Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, June 25, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
Submissions
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).
LA GRANDE STAKE — On
Sunday, the primary children of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints are encouraged to
display a poster in their yard or
window that depicts their favorite
primary song. Families and indi-
viduals can then drive by these
homes and try to guess the child’s
favorite song and share with each
other what they think the song
might be. Contact your primary
leaders for more details. As we
wait for the opportunity to gather
for in-person worship services,
perhaps through this activity we
can each feel a portion of the joy
of fellowship we dearly miss.
The “Come, Follow Me” lesson
for the week of June 29 to July 5
is based on Alma chapters 23-29
in the Book of Mormon. The
lesson discusses why King Lam-
oni’s people chose to bury their
weapons of war and refused to
fi ght the Lamanites, even when it
An off er of holy
listening in these
changing times
By Colleen Nelson
For the Observer
S
ometimes you just need
someone to talk to about
what you are thinking as
you contemplate your life and its
direction.
There is something within
each of us that desires to fi nd
meaning beyond the moment,
to discover our true selves and
to grow closer to the Divine
and one another. These desires
can be more acute during times
of challenge and transition.
The practice of spiritual
direction is a specialty within
a number of faith traditions.
Spiritual directors are specifi -
cally trained in the art of holy
listening.
The spiritual director is a
companion along the way who
accompanies others on the
journey of self-discovery and
the discernment of the Divine’s
presence and call.
Spiritual Directors Interna-
tional describes spiritual direc-
tors this way: “Spiritual direc-
tors or companions support
the unique spiritual journey of
every individual.
They are welcoming
and present with those they
companion, listening and
responding without being judg-
mental. They are contemplative
and honor silence as a spiri-
tual practice. They are intuitive
spiritual friends — account-
able and compassionate, hos-
pitable and open, loving yet
independent.
Spiritual direction or com-
panionship inspires people to
experience authenticity in their
lives as they connect with and
explore the ground of all being,
that deepest of truths which is
beyond life and death and goes
by many names, including God,
cost them their lives.
P.O. Box 1001, La Grande 97850.
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
ZION LUTHERAN
CHURCH
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church will not be
holding in-person worship this
Sunday, due to the COVID-19
pandemic. A link to an online
worship for Sunday will be posted
on St. Peter’s Facebook page on
Saturday. The congregation will
not worship in person until at
least the middle of July. To give
an offering, mail it to St. Peter’s at
LA GRANDE — Due to con-
cerns about the spread of COVID-
19, Zion Lutheran will not have
in-person worship this Sunday and
will not resume in-person worship
until at least mid-July. Every Sat-
urday, a link to an online worship
service is posted on Zion’s website
and Facebook page. Offerings may
be mailed to Zion at 902 Fourth
St., La Grande 97850.
Try this biblical exercise for
enriching the Christian mind
Late in his life the Apostle
the cleansing work of the Holy
Paul was a prisoner in Rome.
Spirit, we are challenged to
While there he was allowed to
stand against these things and
engage his own dwelling but
to cultivate new thought pat-
was chained to a guard by a
terns to exalt and glorify God.
short chain (Philippians 1:7,
Whatever is noble
13-14).
We can speculate that the
Remarkably, he did not let
apostle, upon noticing the
this break his connection with
churches he had planted. One of vulgar language and behavior
them was the church at Philippi all around him, called Chris-
in Macedonia. His ancient letter tians to raise even their hidden
thoughts to
to the Phi-
an elevated
lippians still
CALL ME
and righ-
blesses the
PASTOR
teous level.
church uni-
DONALD BASTIAN
I think here
versal to this
in partic-
day when it
ular of the crucial importance
is read and studied.
of avoiding the scourge of por-
Consider a short portion of
nography that defi les, cheapens,
the letter in which the apostle
even twists the mind. Without
exhorts Christians to “Chris-
question, the Christian faith
tianize” their minds further
raises our thoughts to a much
(Philippians 4:8-9).
more elevated standard.
He writes, in verse 8: “…
whatever is true, whatever is
Whatever is right
noble, whatever is right, what-
William Barclay writes: “It
ever is pure, whatever is lovely,
is a law of life that, if a person
whatever is admirable — if
thinks of something often
anything is excellent or praise-
enough and long enough, they
worthy — think about those
will come to a stage when they
things.” We can call this an
exercise for enriching the Chris- cannot stop thinking about it.
Their thoughts will become
tian mind.
quite literally in a groove out of
Whatever is true
which they cannot jerk them-
Christians believe that God
selves.” Since “right” is related
is the essence of truth. He
to “righteousness,” we can see
cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He is the
what Paul’s assignment here is.
source of all that exists, the cre-
Whatever is pure
ator and sustainer of all things:
The scriptures repeatedly
“In the beginning God cre-
set purity of heart as a primary
ated the heavens and the earth”
goal for all believers: “Blessed
(Genesis 1:1). To this convic-
are the pure in heart for they
tion the Psalmist writes: “Your
will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
word, Lord, is eternal; it stands
Purity is the cry of the penitent.
fi rm in the heavens” (Psalm
As King David prayed after sin-
119:89). On these truths about
ning grievously: “Create in me
God and his word, Christians
a clean heart, O God, and renew
are to lodge their thought lives.
a right spirit within me (Psalm
Think of the witness Chris-
51:10).
tians can have in a world sat-
And as Paul says: “There-
urated with untruths: scams,
fore, since we have these prom-
frauds, hoaxes, shady schemes
ises, dear friends, let us purify
and intentional deceptions.
When we become Christians we ourselves from everything that
contaminates body and spirit,
are still in that world, but, with
and no name at all.”
How does it work? Spiri-
tual directors meet with indi-
viduals in scheduled one-hour
sessions, usually one time per
month. Strict confi dentiality is
kept. No preparation is required
except to refl ect on the expe-
riences of your daily life and
to have an openness to explore
your inner world. Spiritual
directors invite you into a rela-
tionship of accompaniment
whether you are in a faith com-
munity or not.
Several spiritual directors in
La Grande would like to offer
community members three free
sessions as a gift of holy lis-
tening during these challenging
times.
Due to social distancing, ses-
sions will likely be conducted
over the phone, ZOOM or
other platforms. In-person ses-
sions are an option with proper
precautions.
Colleen Nelson is a
Lutheran pastor with a master
of divinity degree and a certif-
icate in spirituality. She served
in congregations for 30 years.
Contact her at revcrnelson@
gmail.com or call/text
269-274-1365.
Jo Dickson has a bachelor’s
degree in English and philos-
ophy and is a certifi ed spiri-
tual director pursuing seminary
education. Contact her at joan-
ndickson313@gmail.com or
call/text 541-219-0573.
Laura Elly Hudson is a cer-
tifi ed spiritual director and has
beem co-pastor at First Presby-
terian Church in La Grande for
10 years. Contact her at elly-
hudson@gmail.com or call/text
541-786-8281.
For more information on the
art of spiritual direction, visit
www.sdiworld.org.
perfecting holiness out of rev-
erence for God” (2 Corinthians
7:1). God plants in his children’s
minds our heart’s longing to be
pure, and we must respond in
agreement.
Whatever is lovely
Elsewhere in his Galatian
letter the apostle gathers a list
that demonstrates what he con-
siders lovely — he calls this list
the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-23). They are love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gen-
tleness and self-control. When
these qualities rule in the heart
they beautify the outer life.
Whatever is admirable
Could this mean “that which
calls forth love,” as one scholar
suggests? Have we not all had
contact with believers whose
smiles and greetings under
nearly all circumstances are
warm, rooted in the heart, such
that we cannot help but admire
them?
At this point the apostle
changes the structure of his
sentence to add “excellence”
and “praiseworthiness” to his
list of what is lovely and admi-
rable — two fi nal descriptive
words that make his catalogue
complete.
He does not suggest that
these traits will blossom fully
and automatically or over-
night, but they will advance
when we meet two conditions.
First, when we open our hearts
to a fuller ownership of the
Holy Spirit in all things. And
second, when we organize our
lives around the scriptures daily
and in company with other
believers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donald N. Bastian, of
Ontario, Canada, is the bishop
emeritus of the Free Methodist
Church of North America. For
more of his writings, go to just-
callmepastor.wordpress.com.
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