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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2015)
in other words 2015 Things To Ponder: Getting Priorities Right By Grant Williams This time of the year kicks off the mad holiday rush. Everything starts to snowball after Halloween. It seems like every year the retailers start putting out Christmas stuff earlier and earlier. Some people think Halloween is the greatest, eat too much food at Thanksgiving, and spend way too much money at Christmas. Let’s try to put everything into perspective. Halloween has turned into a time when many people attempt to scare you to death, others want to gross you out, and almost everyone puts enough candy into their tummy to rust out a battleship. Halloween used to be celebrated by many to remember the saints who had passed on. It has now become mainly a children’s holiday when massive amounts of candy are distributed to cute little ghosts and pirates. Thanksgiving has remained very much like it has been for a couple hundred years. It’s a time to gather with family and enjoy great food and warm fellowship. A time to pull out those fabulous recipes for special dishes only prepared once, maybe twice a year. It is also a time we stop, relax, and express gratitude for all the wonderful things we have been blessed with. For many families Thanksgiving has remained a sacred spiritual time of rejoicing over God’s bountiful provisions. The Christmas season was once regarded as a time set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world. Many believers started preparing for Christmas by observing what is called Advent, which started four weeks before Christmas. During the advent season the events surrounding Christ’s birth were recalled with each story ending by the lighting of a candle and a song. The vision of the prophets, the majesty of the angels, and the humility of the shepherds, all lead up to Jesus’ birth. It seems like Christmas has turned into a time to exchange gifts, spend money we don’t have, and try to make ourselves feel good by replacing our broken and worn out toys. Little girl’s doll, $25. Man’s rifle, $1,000. New truck, $$$. It’s too bad that stuff doesn’t make a person happy. The luster of new things wears off quickly, leaving the empty spot in our soul feeling cheated. God never intended for man to find his satisfaction in material possessions. If He did, rich people should be elated, but they don’t seem to be. The only way to fill that gaping hole in our life is to find peace with God. God never said we couldn’t enjoy life, but He did command us to love Him, and love our neighbor as our self. This holiday season let’s keep the important things in perspective. Remember to honor and thank God for His goodness. Learn to find satisfaction in giving to others instead of our self. Remember how special our friends and family are to us. And most of all, remember God sent His Son to prove He loves us. november5 13 Remember Your Sno-Park Permit Season opens Sunday, Nov. 1 As you prepare for your winter recreation activities, be sure to buy and display your Sno-Park parking permit. Sno-Parks are in most of Oregon’s mountain passes and in most ski, snowmobile, and snow play areas. A list of Sno-Parks is available at www.tripcheck. com under “Travel Center.” If you park in a Sno-Park from Nov. 1 through April 30, you need a valid Sno-Park permit displayed in your vehicle near the lower left corner of the windshield. Parking in a Sno-Park without a permit may result in a fine. All DMV offices and many permit agents at winter resorts, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets sell these permits. Private agents can charge an additional service fee. A list of permit agents is available at www.tripcheck.com under “Travel Center.” The seasonal permit is also available by mail from DMV. There are three types of permits: $25 seasonal permit; $9 three-day permit good for three consecutive days; and $4 daily permit. Send a written request with your return address, phone number and a check or money order to DMV, Vehicle Mail No. 1, 1905 Lana Avenue, Salem, Oregon 97314. Sno-Park permits issued by California and Idaho are honored in Oregon and Oregon permits are honored in those states. Bridge Street Bits FOOT CARE appointments may now be made with the Vernonia Health Center receptionist during clinic hours, 8 am through 4:30 pm, at 503-429-0622, Monday through Friday. Thanks to an agreement between the Vernonia Senior Center and the Health Center, foot care will continue to be provided one day per month at the Health Center with their receptionist taking reservations. You may also schedule future appointments with the provider when you see her. 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 next foot care will be Wednesday, November 25; appointments can be made now. HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET? The Fred Meyer Community Rewards program will donate funds based on a shopper’s purchases to the non-profit of his/her choice . If you shop at Fred Meyer and have a Rewards Card, you can link your card to the Community Rewards program online (www. fredmeyer.com/communityrewards) or by telephone (1-866-518-2686). You can search for us by name online or by our assigned non-profit number, 81674. You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points and rebates. You don’t have to be a senior to help the Senior Center with this program! 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 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; VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE COME HELP! If contact Community Action Team office on Mondays at 503-366-6584 you have or would like to get some retail store experience, we’re seeking for more information or to register. more volunteers to help our BRIDGE BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at STREET BARGAINS store team. Please 939 Bridge Street accepts donations call Pam at 503-429-3912 to request during its regular business hours: an application. Even one day per Monday – Friday 9 am -3 pm and month would be a big help. Thanks in Saturday 10 am - 3 pm. Please bring advance for your willingness to help! donations inside. The thrift store welcomes you as a shopper, too. All THE VERNONIA SENIOR CENTER donations and purchases support OPERATES IN TWO LOCATIONS. The senior services in Vernonia. Watch for special SALE signs in front of the store. WALKING WEDNESDAY is an opportunity for gentle exercise for seniors and anyone in the community who’d like to join us. Walking Wednesdays continue at Vernonia Lake at 9:00 am (note time change) 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. 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- 7 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 The Crossing Southern Baptist Church of Vernonia Wednesday, 7:00 PM Troy Pound, Pastor Cabin in Vernonia 901 Park Drive 503-819-8921 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
