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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2012)
community news Church News and Events By Mark Brown HOLD FAST! This being the last article of this 2012 year, in light of darkness we see in our world at times, I offer this hope for your consideration, comfort … salvation. A man came whose claims were outrageous. He claimed to be God in the flesh, Emmanuel (God with us) the fulfillment of not only the law but all of prophecy written about in the scriptures; whose writings stand on their own as a testimony having never been proven to be in error. He claimed to be the “Truth and the Light” in a world even then, not so different than ours now. The cross is history’s hinge. The question never has december25 2012 been, was there a man who lived at this time in history who went through all that he claimed? The birth, the life and the DEATH on a cross, the only question left to answer for each of us is…Was/Is he God? He then invites us to talk with, be a part of Him as we allow Him to abide in us. He asks us to trust Him based on faith. That we can come to Him in relationship and He will hear “Incline His ear to us” as we pray; commune with Him. He DESIRES us, this part we all struggle with at times… To believe! So today I am choosing to invite you to do just that. Ending this year and beginning next, talking to and developing my/our relationship with Him…God. Father, we cannot make sense of recent tragedies that have touched so many. Looking around our communities, country and civilization we see hearts breaking and life changing. We wonder about uncertainty, why and when is this going to stop; or maybe happen again. I know many do not know you and do their best to explain and reason with the events in this world. People blame you and ask you why you allow this to happen. Maybe it is you who have more of a right to ask us “why are people still starving “or “why do we mostly only pay attention to you in tragedy”? God please allow your spirit to reach and teach us…. who you are by placing our hope and trust in you. Believing, trusting 15 that although you give us the choice to act in free will... You can and will bring about the outcome that brings glory to you and peace to us. My heart yearns for your justice in this world. Yours will be the perfect balance of truth and grace... How much longer will we wait to see you come to us and make all things new again, will it be today Lord? Start the New Year here so your next year will be the last year there… Vernonia Community Church: “Art of Marriage” a new marriage class for couples starts soon. www.vernoniacommunitychurch.org ReWork ReStore Offers Job Training and More A new store has opened in St. Helens. But this isn’t just any store—this is a store with a mission. The ReWork ReStore is located at 114 S. 17 th Street. The store contains a mixture of new, resale, and consignment items for sale which help fund the Shel- tered Works Program for Columbia County. “This is the base for the Jobs Readiness Train- ing Program which benefits Columbia County residents with families to support who are having trouble getting back into the job market,” says Julie Beehler, who is the Executive Director of the program. The program has been operating in Columbia County for six years and receives some funding from the State of Oregon to provide services for County resi- dents. “We’re excited about the store,” says Beehler. “But the real mission is to help individuals in Colum- bia County to overcome their barriers to employment and to help them be self-sufficient.” So how does it all work? Workers are referred to the program after applying through the Department of Human Services for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. A case worker would then assign them to the program where they work a minimum number of hours Senior Center Activities 5-Area Luncheon: There is no luncheon scheduled for Decem- ber. Week Day Lunches: The Verno- nia Senior Center offers nutritious and tasty lunches each weekday for a $4 donation for seniors over 60; cost is $5 for anyone under 60. To-go meals are available for $5. These are available to the public, not just Senior Citizens. (Meal- time is noon; late arrivals may not be served.) You can reserve your lunch by calling by 11:15 AM, or further in advance if possible, to assist the cooks as they prepare the day’s meals. Meals on Wheels are available for a $4 donations for seniors over 60. Please con- tact the Senior Center for an ap- plication. Maple Bars available locally! Connie King, the cook at the Se- nior Center, is making maple bars each day. The maple bars are available to the public, too, and only cost $1 each. Availability is subject to quantity on hand. You can assure yourself of a good sup- ply by pre-ordering them directly from Connie by calling the Senior Center (503-429-3912) any week day, from 7:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please allow one day lead time for larger orders. The Center’s front door opens at 9:00, but the side parking lot door opens at 7:00. Ah, sweet treats! Thrift Store: Bargain prices can be found in Vernonia’s Se- nior Center in their Thrift Store. The retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift Store provides funds for the Senior Center’s facility and its many activities. Donations can also be dropped off during those same hours, and donated clothes need to be clean and in good condition so they are “sales ready”. We are offering half off during the first week of each month. Buy local- ly and support your local Senior Center. For after hours drop-offs please contact Pauline 503-429-5810. Special Days: On the last Wednesday of the month Wauna Credit Union will be serving ice cream. On the last Friday of the month we will serve birthday cake and ice cream to celebrate that month’s birthdays. Membership Dues: Another way to support Vernonia’s Senior Center is to pay the $15 annual membership dues. Checks may be mailed or dropped off at the Se- nior Center. Anyone 55 and older may join. Questions? 3912 Call: (503) 429- per week in exchange for their benefits. “So they re- ally are not getting free money, they are working for that money,” explains Beehler. Through the Sheltered Works and Job Readi- ness programs, people are assessed to find out what their barriers to employment are. Some are more com- plex than others. The program works to provide retail sales training and customer service skills in addition to self-esteem, communication, and family budgeting skills. Workers are also taught how to access resources like legal and housing aid to help their families. The program also works with other area agencies, includ- ing MTC, to provide help with resume building, job interview skills, other job skills, career readiness test- ing, job searches, and more. All with the intent of helping them get back on their feet. Recently the program was providing services to seventeen people. Most of them work in the store for four hours a day. Workers sort, clean and some- times repair donated items in the back warehouse area which are then put out for sale. Currently the store is staffed by volunteers. Once the store becomes self-sustaining Beehler hopes to hire at least three full time or part time employees, hopefully starting in the new year, with a goal of in- creasing that to five employees in the near future. “These folks who come through our program are very interested in making their life better,” says Beehler. “They are really interested in getting off pub- lic assistance and getting back on their own two feet. I think that is very important for community members to realize. Their neighbors need a little bit of help and a little bit of support. They are not asking for a perma- nent handout but some support until they can get over the hump and on with supporting their families. And that’s what I think makes these types of programs so beneficial.” The program had previously been working in partnership with the Women’s Resource Center which has a focus on domestic violence issues. This past year it was decided to separate the two programs. Beehler along with Chief Operating Officer Tammy Wimmer continued on page 19 Church Directory (in alphabetical order) Assembly of God Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Wayne Marr, Pastor 662 Jefferson Avenue 503-429-0373 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunday Schedule: Sacrament Meeting: 10:00 AM Sunday School & Primary: 11:20 AM Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women: 12:10 PM Marc Farmer, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street 503-429-7151 Covenant Church Vernonia Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 PM John D, Murray, Pastor 359 “A” Street 503-860-3860 Nehalem Valley Bible Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:45 AM Wed. Ladies Bible Study: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM Sat. Men’s Prayer Meeting: 6:30 AM Gary Taylor, Pastor Grant & North Streets 503-429-5378 Pioneer Baptist Fellowship Worship Service: 6:00 PM www.pbfalive.com John Cahill, Pastor 850 Madison Ave. 503-429-1161 St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wednesday Religious Education: 3:15- 4:30 PM Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator 960 Missouri Avenue 503-429-8841 Vernonia Christian Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service in Youth & Family Center: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaChristianChurch.org Sam Hough, Pastor 410 North Street 503-429-6522 Vernonia Community Church Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Wednesday Prayer: 6:30 PM Ralph Young, Interim Pastor 957 State Avenue 503-429-6790 Vernonia Foursquare Church Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School Carl Pense, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue 503-429-1103 Vernonia Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath (Saturday) Services Sabbath School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaSDAC.org Larry Gibson, Pastor 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. 503-429-8301
