FAITH
Friday, September 29, 2017
East Oregonian
LIMEY PASTOR
Faithful groups look to revive old church building
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
A historic symbol of
bygone days, Echo’s St.
Peter’s Catholic Church has
sat mostly empty for more
than 20 years.
Constructed in 1913, the
church was de-consecrated in
1996. Echo city administrator
Diane Berry said the Echo
Altar Society didn’t want
to see the building become
privately
owned,
which
resulted in the Diocese of
Baker donating it to the Fort
Henrietta Foundation.
The idea was that it
would become a museum.
Constructed in the Portuguese
Colonial Revival style, it
features a distinctive stucco
façade. The interior houses
ornate statues and a faux
marble altar.
Shortly after being gifted
to the foundation, an archi-
tectural study was conducted
on the building. A Kinsman
Foundation grant provided
funding for a new roof and
some basic stabilization, Berry
said. It was subsequently
added to the National Register
of Historic Places on Aug. 28,
1997. However, that’s when
most activity with the building
came to a standstill.
According
to
Phyllis
Shovelski, the Echo Kiwanis
approached the Fort Henrietta
Foundation last July, offering
to raise money and work
toward minimizing the build-
ing’s degradation. The group
helped raise money through
an Oktoberfest celebration in
2016 and has arranged work
crews and received assistance
Constructed
in 1913 in the
Portuguese
Colonial
Revival style,
the old St.
Peter’s Cath-
olic Church
in Echo has
sat empty for
20 years. The
Fort Henrietta
Foundation
and Echo
Kiwanis are
hosting an
open house
Sunday from
2-4 p.m.
File photo
through reduced rates and
in-kind labor.
Michael Duffy, Echo
Kiwanis president, said local
help has generously come
from Dick Snow of Muleshoe
Ranches and Rock Pit,
Dave Smith of O So Kleen,
Larry Ables of BD Ables
Construction,
beekeeper
James Simpson of Baker
City, Hermiston Glass, Lloyd
Piercy, Jake Broyles, the Echo
Fire Department and a score of
Kiwanis volunteer laborers.
Plans for the building are up
in the air, but the consensus is
the Fort Henrietta Foundation
and the Echo Kiwanis want to
save the structure.
“People that see it, whether
they are Catholic or not, they
love this place,” Duffy said.
The Fort Henrietta Foun-
dation and Echo Kiwanis
are hosting an open house to
hopefully increase interest in
the building and maybe get
some ideas on how to move
forward. Organizers are also
hoping to hear more about the
building’s history.
The open house is Sunday
from 2-4 p.m. at 33208 Marble
St., Echo. Refreshments will
be provided by H&P Café.
In addition, tours will be led
by Berry, secretary of the
Fort Henrietta Foundation,
with assistance from Kiwanis
volunteers.
Also, a volunteer work
party is at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Duffy invites the public to
grab a pair of gloves and show
up to help.
“Here we are 20 years later
... what will become of it?”
Duffy pondered. “We intend
to give a nudge for serious
fundraising. We want to see
this go forward.”
Berry said preservation
and restoration should be
important to everyone. For
Echo, she said, the old St.
Peter’s church is an icon and
an important symbol in telling
the story of Echo’s unique
Azorean Portuguese, the early
sheep industry and the signif-
icance of men like Joseph
Cunha and his contributions to
the region’s history.
“We as a community
feel that our history and our
heritage represented by our
historic buildings and sites
is what makes us special and
unique,” Berry said.
For more information,
contact Duffy at 541-303-
5730, echokiwanis@centu-
rytel.net or Joe Ramos at
509-366-3980.
BRIEFLY
Special service
‘hymnspiration’
HERMISTON — The
public is invited to an evening
of singing old hymns with
new and old friends.
The Hymnspiration is
Sunday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
at Victory Baptist Church, 193
E. Main St. Hermiston. The
gathering includes singing,
food and fellowship.
For more information, call
Chris Finley at 541-571-2515.
Evangelist to share
at Enterprise church
ENTERPRISE — An
author/evangelist will speak
about forgiveness during
an upcoming event at an
Enterprise church.
Ordained with the
Assemblies Of God Oregon
District, Wes Daughenbaugh
will share about his recent
book, “21 Ways to Forgive.”
The free event is Saturday
from 6:30-8 p.m. at Abundant
Life Assembly, 207 E. Main
St., Enterprise.
For more information,
contact Micah Agnew at
abundantlifeassemblyor@
gmail.com, 541-426-3752
or visit www.facebook.
com/abundantlifeag. The
author’s website is www.
christsaffection.com.
Aglow celebrates
Feast of Tabernacles
WALLA WALLA
— Everyone is invited
to celebrate the Feast of
Tabernacles at a Shabbat
potluck dinner sponsored
by the Walla Walla Aglow
Community Lighthouse.
Nancy Hubbard will share
about the Jewish fall feasts
during the event. It is Friday,
Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at 711 Carrie
St., Walla Walla. A party
atmosphere, the event also
features Jewish music and
shofar blowing. Those who
plan to attend may bring a
dish to share. In addition,
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
LCMC
Sunday worship at 11:00 AM
if able, RSVP by calling
509-876-1668.
Aglow, which started
in 1967, is an international
organization that seeks to
minister to its members and
share God’s word in the
community. In addition to the
regular monthly meetings,
there are weekly prayer
groups and Bible studies.
For more information, call
Kathy Owsley at 509-540-
2684, Lora Sykes at 509-540-
0212 or visit www.ecwaglow.
Church hosts
death and dying
conversation
PENDLETON — Death is
part of the human experience
— everyone has experienced
loss, and all of us will die one
day. Yet conversations about
death and dying are difficult
and often avoided even with
closest family members and
friends.
As part of the Oregon
Humanities’ statewide Talking
about Dying initiative,
facilitator Holly Pruett will
host a conversation on the
topic of “Talking About
Dying.” The free event is
Monday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at the
First Presbyterian Church, 201
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
“Talking About Dying”
discussions provide
Oregonians with an
opportunity to reflect on what
stories and influences shape
their thinking about death and
dying. In addition, they will
hear different perspectives and
ideas from fellow community
members. Participants will
explore essential questions
about death and dying and
will gain a strengthened sense
of community support. A
resource list with tools and
information to help them
consider how to shape a
meaningful approach to death
and dying will be available.
For more information,
contact, 541-276-7681 or
fpcp@pendletonpresbyterian.
com.
The eye of the
hurricane and
gathering the tribe
I
just came back from a meeting with a musician
who has agreed to play for my new evening
church. It is a Church of the Night that will
allow a contemplative journey of prayer in sound.
This musician plays the flute and many other
instruments, and played the flute over me before
I went for my surgery. I was told by this person
that on previous occasions when they had stopped
playing, others had heard a continuing playing in
the room.
I am of the firm opinion that a musician is a
backbone of worship, responding
to the spiritual breezes that rush
between us. This new musician
was the offspring of the musician
who had taught my son to play. I
feel that I have a foundation for
my new effort, as I feel about
how I left my beloved friends at
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Colin
with their new musician of grace.
Brown
God is in the music.
Faith
Beloved brothers and sisters
of Eastern Oregon, greetings and
blessings. This week, I’m praying for a friend of
mine who has been in the eye of the hurricane in
Puerto Rico. I consider her one of my “peeps,”
a holy person who values the productions of the
earth and its sanctity. A noble human being, Thrity
Vakil is a London girl who has dedicated her life
to helping the poorest people in the American
Territory of Puerto Rico. She is president of Tropic
Ventures Education and Research Foundation. Her
website is here at: http://eyeontherainforest.org/
Thrity has worked in the tropical rainforest
for over a decade, training the local population to
carefully farm their own forest products instead of
torching swathes of rare rainforest land to make
bare land. The fine exotic woods are cultivated in
sustainable ways and create an income stream for
the people who live there that does not leave them
destitute or hungry. It leaves their land as abundant
as it was.
However, the voracious Hurricane Maria tore
into the cultivated forest, ripping out its beauty and
delicate structures. Thrity’s background in the art
and sciences have made her a wonderful docu-
menter of these salvation efforts, and unfortunately
also enabled her to document the shredding of
nature’s beauty by the chaos of powerful Atlantic
weather systems. I received photographs of the
devastation of her forest yesterday. I had a standing
invitation to visit, but now I am going to have to
wait for quite a while.
Thrity is dedicated to finding out ways by
which forests may be used as assets without the
need for dramatically cropping them. The fine
tropical hardwood of the rainforest has great value
as a product and can be cultivated without loss.
Thrity sent me pictures of her world after the
hurricane struck, pictures of transcendent loss. In
many ways she is a terrestrial angel. All angels
weep.
Besides the crushed forest around them, the
Puerto Ricans, who are American citizens, are
without food and water — and help is slow in
coming. It should have been made a state years
ago; it has taxation but no representation. It is a
neglected orphan.
I ask that you keep all these people in your
prayers, donate to the people what you can and
remember that we all live in a world subject to
disturbance. Only God is a rock and our only true
guarantee.
Amen.
■
Colin Brown is the former pastor of Good Shep-
herd Lutheran Church in Boardman.
Worship
Community
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
541-481-6132
Colin Brown, Pastor
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
Community
Presbyterian Church
401 Northgate, Pendleton
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
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
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship Service: 10:30am
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
First United
Methodist
Church
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
pendletonfaithcenter.org
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
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Wednesday Bible Study
COME AS YOU ARE
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
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
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
Faith Center Church
Page 7A
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