully engraved crystal vase. The money gift we received will be used to travel to Hawaii to visit our daughter toward the end of summer. May God continue to bless the ministry of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church as it serves this neighborhood."

TaborSpace Staff

Lauren Moomaw,
Coffeehouse Manager

Heidi Whipple,
Event & Space Use Coordinator

Volunteers

Volunteers from the congregation and community play a vital role at Mt. Tabor Church. From making coffee to answering phones; cooking meals for the homeless to Sunday childcare; playing music for services to leading youth events, and so much more, volunteers are what keep things going around here. If you are interested in spending some time lending a hand, please contact the office to see where you might be needed or to offer a particular skill or time.