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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 2017)
FAITH Friday, August 25, 2017 East Oregonian Page 7A LIMEY PASTOR Knowing where you are ’m still finding my way roaming destination in an accurate manner, about Eastern Oregon. It is a vast and how to return to where you and wild place and empty, empty came from. like a green desert. I discovered I reflected on my own roots in that a GPS device is really useful the tightly compacted emerald isle to have — ‘cause I don’t have one, of Great Britain, and how totally and accidentally made my way inhabited it is. There are indeed north instead of south on Highway patches of forest and meadows, but 74 after I visited the Lutheran pastor you can generally see folk even Colin in Heppner. When I turned I ended crossing the valleys and hills. It is Brown up going along a long and winding picturesque and busy too. Faith road with no houses or villages. Here I am in Ancient America, I was confident I was heading a land that looks pretty much as it towards Arlington, but I wasn’t. I ended up did thousands of years ago. You have to in Pendleton, the only name on a sign I saw know where you are, how to get to where that I recognized, but even then I didn’t you want to go, and how to get back home. really know how far away that was. I had It is a vast, vast creation. no map in the car either. Last week I took my son Matthew to In the Middle East there is a saying: see the historical film “Dunkirk” — a “Trust in God but tie up your camel first.” mighty and moving film about how the My camel was not tied, that is certain. My British soldiers waiting on the shores of camel was far afield. France were rescued in World War II, not The vastness of the land is breathtaking. by the military ships,but by an armada Its verdant hue is magisterial. As I kept of small boats that set sail to cross the traveling to Pendleton, without map and English Channel to rescue the troops who certainty, a striped grasshopper leapt into otherwise had no other means of escape. my open window and began tap dancing on I realized that the story’s heart is in the my car’s dashboard. I traveled with him for fact that it was the fathers who came to get some while before I pulled over to a rich them — the fathers of all those troops got green clump of grass and invited him to hop in their own little ships and sailboats and out, which he did. Then I was alone again. sailed across the waves being attacked by I kept trying to use my cell phone, but German fighter planes. These little boats there was no signal anywhere. I thought rescued 300,000 young men from being of Jesus when he went wandering alone lost forever and brought them home. into the mountains. They were his Father’s I realized that this is also God’s story, mountains where he could think his when I read in the Gospel about Jesus in Father’s thoughts. I kept a stern grip on my the boat. It is God who is in the boat who steering wheel. I thought about what might comes to rescue us from being lost. He happen should I lose my attention and drift gathers us into the boat with himself. over the edge. There were no railings to Are you lost? Or do you know where guide you back, just a freefall onto the sod you are? below. ■ It really is important to know where Colin Brown is the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boardman. you are, and also to both know your I AP Photo/Ajit Solanki Ganesh Chaturthi festival begins in India An Indian woman combs the hair of a child as she waits for customers for idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Thursday. The ten-day long Ganesha festival begins Friday. Tribal members ‘seek justice’ for sacred site leveled to widen U.S. 26 By ANDREW THEEN | The Oregonian/OregonLive Tribal members “seek justice” for sacred site leveled to widen U.S. 26 A trio of tribal elders asked a judge in Oregon this week to settle a long-standing dispute with the federal government over sacred burial grounds they contend were destroyed nearly a decade ago to expand a highway near Mt. Hood. The lawsuit claims the government destroyed a sacred site along a roughly 5-acre parcel on the north side of U.S. 26, about 13 miles west of Government Camp, in 2008 for a widening project. An attorney representing the tribal elders said they tried for years to work with the government to avoid a lawsuit but were unsuccessful. Wilbur Slockish and Johnny Jackson, the Hered- itary Chiefs of the Klickitat and Cascade Tribes of the Yakama Nation respectively, filed a motion for summary judgment in U.S. District Court Monday. Carol Logan, a tribal elder with the Confed- erated Tribes of Grande Ronde, and two nonprofit groups, are also part of the lawsuit filed against the U.S. Federal Highway Administra- tion and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The eldersare seeking a ruling from the judge that the government violated a key section of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,the same law cited by the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the BRIEFLY Local church shares vision HERMISTON — The Hermiston Assembly of God Church has designated September as Vision Month. The focus is to dream bigger, believe in greater things and to love people even more. The congregation and its leaders invite the public to join them as they launch into a series called #ThereIsMore! Each Sunday features something special and fun: •Sept. 3: Back To School Sunday provides free donuts in the lobby. •Sept. 10: Taco Truck Sunday offers taco truck food available in the yard after the service •Sept. 17: NextGen Sunday features a service highlighting Elevate Kids & Tribe Youth •Sept. 24: I Love My City, a community outreach event The services begin at 10:30 a.m. at 730 E. Hurlburt Ave., Hermiston. For more information, call 541-567-5831 or visit www.facebook.com/hermistonassembly. Local churches collects school supplies Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton and Hermiston Church of the Nazarene are collecting school supplies. The Pendleton church is collecting such items as backpacks, calendars, activity planners, pencils, pens, paper and tissues. The Nazarene church has adopted West Park Elementary School and is collecting supplies for students in need that will be distributed by a school counselor. Particular supplies needed include spiral notebooks and pencils — as well as other items that can be used in the classroom. The final collection date is Sunday, Sept 3 at both churches: •Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 241 S.E. Second St., Pendleton. For more information, call 541-276-3809. •Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. For more information call 541-567-3677. SUBMIT FAITH NEWS 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 atten- tion 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. Outreach 401 Northgate, Overcomer’s Pendleton Tuesday’s 6:00 pm 401 Northgate, Pendleton Celebration of Worship Sundays 10:00 am Youth: 0-6th grade owners of the conservative retailer Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor. “When it's an endangered species,wetlands, or even a nearby tattoo parlor, the government finds a way to protect it,” Luke Goodrich, an attorney with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said in a statement. “But when it’s a Native American sacred site, they unleash the bulldozers and chainsaws. Becket is a nonprofit religious liberty law firm. “After taking this land from the tribes in 1855, the government now has the gall to claim that it can destroy it because it is ‘government land.’ But it’s not 1855 anymore,” Goodrich said. Two of the plaintiffs are direct descendants of Sla-kish, the tribal chief who signed the Yakama Treaty in 1855. A spokesperson for the Federal Highway Adminis- tration declined to comment, saying the agency does not comment on pending lawsuits. According to court documents, the location near today’s Wildwood Recreation Site was used for centuries by tribal members to practice Washat, an ancient Yakama religion. The tribes used the specific site on the approach to Mt. Hood, named Ana Kwna Nchi chi Patat, or the Place of Big Big Trees, as a resting stop and religious campground. Tribal members used the area to rest while en route to Celilo Falls, the lawsuit said. For centuries, the site included an altar made of river rocks and other stone monuments nestled among old-growth trees. “To me, this site was like a church. One that never had walls, or a roof, or a floor, but it was still just as sacred,” Jackson said in a statement. “If the government can callously destroy our place of worship, it could do the same to any other group.” The elders say they were first made aware of a possible highway expansion in 1985. They say BLM officials surveyed the campground and determined the altar was a significant artifact that may be at least several hundred years old, according to the lawsuit. But it was subsequently destroyed. Goodrich said in an interview that the elders are not able to obtain a financial settlement under the federal religious freedom act. Rather, they are asking an apology, declaration that there was a significant wrong perpetrated on the native people and they are asking for some remedia- tion of the site. The group is asking for all or part of an earthen berm installed covering the campsite and burial ground to be removed, and trees and vegetation planted. The government could also install a marker acknowledging the historic nature of the site or allow tribal members to create a replica of the ancient altar on the site. Worship Community In the Annex Christ Centered, 12 Step Celebration of A Recovery Worship Support Group Midweek Sevice Wednesdays 6:00 pm Youth: 0-6th grade Pastor Sharon Miller 541-278-8082 www.livingwordcc.com Midweek Service FAITH LUTHERAN 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 CHURCH in Mission for Christ LCMC Bible Study.........9:00 AM Sunday Worship......10:30 AM Overcomer’s Outreach ( Oregon Trail Room ) www.faithpendleton.org ’ 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 Red Lion Hotel Redeemer Episcopal Church 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Pastor Sharon Miller 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 Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Holy Communion Noon Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group All Are Welcome www.livingwordcc.com 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 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 Community Presbyterian Church 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 First United Methodist Church 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 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 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 352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA Faith Center Church The Salvation Army Pendleton P eace L utheran C hurch FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com Loving People 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday Worship 10:00 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org