FAITH Friday, June 3, 2016 East Oregonian Page 7A No food on irst convoy to Syrian town in 4 years By PHILIP ISSA Associated Press BEIRUT — A human- itarian convoy reached a starved suburb of Syria’s capital for the irst time since 2012 on Wednesday but did not bring any food, as the opposition called for a countrywide cease-ire for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and aid access for all Syrians. In the north, Kurdish-led ighters aided by U.S.-led airstrikes launched a new advance on the town of Manbij, an Islamic State stronghold on a key supply route linking the Turkish border to Raqqa, the extremist group’s de facto capital. The U.N. estimates that 4,000 to 8,000 people live in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, which has been subject to a crippling government blockade since residents expelled security forces in the early stages of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad. The joint U.N., Interna- ICRC via AP This image released by the International Committee for the Red Cross shows the irst humanitarian aid convoy in Daraya, Syria on Wednesday, June 1, 2016. tional Committee of the Red Cross, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy that reached Daraya Wednesday contained medicines, vaccines, baby formula, and “nutritional items for children,” the ICRC said, but no food. “Clearly, what we brought today will not meet the needs of people in Daraya — and a one-off delivery of food will not either,” Krista Armstrong of the ICRC told the AP via email, saying the organization hopes to return with food Friday. “We need to have repeated and regular access to all people living in besieged places in Syria.” It was not immediately clear why the shipment contained no food. A 36-truck aid convoy entered neighboring Moadamiyeh, which is also under govern- ment siege, at around the same time, carrying food. The suburb last received aid in February, residents said. The U.S.- and Russia-led International Syria Support Group last month called on the U.N. to “immediately carry out a program for air bridges and air drops for all areas in need” starting June 1 if it was denied humanitarian access to designated areas, including Daraya. The United Nations Security Council is set to meet Friday to discuss the possibility of starting human- itarian air drops to besieged areas. Britain’s ambassador to the U.N. Matthew Rycroft said the aid going to Daraya Wednesday was “too little, too late,” and his country’s delegation would raise the possibility of air drops at the meeting. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, however, said he believed air drops were impractical and that the land deliveries should be given a chance. The ofice of the U.N. envoy to Syria said it was looking into “every possible means” to reach 592,700 people in besieged areas and millions more in hard- to-reach areas facing severe food shortages. The opposition’s High Negotiations Committee withdrew from indirect peace talks with the government last month after violence lared and the government stalled on allowing sustained humanitarian access to besieged areas and releasing detainees. In a letter sent to the U.N. secretary-general on Wednesday, HNC chief Riad Hijab called for a “comprehensive” Ramadan cease-ire as a precondition for resuming talks in July. The holy month in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk begins next week. An earlier cease-ire that went into effect in late February brought relief to some opposition areas but frayed by late April. The worsening violence has strained relations between rebel ighters and the largely-exiled HNC, and earlier this week Mohammad Alloush, who represents the powerful Islam Army in the opposition coalition, with- drew from his post as chief negotiator. HNC oficial Bassma Kodmani said the armed factions would nevertheless abide by a cease-ire if the government does as well, saying the opposition group consults the rebels before making decisions. The Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led militia that includes Arab ighters, have meanwhile approached to within 14 kilometers (nine miles) of Manbij. The SDF announced a campaign to advance on areas around Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS group’s self-styled caliphate, last week. “There are tens of casu- alties among ighters and evacuating civilians,” said Nasser Haj Mansour, an adviser to the SDF. “Daesh is using its entire means to stop the forces,” he told the AP by telephone from near the front line, referring to IS by its Arabic acronym. BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR Baccalaureate for Boardman Worship I classes and the next few days, became dazzlingly detailed and precise. This, I understood, was real t may be hard for you to believe. It wakefulness — not just tumbling from is especially hard for me to believe, the sleep in bed into the anxieties and but I was once a young man myself imaginations of daydreams in waking once. I was like you once, ending the sleep, this was being awake, great chasm of life called really awake! Being really awake childhood, preparing for an may truly rescue us from the unknown future in a world of tangle of dreams. This is much dubious merit ... a world that I of my life as I approach my had no conception of. sixtieth year. I try not to miss any This year I will be turning adventure, or moment for the 60 years old and my body real to be seen and appreciated has parts that click when and for Christ’s presence to be they move. You’ll get there Colin manifest within it. too, one day. It is interesting Brown So, from that day on I have that the body, which once Comment worked to be the disciple that the seemed such a solid fact of Lord wants me to be, the disciple permanence, now seems to indicate that it is much more temporary attentive to the beauty, the subtlety and the teaching of life. Because at any than we expected it to be. Please pay moment Jesus may speak, and we may attention to it and treat your bodies miss his teaching. We well. may miss his own self, As people leaving childhood and appearing in our lives. entering a larger world, you need to A life awake is a know that you are guarded by a God stream of moments that who takes great pride in you, whose scintillate and lash in son Jesus Christ regards you as family a cloudless night sky. and who the Holy Spirit companions I made a list of some every day. You are on the watch list! moments of mine in no The Lord is your shepherd and this particular order. I would mission of his is to continually enlarge advise you to do this your world and make you more and as you go along. Your more like himself every day. This fact bucket list is already appearing before will occasionally blow your mind. I called this message “Time to Wake your eyes. I was chased by a tornado driving Up” because if you haven’t done this between Minnesota and Wisconsin. by now you should be waking up very I’ve lown aloft in a glider and soon. went into a dive, hurtling straight down When I was 14 years old I was towards the earth before pulling out and sitting in the back of drama class and I back up. was staring down at my notebook with I nearly drowned on the Great my eyes crossed, my eyes fuzzed out Barrier Reef in Australia, in 100 feet of with inattention. water, being circled by sharks. I had been reading earlier about I had the American Space Shuttle people living their lives in daydreams land in front of me at Edwards Air as a way of avoiding reality, and how Force Base, and I took photos of the once awakened from one’s own sleep you could walk along the sidewalk and astronauts when they posed for a number of us. see the daydreams in people’s eyes In Minnesota, I went inside a cage crossing their eyes as they slumber- with a tiger in it; it was very playful walked along. and bit me. Something in my brain clicked, and I was a newspaper restaurant critic suddenly I could see my teacher and in California for about three years and the class switch on, into Technicolor ate at the inest restaurants — for free. and 3-D, so to speak. I was aware of I saw Mount Saint Helens erupt my hands resting on the desk, aware from my ofice in Portland. of my feet on the loor, and the languid My car caught ire when I was heat and light coming from between sitting in it, after I had just illed it with the window blinds, warming my face. gasoline. After I broke down, going My own change of state, this new and uphill to visit my mechanic. thrilling awakeness, experienced in the I sailed around the shores of the classroom and for the remainder of the Delivered to graduating students: Apostle islands in the great Lake Superior in a beautiful sailboat, at night, with the islands craggy with skull-shaped rocks that made a loud gurgling noise. The moon rose above the waves with a blood-red color, and the northern lights switched on like cold neon ire, sheets of green, yellow and blue that lit the sky. I went to Bethlehem and kneeled in the stable building that had a star marking where Jesus was born. I touched the golden star on the loor with both hands and prayed. I went to Jordan and went to the baptismal spring on the Jordan where Jesus was baptized, and put my feet in that same river. I sat next to Bill Murray at a movie — and pretended to be cool and not recognize him (this was a stupid thing to do). I played in an Easter Play “The Witness” at the Schnitzer in Portland where I was the narrator. I sat in the pub in England, called the Eagle and Child, in Oxford, where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien wrote and read to each other “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings,” respectively. I nearly blew a hole in myself when a pistol I was shooting misired. I met the Dalai Lama at Los Angeles party and shook his hand. I went to Petra, in Jordan, the Lost City that featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark — and lost the party of folks I was with. I wandered around for a while before I found them. I had a camera inserted into my thigh and poked up into my heart and saw my heart beat on a giant TV screen. First and foremost, I had an encounter with the living Christ that changed everything. After that life has had a movement forward into brighter and brighter amazement. You are alive, you are called to awaken and follow the same Bright Star of Christ from the stable to the empty tomb. Go forth and get busy. It’s a heck of a ride! ■ Colin Brown is pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boardman. Your bucket list is already appearing before your eyes. Methodist church sets Sunday barbecue PENDLETON — The First United Methodist Church is iring up the barbecue this weekend. A Community Sunday Dinner Barbecue is planned at noon at the church, 352 S.E. Second St., Pendleton. Chicken will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. Lay leader Kip Morgan said many encounters with Jesus in the gospels indicate food is involved. Preparing a good meal to share with others is a way for the church to demonstrate what Rev. Jim Pierce calls Christ’s “radical hospitality.” For more information, contact 541-276-2616 or kit@morganpost.net. Program highlights missionary pioneer PENDLETON — A presentation about Jason Lee, a pioneer missionary in the 1800s, will take place in Pendleton. Aaron Auer of Portland will share Mormon temple statue replaced SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The gold statue on top of the Mormon temple in Bountiful that was struck by lightning last month has been replaced. The Deseret News reports that crews removed the angel Moroni statue on Wednesday. The statue lost part of its head and back during the lightning strike. Spires topped with sculptures depicting the angel Moroni with a 555 SW 11th, Hermiston • 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232 trumpet are a signature of temples built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world. Most of these statues are constructed of iberglass covered in gold leaf, and weigh about 300 pounds. The angel Moroni statues are built with lightning rods, meant to draw lightning strikes away from other areas of the temples. Meeting focuses on prayer, healing WALLA WALLA — Esther Flesland, director of the Spokane Healing Rooms, will host a special healing meeting. The free event, which includes prayer for healing, is Friday, June 10 from 7-9 p.m. at Whitman Court, 305 Ash St., Walla Walla. In addition, Flesland will teach about Biblical healing. The gathering is sponsored by Walla Walla Aglow Community Lighthouse. For more information, call Lora Sykes at 509-540-0212 or Darya Tucker at 509-876-1668. Pastor David Dever Sun. Bible Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00am Sun. Worship Service . . . . . . . . . . 11:00am Sun. Evening Worship . . . . . . . . . . 6:00pm Wed. Prayer & Bible Study . . . 6:00pm www.hermistonlmbc.com The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Pet. 5:7 First United Methodist Church Of Hermiston Rev. Dr. James T. Pierce, Pastor Open Hearts, Open minds, Open doors 191 E. Gladys Ave. Sunday Worship at 11am (541) 567-3002 St. Johns Episcopal Church All People Are Welcome 1255 Hwy. 395 S. • 567-5834 oasisvineyard.us Worship 10:00 AM "come as you are" Echo Community Church 21 N. Bonanza Street, Echo OR Phone: (541) 376-8108 Sunday School • 9:30am Worship • 10:45am Children’s Church • 11:15am Potluck & Communion ~ First Sunday of the Month NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH BRIEFLY about Lee, who was sent by the Methodist Church to Oregon in 1834 to bring the “Book of Heaven” to the Salish people. The free event is Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Roy Raley Park, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton. In 2009, to commemorate Oregon’s 150 years of statehood, Auer, along with John Sutton, toured all 36 county courthouses, giving a presentation to judges, commissioners, sheriffs, and other public oficials. For more information, visit www. roaroregon.org. Grace Baptist Church 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston Sunday Worship Services English- Pastor Dave Andrus 9:00 & 10:45 am Spanish- Pastor Genaro Loredo 9:00 & 10:15 am Classes for kids during all services For more information call 541-567-8441 NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children's Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-289-4774 Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 Seventh-day Adventist Church Saturdays Sabbath School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:30 a.m. Worship Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 a.m. 567-8241 855 W. Highland • Hermiston Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English 7:00 am THURSDAY . . . . . . . . . Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY: . . . . . . . . . English 5:00 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English 9:00 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bilingual 11:00 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spanish 1:00 pm OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-5812 First Christian Church "Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love" SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 AM CHILDREN'S CHURCH 11:00 AM Nursery Provided 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678