Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, May 6, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
LA GRANDE — Pastor Shari
Eggleston will complete her time
as interim pastor at the La Grande
First Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) on Sunday, May 9. Her
message, “Fare Thee Well,” will
come from Jeremiah 29:11 and
Deuteronomy 34:1-4. There will
be a time of fellowship immedi-
ately following worship, to wish
her well.
Pastor Archie Hook has been
called to be the new pastor at the
church and will begin his min-
istry next week, leading worship
on May 16.
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).
9 a.m. COVID precautions will
be in place, including masks and
social distancing. Those planning
to attend are asked to RSVP to the
offi ce via email or phone by noon
Saturday. The service will also be
livestreamed to Youtube, and the
link for that stream will be posted
Saturday on Zion’s Facebook page
and website.
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church will meet in
person this Sunday, May 9, at
LA GRANDE — The fi rst
episodes of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints’ gen-
eral conference podcast are now
available. New episodes will be
published weekly; https://news-
room.churchofjesuschrist.org/ for
more information.
There will be a stake youth
activity/service project at the
Catherine Creek Lodge for young
men and women ages 11-18 Sat-
urday, May 8. Small groups will
be maintained and COVID-19
restrictions apply, so contact your
ward leadership for more infor-
mation and assigned time.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May
9, and primary children will be
singing a special musical number
‘Don’t be afraid’ is easier
when we are in community
ROBERTA
SMYTHE
WALKING WITH THE SHEPHERD
ater this month, I will do some-
thing I haven’t done for more than
16 months: travel more than a few
hours from La Grande — on a plane, no
less. On the one hand, I feel fairly com-
fortable traveling now that I’m a few
weeks out from my second COVID-19
vaccine. On the other hand, I still will
be wearing my mask and maintaining as
much distance as possible while I travel,
as I remain concerned about COVID-19
variants and the increasing COVID-19
cases where I’m going.
I suspect I’m not alone in having these
diff erent points of view about the same
situation. I want to be cautious, not only
for my own health but for the health of
others. Yet I don’t want to live in com-
plete fear. And there’s been plenty to be
fearful of this past year, if we allow it.
Fear of the virus itself. Fear of dying. Fear
of losing loved ones without the chance
to say goodbye. Fear of losing one’s busi-
ness, one’s job, one’s home. Of course,
even without COVID-19, there has never
been a shortage of things to fear. We fear
other diseases, like cancer. We fear those
who are diff erent than us. We fear failure
and not being good enough.
I’ve heard it said that some form of
“fear not” or “don’t be afraid” is the most
common phrase in the Bible (some even
say that it occurs exactly 365 times — one
L
for each day of the year). I can’t docu-
ment that (especially the latter) due to dif-
ferent translations, etc., but there certainly
are a lot of times in the Bible where God,
angels and Jesus say “fear not,” “don’t be
afraid,” “why are you afraid” “and “peace
be with you.” Clearly, we human beings
have a predisposition toward fear.
Fear itself is not necessarily a problem.
Rather it’s how we cope with fear that can
causes diffi culties. If we lash out at others
because of our fears, it’s not healthy for
us or for others. A better approach would
be to challenge our fears: How likely is it
that what we fear is going to happen? If
it is likely, are there constructive actions
we could take to diminish that likeli-
hood, or diminish the impacts should it
happen? If so, taking those actions can
help appease one’s fears. So can bringing
in outside voices to help us put our fears
into perspective.
That’s one of the advantages of being
part of a community, whether it’s a faith
community, a neighborhood or a nur-
turing set of family and friends. We can
be fearless, we can fear less, when we
ground ourselves in our chosen commu-
nity, asking for, and off ering, support to
one another.
———
The Rev. Roberta Smythe has been the
pastor at Zion Lutheran and St. Peter’s
Episcopal churches in La Grande since
September 2019 and previously served
churches in Montana. She was raised in
the Oregon City area and has degrees
from the University of Oregon and
Pacifi c Lutheran Theological Seminary.
for mothers during the Sacra-
ment service. The “Come, Follow
Me” lesson for the week of May
10 will be on Doctrine & Cov-
enants 49-50, which are revela-
tions through Joseph Smith in
May 1831 concerning the orga-
nization of the church and what
were acceptable practices, then
and now.
ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church has resumed
in-person worship and will meet
Sunday, May 9, at 11 a.m. for
a service of Morning Prayer.
COVID precautions will be in
place, including the requirement
of masks and social distancing.
The service will be recorded, and
that video will be posted Sunday
afternoon or evening to St. Peters’
Facebook page and member
emails.
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
LA GRANDE, ENTERPRISE
— The sermon at Faith Lutheran
Church Sunday, May 9, will be
based on John 15:9-17. In these
verses there are several reassur-
ances from Jesus that he loves
us, that we are his “friends,” and
that “you did not choose Me,
but I chose you....” Jesus gives
the purpose for what he teaches,
establishes and maintains in
verse 11: “These things I have
spoken to you, that My joy may
be in you and that your joy may
be full.” Our Lord cares for us
and nurtures us. Services begin
at 10 a.m. in La Grande and at
2 p.m. in Enterprise.
‘Mayday for Humanity’: prayer or reason?
The Observer
POCOPSON, Penn. —
Thursday, May 6, is the
United States’ National
Day of Prayer, which is
observed annually on the
fi rst Thursday in May. The
United States Congress
designated the day to ask
people “to turn to God in
prayer and meditation,” per
www.nationaldaycalendar.
com.
Members and sup-
porters of fi ve national
nontheist organizations
also are hosting a virtual
event May 6, according to
a press release from the
Freethought Society. The
free three-hour fundraising
event — The National
Day of Reason Mayday
for Humanity — begins
at 7 p.m. for freethinkers,
atheists and agnostics.
The virtual entertain-
ment will feature celebri-
ties, comedians, musicians,
poets and an online auc-
tion. Funds raised will go
to homeless shelters and
food banks.
“As a result of the
COVID health crisis,
tangible assistance, not
thoughts and prayers, is
needed more than ever,”
the press release claimed.
Margaret Downey, the
event coordinator and
president of the Free-
thought Society, said in
the release, “The Free-
thought Society is proud
to be a cosponsor of an
event that celebrates the
National Day of Reason.
During the Mayday for
Humanity event, the non-
theist community will
take action and raise
funds ... to solve human
problems. We look for-
ward to answering the
Mayday for Humanity
emergency call to help
end homelessness and
hunger.”
To learn more and access
the online event, visit the
Mayday for Humanity
Facebook event page.
Teresa Hughes, Hailey Shultz, Mortgage Loan Officer Kaitlin Orcutt,
Desirae Ruth, and Mortgage Loan Officer Raymond Seastone.
Our Team of Local, Experienced Mortgage Specialists
takes the stress out of
Professor overcomes loss to craft
COVID-19 student brochures
NEW YORK — When
the coronavirus pandemic
struck New York City,
LaGuardia Community
College professor Lucia
Fuentes assigned students
in her honors biology class
to compile all the informa-
tion they could fi nd about
COVID-19.
The result? An online
multilingual brochure
based on research from
peer-reviewed journals,
the World Health Organi-
zation and the Centers for
Disease Control and Pre-
vention that has become
a valuable resource for
immigrants in the United
States and their families
abroad.
“Science is compli-
cated and we have to
make it more accessible,”
Fuentes said. “This is why
... I thought it would be
a good thing for the stu-
dents, and that it would be
a contribution.”
Nothing stopped the
project — not even the
death of Fuentes’ hus-
band on March 25, 2020,
due to complications from
COVID-19, or her own
bout with the disease.
In her grief, she
remains committed to her
students and determined
to prevent others from get-
ting sick.
“I wasn’t going to drop
my students, and I knew
they were going through
tons of really horrible
stuff ,” she said. “I talked to
some of them afterwards
... and they really appreci-
ated that.”
— Associated Press
BUILDING THE HOME
OF YOUR DREAMS.
Local in-house draw process
for your builder.
Borrow money as needed
throughout term of the loan.
Local in-house inspections.
Permanent financing available.
TALK TO US ABOUT PURCHASING
A HOME OR REMODELING.
INQUIRE AT YOUR LOCAL
BRANCH OR CALL
541-676-9884
LA GRANDE BRANCH
541-624-5040
KAITLIN ORCUTT NMLS #1043345 / RAYMOND SEASTONE NMLS # 937744 / #414459 / RATES & TERMS MAY VARY. ALL LOANS SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL.
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