FAITH
Friday, November 25, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 7A
HERMISTON
Biblical story of Jesus comes Community
to life at outdoor village
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Free interactive
tours Dec. 2-4
-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
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
An
interactive
tour
depicting the story of Jesus’
birth and beyond returns for
the Christmas season.
Journey to Bethlehem
features the sights, sounds
and smells of what life may
have been like 2,000 years
ago in the village. Jo Ann
Rincker, a member of the
Hermiston
Seventh-day
Adventist Church, has been
involved with the production
since its inception in 2008.
“To me, this is the real
meaning of Christmas,” she
said. “There are some people
out there who have never
heard the story, so I think it’s
important to be told.”
The free 20-30 minute
guided tours are Friday, Dec.
2 through Sunday, Dec. 4
from 5-8:30 p.m. behind
the Hermiston Seventh-day
Adventist Church, 855 W.
Highland Ave., Hermiston.
While waiting for their tour
to start, people are invited
to wait in the warm church
sanctuary and listen to music,
To help families with younger
children in regards to having
to wait, kids will be given
little packets with a booklet
and activities. They will get
to take the little prize home
with them, Rincker said.
“I think it will help with
the wait,” she said. “In the
past we have had problems
with the wait being too long
and we’ve had people leave
because they have children
that would get inpatient.”
About 100 costumed
actors participate in the
dramatic production. In addi-
tion, there are people who
take care of logistics, provide
musical entertainment while
guests wait for their guide
and serve refreshments
for visitors after taking the
journey. Also, assistants are
available to help in maneu-
Open Hearted... Open Minded
F IRST C HRISTIAN C HURCH Faith Center Church
(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
WWW.FCCPENDLETON.ORG
Community
Presbyterian Church
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
“There are some people out there
who have never heard the story, so
I think it’s important to be told.”
— Jo Ann Rincker, member of the
Hermiston Seventh-day Adventist Church
vering wheelchairs and
strollers, as needed.
Starting out with members
of the Hermiston and Anchor
Point Seventh-day Adventist
churches, other churches and
community members have
got involved with the effort.
Located near the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, the First
Christian Church provides
childcare.
Also, live animals include
everything from sheep, goats
and chickens to llamas, which
are dressed up to look like
little camels. The animals,
Rincker said, help provide
an authentic experience of
entering a Biblical village.
Rincker said when they
embarked on the first produc-
tion, they didn’t know how it
would be received.
“We said if people stop
coming out, we’ll know
we’ve run our course,” she
said.
Other than one year when
temperatures dipped down
to single digits and below,
the production has increased
attendance numbers each
year. The first production,
Rincker said, had 400 people
going through. Last year,
there were more than 2,000.
Provided as an outreach
ministry, it’s important to
organizers to offer the expe-
rience free of charge. Some
people, Rincker said, might
not be able to attend if they
had to pay.
“It’s something we want to
provide for our community,”
she said.
Last year, Sheila Botti,
also of the Hermiston
Seventh-day
Adventist
Church, said operating
expenses are about $3,000.
That figure includes the
cost of upgrades, as well
as replacing costumes and
providing
refreshments.
Donations
are
gladly
accepted.
For more information, call
541-567-9000.
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
Grace Baptist Church
Photo contributed by Sheila Botti
A villager carries a chicken during a past Journey to Bethlehem at the Hermiston
Seventh-day Adventist Church. Interactive guided tours will again be offered Dec.
2-4 at the Hermiston Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Worshiping God
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
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
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
541-289-4535
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
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
~Come and be at Peace ~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
Family service 9am Sunday
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
BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
Christ the King:
Through the door we go
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
BRIEFLY
Lutherans, Methodists plan
special joint celebration
HERMISTON — A special joint service
will celebrate the shared site and ministry of
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church and the First
United Methodist Church, both in Hermiston.
The event is Sunday beginning at 10:30
a.m. at Grace and Mercy, 164 E. Main St.,
Hermiston. Partway through the service, the
group will move to the Methodist church, 191
E. Gladys Ave., which will include communion
and a time of fellowship. Afterwards, people
are invited to a potluck and decorating the
Christmas tree.
Beginning Sunday, Dec. 4, the two
congregations will offer worship services at
8:45 a.m. (Lutheran) and 11 a.m. (Methodist)
at the Gladys Avenue site. People of all faiths
are invited to attend either or both services.
A nursery is provided during both worship
services. In addition, Sunday school is at 10 a.m.
The two congregations also will continue
ministries they have been involved in, including
Open Table, providing outreach and a worship
setting at the prison. In addition, they will
explore new areas of ministry within the
community of Hermiston.
For more information, contact Rev. Tom Inch
at 541-289-4535 or gandmlutheran@gmail.com.
Hermiston church plans
holiday Hymnspiration
HERMISTON — Old-fashioned Christmas
carols, food and fellowship are featured during
an upcoming Hymnspiration.
The public is invited to attend the family-
friendly event Sunday, Dec. 4 from 5-6 p.m.
at Victory Baptist Church 193 E. Main St.
Hermiston. There is no admission charge.
For more information, call 541-303-3840.
Bells of Peace choir
sets holiday fundraiser
PENDLETON — Bakery goods and crafts
will be available for purchase during an event
hosted by Bells of Peace, the handbell choir of
Peach Lutheran Church.
The event is Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. at the church, 210 N.W. Ninth St.,
Pendleton. In addition, people can purchase
biscuits and gravy breakfast with a latte or a
baked potato and chili lunch.
For more information, call 541-276-7592.
I
may be wrong, but I
Jesus and asked him to
suspect that you may
remember him when Jesus
be reading this either
entered his Kingdom.
on Friday or Saturday.
Jesus replied that in fact,
This means that you
that very day this man,
have been to at least
this convicted man, would
one Thanksgiving feast,
enter Paradise with Jesus.
possibly two or more.
This is why the text is so
Your body is attempting
wonderful. This criminal,
Colin
to process an avalanche of
this man who admitted his
Brown
calories still residing in the
own guilt, was the first of
Faith
portals of your humanity
us to enter Paradise. The
and swearing never again
first of many!
to eat as much. This is of course
There is no word from Jesus
an oath likely to be circumvented
pronouncing forgiveness — it
at Christmas — and maybe even
wasn’t even asked for by the
this weekend when a torrent of
crook, but this poor man merely
leftovers befall us.
asked that he be remembered, not
Last Sunday my flock at Good
saved. Yet, all the above actually
Shepherd Lutheran Church was
happened by Jesus’ command.
somewhat diminished as people
You, my readers, too, will see
began heading to the four corners
this man in Paradise. Although it
of the world to feast with relatives is a timeless state, Thanksgiving
and friends. So my sermon fell on and Christmas are all present here
a lot of empty seats. My sermon
in joy. Christ and this convict,
used our lectionary text from
among many others, will be there
Luke, where Christ was on the
to welcome us into the bliss that is
cross, beginning to die. Besides
God’s presence.
him were two genuine criminals
When I was a chaplain I came
who had also been sentenced to
into a man’s hospital room. He
death.
was grinning from ear to ear. He
It’s a strange text to read
was a Lutheran, and he was about
just before Christmas, and also
to die. The week before he had
a strange text for the week of
died on the operating table and
Thanksgiving. It seems quite
had been brought back by the
out of balance for the mood of
doctors. In that time of temporary
the season. Yet the text is about
death he had seen paradise and
a significant moment in human
met his master. Never had I seen
history when the world of humans such a joyful man. We talked for
changed dramatically.
a while and prayed together. He
The crowd was jeering and
had no fear and told me he looked
mocking Jesus, saying, “Save
forward to getting back there.
yourself!! Save yourself!” — and
So I ask that you be as
even one of the real criminals
fortunate as that crucified criminal
hanging beside the Lord joined in
and that Jesus remembers you
the scorn. But the other criminal
and welcomes you into Paradise.
said to his fellow crook that
Welcome him into your life.
while they were getting their just
■
desserts, Jesus had done nothing at
Colin Brown is the pastor
all to warrant a sentence of death!
of Boardman’s Good Shepherd
This man turned to look and
Lutheran Church on Locust Road.
SUBMIT FAITH NEWS
Friday's faith page features local, national and international faith-related news. Send information about local faith-related
news and events, including concerts, special speakers and activities to community@eastoregonian.com or drop off to
the attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton.
Call 541-564-4539 or 541-966-0818 with questions.
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
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
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
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Bible Study
6:00pm
Youth Classes:
Nursery - 6th grade Sun & Wed
Jr & Sr High Discipleship Program Wed
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