SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016
Is God angry at you?
UU to hear message
on ‘finding your path’
On Sunday, Jan. 3, from 10 to 11 a.m., at the Florence
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Larry Addison will
deliver the worship service message.
“Sometimes in life our inner voice gives us a path to dis-
cover who we are, an opportunity to experience life in a new
way,” Addison says. “Often when this voice is heard, we say
‘Who are you talking to?’ ‘You want me to do what?’ or
‘Yeah right, who are you kidding?’ As we begin to feel the
energy of this voice, we know it is our path, but logic sets in
and the voice gets ignored.”
Addison heard his voice, resisted it with all the logic he
could muster, and then said “Ok.”
What he shares is where this path led him, the doors that
opened, the miracles he experienced and the treasures he
discovered.
As he shares, he hopes others will be inspired to listen to
their voice, follow its path and experience life’s discoveries.
The UU Fellowship, 87738 Highway 101, is wheelchair
accessible and each service concludes with refreshments
and dialogue circle to explore the questions that come up
during each service.
I grew up in an angry, unsta-
ble home. My father was very
angry most of the time, and I
didn’t always understand what
he was angry about. When I
accepted Christ as my Savior, I
took this experience with my
father into my relationship with
God. I believed God loved me
and forgave me of my sin, but I
still had this vague feeling that
He wasn’t pleased with me and
He was just a little bit angry
with me most of the time.
I lived this way for years
until I finally realized the truth:
God is not mad at me!
I believe many people feel
like God is mad at them. One
day I put a post on Facebook
that said, “God is not mad at
you.” Within a few hours, we
literally had thousands of posi-
tive responses from people say-
ing things like, “That is exactly
what I needed to hear today.”
Obviously, this is a message
we need to hear.
Getting to the root
of the problem
So where does this concept
of God come from? Maybe it’s
because of an angry parent who
was difficult to please.
Or maybe it’s due to the pain
of rejection from parents or
friends who didn’t know how
to give unconditional love.
Or it could be the influence
of church and being pressured
to follow rules and regulations
to make us acceptable to God.
We want to be good and
please God, and we may be
able to follow the rules for a
while, but when we mess up,
Watch
“In Search of the Lord’s Way”
Sunday, 7:30 AM
KMTR Channel 12
Then visit the
Florence church of Christ
1833 Tamarack
Florence, Oregon
and experience the joy and simplicity of
pre-denominational New Testament Worship. (Romans 16:16)
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 am
Worship: Sunday, 11:00 am
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
Join Us In Worship
4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week
4 week Minimum
Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays.
To be included in this directory contact
the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off
information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence.
J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP
WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK
(3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48.
24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspirational music, health
lectures, healthy cooking and more.
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
SINGSPIRATION
You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel hymns
Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational
Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N.
For more information , please call 541-997-2681
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road
Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday
All are welcome! 541-997-7268
FLORENCE UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
N.W. Corner of Heceta Beach Road & Hwy. 101
Every Sunday at 10 a.m.
All are welcome. (541) 997-2840
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1st Sunday of Month Worship 10:30
All other Sundays Worship 9 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.
2nd & Kngwood • (541) 997-6025
“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m. – Youth Group: Sat., 6 p.m.
Website:fl orence4square.com
FLORENCE VINEYARD (GOD’S POWER HOUSE)
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
2610 Kingwood, Florence • 541-268-2025
Sunday Worship @ 10:00 a.m., experience the Power of the Holy Spirit
Pastors: George & Beverly Sisemore
Intercessory Prayer & Worship, Thursday night @ 5:00 pm
fl orencevineyardchurch.com
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC
Corner of 10th & Maple –- 997-3533
Bible Study at 9:00 A.M.
Services: Worship, 10:30 A.M.
fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org
1525 12th St., Suite 24 •541-991-9398
Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm
Tues. Bible Study 7:00pm
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen
Series ‘Through the Bible’ on Wednesdays 6 p.m.
A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome.
Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am.
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am
Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
we feel guilty and condemned
again. Because we can’t be
good enough and do everything
right in our own effort and
strength.
“But God demonstrates His
own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us” (Romans
5:8 NKJV). Notice this says
“while we were still sinners.”
Galatians 3:10 (AMP) says,
“All who depend on the Law
[who are seeking to be justified
by obedience to the Law of rit-
uals] are under a curse and
doomed to disappointment.”
What are you depending on
to make you right with God?
Are you depending on rules
and regulations that you follow
or try to keep?
Now I realize you can’t live
a healthy, productive life with-
out having some guidelines,
but this scripture is saying that
we will have serious problems
if we think our worth and value
as human beings are based on
following rules and regula-
tions. We are only made right
with God through the blood of
Jesus.
And life is marvelous when
you know the true character of
God and who you are in Christ!
That’s when you feel good
about yourself deep down in
your heart, not because you do
everything right, but because
you know you are special to
God and He loves you —
unconditionally, constantly,
completely.
It seems too good to be
true… but it is true!
I do want to be clear about
something here: Although God
loves us unconditionally, He
does get angry at sin, wicked-
ness and evil. But He is not an
angry God. God hates sin, but
He loves sinners! He will never
approve of sin in your life, but
He always loves you and wants
to work with you to make
progress in living a holy life in
Christ.
Psalm 103:8 (NKJV) says,
“The Lord is merciful and gra-
cious, slow to anger, and
abounding in mercy.” God is
merciful — that’s His charac-
ter. He’s gracious — that
means He’s good. And God is
slow to anger.
People who don’t know the
true character of God — who
don’t believe He is merciful,
gracious and slow to anger —
can never have a close, person-
al, intimate relationship with
Him. It grieves me to think
there are so many who live in
the darkness of constantly feel-
ing guilty and condemned
when God is longing to have
relationship with them.
The truth is God created us
to have relationship with us. He
wants to love us and take care
of us, and He wants us to love
Him. That’s where our walk
with Christ has to start.
We need to be obedient to
God and do the good works He
has for us to do, but first we
need to understand and believe
He loves us. Then we can have
a relationship with Him and
live by faith in Him with the
power of the Holy Spirit in us,
giving us the ability to live the
way God is calling us to live.
I’m so grateful God opened
my eyes to the truth!
He has taught me to believe
by faith that He is pleased with
me, not because I do every-
thing right, but because I
believe in Him and trust Him.
And this is just as true for you
as it is for me.
If you struggle with feeling
that God is disappointed in you
or angry because you don’t do
everything right, I want to
encourage you to take hold of
this truth today and believe it:
God is not mad at you!
Soup’s On to host Burning
Bowl, White Stone ceremony
On Monday, Jan. 4, Soup’s
On will host a special Burning
Bowl and White Stone
Ceremony.
In a guided meditation, the
group will reflect on the past
year and consider the
thoughts, emotions and behav-
iors that did not and do not
serve their highest good. They
will then release them by writ-
ing them down on paper and
ceremoniously burning them.
Next, the group will set a
new intention for the coming
year, which they write on a
small white stone that serves
as a reminder.
This is an adaptation of two
ancient practices that have
become widely used in many
New Thought churches.
The evening will be led by
New
Thought
minister,
Eleanor Ross.
The evening will begin with
bowls of cheesy lentel and
sausage stew, warm home-
made bread and vegetables,
followed by the evening’s
topic until 8:30 p.m.
The gathering will end with
prayers for the requests left in
the Prayer Pole in the garden
of the Florence Playhouse and
those shared by the group.
The group will meet in the
home of the Heintzes, 875
Seventh Street in Florence
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Wed. 6pm.
Pastor Lori Blake
www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood
Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir
All Welcome. Come as you are.
3996 N Hwy 101
997-7136
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We worship in homes at 11am Sundays
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
12th and Nopal –997-9020
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
Youth Group Wed. 7-8:30 p.m.
Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM –- Sunday School
at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening activities - 5 PM
Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM
Call for details.
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
5 A
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pastor Randy Benscoter
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
The Rev. Georgia C. DuBose, Vicar
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m.
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
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