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Page 6, Pc. Hand Observer, December 23, 1987
RELIGION
Scripture
of the W eek:
P ro v erb s, C h a p te r 17
r
t
I Have No Gifts to Bring
A Congregation's
Plight is Herald
f /
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
continue through New Years. The
stores are jam packed with mer
chandise for the curious shoppers.
The television and radio programs
are peppered with commerical
breaks announcing that "this pro
duct is bigger and better than be
fore," "m y toy can thrill and hold
the interest of your child better than
company X ," and so on it goes.
As usual, we take so much for
granted, and we become so com
placent and — YES! — gullible,
that we allow ourselves to get
caught up in these very carefully
and well-orchestrated plans: plans
created to make more money for an
already wealthy company.
Let's stop for a moment to think
of other alternatives: the hospitals
are short-handed and need more
volunteers; my neighbor has a leaky
faucet; my mother has not seen me
in two years; a family up the street's
house burned and they need a place
to stay; I saw a little lady at church
who had a very ragged coat, I have
two; and the list goes on and on and
on.
The little drummer boy in the
Christmas carol had no gift to bring,
Christmas is a joyous time of the
year. A time when many people of
all shapes and sizes are wandering
about in the stores and malls trying
to find the perfect gift.
How many times have you re
ceived a gift that was too large or
too small, too long or too short7
What did you do with it when you
discovered that it was not your kind
of gift? Did you return it? Did you
throw it away? Is it still in the back
of your closet where no one else can
see it?
According to Webster, a gift is
"something given to show friend
ship, affection and support ' We,
the human race, tend to give gifts
for all the wrong reasons.
Be
cause . . . "Oh, this is good. She
didn't give me nothing last year, or
"Maybe if I spend a lot on his gift,
maybe he will give me a real expen
sive g ift."
Christmas is the season for giving
and even receiving — BUT — Christ
is the reason for the season.
The commercialization of various
items and sundry products start
their appealing appearances to the
public as soon as September and
TO W HOM IT MAY CONCERN.
On the sixth of December, 1987,
during the morning worship service,
an unknown person or persons en
tered the Maranatha Church on
N.E. 12th and Skidmore Streets and
removed not one but 50 to 60 coats
of various descriptions: there were
men's suit coats, men's top coats,
women's overcoats, men's rain
coats, women's raincoats and w o
men's dress jackets to their suits.
These articles of clothing were
hanging in the choir room.
The person or persons removing
these items are being asked to
"Please return as many of these
items as possible and the contents
of the pockets". The pockets con
tained car and house keys and other
personal items that would be of no
so he played his drum for the Baby
Jesus. Many of us have no money
to buy fancy gifts nor credit cards to
charge a lot of things that we can't
pay for afterwards. The one gift we
do have is the gift of LOVE. With
this gift, we can cause a person
filled with despair to have hope.
With this gift, we can put a smile
back into the heart of a troubled
soul. With this gift, we can turn
someone's life around and cause
them to think and live in a positive
manner.
Oh! There are so many ways to
give LOVE.
"God so loved the
world that He GAVE His only be
gotten Son, that whosoever believ-
eth in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
This, of course, and the fact that
Christ died that we might LIVE, are
the ultimate acts of LOVE.
We need not have a physical or
material gift to bring — " . . . And
abideth faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is
LOVE." (I Corinthians 13:13) "Fol
low after LOVE, and earnestly desire
spiritual GIFTS, but rather that ye
may prophesy." (I Corinthians 14:1)
Back to Our
Grassroots
Located on the lower level of the
Gift Shop, the Gallery will serve as
a public exhibition area and as a
resource for individuals and area
churches seeking original religious
art. The display area will be open
daily from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m.
The Executive Director of The
Grotto, Fr. Gerald M. Horan, OSM,
is a member of the Sacred Art So
ciety Board of Directors. "I'm very
pleased that The Grotto is able to be
involved in and lend support to such
a wonderful venture. The relation-
ship between the religious ministry
we do and artistic expression of
religious faith is very close. This
new display area will be an enriching
element to The Grotto's work, a gift
to the Christian community in Port
land and a real encouragement to
local religious artists.”
According to Crystal Clark, mana
ger of the Grotto Gift Shop, three
major Oregon artists will be featured
in the first exhibit: Mary Lewis,
David Haidle, and Brian Paatz.
These individuals have made signfi-
cant contributions to the field of
Christian art in Oregon and each has
been active in supporting the work
of the Sacred Art Society.
"W ithout the encouragement of
the Sacred Art Society and LARC
this gallery would still be only a
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
On Sunday, December 27, 1987,
the Building Fund Committee of
Mount Olivet Baptist Church will
host a program to mark the closing
of the 80th Year Celebration of the
Church's Anniversary.
The program will feature a well-
known artist, Calvin Allmon, soloist
and pianist.
Come join and worship in what
will be a most enjoyable evening of
song and praise. Everyone in atten
dance will be asked to sit in the
areas representing the states where
they were born.
The service will begin promptly
at 5:00 p.m. There will be refresh
ments served following.
Meet others from your state or
even your own home town. The
church is located at 116 N.E. Schuy
ler, Portland, OR 97212 (503-284
1954), Rev. James Martin, Pastor.
dream," said Ms. Clark. "Our long
range plans call for ongoing displays
of contemporary art from a variety
of sources. We are actively seeking
Christian artists who need exposure
as well as those who are already
established.
For me, this is the
most exciting aspect of the Gallery
the combination of known artists
with those just entering the field."
According to Fr. Horan, a formal
opening and dedication of the gal
lery is planned for early 1988 but,
"w e wanted to begin the project
just as soon as the facility became
available. We are especially grate
ful to the artists who are supplying
works to us so we might begin this
project before the end of the year.
We hope that Portland will be able
to enjoy this unique addition to the
art community."
Lord G ive M e T im e
Methodists Make News
Christmas Called
'Spiritual Realism'
lakeland . F la
— Christmas is
"spiritual realism beyond this age's
arrogant unbelief," United Metho
dist Bishop Earl G. Hunt Jr of the
Florida Area said in a message as
president of the church's Council of
Bishops.
The text of Bishop Hunter's mes
sage reads:
"Christmas is the festival of the
Incarnation, the time of the Christ
Child's birth. For believers it has
deep and rich meanings.
"Christmas is a haze of hope, a
chest of memories, a brief, fleeting
moment of enchantment with snow
on the hills and a Star in the sky.
Send notice of your church
activities and events to.
Religion Editor, Portland Observer
P O Box 3137
Portland OP 97208
"It is more. It is spiritual realism
beyond this age's arrogant unbelief.
It is Love pushing hate aside. It is
faith alive still in spite of the grin
ning cynic and the hell of war. It is
an invitation, in a day of emptiness,
to invest life in something that will
outlast it.
" 'God so loved the world He
gave His only begotten Son' (John
3:16). This is the miracle of all
miracles, the supernatural event
which draws life together in a pat
tern that makes sense. Without it
we would be in danger of madness.
Because of it, we are able to see
another way of living, enduring, re
lating, hoping. God cares, God is
with us — Immanuel!
"There is no fear in the Christian
Faith, only the quality of trust which
emanates from Love realized and
appropriated, Love sufficient for all
our needs. This is the glory of
Christmas.
W hy do more
fam ilies call
Cox
in tim e of need?
"W e wish for all of you and for
the world this Christmas the excite
ment of faith and the beginnings of
lasting peace.”
Interfaith Cable TV
Network Planned
NEW YORK — United Methodism will
have a prominent role in the forma
tion of a new interfaith religious
cable television network, a church
media executive said Dec. 4.
United Methodist Communica
tions (UMCom) staff members are
key founders, and the agency plans
to contribute $25,000 start-up funds
for the Vision Interfaith Satel
lite Network (VISN), according to
Nelson Price, who heads the
UMCom public media division and is
convenor of the incorporating coa
lition that includes several mainline
Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox
bodies. David Ochoa, communica
tions executive for the United
Methodist Board of Higher Educa
tion and Ministry, has been named
coordinator for VISN, which is
scheduled to begin operation in
June 1988.
Lord give me time to know a
bit of peace,
Be free from care, before I
grow too old.
Beyond the rainbow's end,
may I at last,
Find where You've put my
little pot of gold.
Lord, give me time to walk
among the stars,
As fireflies flicker on a summer
night.
Feel the fragil snowflakes on
my face,
Hold Autumn on my heart in
pure delight.
Lord, give me time to grow,
that I may fit
The mold of what you wish me
to become.
It is not easy for me, casting
off
These human failings that I
suffer from.
But Faith has eyes much clear
er than my own.
And Hope has wings to lift up,
and I'm
So full of Love, I know for sure
I'm meant
For Heaven, given just a little
time.
by Grace E. Easley
YOU ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT
84 N E K illin g s w o rth • 281 0499
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Christ invites all who feel the bur
den of their sins to . . . "Come unto
Me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you, and learn of Me:
for I am meek and lowly in heart;
and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. For My yoke is easy, and
My burden is light." St. Matthew,
11:28-30.
Yours in the
Name of Jesus Christ,
The Pastor, Officers and
Members of Maranatha Church
Dedication and
Installation Service
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
N ew A rt Gallery Displays Original Religious A rt
On Sunday, December 6, a new
art gallery and display area opened
on Portland's east side. The gallery,
a project of The Grotto Gift Shop,
grew out of discussions with the
Sacred Art Society and LARC, the
Liturgical Arts Resources Center.
talk about this, call the church o f
fice, and the pastor will be happy to
speak to you: 288 7241.
This is a time for giving — NOT
taking.
use to anyone but the owners.
With the Christmas Season up
on us, it is apparent that money is
short and a quick buck is the ob
vious reason behind this incident.
Several members have already
heard from some of the street peo
ple, with "coats for sale", not
knowing that they were speaking to
a member of the congregation
where the coats were taken from in
the first place.
Some of the coats that were
taken belonged to women who had
no other coat but that one.
We, the members and pastor, ask
that you return the coats to the
church in large plastic bags, place
them on the ramp on the side of the
building, and no questions will be
asked. If you need prayer or wish to
thí fllMc AOl|4-
folloV.’ pcQtf U'iih
all men fr holiness
u'ilhoul u’bicli no
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Tuesday
Bible Band
Thursday
Choir Rehearsal
7 30 p m
The week of December 9 through
13 shall always be remembered by
the members of the Fellowship Mis
sionary Baptist Church and all who
came to listen, enjoy and be bles
sed.
Fellowship Missionary Baptist
Church was organized by Pastor
Johnny Pack, IV, on Wednesday,
October 14, 1987, after a spiritual
and refreshing time of prayer. At
the time of organization, the church
extended a call to Pastor Pack to
serve as the pastor of the congre
gation. He accepted and began to
serve without salary. We shall al
ways remember the sacrifices that
he made.
Fellowship was blessed im
mediately to find housing in the
Lodge Hall located at 635 N. Kil
lingsworth Court. It was at that site
that Fellowship was organized and
continues to temporarily worship
until a permanent building is lo
cated.
The church has been blessed by
many donations and financial con
tributions from the hearts of the
people.
God has continued to bless the
needs of the Fellowship Missionary
Baptist Church. The number of
members now on roll stands at 200,
with persons continuing to unite.
Rev. Gary Black, I, of Seattle,
Washington, began his gospel mini
stry here on November 29, 1987,
when he preached his first sermon.
On Sunday, December 6, 1987, .
history was made as Pastor Pack •
and Rev. Robert Houston, Sr., (of
Seattle) baptized the first two per
sons who were candidates for bap
tism. This service was held at the
St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church,
Rev. Joe S. Hardie, pastor.
Fellowship is a member of the
Union District Baptist Association
of Oregon, the General Baptist Con
vention of the Northwest, the Port-
land District Sunday School, Bap
tist Training Union and Ushers Con
gress, and will be applying for mem
bership in the National Baptist Con
vention of America, Incorporated,
Dr. E.E. Jones, President.
Pastor Pack said, "God sent me
to Portland over 3 years ago on a
mission. Little did I realize that He
would allow me the priviledge to or
ganize these believers into what we
now call Fellowship Missionary Bap
tist Church."
During the week of celebration,
the theme was
"A
Praying
Church." Many churches and their
choirs and pastors participated in
the celebration: Greater Faith Bap
tist Church, Mt. Gilliard Baptist
Church, Paradise Baptist Church,
Antioch Baptist Church, Christ
Memorial COGIC, St. Mark Mission
ary Baptist Church and many well
wishers and praying souls.
The speaker for the close-out ser
vice was the Rev. Joe S. Hardie,
pastor and director of the United
Theological Seminary.
Christmas Mass
Fr. Gerald M. Horan, OSM, an
nounced the Christmas schedule of
masses at The Grotto.
In addition to the regularly sche
duled noon Masson Friday, Decem
ber 24, confessions will be heard
from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and
from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the
Chapel of Mary.
Midnight Mass will be preceded
by caroling beginning at 11:30 p.m.
The Midnight Mass will be cele
brated by Fr. Horan.
Mass of Christmas Day will be
celebrated in the Chapel at
10:00 a.m. The Grotto will return to
its regular mass schedule with the
8:00a.m. mass on Saturday, Decern
ber 26. Sunday Mass is celebrated
at 10:00 a.m.; Mass is also cele
brated Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at noon and Monday through
Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
Fr. Horan said, "During this spe
cial season we invite everyone to
visit the Grotto grounds. We are
proud of our Manger scene erected
annually in the Grotto and are pleas
ed to be able to share it with our
friends and neighbors." The Grotto
grounds are open daily from 8:00
a.m. to dusk and the Grotto Gift
Shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
A lbina M in isterial A llian ce
285 0493
7 00 p m
Sunday
Sunday School 9 15a m
Morning
11 15 a m
Worship
6 30 p m
Y P W W
Evangel isbt
8 OOp m
Worship
Tuesday Friday Noon Day
Prayer
Friday
The Pastor Speaks
7 30 p m .
A Public Service of the Portland Observer
Jesus Loves You!
Allen Temple CME Church
4236 N.E. Eighth Avenue
(comer of 8th & Skidmore)
Portland, Oregon 97211
Saturday
Morning Prayer
9 00 a m
'.¿■iiiei H m v w s j b tvnorlLMl
'•ertty
IVIDA M
'.■ h r » AAR '4H AM LMI
(503) 287-0261
Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor
Psalm 34:3