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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2017)
FAITH Friday, March 3, 2017 LIMEY PASTOR Dust and ashes I n many ways Lutherans of the church and its God, was have much in common with finishing up tidying the grounds. hobbits. They appreciate He had pulled the scrub rubble home and heart, peaceful lack together and had made a good of adventure, regularity and fire that was coiling its smoke good food, in abundance if into the darkening sky. Our friend possible. I knew that when Mr. Fire Marshal was there. I was we were planning our Ash pleased at the quality of the ash, Wednesday service, and we had, fine and silky. The night before Colin for the sake of time, canceled I had burned last year’s palm Brown the accompaniment of our Soup leaves at home and created an ash Faith Supper, that we were treading that was uncommonly gritty, and into dangerous territory. Food is mixed it with olive oil to mark the main attractor for churches. crosses on the congregation’s foreheads. Soup is comforting; it can be conjured I went inside to get a spoon and glass in many ways. Soup is not boring by any bowl and came back outside, scooped up means. It is a warm flood of flavor of all the ash of Kurt’s making in the warmth kinds. On the dessert side, pie and cake of the declining fire, and went back into lure the holy from many directions. Sadly the church to mix its dark colors with we neither had pie nor cake — nor soup. my oily palm goop. It darkened the holy Our emphasis on fasting, perhaps, a sludge to make its mark more serious and little too much. more definitive. A service of preparation for baptism As we make the mark of the cross on and the baptismal season, of the stripping each person we recite: “Remember that away of the non-necessities by fasting, you came from dust, and to dust you shall making alms and prayer and coming return.” closer to the God of Presence who I hold these in my heart as holy forgives our sins just isn’t as catchy a words. I am now scheduled to have a game as it used to be. Repentance is heart bypass surgery on March 21, at the a word that seems rusty, unloved and beginning of spring. The kind and clever misunderstood. Repentance doesn’t mean actor, Bill Paxton, died this week of his caught out or guilty. It means feeling complications in heart bypass surgery. our distance from our maker, feeling the I stand here alone by the mercy of shame of being humanly vulnerable. And God’s grace, knowing that I serve by his by dropping the creature comforts we pleasure only. Amen. return to God, to the quietness and the ■ hope of the great silence that God holds Colin Brown is the pastor of Good us in. Shepherd Lutheran Church on Locust I drove into the church parking lot Road in Boardman. Email him at Limey- and saw the smoke rising. Kurt, servant Pastor@usa.net. BRIEFLY Milton-Stateline Adventist Movie night School sets carnival features family drama MILTON-FREEWATER — Food, treats, fun, games and rides are all featured during the Milton Stateline Carnival. The event is Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at Milton-Stateline Adventist School, 53565 W. Crockett Road, Milton-Freewater. Proceeds from the event help support the faith-based school. For more information, contact 541-938-7131, info@miltonstateline. org or visit www.facebook.com/ events/710542399123679. Blackwood Legacy to perform two local concerts A familiar southern gospel quartet will perform a pair of shows in the area. Blending southern gospel’s traditional sound with contemporary country music, Blackwood Legacy Quartet is led by Rick Price, former lead singer for the award- winning Blackwood Brothers Quartet. The local performances are Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 215 N. Main St., Pendleton; and Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at Anchor Point Seventh-day Adventist Church, 77 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston. Admission is free at both concerts although an offering will be accepted. For more information, call 541-276- 5358 or 541-289-3022. For more about Blackwood Legacy, visit www. theblackwoodlegacy.com. BOARDMAN — A movie about a mother and her three children who end up wandering the streets of Los Angeles is featured during Saturday Night at the Movies. “Come the Morning” highlights hard life lessons and hope. The public is invited to watch the flick Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 200 Willow Fork Drive, Boardman. The 1993 drama is rated G. There is no admission charge. Refreshments and popcorn will be available. For more information, call 541-481- 9437. Victory Baptist hosts hymn service HERMISTON — An evening of singing old hymns with new and old friends is planned in Hermiston. The Hymnspiration is Sunday from 5-6 p.m. at Victory Baptist Church, 103 E. Main St. Hermiston. Everyone is invited to attend for a time of fun and fellowship. For more information, call Chris Finley at 541-571-2516. ——— Send information about local faith-related news and events, including concerts, special speakers and activities to community@eastoregonian.com. East Oregonian Evangelical Rio mayor skips Carnival, drawing ire and praise Twenty-two percent of Brazilians identify as Evangelical By MAURICIO SAVARESE and PETER PRENGAMAN Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO — Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella did the unthinkable over the last week: He snubbed the city’s legendary Carnival. And in doing so, the retired Pentecostal bishop exposed sharp divisions in a society known for easygoing attitudes toward sex and celebration but with a large-and-growing evangelical community that loathes a bacchanalia famed for its round-the-clock partying and overt sexual displays. Crivella’s unheard-of decision to stand up organizers at the Rio Carnival’s opening ceremony Friday night, then skip the city’s most important event entirely over the next several days, became one of the most talked about aspects of this year’s bash. It even led to accusations that his seemingly hands-off approach could have been a factor in two float accidents that happened during the Carnival’s central parades. Previous mayors have been front-and-center of lavish Carnival ceremonies. “There is no bigger job for a mayor than to follow closely everything that happens during Carnival,” wrote Folha de S.Paulo columnist Alvaro Costa e Silva. “The recent (accidents) were related to a lack of regula- tion” by city authorities. But many evangelicals celebrated his decision to snub a festival they frown upon. “Crivella is a good man, a bishop,” said Maria Figuera, an 80-year-old member of a chapter of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Crivella’s church. “As an evangelical, he should not be part of Carnival.” Carnival was always going to put the evangelical mayor in a tight spot. In the weeks leading up to the bash, Cariocas, as Rio residents are known, joked about whether Crivella might be photographed with a half-naked samba dancer or next to floats inspired by Afro-Brazilian religions like Candomble and Umbanda. Still, Crivella, who took power Jan. 1 after winning 59 percent of the vote, had prom- ised not to let his faith get in the way of governing. Many argued that he broke that promise with Carnival. “When I read that the mayor wasn’t coming, it was as if he was saying that the 70,000 people who come to the Sambadrome AP Photo/Leo Correa, File In this Sept. 2014 file photo, retired Pentecostal Bishop Marcelo Crivella campaigns for the governorship of Rio de Janeiro state, in Brazil’s Copacabana. “When I read that the mayor wasn’t coming, it was as if he was saying that the 70,000 people who come to the Sambadrome and all the millions in the streets were bad people because we like Carnival.” — Carla Ferraz, 18-year-old reveler and all the millions in the streets were bad people because we like Carnival,” said 18-year-old reveler Carla Ferraz. “He should be a better host.” In a lengthy statement Wednesday, Crivella said he decided not to go to the Sambadrome because “in my case it would have been dema- gogy.” “People of Rio reject a mayor with a mask, even during Carnival,” he wrote, apparently alluding to the clash between his religious beliefs and the celebrations. Crivella said that during the festivities, he was focused on the safety of the city, and that his team had met to revise regu- lations so there are not future accidents during parades. Evangelicals have enjoyed a growing role in politics in Brazil, a center of extraordinary growth for their churches and also home to more Catholics than any other country in the world. Twenty-two percent of Brazilians currently identify as evangelical Christians, up from 5 percent in 1970. Congress’ “evangelical bloc,” repre- senting about a fifth of seats in both chambers, has emerged as a political force that was influential in President Dilma Rousseff’s removal last year and pushes for conservative laws. Still, many Brazilians reject evangelicals, seeing them as judgmental and contrary to an easygoing attitude that is perva- sive in the culture. For many, those beliefs were reinforced by Crivella’s handling of the situation. Worship Community 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 Come meet Jesus at 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 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 United Methodist Church Pendleton/Hermiston 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 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 Page 7A Redeemer Episcopal Church St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Scripture, Tradition and Reason Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Holy Communion Noon Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. All Are Welcome 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” Good Shepherd Lutheran Church LCMC Sunday worship at 11:00 AM 420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR Seventh-Day Adventist Church Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am 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 541-289-4535 Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA (First United Methodist Church) 191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 On Friday night, Crivella stood up the ceremony in which the mayor traditionally hands a symbolic key to the city to Rei Momo, or the king of carnal delights. After the organizers spent hours waiting, key in hand and looking dejected, the mayor sent the head of Rio’s tourism agency, who apologized and said Crivella’s wife was sick. Revelers didn’t buy the excuse, and their suspicions increased when two nights later the mayor and his wife, looking to be in fine health, were seen watching tennis at the Rio Open. “Crivella was the only Carioca who didn’t do anything during Carnival: he didn’t party and he didn’t work,” said taxi driver Rafael do Nascimento. “I expected better.” Nor did Crivella attend any of the parades at the Sambadrome, which began Saturday with second-tier schools and ended Tuesday with the most famous ones. After a float crashed into the crowd and injured 20 people on Sunday, revelers started speaking of a curse because the mayor skipped the opener. The talk was reinforced Tuesday when part of another float collapsed and injured 11 people. Five people are still in hospital, one in serious condition. Crivella replied to critics by visiting victims of the accidents in the hospital and posting videos on his Facebook page. That decision was lauded by hundreds who chimed in on Crivella’s page. “There are more important things than handing over the key to open Carnival,” wrote Elisangela Domingues. Faith Center Church Worshiping God Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:30 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 FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com 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 541-481-6132 ~Come and be at Peace ~ Colin Brown, Pastor on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Mid-Week Children & Youth Weekly Adult Life Groups 1711 SW 44th St. 541-276-6015 www.pendfmc.org To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678