6A
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019
H IGHLIGHTS
Chainbreakers host
barbecue
LA GRANDE — The New
Hope Worship Center of La
Grande invites the com-
munity to a Chainbreakers
barbecue from noon to 4 p.m.
Aug. 24. The church is at
2630 Bearco Loop.
9 a.m. Sunday. Holy Com-
munion will be celebrated.
Pastor Roberta Smythe will
be the guest preacher. A time
of fellowship will take place
after the service.
The ZLCW Bible Study
will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tues-
day at Zion.
PRISE — The sermon at
Faith Lutheran Church
Sunday will expound on
Luke 13:22-30, in which
Jesus calls people to “enter
through the narrow door.”
Services will be at 10 a.m.
in La Grande and 2 p.m. in
Enterprise.
Guest speaks at First
Presbyterian
Helplessness and
hope examined
LA GRANDE — Kate
Loftus will be fi lling in at the
pulpit at La Grande’s First
Presbyterian Church Sun-
day at the 9:30 a.m. service.
Her sermon will be about
choices. A fellowship hour
will follow.
LA GRANDE — Pastor
Ray Smith will speak on
helplessness and hope at the
10 a.m. service Sunday at
La Grande’s First Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ).
His message will be based on
Matthew 21:1-11, which tells
of Jesus’ mixed feelings as he
entered Jerusalem.
Holy Communion
offered during
service
ZLCW Bible Study
meets Tuesday
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church in
La Grande will worship at
Faith Lutheran looks
at the ‘narrow door’
LA GRANDE, ENTER-
LA GRANDE — St. Pe-
ter’s Episcopal Church of La
Grande will celebrate Holy
Communion at 11 a.m. Sun-
day. The Reverend Roberta
Smythe will offi ciate. Coffee
hour and fellowship will fol-
low in the Parish Hall.
Sermon based on the
book of Matthew
COVE — The Cove United
Methodist Church will wor-
ship at 9 a.m. Sunday. Mary
Cloutier will provide the
message, “A Call for Com-
passion,” based on Matthew
9 and 25. Fellowship with
treats, coffee and juice will
follow the service in the Fel-
lowship Hall.
Hosted by the church the
fourth Saturday of every
month, the Cove Food Pan-
try will be open from 9 a.m.
to 11 a.m. Aug. 24. Cove’s
Fresh Alliance, offering free
perishable food to the com-
munity, is held at the church
from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on
Tuesdays.
Couple presents
message
LA GRANDE — The
La Grande Seventh-day
Adventist Church will wor-
ship at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The service will feature
one of the congregation’s
couples.
Members of
congregation serve
as speakers
LA GRANDE — The
“Come Follow Me” lesson for
the week of Aug. 26 through
Sept. 1 for the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints will be based on 1
Corinthians 8-13. It will
focus on fi nding unity as
followers of Jesus Christ
and the blessings of the
sacrament. Members of the
congregation will be the
speakers for the Sacrament
Service and Priesthood and
Relief Society meetings dur-
ing the second hour. Elec-
tronic copies of all scriptures
and lesson materials can
be obtained on the “Gospel
Library” app or at www.
ChurchofJesusChrist.org/scr
iptures?lang=eng&cid=rdsc
riptures.
Outdoor worship
followed by Family
Bash
LA GRANDE — The
La Grande Church of the
Nazarene will worship
outdoors this Sunday at
10:30 a.m. Pastor Kevin
Goss continues the Altar
in the Word series with a
message entitled, “God in
One Another,” drawn from
Genesis 18:1-15. There is no
doubt that God uses people
to make himself known, and
we’re never sure where he
may reveal himself next.
Sunday school begins at
9:15 a.m. After the service is
the End of Summer Family
Bash with food for all and
activities for kids.
We can’t see God, so how do we know he is real?
I
’ve been asked many times
through the years: How do we
know God is real when we cannot
see him, touch him or hear him? I
admit this is a logical question and
there are several things we need to
consider in the conversation. I know
what God can do, but I’ve never
walked up to him and shook his
hand or had a cup of coffee with him.
I can sense the still small voice of the
Holy Spirit speak within my spirit,
and I listen to other people relay
what they believe God is saying, but
I have not heard God speak from the
clouds or a burning bush like he did
in the Old Testament.
However, just because I have not
had experiences like many others
have had, this does not in any way
diminish my enthusiasm to believe
he is who the Bible says he is. Those
who are blind and cannot see the
moon and the stars still believe
they are there. The Christian life
contains unexplainable occurrences
and occasional supernatural phe-
nomenon including angel visitations
and mind-boggling miracles, but in
general, following God is to be lived
LIVING ON
PURPOSE
BILLY HOLLAND
by faith. Yes, this is much more diffi -
cult, but also much more rewarding.
The Bible declares that God sur-
rounds us whether we can see him
or not and desires that we attempt
to develop our spiritual awareness
through keeping our mind focused
on him.
There is a story in the Bible about
a man who placed a high priority
on being able to see Jesus before he
could believe. Christ had just been
publicly crucifi ed and, after three
days, it was being told that his tomb
was empty and that he had risen
from the dead. Thomas, who was
one of Jesus’ disciples, was over-
whelmed from all that had happened
and declared he would not believe
unless he could see his teacher’s
nail-scarred hands and be able to
literally touch him. Soon after this, it
just so happened that Jesus miracu-
lously appeared to him one evening
and reached out his hands and said,
“Thomas, because you have seen me,
you have believed; however, blessed
are those who have not seen and yet
still have believed” (John 20:29).
Everything related to God is not
presented in clear sight on purpose,
including the understanding of
scripture. The idea is the Lord draws
and leads us, then it’s our responsibil-
ity to believe in him with all of our
heart. He is not withholding from us
to frustrate us, but our determination
to know him is directly associated
with how much we love and trust
him. To the masses, this may seem
like a foolish game of hide and seek
with an invisible man — however, to
those who know God, this intimate
relationship is the meaning of life.
Our experiences, even the diffi cult
times, are meant to teach us how to
understand God and are a critical
part of us becoming what he wants us
to be. II Corinthians 4:18 says, “While
we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not
seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which
are not seen are eternal.”
When it comes to wisdom and
Words of the
Buddha
• You are your own
master, you make
your future. Therefore
discipline yourself as
a horse-dealer trains a
thoroughbred.
(Dhammapada
25.380)
• Irrigators direct the
water, fl etchers fashion
the shaft, carpenters
bend the wood, the
wise control them-
selves.
(Dhammapada 6.80)
• No mother nor
father nor any other kin
can do greater good
for oneself than a mind
directed well.
(Dhammapada 3.43)
• One who destroys
life, utters lies, takes
what is not given —
such a person digs up
one’s own root even in
this world.
(Dhammapada
18.246-47)
understanding, there has never
been a more important message
to the world than to discover and
experience the presence of God. The
beautiful symbolism in the Taber-
nacle of Moses invites us to enjoy a
spiritual reality that is as tangible as
anything we could ever know. Today,
this secret dwelling place with God is
not a geographic location, but rather
a state of being where we can com-
municate, worship and freely rejoice
in the glories of his love. Meditating
and focusing within on the peace and
security of knowing that Jesus died
and rose from the dead to save us is
a truth more valuable than anything
in this world.
We cannot make people know God.
We can only encourage them to look
around and notice his work. C.S.
Lewis is quoted as saying, “I believe in
God as I believe the sun has risen, not
only because I see it, but because by
it I see everything else.” Nothing can
separate us from the privilege to walk
with God except our refusal to believe
he is real.
To read more visit
billyhollandministries.com.
www.pariyatti.com
Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches
Services This Week
I MBLER
C HRISTIAN
C HURCH
440 R UCKMAN , I MBLER 534-2201
www.imblerchristianchurch.org
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Worship
10:00 a.m.
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
C OVE U NITED
M ETHODIST C HURCH ROMAN CATHOLIC
1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR
N ORTH P OWDER
U NITED
M ETHODIST C HURCH
390 E. St., North Powder, OR
JOIN US... Catch the Spirit!
Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove
Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder
La Grande Seventh-day
Adventist Church
A Place where hope is found in Jesus
Join us in Fellowship & Worship Every Saturday
9:30 a.m. - Bible Study/Fellowship
10:45 a.m. - Worship Service
2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande • 963-4018
Pastor: Mike Armayor
www.lagrande22adventistchurchconnect.org
Learning for Today and Eternity
Little Friends
Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390
La Grande Adventist Christian School
Christian Education K-8th Grade 963-6203
CALVARY
CHAPEL
1433 Jefferson Ave.
963-5884
Contemporary Worship
Expositional Teaching
Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m.
Studying The Book of First Corinthians
Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m.
Studying The Book of Revelation
Wednesday Night Youth - 6:00 p.m.
Tune in to Calvary Radio 88.1 CSN
CHURCH SERVICES
La Grande - Our Lady of the Valley
1002 L Avenue
Saturday 5:30 pm Mass
Sunday 10:00 am Mass
Weekdays 8:00 am Mass
Union - Sacred Heart
340 South 10th Avenue
Sunday 8:00 am Mass
No Weekdays
Elgin - Saint Mary’s
12th and Alder
Sunday 12:30 pm Mass
No Weekdays
FIRST LANDMARK
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
1812 1st St. La Grande
Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215
We use the King James Version Bible
Sunday School - 10:00 am
Worship 11:00 am
Sunday Evening Bible Study - 3:00 pm (Effective June 10)
Wednesday Evening - 6:30 pm
“Where you can find TRUTH according to the scriptures”
SUMMERVILLE
BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday Services:
Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes
9:45AM
Children's Church & Worship Service
11:00AM
Family Worship Service
6:00PM
Wednesday:
Prayer Mtg, Children's Bible Club, Youth
Group 7:00PM
A church for your whole family
Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org
VALLEY
FELLOWSHIP
963-0340
507 Palmer Ave
(just east of city pool)
Sunday Worship 10:02 am
Come and share in a time of worship,
prayer and the study of God’s word with us.
Worship includes communion on Sunday.
www.valleyfellowship.church
Email: vfchurch2@gmail.com
Zion Lutheran
Church
(an ELCA church)
902 Fourth Street,
La Grande, OR
(541) 963-5998
9:00 am - Worship
10:00 am - Fellowship & Refreshments
10:30 am - Classes
Pastor:
www.flmbclagrande.com
www.zionlagrande.org
Amazing Grace
Fellowship
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
1316 T St., La Grande, OR
541-568-4567
Sunday
a.m.
S Su
u nday 10:30
1
2 Cor r 12:9
1 My Grace is
sufficient
for you.
suf
ff fi
I 40:31
IS
1531 S. Main
Street, Union
541-562-5531
www.UnionBaptistOregon.org
Sunday School
9:45 am
Morning Worship 11:00 am
Thursday AWANA 6:30 pm
Birthing, Building and Being
the Body of Christ
541-963-3911
Sun. 10:00 AM - Worship
Sun. 8:45 AM - Exploring the Bible
Wed. 6:15 PM - AWANA
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
667 N. Main in Union
“We are called to Serve”
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
SIXTH &
SPRING,
LA GRANDE
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
LCMC
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Pastor Carl Seelhoff
Phone: 541-786-0447
First Baptist Church
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Pastor Taylor Gould
lgumc@eoni.com
www.lgumchurch.org
Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon
Worship 10:00 am
Fellowship Coffee Hour 11:00 am
- Nursery provided -