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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2014)
20 in other words june5 2014 Things To Ponder: Have You Grown Lately? By Grant Williams Spiritual maturity is allusive. Is it possible to measure something like spiritual growth? Let’s begin by asking whether we are more like Jesus today than we were one year ago, or even 5 years ago. II Peter 1:5-8 offers this admonition, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Growing in maturity, or Christ likeness, is no small task, but it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. In his book, Forgotten God, Francis Chan sheds light on our question, “A lot of people want to talk about supernatural things like miracles, healing, or prophecy. But focusing inordinately on these things quickly becomes misguided. God calls us to pursue Him, not what He might do for us or even in our midst. Scripture emphasizes that we should desire fruit, that we should concern ourselves with becoming more like His Son. God wants us to seek to listen to His Spirit and to obey.” When our focus is right we become more like Jesus and less self- focused. Francis also said, “The point of it all was never the miracles in and of themselves. Those came when they were unexpected, when people were faithful and focused on serving and loving others.” In your life and in your church what are you seeking? Are you seeking attention or are you concerned about the things Peter talked about? When our focus is on becoming more like Christ we will be much better postured to grow in our maturity. When serving becomes more important than being served others will notice. When telling others about Jesus becomes more important than people acknowledging us or our gifts it will be obvious we are becoming more Christ like. What are you aiming at? What are your goals? Would you like to see the Kingdom of God grow? The Kingdom will grow when our friends and community see that we love each other. Not just in the local fellowships we attend on Sunday, but by the way we treat each other every day. Is it obvious that we care about our community or does it appear we simply want to maintain the status quo? When our goal becomes Christ likeness and maturity is something we earnestly seek we will have a lasting impact on those we say we care about. When the people of Vernonia see Christ in us they will be drawn by the same love that binds the church together in perfect unity. Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be June 19th. Bridge Street Bits HOPE EVERYONE had a safe and fun filled Memorial Day weekend and some of you took part in honoring our Veterans past, present and future. DON’T FORGET to remember the Senior Center this summer with summer thrift store deals and Sheila’s great lunches. INFO FROM OREGON LAW CENTER Columbia County Senior Law Project: Attention low income seniors: If you are over the age of 60 and need legal assistance we may be able to help, including 1) Neglect, financial, physical, and mental abuse 2) Defense of guardianship or conservatorship 3) Access to healthcare, including denial of care 4) Unfair debt collection, internet fraud 5) Rights of care facility residents 6) Rights of tenants, prevention of housing discrimination 7) Legal needs related to care of grandchildren FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact the Columbia County office of Oregon Law Center at 503-397-1628 VETERANS: Need assistance:? Call our Veterans officer Russ Clark, Community Action Team 503-366-6580. Russ will be glad to help you and meet with you in person in the Vernonia area. First Tuesday of the month at the Vernonia Community Learning Center, 939 Bridge Street. HAVE YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS prepared in an emergency. Your family depends on YOU to be ready for an emergency! Call my office for a copy of this informative brochure: Karen Miller 303-366-6581 ENERGY ASSISTANCE INFO: Community Action Team, Energy Assistance funding for Electric assistance has ENDED for this season. We do still have NW Natrual gas funds that can be given to qualifying households for first assistance or for a second assistance if you are facing a large bill of $100 or more. Also, as we get moving towards the next heating assistance season, we would like to encourage those who are receiving Social Security income to make sure you have a current “Award letter”. This is a letter from the Social Security Administration which indicates how much you receive and if any deductions are taken out. WE CANNOT ACCEPT Bank statements or verification from the DHS office (Snap). To obtain a letter 1) go to www. socialsecurity.gov 2) Call SS Admin 1-800-772- 1213 and request they send you a copy of your Vernonia Senior Center 446 Bridge Street award letter. This can take up to 6 weeks. 3) Visit your local SS Admin office and pick up a copy. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD ANY ASSISTANCE PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 2013, and would like to get an application this October 2014 please call Community Action Team at 503- 397-3511. SENIOR SIGN OFF: The faults of others are like headlights on a passing car. They seem more glaring than our own. Lunch Menu: 6/6 Chicken Salad 6/9 Sausage on a Bun w/ Kraut 6/10 Sweet & Sour Pork w/ Noodles 6/11 Baked Ham & Sweet Potato 6/12 Chef’s Choice 6/13 Shepherd’s Pie 6/16 Chicken Parmesan w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoes 6/17 Pizza & Salad 6/18 Meatloaf 6/19 Corn Chowder & Biscuits 6/20 Lasagne 503-429-3912 Church Directory (in alphabetical order) Assembly of God Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Evening Prayer: 6:00 PM 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 Grace Family Fellowship Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Thursday Prayer: 6:00 PM Greg “Mac” McCallum, Pastor 957 State Avenue 503-429-6790 www.gracefamilyfellowship.org 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 Open Door Gathering Place Service: Sunday 6:00 PM Grant Williams, Pastor 375 North Street Pioneer Baptist Fellowship Sunday School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.pbfalive.com John Cahill, Pastor 939 Bridge Street 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 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
