in other words
Things to Ponder: Where Are You Headed?
By Grant Williams
How much thought do you put
into your vacation destinations? Most
people talk with family, friends or maybe
even consult a travel guide. No matter
how you come to your choice of places to
visit it is important to plan appropriately
to ensure you end up where you wanted
to spend your holidays.
Can you imagine someone
planning their vacation trip to a chosen
destination and going to the airport and
jumping on the first airplane they see?
What if that airplane is heading to the
wrong destination? All the time and
money you spent in the planning process
could end up being wasted, if you’re not
careful.
Let’s change from vacation
destinations to eternal destinations.
Have you spent as much time thinking
about eternity as you have on what you
will do tomorrow or next summer? In
some ways choosing a religion is a lot
like choosing a vacation. The biggest
difference is obviously the bad vacation
experience can be replaced with a
better choice next time. Your choice of
religions has much greater consequences
because death will be the final determiner
of whether you made a wise choice.
Some people assume that heaven
means the same thing in all religions, but
nothing could be further from the truth.
Some religions do not even believe
in a heaven. Some people believe the
next step after this life is another plane
of existence, maybe evolving up or
downward. Christianity holds to a belief
that heaven is a place where forgiven
people will spend eternity without war
or famine or hatred and never the threat
of death or punishment. The best part
will be seeing the author of love and
peace, Jesus, face to face.
In John 14:1-3 Jesus said, ”Let
not your heart be troubled; believe in
God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s
house are many dwelling places; if it
were not so, I would have told you; for
I go to prepare a place for you. And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am you may be also.” These
promises bring me great comfort.
Have you looked deeply into
what your religion/faith claims to be the
final destination of your soul? I spent
many years chasing a false dream filled
january21
2016
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with empty expectations. In the end I
came back to the roots my parents taught
me about faith in Christ. The last thirty-
three years have convinced me I should
never have turned my back on Jesus.
John 14:6 says, Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life; no man comes to the Father, but
through Me.”
Everyone believes in something.
What I have shared is my personal
opinion. What have you put your faith
in? I’m just a thirsty pilgrim sharing
where I found a satisfying drink and
peace for my searching soul!
Vernonia’s Voice is published
twice each month on the 1st and
3rd Thursday. Our next issue
will be out February 4th.
Bridge Street Bits
VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS – it’s time to pay
your 2016 dues, still a bargain at $15 per year.
Donations above the amount of your dues
are always welcome, of course. You may leave
your dues check with Pam on Mondays at the
939 Bridge Street office or mail them there.
foot care dates are Wednesday, January 27
and Wednesday, February 24. Our provider,
Joyce Jossi, RN, is certified in diabetic and
elder foot care. In case of unexpected snowy
or icy road conditions, please verify with the
Health Center whether Joyce is able to drive to
THE COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM SENIOR CASE Vernonia on that day. Due to the popularity of
this program, additional days may be added.
MANAGER staffs the office in the 939 Bridge
Check with the scheduler when you call to
building from 10 to 1 on the first and third
Monday of each month. If you need assistance make an appointment.
during other times, please contact Heather
BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at 939 Bridge
Johnson at 503-366-6542.
accepts donations during its regular business
hours: Monday – Friday 9-3 and Saturday 10-3.
SENIOR MEAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Please bring donations inside. The thrift store
CONTINUES. In cooperation with three
welcomes you as a shopper, too. All donations
Vernonia restaurants - Black Iron Grill,
Mariolino’s and Vernonia Subway - the Senior and purchases support senior services in
Vernonia. Watch for special SALE signs in front
Center is providing daily home-delivered
of the store. VOLUNTEERS are always needed
meals and issues donation-based certificates
to keep this vital program going; please let
for in-house dining from specially designed
senior menus for residents 60 and older. You Pam, Thrift Store Manager, know if you are
willing to help out occasionally – or regularly!
may obtain the certificates Mondays from
10 am to 3 pm from Wendy at 939 Bridge
Street. Questions? Call Wendy on the special
telephone number for this program, 503-405-
0187. See below for home delivered meal
information.
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. Certificates for senior meals at
FOOT CARE appointments may be made with participating restaurants are available there on
the Vernonia Health Center receptionist during Mondays from 10 am to 3 pm. Daily home-
delivered meals are still available to qualifying
clinic hours, 8 am through 4:30 pm, at 503-
persons; contact Community Action Team
429-0622, Monday through Friday. The next
office on Mondays at 503-366-6584 for more
information or to register. Board meetings
and social activities such as the Friday
afternoon card games are held in the American
Legion Hall at 627 Adams.
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 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 1:00 to 7:00 pm.
NEXT SENIOR CENTER BOARD MEETING is
Friday, February 12, 10 am at the American
Legion Hall/Cares. All members are invited to
attend.
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
503-819-892
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
503-702-3553
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
