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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2017)
FAITH Friday, June 2, 2017 East Oregonian Kentucky governor calls for prayer groups to combat violence By BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin called on the “power of prayer” to help combat Louisville’s rising murder rate as he urged people to form prayer groups to walk high-crime neighborhoods. His plan, outlined at a community meeting, was met with a mix of support and derision. Bevin urged volunteers to form teams of 3-10 people that pick the same block to walk at the same time of day, at least two or three times a week. He urged participants to make a yearlong commitment. “Go around the block, pause on each corner, pray for the people there, move to the next corner,” Bevin said later in describing his plan to reporters at a city park. “And over the course of the year, here’s what’s going to happen — they’re going to get to know the people on the block.” Bevin, a socially conser- vative Republican, said it’s a chance for “people of faith to put their faith to work.” He hopes residents from the neighborhoods walk with people living elsewhere. “Pretty unsophisticated. Pretty uncomplicated. Pretty basic,” Bevin said. “But I truly believe we’re going to see a difference in our city. I personally believe in the power of prayer.” Louisville Metro Police investigated a record 118 criminal homicides last year, but this year’s murder rate — at 52 through May — was on pace to surpass Matt Stone /The Courier-Journal via AP Gov. Matt Bevin told the audience of around 400 at Western Middle School Thursday, that roaming prayer groups in the city’s West End could be a start of helping curb the violence. last year’s total. Skeptics of Bevin’s roving prayer group plan included Micheshia Norment, the mother of a 7-year-old boy killed by a stray bullet last month. Her son, Dequante Hobbs Jr., was eating a bedtime snack at his kitchen table when the bullet smashed through a window and struck him in the head. Norment, who attended the community meeting, said later that Bevin’s “heart is in the right place,” but predicted many people would be fearful to walk neighbor- hoods plagued by crime. She also doubted it will be much of a deterrent for those prone to violence. “They can do walks all day long but it doesn’t mean it’s going to change anything,” she said. Bevin took to Facebook to condemn the boy’s death, and he paid his respects to the family by meeting with Norment at her son’s visitation, a day before his burial. Asked Thursday if she would join a prayer group, she replied: “I’m trying to get out of the neighborhood that I’m in because I’ve still got another child.” What would help curb violence, she said, is to make it harder to get guns. Earlier in the week, Bevin downplayed the avail- ability of guns as a problem behind Louisville’s murder rate. He called the homicide spree a cultural, spiritual and economic problem. “If you honestly believe it’s a gun problem, then you’re missing the point,” he said. Gun-rights advocates including the National Rifle Association wield considerable political clout in Kentucky. A ministerial group from some Louisville neighborhoods hardest hit by the violence offered its own plan to combat the crime wave. The preachers called for updating what they see as lax gun laws that make it “easier to buy a gun in West Louisville than a piece of fresh fruit.” Other parts of their plan call for protecting people who cooperate with police, updating school curriculum to highlight contributions of black culture and creating more employment and housing opportunities in minority neighborhoods. BRIEFLY Christian church starts summer schedule Christian illusionist to perform in Pendleton MILTON-FREEWATER — With the season changing, the Milton- Freewater First Christian Church is resuming its summer schedule. Beginning June 4, regular Sunday services and the junior worship begins at 9:30 a.m. The church is located at 518 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater. Other Sunday activities, including Kids Klub, breakfasts and Bible classes, are suspended for the summer and will resume in the fall. Valet parking and entry via a ramp are available on the west side of the church. Also, there’s an elevator at the north entrance. For more information, call 541-938-3854 Monday through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon. PENDLETON — The reality of God’s love is presented during a full-scale magic show by a Christian illusionist. Phil Dalton, who has spent 25 years as performer, offers a one-of-a- kind experience with several tons of equipment and a cast of seven. The free event is Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Pendleton First Christian Church, 215 N. Main St., Pendleton. The Cincinnati-based performer incorporates his faith during the shows. People of all ages and faiths are encouraged to attend. Embarking on a tour that includes all 50 states, the Pendleton show is the only Oregon performance by Dalton and his crew. For more information about the 1911 SE Court Ave 541-276-6417 Assembly of God Church local performance, call 541-276- 5358. The magician’s website is www.50magicshows.com. Liberty Quartet stages Hermiston show HERMISTON — A familiar Southern gospel quartet returns to the region for a concert in Hermiston. Liberty Quartet, a Boise-based traveling ministry, will perform Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. There is no admission charge, but a love offering will be taken. Founded in 1995, the group began a full-time ministry in 1997. They perform at church services, nursing homes, prisons and music festivals. For more information, call the church at 541-567-3677. The group’s website is www.libertyquartet.com. 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 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” 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 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 Community Presbyterian Church Weekly Adult Life Groups St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. 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 First United Methodist Church Pendleton 352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR Sunday Worship 9am • 541-276-2616 Worship Broadcast on KUMA 1290 @ 11am Worship Livestream at www.facebook.com/FUMCPendleton/ Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor PENDLETON LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH Sunday Service: 10am & 6pm Tuesday Kingdom Seekers: 7pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm We off er: Sunday School • Sign Language Interpreters • Nursery • Transportation • & more! Pastor Dan Satterwhite 541.377.4252 417 NW 21st St. • Pendleton, OR 97801 www.facebook.com/ PendletonLighthouseChurch Faith Center Church Worshiping God 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 FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com Seventh-Day Adventist Church Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am Sunday worship at 11:00 AM LCMC 420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR 541-481-6132 Colin Brown, Pastor 1711 SW 44th St. www.pendfmc.org Coffee & Mingle Time: 9:15 am Worship Gathering: 10:00 am Children’s Church: 10:00 am Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:30 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 401 Northgate, Northgate, Pendleton 401 Pendleton Celebration of Worship Celebration of Worship Sundays 10:00am Sundays 10:00 am Youth: 0-6th Youth: 0-6th grade grade Midweek Service Midweek Sevice Wednesdays 6:00 pm Wednesdays 6:00pm Youth: 0-6th 0-6th grade grade Youth: Overcomer’s Outreach Overcomer’s Outreach Tuesday’s 6:00 pm Tuesday’s 6:00pm In the the Annex In Annex Christ Centered, A A Christ Centered, 12 12 Step Step Recovery Support Support Group Recovery Group 541-276-6015 To share your worship times call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 R eporting for any other unusual duty! I’m behavior. back in the The curious thing saddle again, back was that I did not feel on the little hill in any pain in my chest, Boardman upon which with the exception of our church stands coughing or sneezing, overlooking the town. for which I was given I haven’t written for a heart-shaped cushion Colin a while. My brain is to brace against my Brown rattling in its skull chest wall when the Faith as I work up some urge came. Even thoughts. though my breast bone This last Sunday, May 28, had been cut in half, and then I showed up again at Good brought back together and Shepherd Lutheran Church. joined with steel wire, I did My open heart surgery is not feel discomfort. I turned done. I am now equipped down all offers of pain killers with a new set of innards, four as I actually did not have any new arteries, and a slightly at all. more svelte physique. It has However, for the next been two months since I had week I lived in a strange my surgery. Now I have a in-between state, with unusual zipper style scar in my chest, hallucinations that I couldn’t and exit wounds on my left distinguish from reality. I leg where the arteries were thought that I was moved extracted for the back-up from room to room, on one plumbing, and a strange occasion being moved to clarity caused by the influx the hospital guard shack, on of much larger amounts of another two occasions being oxygen than usual. I am taken to a nurse’s meeting reconstructed. I am Pastor 2.0. off-site, some kind of lodge I have found that there are meeting. In each place the two types of people, those same room number was on who want to see the scar and the wall. I still remember those who don’t. A nurse these artificial memories told me that seeing scars was vividly. something they got into the After a week of being business for. I didn’t like in the hospital I really did seeing scars before, but now move out of the hospital, I must admit that it’s a lot being transported by taxi to cooler than I thought it would a rehabilitation facility in be. Mount Angel. I remember I can remember a strange the strange taxi ride I took. I calm coming over me when I didn’t recognize the roads I was receiving the anesthetic knew so well; it was as if my at St. Vincent’s. I remember memory had been partially thinking how eerie it was, and wiped. At the facility I began how this moment could really working with the rehab team. I be it. This could be my last was lucky in that my heart had remembered moment of my not been damaged by my two lifetime. This was not a thought heart attacks, and so the new I shared with anyone else, not access to oxygen gave me a my wife or my son. It was an zesty energy that was amazing. occasion of great moment. I My reconnected was ready to meet God, but I breastbone was protected by was equally happy to wait. regulations that forbade me My surgery had taken lifting small weights, and did seven hours. Twice as long not allow me to hoist myself as planned. My surgeon had up to stand. I learned to rock been drained by the effort backwards and forwards until as apparently my internal I could roll forward onto structures weren’t that my legs in order to stand. I cooperative. Initially finding learned to think in a calcu- places on my heart to hook lating geometry, consciously up the new arteries was not and carefully. so easy. Everything was new and I can’t remember waking my Lord had guided me up, but I did. The depth of the carefully back to new life. All anesthesia had been profound, praise to him and thankful- and the heart machine I was ness for his care of all those hooked up to had shaken my who looked after me! blood into a red froth which I have returned home had added to my brain’s to my family, all members confusion. When I woke I accounted for including the wanted to leave — to get cats and the dogs. It’s good to out of bed and drive home. I be home. Thanks are due to pulled the tubes in my chest God for his amazing mercies! out, which were there to ■ drain. This did not endear Colin Brown is the pastor me at all to the nurses who of Boardman’s Good Shepherd then wired me up to motion Lutheran Church on Locust detectors to warn them of Road. Scripture, Tradition and Reason 541-289-4535 Mid-Week Children & Youth Back in the saddle 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA (First United Methodist Church) 191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. LIMEY PASTOR Worship Community Redeemer Episcopal Church Page 7A Pastor Sharon Miller Pastor Sharon Miller 541-278-8082 541-278-8082 www.livingwordcc.com www.livingwordcc.com -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 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
