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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2015)
Page 8A FAITH East Oregonian Pope and Congress: Francis is certain to challenge lawmakers :$6+,1*721 $3 ²$SROLWLFDOSRSHLVVXUHWR VHL]HKLVRSSRUWXQLW\ZKHQKH DGGUHVVHVDSROLWLFDOERG\6R ERWK 'HPRFUDWV DQG 5HSXE- licans are looking forward WR 3RSH )UDQFLV¶ UHPDUNV WR &RQJUHVVQH[WPRQWK²DQG bracing for them, too. 7KH SRSH WKULOOV 'HPR- crats with his teachings on climate change, social justice and immigration. At the same time, his message on life and the Catholic Church’s tradi- WLRQDO RSSRVLWLRQ WR DERUWLRQ FRPIRUW5HSXEOLFDQV There is genuine giddiness DPRQJ &DWKROLF 'HPRFUDWV — many of whom have long been uncomfortably at odds with their church over abortion rights — about the SRSH¶V VWURQJ HPSKDVLV RQ DGGUHVVLQJ SRYHUW\ DQG WKH environment. ³,¶YHEHHQZDLWLQJIRUWKLV SRSHDOOP\OLIH´VDLGOLEHUDO 0DVVDFKXVHWWV'HPRFUDW-LP 0F*RYHUQ ³, ¿QG KLP LQVSLUDWLRQDODQG,NQRZDORW RI RWKHU SHRSOH GR QRW MXVW Catholics.” 7KH SRSH FRPHV WR WKH &DSLWRORQ6HSWZKHUHKH ZLOOEHWKH¿UVWSRQWLIIWRHYHU address a joint meeting of &RQJUHVV+HZLOODOVRDSSHDU RQ D :HVW )URQW EDOFRQ\ WR JUHHWWKHSXEOLF There’s little doubt that )UDQFLVZKRLQDVSHHFKODVW PRQWK LQ %ROLYLD VSRNH RXW DJDLQVWXQFKHFNHGFDSLWDOLVP before an assemblage of JURXSVUHSUHVHQWLQJWKHSRRU will seek to send a similar PHVVDJHWRODZPDNHUVUHSUH- senting the richest nation on earth. ³:KHWKHU LW¶V FOLPDWH change or hunger or taking FDUH RI WKH SRRU WKH 3RSH¶V message is really the embod- iment of what Catholic social teaching has been about, KLVWRULFDOO\´ VDLG 5HS 5RVD 'H/DXUR '&RQQ ZKR WUDYHOHG WR 5RPH WR ZLWQHVV WKH SRSH¶V LQVWDOODWLRQ WZR years ago. 7KH SRSH ZDV RI FRXUVH LQYLWHGE\WKHPRVWSRZHUIXO Catholic in Congress, House 6SHDNHU -RKQ %RHKQHU 52KLRZKRZLOOEHDFFRP- SDQLHGE\9LFH3UHVLGHQW-RH Biden, another Catholic, in familiar seats behind Francis RQ WKH GDLV +RXVH 'HPR- FUDWLFOHDGHU1DQF\3HORVLRI California, also a Catholic, ZLOORFFXS\DSURPLQHQWVHDW RQKHUSDUW\¶VVLGHRIWKHDLVOH For joint addresses like the State of the Union or HYHQ WKH UHFHQW DSSHDUDQFH EHIRUH &RQJUHVV E\ ,VUDHOL Prime Minister Benjamin 1HWDQ\DKX SDUWLVDQ SROLWLFV is unavoidable. One side will MXPS WR WKHLU IHHW ZKLOH WKH other will sit on their hands. ,Q 6HSWHPEHU KRZHYHU PRVW KRSH DQG DQWLFLSDWH such grandstanding can be avoided. ³<RX ZLOO QRW NQRZ LW¶V WKH&RQJUHVV´VDLG5HS%LOO 3DVFUHOO'1- There’s also no glad- KDQGLQJ WKH SRSH DV KH walks down the center aisle, unlike the annual ritual in which lawmakers such as (OLRW (QJHO '1< DQG 6KHLOD-DFNVRQ/HH'7H[DV FRPPDQGHHU D VHDW WR SUHVV WKH ÀHVK 7KH SRQWLII LV H[SHFWHG WR NHHS KLV KDQGV FODVSHGDVLILQSUD\HU $ WRS DGYLVHU WR )UDQFLV YLVLWHG :DVKLQJWRQ LQ $SULO DQGVDLGWKHSRSHZLOOVSHDN ³IUDQNO\ EXW IULHQGO\´ LQ KLV 86WULS ³(YHQWKH&RQJUHVVSHRSOH can listen to other voices, to counsels, to advisers,” said Honduran Cardinal 2VFDU 5RGULJXH] 0DUDGLDJD DFFRUGLQJ WR 5HOLJLRQ 1HZV 6HUYLFH ³7KH RQH ZKR receives advice commits less errors and is not mistaken. The one who does not like to listen to advice will have D ORW RI WURXEOH 6R , WKLQN the Congress will receive very well the advice (of the SRSH ² HYHQ LI WKHUH DUH some things that will not be comfortable.” Francis’ recent encyclical FKDVWLVHG SROLF\PDNHUV across the globe for inaction on the environment as the skies warm and the oceans DUH UDYDJHG E\ RYHU¿VKLQJ DQGSROOXWLRQ ³:H PD\ ZHOO EH OHDYLQJ to coming generations debris, GHVRODWLRQDQG¿OWK´WKHSRSH ZURWH³7KHSDFHRIFRQVXPS- tion, waste and environmental change has so stretched WKH SODQHW¶V FDSDFLW\ WKDW RXU FRQWHPSRUDU\ OLIHVW\OH unsustainable as it is, can only SUHFLSLWDWHFDWDVWURSKHV´ ,Q 6HSWHPEHU VXFK ZDUQ- ings could be seen as a chal- lenge directed to a Congress SRSXODWHG E\ *23 VNHSWLFV RISURSRVDOVWRUHGXFHJUHHQ- house gases like new curbs on FRDO¿UHGSRZHUSODQWV ³<RX¶UH DOZD\V VWURQJHU in terms of credibility when you stay closer to your church doctrine and church teaching and also what the Catholic Church has been about,” said 6HQ'DQ6XOOLYDQ5$ODVND ³0DQ\ SHRSOH WDNH D ORW RI SULGH ZKHWKHU \RX¶UH &DWK- olic or not, in terms of focus RQWKHSRRUIRFXVRQKHOSLQJ the most vulnerable.” Francis, however, is not VK\DERXWH[SDQGLQJKLVUHDFK beyond a traditional role as he OHDGVWKHFKXUFKLQDUDSLGO\ changing century. ³+H¶VDYHU\GLIIHUHQWSRSH +H¶VGH¿QHGKLPVHOILQDYHU\ different way,” said Sen. 7KRP7LOOLV51&DQRWKHU &DWKROLF³+H¶VWDONLQJDERXW RXWFRPHV:H¶YHJRWWRZRUN on means.” The recent encyclical also reiterated the church’s long- time teachings on abortion. ³+RZ FDQ ZH JHQXLQHO\ WHDFK WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, LIZHIDLOWRSURWHFWDKXPDQ HPEU\R HYHQ ZKHQ LWV SUHV- ence is uncomfortable and FUHDWHV GLI¿FXOWLHV"´ )UDQFLV wrote. :KDWHYHU WKH SRSH¶V message, lawmakers in both SDUWLHV KRSH LW VHUYHV DV D VDOYH ² KRZHYHU WHPSRUDU\ — to a body that too often sees issues in black and white DQGVHHNVSDUWLVDQDGYDQWDJH wherever it can be found. BRIEFLY Conference focuses on love, respect ,55,*21 ² $ FRQIHUHQFH GHVLJQHG WR VWUHQJWKHQ PDUULDJHWLHVLVSODQQHGDWWKH,UULJRQ6HYHQWKGD\$GYHQWLVW Church, 205 Tumbleweed Blvd. /RYHDQG5HVSHFW7KH/RYH6KH'HVLUHV7KH5HVSHFW+H 1HHGV ZLOO EH KHOG RQ WKUHH FRQVHFXWLYH:HGQHVGD\V$XJ DQGDQG6HSWIURPSPDWWKHFKXUFK¶V)DPLO\ Closet Building. The conference is free, but there is a $5 FKDUJHIRUWKHZRUNERRN3DUWLFLSDQWVDUHDVNHGWRSODQDKHDG IRUFKLOGFDUHDVQRQHZLOOEHSURYLGHGGXULQJWKHFRQIHUHQFH 5HJLVWUDWLRQ LV UHTXHVWHG E\ FDOOLQJ RU 541-922-3392, via email at irrigon7thdayadventist@yahoo. FRPRULQSHUVRQDWWKH)DPLO\&ORVHWRQ7XHVGD\V Duo to perform ‘Light and Life of Christ’ 80$7,//$²$IDPLOLDUIDFHWRFKXUFKHVLQWKHDUHD 6HDQ5RJHUV²RQHKDOIRIWKH5LQJ3UDLVH0XVLF0LQLVWU\ ²ZLOOSHUIRUPZLWKWHQRU6WHSKDQ&UDLJ ³7KH/LJKWDQG/LIHRI&KULVW´FRQFHUWLV6XQGD\$XJ DWSPDWWKH8PDWLOOD3UHVE\WHULDQ&KXUFK0DUWLQ 'ULYH7KHUHLVQRDGPLVVLRQFKDUJHDOWKRXJKDIUHHZLOO offering will be taken. 5RJHUVZKRSOD\VSLDQRLVDFRQFHUWDUWLVWZKRLVMXVW a comfortable with classical music as he is jazz. At the age RIKHDFFHSWHGKLV¿UVWIXOOWLPHRUJDQLVWSRVLWLRQZLWK DFKXUFK:KHQKHZDVKHEHJDQSOD\LQJZHHNO\DVDQ entertainer in a lounge and restaurant and continued that until he left for college. &UDLJWRXUVQDWLRQDOO\VLQJLQJRSHUDFODVVLFDODQGPXVLFDO WKHDWHU+HVKDUHVKLVSHUVRQDOWHVWLPRQ\DQGORYHRIPXVLF through a heartfelt musical celebration. )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQFDOO1RUPD%XVVOHUDW Friday, August 14, 2015 PENDLETON 1HZSDVWRULQWRZQ By JONATHAN BACH East Oregonian Travis Larsen is the kind of guy you can grab coffee with. He has an easy-going manner that makes him a cinch to talk WR DQG IUHTXHQWO\ ÀLSV WKH conversation on its head, asking questions in between his own answers. $QG WKDW¶V SUREDEO\ good, for the line of work in ZKLFK/DUVHQ¿QGVKLPVHOI For someone who says he could have been a teacher, an engineer (as he says his father would have liked) or even a biologist, he seems to have found a steady rhythm in ministry. Larsen, 35, joined the Pendleton community as Faith Lutheran Church’s SDVWRU LQ 1RYHPEHU RI ODVW year. He slings an arm over WKHWRSRIDZLQJEDFNFKDLUDW *UHDW3DFL¿F:LQH&RIIHH Co. and chats about the challenges of modern-day SUHDFKLQJ¿QGLQJKLVIXWXUH ZLIH LQ VFKRRO DQG ¿QDOO\ WHOOLQJSHRSOHDERXWZDQWLQJ WREHDSDVWRUE\FROOHJH /DUVHQ JUHZ XS D FKLOG of the suburbs in Tigard. He said he was wary of telling his brothers he wanted to be in the ministry, but that WKH SURIHVVLRQ FDOOHG WR KLP DURXQG DJH 3HRSOH would mention to him that SDVWRULQJZRXOGVXLWKLP,Q high school, he met Katie, the woman he would even- tually marry and with whom he now has four children — three boys and a girl. Katie said they met while trying out for the same VFKRRO SOD\ ³+H ZDV MXVW Staff photo by Jonathan Bach Pastor Travis Larsen in Peace Lutheran Church Monday afternoon. Larsen began to work at the church in November 2014. DOZD\V YHU\ FRQ¿GHQW DQG silly,” she said. By college, he started WR WHOO SHRSOH KH ZDQWHG WR SUHDFK %XW KH VDLG KH needed to be sure Christi- anity was right for him; to test the waters of different IDLWKV 6R DW :LOODPHWWH University in Salem, Larsen studied religions of the world. ,Q WKH HQG KH VDLG Lutheranism, the faith of his FKLOGKRRG³ZRQRXW´ After college, he and Katie embarked on a years- long journey that would take them back to Tigard, down WR&DOLIRUQLDXSWKHFRDVWWR 1HZSRUWWKHQWR6DQG\DQG ¿QDOO\3HQGOHWRQ Larsen doesn’t seem to mind the Pendleton’s small WRZQ DWPRVSKHUH 7KH QLFH WKLQJ DERXW SUHDFKLQJ LQ D OHVVSRSXORXVFRPPXQLW\LV WKDW SHRSOH NQRZ ZKR \RX DUH KH VDLG ³6RPH SHRSOH chafe under that,” he said. But he said he does not. Linda Mettes, 67, is an administrative assistant at Peace Lutheran. She said she’s worked around 19 \HDUV XQGHU QLQH SDVWRUV most of whom have been older. She notes Larsen’s energy and willingness to bring new ideas to the table. Larsen’s wife said the sense of community in Pendleton is much more SUHVHQWWKDQLWZDVLQ6DQG\ Since Larsen came to Eastern Oregon last winter, he said he has been introducing himself to the FRPPXQLW\DQG¿JXULQJRXW what matters to Pendleto- nians most. 7KH SUREOHP ZLWK modern-day ministry is that church is no longer an obligation, he said. There are so many things that vie IRU SDUHQWV¶ DWWHQWLRQ ZKHQ they’re choosing what their children should be involved in — most of which ends XS EHLQJ UHVXPH EXLOGHUV he said. He said that makes sense, and one of his main goals is to better connect Peace Lutheran Church to the community. ³:H QHHG WR EH H[SHUL- menting,” he said. But that doesn’t deter Larsen from staying the course. ³, JHW WR EH ZLWK SHRSOH at their best moments and at their worst moments,” he said. Church Directory s h i W o r p w i t h u s ! OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Services: Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Youth Group: 7:00 pm Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for More Information 541-289-4535 Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA 164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Living Word Christian Center in Mission for Christ LCMC Sunday Worship Service 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM 401 Northgate • Pendleton 278-8082 www.faithpendleton.org www.livingwordcc.com Community Presbyterian Churc h 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com Open Hearted...Open Minded 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Noon Wednesday Evening Prayer and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m. All Are Welcome Come meet Jesus at PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH 3202 S.W. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Awana Kids Club Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM K - 6th Grade (Sept-May) P eace L utheran C hurch 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA Join us Sundays 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class Sharon Miller, Pastor ( Oregon Trail Room ) Red Lion Hotel Family service 9am Sunday FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM All People Are Welcome Scripture, Tradition and Reason Grace Baptist Church Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM St. Johns Episcopal Church ~Come and be at Peace~ on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Faith Center Church Worshiping God • Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Summer Sunday Worship 10:00 am Sunday Worship Services: 9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Wed. 7:00 pm Praise, Prophecy & Prayer Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org T HE C OUNTRY C HURCH Seventh-Day Pastor James Becker Adventist Churc h 32742 Diagonal RD Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am First United Methodist Churc h 352 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, O R Office 276-2616 New Pastor Dr. Jim Pierce Worship Service 9:00 AM Fellowship 10:15 AM Broadcast KUMA 11:00 AM Childcare Available Choir practice Sundays 8:30 AM Hermiston OR 97838 Sunday School 10 am Worship 7 am Evening Service 7 pm Bible Study Wednesdays 7 pm Firestarter Youth Ministry (Ages 12-17) Monday @ 6 pm To share your worship times call Amanda Jacobs 541-278-2683
