Spiritual Life
A6
Thursday, April 7, 2022
SPIRITUAL LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
Congregation gathers for
Palm Sunday procession
SUBMISSIONS
LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church will meet for a
Palm Sunday Service on April 10
at 11 a.m. Those who attend will
meet downstairs for a procession
to the church. The service will
include a Gospel reading from
Luke 22:14-23:56. Fellowship
will follow immediately after
worship. Masks and social dis-
tancing are required.
Churches and faith-based groups are
encouraged to submit Highlights for the
Spiritual Life page by noon Tuesday for
publication Thursday. Submit by email
to news@lagrandeobserver.com (with
Highlights in the subject line).
service will include Holy Com-
munion, and a time of fellowship
time will follow. The service will
also be livestreamed to YouTube,
and the link for that stream will
be posted on Zion’s Facebook
page and website on April 9.
Stake activity planned for
youth on April 9
Communion is a weekly part of
the worship service and all are
invited to join the congregation at
the Lord’s Table.
Greeting Jesus with palms
and rejoicing
LA GRANDE — First Chris-
tian Church (Disciples of Christ)
will celebrate Palm Sunday, April
10, with palms and rejoicing at a
10:30 a.m. worship service. Pastor
Archie Hook’s message, “Save
Us,” will explore John 12:12-15
and Jesus’ triumphal entry into
Jerusalem and his conviction to
complete the journey before him.
Palm Sunday service
streamed live
LA GRANDE— Zion
Lutheran Church will meet
for worship on Palm Sunday,
April 10, at 9 a.m. Masks are
not required, though are recom-
mended for those at risk. The
service will begin in the Fel-
lowship Hall, then process with
palms into the sanctuary. The
NORTHEASTERN OREGON
— The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints will have a
stake primary activity on Sat-
urday, April 9, for youth ages
7-11. Activities for the south end
of the stake will be at the Baker
church building from 10 a.m.
to noon, and activities for the
north end of the stake will be
at the Island City building from
2-4 p.m. Hot dogs and ice cream
will be served, and children are
welcome to bring a friend. Con-
tact local church leaders for more
information.
Recordings, summaries and
statistical reports from last
weekend’s General Conference
are available on the church’s
website.
The “Come, Follow Me” lesson
for the week of April 11 is titled
“Easter” and is based on the Bible,
Book of Mormon and Doctrine &
Covenants scriptures listed in the
lesson, providing all the opportu-
nity to study and prepare for the
Easter celebration of the Atone-
ment and Resurrection of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Gospel story comes to life
ENTERPRISE — The Enter-
prise Community Congregational
Church — aka “the big brown
church” — on Palm Sunday,
April 10, will meet for worship at
11 a.m. The service will tell the
story of the last week of Jesus’
life, including his trial before
Pilate, through dramatic enact-
Being aware of all God does for us
ROBERTA
SMYTHE
WALKING WITH
THE SHEPHERD
am in the midst of
moving. Not very far,
just 3.5 miles, but that
doesn’t make the process
much easier. There’s still
sorting, culling, packing,
transporting, and then
unpacking and putting
everything away again.
Given all that upheaval, it’s
not surprising that I don’t
like moving. I’d even go so
far as to say I hate moving.
I don’t mind being in a new
place — it’s just the pro-
cess of getting there that I
dislike.
During this and my pre-
vious move, I’ve learned
that my cats don’t like
moving either, perhaps
even less than I do. But
then, I know what’s hap-
pening and why, but I
can’t exactly explain it to
I
them. So they walk around
meowing and crying, they
run away from me and they
hide a lot. In fact, they’re
still at the old house, along
with some odds and ends
I’m still packing, because
they disappear when I get
the carriers out.
I wish I could tell them
that it’s going to be okay,
that I’m not abandoning
them, or getting rid of
them, etc. Of course, this
isn’t the only time I wish
I could communicate
better with my cats, and
they with me. It would be
nice if they could tell me
when they aren’t feeling
well, and where it hurts. It
would help if I could tell
them that the medicine I’m
giving them is to help them
feel better, not something
poisonous (which must
be what they’re thinking,
given how violently
they resist).
I love my cats, and I
do a lot for them, and I’m
Steven Darrell Murphy
March 6, 1950 – March 25, 2022
It is a great sadness
that Steve Murphy passed
away March 25, 2022, in a
tragic motorcycle accident
in Stayton, Oregon, while
traveling to visit his family.
He was born on March 6,
1950, to Darrell and Jean
Murphy at the Bethesda
Naval Hospital in Maryland.
Steve graduated in 1969
from La Grande High School
and went to work in logging,
followed by long-haul trucking. He was a lone wolf
mountain man who loved the outdoors, tinkering,
restoring cars from the 1920s and riding motorcycles.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Darrell and
Jean Murphy. He is survived by his heartbroken siblings,
David Murphy and Gloria McBain of Lake Havasu City,
Arizona; children, Autumn Sanders, Douglas Murphy
and Jason Murphy; five grandchildren; and three aunts.
He has been cremated and a private wake was
held March 27 in Eugene, Oregon, at his daughter’s
establishment. Serving the family was North Santiam
Funeral Service, Stayton.
sure I’m not alone. But I’m
not sure the cats realize
the trouble I go to. I mix
plain litter with scented
litter so there’s a little odor
coverage, but it doesn’t
smell like a perfume fac-
tory. I changed their blend
of cat food and instituted
nightly brushings when
one started having hairball
trouble. I make sure they
can see out the windows
and have toys to play with.
And yet, here they are,
avoiding me and hiding
because they don’t know
what’s going on, and
they’re stressed.
This may not be too
different from how we
humans react with God at
times. We may not realize
how much God loves us
and cares for us. We aren’t
always aware of all the
things God does for us:
How do you experience
spirituality?
LA GRANDE — The
Observer welcomes thoughts
and comments from community
members on spiritual matters. If
you would like to share how you
experience spirituality, email
lkelly@lagrandeobserver. com or
leave a message at 541-624-6019.
Ongoing monthly columns
and one-time submissions will
be considered. Columns are
generally 500-600 words and
include a photo of the writer.
— The Observer
WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
Who is wise and virtuous, gentle and keen-witted,
humble and amenable, such a one to honor may attain.
—Digha Nikaya 3.273
big and small, seen and
unseen. So when things
aren’t going the way we
expect, the way we want,
we get stressed and wonder
where God is. We wonder
why God isn’t making
things better on our time
schedule and in the way
we want.
I don’t have a way to
completely understand
my cats, but God did find
a way to understand us
humans and communi-
cate more directly with us.
God became human, in
the form of Jesus. He lived
among us, showing us and
telling us about God’s love
for us. He also experienced
many of the ups and downs
of human life, including
death, all for our sake.
█
ment, readings and music, in
preparation for his triumphant
resurrection. Interim pastor Rev.
Dr. Craig Pesti-Strobel will lead
this special service. Bible study,
which is currently discussing 1
Corinthians, precedes the service
at 9:30 a.m.
Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome
the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by
generosity; overcome the liar by truth.
—Dhammapada 17.223
Learn this from the waters: in mountain clefts and
chasms, loud gush the streamlets, but great rivers flow
silently.
—Sutta Nipata 3.725
— Source: www.pariyatti.org
Jean Ann (Conrad) Miller
March 1926 - January 2022
Jean Ann Miller
Jean Ann Conrad was born at
home on the family ranch in Imbler,
Oregon, to Charles (Todd) and
Pearl Conrad. She graduated from
Imbler High School in 1943 and
received awards for all-around girl
and drama at graduation. During
her school years starting at age 9
Jean Ann raised award-winning
4-H steers. She showed the steers in March 1926 – January 2022
Union County and at the Pacific International
Livestock
Jean Ann Conrad was
born at home on the family ranch i
Charles (Todd) and Pearl Conrad. She graduated from Imble
show in Portland. In 1939 she had the
Grand
and received
awards Champion
for all around girl and drama at gradua
school years starting at age 9 Jean Ann raised award winnin
steer in the open division, which sold
for
$.60
a pound,
showed
the steers
in Union
County and at the Pacific Intern
in Portland. In 1939 she had the Grand Champion steer in t
the most ever at that time.
which sold for $.60 a pound, the most ever at that time.
During high school she met Edmond Miller from nearby C
During high school Jean Ann met
Edmond
Miller
LaGrande.
After her graduation,
they eloped to Boise, Idaho
for 74 years before his death in 2017. Jean Ann followed Ed
from nearby Cove at a dance in La Europe
Grande.
After
her During those years
while he served
in the Air Force.
jobs including a dentist office, and department store
graduation, they eloped to Boise, various
Idaho.
were
After
the war they They
returned to Oregon
and lived in Corvallis
Huntington, Lake Oswego, and Beaverton. Jean Ann was a h
married for 74 years before his death
in She
2017.
Jean
mother to three.
volunteered
for years at the Lake Osw
Ann followed Ed to various states and Europe while he
served in the Air Force. During those years she worked
at various jobs including a dentist office and department
stores in several cities.
After the war they returned to Oregon and lived in
Corvallis, Cove, La Grande, Huntington, Lake Oswego
and Beaverton. Jean Ann was a homemaker and mother
to three. She volunteered for years at the Lake Oswego
Senior Community Center and later for more than 25
years at the Beaverton School District’s Continuing
Education for Young Parents child care facility.
Survivors include her daughter, Jody (Kip Leonard);
sons, Jeff (Laura) and Mark (Jennifer Moffatt);
grandchildren, Ross Miller, Reed Miller (Emily), Nick
Leonard (Caroline Lafferty), JJ Miller (Abby), Annie
Miller, Connor Kelley and Jack Kelley; two great-
grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Jean Ann
was predeceased by her three siblings: Clifford Conrad,
June Van Blokland and Wes Conrad.
Jean Ann’s and Ed’s remains will be interred at
the Summerville Cemetery near Imbler. The family
is grateful for the care provided by Hearthstone at
Murrayhill and Hospice during Jean Ann’s final days.
Roberta Smythe is the pastor of La
Grande’s Zion Lutheran Church.
Amiel G. Abel
July 9, 1951 – March 25, 2022
Amiel Glenn Abel, 70, of La
Grande, passed away on Friday,
March 25, 2022, at his residence
surrounded by his family after a
long battle with cancer. At Amiel’s
request a family celebration of his
life will take place at a later date.
Amiel was born on July 9, 1951,
in Pendleton, Oregon, to Glenn
and Lorraine (Waples) Abel. He
attended schools in Pendleton and Huntington, Oregon.
In 1980, he married Michele Spivey and they resided in
La Grande until his passing. Amiel was employed with
the Union Pacific Railroad for more than 40 years.
Amiel was an avid hunter most of his life and
enjoyed spending time hunting with his family. He also
enjoyed being at the Oregon Coast, especially during
clamming season. Many years were spent traveling with
his children and grandchildren, watching their sporting
events. At any time of day Amiel could be found in his
shop repairing or building something.
Amiel is survived by his wife, Michele; his children,
Raymond (Jamie) of La Grande, Oregon, Tiffany
(Mike) of Clackamas, Oregon, Randy (Deidre) of Boise,
Idaho, and Tanner (Danielle) of La Grande, Oregon;
nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three
sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn
and Lorraine; brother, Arden; and sister, Myrna.
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!
Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove
Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder
SUMMERVILLE
BAPTIST 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
First Christian
Church
(Disciples of Christ)
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Place
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
lgdisciples@gmail.com
“We are called to Serve”
Bible Study
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
9:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Worship
Phone: 541-568-4230
10:30 a.m.
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
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
www.lagrandeumc.org
www.imblercc@gmail.com
Adventist Church
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
For service information go to
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201
La Grande Seventh-day
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
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