Spiritual Life
A6
Thursday, July 1, 2021
SPIRITUAL LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
Message focuses on seeking
the good of others
LA GRANDE — The La
Grande First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) will meet
at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 4. Pastor
Archie Hook’s message, “The
Fight for Independence,” looks at
celebrating the Fourth of July with
reference to 1 Corinthians 10:23-
24: “‘I have the right to do any-
thing,’ you say — but not every-
thing is benefi cial. ‘I have the
right to do anything’ — but not
everything is constructive. No one
should seek their own good, but
the good of others.”
Sunday service includes
Holy Communion
LA GRANDE — La Grande’s
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
time of fellowship. The service
will also be livestreamed to You-
Tube, and the link for that stream
will be posted on Zion’s Facebook
page and website on Saturday.
They had seen him grow up, and
when he presented his teaching
“they took off ense at Him” (Mark
6:3), and Jesus “marveled because
of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6). The
following verses state that Jesus
remained steadfast as he sent his
disciples to witness God’s Word.
Following the Divine Service
in La Grande will be the First
Sunday Potluck and an elders’
meeting.
July’s sermons will be
based on Mark 6
Weekly lesson looks at
prophet’s vision of heaven
LA GRANDE — The sermons
at Faith Lutheran Church, based
in La Grande, for the month of
July will use this sixth chapter of
Mark’s Gospel. On Sunday, July
4, the reading will be Mark 6:1-12,
which tells that Jesus’ hometown
was skeptical of his authority.
LA GRANDE — Sunday, July
4, is Fast Sunday for members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-
ter-day Saints. All are encouraged
to fast for two meals and donate
the value of the meals to the less
fortunate.
The “Come, Follow Me” lesson
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@lagrandeob-
server.com (with Highlights in the subject line).
will meet for worship at 11 a.m.
Sunday, July 4. The service,
which will include Holy Commu-
nion, will be recorded for those
who cannot attend. The video
will be posted to the church’s
Facebook page and sent to mem-
bers’ emails Sunday afternoon or
evening.
Fellowship follows
in-person worship
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church, in La Grande,
will meet for worship Sunday,
July 4, at 9 a.m., followed by a
for the week of July 5 looks at the
answers to questions about res-
urrection after the death of our
mortal bodies that were given to
the Prophet Joseph Smith in Feb-
ruary 1832, which was referred
to as “the Vision” by early
Saints. This revelation, teaching
about the division of heaven into
degrees of glory, was received as
the prophet pondered the meaning
of John 5:29.
A La Grande Stake activity
is planned July 17 at the Union
County Fairgrounds. Beginning
at 6 p.m. members will be cele-
brating their pioneer heritage.
The Family History Center
at 1802 Gekeler Lane is open to
the public. Hours are Monday
and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon,
Tuesday and Thursday from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday
from 6-9 p.m.
We are not as independent as we think we are
ROBERTA
SMYTHE
WALKING WITH THE
SHEPHERD
his weekend we will be
celebrating Independence
Day. Specifi cally, indepen-
dence and freedom from British
rule. We are often quite proud of
our independence and our free-
doms, and there are indeed many
areas in which we have free-
doms many people in the world
do not. As Oregonians, we espe-
cially value our freedom and
independence.
And yet, we sometimes
T
struggle — individually, as a
state and as a country — to
determine at what point our per-
sonal freedoms may impinge on
the freedoms of others. We see
this in debates about COVID-19
mandates, gun control, abortion
rights, Black Lives Matter vs.
Blue Lives Matter, voting access,
etc. These debates and issues
highlight the fact that we are not
as independent as we think we
are. What we do aff ects others,
and what others do aff ects us.
The reality is that we are all
dependent and interdependent
on one another. Few of us, if any,
are 100% self-suffi cient. We are
dependent on doctors, nurses and
other frontline workers for med-
ical care and emergencies. We
are dependent on grocery clerks,
restaurant staff and farmers for
food. We are dependent on postal
workers, delivery drivers and
truckers to bring us all kinds of
goods from around the country
and around the world. We also
rely on one another to follow the
rules and laws that have been put
in place to keep us all safe.
We are also not as self-suffi -
cient as we’d like to think when
it comes to our spiritual lives.
Although we may use or hear
phrases like “I’ve accepted Jesus
as my savior” and “I’ve given
my life to God,” or we sing
Jehovah’s Witnesses hold global
virtual event in 500 languages
Jehovah’s Witnesses Public
Information Desk
Breaking tradition in the
name of health and safety,
the Jehovah’s Witnesses
have moved their annual
in-person event to a virtual
format for the second time
in as many years, canceling
nearly 6,000 conventions in
240 lands.
In 2020, the pandemic
unexpectedly interrupted
the annual three-day event,
moving the international
religious organization to
cancel in-person conven-
tions throughout the world
and launch a global virtual
event. This was a fi rst for
Jehovah’s Witnesses, who
have held public conven-
tions in stadiums, arenas,
convention centers and
theaters around the world
since 1897.
“Powerful by Faith!”
is the theme of the 2021
global event, which will
be delivered in more than
500 languages to house-
holds throughout the globe
over six weekends during
July and August, uniting
some 15-20 million people
in 240 countries. Since
the convention is typically
held from Friday through
Sunday, the program will
be available in six install-
ments corresponding to
morning and afternoon
sessions.
In the past, Bob and
Gloria Phillips, of Central
Oregon, had attended con-
ventions around the globe.
They remember the friend-
ships made and the hos-
pitality they were shown.
Some of their most memo-
rable experiences were in
Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong,
the Philippines and Italy.
“What you see is a won-
derful global brother-
hood,” said Bob Phillips,
90. “The spontaneous love
of brothers and sisters from
hundreds of ethnic back-
grounds is an experience
we will never forget.”
Now that the event has
gone virtual, the Central
Oregon couple miss the
refreshing association, but
they enjoy some surprising
benefi ts from the new plat-
form. Gloria Phillips, 81,
said that now she never
misses anything on the
program.
“Being able to repeat
and rewatch and relisten
to that comment that was
made that you didn’t quite
get is a very outstanding
feature, I think,” she said.
The continued risk of
bringing thousands of
people together in cities
around the world prompted
the organization to opt for
a virtual platform for the
second consecutive year.
However, the move has not
curbed the enthusiasm for
the annual event. Congre-
gations around the world
are inviting the public to
join them in this historic
occasion.
“Faith has helped our
global brotherhood to con-
tinue to thrive even during
a pandemic,” said Robert
Hendriks, U.S. spokesman
for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Our faith will continue to
unite us in worship — even
virtually — as millions
gather in private homes
around the world to enjoy a
powerful and inspiring spir-
itual program.”
All are invited to attend
the event at www.jw.org
or on the free JW Library
app available for iOS or
Android. The program is
free and accessible to all.
songs that state “I have decided
to follow Jesus,” we don’t really
have that much say-so in our
salvation.
According to Martin Luther,
our inability to determine our
own salvation is due to sin.
Luther defi ned sin as the soul
curved in on itself.
Focusing only inward, only
on ourselves, prevents us from
looking outward or outside our-
selves for much of anything,
whether it’s living well with
others or following God. And so,
we need help in order to believe
and follow God, and we espe-
cially need help in order to see
beyond ourselves to the needs of
others. The good news is that we
are not left on our own in either
of these endeavors. God sends
help in the form of Jesus, who
died for our sins, and in the form
of the Holy Spirit, who continues
to call and inspire us to be better.
There’s nothing wrong with
celebrating our independence
from England.
Just remember how much
we are still dependent on one
another, and on God, to live our
lives to the fullest.
———
Roberta Smythe is the pastor of
the Zion Lutheran Church and St.
Peter’s Episcopal Church, both in
La Grande.
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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)
Worship
10:00 a.m.
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
SUMMERVILLE
BAPTIST CHURCH
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
A church for your whole family
Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org
The Place
62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 “We are called to Serve”
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove
Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder
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
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Phone: 541-568-4230
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
www.lagrandeumc.org
www.imblercc@gmail.com
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
La Grande Seventh-day
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
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
For service information go to
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201
Adventist Church
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
Pastor Taylor Gould
Imbler
Christian
Church
2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande
963-4018
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
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
FIRST LANDMARK
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
1812 1st St. La Grande
Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215
We use the King James Version Bible
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
Services
This
Week