Spiritual Life
A6
Thursday, August 5, 2021
SPIRITUAL LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
Zion worship service
will be streamed live
shops and concerts. There will
also be in-person meetings in
some areas for age groups of
18-30, 31-45 and older than 45.
For more information visit www.
LDS-SA.org.
SUBMISSIONS
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church of La Grande
will meet for worship at 9 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 8. A time of fellow-
ship will follow. Masks are rec-
ommended but not required. The
service will be streamed live to
YouTube; the link will be posted
on Sunday to Zion’s Facebook
page and website.
Regional conference for
single adults begins Aug. 6
LA GRANDE — Members
of the Church of Jesus Christ
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).
of Latter-day Saints congrega-
tions will be the speakers during
Sunday’s Sacrament Services
on Aug. 8. Relief Society and
Priesthood meetings will be held
the second hour.
The “Come, Follow Me”
lesson for the week of Aug. 9
will be based on Doctrine and
Covenants Section 88, which is a
revelation given through Joseph
Smith in late December 1832 and
referred to as “the Lord’s mes-
sage of peace to us.” The lesson’s
topics of discussion include the
Lord’s offer to us for hope and
peace, and the fact that light and
law comes from Jesus Christ.
A three-day regional con-
ference for single adults will
be held Aug. 6-8. More than
280 stakes have been invited
to participate in a virtual por-
tion featuring speakers, work-
should be from love and not
selfishishness.
St. Peter’s holds Morning
Prayer service
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church of La Grande
will meet for a service of Morning
Prayer at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 8.
Per the bishop, masks are again
required, and the congregation
will observe social distancing.
The service will be recorded,
and that video will be posted to
the church’s Facebook page and
emailed to members on Sunday
afternoon or evening.
— The Observer
What does it mean to be
united in Christ?
LA GRANDE — Sunday,
Aug. 8, the La Grande First
Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) will worship together at
10 a.m. Pastor Archie Hook’s
message, “United,” will be
drawn from Philippians 2:1-4,
which reminds us to be of one
mind in Christ. Our actions
The word of God is living and active
DONALD
BASTAIN
JUST CALL ME
PASTOR
appily, the church I
was pastoring was
attracting young
couples with little children,
along with many other age
groups.
Among these couples
were Tom and Nancy. But
after they had come to
Sunday worship with their
children for three weeks,
Tom was absent on week
four.
As Nancy gathered
the children to depart
that fourth week, I asked
her if Tom was ill. Tears
H
filled her eyes as she told
me of a decision he had
made. He didn’t need to
go to church, he had said.
He could manage his life
without it.
I learned that Tom had
a good job and was pro-
viding well for the chil-
dren, and his Sunday
golf game was with new
friends whom he enjoyed.
Sunday church was in the
way and therefore taken
off his schedule.
A week or so later,
I visited Tom. He was
expecting my visit and
met me at the door with
his engaging smile.
He was a cheerful and
self-confident man.
We sat down together
and our conversation
was easy and mutually
affirming.
Toward the end of the
visit I mentioned I had
noticed his absence from
church recently and asked
if he would share with me
the reason.
My interest, of course,
was his eternal destiny,
support for his wife and
his influence on his chil-
dren above all.
Tom responded to my
question but never lost
his smile, and his deci-
sion seemed fixed. Before
leaving his home I took
an index card from my
pocket, handed it to him
and asked if he would do
me a favor.
Seeming mildly
amused, he said he would
try.
I asked if he would
agree to read the card at
least once a day for two
weeks, and then I would
come for a second visit.
I offered a prayer, we
exchanged respectful fare-
wells, and I went to my
car.
When I went to his
home the second time,
the man who met me at
the door was different. He
was warm again but there
was no smile. He moved
almost urgently to the sub-
ject of faith.
In a very short time we
were kneeling together at
his bidding. With tears,
and before the Lord, he
was confessing and asking
forgiveness and resetting
his values.
What could have stirred
such a change?
It was the simple but
penetrating word of our
Lord Jesus Christ printed
on the card I had left
with him: What good is
it for someone to gain the
whole world yet forfeit
their soul? Or what can
anyone give in exchange
for their soul? (Matthew
8:36-37).
It was not I but the
Lord who had arrested
Tom’s attention.
The Spirit of God,
working through scrip-
ture, had penetrated his
consciousness.
This story illustrates
what Christians every-
where believe about the
power of God’s word:
“For the Word of God
is living and active. …
It divides even to the
dividing of soul and
spirit, joints and marrow”
(Hebrews 4:12).
Sometimes, even with
scripture, it takes repeti-
tion to let the light in and
illuminate the soul.
———
Donald N. Bastian, of
Ontario, Canada, is the
bishop emeritus of the Free
Methodist Church of North
America. For more of his
writings, go to justcallme-
pastor.wordpress.com.
It’s OK not to be OK
ROBERTA
SMYTHE
WALKING WITH THE SHEPHERD
’ve been watching the Olympics
this past week. And like so many
others, I was surprised by the
withdrawal of Simone Biles from most of
the events for which she qualified.
Turns out this was due to “the
twisties,” where the brain and body lose
connection and muscle memory fails.
I have no doubt that Biles did the right
thing. She is taking care of herself, and
she allowed others the opportunity to step
up.
The team was able to win a silver
medal, and Suni Lee was able to earn a
gold medal in the all-around.
More surprising than Biles’ with-
drawal, however, has been the criti-
cism she has received for her decision.
And yet, as we have already heard from
a number of top athletes lately (Naomi
Osaka, Michael Phelps, etc.), it’s OK not
to be OK.
That applies to the rest of us as well.
It is OK to need to take a break, and to
take it. It’s OK to take care of yourself.
None of us must do it all, all of the time.
Even God took a day off after six days of
creation.
It can be especially hard to take care of
ourselves when what ails us is not phys-
ical. Most people understand taking care
of a broken bone or a fever but may not
I
realize it’s just as important to take care
of our mental health.
Depression and anxiety are not char-
acter flaws. They are illnesses. And like
most illnesses, it takes time to treat and
to heal. And like some illnesses (such
as diabetes), there may not be a “cure,”
but rather a lifelong program of care and
treatment.
Because mental illness is often seen as
a character flaw rather than the illness it
is, many are reluctant to share their diag-
nosis, or even seek help in the first place.
Many still believe they are somehow
responsible for their condition.
Some say God never gives us more
than we can handle. I’m not sure that’s
true. If that were the case, we wouldn’t
see so many suicides.
Too many people are carrying loads
that they do find too much to bear, and
see no good solution. I’ve heard a better
version of the saying: “God never gives
us more than we can handle, but some-
times the world does.”
None of us knows what kind of
burden, what past or current trauma
another human being is carrying.
We need to be more patient with one
another. We need to be compassionate
with one another.
You never know when your smile, your
caring word or some other act of kindness
will mean the world to someone who’s
struggling inside.
———
Roberta Smythe is the pastor of the Zion
Lutheran Church and St. Peter’s Episcopal
Church, both in La Grande.
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
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)
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