Friday, November 11, 2016 East Oregonian FAITH Page 7A Operation Christmas Child sends thousands of gifts overseas Community By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian More than 200 shoeboxes were filled with gifts as part of a Nov. 5 packing party for Operation Christmas Child at the Stanfield Baptist Church. “It was a great event,” said Barb Wattenburger, collection coordinator in Hermiston. Church member Carol Frink, also a Hermiston businesswoman, helped organize the event that assists in spreading the joy of Christmas to disadvan- taged children in war-torn and poverty-stricken nations around the world. Opera- tion Christmas Child is an outreach ministry of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. People are invited to fill shoebox-sized boxes with toys, personal hygiene items, school supplies and other gifts for the recipients. National Collection Week is Nov. 14-21. Drop-off locations are available in Pendleton, Hermiston and Milton-Freewater. In 2015, Pendleton donors gave 1,086 shoeboxes and Hermiston supporters gave a whopping 1,725, said Fay Smith, Operation Christmas Child regional media coor- dinator. The concept is simple, Smith said: Pack gifts for either a boy or girl of a designated age group in a standard-size shoebox, add a shipping label, provide $7 per shoebox to help defray shipping costs and take it to a relay center during National Collection Week, Faith Center Church Worshiping God Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:30 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org F IRST C HRISTIAN C HURCH (D ISCIPLES OF C HRIST ) 215 N MAIN • PENDLETON Sunday Worship: 10:40a Bible Class: 9:30a Offi ce 276-5358 M-F, 8:30-12:30 ELCA Area residents participate in a shoebox-packing party Nov. 5 at the Stanfield Baptist Church. The gifts will be distributed through Operation Christmas Child to needy children across the globe. When and where to drop your shoeboxes Calvary Chapel 1909 S.W. Athens Ave., Pendleton Nov. 14-15, 17-18; 4-6 p.m. Nov. 16, 21; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 19; 7:30-9 a.m. & 4-6 p.m. Nov. 20, 1-3 p.m. Denise Skeen, 541-377-2103 which runs from Nov. 14-21. Gifts can include small toys, clothing, a stuffed animal, toothbrushes, soap and washcloths. Prohibited items are anything liquid or breakable, war-themed toys, chocolate and vitamins. It involves people of all ages — including youth and adult service groups, businesses, private schools, churches, retirees, individuals and families, Smith said. New Hope Community Church 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston •Nov. 14-19, 21; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. •Nov. 15, 17; 5-7 p.m. •Nov. 20; noon-2 p.m. Barb Wattenburger, 541-626-3159 And, it’s happening across the United States, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Great Britain. In 2015, a total of 11.2 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide, including 8.7 million from the U.S. Anyone can contribute a box for Operation Christmas Child. For uniformity in packaging and distribution, items must be placed into a Milton Seventh-day Adventist Church 1244 N. Elizabeth St., Milton-Freewater •Nov. 14, 16, 18; 3:30-7:30 p.m. •Nov. 15, 17, 19; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. •Nov. 20; 1-5 p.m. •Nov. 21; 9-11 a.m. 541-938-3066 shoebox-sized container. More information, guide- lines for shoebox gifts and an option for people to virtually “Build a Box” is available at www.samaritanspurse. org/occ. Also, Smith can be reached at smith_fay@ yahoo.com. ——— Contact Community Editor Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian. com or 541-564-4539 AP Photo/Chuck Burton North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory speaks to sup- porters at an election rally in Raleigh, N.C., Wednes- day. The race between McCrory and Democrat Roy Cooper remains too close to call. won the governorship by 500,000 votes in a blowout the same year President Barack Obama was re-elected, was losing by 5,000 votes out of nearly 4.7 million cast. In 2012, McCrory received 170,000 more votes than Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. This time, he trailed Donald Trump by 63,000 votes. McCrory could still win. There are tens of thousands of provisional ballots that have to be examined to deter- mine whether they are valid and can be added to the vote tallies. Counties don’t have to submit their final results until Nov. 18. North Carolina debated, passed and signed the bathroom bill in a one-day special session in March. The measure, known as House Bill 2, requires transgender people to use restrooms in Letter to the president-elect ear President-elect Oval Office when wrenching Trump, decisions with no apparent way Many congratula- out face you. When natural tions on becoming our new disasters of unimaginable President-elect. I expect you complexity challenge you, God may be as surprised as the will be at your side. He will rest of us are. I spent the day place his wisdom in you, as after in a daze, feeling that well as your sense of justice. I everything had changed. think your ability to delegate, Colin I am a firm believer in as well as the friendship of Brown providence. There is a call your friends and their loyalty Faith in the presidency, perhaps to you, will help and be of more unique than most. Like great comfort. You have made being ordained, this time is a time of friends of enemies already and this is separating the past from the future. good, because the fight that comes to Whoever you were before, whatever you will also come to them and your you thought before and whatever you alliances will also be of God. thought you were or would become are Your qualities of strength and, let going to go away. us be honest, passion and bluster will You are now lifted up on the enable you to persuade a scattered shoulders of a nation of many complex- Congress. Your ability to ride the ions and beliefs. Your character is laid perturbations of stress will be supported open on a sacrificial slab of service. and increased. God will bless you. God himself is raising you up. God You are called to be a great, good often calls the least expected. You won’t man. Not a sinner with hidden flaws. become a saint out of it, but the destinies They are behind you now. You are and souls of many will be affected by called to be the very best image of you. No more will you inhabit a circle of your true self honed in the mind of just friends; you will inhabit a sphere as God. But something very large and large as the world. In a way, you rise to demanding is coming your way, bigger the highest level you can be. than an economy, more essential than The only things that you can anything seen before. I don’t know fire will be your darkness and your what it is, but the Holy Spirit whispers self-interest (and this is all of us, not to me that you will hear and that you just you.) When you have faced the will obey. fight that will of necessity come to Go forth, Mr. Trump, be made holy you, which has been readied for your by this fight with possibilities and your encounter, you will discover the great own self, because it is that too. I will force that God has put inside you to pray for you. I will pray that you be help the people in the times of their made as great a human as possible, greatest need. You will raise a sword of worthy of a portrait on a mountain, a truth to fight the injustices that hurt the president of beloved memory. Make it poor. This is why the poor have come so, good sir! to you and sought you out. ■ I understand that you are a Colin Brown is pastor of Boardman’s Presbyterian. I welcome that you Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on have that comfort and can kneel in the Locust Road. schools and government buildings that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate. The law also leaves out gay and transgender people from state anti-discrimi- nation protection. And it disallows local measures that offer protection. The national backlash began immediately. Char- lotte lost the NBA All-Star game. The NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference pulled basketball tournament games out of North Carolina, a punishing blow in a state where college basketball is practically religion. Bruce Springsteen and other stars canceled concerts. Busi- nesses like PayPal stopped expansions or moves. 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class ~Come and be at Peace ~ Contributed photo by Barb Wattenburger BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR D 210 NW 9th, Pendleton Join us Sundays Trump Train may leave NC governor behind RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Trump train that carried Republicans to victory all over the South may have left one car behind in North Carolina — Gov. Pat McCrory, who trailed by a few thousand votes Thursday in a still too-close-to-call race that played out amid anger over the state’s transgender bathroom law. The law limiting LGBT rights appeared to have a substantial role in the Elec- tion Day contest between McCrory, who signed the measure and vigorously defended it against boycotts and other protests, and Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who called for its repeal. McCrory, who in 2012 P eace L utheran C hurch WWW.FCCPENDLETON.ORG Seventh-Day Adventist Church Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am Community Presbyterian Church on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Grace Baptist Church 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” St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Scripture, Tradition and Reason Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. Family service 9am Sunday 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Wednesday Services: Youth Group: 7:00 pm Redeemer Episcopal Church 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Holy Communion Noon Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group All Are Welcome Come meet Jesus at OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org 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 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -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 BRIEFLY PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH 3202 SW Nye Ave Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Mon. Community Women’s Study 9:30 AM & 6 PM Awana Kids Club (K-6th grade) Wed Men’s Study 6 PM MOPS meeting the 1st Thur of the Month 6 PM First United Methodist Church Pendleton/Hermiston 352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton Sunday Worship 9am 541-276-2616 Worship Broadcast on KUMA 1290 @ 11am 191 E. Gladys Ave,Hermiston Sunday Worship 11am 541-567-3002 Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor Aglow welcomes healing harpist WALLA WALLA — Laura Larson will be the featured speaker during the Nov. 12 meeting of the Walla Walla Aglow Community Lighthouse. Larson will share about her healing journey with the Lord. She also will minister by playing the harp prophetically; the instrument is specially tuned to bring peace and healing to listeners. The group will meet from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which includes lunch for a freewill offering, at 305 Whitman Court. Those attending should park near Arby’s and use the south entrance to the building at the corner of Isaacs and Ash Street. For more information, contact Kathy Owsley at 509-540-2684 or Lora Sykes at 509-540-0212. Faith Center offers Thanksgiving meals PENDLETON — Faith Center Church is once again offering Thanksgiving meals to 25 needy families in Pendleton. The free meal includes a frozen turkey, ham, potatoes, canned vegetables, margarine and a gravy mix. Families that would like to receive a free meal must call the Faith Center Church office at 541-276- 9569 and leave a message to sign up. Church personnel will call those who leave a message to confirm your meal. Meals will be distributed to those registered on Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 6-7 p.m. in the church foyer, 108 S. Main St. Remember, only those who have registered and received a confirmation call will receive a meal. For more information, call Pastor Ray O’Grady at 541-276-9569. FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH in Mission for Christ LCMC Bible Study.........9:00 AM Sunday Worship......10:30 AM Red Lion Hotel ( Oregon Trail Room ) www.faithpendleton.org Sunday Worship 10:00am Wednesday Bible Study 6:00pm Youth Classes: Nursery - 6th grade Sun & Wed Jr & Sr High Discipleship Program Wed FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com Overcomer’s Outreach Tuesday at 6:00pm - Annex A Christ-centered, 12-Step Recovery Support Group Pastor Sharon Miller 401 Northgate, Pendleton 541-278-8082 www.livingwordcc.com BAHA’I FAITH “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” Devotions Sundays @ 11am Investigate Religion Class 7 pm Thursdays Everyone invited! 1015 SE Court Place (541)276-9360 www.pendletonbahais.org To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678