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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2015)
in other words may21 2015 Things to Ponder: The Lord is Your Friend By Grant Williams What happens when we turn our back to the Lord? The future can cer- tainly become a frightening thing when He is no longer the center of our life. When I was eighteen years old I turned my back to the Lord for fifteen long years. It took some amazing circum- stances to draw me back into the fold. God is very good at getting our attention. One of the ways He got a hold of me was the absolute sense He would pull away from me if I didn’t surrender my life back into His care. I really felt like the protection He had given me through years of foolish living would be with- drawn and I would be on my own. That was pretty scary! There is a man in the Old Tes- tament who tried to do things his own way also. His name was Jonah. God had told him to go preach to the people of Ninevah because they had turned their back on God. But Jonah had a will of his own and decided he would rather run than obey. His disobedience put him on a ship headed as far away as he could get. He was able to pay his own way, which probably made him feel pretty good. When a horrible storm came up he man- aged to sleep right through it until he was awakened by other fellow travelers who were scared to death. The trip contin- ued to get worse. He was finally thrown overboard by his angry fellow travelers. Before Jonah could drown a huge fish swallowed him. Sounds out- rageous, I know, but I believe it really happened. He was in the belly of that fish for three days. I think that time gave Jonah the opportunity to rethink his im- mediate plans. He was finally thrown up on the beach like a bleached out old man. But God had his attention now. I don’t know anyone who has ever experienced anything quite as dra- matic as Jonah, but whoever you are and wherever you are when the Lord does get your attention, don’t turn your back to Him. His plans for your life are much more exciting than anything you could imagine. Your future might be uncertain right now, but there is something good awaiting everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. Today my challenge to you is very simple. Consider the possibility of the future being your friend if Christ is your Lord. It seems reasonable to think the creator of the universe would know more about what makes us tick than we do. Remember “Peanuts?” One day Lucy challenged Charlie Brown by tell- ing him, “We learn more from our mis- takes than we do from our successes.” Charley responded, “Then I must be the smartest man in the world!” 17 Here is something to ponder. Is it possible that Jesus is what is missing in your life? He loves you, mistakes and all. Columbia Humane Society Featured Pet Meet Mabel. This sweet two year old lab mig is ready to find a home where she can run and play. She is a big girl, coming in right around 80 lbs. She likes other dogs and loves every person that she meets. She loves her toys and would love to have a fenced yard that she could run and play in. Her adoption fee is $165.00. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call 503-397-4353 or email: animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org 2084 Oregon Street St. Helens, OR 97051 Web: www.columbiahumane.org Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be out June 4th. Bridge Street Bits ages on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon. To reserve a meal, please call Wendy by 11:00 a.m. at 503.429.1414. Daily home-delivered VISION: To work collaboratively to meals are still available to qualifying enable all older adult citizens to live in persons. For more information on a self-directed and rewarding life in a home-delivered meals, please contact senior-friendly community. Community Action Team’s office on MISSION: The Vernonia Senior Center Mondays at 503-366-6584. strives to be the focal point for senior SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Currently, music services by promoting health, well- is available at the American Legion being, and independence through Hall during and after lunch on the last recreation, creative activity, support Wednesday of each month. DJ Tommy services and information. Sherman, of Tommy’s Turntable Tunes, THE SENIOR CENTER HAS RELOCATED provides the musical selections. Card TO TWO NEW SITES! The Senior Center games such as Pinochle, Cribbage, Office and the Thrift Shop have etc. take place on Friday afternoons, relocated to the Vernonia Community now at the Legion Hall, too. There’s Learning Center (939 Bridge Street). always a friendly group who would The Thrift Shop is now rebranded welcome new game players. as “Bargains on Bridge Street.” The BUSINESS: The eleven Board Meal Program has relocated to the Members are working behind the American Legion Hall (627 Adams scenes overseeing the daily running Avenue) and is serving meals to all The Vernonia Senior Center recently worked to clarify our vision and our mission. of our services. They are also working with a consultant to update the Business Plan for the organization as we prepare to apply for grants. Good business planning is extremely important to the health of any organization, whether non-profit (like the Senior Center is) or a for-profit business. If you are a member and interested in running for a board position, there is one position open. Please contact President Jack Harvey (503.429.4080) for information and an application. Bargains on Bridge Street (939 Bridge St) is accepting donations. Please bring them inside during regular business hours (Mon- Fri 9-3 and Sat 10-3). This thrift shop has been a long-time main source of revenue for the Senior Center, so any support the community can give to it is happily accepted. As always, we need volunteers to help staff it, so if you are interested in volunteering, please call manager Pam at 503.429.3912 and ask for an application. Vernonia Senior Center Address: 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia, Oregon 97064 Phone: 503.429.3912 ~ Non profit ID#23-7422295 UPDATES ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS: We now have three Partners that are providing new services to the Senior Center: the City of Vernonia has provided the Learning Center at very low cost for our Thrift Shop; Vernonia Cares Food Bank is now providing free bread and produce at the meal site, and the American Legion Post 119 is providing the site for the meals at minimal cost. During a transition period like this, help from our community is crucial and these three organizations have come through for us in very big ways. THANK YOU PARTNERS! Vernonia Senior Center • 939 Bridge Street • 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 Roger Cook, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street 503-429-7151 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 Nehalem Valley Bible Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:45 AM Tues. Ladies Bible Study: 9:30 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 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
