FAITH
Friday, September 4, 2015
East Oregonian
Page 7A
HERMISTON
Youth programs begin at
Assembly of God Church
BY TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
AP Photo/Verena Dobnik
Yvette Suazo and her four-year-old son, Kingson, pose
for a photo Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 in New York. The
pair will be among a group of immigrants who will re-
ceive a special blessing from Pope Francis during the
pontiff’s New York visit on Sept. 25.
Immigrants, refugees to
receive papal blessing
NEW YORK (AP) —
Pope Francis will offer a
special blessing to a group of
immigrants and refugees in
New York, including those
who are undocumented,
highlighting two contentious
issues in American politics.
The Sept. 25 encounter
with about 150 mostly
Spanish-speaking
New
Yorkers “is about the values
and the message that he has
articulated as pope,” the
head of New York’s Catholic
Charities, Monsignor Kevin
Sullivan, told a news confer-
ence Thursday at a church in
Harlem.
Francis has made helping
immigrants a top priority of
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he called the “globalization of
indifference” toward migrants
and refugees. The pope
will address a joint meeting
of Congress on Sept. 24,
where he is expected to press
lawmakers for generous and
welcoming policies toward
immigrants. His efforts come
as questions intensify about
inaction over Syria’s civil war
and Europe’s migrant crisis.
By contrast, Donald
Trump, currently the leading
Republican presidential candi-
date, says he would deport
millions of undocumented
immigrants.
Among those the pope
will bless at Our Lady Queen
of Angels School in East
Harlem are youngsters from
violence-torn Central Amer-
ican countries who crossed
the border alone, refugees
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seeking asylum, struggling
American-born minorities and
disabled immigrants. Francis
will also meet a group of
Catholic schoolchildren.
Manhattan resident Yvette
Suazo,
her
14-year-old
daughter,
Chelsea,
and
4-year-old son Kingson
hitchhiked from Honduras
to the U.S. about two years
ago. Life at home had become
precarious, with her daughter
in danger of being raped each
time she left the house, the
mother said after the news
conference.
Asked whether she had
documents allowing her to
live in New York legally,
Suazo said, in Spanish,
“Nada” — nothing. As a
result, she cannot look for a
job and depends on her sister
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“But I hope the opportunity
to be here legally will open for
us,” she said in Spanish.
The insecurity did not deter
those who were introduced at
the church from giving their
names and describing their
plight.
“I left because of the crime
and so many people on drugs,”
said Cristhian Contreras, who
was 14 when he and a few
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foot across the U.S. border.
Now 16, he lives in the
Bronx, attends high school
and is a member of a soccer
team with fellow immigrants.
His mother works as a house-
keeper, but fears deportation.
He never knew his father.
Cristhian is counting on
the pope’s blessing, he said as
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this time in Spanish, “I’m one
of the few people invited to be
with the pope. And if I have
the chance, I’ll ask him to pray
for us and our countries.”
BRIEFLY
Worship event
remembers 9/11
HERMISTON — A
prayer and worship service
is planned in conjunction
with the anniversary of Sept.
11.
Remembering 9/11,
Remembering America is
Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at
McKenzie Park, 320 S. First
St. The time of prayer will
focus on our states, counties,
towns, neighbors, families,
churches and schools.
The public is encouraged
to attend and focus on God’s
power.
For more information,
contact Erin Lovett at
541-376-5559 or eilovett@
live.com.
Missionary shares
message of hope
STANFIELD — Born
2½ month premature, Steve
Kramer is a walking miracle.
Doctors told his parents
that he would never walk
or live a productive life.
Diagnosed with cerebral
palsy, Kramer has seen God
do the impossible.
Kramer and his wife,
Julie, have been missionaries
for nearly 10 years in the
Netherlands, where they
planted four churches. They
are now starting a new
university ministry.
Kramer will share
about Chi Alpha Christian
Fellowship, a university
ministry of the Assemblies
of God, at the University
of Oregon, Steve’s alma
mater. The public is invited
to learn more about the
program and hear a message
of hope Sunday at the 9:30
a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services
at Crossroads Community
Church, 350 N.W. Sherman
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For more information,
contact 541-449-1251 or
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New Hope hosts
Hour of Hymns
HERMISTON — A
gathering of community
worship will include the
singing of hymns and
Gaither songs accompanied
by Louise Sundvall.
The Hour of Hymns &
Gaither Songs is Sunday,
Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at New
Hope Community Church,
1350 S. Highway 395,
Hermiston.
Everyone is welcome.
For more information,
call Doug Fehrenbacher at
541-561-8327.
With school back in
session the Hermiston
Assembly of God Church
is gearing up for its youth
group programs.
Open to all youths,
the program kicks off
Wednesday with Round-Up
Night for the Hermiston
Girls Club and Royal
Rangers. Boys and girls
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are encouraged to wear
their best cowboy duds.
The event features prizes,
games and food.
In
addition,
Tribe
starts that evening with a
barbecue. Open to middle
and high school youths, the
program focuses on mento-
ring youths.
“We try to focus on prac-
tical things,” said Roger
Brown, Tribe coordinator.
“They are all Bible-based
principles. We believe if
you are following Christ,
it should affect all areas of
your life.”
Brown, who has worked
with the program for the
past 18 months, grew up in
Hermiston and participated
in a similar program at the
Hermiston church. He has
volunteered with similar
programs across the United
States and resumed helping
in the same church he grew
up in when he returned to
the area a handful of years
ago.
The
older
youths,
Brown said, will work on
Photo contributed by Roy Bicknell Jr.
Youths participate in Tribe at the Hermiston Assembly of God Church. A kickoff event
for youth programs, from ages 3 through high school, is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
“The focus is Bible-based character
development. There are Bible stories
woven in with everything we do.”
— Sheri Haight, Hermiston Girls Club coordinator
team-building throughout
the month of September,
as well as developing a
community project.
Hermiston Girls Club
coordinator Sheri Haight
and Royal Rangers coor-
dinator Dave Cooper said
programs are divided by
age groups. With a strong
faith-based
component,
youths can earn merits
and badges similar to Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts.
“The focus is Bible-
based character develop-
ment,” Haight said. “There
are Bible stories woven in
with everything we do.”
“Overall, we teach good
morals, good character and
skills,” Cooper added.
Among the practical
skills are babysitting and
janitorial work. Cooper
said the youths will assist
in upkeep of the church
building.
In addition, there are
fun activities, including
sleepovers and camping, as
well as models and design,
where the boys make cars
to race in the Pinewood
Derby.
Rev.
Terry
Haight
said the program attracts
upwards of 150 youths to
the weekly program. More
than half, he said, aren’t
connected to a particular
church.
The youth programs are
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at
the Hermiston Assembly of
God Church, 730 E. Hurl-
burt Ave. For those who
need transportation, rides
can be arranged.
For more information
or to schedule a ride in one
of the church vans, call
541-567-5831.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
Church
Directory
Look for us in the Round-Up
magazine - page 69!
s h i
W o r
p w i t h u s !
Redeemer Episcopal Church
Blue Mtn. Cowboy Church
Pendleton Bahai
Cornerstone/Pendleton Ministerial Fellowship
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
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
Scripture, Tradition
and Reason
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
Come meet Jesus at
PENDLETON
BAPTIST CHURCH
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
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)
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted...Open Minded
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
All Are Welcome
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all services
Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM
Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Worship Noon
Wednesday Evening Prayer
and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m.
Family service 9am Sunday
Grace Baptist Church
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 pm
Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
All People
Are Welcome
~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
BAHA’I FAITH
“The Unity of All
Mankind”
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

Pendleton Baha’i Center at
1015 SE Court Place
Devotions Sundays @
11:00am; Everyone invited!
(541) 276-9360 visit us at
www.pendletonbahais.org
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)5((0(7+2',67&+85&+
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Mid-Week Children & Youth ‡ Weekly Adult Life Groups
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