FAITH
Friday, December 29, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 7A
LIMEY PASTOR
HERMISTON
The ghosts of
Christmas future
Youth event locks in New Year’s Eve fun
I
’m hoping that all of you had a Christmas
that brought you together with those you
love and perhaps had not seen for years
and allowed you to please them with your
attentiveness and care. Gifts are sacrifices to an
idol of earthly things, but your love and your
welcome are angelic gifts.
I give thanks for a year
where my wife and I both
had surgeries and we were
both blessed with successful
results. I was quite ready
to leave this world back
in March and had made
a contingent peace with
the possibility of leaving
Colin
this good earth. So, I am
Brown
glad to be here. I must
Faith
continue to search for all
the good things that the
Lord has hidden here in this beautiful place.
We ourselves are hiding places for the treasures
of God and hide within our own fabric his
mysteries and possibilities.
We are his.
As I write this I hear the drumming of rain
on my roof and feel the temperature warming
up — in this I listen to his wonderful work of
maintaining our world. For this I give thanks.
I pray that this coming year 2018, you may
find those hidden places in yourself where
Jesus waits to teach you new things. I pray that
you will receive forgiveness for all those things
that you have done that can only be healed by
his knowing forgiveness and compassionate
love. All of you receive his forgiveness when
you turn to him and repent and ask.
People of Hermiston be blessed in your
churches, and find a rich new life this year.
Celebrate the invited ones who will be called to
your church by the spirit to renew and rejoice.
People of Pendleton receive deeper gifts of the
Holy Spirit, even greater gifts of hospitality.
I know your hospitality well and God will
raise up great people of your town to lead the
state from your people. Of this I am certain.
Someone from East Oregon will be called to
serve at a very high level.
I ask that the blessed farmer churches
receive blessing and good health, and that all of
those who have suffered and hurt this past year
will be strengthened and made whole. I pray
for good crops and good soil, and pure, clean
water abundantly falling in spring and summer
rains. I pray for healthy livestock and abundant
provisions for the people.
People of The Dalles — and all of Eastern
Oregon — I ask that the wealth of new
business floods into your town and brings good
ideas, rich blessings and amazing prosperity to
each and every one of you.
I pray that the Lord himself will be a felt
presence in your midst. That wherever your
feet may land, Jesus’s steps will accompany
yours. 2018 will be a year strong in return to
honesty and character in the Church, it will
be a year of return to moral principle and
regeneration. Commitment to unborn children
will be felt as God’s deep desire and many
people will find it in themselves to adopt and
foster these little ones.
Jesus is making the way straight and this
next year we will know absolutely he is
walking beside us and bringing his kingdom of
peace to reign here on this sparkling jewel of
our world. Be watchful.
He is with us always. Blessings!
Amen.
■
Colin Brown is the former pastor of Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boardman.
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Area youths are invited to a
special New Year’s Eve event in
Hermiston
The Youth Lock-In starts
Sunday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at
Living Faith Church, 1611 Diag-
onal Blvd., Hermiston. While
some of the activities take place
at the church, transportation in
church buses will be utilized for
activities at other destinations,
including roller skating at
Roller Ink and laser tag course
will be set up in the gymnasium
at Hermiston Christian Center.
The event ends Monday, Jan. 1
at 1 a.m.
“We are so thankful to create
a safe and fun alternative for the
teenagers in our community for
New Year’s Eve,” said David
Gutierrez, youth pastor at
Living Faith Church.
The fee is $10 per person,
which covers the cost of the
activities. The evening includes
laser tag, roller skating, pizza,
live music and more. Partic-
ipants will return to Living
Faith prior to midnight for some
music and an short encouraging
New Year’s Eve message, Guti-
Photo contributed by David Gutierrez
Area youths enjoyed a safe New Year’s Eve celebration in 2016. This year’s Youth Lock-In
event starts Sunday at 7 p.m. at Living Faith Church in Hermiston.
By ELISE SCHMELZER
Casper Star-Tribune
CASPER, Wyo. — On a
Sunday in September, morning
light drifted through stained
glass as churchgoers in Rock
Springs raised their eyes to God.
In Basin, a congregation
joined voices to sing an opening
hymn. In Thermopolis, they
bowed their heads, opened their
hearts and asked for mercy.
Then the prayers — recited
in each of those Episcopalian
churches — became specific.
“God of Mercy, hear our
prayer for ourselves, our
friends and families who hold
painful memories of loss, grief
and suicide,” the priests read.
“We ask for strength for today,
courage for tomorrow and peace
for the past.”
Not many Christian sects
have a service specifically dedi-
cated to suicide prevention. In
many churches, suicide is taboo
— something to be whispered
about over after-service coffee
but never mentioned from the
pulpit. For some, suicide is a
violation of the Fifth Command-
ment — thou shall not kill. For
some, those who die by suicide
are damned to hell.
But the Episcopal Diocese
of Wyoming doesn’t condemn
those souls. Instead, the 49
parishes across the state are
actively attempting to save
them. Suicide prevention has
been a priority for the Episcopal
Josh Galemore/The Casper Star-Tribune via AP
In a Dec. 14 photo, light falls on Bibles, hymnals and prayer
books inside Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo.
church in Wyoming for years.
But after state lawmakers drasti-
cally cut funding for prevention
earlier this year, the church’s
efforts further intensified.
It’s an obligation, Bishop
John Smylie said, especially in
a state that consistently has one
of the highest rates of suicide.
“It’s become the moral
priority for the diocese,” he said.
In 2016, more than 130
people died by suicide in
Wyoming. In 2015, the most
recent year for which national
data is available, the state had
the highest rate of suicide in the
nation — 28 deaths by suicide
for every 100,000 residents.
Wyoming consistently ranks
in the top five states with the
highest rates.
Please come visit with us at
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Adventist
Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
After lawmakers cut suicide
prevention funding this year,
the diocese pledged $100,000
for local churches to use toward
that aim. Parishes across the
state have held trainings and
recruited speakers.
But Smylie wants one
thing to be clear: This was a
one-time gift. It’s the job of
the Legislature to fund suicide
prevention and awareness, not
the diocese’s, he said.
“I don’t understand the
thinking of the legislators and
how they can choose not to care
about this profound crisis,” he
said. “This is their responsi-
bility.”
During the 2017 legislative
session, lawmakers voted to cut
$2.1 million from the Wyoming
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
Faith Center Church
Worshiping God
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
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
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
Sunday worship at
11:00 AM
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
420 Locust St. • Boardman, OR
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Colin Brown, Pastor
541-481-6132
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
Pendleton
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!
Sunday Worship 9am • 541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on KUMA 1290 @ 11am
Sunday School: 9:30am
Worship: 10:40am
Fellowship to follow
Worship Livestream at
www.facebook.com/FUMCPendleton/
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
The Salvation Army
Center for Worship & Service
Sunday Worship Service
9:30 - Sunday School
Wednesday Bible Study
5:30 Family Fellowship Meal • 6:00 Bible Study
COME AS YOU ARE
Offi ce 541-276-5358 M-F, 8:30-12:30
www.fccpendleton.org
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
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
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
417 NW 21st St. • Pendleton, OR 97801
www.facebook.com/
PendletonLighthouseChurch
Community
Presbyterian Church
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Sunday Worship.........9:00 AM
Bible Study......10:00 AM
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
Come meet Jesus at
First United
Methodist
Church
10:30 - Worship Service
Grace Baptist Church
Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church
LCMC
Worship Service: 10:30am
Sunday School: 9:30am
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton OR
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
Health Department’s $5.7
million budget for suicide and
substance abuse prevention.
That cut has deeply affected
the Prevention Management
Organization of Wyoming, the
nonprofit that the state contracts
with to provide prevention
services.
The organization no longer
has the money needed for infor-
mational campaigns, training
materials or prevention efforts
focused on specific at-risk
communities and is only able
to facilitate suicide intervention
trainings with the help of the
Episcopal diocese.
Local PMO staff partner
with the Episcopal church in
their area and request funding
from the diocese’s foundation.
The nonprofit can provide the
trainer, but money for materials
and space now comes from the
church.
“It’s possible we would’ve
been able to do intermittent
training,” said CEO Keith
Hotle. “But eventually that
would’ve dwindled away all
together.”
“It really was a saving grace.
A blessing.”
The Episcopal diocese first
started working with the PMO
on suicide prevention in 2014,
but the relationship became
more formal after lawmakers
cut the budget. In July, the
bishop sent a letter to legislators
and the governor condemning
the cuts.
Worship
Community
heart , that thine may be a sovereignty ancient,
imperishable and everlasting.” – Baha’u’llah
210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA
541-567-4486 or visit www.
winacity.org.
———
Contact Community Editor
Tammy Malgesini at tmalge-
sini@eastoregonian.com
or
541-564-4539
Episcopalian church funds suicide prevention programs
BAHA’I
FAITH IN PENDLETON
“My fi rst counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant
P eace L utheran C hurch
saw Facebook postings about
the event, they wanted to get
involved. Gutierrez said the
first year included nine youth
pastors/leaders and about 150
teens.
For more information,
errez said. The event is open to
students ages 12-18.
The lock-in started a couple
of years ago as an activity
for the Living Faith Church’s
youth group, Gutierrez said.
But, as other area youth leaders
Red Lion Hotel
( 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
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
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
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Evening - 6pm
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