Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, October 8, 2020
HIGHLIGHTS
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
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 — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church will not be
worshipping in-person until
2021. Links to an online wor-
ship for Sunday will be posted
on St. Peter’s Facebook page on
Saturday.
CHURCH OF JESUS
CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS
LA GRANDE — The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints’ “Come, Follow Me” lesson
for the week beginning Oct. 12 is
based on 3 Nephi chapters 20-26,
which is found in the Book of
Mormon. In these chapters we
learn more about the teachings
of Jesus Christ when he visited
the Nephite and Lamanite people
in the Western Hemisphere fol-
lowing his death and resurrection.
These chapters discuss the estab-
lishment of a “free people” in this
land, the gathering of Israel in
the last days and the signs of his
return to his covenant people.
For a summary of the Gen-
eral Conference messages, a very
interesting update on the Salt
Lake Temple renovation and other
important topics, visit the “News
Room” at https://newsroom.chur-
chofjesuschrist.org.
Meeting times for local Sac-
rament services have once again
changed for some wards. Mem-
bers are encouraged to check with
their local leaders for additional
information.
ZION LUTHERAN
CHURCH
LA GRANDE — An in-person
worship service will begin at
9 a.m. Sunday at Zion Lutheran
Church with COVID-19 precau-
tions in place, including wearing
face masks and social distancing.
There will not be Sunday school
nor a coffee hour.
People who are planning to
attend should RSVP by noon Sat-
urday at 541-963-5998 or offi ce@
zionlagrande.org.
A link to an online wor-
ship service for people who are
unable or not ready to worship in
person will be posted Saturday
on Zion’s website and Facebook
page.
Another mile: Building bridges, fi nding blind spots
A
conversation I had
recently went awry,
leaving me frus-
trated at my inability to
get it back on track to neu-
tral territory. I’m noticing
these days how we interact
REGINA
BRAKER
PENDLETON
with people we know and
with strangers. It seems to
me that fear is fueling dis-
agreements and anger, and
when I see the occasional
effort to steer in a positive
direction, I fi nd some hope,
and wonder how we can do
more of that.
With people who matter
to me I’ve noticed myself
becoming more careful in
how I communicate. Many
years of teaching German
included practicing conver-
sational strategies that can
keep the conversation going
rather than slamming the
door. Still, I too have blind
spots, so I look to others I
know who bring a different
set of experience, expertise
and training to the complex
effort of remaining open
with one another.
A friend recently
expressed his frustration
with the world as we’re
experiencing it, and his con-
clusions were of a different
kind than what emerged in
my conversation that took
a turn for the worse. In his
work and community inter-
actions, he’s had to take that
conversation to a more pro-
ductive place than I did.
There’s always more to
learn about how we can help
one another cross the bridge
to each other. Sometimes we
have to build some of it too,
and he knows other things
than I do about that.
My friend served for 20
years as clergy in congre-
gations across our region
with diverse memberships
crossing many ethnicities,
including Black, Indig-
enous, People of Color,
immigrants from African
and Latin American nations,
and those with differing
cognitive needs.
Growing up in the Mid-
west hearing racial slurs in
his family during the cul-
turally and morally chal-
lenging times of Watergate
and the Vietnam War was a
period of important founda-
tional experiences. He ques-
tioned where he belonged,
spent time traveling across
the country, went to col-
lege, delivered mail for the
U.S. Postal Service, and on
his journey found himself
open to “the Good News of
the Gospel,” which offered
him strength and a moral
pathway.
Finding home can be
challenging in his profes-
sion. The call to serve by
his Pendleton congregation
became for him “an exten-
sion of warmth and hospi-
tality to the outsider” that
led him and his wife with
the same calling to make
Pendleton their home. His
involvement in community
entities became a natural
outgrowth of his ministry
and interests: board member
for the Children’s Museum,
Oregon East Symphony,
Pendleton Ministerial Asso-
ciation and the College/
Community Theater.
As a BMCC GED tutor
and workforce specialist
for CAPECO he recog-
nized his greatest hope in
our youths. He’s inspired
by “their civic engagement,
their open-mindedness,
their brave willingness to
question oppressive cultural
ideals often spoon-fed them
by their parents.” He is opti-
mistic about their involve-
ment in a “growing sense
of cultural and economic
diversity (and a) movement
toward providing services
and residency for home-
less and underprivileged
individuals.”
These are diffi cult proj-
ects, and my friend values
our small communities
across Eastern Oregon
for getting things done by
working with those who
don’t see eye-to-eye with
us. Getting along with those
we disagree with he told
me is a matter of “seeing
life from other perspectives
in order to reveal my blind
spots.”
In retirement, he’s still
very much involved in that
change of perspective, vol-
unteering at the Warming
Station and St. Mary’s
Outreach, singing in the
Pendleton Men’s Chorus
(someday once again) and
serving as minister of music
at a local church. In these
environments he practices
what he preaches.
When we don’t agree,
it can help to know more
about those we are con-
fl icted with, their experi-
ences, how they’ve come
to their beliefs, why they
think as they do. Doing so
may help us discover what
we share.
I take to heart his words
of wisdom: “Of most value
in human interactions is
this: Do not run from con-
fl ict. Gently move toward it
in the attempt to heal, grow
and change. Finally, I’d rec-
ommend never engaging in
important communication
using email or text, which
can often create confl ict
that wasn’t there initially,
exacerbating whatever is
unresolved. Intrapersonal
confl ict is best resolved face
to face if possible.”
———
Regina Braker, of Pend-
leton, is a retired educator
with journeys through many
places and experiences
who enjoys getting to know
people along the way.
FAMILY
OWNED
‘Blossom’s FearLess Journal’ rooted in Wallowa County
By Ellen Morris Bishop
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE —
Tamara Fuchs’ book, “Blos-
som’s FearLess Journal:
A path toward courage,”
begins with purpose: to
bring true transformation to
its readers.
“We’ve all been through
a global crisis and we all
need a little extra support
to fi nd our new normal,”
Fuchs said.
The 476-page, full-color
book is an all-Wallowa
County production, with
photographs by her hus-
band, Tom Fuchs, design
and paintings by Summer
Derrickson and a forward
by Center for Wellness’ Dr.
Stephen Kliewer. Fuchs’
company, Blossom Inte-
grated Health, published the
book Sept. 1. It is available
through The Bookloft in
Enterprise in a color version
or black-and-white version.
“The book addresses
not just physical health, but
emotional, social, intellec-
tual and spiritual health as
well, so you can have a lot
of good balance and a well-
rounded life,” Fuchs said.
“It’s about where have you
been, where you are now,
where do you want to be
and let’s get you there.”
“Blossom’s FearLess
Journal” provides informa-
tion and workbook pages
to steer its readers into
a grace-guided pathway
through life, through work
on a dozen “healing habits,”
including mindfulness,
compassion, connection
and fi nding your purpose.
It is designed to be used for
an entire year, with each of
the 12 chapters providing a
month’s work on a different
aspect of healing.
Fuchs, a retired neurodi-
versity specialist and health
teacher, is a certifi ed inte-
grative health coach. She
has faced down multiple
health crises in her own life.
Her book is based upon her
experiences in overcoming
them, and her work in
helping her clients address
their own needs.
Fuchs has infused her
experience as a life and
health skills teacher into the
pages of “Blossom’s Fear-
Less Journal.” Fuchs in her
introduction states fear is
a motivator, something the
trials in her life illustrates.
215 Elm Street La Grande (541) 963-5440
northwestfurnitureandmattress.com
shop safe-shop local
The Union County Chamber of Commerce
would like to thank everyone for
shopping safe, supporting local and doing
your part to keep
Union County open.
www.VisitUnionCounty.org
Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches
Services This
Week
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
First Christian
Church
(Disciples of Christ)
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Place
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
“We are called to Serve”
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Worship
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Phone: 541-568-4230
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
SUMMERVILLE
BAPTIST CHURCH
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Imbler
Christian
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
First Baptist
Church
SIXTH &
SPRING,
LA GRANDE
All services have been temporarily cancelled.
Live-streaming Sunday mornings at
Sunday School
10:00 am. People can watch at:
Worship Service
lagrandefbc.org
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
1531 S. Main St.
Union
541-562-5531
www.UnionBaptistOregon.org
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
Sunday Morning Worship
Service 11:00 am
Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
A church for your whole family
For service information go to
www.lagrandeumc.org
North Powder
United
Methodist Church
Sunday Services
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org
1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201 541-963-3911
www.imblerchristianchurch.org
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
Pastor Taylor Gould
Cove United
Methodist Church
Birthing, Building and Being
the Body of Christ
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
La Grande Seventh-day
Adventist Church
A Place where hope is found in Jesus
Join us in Fellowship & Worship
Saturday 11am
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
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.