Spiritual Life
Protecting others
demonstrates
Jesus’ compassion
WILLIAM
HOLLAND
LIVING
ON PURPOSE
very year in early
June, we observe
the anniversary of
the Normandy invasion of
World War II commonly
called D-Day. By the way,
the “D” simply stands
for whatever day a mili-
tary assault is planned. For
example, D-3 meant three
days before a D-Day, while
D+7 meant seven days
after a D-Day. On June 6,
1944, America and its allies
engaged in one of the most
signifi cant military opera-
tions of the 20th century.
I have personally suf-
fered loss from war and
have a deep appreciation
for the service and sacrifi ce
that men and women give
to protect our country. My
mother’s youngest brother,
Kenny Maye, was killed
in Korea, and I have his
dog tag and casket fl ag and
a rare picture of him. He
was only 20 years old in
1950. Sadly, his existence
is nearly unknown and I
often wonder about the
life he could have had. For
everyone who has sacrifi ced
for this great nation, thank
you for your service.
I live a couple of miles
from a national mili-
tary cemetery. From the
highway, you can see many
of the more than 12,000 per-
fectly lined white marble
tombstones. I admit I’ve
often driven past without
hardly thinking about
how each of these individ-
uals at one time or another
accepted the call of duty.
And what is that call? To
defend and protect our
freedom whatever the cost.
These brave soldiers
were willing to give their
life for their country and
I cannot help but wonder
how many of us have con-
victions that strong? The
First Amendment was not
only signed into existence
with ink but with the blood
of more than 1.1 million
Americans who have died in
U.S. wars along with even
more who have suff ered
from physical and mental
diffi culties. The privilege
and freedom each of us has
to share what is on our mind
are liberties that have come
at a great price, and we
should always remember the
cost of this blessing.
As a volunteer chap-
lain for a veteran health
care facility, I have the
opportunity and honor to
sit and talk with many fi ne
men and women who have
served in our nation’s mili-
tary. The World War II vet-
erans who are still alive are
now in their 80s and 90s,
E
and I believe it’s important
not only to record and pre-
serve their amazing war sto-
ries but to sincerely listen
and respect who they are as
individuals.
One of these residents is
a man named Edward Hicks
who willingly stepped for-
ward when his country
needed him the most. He
was only 22 years old and
had married his bride, Mary
Lou, only four months ear-
lier. He received the call
to join the front line and
bravely responded to what
would be known around the
world as “Operation Over-
lord.” The American sol-
diers knew the diff erence
between right and wrong,
and they refused to allow
a world in which wrong
prevailed.
Edward and his company
were assigned to 6 miles of
beach that was codenamed
“Omaha.” Recorded as one
of the bloodiest fi rst wave
battles of Normandy, only
600 men survived out of
2,600 who came ashore. He
recalls when he jumped out
of the amphibious vehicle,
how the water was up to his
neck and icy cold. Loaded
down with full gear that
was now waterlogged, he
said it was very diffi cult to
keep from drowning. As
bullets were splashing the
water and whizzing past
his head, all he knew to do
was to stay as low as pos-
sible. Using fl oating bodies
as shields, he was numb
with fear. As he slowly
crawled upon the sand, he
immediately began to dig
a hole where he could par-
tially avoid the onslaught
of constant machine gun-
fi re. Somehow throughout
the day and thankfully with
the Germans running out
of ammunition, the small
group managed to slowly
make their way inland, and
went on to accomplish the
mission.
Edward received sev-
eral medals for bravery
including a silver star and
four bronze stars — but
there is much more to being
a hero than human forti-
tude and earning awards. It
is recognizing the depth of
spiritual love. The love that
Jesus demonstrated on the
cross is the type of com-
passion that inspires indi-
viduals to love and pro-
tect others as much as they
love themselves. John 15:13
reminds us: “Greater love
hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for
his friends.”
———
Dr. William Holland lives
in Central Kentucky with
his wife Cheryl, where he is
a minister, Christian author,
and community chaplain. To
learn more visit: billyhol-
landministries.com.
6A
Thursday, June 10, 2021
SPIRITUAL LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
St. Peter’s resumes
in-person worship
masks and social dis-
tancing. The service will
also be livestreamed to
YouTube, and the link for
that stream will be posted
Saturday to Zion’s Face-
book page and website.
Eubank. Participants are
asked to visit the church’s
website to view a special
invitation in preparation
for this meeting, and then
again on Sunday to connect
to the broadcast.
A Red Cross blood drive
will be held June 15-16
in the gym at the Gekeler
address. Visit the Red
Cross website or mobile
app to make an appoint-
ment as there is an urgent
need for blood donations.
Special broadcast
set for single adults
age 31 and older
Christian Church
message drawn
from Ecclesiastes
LA GRANDE — The
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints’ “Come,
Follow Me” lesson for the
week of June 14 is based
on Doctrine and Covenants
sections 64–66, which are
revelations given through
Joseph Smith in September
and October of 1831.
This Sunday, June 13, at
3 p.m. there will be a spe-
cial broadcast for single
adults age 31 and older
hosted by Elder Andersen,
Sister Bingham and Sister
LA GRANDE — The
La Grande First Chris-
tian Church (Disciples of
Christ) meets at 10 a.m.
Sunday, June 13, for wor-
ship. Pastor Archie Hook’s
message — “Have You
Found Purpose?” — will
explore Ecclesiastes 3:9-14.
The Christian Women’s
Fellowship is putting on a
giant rummage sale June
19 from 8 a.m. to noon on
the back lawn and parking
area.
— The Observer
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
of La Grande has resumed
in-person worship and
will meet at 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 13, for a ser-
vice of Morning Prayer.
COVID-19 precautions
will be in place, including
the requirement of masks
and social distancing. The
service will be recorded,
and that video will be
posted to the church’s
Facebook page and
member emails Sunday
evening.
Faith Lutheran
services held in La
Grande, Enterprise
LA GRANDE — Faith
Lutheran Church will
have a Matins service
in La Grande at 10 a.m.
Sunday, June 13, and
then a Divine service in
Enterprise at 2 p.m. The
sermon will expound upon
Mark 4:26-34 in which
Jesus explains about the
kingdom of God with par-
ables concerning agri-
culture. Jesus said, “The
kingdom of God is as if a
man should scatter seed on
the ground. He sleeps and
rises night and day, and the
seed sprouts and grows;
he knows not how” (vs.
26-27). Our responsibility
as Christians is to “scatter
the seed,” which is sharing
the Word of God. God uses
that “seed” to enhance His
kingdom.
Faith Lutheran Church
is planning its annual yard
sale, which will take place
in La Grande June 26.
Zion service
streamed live
Sunday, June 13
LA GRANDE — The
Sunday, June 13, service at
Zion Lutheran Church in
La Grande begins at 9 a.m.
COVID-19 precautions
will be in place, including
WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
Look not to the faults of others, nor to their omis-
sions and commissions. But rather look to your own
acts, to what you have done and left undone.
—Dhammapada 4.50
———
Things that are empty make a noise, the full is
always quiet. The fool is like a half-fi lled pot, the wise
one is like a deep still pool.
—Sutta Nipata 3.726
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With all one’s attachments cut, with the heart’s
pining subdued, calm and serene and happy is one, for
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—Samyutta Nikaya 1.242
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One is not wise because one speaks much. One
who is peaceable, friendly and fearless is called wise.
—Dhammapada 19.258
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MKT-P0108
EASTERN OREGON
2021
PHOTO CONTEST
Official Rules:
Photo Contest open now and closes at
11:59 pm Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Staff will choose the top 10. The public can
vote online for People’s Choice from 12:01
am Monday, June 21 through 11:59 pm
Thursday, June 30.
Digital or scanned photos only, uploaded
to the online platform. No physical copies.
Only photographers from Oregon may
participate.
The contest subject matter is wide open but
we’re looking for images that capture life
in Eastern Oregon.
Submit all photos
online at:
Entrants may crop, tone, adjust saturation
and make minor enhancements, but may
not add or remove objects within the
frame, or doctor images such that the final
product doesn’t represent what’s actually
before the camera.
The winners will appear in the July 8th
edition of Go Magazine; the top 25 will
appear online.
Gift cards to a restaurant of your choice
will be awarded for first, second and third
place.
lagrandeobserver.com/photocontest
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