Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2015)
in other words august6 2015 Things To Ponder: What is Life Anyway? By Grant Williams Sometimes life appears to be a complex mystery with few definite answers. We all experience highs and lows along the way. It seems like much of the time there are more questions than answers. Is there really a purpose for all the things we go through, or does it all boil down to a series of unrelated chance incidents? Frequently I encounter individuals going through trials. No matter what their world view the death of a loved one or the pain of a disease causes the same initial feelings: anger, loss, fear, doubt, etc. However, your world view makes a huge difference when it comes to how you handle those problems. For a Christian there is the certainty that God is there to comfort and encourage. It breaks my heart to watch people struggle carrying the weight of their problems. God never intended it to be that way. Quite the contrary, God intended life to be good. He put a perfect man and a perfect woman in a perfect environment with only one rule, don’t eat from the tree of the “Knowledge of Good and Evil.” The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” God wanted the human race to be happy and blessed, but apparently that wasn’t good enough for Adam and Eve. They traded a life with no fear or death, no hunger or want, permanent vacation and a great tan for Satan’s empty promise of being like God. There can only be one God! If there is more than one God, which one would be in control of this universe? Can you even image the battle there would be over the number of days in a week or the color of an orange if there was more than one God? A far worse possibility is, if you can imagine it, no God. God did not leave us without the answer to what is Life. Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” LIFE? John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Physical life + faith in Christ = ETERNAL LIFE! 13 Health Center continued from page 3 funding this dream. You can make a tax-deductible donation to: The Vernonia Health Center Board P.O. Box 357 Vernonia, OR 97064 If you want to specifically support x-ray capacity, mark that in the memo. If not specifically earmarked, any donations go to supporting the facility operations for the healthcare providers. Through donations from Providence, the Vernonia Health Center already owns much of the equipment currently in use. If you have questions about donations or ideas for services needed here, contact Brett Costley at 503-307-3343 or bcostley@ vernoniahealthcenter.org. Bridge Street Bits VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF SENIOR CENTER OPERATIONS. We seek additional Meals-On-Wheels drivers to help us get lunches to homebound citizens Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The Senior Center has insurance that covers volunteers who deliver meals. Schedules can be set up to match yours. A small stipend helps cover your gas expense, and all meal deliveries are in or close to town. We also need more volunteers to help our BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET store team. Please call Pam at 503- 429-3912 to request an application. Even one day per month would be a big help. Thanks in advance for your willingness to help! THE SENIOR PICNIC is Friday, August 14, at noon at Anderson Park. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. The band will be there, too! Contact the Senior Center for more details. Because of the picnic, the Vernonia Senior Citizens Board meeting will be Thursday, August 6, from 3 to 5 pm at the American Legion Hall. Members are encouraged to attend. SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, brings two additional opportunities for Vernonians to see friends and classmates from long ago. If you went to Vernonia High School, by now you should have received an invitation to attend the 2 nd Biggest Class Reunion hosted by the Vernonia Education Foundation. The 1 st Biggest Reunion was held in 2010 just before Washington Grade School was taken down. All classes of VHS are invited to the new K-12 school on O-A hill from 10 to 2 pm. Music, food vendors, auction, and school tours. $5 (cash only) admission. The long-standing OLD TIMERS - OLD GRADS - O-A ALUMNI - VERNONIA SOCIETY annual picnic at Anderson Park will continue as usual this year, same day, same time, Sunday, August 16th. Registration begins at 10 am All former and current Vernonians and their families are welcome. Coffee provided. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase one from our local vendor, Dog Park. The cart will be on site - hot dogs $2, chips or drinks $1. August date. Please call Tobie at 503- 705-2173 or email tobief@aol.com to schedule an appointment. Our provider, Joyce Jossi, RN, is certified in senior and diabetic foot care. Cost is $25 payable directly to Joyce by check or cash at the time of service. You may bring nail polish if you’d like to have Joyce give your toes a real finishing touch. THE VERNONIA SENIOR CENTER OPERATES IN TWO LOCATIONS. The Senior Center Office and the Thrift Store, “Bargains on Bridge Street,” reside in the former VCLC building at 939 Bridge Street. The senior meal program has relocated to the American Legion Hall at 627 Adams Avenue. Meals are served Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. To reserve a meal, please call Wendy by 11:00 am at 503-429-1414. Suggested donation for seniors over 60 is $4.00; under 60, the cost is $5.00. Daily home-delivered meals are still available to qualifying persons; contact Community Action Team office on Mondays at 503-366-6584 for more information or to register. AUGUST FOOT CARE will be Wednesday, September 2, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Vernonia Health Center. Please BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at note that this has been rescheduled 939 Bridge Street accepts donations from the previously announced late during its regular business hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 am -3:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am -3:00 pm. Please bring donations inside. The thrift store welcomes you as a shopper, too. All donations and purchases support senior services in Vernonia. WALKING WEDNESDAY is an opportunity for gentle exercise for seniors and anyone in the community who’d like to join us. Walking Wednesdays happen at Vernonia Lake at 9:30 am each Wednesday, rain or shine. Walk at your own pace with a friend or solo. No fee and no pre-registration – just come and walk one or more circuits around the lake. TONING THURSDAYS are currently on hiatus. RUSS CLARK, COLUMBIA COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER, IS AVAILABLE to meet with clients in Vernonia. Russ will be at the Senior Center (former VCLC) in the office at the end of the hallway on the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC. 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064 Phone: 503-429-3912 Non-Profit Tax ID #23-7422295 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 www.GraceFamilyFellowship.org 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
