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
