A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Recognizing we have
things to be grateful for
MARC
MULLINS
MARC’S REMARKS
“R
ejoice always,
pray contin-
ually, give
thanks in all circum-
stances; for this is God’s
will for you in Christ
Jesus.” (The words of the
Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessa-
lonians 5:16-18.)
Most will agree that
2020 was a challenging, if
not distressing, year. The
Umatilla River flood in
early February displaced
many, destroying homes
and even livelihoods. One
month later, COVID-19
caused grave concern as
we began wearing face
masks, using sanitizers
and even shutting down
services. Many have
suffered from the virus,
with the greatest difficulty
being the loss of loved
ones for some people.
The advent of 2021
rang in with hope. News
of vaccines, soon to be
available, injected us
with optimistic outlooks
that life will change
for the better in the
not-too-distant future.
We are encouraged to
look forward to a new
normal that will certainly
be better than what we’ve
endured for nearly a year
now.
This brings me to the
heart of this column.
Recently a longtime
friend, from my high
school days, shared with
me something that her
family does each year.
She sent me a photo of a
“thankfulness jar” that is
kept on a counter in her
kitchen.
Throughout the year,
members of her family
write notes of gratitude
on slips of paper and place
them in the jar. Each day
they are mindful to reflect
on one thing for which
they are grateful. They
write their reflections
down and put them into
the jar, where they are
kept until the end of the
year has passed. On New
Year’s Day, the family sits
down together, and one
by one the folded pieces
of paper are removed and
read aloud. According
to my friend, this helps
her family and her to be
mindful of the things to
be appreciated each day of
life, and to be grateful for
after the end of each year.
My wife, Wendy, and
I have taken up this prac-
tice in our own home. We
now have a crystal bowl
that sits on the hearth of
our fireplace. Our inten-
tion is to place a written
thought of gratitude in
that container each day
of the year, to be opened
on the first day of January
2022.
Perhaps you will
consider doing some-
thing like this in your own
home this year? It’s true,
the more we express grat-
itude, the more we will
recognize things in life to
be grateful for.
———
Marc Mullins is a musi-
cian, singer, songwriter,
and pastor of the First
Christian Church in Pend-
leton.
STUDENTS
Arroyo earns
M.Ed. degree
SEWARD, Neb. — Liza
Arroyo, of Pendleton,
earned a Master of Educa-
tion degree from Concor-
dia University, Nebraska,
during the fall term of 2020.
Concordia University,
Nebraska, founded in 1894,
is a fully accredited, coed-
ucational university located
in Seward, Nebraska, which
currently serves more than
2,500 students. Concordia
offers more than 100 under-
graduate, graduate and
professional programs in
an excellent academic and
Christ-centered commu-
nity that equips men and
women for lives of learn-
ing, service and leadership
in the church and world.
For more information, visit
cune.edu.
Rosselle named to
OSU honor roll
STILLWATER, Okla.
— Macy Rosselle, of
Adams, was named to the
honor roll for the fall 2020
semester at Oklahoma State
University. She is majoring
in agriculture business.
Full-time undergraduate
students who completed 12
or more hours with a grade
point average of 4.00 made
the President’s Honor Roll.
Students with a grade point
average of 3.50 or higher
with no grade below a C
made the Dean’s Honor
Roll.
Local grad named
to Gonzaga
dean’s list
SPOKANE, Wash. —
Daniel Naughton, a 2018
Pendleton High School
graduate, earned placement
on the Gonzaga University
Dean’s List for fall semester
2020. Students must earn a
3.50 to 3.84 grade-point
average to be listed.
Naughton is a junior at
Gonzaga and plays on the
varsity baseball team.
Gonzaga University is
a private Catholic, Jesuit,
and humanistic univer-
sity providing educa-
tion to more than 7,800
students. Situated along the
Spokane River near down-
town Spokane, Washing-
ton, Gonzaga is routinely
recognized among the
West’s best comprehen-
sive regional universities.
Gonzaga offers 75 fields of
study, 26 master’s degrees,
doctorate degrees in lead-
ership studies and nursing,
and a juris doctor degree
through the School of Law.
Local students
named to SFCC
honor roll
SPOKANE, Wash. —
Spokane Falls Community
College lists 1,728 students
on its honor roll for fall
quarter, which ended in
December 2020. Students
must have a grade point
average of 3.0 or above to
be listed on the honor roll.
Hunt y r Ham i lton
and Danner Hamilton,
of Pendleton, and Wendy
Holben, of Echo, were
among those students
named to the list.
SFCC is one of two
community colleges within
the Community Colleges
of Spok a ne d ist r ict
and serves about 7,600
students. It is renowned
for its theater, music and
fine arts as well as excep-
tional STEM programs.
About 60 percent of its
graduates transfer to four-
year colleges and universi-
ties. Other students pursue
career or technical degrees
or certificates. SFCC has
campuses in west Spokane,
Fairchild Air Force Base
and Pullman.
Community Colleges
of Spokane is a dynamic,
12,300-square-mile state
community college district
that includes Spokane
Com mu n it y College,
Spokane Falls Community
College and six rural educa-
tion sites, serving residents
in Pend Oreille, Stevens,
Whitman, Ferry and parts
of Lincoln counties.
— EO Media Group
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.EastOregonian.com
Thursday, January 14, 2021
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
East Oregonian, File
Traci Morrison, of Pendleton, talks about the Icelandic sweater she is knitting during World Wide Knit in Public Day in June
2015. Fiber artists throughout the region are encouraged to participate in the Art Center East annual Fiber Arts and Jewelry
Exhibit running through March.
Fiber, jewelry
artists sought for
La Grande exhibit
LA GRANDE — The
staff at Art Center East is
seeking fiber artists and
jewelry designers for its
fifth annual Fiber Arts and
Jewelry Exhibit, which will
run Feb. 5 through March 27,
with a virtual opening recep-
tion to be announced at a later
date.
The 2021 exhibit theme
is “comfort,” and exhibitors
can explore the theme in a
myriad of ways with their
submissions. Entries may
be dropped off at the center
between Jan. 13-30 during
regular business hours,
Wednesday-Friday from
1-5 p.m., and Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibit
entry fee is $10 per person,
regardless of membership
status at the center.
Specifications and other
details for entries can be
found at https://artcentere-
ast.org /ar tist/an nual-f i-
ber-arts-jewelry-exhibit/.
The art center is located at
1006 Penn Ave., La Grande.
Walla Walla
Hospice offers
winter grief support
WA L L A WA L L A ,
Wash. — A weekly drop-in
grief support group and a
new 10-week support series
are two ways Walla Walla
Community Hospice is help-
ing residents of Walla Walla,
Columbia and Northeast
Umatilla counties manage
grief during the dark winter
months. Both programs are
held virtually.
Solace, a weekly drop-in
support group, is offered on
Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. The group is open
to anyone who has lost a loved
one or a friend, and no regis-
tration is required.
Understanding Your Grief,
a 10-week adult support
series, will be offered weekly
on Tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m.
beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The series uses the book of
the same name by Dr. Alan
Wolfelt. In order to foster
an intimate, safe space, the
group will be closed once it is
filled or after the second meet-
ing, whichever comes first.
Preregistration is required.
For more information, or
to preregister, call 509-525-
5561 or email info@wwhos-
pice.org.
First Draft
welcomes
newsman and poet
PENDLETON — A
writer, who sees both poetry
and journalism as essential
in reporting on the world and
witnessing the human condi-
tion, will be featured at the
First Draft Writers’ Series on
Thursday, Jan. 21.
Pulitzer Prize finalist and
poet Don Colburn will head-
line the event, followed by
Open Mic. The Zoom gath-
ering begins at 5:30 p.m.,
and anyone can request an
invitation at
director@
pendlet-
onarts.org.
Colbu r n
is a longtime
newspaper
reporter who
Colburn
did not start
writing poems until he was
nearly 40. During a 33-year
career as a reporter, he worked
for four newspapers, including
The Washington Post and The
Oregonian. He is the author
of five poetry collections,
all published as a result of
winning or placing in national
manuscript competitions. His
newest volume, “Mortality,
with Pronoun Shifts,” won
the 2018 Cathy Smith Bowers
Chapbook Contest. His poems
have appeared in more than
a dozen anthologies and in
numerous magazines.
Colburn happened to be on
the flight that Captain Sullen-
berger landed on the Hudson
River in 2009. His poem, “In
The Unlikely Event of a Water
Landing,” can be found at
http://doncolburn.net/because/
unlikely.html.
In the past eight years,
PCA’s First Draft Writers’
Series has welcomed more
than 75 nationally-known
writers to the stage, including
several state poet laureates
and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Local writers, including those
just beginning, are invited to
read their own 3-5 minute
readings during Open Mic,
following the featured author.
The event is made possible by
generous local donors. More
information about the First
Draft Writers’ Series is avail-
able at pendletonarts.org or by
calling 541-310-7413.
Griefshare begins
program in
Stanfield
STA N FI ELD — A
13-week Christ-centered
Griefshare support group
begins Tuesday, Jan. 19,
from 6-7:30 p.m. at Stan-
field Baptist Church, 310 E.
Wheeler Ave.
The program includes
videos with experts and
participants working through
grief, a workbook, and group
discussion. It brings help
and encouragement after
the death of a spouse, child,
family member, or friend. A
free workbook is provided.
For more information,
or to register for the group,
contact group facilitator
Scott Zielke at 541-571-6886.
Music seminar
features tips for
ending mistakes
PENDLETON — The
Umatilla-Morrow District of
the Oregon Music Teachers
Association, in partnership
with the Oregon Community
Foundation and the Nellie
Tholen Fund, will present
a free lecture for pianists,
piano teachers and all who
would be interested on Satur-
day, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to
noon, presented by Jennifer
Wright.
Entitled
“Play-
ing Perfectly: What It
Takes to Practice and
Perform Completely With-
out Mistakes (or Fear of
Mistakes) — Yes, It’s Possi-
ble!” the lecture will be held
via Zoom at https://us02web.
zoom.us/j/82961743054. This
lecture is free and open to
the public; no preregistra-
tion, membership or fee is
required.
The seminar will cover
why mu sicia n s ma ke
mistakes; what musicians
are actually doing wrong;
practice techniques; how to
fix ingrained mistakes and
habits; the power of habits
and human nature: fight
them or make them work for
you; and tapping into innate
learning instincts for power-
ful progress.
Jennifer Wright is a
pianist, teacher, composer,
graphic artist and passion-
ate aficionada of the creative
life. She holds two degrees
in piano performance (BM,
The Hartt School of Music,
Hartford, CT; MM, Trinity
College of Music, London,
England) and studied for two
years at the Stuttgart Music
Conservatory in Germany.
The Oregon Music Teach-
ers Association (OMTA)
is dedicated to fostering
excellence in music educa-
tion, striving to develop
productive relationships
with schools, organizations,
businesses and the media to
promote music everywhere.
OMTA is an affiliate of
the Music Teachers National
Association (MTNA), the
oldest professional music
teachers association in the
United States. For more
information, or to contact
someone in your area, go to
www.oregonmta.org.
and resident participation in
fundraisers are crucial to the
success of this campaign.
To h e l p i n c e n t i v-
ize community giving,
the Murdock Foundation
has offered to match all
community donations up to
$50,000. And upon purchase
of the building, a longtime
patron of the Josephy Center
has generously promised
$100,000 toward an endow-
ment to help maintain the
building for years to come.
Phase Two, the renova-
tion and expansion phase of
the campaign, will position
the Josephy Center to better
serve Wallowa County as a
community gathering place
by increasing functionality,
accessibility and program-
ming. The expansion may
include feat ures, such
as a multi-purpose room
for performing arts (like
dance and theater) and an
expanded ceramics studio,
which will accommodate
more students. Reconfigu-
ration of the existing space
will also increase access
to regional and Nez Perce
educational displays.
While public fundraising
for Phase Two won’t begin
until 2022, the center is
gathering financial support
from other sources, such
as the Cultural Resource
Economic Fund, in prepara-
tion for this phase.
“It was important that we
found funding from other
sources and could embark on
both phases of this campaign
without financially burden-
ing county residents,” said
Executive Director Cheryl
Coughlan in a press release.
To donate visit josephy.
org or mail a check to P.O.
Box 949, Joseph, OR 97846.
Josephy Center
kicks off fundraiser
M-F church
restricts indoor
attendance
JOSEPH — The Josephy
Center for Arts and Culture
is launching the Key to Our
Future capital campaign
to purchase, renovate and
expand the building located
on 403 Main St. in Joseph.
The campaign is focused on
making the Josephy Center
a permanent home for arts
and culture in Wallowa
County, as well as restoring
and expanding the center to
enhance visitor experience
and fit the growing needs of
the community.
Ph a se O ne of t he
campaign focuses on the
building purchase, critical
safety repairs and accessibil-
ity for all. Phase Two focuses
on the renovation and expan-
sion of the building.
The goal of the first
phase is to raise $575,000
by the summer of 2021.
Support from local patrons,
combined with funding from
the Ronald Naito Founda-
tion, the M.J. Murdock
Charitable Trust, the Autzen
Foundation and the Oregon
Cultural Trust has made
great progress toward the
goal, but community support
is needed to raise $50,000
more. Business sponsorships
M I LT ON - F R E E WA-
TER — In staying in compli-
ance with Gov. Kate Brown’s
mandate, the First Christian
Church, 518 S. Main St., will
restrict indoor attendance
to 100 people until further
notice.
Prelude music is at 10 a.m.
and worship service is at
10:30 a.m. This includes
prayer, a sermon message and
self-serve communion.
Those attending are
required to wear face masks
and to maintain 6 feet distanc-
ing except for family groups.
Hand sanitizer is available at
the church.
There is also an outdoor
parking lot service at
10:30 a.m. on 100.3 FM radio.
This also includes a time for
communion.
The service is also avail-
able on the church website
MiltonFreewaterCC.com or
the church Facebook page at
First Christian Church-Mil-
ton-Freewater and YouTube.
For information contact
the church at 541-938-
3854. Office hours are
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to
noon.
— EO Media Group and
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin