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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2020)
6A THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 H IGHLIGHTS St. Ann’s group meets Friday LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in La Grande offers a morning prayer service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Coffee and fellow- ship will follow. St. Ann’s will meet Friday at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Congregants welcome back Pastor Hudson LA GRANDE — Pastor Keith Hudson will present a message on being “Clean Inside and Out” on Sunday at the 9:30 a.m. worship service at the First Presbyterian Church, La Grande. The service also also include Com- munion. Hudson recently returned from traveling in Israel and will share a little of his experiences. A fellowship time will follow the service. Be ‘Watchful Unto Prayer’ NORTHEAST OREGON — The three Baker City wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold their annual Ward Conference on Sunday with the bishop and a member of the stake presidency speak- ing during the sacrament service, while members of the High Council will be the speakers in all other wards and branches. The “Come, Follow Me” lesson for Feb. 17-23 is based on 2 Nephi 11-25, which are chapters from the Book of Mormon that include the writings of Isaiah 2-14. Readers are encouraged to seek inspira- tion and guidance through prayer and study as they search for the deep spiritual meaning of Isaiah’s teach- ings and how they apply to our own situations in life. Jesus teaches us we are not in control LA GRANDE — During the 10 a.m. Faith Lutheran Church Sunday service in La Grande, the sermon will expound on Jesus’ proper in- terpretation of Scripture, as related in the fi fth chapter of Matthew. In these verses, Jesus has several teachings beginning with “You have heard that it was said...” This week’s sermon will focus on “You shall not swear falsely” — Jesus explains, “And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black” (verses. 33-36). Christ further reminds us that we are not in total control. Following the service, Faith’s women’s group, Koi- nonia, will put on its annual cake walk, a fun activity for all ages with desserts. God has already drawn near to us LA GRANDE — Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. followed by a worship ser- vice at 10:30 a.m. at the La Grande Church of the Naz- arene. Pastor Kevin Goss will continue the “Name Above All Names” sermon series with a message from Hebrews 12:18-29 titled, “The AWE-ful Presence.” In worship we draw near to the God who has already drawn near to us. Thus, worship is the way we avail ourselves to the immediacy of his very presence. On Feb. 22, the Women’s Winter Luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Lunch will be a potluck of soup, salad, bread and dessert. The theme will be “Stitched Together” and will feature an assort- ment of vintage sewing machines and quilts. All women are invited to at- tend and asked to bring something for the potluck if able.nd and asked to bring something for the potluck if able. Is anything too hard for the Lord? Feeding faith’s fire T he biblical account of Abraham and Sarah having a baby has been cherished throughout the ages. The story, found in Genesis 17-18, reveals how God planned to estab- lish a covenant with Israel through this child named Isaac. According to the holy scriptures, the Lord and two angels appeared one day to Abraham, who was 100 years old, and explained his plans about this covenant and how Abraham’s future child will be the beginning of a great nation. Sarah, who was 90, happens to overhear this conversation about her having a baby and snickers within herself at how ridiculous this sounds. It’s not known for sure, but Sarah probably does not realize this is God who is talking. She had been barren her entire adult life and this prediction about becoming pregnant at 90 years old was clearly impos- sible. Or was it? In Genesis 18:13, the Lord told Abraham that Sarah had doubted in her heart and actually laughed at the idea of having a child. (By the way, how ironic that the name Isaac means “laughter.”) I’m not critical of Sarah or her husband because we would have probably reacted the same way. Then God asks an astounding question: “Is there any- thing too hard for the Lord?” I will gladly be the spoiler and an- nounce that God’s promise to Sarah about her having a son named Isaac LIVING ON PURPOSE BILLY HOLLAND did come true, and as the patriarch of the Jewish nation, he was the father of Jacob and the grandfather of the 12 tribes of Israel. As we continue meditating about the authority and ability of God, we are presented with some very serious thoughts about our spiritual views. Do we believe that God can do anything? Do we believe he desires to help us and to give us the miracles we desperately need? We understand that faith is a component of receiv- ing — but can faith develop to a level where we accept and embrace the fact that nothing is impossible with God? Many individuals today are facing very challenging situations and some are reaching deep within their hearts and souls to fi nd the strength to be- lieve. Well, this is a lot to consider, but personally, I’m convinced that God created everything in the universe and certainly would have no problem creating anything we might need. You see, the God of the Bible has several attributes associated with his character: He is omniscient, which means he knows everything, and omnipotent, meaning he has unlim- ited power and is able to do anything. These two distinctions alone should encourage and reinforce our confi - dence as we turn to him in prayer. When we read true accounts like that of Abraham and Sarah and realize that he is willing and able to do great and mighty miracles for others, it fi lls us with his joy and peace in knowing that he can also help us. Jeremiah 32:17 declares, “Ah, Lord God, behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out thy arm, and there is nothing too diffi cult for thee.” When fear and doubt comes upon you, remember that God specializes in doing the impossible. Everything from health or financial problems to restoring relationships or finding our destiny, the Lord is perfectly aware of our worries and has more than enough wisdom and power to take care of it. Believe me, I understand about the intimidating giants and moun- tains, but I’m learning the impor- tance of absorbing faith and hope from his unfailing truth. Yes, there are certain things we can do to help ourselves, but there is no substitute for trusting God. As Jesus said, “with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Dr. William “Billy” Holland is the founder of an independent Christian ministry in central Kentucky. An ordained and licensed minister and chaplain, he is the author of “Convictions and Considerations: Encouragement for the Soul.” I ’m told that in a grassland area in Africa, people may walk long distances to Sunday worship with scraps of wood in hand. The people conclude wor- ship by lighting a large bonfi re to symbolize their fellowship. A visitor from North America witnessed the event and asked villagers how they could create such a fi re week after week when there was very little wood in their area. Their reply was that every worshipper was on the lookout the prior week for scraps of wood to take for the church in anticipation of the weekly bonfi re. The concept of coming supplied has merit for enlivening worship. What each individual brings to corporate worship has a large bearing on how vital the gather- ing together will be. And what we bring can be something invisible, reverent and of the heart. When I was a child, my par- ents, younger sister and I would walk to church. We were usually among the fi rst to arrive. Before my parents took their seats, they knelt to pray. It was a worship custom for that congregation. My sister and I sat in silence waiting for the service to begin. As the worshippers gathered, there was no talking and no music filled the air. None of this was JUST CALL ME PASTOR DONALD N. BASTIAN enforced, and it felt natural. The reverence and silence were what the worshippers contributed to the sense of awe they would share. Gathering wood for the bonfi re also can in a sense be what we are doing when we put our houses on Saturday to avoid haste and stress on Sunday morning. Or when we arrive at church early in order to sit quietly in prayerful refl ection on a Psalm or hymn. I realize some who come to worship may arrive depleted with hardly the energy to lift their eyes to heaven. Others whose faith is little more than an inherited tradition may not have much to bring. At the same time, every congregation likely has a core of believers who are inwardly ener- gized daily by meditation, prayer and praise, who invoke the energy of the Spirit when they come to worship. Such believers might bring an extra piece of wood to build the fi re for those who come empty-handed. Donald N. Bastian is the bishop emeritus of the Free Methodist Church of North America. Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 lgdisciples@gmail.com Worship 10:00 a.m. Services This Week ~Join us at The Lord’s Table~ 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 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.lagrandeor.adventistchurch.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 LA GRANDE UNITED GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICES METHODIST CHURCH LUTHERAN CHURCH La Grande - Our Lady of the Valley “OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS” 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 Worship 10:00 am Sunday 12:30 pm Mass No Weekdays Fellowship Coffee Hour 11:00 am - Nursery provided - FIRST LANDMARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Zion Lutheran 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” www.flmbclagrande.com (an ELCA church) 902 Fourth Street, La Grande, OR (541) 963-5998 “We are called to Serve” Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Pastor Carl Seelhoff Phone: 541-786-0447 963-5884 109 18th Street • 963-3402 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. 1316 T St., La Grande, OR 541-568-4567 Sunday 10:30 a.m. 2 Cor 12:9 My Grace is sufficient for you. grace.lutherancove@gmail.com IS 40:31 First Baptist Church 1531 S. Main Street, Union 541-562-5531 1531 S. Main Street, Union www.UnionBaptistOregon.org 541-562-5531 Sunday School 9:45 am www.UnionBaptistOregon.org 9:00 am - Worship Morning Worship 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am 10:00 am - Fellowship & Refreshments Worship Service AWANA 11:00 am Thursday 6:30 pm 10:30 am - Classes Thursday AWANA 6:30 pm Birthing, Building and Being Pastor: Roberta Smythe Birthing, Building and Being the the Body Body of Christ of Christ www.zionlagrande.org St. Katherine’s Catholic Church Contemporary Worship Expositional Teaching Tune in to Calvary Radio 88.1 CSN Pastor Taylor Gould lgumc@eoni.com www.lgumchurch.org Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon Elgin - Saint Mary’s 12th and Alder CALVARY CHAPEL 1433 Jefferson Ave. Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m. Studying The Book of Galatians Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m. Studying The Book of Joshua Wednesday Night Youth - 6:00 p.m. The Place 1612 4th Street – 963-2498 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City Amazing Grace Fellowship Fr. Thomas Puduppulliparamban 301 E Garfield Enterprise Mass Schedule Sundays: St Pius X, Wallowa – 8:00 am St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 10:30 am Saturdays St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 5:30 pm Weekdays St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 8:00 am (Monday – Thursday and First Friday) All are welcome SIXTH & SPRING, LA GRANDE 541-963-3911 Sun. 10:00 AM - Worship Sun. 8:45 AM - Exploring the Bible Wed. 6:15 PM - AWANA 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
