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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2017)
FAITH Friday, August 18, 2017 LIMEY PASTOR The grandeur of God eclipses fear T he eclipse begins to approach us. Is it one of those days, weeks or months? When the world gathers its storm and points it at you and bangs it around your ears like a clown with saucepans? When, in trying to make ends meet, you cannot find either end? Then it is important to look around you, looking at your own body and mind and realize that none of what you think belongs to you has been made by you. It is all God’s creation, even the messy bits that are you. When all appears dark and frightening, remember whose place this is, remember who makes the vault of time and space, and remember who brought you into existence and who will be there when you exit again. The staggering, prodigious scale of creation is far more vast than you can imagine. The complexity of all its tangles is not computable by the fastest computers, not even the ones that are yet to Colin come. The sun that is being Brown eclipsed on Monday is just Faith one of trillions of trillions of such stars, each with their own cloud of planets and moons, and each with their own dynamics and strange beauties. So why do we allow worries and tensions to find a foothold in us? We have all seen little miracles save us. We have all realized that we are somehow loved by the creator of this magnificent cosmos. So why do we worry when worrying is something that never helps us? Is there not a God? You know there certainly is. Why do we also, in most cases, avoid going to church and showing our creator a little appreciation? Taking time for a brief moment of conversation between the creator and the created. Even a little prayer, if not the whole spectrum experience of the church, even a little prayer of thanks would be nice, don’t you think? Strange isn’t it? The very enemy of our hearts is fear. It is a fear that bubbles up and causes us to lose our balance. Bill, one of my former spiritual directors, told me that this particular evil attacked him a lot. Bill was a former Catholic priest and Jesuit who had married a nun and had a young daughter. He knew a lot about this. He said that the evil one would always whisper in his ear and tell him when his family didn’t arrive home on time that something had happened on the road — that soon a policeman would be knocking at the door. The evil one is always whispering in our ear, suggesting the worst outcomes. Living with these whispers is something I do, too. Bill intuited that I needed to be told about this particular trick of the enemy. I also have these whispers trying to disable my confident action in the world. Sometimes, besides our own thoughts, the evil one uses the mouths of others to attack our faith and hope. But it is all smoke and mirrors. It begins to be recognizable. It takes what could be the maximum good of our work and lets the air of our tires, so to speak. We live in a world made solely out of the grandeur of God. It is all God’s business. Listen only to the voice of the one who made you and reject the fears spread by the enemy of man. You belong only to God. You are forever loved! Amen. ■ Colin Brown is the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boardman. East Oregonian Page 7A U.S. Jewish criticism of Trump response to Charlottesville expands to some supporters By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer NEW YORK — Ivanka Trump’s rabbi denounced President Donald Trump for blaming “both sides” in a white nationalist rally in Charlottes- ville, Virginia, as the number of American Jewish leaders willing to criticize him grew. Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, and other rabbis from the prominent modern Orthodox synagogue in Manhattan, said in a Facebook message late Wednesday that they were “deeply troubled by the moral equivalency and equivocation” of Trump’s reaction. Lookstein oversaw Ivanka Trump’s conversion to Judaism. He has only rarely commented on the president. Separately, the Republican Jewish Coalition, which has supported Trump through earlier controversies, urged him “to provide greater moral clarity in rejecting racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism.” Among the coalition’s board members is Las Vegas casino magnate and GOP donor Sheldon Adelson, who eventually supported Trump. “The Nazis, the KKK, and white supremacists are dangerous anti-Semites,” the Republican Jewish Coalition said in a statement Wednesday. “There are no good Nazis and no good members of the Klan.” The rebukes are the latest from American Jews outraged and AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File In this 2011 file photo, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein speaks in New York. Lookstein, Ivan- ka Trump’s rabbi denounced President Donald Trump for blaming “both sides” in a white nationalist rally in Char- lottesville, Va., as the number of American Jewish leaders willing to criticize him grew. frightened not only by Saturday’s march, which drew neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members ostensibly to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. But they were also troubled by Trump’s reaction. At a news conference Tuesday, Trump doubled down on his initial comments on Saturday and said, “I think there is blame on both sides” and “there were very fine people on both sides.” A car driven by an alleged white nationalist plowed into a group of counter-protesters at the march, killing a woman, Heather Heyer, and injuring 19 others. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, the largest American synagogue movement, and an outspoken critic of many Trump policies, said it should have been “incredibly simple and easy and obvious” for the president to denounce white supremacists and neo-Nazis. A Reform Jewish synagogue in Charlottesville, Congregation Beth Israel, which sits one block from the site of Satur- day’s demonstrations, said Nazi websites had called for burning the synagogue, so congrega- tional leaders moved their Torah scrolls out of the building and hired a guard. Marchers passed by carrying flags with swastikas and shouting the Nazi salute “Sieg Heil,” the synagogue president said. But condemnations of Trump also have come from U.S. Jewish groups that usually avoid commenting directly on the pres- ident. The Rabbinical Council of America, which is part of the modern Orthodox movement, said in a statement specifically naming Trump that, “failure to unequivocally reject hatred and bias is a failing of moral leadership and fans the flames of intolerance and chauvinism.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel source of campaign funds, issued a statement Thursday that did not name the president, but said, “We urge all elected offi- cials to reject moral equivalence between those who promote hate and those who oppose it. There must be no quarter for bigotry in our country.” American Jews vote over- whelmingly Democratic, but Trump has maintained a solid if comparatively small base of support among American Jews who were angered by President Barack Obama’s policies in the Middle East and viewed Trump as far more friendly to Israel. Since the Charlottesville march, some of Trump’s U.S. Jewish backers have gone quiet. World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder, who has been one of Trump’s most prominent defenders, declined to comment through a spokesman. However, some have praised how Trump has handled the fallout from the Virginia rally. Rabbi Yaakov Menken of the Coalition for Jewish Values, an Orthodox Jewish public policy organization based in Baltimore, said the president was right to call out bigotry on “many sides.” Menken said he sees anti-Jewish bigotry coming from the right and the left, including from parts of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Why this apparent desire of some to mask hatred coming from left-wing groups? David Duke is worse than Louis Farrakhan?” Menken said of the Nation of Islam leader who has blamed Israel and Jews for the Sept. 11 attacks and accused Jews of controlling the American government. “We were not looking for him to single out the hate groups on the right.” BRIEFLY Salvation Army offers sports camp PENDLETON — Kids in first through sixth grades are invited to participate in sports and improve their skills while learning about God’s love at MEGA Sports Camp, offered by the Pendleton Salvation Army. The free camp is Aug. 21-25 from 8-11:30 a.m. at the Salvation Army’s church and activity center, 150 S.E. Emigrant Ave. Kids will be able to choose between baseball, basketball, soccer and cheerleading, and engage in drills and practice games to strengthen the fundamentals of each sport. Breakfast will be provided each day. “We want to give kids the chance to learn more about sports, discover character- building concepts, and have a whole lot of fun,” said Lt. Ricky Scruggs in a press release. Between sports session, coaches will lead campers in songs and inspiring sports and Bible stories with character- building themes in a positive and encouraging environment. And most importantly, kids will discover God’s great love for them. For more information, call 541-276-3369 or register at www.tsachurch.com. Ione church welcomes interim pastor IONE — The Ione Community Church recently welcomed an interim minister. Rev. Richard W. Jensen is expected to serve the congregation for the next six to eight months as the church begins the process of finding a permanent minister. Jensen most recently served 20 months at a church in Mesa, Arizona. His wife, Renee, who also is a pastor, is currently serving a church in Boise. Jensen will preach from the pulpit three or four times a month and be available in Ione approximately 14-18 weekdays each month. He will be on call and available for funerals, weddings and other needs of the church and community. The church recently held a benefit dinner to help the Morgan family. Larissa Morgan recently suffered an amniotic embolism following childbirth and is undergoing rehabilitation treatment. Additional donations may be sent to: Ione Community Church, P.O. Box 346, Ione, OR 97843. The church’s Sunday services are at 10 a.m. at 470 E. Main St., Ione. For more information, call 541-422- 7530. Summer luau celebrates season HERMISTON — Swimming, prizes and food are featured during the annual Summer Luau BBQ. Hosted by the Hermiston Assembly of God Church, Tribe Youth and Elevate Kids, the community is invited to enjoy a free meal and meet new people. The family-friendly event is Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at 81202 Cooney Lane, Hermiston. For more information, call 541-567-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/ hermistonassembly. Umatilla church hosts rummage sale UMATILLA — The annual summer Rummage & White Elephant Sale is this weekend at the Umatilla Presbyterian Church. People can shop for a variety of items, including crafts, clothing, toys, puzzles and lots of treasures to be found at the white elephant table. Organized by the Women’s Association of the Umatilla Presbyterian Church, the sale is Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla. For more information, call 541-922-3250. 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 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 Worship Community Community Presbyterian Church 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 First United Methodist 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 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 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 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 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” To share your worship times call 541-278-2678 -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 St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us Join On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason Family service 9am Sunday N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. Center for 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 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 Offi ce 541-276-5358 M-F, 8:30-12:30 www.fccpendleton.org 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 Worshiping God Sunday Worship Service Pendleton P eace L utheran C hurch Faith Center Church The Salvation Army 352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR Redeemer Episcopal Church FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 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 Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:00 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org