FAITH
Friday, September 15, 2017
East Oregonian
Refugees still fleeing 3 weeks into crisis
LIMEY PASTOR
Being
there
together
By JULHAS ALAM
AND DAR YASIN
Associated Press
COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh
— Nearly three weeks into a mass
exodus of Rohingya Muslims
fleeing violence in Myanmar, thou-
sands were still flooding across
the border Thursday in search of
help and safety in teeming refugee
settlements in Bangladesh.
The crisis has drawn global
condemnation, with U.N. officials
demanding Myanmar halt what
they described as a campaign of
ethnic cleansing that has driven
some 400,000 Rohingya to flee
Rakhine state.
One of the dozens of boats
carrying Rohingya to the Bangla-
deshi border town of Teknaf
capsized Thursday and at least two
people drowned, police said. That
brought known drownings in the
Naf River to 88 since the crisis
began.
Those who arrived Wednesday
in wooden boats on beaches near
Shah Porir Dwip fishing village
described ongoing violence in
Buddhist-majority
Myanmar,
where smoke could be seen
billowing from a burning village
— suggesting more Rohingya
homes had been set alight.
One Rohingya man said his
village of Rashidong had been
attacked six days earlier by
Myanmar soldiers and police.
“When military and police
surrounded our village and
attacked us with rocket launchers
to set fire, we got away from our
village and fled away to any direc-
tion we could manage,” Abdul
Goffar said.
Myanmar presidential office
spokesman Zaw Htay said that out
of 471 “Bengali” villages in three
Rakhine townships, 176 were now
completely empty while at least 34
more were partially abandoned.
Many in Myanmar use that term as
part of the long-standing refusal to
accept Rohingya as citizens of the
country.
Myanmar has accused the
Rohingya of burning their own
homes and villages — a claim the
U.N. human rights chief criticized
S
AP Photo/Dar Yasin
A Rohingya Muslim woman, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, shouts for help as
a relative lies unconscious after the boat they were traveling in capsized minutes before reaching
shore at Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh, Thursday.
as a “complete denial of reality.”
The crisis and refugee exodus
began on Aug. 25, when Rohingya
insurgents attacked police posts.
Myanmar’s military retaliated
with “clearance operations” to
root out the rebels, but the fleeing
Rohingya say Myanmar soldiers
shot indiscriminately, burned
their homes and warned them
to leave or die. Others have said
they were attacked by Buddhist
mobs. Hundreds have died, mostly
Rohingya, and some of the refu-
gees have needed treatment for
bullet wounds.
Facing growing condemnation
globally, Myanmar leader Aung
San Suu Kyi will not attend U.N.
General Assembly meetings Sept.
19-25 to instead deal with what the
government said were domestic
security issues.
U.N.
Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres told reporters
Wednesday that ethnic cleansing
was taking place against Rohingya
in Rakhine state. The term “ethnic
cleansing” is defined as an effort to
rid an area of an unwanted ethnic
group — by displacement, depor-
tation or even killing.
The U.N. Security Council
called for “immediate steps to end
the violence” and ensure civilian
protections.
Rohingya
have
faced decades of persecution in
Myanmar, and are denied citizen-
ship despite centuries-old roots in
the Rakhine region.
The thousands of Rohingya
flooding into Bangladesh every
day have arrived hungry and
traumatized. Many need urgent
medical care for violence-related
injuries, severe infections or child-
birth.
“The women who are coming
for check-ups all have a terrified
and exhausted look,” said Sumaya,
a midwife at the Nayapara refugee
camp working in association with
the U.N. population fund. “We
keep hearing stories from them of
walking through jungles and across
hills for days without food, their
children carried over their shoul-
ders. They’ve lost their homes.”
Two existing refugee camps
were packed beyond capacity,
and Bangladesh has said it would
free land to build a third. Many of
the new arrivals were huddling in
makeshift shelters along roads or
in open fields. Near the camp of
Balukhali, some were setting up
tents made of bamboo and plastic
along hillsides muddy from days
of rain. Children walked uphill to
capture rainwater before it spilled
into the teeming settlements below.
Food, clean water and other
necessities were scarce.
Panic erupted Thursday along
roadsides where local volunteers
were distributing food, water and
other supplies haphazardly from
parked vehicles. Local officials
shouted through bullhorns for
volunteers to coordinate their
efforts with aid agencies to avoid
spreading chaos.
“There are acute shortages of
everything, most critically shelter,
food and clean water,” UNICEF
country representative Edouard
Beigbeder said.
BRIEFLY
Hermiston church
dares to share
HERMISTON — A livestream
video event features a national
outreach effort designed to inspire
teens to spark a movement of
gospel conversations throughout
the country.
The Hermiston Assembly of
God Church will host Dare 2
Share LIVE Saturday, Sept. 23
from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 730
E. Hurlburt Ave. The cost is $20,
which includes lunch.
In addition to the video
livestream, attendees will
experience a live local worship
band and a live emcee. The
program includes inspiration and
training, outreach sharing and a
praise and prayer celebration.
For more about the event,
including a link to RSVP,
visit www.dare2share.org. For
questions, call the Hermiston
church at 541-567-5831 or
visit www.facebook.com/
hermistonassembly.
Stateline Church
celebrates 20 years
MILTON-FREEWATER — A
20th anniversary celebration is
planned at Stateline Church.
A non-denominational
fellowship, the public is invited to
Faith Center Church
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Worship Service: 10:30am
Sunday School: 9:30am
Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30 am Sunday Worship
9:30 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
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
join the congregation in celebration
of 20 years of ministering in the
community. The event is Sunday
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the
church, located at 85440 Highway
11, Milton-Freewater. The event
will include a special service and
a time of sharing how God has
touched their lives.
For more information, call
541-938-7552 or visit the
Facebook page.
Christian church
announces classes
MILTON-FREEWATER —
After recently resuming its fall
worship schedule, the Milton-
401 Northgate,
Celebration
of Worship
Pendleton
Sundays 10:00am
CELEBRATION
Youth: 0-6th grade OF
WORSHIP
Midweek 10:00
Service am
Sundays
Youth:
Wednesdays
6:00pm
0-6th
grade
Youth:
0-6th
grade
Overcomer’s Outreach
MIDWEEK
SEVICE
Tuesday’s 6:00pm
Wednesdays
6:00 pm
In the
Annex
Youth:
A Christ
Centered,
12 Step
0-6th
grade
Recovery Support Group
Pastor
Sharon Miller
Pastor Sharon Miller
541-278-8082
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
www.livingwordcc.com
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
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
Freewater First Christian Church
has announced its Sunday class
schedule.
Bible classes for all ages are
available at 9:30 a.m. Kids Klub
also starts at 9:30 a.m. Geared for
children of all ages, it includes
arts, crafts, music and more. The
regular worship service and Junior
Church both begin at 10:45 a.m.
The church is located at 518 S.
Main St., Milton-Freewater. Valet
parking and entry via a ramp
are available on the side of the
building. Also, there’s an elevator
at the north entrance.
For more information, call
541-938-3854 Monday through
Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
eptember 10th came upon us.
Our churches gathered by the
marina in Boardman. The water
flittered and glittered under the blue
sky. Eighty-six souls were bathed
under the rays of the later summer
sun. A plethora of pastors and a
plenitude of prayers were with us.
Our atmosphere by the water was
pretty clear, the smoke of the forest
fire in the Gorge was distant, thanks
be to God.
When we come together in this
way, there is no discernible difference
between us. Tethered
to Christ and bonded
in the love of our
heavenly family, we
were one church.
Just a little piece of
the whole, but we
were 86 gathered
together — both
Colin
shepherds and
Brown
sheep (and we each
Faith
had both of those
identities).
One of our local churches was
missing, and we missed them.
Renee played the electronic
keyboard that our former musician
Kathy had brought for us. Eighty-six
singing voices sounded grand and
echoed across the water shivering
our spines. Had we had more voices
I believe we may have triggered the
Eschaton (go on – look it up).
After our worship service and our
sermon based on Matthew 18: 1-20,
we had a potluck. In my old country
such a term, potluck, is not known. I
had never heard of it — this bringing
together of many morsels to make a
feast. A symbol of the United States
itself.
Mike Smith, who is a seminarian
and will, hopefully, be a pastor in his
own right soon enough, had asked me
what I would like to eat. I said that
my favorite thing was curried baked
beans. Now, Mike is a former Marine
and loves making new dishes. He rose
to my challenge. He made superlative
curried baked beans, with his own
take on curry with unique Smith
spices. Truly the Lord had visited his
curry.
I remembered the last two verses
of our Gospel text:
19: “Again, truly I tell you that
if two of you on earth agree about
anything they ask for, it will be done
for them by my Father in heaven. 20:
For where two or three gather in my
name, there am I with them.”
We certainly had that covered. It
was certain that Jesus was here — and
is here, with us all, always. He lives,
in us and each other.
Bless you all, friends.
Amen.
■
Colin Brown is the pastor of
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in
Boardman.
Worship
Community
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.
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
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
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
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
Center for Worship & Service
Pendleton
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
Come meet Jesus at
The Salvation Army
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR
401 Northgate, Pendleton
Page 9A
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
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
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