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