FAITH
Friday, August 11, 2017
LIMEY PASTOR
First of its kind in
nearly three decades
’ve just been talking to Pastor Katie
Anderson of All Saints Episcopal Church
and Hope Lutheran, in Heppner. The
Morrow County Fair is coming up and her
church is going to be hosting a table celebrating
the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
She has asked us to lend any
family keepsake, bibles and
signage to participate in the
presentation. I myself have my
mother-in-law’s prayer book
from the early days of the 20th
century. I also have the new
translation of the Lutheran
Bible (NIV) with many articles
by professors of mine from
Colin
seminary, including Steed
Brown
Davison, the New Testament
Faith
scholar and Methodist,
amongst others. I think that it
may not be an idle boast to say that I may have
the only copy of the Bible signed by some of the
authors in Eastern Oregon.
Summer is warm, and the oily Canadian
smoke from the fi res in British Columbia has
been giving me a runny nose and stingy eyes.
I must admit I am looking forward to the
eclipse as a relief — and it drawing its spectral
wraith across the countryside. The fact that
the circumference of the moon will exactly
overlay the disk of the sun seems a big clue by
you-know-who that the world is an odd place.
While I was in bed recovering from my heart
surgery I looked at a number of videos on
YouTube about the moon and its likely origins.
Indeed, two weeks ago the scientists
announced that they have found water on the
moon, and perhaps very large amounts of it
are inside. Legends from ancient tribes speak
of a time before the moon, which must have
been a very dark time indeed. Our tides would
not have fl owed, and our constellations would
have been the only light. Our moon has proved
to be a terrifi c night light even in its partial
manifestations. Many think that the moon
originally lived in the Oort cloud, the name
given to the icy planetoids ringing our solar
system.
As the eclipse takes place on August 21, the
combined gravitational pull of sun and moon in
alignment will lift the earth 1.5 inches. So for
the weight watchers among us that will be most
useful, weighing yourself during the maximum
effect will make you a percentage point or two
lighter and should keep you happy, unless you
weigh yourself again in daylight.
Now, just one small caveat, there is a chance
that the forces lifting up the earth may trigger
one or more earthquakes — within a couple of
days before or after the event. It does happen.
Such an event was recorded by the Prophet
Amos in 760 B.C. — a magnitude 7.8 to 8.2 is
estimated.
In Amos 8:9 we read this text: “And it shall
come to pass in that day, said the Lord GOD,
that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and
I will darken the earth in the clear day.”
But the verses before it speak of what may
be an earthquake, in verses 7 and 8: “The
LORD has sworn by himself, the Pride of
Jacob: I will never forget anything they have
done. Will not the land tremble for this, and all
who live in it mourn? The whole land will rise
like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink
like the river of Egypt.”
So dear ones, pray for forgiveness, do good
and keep your eyes from looking into the light.
■
Colin Brown is the pastor of Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church in Boardman.
By BRADY MCCOMBS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)
— A Mormon church leader
was removed from his post
and kicked out of the religion
Tuesday for the fi rst time in
nearly three decades.
James J. Hamula was
released from a mid-level
leadership council based on
disciplinary action by the
religion’s highest leaders, said
Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Hawkins didn’t say why
Hamula was ousted, but the
Utah-based church said it was
not for apostasy, which refers
to teaching inaccurate doctrine
or publicly defying guidance
from church leaders.
Efforts to reach Hamula at
listed phone numbers were not
successful.
The last leader to be
excommunicated was the late
George P. Lee in 1989 after
Lee, an American Indian,
called Mormon leaders racist.
The church said then that Lee
was removed for “apostasy and
other conduct unbecoming a
member of the church.”
The last church leader
removed before Lee was
Richard R. Lyman, who was
excommunicated in 1943 for
adultery but baptized again 11
years later.
Hamula became a member
of a group called the “General
Authority Seventy” in 2008. It
Lighthouse Church
holds family camp
meeting
PENDLETON — Light-
house Church is holding a
Family Western Camp meeting
this weekend at the Pendleton
Convention Center, 1601 West-
gate.
Meetings will be held Friday
at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday at
11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday
at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Everyone is
welcome to attend.
For more information, contact
Pastor Dan Satterwhite at
541-377-4252.
Walla Walla Catholic
Schools announce
changes
WALLA WALLA — Father
Matthew Nicks will serve as
priest/president of Walla Walla
Catholic Schools.
After a unanimous vote at
the June school board meeting,
bylaw changes were ratifi ed,
In this 2014 fi le photo, Elder
James J. Hamula, Assistant
Executive Director, Church
History Department, speaks
during a preview of a new
exhibit featuring some ear-
ly documents of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in Salt Lake City.
is a group of nearly 90 leaders
that sit below the church pres-
ident, his two counselors and
two other levels of leaders.
They help run church oper-
ations by serving as a bridge
between local lay leaders in
Mormon congregations around
the world and the top leaders
working at church headquar-
ters in Salt Lake City.
Hamula’s
removal
is
surprising because he was
well-regarded and was even
considered by some outside
Mormon scholars as a possible
candidate to join the high-level
Quorum of the Twelve Apos-
tles when the church was fi lling
In this 2015 fi le photo, fl owers bloom in front of the Salt
Lake Temple, at Temple Square, in Salt Lake City. Mormon
church leader James J. Hamula was removed Tuesday from a
mid-level leadership council for undisclosed reasons based
on disciplinary action by the religion’s highest leaders.
three vacancies in 2015, said
Matthew Bowman, a Mormon
scholar and history professor at
Henderson State University.
Hamula was not chosen,
but he was still considered an
up-and-comer destined for
more important assignments,
Bowman said. In recent years,
Hamula served in important
roles as assistant executive
director of church history
and executive director of a
department that reviews all
documents published by the
church.
“He had a promising
future,” Bowman said.
His removal will likely be
talked about among some of
the nearly 16 million world-
wide members of the Mormon
religion, but it may not cause a
huge stir because it may be the
resulting in Bishop Thomas
Anthony Daly appointing
a priest-president. Nicks’
appointment was effective
July 1. With the change in the
president position, Dr. David
Schmitz has stepped down as
interim volunteer president.
Board offi cers are Claire
Valente, chair; Sarah Beechino,
vice-chair; Kristal Hassler,
treasurer; and Jerry Anhorn
Jr., secretary. In addition,
administrative announcements
include John Lesko as principal,
Father Tyler Smedley, dean of
students at DeSales; and Lynne
Kuntz, dean of students at
Assumption.
Governance changes defi ne
the term of the priest-president,
who will remain until he resigns,
the bishop reassigns him or
the board removes him with
a unanimous vote. The board
continues as the governing
body of the schools, and Father
Matthew Nicks remains as
canonical administrator.
The Walla Walla Catholic
Schools welcomes all students,
Community
Presbyterian Church
Come meet Jesus at
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
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
First United
Methodist
Church
Methodist
congregations
resume Bible study
The First United Methodist
Church recently resumed its
Bible study in Pendleton and
Hermiston.
The group meets Tuesdays at
10 a.m. at 352 S.E. Second St.,
Pendleton; and Wednesdays at
10 a.m. at 191 E. Gladys Ave.,
Hermiston.
The study is focusing on
the book of Acts. Everyone is
invited to attend the studies,
regardless of church affi liation.
The relaxed, easy-going study
features a time of reading and
discussion. In addition, snacks
and coffee will be available.
For more information,
contact preachervet@gmail.
com, 541-276-2616 or 541-567-
3002.
fi rst time many have heard of
Hamula, Bowman said.
Hamula was born in Long
Beach, California, and is
married with six children,
according to his church biog-
raphy. He was a lawyer until
joining the leadership council
in 2008.
That year, he gave a speech
at a Mormon conference
watched by millions about
choosing good over evil.
“Satan is marshaling every
resource at his disposal to
entice you into transgression,”
Hamula said. “He knows that if
he can draw you into transgres-
sion, he may prevent you from
serving a full-time mission,
marrying in the temple, and
securing your future children in
the faith, all of which weakens
not only you but the church.”
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
P eace L utheran C hurch
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
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
To share your worship times
call 541-278-2678
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
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
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.
Sunday Worship Service
9:30 - Sunday School
Sunday Worship 9am • 541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on KUMA 1290 @ 11am
10:30 - Worship Service
Worship Livestream at
www.facebook.com/FUMCPendleton/
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
5:30 Family Fellowship Meal • 6:00 Bible Study
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
Wednesday Bible Study
COME AS YOU ARE
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
LCMC
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
541-481-6132
Colin Brown, Pastor
~Come and be at Peace ~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
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
Center for Worship & Service
Pendleton
Behind These Stone Walls Beat the Hearts
of Some of the Warmest Most Sincere,
Most Caring People in Pendleton.
We Invite You to Come Get Acquainted!
Summer Worship 9:40 am
Fellowship to follow
Office 541-276-5358 M-F, 8:30-12:30
www.fccpendleton.org
New Hope heats up
with free swim event
HERMISTON — As part
of the “We Love Our City”
campaign, New Hope Kids is
sponsoring a free swim night.
All kids are invited to
attend Saturday from 6:15-
8:15 p.m. at the Hermiston
Family Aquatic Center, 879
W. Elm Ave.
For more information, call
541-567-8441 or search “New
Hope on 395” on Facebook.
———
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.
PENDLETON
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
The Salvation Army
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
regardless of religious affi liation.
It has been serving the
community for more than 150
years. For more information,
visit www.thewwcs.com.
Worship
Community
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”
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
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File
Ravell Call/The Deseret News via AP
BRIEFLY
Grace Baptist Church
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
Page 9A
Mormon church leader excommunicated
500 years
and soon
I
East Oregonian
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
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
Pastor Sharon Miller
Pastor Sharon Miller
541-278-8082
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
www.livingwordcc.com
Sunday Service: 10am & 6pm
Tuesday Kingdom Seekers: 7pm
Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm
We offer: 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
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday Worship
10:00 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org