Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, May 21, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
ZION LUTHERAN
CHURCH
and those of our ancestors that
have gone before us, let us also
consider the counsel of Malachi
4:5-6, which reads ‘Behold, I will
send you Elijah the prophet before
the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord: And he
shall turn the heart of the fathers
to the children, and the heart of
the children to their fathers, lest I
come and smite the earth with a
curse.’
Let us use this time as an
opportunity to renew our com-
mitments to follow the guidance
of our leaders and dedicate our-
selves to learning more of our
ancestors through genealogical
research and the linking together
of families over generations of
time.”
Submissions
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran will not have in-person
worship this Sunday. Links to an
online worship will be posted on
Zion’s website and Facebook page
on Saturday. Offerings can be
mailed to Zion at 902 Fourth St.,
La Grande 97850.
Churches and faith-based groups are encouraged to submit Highlights
for the Spiritual Life page by 4 p.m. Tuesday for publication Thursday.
Submit by email to news@lagrandeobserver.com (with Highlights in
the subject line).
Grande 97850.
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church will not wor-
ship in-person through May.
Links to an online worship for
Sunday will be posted on St.
Peter’s Facebook page on Sat-
urday. Offerings can be mailed
to St. Peter’s at P.O. Box 1001, La
NORTHEAST OREGON —
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints’ “Come, Follow
Me” lesson for the week of May
25-31 is based on Mosiah 29 —
Alma 4, which is found in the
Book of Mormon. The lesson
covers the time when the Nephite
people begin to rule themselves
and kings are replaced with chief
judges, and we are reminded how
we each can be a positive infl u-
ence in our communities.
On this Memorial Day
Weekend, a message from the
church encourages the commu-
nity to “honor with deep respect
… those who have given their
lives to protect the freedoms
we are blessed to enjoy in this
country. As we ponder their lives,
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
LA GRANDE — Today,
Thursday, May 21, is the 40th
day after Easter. This day is
called Ascension Day, for Jesus
ascended to heaven 40 days after
his resurrection. We read in Acts
1:9 that on the 40th day Jesus
“was lifted up, and a cloud took
Him out of their sight.” Jesus has
assured his faithful: “Because
I live, you will live also” (John
14:19).
This Sunday, Faith Lutheran
Church’s sermon will be based on
Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17.
This prayer begins with “Father,
the hour has come; glorify Your
Son that the Son may glorify
You….”
Our lack of courage may keep us from Christ
recently had the opportunity
watch on this prophet called
to watch season one of “The
Jesus of Nazareth. Nicodemus
Chosen.”
was observing these miracles
The multi-episode series
with his own eyes and he knew
about the life
in his heart
of Jesus uses
that only
LIVING ON
interesting
someone who
PURPOSE
backstories
had been sent
BILLY HOLLAND
that bring the
from heaven
scriptures into
could do
a deeper understanding.
these things.
(It’s a free app and for those
He arranges a secret meeting
of you who have some tech-
with Jesus at night and begins to
nical savvy, you can cast it to
question him about God’s law.
your television without charge.
In chapter three, we notice the
Through donations from many
renowned and highly esteemed
believers, the series is available
Nicodemus humbly addressing
free for anyone to watch around
Jesus as rabbi, which means
the world. This presentation of
“scholar.” They begin to talk and
the gospel is done with excel-
Nicodemus admits he believes
lent quality and the acting is
Jesus is truly the promised
amazing.)
redeemer as there is no other
There are several scenes that
explanation.
touched my heart deeply, but
Christ responds by telling
one in particular I have been
him, “Verily, verily, I say
thinking about is a scene that
unto thee, except a man be
involved Jesus and a man named born again, he cannot see the
Nicodemus.
kingdom of God.”
If you remember in the Bible,
Nicodemus replies, “How can
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and
a man be born when he is old?
a member of the Sanhedrin who
Can he enter the second time
was a highly respected teacher
into his mother’s womb, and be
of the Jewish religious law.
reborn?”
He knew that a Messiah was
Jesus explains that a person
coming to be the king of the
who wants to follow God must
Jews, but he never dreamed that
be born twice. Once in the nat-
the Messiah would arrive as an
ural and once in the spiritual.
ordinary person or that he would Nicodemus was astounded and
actually have the honor to know truly in awe of these words.
him.
Jesus went on to talk about
Christ began his ministry
how Moses lifted up the serpent
when he was around 30 years
in the wilderness and how soon
old, and we know that his
the son of man will be lifted up
wisdom to relay God’s message
on the cross as the savior.
and his miracles were causing
Jesus was telling Nicodemus
quite a stir.
that no matter how much people
The Romans and the San-
know or what good they do on
hedrin were strongly against
the outside, everyone needs to
a rogue preacher turning the
be changed on the inside. That
hearts of the people toward what can only happen through a
they considered a blasphemous
supernatural act of God when
cult. However, in the book of
his Holy Spirit convicts us of
John, we are introduced to Nico- wrongdoing and transforms us
demus who was keeping a close
into a new creation.
I
Words of the Buddha
If for company you fi nd a wise and prudent friend who leads
a good life, you should, overcoming all impediments, keep their
company joyously and mindfully.
—Dhammapada 23.328
By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let
the wise one make for oneself an island which no fl ood can
overwhelm.
—Dhammapada 2.25
When past conditioning is released and no fresh one pro-
duced, the mind no longer seeks for future birth. The seed con-
sumed, cravings no more arise. Such-minded wise ones cease
like [the fl ame of] this lamp.
—Sutta Nipāta 2.238
Well done is that action of doing which one repents not later,
and the fruit of which one reaps with delight and happiness.
—Dhammapada 5.68
Source: www.pariyatti.org
In verse 16, Jesus speaks one
of the most popular promises in
the Bible.
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.”
They end their meeting with
Jesus inviting Nicodemus to
follow him. He tells him where
to meet the next day and Nico-
demus actually shows up, but
he hides around the corner of a
building listening intently.
In this scene in “The
Chosen,” Jesus looks around and
quietly whispers, “You were so
close.”
You see, Nicodemus had a
wife, children, grandchildren
and many earthly possessions
along with a reputation of being
one of the most esteemed reli-
gious leaders in all the land.
Unfortunately, he chooses not
to step forward and join the
cause of Christ. Instead we see
him weeping bitterly because
he allows his pride and lack
of courage to keep him from
Christ.
I cried when I watched this
because I know he represents
most of us. How many have
wanted to abandon their lives
and be more dedicated but were
not willing to take up their cross
and follow Jesus?
God says in Ezekiel 36:26, “I
will give you a new heart and
put a new spirit within you.”
Being born again means we
have a new identity and a new
purpose for our existence. We
no longer live for ourselves but
for him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ordained minister and
chaplain William “Billy” F.
Holland Jr. is the founder of an
independent ministry in central
Kentucky.
For more writings and orig-
inal music, visit www.billyhol-
landministries.com.
Poll: U.S.
believers see
message of
change from
God in virus
Associated Press
NEW YORK — The corona-
virus has prompted almost two-
thirds of American believers
of all faiths to feel that God is
telling humanity to change how
it lives, a new poll fi nds.
While the virus rattles the
globe, causing economic hard-
ship for millions and killing
more than 90,000 Americans,
the fi ndings of the poll by the
University of Chicago Divinity
School and The Associated
Press-NORC Center for Public
Affairs Research indicate
people also may be searching
for deeper meaning in the dev-
astating outbreak.
Some who don’t affi liate
with organized religion, such as
Lance Dejesus of Dallastown,
Pennsylvania, saw a possible
bigger message in the virus.
“It could be a sign, like
‘hey, get your act together’ – I
don’t know,” said Dejesus, 52,
who said he believes in God
but is not religious.
The poll found 31% of
Americans who believe in
God feel strongly the virus is
a sign of God telling humanity
to change. Evangelical Prot-
estants are more likely than
others to believe that strongly,
at 43%, compared with 28%
of Catholics and mainline
Protestants.
But the virus has prompted
little change in Americans’
overall belief in God, with 2%
saying they believe in God
today, but did not before. Fewer
than 1% say they do not believe
in God today but did before.
Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches
Services This
Week
First Christian
Church
(Disciples of Christ)
FIRST LANDMARK
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
1812 1st St. La Grande
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215
lgdisciples@gmail.com
We use the King James Version Bible
Worship
10:00 a.m.
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”
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
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: Roberta Smythe
www.zionlagrande.org
First Baptist
Church
SIXTH &
SPRING,
LA GRANDE
541-963-3911
All services have been temporarily cancelled.
Live-streaming Sunday mornings at
10:00 am. People can watch at:
lagrandefbc.org
St. Katherine’s
Catholic Church
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
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
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Place
62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
“We are called to Serve”
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Phone: 541-568-4230
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
www.flmbclagrande.com
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
Pastor Taylor Gould
lgumc@eoni.com
www.lagrandeumc.org
Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon
Worship 10:00 am
Fellowship Coffee Hour 11:00 am
Amazing Grace
Fellowship
1316 T St., La Grande, OR
541-568-4567
Sunday 10:30 a.m.
2 Cor 12:9 My Grace is
sufficient for you.
IS 40:31
- Nursery provided -
Imbler
Christian
Church
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201
www.imblerchristianchurch.org
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
Cove United
Methodist Church
1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR
North Powder
United
Methodist Church
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
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
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