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Heppnef Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 26, 1997 - THREE
H e is Risen!
Local Easter services announced
-
EffiMmToAii
'Out o f death—new life, new power, new strength'
‘On the side o f the angels'
I was up in the mountains the other day and I noticed many of
this year's pine cones still contained their seeds, having been
protected by the winter snow and ice. In these tightly packed,
tiny, attractive containers lies the tree's hope o f recreating itself.
In the insignificant lies the possibility o f a 200-foot tall tree. The
parent tree gave up nutrition and energy to make the possibility
o f new life a reality.
Easter is a very ancient celebration of the possibility o f new
life. Bound up in Easter is the cross-cultural understanding that
"The Risen Christ." Is that one o f the phrases that trips off a
preacher’s
tongue on Easter morning, expected but
unexplained? Would it not be enough, someone may wonder, to
appeal to everyone to enlist on the side o f the angels, to rise
above the fog o f pessimism and despair, to back life's better
smells against its stink? With the unanimous voice o f the holy
and apostolic Church, with the backing o f the saints o f two
thousand years, with angels, archangels, and all the company o f
heaven, I answer: "No! It is not enough!"
For the gospel, the amazing good news is this: that the age
long battle between good and evil came to a climax in Jerusalem
and Jesus was not just one more good man who was on the side
o f the angels. The story o f his death is not just one more report
o f a noble martyrdom. The story o f his Resurrection is not just
one more legend o f someone rising from the dead. This is not
"Someone". It is the Son of the living God, God's gift o f himself
to the human race. And when he was hoisted on a cross to die it
was as if the whole weight o f human evil, the cruelty, the terror,
the callousness, the greed, the demonic . . . conspired to crush the
breath from his body and drew the blood from his veins. Evil
had triumphed and the angels fled.
Then came the moment which reversed the tide o f evil. Jesus
came back. "On the third day he rose again from the dead!" In
this one action God concentrated the good news that goodness is
stronger than evil and life has triumphed over death. And, since
this was the victory o f love, it was a silent triumph . . . made
known to those who were ready to believe.
Luke tells us that on the same day as the Resurrection, there
were two travelers on the road to Emmaus. These two travelers
were like many today, not knowing quite what to make o f the
report o f the women at the tomb or the vision of the Easter angel,
but hoping that it was true. The story in Luke ends with a meal
to which they invited the Stranger. And what happened to them
can happen to us. "Their eyes were opened and they recognized
him." It is good to be on the side o f the angels, my friends.
However, it is even better to know the one who says to us: "In
the world you will have trouble. But courage! The victory is
mine. I have overcome the world." Happy Easter, my friends,
Happy Easter!
-The Rev. A1 Trachsel
if new life is going to happen, sacrifice must be made. You will
find this is a universal truth in all life relationships.
We live in a world where the search for meaning and
excitement is often found in the newest fad or remedy. We limit
our possible experiences because we are not willing to sacrifice
some time, money, selfish ambition to create new life for
community, families and children. Our planet seems to spiral
into more decay because o f our misuse and abuse o f that which
we have been given in the name o f progress and success.
The Christian tradition teaches that God can break through all
those mistakes and selfishly placed ambitions to heal and make
new all of God's creatures. The resurrection o f Christ was
amazing to even his closest followers who were filled with
doubt, fear and awe. Yet, out o f that death and utter humiliation
o f their Jesus, they found new life, new power and new strength.
Sacrifice had made its point. The intentional giving away o f
power, of life and o f selfishness brought new creation, new
meaning and new purpose.
When we sacrifice our self importance. When we sacrifice our
need to be seen as perfect and can acknowledge that we make
mistakes, need help and need something or someone bigger than
ourselves to depend on, then we are set free, then are we made
whole, then will God meet us in our own foretaste o f
resurrection.
May you reap the seeds o f righteousness sown in the sacrifice
o f your heart to a loving and understanding God. May he refresh
and restore your thirst for life. May your Easter be a time o f
renewal and re-commitment to Jesus Christ our Lord.
-The Rev. A1 Miller
‘The Story o f L ife'
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” “This is love: not that
we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning
sacrifice for our sms.” “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son
of God, God lives in him and he in God.” “Whoever believes in the Son
has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s
wrath remains on him.” 1 John 1:15; 1 John 4:10-15; John 3:36.
Each and every word o f Jesus is the word o f God. The Bible is
actually a beautiful “love letter” from God. The Bible admonishes us
to delight in its message and to meditate upon its contents. How sad
that many Christians neglect it. Sadder still that countless lost souls
have never opened the Book at all.
When Elizabeth Barrett became the wife of Robert Browning, her
parents disowned her because they disapproved of the marriage. Their
daughter, however, wrote to them almost every week, telling them
that she loved them and longed for a reconciliation.
After 10 years, Barrett received a huge box in the mail. It con
tained all the letters she had sent. No one had been opened. How sad
to think that they were never read by Barrett’s parents. Had they
looked at just one, the broken relationship with their daughter might
have been healed.
Jesus came to provide a way o f reconciliation with God. We need
not be alienated from God. The Bible tells that He earnestly longs for
fellowship with us. Jesus came to live on Earth with us, to experience
the everydayness o f our lives. How would you feel if Jesus came to
your home to live with you? The following poem may help shed some
light on that question:
If Jesus Came To Live With You, / What would you do? What
would you do? / If Jesus came to spend some time with you? / If Jesus
came to your house to spend a day or two; / If He came unexpectedly,
I wonder... what you’d do? / When you saw him coming, would you
meet Him at the door, with arms outstretched and welcome your Heav
enly visitor? / Or would you have to change things before you let Him
in? Like, bum some magazines and put the Bible out where they’d
been. / Would you let Jesus walk right in or would you rush about, / To
hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? / Oh, I know
that you’d give your nicest room to such an honored guest. / And all
the food that you served Him, would be the very best. / And you’d
keep assuring Him that you were glad to have Him there. / That serv
ing Him in your home was joy beyond compare. / But, would your
family conversation keep up its normal pace? / Would you find it hard
each meal to say a table grace? / And, what about the songs you sing,
the books you like to read? / Would you let Him know the things on
which your mind and spirit feed? Would you be glad to have Him meet
your very closest friends; / Or hope they’d stay away until His visit
ends? / Would you take Him with you everywhere you planned to go?
/ Or, maybe-change your plans for just a day or so? / Would you be
glad to have Him stay forever on and on; / Or sigh a sigh of relief
when finally He had gone? / You know, it might be interesting to know
the things that you’d do; / if Jesus came in person to spend some time
with you. / What would you do? What would you do? / If Jesus came
to spend some time with you? Author unknown
Jesus defeated death. He overcame the grave. Now He desires to
live in your heart. 1 John 4:15 “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus in
the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.”
-Pastor Duane Jones
E veryth in g's C om ing
U p R o se s...
d u rin g the a n n u al H ep p n er C h a m b e r o i C o m m erce roae * ale^ # ’
$ 1 6 .0 0 per dozen; delivery o n A pril 9 th
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Call the Chamber of Commerce at 070-5530,
or contact a Chamber member
TH AN K YOU!
____
Rise from sinfulness to find joy, happiness, peace'
Holy week ends with the three most solemn days in the year
o f the Church. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Lord's
Supper, on Good Friday, the suffering and death o f the Savior,
on Holy Saturday night, the vigil o f the Resurrection.
We remember the Passover at this time: it recalls and relives
how God delivered the chosen people from slavery in Egypt, and
how he committed himself to deliver later generations from
despair to hope, from death to life. The paschal lamb, sacrificed
that night, warded off the avenging angel with its blood: it
nourished with its flesh the people going into freedom. The New
Testament acclaims Jesus, who died and rose from the dead as
our Paschal Lamb. Through his death and resurrection, he
delivered us from slavery to sin into freedom o f life in God's
kingdom.
During these last days o f lent we see Jesus as solemn and
somber whereas at Easter we see him in glory, triumphant over
sin and death.
During lent we have prepared for our own victory through
prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as directed in the Gospel O f St.
Matthew. Our personal sacrifices have kept us mindful o f the
supreme sacrifice o f Jesus, the sacrifice o f his life for our
salvation. As we contemplated his suffering and death, we
looked into the depths o f our lives to see where forgiveness is
needed, where light is lacking, where hope is in short supply, and
to leam where we must strive to gain the Father's grace.
On Good Friday we recall the suffering and death o f Jesus, but
we always keep sight o f the ultimate outcome - the rising o f the
Savior, who emerged from the darkness o f the tomb to new life.
Holy Week is a time to look at the last week o f the Savior on
earth. As we do so we draw our inspiration and courage from
him. His sufferings challenge us to repent, to rise from our
sinfulness, and to find joy, happiness, and inner peace in his
resurrection. When we do that, life's hardships, frustrations,
and losses are turned into opportunities for spiritual growth.
Rejoice, He is Risen!
-Father Gerry Condon
Binghams celebrate 25th anniversary
Gary and Jenny Bingham,
former residents o f Heppner,
celebrated their 25 anniversary
with friends at the Beef &
Brew Restaurant in Bend on
Feb. 2;'.
The couple were mamed
Feb. 25, 1972 at Hanau West
Germany. Gary was in the
army and stationed there at
that time.
The Bingham's lived in
Heppner from January 1984 to
November 94. Gary worked
for the city as a police officer
for eight years and Jenny
worked at Murray Drugs for
five years, before moving to
Madras in Nov. o f 1994.
Gary now is employed at the
Jefferson County Sheriffs
Dept.
and
works
in
corrections. Jenny is employed
at a jewelry store.
The couple have two
children, Sherry nelson o f
Coquille, a 1993 graduate of
Heppner high, and Joanna a
senior at Madras high.
Enjoy Traditional Senior Living
Safety • Medical Services • Recreation
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(541)676-9618
Heppner, OR
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Lutheran Church of lone
will hold the following Holy
Week Easter Services:
On Maundy Thursday, March
27, a special evening meal will
be held in the fellowship hall at 6
p.m. The meal will conclude with
a service around the tables led by
lay readers and a candlelight
communion service conducted by
Pastor Baglien.
The Easter Festival Service will
be held at 8 a.m. at the historic
Valby Church located in the
wheat fields of Morrow County.
Special music will be provided
by Rikka Tews, organist, and
Sarah Carlson, flutist and soloist.
Holy Communion will be
administered by Pastor Baglien
who will preach on the topic,
"Put That Light Back!"
, An Easter breakfast will follow
the service. This annual event is
in charge of the AAL members.
Hope Lutheran Church
St. P atrick’s C atholic
Church
Commemoration o f the Last
Supper and institution o f the
Blessed Eucharist will be held
on Maundy Thursday, March
27, at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's
Church in Heppner.
On Good Friday, March 28,
the Way of the Cross will be at
12:05 p.m., with Solemn
Commemoration o f the death
o f Jesus at 7 p.m.
Easter Vigil Mass will begin
at 5 p.m. on Holy Saturday,
March 29.
Easter Mass
o f the
Resurrection will be at 11 a.m.
on Easter Sunday, March 30.
St. W illiam 's Catholic
Church
The Way o f the Cross will
be held on Good Friday,
March 28, beginning at 5 p.m.
at St. William Church in lone.
Mass o f the Resurrection
will begin at 8:45 a.m. on
Easter Sunday, March 30.
Hope Lutheran Church of
Heppner will hold the following
Heppner United
Holy Week Easter Services:
Methodist Church
On Good Friday, March 28, the
traditional Tenebrae Service,
Good Friday service will be
entitled
"The
Darkness held at the Heppner United
Deepens", will be held with Methodist Church on Friday,
March 28, beginning at 7 p.m.
congregational participation.
The Easter service will be at
The Easter Festival Service with
Holy Communion will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 30.
11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30,
with reception of members by lone United Church of
Holy Baptism and Affirmation of Christ
Faith.
Maundy Thursday will be
Pastor John L Baglien will
observed
at lone United
preach on the theme, "Put That
Church
o
f
Christ,
370 Main,
Light Back!". Special music will
on
Thursday,
March
27, at
be provided by Debbie Basile,
7:30 p.m. with a service of
pianist.
Taize
chants,
scripture
readings, communion, prayer,
All Saints' Episcopal
and special music.
All Saints' Episcopal C iuicb
M aundy
Thursday
announces a change o f •eemmemorates Jesus' last
worship time for Easter night with his disciples.
Sunday service on March 30.
Easter at IUCC begins at 9
Worship will begin at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 30, with
a.m. on Easter Sunday. Father breakfast followed by worship
A1 Miller will celebrate and at 10 a.m.
preach.
An Easter brunch
The sermon by the Rev. Lea
will be served at 10 a.m. Mathieu is entitled "Really
before the worship service. Living."
Those planning to attend the
There will be no church
brunch are asked to call the school that day, but the service
church at 676-9970.
includes a special children's
During Holy Week, All time.
Saints' will participate in the
Easter will be Rev.
ecumenical Easter program on Mathieu’s last Sunday as lone's
Wednesday, March 26, at St. minister.
Patrick's Catholic Church.
She is retiring to stay home
On Thursday, March 27, with her young children.
beginning at 6:30 p.m., the
church will host a "Passover
Seder Dinner",
a meal
dramatizing
the
Jewish
commemoration
o f "The
Exodus" and the Christian
The regular meeting o f the
beginnings o f the "Lord's Willow Creek Park District
Supper".
will be held on Thursday,
April 17, at 7 p.m. at lone city
hall.
Park D istrict
meeting set
Students participate in writing contest
By Shelby Krebs
Niki
Sullivan,
Nathan
Rietmann, Cara Miller and
Jessica Krebs from lone High
School recently participated
in the 47 annual Oddfellow's
United Nations pilgrimage
for
youth
writing
and
speak-off contest.
Each
student composed an essay
on child abuse and then
presented it to a panel of
three judges in the Pendleton
Oddfellow's Lodge.
Niki Sullivan, was chosen as
one of two delegates to
represent the Oddfellows.
Suilivan will be flying to
New York City in late June
and then traveling by bus to
cities
such
as
Boston,
Baltimore, and Washington
D C. Sullivan will have to he
opportunity to visit the
United Nations building on
her two week tour. Sullivan
is a sophomore at lone High
School and participates in
volleyball, basketball, tennis,
FBLA and 4-H. She enjoys
endurance horse racing. She
is the daughter of Brian and
Lori Sullivan of lone.
Nathan
Rietmann
was
selected as an alternate and
received a fifty dollar savings
bond. Rietmann is a junior
and is involved in basketball,
tennis and National Honor
Society. He is the son of
John and Kerry Rietmann of
lone.
Bethaney Hansel of Weston
McEwen was selected as the
other delegate form this area .
Sullivan and Hansel will join
12 other delegates from
Oregon and students from
around the country.
Genealogy society to have speaker
The newly formed genealogical
society will have a guest speaker
from the Pendleton Genealogical
Society on Tuesday, April 8, at 6
p.m. at the Morrow County
Museum.
Rosemary Farley will discuss
the activities of their group,
organization
of
research
documents
and
research
techniques.
Following the
discussion a help session will be
held
to answer questions
regarding individual’s research.
The presentation is open to the
public. Anyone interested in
genealogy is invited to attend.