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