FAITH
Friday, December 23, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 7A
BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR
Praying for the people
hristmas is here. Last Saturday,
people of my city and surrounding
the snow filled the sweep of
cities. In Christ’s name I ask for
the low hill below our church
blessing this Christmas day on all
and its parking lot. Randy, our Church
people who live and work in the light
President came and back-hoed
of East Oregon. I know how
the ripe snow and made a
hard people work here and
straight way up to our door.
firstly I ask for prayer and
Markus shoveled the snow
healing for all the people who
back out of the way like an
live in this light. I pray for
iron man. I had forgotten how
healing in relationships that
cold that cold can actually be
may have been sundered this
and did not wear gloves, and
year. I ask for laughter to fill
my fingertips became prickly
every home and I ask for good
Colin
with tingling and my hands
health to burgeon in every
Brown
became a little blue. Putting
home. I ask for homes for those
Faith
my hands under the hot faucet
who have none – and I ask
brought a pink color back
for healing for those suffering
slowly. I want to give thanks
from addictions, that take root
to my church brothers and sisters who
like fires in a forest. I give thanks for
struggle so hard to keep our doors open AA and its healing work with those
and who come from far away at times
who are victim to alcohol, for NA, for
to do this.
those suffering from addictions to all of
This Saturday, Christmas Eve,
the narcotics legal and illegal. I ask for
at 7 pm we have our Christmas Eve
healing for those suffering from bodily
service. I would like you to be there,
failings, from the diseases of aging and
even if just in spirit. Our church is
from pain that springs in different parts
a lighthouse of the soul. I would
of the body. I ask for those help for
welcome people who enjoy carol
those who suffer from mental illness:
singing so that the church can rattle its
depression, bi-polar disorders and
doors and let the neighbors hear our
schizophrenia that may be uplifted and
voices. All are invited who love the
strengthened with the right medication.
Lord’s presence.
I ask for help with those who
I wanted to say a prayer for the
are dealing with their own dying,
C
and their friends and relatives who
share this knowledge. I ask for your
presence Lord, in the midst of this,
with a glorious hope in the place of
the heavenly Father where every shed
tear will be dried. May all people
who have little ones who are sick be
comforted by your peace, comforted
by your presence and given joy.
I pray that all people of Eastern
Oregon feel called to know you more,
to read the Gospel and to search out
people with common understanding
and interests. I pray that all the
churches and people who worship here
will begin to glow with the light of
prayer and that peace will reign in their
hearts and between churches. I pray
that gentleness will reign.
I pray that all of you feel
companioned by Jesus, as a friend as
well as an adviser, and that you seek
out his fragrance wherever you feel it
rising. The world needs a harmonious
place like East Oregon to show peace
in action and friendship actively
working in the rich field of human
happiness. Amen.
Go in Peace, Serve the Lord!
■
Pastor Colin Brown of Boardman’s
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on
Locust Road.
BAHA’I FAITH
“The Unity of All Mankind”
Pendleton Baha’i Center at
1015 SE Court Place
Devotions Sundays @ 11:00am;
Everyone invited!
(541) 276-9360 visit us at
www.pendletonbahais.org
Faith Center Church
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Christmas Eve Service 7 pm
Christmas Day 11 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Community
Presbyterian Church
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
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
VATICAN CITY —
Pope Francis on Thursday
denounced the resistance
he’s
encountering
in
reforming
the
Vatican
bureaucracy, saying some
of it is inspired by the devil
and that the prelates who
work for him must undergo
“permanent purification” to
serve the Catholic Church
better.
For the third year in
a row, Francis took the
Vatican bureaucracy to task
in his annual Christmas
greeting. He said the reform
process he was elected to
push through in 2013 isn’t
aimed at a superficial face-
lift for the Holy See, but
rather a profound change in
mentality among his collab-
orators.
“Dear brothers, it’s not
the wrinkles in the church
that you should fear, but the
stains!” he said.
In 2014, Francis stunned
the Vatican Curia, or admin-
istration, when he listed the
15 “spiritual ailments” its
members were suffering.
He accused them of using
— Pope Francis
their careers to grab power
and wealth, of living
“hypocritical” double lives
and of forgetting — due to
“spiritual Alzheimer’s” —
that they’re supposed to be
joyful men of God.
Last year, Francis listed
a “catalog of virtues” they
were supposed to show
instead, including honesty,
sobriety,
respect
and
humility.
This year, he gave the
priests, bishops and cardi-
nals who work for him 12
guidelines that are inspiring
his reform process, which
has involved consolidating
Vatican departments and
creating new ones.
He called for a “definitive
end” to the Vatican’s face-
saving way of getting rid of
unqualified or problematic
staff by promoting them to a
higher office.
“This is a cancer!”
Francis said.
Francis said it’s entirely
natural that there should
BRIEFLY
Methodist church hosts
communion service
feature an interactive children’s program.
For more information, call 541-276-3031.
PENDLETON — A Christmas Eve
communion service is planned at the
Pendleton United Methodist Church.
Scripture and special music is included
Saturday at 4 p.m. at 352 S.E. Second St.,
Pendleton. In addition, the regular worship
service is planned Christmas Day at 9 a.m.
For more information, contact
541-276-2616 or visit www.
pendletonunitedmethodist.org.
First Christian announces
holiday schedule
Grace Baptist Church
sets Christmas services
PENDLETON — Songs of the season
are featured during a special Christmas Eve
service at Grace Baptist Church.
The public is invited to attend and sing
along Saturday at 6 p.m. at 2809 S.W.
Goodwin Ave., Pendleton. Also, on Christmas
Day, there is one service at 11 a.m. It will
MILTON-FREEWATER — The public
is invited to a time of worship, music and
fellowship on Christmas Eve at the Milton-
Freewater First Christian Church.
The special service is Saturday at 6 p.m.
at 518 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater. Valet
parking is available with entrance to the ramp
on the south side of the building. An elevator
is just inside the north entrance to the church.
On Christmas and New Year’s days,
there are no Sunday school classes. Morning
worship is planned for 10:45 a.m. on both
holidays. In addition, the Sunday breakfasts
will resume Jan. 8. Also, “The First Noel,”
a Christmas cantata postponed earlier this
month due to inclement weather, will be
planned for a later date.
For more information, call 541-938-3854.
be resistance during such a
profound process of reform
— but he said there’s good
resistance and bad.
Positive resistance is
an open willingness for
dialogue but “hidden”
resistance comes from the
“fearful or hardened hearts”
of people who say they want
change but really don’t, he
said.
And then there’s “malev-
olent resistance ... when
the devil inspires nasty
intentions often dressed as
lambs.”
He urged his collabora-
tors to undergo an ongoing
process of spiritual purifica-
tion guided by the Gospel.
Later, he told staff who
work for the Vatican City
State that the Gospel also
should dictate the Vatican’s
labor practices to make
sure people have proper
contracts.
“No employment off-the-
books. No subterfuge,” he
said.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
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
ELCA
Come meet Jesus at
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
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
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
First United
Methodist Church
Join us Sundays
“It’s not the wrinkles in the church that
you should fear, but the stains!”
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Family service 9am Sunday
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Pope in Christmas speech blasts
Vatican resistance to reform
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”
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Pope Francis is framed between heads of prelates on the occasion of his Christmas
greetings to the Roman Curia in the Clementine Hall, at the Vatican, Thursday.
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
541-289-4535
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Grace Baptist Church
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
Arrest of black
man in black
church fire
stirs debates
JACKSON,
Miss.
(AP) — The arrest of a
black man on a charge of
burning a black Missis-
sippi church that was
spray-painted with the
words “Vote Trump” has
sparked bickering online
and consternation in the
community surrounding
the church.
Andrew McClinton,
45, made an initial court
appearance Thursday in
Greenville, a day after he
was arrested and charged
with a felony: first-de-
gree arson of a place of
worship. He requested
a public defender and
remained in jail with
bond set at $250,000.
McClinton, who lives
in the Greenville suburb
of Leland, spent several
years in prison in Missis-
sippi on convictions of
armed robbery and other
crimes. He is member
of Hopewell Missionary
Baptist Church of Green-
ville, which burned Nov.
1, a week before the
presidential election.
In the days after
the church fire, Green-
ville Mayor Errick D.
Simmons — an Afri-
can-American who took
office several months
ago on a pledge of racial
unity — urged officials to
investigate it as a possible
hate crime. The FBI said
it would do so, but no
hate crimes charges have
been filed.
Chris Orr, a Greenville
resident and former
police officer for the city,
expressed frustration over
the mayor’s early words
about the fire.
“I have a lot of respect
for the mayor,” Orr, who
is white, said Thursday.
“But, classifying this as
a hate crime of a ‘histor-
ically black church in a
black community’ before
the investigation even got
going good was basically
profiling the suspect as a
white person, whether he
directly said it or not.”
Community
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 ~
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
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
A Sacred Moment
Come & Worship
Candlelight Communion
Service
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
December 24th
5:00 pm
WWW.FCCPENDLETON.ORG
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
LCMC
Sunday worship at
11:00 AM
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
541-481-6132
Living Word Christian Center
401 Northgate, Pendleton
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
Colin Brown, Pastor
To share your worship times
call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678