Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, August 13, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
UNION BAPTIST CHURCH
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).
UNION — The Union Bap-
tist Church’s Sunday schedule
has changed. Sunday school now
begins at 9:45 a.m., and the ser-
vice is held at 11 a.m.
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
LA GRANDE — The sermon
at Faith Lutheran this Sunday
will use Matthew 15:21-28. In
these verses Jesus has been
working his ministry of caring
for people in the varied needs
of health, food and spiritual
truth. He goes to a far northern
region and he fi nds his reputa-
tion had preceded him. A for-
eign woman greatly troubled
over her daughter’s behavior
and spiritual health cried out
to him saying: “Have mercy on
me, O Lord, Son of David; my
daughter is severely oppressed
by a demon.” She was persistent
in her endeavor and Jesus com-
pliments her with “O woman,
great is your faith,” and we are
told that her daughter was healed
instantly. From this we learn that
Jesus is merciful and desires to
serve all people.
There will be a church council
meeting this Sunday at 11:45 a.m.
ZION LUTHERAN
CHURCH & ST. PETER’S
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
LA GRANDE — Due to
COVID-19, in-person worship
is not being held at either Zion
Lutheran Church or St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church, both pastored
by Rev. Roberta Smythe. On Sat-
conventions across the world
have moved to a streaming
platform.
This historic decision was
made out of concern for the health
and safety of local communities.
Attendees from La Grande this
summer were expecting to attend
the three-day event this summer
at the Toyota Center in Kenne-
wick, Washington, where the
regional conventions have been
held since 1992.
The theme of the 2020 con-
vention is “Always Rejoice!” and
it comes at a time when many
are struggling with how to fi nd
happiness amid a pandemic. The
virtual program is being released
online in six installments from
the weekend of July 11-12
through the weekend of Aug.
29-30. The installments may be
accessed at any time. Virtual
attendance is free and open to
all. To view, go www.jw.org and
under the “Library” tab choose
“JW Broadcasting.”
ingly never-ending cycle between
humility and sinfulness in these
chapters is often referred to as the
“pride cycle.” This lesson focuses
on how to avoid this cycle, fi nd
sanctifi cation in our lives, and
increase our faith. The study
manual, referenced scriptures,
and much more are all available
for free from the church’s web-
site (www.newsroom.churchofje-
suschrist.org.) or from the free
“Gospel Library” app.
Members who have been won-
dering why the Book of Mormon
video series suddenly stopped
during the latter chapters of Alma
may fi nd the answer and other
interesting articles about this,
temples and other church activ-
ities in the “newsroom” on the
Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints’ website.
Submissions
urday, links to Zion’s online wor-
ship service will be posted on the
church’s website and Facebook
page, and a link to St. Peter’s
online worship will be available
on its Facebook page. The con-
gregations do not plan to meet in
person until after Labor Day.
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
LA GRANDE STAKE — The
Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints’ “Come, Follow
Me” lesson for the week of Aug.
17-23 begins a study of the book
of Helaman (chapters 1-6). The
study manual points out the seem-
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
LA GRANDE — This year,
the annual Jehovah’s Witnesses
Should Christians make Sunday a holy day?
Voicing gratitude despite
O
a messed-up world
“R
ender therefore to all
their dues: tribute to
whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom; fear
to whom fear; honor to whom
honor.” (Romans 13:7)
In Romans 13:7, God tells
us to honor those to whom
honor is due. In that context
FRANKLIN
HUMBER
FROM THE PULPIT
of holy scripture, God is ref-
erencing those in authority
and specifi cally those in gov-
ernment or law enforcement
authority. Following the news
coverage of the violent protests
taking place in Portland and
many other major cities in our
nation, I have been reminded
once again how thankful I am
to live in a place where we
have peaceful protests when-
ever we have protests.
It does not bother me to
have people exercising the First
Amendment right of freedom
of speech, and I trust they
will also tolerate and respect
me when I exercise my own
right to the same freedom. It
made me sad when I saw the
recording of a young journalist
from a conservative news
group being attacked as he was
covering a protest in Portland.
The report he gave was that he
was attacked because he rep-
resented a different viewpoint
than that of the protestors. The
freedoms of our Constitution
are for each American, not
just for those with a particular
political views.
The same freedoms that are
meant to allow me to proclaim
the truths of scripture are the
same for those who burn our
beloved fl ag, even though I do
not like what they are doing
and even disagree with it. I am
thankful that we still live in
a nation where they can exer-
cise that right without worrying
about military tanks running
them over as we saw years ago
in China. I am thankful to live
in a community in which the
law enforcement are peace offi -
cers and care about our com-
munity, unlike the offi cers who
were seen in Minneapolis a few
months ago. I am thankful for a
county government that is truly
working for the good of our
community and not on a quest
for personal benefi t as we see
too often in politics.
If we want to make pos-
itive changes in things that
are not right in our society,
fi rst we should pray for those
in authority as instructed in
God’s word. However, we also
need to be engaged in the pro-
cess of decision making at the
most basic level of voting in
each election. There is also a
need for good, moral and eth-
ical people to be willing to
serve in public offi ce in order
ur culture as a whole has
clearly embraced secularism
and the absolute autonomy of
the individual as the credo for living.
In keeping with this change, over the
past several decades former societal
practices that put God collectively
above the individual, such as Sunday
store closings for family, worship
and rest, have vanished.
to truly make a positive differ-
ence for the well-being of their
fellow man. I am thankful for
the place we live and for those
who serve well for the good
of our community. I am also
thankful that in our nation we
can still call the offi ce of our
elected leaders and voice our
opinion even if it is diamet-
rically opposed to that of the
leader you are calling.
There is much that is
messed up in our world, in
our nation, in our state and
perhaps even in our commu-
nity. Peaceful protesters may
write things on the sidewalk
or street in chalk, not paint.
Peaceful protesters hold signs
and voice their protest; they
do not attack, kill or do bodily
harm to those who have a dif-
ferent position or who are
there to keep the peace for
everyone. Peaceful protesters
may march in solidarity, but
they do not loot, destroy and
burn private property, busi-
nesses or federal buildings.
However, there is much to
be thankful for as well. I am
seeking to voice my concerns
in my votes and in my personal
communications, while at the
same time express my grati-
tude to the Lord and to those
who serve well.
DONALD
BASTIAN
CALL ME PASTOR
Many Christians appear to
have followed this change. Rather
than making Sunday a true Lord’s
Day for worship and rest, Sunday
might include any-day tasks such
as laundry, shopping for groceries,
washing the car, mowing the lawn,
cleaning house or spending hours in
hard study. The question is whether
we give up something precious
when Sunday becomes like any
other day of the week.
The Sabbath originally referred to
Saturday, but for the largest part of
Christendom it has become Sunday.
That’s because Sunday is the day of
Christ’s resurrection and is therefore
“the Lord’s Day.”
Consider as well that on the
Sunday of his resurrection, Jesus
also appeared to his followers in the
morning (John 20:1-19), afternoon
(Luke 24:13-32) and evening (Luke
24:36-49). These meetings set the
stage for the weekly celebration on
Sunday of our Lord’s resurrection
and the promise of our salvation and
eternal life with him.
For further support of Sunday
observance, note Luke’s documenta-
tion that a generation after Christ’s
resurrection, when he and Paul were
About the Author
Franklin Humber is the
pastor of the Summerville
Baptist Church.
in Troas, “On the fi rst day of the
week we came together to break
bread” (Acts 20:7). And as well, Paul
instructs the Corinthians to set aside
their special offerings “on the fi rst day
of the week” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
The Sabbath principle really
begins with the account of cre-
ation. The Book of Genesis tells us
that after six days of creation, “on
the seventh day God rested (ceased)
from all the work of creation that
he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3). This
“rest” is sometimes referred to as
a Sabbath rite, a standard to be
observed by God’s creatures.
Then, in Exodus, the second book
of the Bible, we learn that during
Israel’s wilderness wanderings, God
gave the miraculous gift of manna as
daily food (16:12). Each morning the
Israelites were to go out and collect
enough for the family for only that
day. But, on the morning of the sixth
day, they were to gather enough for
two days so they would not need to
gather on the Sabbath (16:29).
Again, this arrangement refl ected
God’s merciful call for them to desist
one day out of seven from their
weekly labors in order to rest in his
mercy and celebrate his care.
Then, later came the giving of
the Ten Commandments. The fourth
(Exodus 20:8) said, “Remember the
Sabbath Day by keeping it holy” —
setting it apart, sanctifying it.
The fi rst three commandments
all start with the phrase “You shall
not…” Commandment four begins
with “You shall” — it is a positive
command to remember and observe
the special day.
About the Author
Donald N. Bastian, of Ontario,
Canada, is the bishop emeritus of
the Free Methodist Church of North
America.
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
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
SIXTH &
SPRING,
LA GRANDE
www.UnionBaptistOregon.org
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
541-963-3911
Sunday Morning Worship
Service 11:00 am
Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
Pastor Taylor Gould
lgumc@eoni.com
www.lagrandeumc.org
Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon
Birthing, Building and Being
the Body of Christ
Worship 10:00 am
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 St.
Union
541-562-5531
www.flmbclagrande.com
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
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
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
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
Adventist Church
A Place where hope is found in Jesus
Join us in Fellowship & Worship
Saturday 11am
Outdoor Worship
2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande
963-4018
lagrandeor.adventistchurch.org
Learning for Today and Eternity
Little Friends
Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390
La Grande Adventist Christian School
K-8th Grade 963-6203