Spiritual Life
A6
Thursday, July 28, 2022
SPIRITUAL LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
All welcome at community
outdoor hymn sing July 31
dency. Visit the church website for
more information.
The “Come, Follow Me” lesson
for the week of Aug. 1 is based on
the Book of Job and the impor-
tance of always trusting in God
and remaining faithful, especially
when facing adversity.
SUBMISSIONS
UNION COUNTY — The
Grande Ronde Mennonite
Church will host its annual out-
door hymn sing beginning at
6 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the
Riverside Park Pavilion. All are
invited to come sing, listen and
stay for refreshments and fellow-
ship afterward.
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).
New ‘Friend to Friend’
episode released July 30
NORTHEASTERN OREGON
— Members of the congrega-
tion of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints will speak
during the sacrament meeting on
Sunday, July 31. The second-hour
lesson will be under the direc-
tion of the Bishopric for each indi-
vidual ward, as this is the fifth
Sunday of the month.
Children, parents and primary
teachers are invited to watch the
church’s new “Friend to Friend”
episode that will be made avail-
able beginning on Saturday, July
30, at 9 a.m. PST. The broadcast is
titled “Temples Are the House of
the Lord” and will feature activ-
ities, music and messages from
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
and the Primary General Presi-
Morning prayer services at
the lake open to all
WALLOWA LAKE VILLAGE
— The Wallowa Lake Chapel
announced that all are welcome
to “worship in the beauty of
God’s holiness” each Sunday in
July and August at 8 a.m. The
chapel is at the Wallowa County
Park on the north end of Wallowa
Lake. Morning prayer services
are led by members of the Wal-
lowa County Ecumenical Min-
istry Society.
Sermon title will be
‘Blackbeard the Pirate’
LA GRANDE — Zion
Lutheran Church meets for wor-
ship this Sunday, July 31, at 9 a.m.
Mike Lamb will be preaching
on Luke 12:13-21. The sermon
is titled “Blackbeard the Pirate.”
Fellowship time will follow the
service.
Pendleton church hosts
weekly outdoor song circle
PENDLETON — On Tuesday
evenings, Peace Lutheran
Church is holding an outdoor
song circle at 6 p.m. in the
church’s outdoor courtyard,
accessible from Carden between
Eighth and Ninth streets. This
gathering is for anyone who
would like to sing. People of any
faith and background are wel-
come to join, and are asked to
bring a lawn chair.
The Observer seeks local
spirituality content
LA GRANDE — The Observer
welcomes thoughts and comments
from community members on spir-
itual matters. If you would like to
share how you experience spiri-
tuality, email lkelly@lagrandeob-
server.com or leave a message at
541-624-6019. Ongoing monthly
columns and one-time submis-
sions will be considered. Columns
are generally 500-600 words and
include a photo of the writer.
Also, we invite announcements
and photographs of local faith-based
events and activities for inclusion on
the Spiritual Life page.
— The Observer
Work in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship
SARAH
HAUG
LIGHT OF UNITY
“I
was so happy to
see so many people
show up to help the
guy who lives and breathes
helping others.” “He’s one
of the best!” “We couldn’t
get along without him.”
These remarks capture
why some 30 friends and
family gathered recently at
my brother-in-law’s farm
outside Colfax, Wash-
ington. It was like an
old-fashioned barn-raising,
except we were there to
build fence.
We were there, too,
because my brother-in-law,
described in those com-
ments, spends his life
helping others. This was a
chance to return the favors.
Some people really
know how to work. My
brother-in-law stops
working only to sleep and
eat. He has a servant’s
heart — he lives to serve
others. I think most of us
know someone like him,
someone who embodies
the Baha’i teaching that
says, “Work done in the
spirit of service is the
highest form of worship.”
Work often means
having a trade, a craft or
employment of some kind,
whether in an office, as an
educator, a homemaker,
a tradesman or any of a
thousand occupations. It
isn’t restricted.
Any way we occupy
ourselves that can be of
service to others is con-
sidered work. To be of ser-
vice, each of us, no matter
our starting point, diffi-
culties or natural abilities,
must pursue some form
of work. In turn, society
has the responsibility to
provide opportunity for
every individual to develop
and utilize her or his tal-
ents. We all have capacity
to be of service to others
through work of some
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kind, whatever that work
is. And when we serve
others, we worship God.
What, then, is worship?
Merriam-Webster defines
it as “to honor or show rev-
erence” to a divine being.
How we do that as human
beings varies across peo-
ples and religions. Prayer
and meditation are two
forms of worship. They
also prepare us for service.
Though prayer and
meditation are predom-
inantly private in the
Baha’i faith, Baha’is do
gather for communal wor-
ship. Service to others
is the social act, and
the one that embodies
another admonition, “Let
deeds, not words, be your
adorning.”
It isn’t that we need
to work all the time. It’s
rather that when we do
work, we should think
about it as worshipping
God — and see it as “the
highest form” of wor-
ship. Besides its utilitarian
value, work “draws us
nearer to God.”
What’s more, Baha’u’llah
promises that any occupa-
tion “is as an act of wor-
ship.” This is true, even
for the rest of us who don’t
always feel the “worship”
part, whose minds some-
times wander during prayers
or find going to work every
day a slog — or run out of
steam so much sooner than
my brother-in-law.
█
Sarah Haug is a member of
the Baha’i Faith and has called
Pendleton home since 2002.
John Eric Cederholm
September 5, 1957 – July 9, 2022
John Eric Cederholm, 64, of
La Grande, passed away Saturday,
July 9, 2022, at his residence. A
funeral service will be held at La
Grande Church of the Nazarene on
Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at 2 p.m. with
a graveside service immediately
following at Hillcrest East Cemetery
and a celebration of life at the
McIntosh Barn, 62576 Leffel Road,
La Grande. Casual dress is preferred by the family.
John was born Sept. 5, 1957, in Brooklyn, New
York, to John and Johanna (VanBakergem) Cederholm.
He lived in a lot of different places: New York,
Massachusetts, Washington state, Alberta, Canada,
North Dakota and California, but settled in La Grande,
Oregon, for the last 39 years. He graduated high school
from Seattle Christian then attended George Fox and
Eastern Oregon State College (now EOU). He married
Susan Stubblefield on Aug. 4, 1984.
Early on, John worked in construction and painting.
He also was a delivery driver for Pepsi and Don &
Larry and the head of purchasing for Fleetwood. He
managed Commercial Tire and was general manager
for Pioneer West and for the sales/parts department at
Tri-County Equipment. He enjoyed hunting, fishing,
woodworking, viewing wildlife, listening to music,
coaching, swimming, cooking for his wife, spending
time with family and friends, watching his boys play
sports, taking care of his animals, working in the yard
and barbecuing.
John earned multiple MVPs from sporting
tournaments (baseball, softball and basketball), played
semi-pro baseball in Canada, and is a member of the
EOU Hall of Fame 1980 baseball team. At Commercial
Tire, he received the Outstanding Performance 2017
award.
John is survived by his wife, Susan; children,
Shaun Cederholm of La Grande, Oregon, and Brandon
Cederholm of Boise, Idaho; mother, Johanna Cederholm
of Fall City, Washington; brother, James Cederholm
(Liliana) of Santa Clarita, California; sisters, Janice
Cederholm-Evans of Fall City, Washington, and Joanne
Cederholm-Treat (Dave) of Enumclaw, Washington;
and 13 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death
by his father, John Marshall Cederholm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be
made in John’s name to the EOU Foundation Baseball
Team, One University Blvd., La Grande, OR 97850.
Online condolences may be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
Christina “Tina” May (Gross) Howell
January 5, 1967 - July 21, 2022
Christina “Tina” May (Gross)
Howell, 55, of Imbler, went home
to be with the Lord, Thursday July
21, 2022, at her home. A celebra-
tion of life will be held at 10 a.m.
on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the
Elgin Community Center, 260 N.
10th St., Elgin, Oregon. A potluck
for family and friends will be held
after the service. Casual dress is
preferred by the family.
Tina was born on Jan. 5, 1967, in La Grande, Or-
egon, to Ronald and Betty Gross. She grew up in La
Grande and graduated from Imbler High School, class
of 1985. Tina had a passion for the outdoors and en-
joyed hiking, camping and hunting. She was known by
everyone to be kind, giving and hardworking and had a
beautiful selfless soul.
Animals were always a large part of Tina’s life. She
spent her earlier years rescuing animals, riding hors-
es and running hounds with her father, Ron. She ran a
small meat goat herd on the family farm, which was the
origin of the name “Grandma Goat” given to her by her
grandchildren. Tina was a loving and nurturing grand-
mother who spent her time teaching her grandchildren
about animals, life lessons and the Lord.
Tina is survived by her husband, Mark Howell of Im-
ber; father, Ronald Gross of La Grande; sister, LaRonna
Gross of La Grande; brother, Kent (Debbie) Gross of
Eugene; children, Taten (Tia) Phelps of Elgin, Chelsey
(Jacob) Stacey of Moses Lake, Washington, Trenton
(Valyn) Phelps of Elgin, Ryan Howell of Imbler and
Gracie Howell of Imbler; and six beautiful grandchil-
dren with the seventh due in September.
Tina was preceded in death by her mother, Betty
Gross; brother, Kimmie Gross; and Bill and Florence
Howell.
If lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations
in Tina’s memory be sent to the Imbler FFA chapter and
the Elgin Opera House.
Online condolences can be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
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)
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Bible Study
9:00 a.m.
Worship
10:30 a.m.
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
Imbler
Christian
Church
www.imblercc@gmail.com
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
Phone: 541-568-4230
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
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
www.lagrandeumc.org
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Adventist Church
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
For service information go to
The Place
62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201 “We are called to Serve”
LA GRANDE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Pastor Roberta Smythe
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande
963-4018
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:30 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
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