Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, March 18, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
Jehovah’s Witnesses
NORTHEAST OREGON
— On Sunday, March 21, a spe-
cial talk will be given around the
world entitled “Have You Found a
Pearl of High Value?”
This presentation about Jesus
Christ’s parable will be given
at local congregations of Jeho-
vah’s Witnesses including La
Grande, Pendleton, Baker City,
Halfway and Enterprise. It pre-
ludes another event the Witnesses
are inviting people to attend: the
annual observance of the memo-
rial of Christ’s death on March 27.
Sunday’s talk and the memorial
of Christ’s death will show how
we can obtain something priceless
that will make our lives better,
now, in the future, even forever.
Due to the pandemic, congre-
gations around the world will host
events by video conference and
phone connections. There are no
fees to attend, and no registration
is required. To learn more about
how to attend locally, contact a
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).
Jehovah’s Witnesses church or
visit www.jw.org.
will be a church council meeting
with discussion on prioritizing
projects.
Wednesday’s midweek Lenten
Service sermon for March 24 is
entitled “Worldly Eyes.”
Faith Lutheran Church
LA GRANDE — The sermon
at Faith Lutheran this Sunday,
March 21, will be drawn from
Mark 10:35-45 in which Jesus
teaches a lesson on humility. He
was responding to his disciples
who desired to have a favored
status of sitting at his right and
left hand. Jesus said, “...to sit
at My right hand or left is not
Mine to grant, but it is for those
for whom it has been prepared”
(vs. 40). His lesson continued
with instruction to serve as he
served.
Following the Divine Service
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
LA GRANDE — The
Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints welcomes all to
search #startingtoday on the
web and view a series of videos
about fi nding hope and joy in
the world. Visit www.chur-
chofjesuschrist.org to learn
about ways to make Easter and
the week leading up to it an
uplifting spiritual experience.
Hope is a grace that inspires us
bubble? A tempo-
rary helium bal-
LAURA
loon feeling, easily
punctured by the
HUDSON
threat of future
BELIEVING AND BECOMING
adversity?
My faith tra-
s warmer tempera-
dition suggests that hope is
tures return, the
not a temporary high but
green blades of cro-
the substance of endurance.
cuses peek through thawed
Hope is not a feeling we
earth. Those fi rst green
generate for ourselves, but
shoots give me the spring-
an inner response we expe-
time hope I need to keep
rience when we are grasped
on steady through the
by a vision of future possi-
rainy days or late-season
bilities. In Christian faith,
snowfall.
our hope in the future is
At the same time, after
grounded in the past, in the
a full year plugging away
life, death and resurrection
at social distancing, mask
of Jesus Christ. We believe
mandates and quarantine
God’s ultimate future, the
since COVID-19 rearranged reconciliation and renewal
our lives, I’m watching
of all Creation, has already
people getting their vac-
broken into the present.
cines and perking up with
Hope is a grace that
the hope that a more expan-
grasps us and inspires us to
sive lifestyle may soon be
act upon our vision of new
available.
life in the here and now.
A friend who recently
Hope gives us the courage to
completed her two-shot vac- dwell in the tension between
cination was nearly dancing the now and the not yet, the
as she described her plans to wisdom to make changes in
get her hair done. Soon after alignment with the vision,
her new hairdo, she was also and the perseverance to see
planning to fi nally visit her
the vision through.
family — and give them
I once heard it said that
hugs. “Who knew such little hope helps us to hop. Hop-
things could make me feel
ping takes muscles, and we
euphoric!” she exclaimed.
develop muscles with prac-
I was both moved and
tice. Start by getting clear
troubled by my friend’s
about what your hope is.
excitement. I wanted to cau- Practicing small hopes is
tion her to hold her hopes
how we gain the strength to
in one hand and keep her
leap into even greater hopes.
mask handy in the other, but
Next, let your hope fi ll
I didn’t want to burst her
you up. Let it make you
bubble.
dance, like my friend did.
But is that all hope is — a This step can feel scary, if
A
you fear disappointment.
Notice your fear, and choose
to hop into hope anyway.
Finally, take action
toward your hope. Small
actions count. Enough small
actions make big ones, and
before you know it, that new
dawn, that new life, has
become the new reality. So,
keep on hopping into hope,
as long as it takes!
———
The Rev. Laura Elly
Hudson is co-pastor of
First Presbyterian Church
in La Grande and founder
of Story Journey. You can
fi nd her at fpclagrande.org
or at lauraellyhudson.com.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
For the week of March 22, the
“Come, Follow Me” lesson will
be on Doctrine and Covenants
section 29. This doctrinally rich
revelation provides insights into
the fall of Adam, the Lord’s plan
for each of us, and the gathering
to take place before his second
coming, affi rming the imminent
advent of the Millennium.
Sunday worship services con-
tinue to be held with smaller
groups and condensed sched-
ules. Face masks and social dis-
tancing are required at these
meetings. Contact your local ward
leaders for additional meeting
information.
St. Peter’s Episcopal
Church
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church will not wor-
ship in person Sunday, March 21,
due to COVID-19.
A link to the livestream of Zion
Lutheran Church’s service will
be posted to St. Peter’s Facebook
page on Saturday.
On Wednesday, March 24,
there will be a Zoom Lenten ser-
vice at 6:30 p.m. The link for that
virtual service will be emailed on
Tuesday.
Zion Lutheran Church
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church’s congregation
will worship in person Sunday,
March 21, at 9 a.m. COVID-19
precautions will be in place,
including masks and social dis-
tancing, and there will not be
a coff ee hour. Those planning
to attend are asked to RSVP to
the offi ce via email or phone
by noon Saturday. The wor-
ship service also will be lives-
treamed on Facebook. A link
will be emailed out and posted
on Saturday.
A midweek Lenten service
Wednesday, March 24, will be
held via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. The
link for that virtual service will
be emailed Tuesday.
Online
Find more spiritual life news online at lagrandeobserver.com, including
a story about what Pope Francis says about same-sex unions.
March into Spring!!!
The Union County Chamber
and La Grande Main Street
Throughout
NAME
HERE the entire month of March shopping,
supporting
and saving local can EARN YOU BIG PRIZES have teamed up with local
COLUMN
TITLE
businesses to encourage you
• Shoppers collect punches by making purchases at participating
to safely shop and support
locations (EACH DOLLAR spent earns a punch). Fill as many cards as you wish.
• Up to 50 punches per purchase!
local businesses as we
• Turn in punch cards by 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 for weekly drawings
March into Spring!!
• All punch cards must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on March 31st for a chance to
win the Grand Prize Drawing!
Turn cards in at Chamber (207 Depot),
La Grande Main Street (102 Depot St.)
or any participating location.
March is about Honoring our
Ag Producers.
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
MOST
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
ACDelcoTSS
THANK YOU!
To each of our Ag Producers.
“Real Food for
the People”
Open
Fri-Sun Take-out
Menu
5pm-8pm Updated
Weekly
www.tendepotstreet.com
541-963-8766
tendepotstreet@gmail.com
Thanks to each of you who contributes
to our local Ag Industry and keeps our
Rural Communities Strong.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION.
Bank of Eastern Oregon’s Mission has always been
to provide Financial Support for the Ag Industry.
YOUR LOCAL AG LENDERS
are just down the road.
Union County will begin their roadside spraying program to control vegeta-
tion and noxious weeds that are encroaching on county road shoulders and
right-of-ways. In most locations, spraying will extend four to eight feet from
pavement edges. Property owners who do not want herbicides applied near
their property must sign an “Owner Will Maintain” agreement with the county
which must be updated annually. The county will provide signs for the own-
ers participating. Property owners wishing to participate can sign up for the
“Owner Will Maintain” program at the Union County Public Works Department
located at 10513 N. McAlister Road in Island City. Any questions, please call
Brian Clapp 541-805-5399 or email bclapp@union-county.org.
Kristy Nelson / David Stirewalt
2514 COVE AVENUE, LA GRANDE / 541-624-5040
We have a NEW BEO WEBSITE
coming. Keep checking in March!
MEMBER FDIC
Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches
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!
First Christian
Church
(Disciples of Christ)
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Worship
10:00 a.m.
Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove
Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
SUMMERVILLE
BAPTIST CHURCH
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST 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
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
Pastor Taylor Gould
For service information go to
www.lagrandeumc.org
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Place
62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
“We are called to Serve”
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Phone: 541-568-4230
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
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
Imbler
Christian
Church
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201
www.imblercc@gmail.com
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
Services
This
Week
La Grande Seventh-day
FIRST LANDMARK
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
Adventist Church
A Place where hope is found in Jesus
Join us in Fellowship & Worship
Saturday all age classes 9:30 am
Saturday Worship 11:00 am
1812 1st St. La Grande
Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215
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
We use the King James Version Bible
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 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”
www.flmbclagrande.com