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