Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 24,2008 - S E V E N
continued from page six
means in our lives and in
the lives o f our community.
How do we do this? How do
we live incamationally? We
follow Jesus in the incarna
tion. Jesus came to show us
who God the Father is and
what He is like. Our lives
should reflect the same.
Sim plify our c e l
ebration in the spirit o f the
first nativity. There is noth
ing simpler than a baby in a
manger. It is not that deco
rations, symbols, traditions
and parties are bad things,
but sometimes these things
get in the way o f what we
are celebrating. It is about
Savior, not sparkle. Note
that the angels on that first
night were sure having a
celebration. Keep the right
attitude...
Live a life o f re
demption. Christ came to
serve and redeem. How
do we live, work, play in a
way that serves and redeems
those and the world around
us? Ask ourselves, what
can I do to help redeem this
situation?
We can live incar-
nationally by giving o f our
time, talents and money. Do
we really need one more
gift to put into the storage
rental unit? Give to those
in need, what greater gift
can you give? Take some
time to help a neighbor or
help out at the school. Be a
blessing...
We live incamation
ally by studying God’s word
and obeying it. Study that
leads to obedience is the
highest form o f worship.
If we study and obey we
cannot help but to live in-
carnationally and redeem
and give.
We need to learn
how to celebrate. N ew s
flash ...Jesu s celebrated.
I think for the most part
Christians have the reputa
tion o f being “sticks in the
mud.” We have to leam how
to lighten up and celebrate
in a God honoring way.
We are commanded to do
so. Read about the Jewish
celebrations in the Tanach
(Old Testament). God in
structs us how to celebrate.
When God is the focus, we
can have a good party. We
need to celebrate and live
our lives in a way that is
active and redemptive in
the lives o f our fam ilies
and communities. Our lives
should be a celebration all
year long for all o f the good
gifts we have been given to
enjoy and enjoy those gifts
and give thanks and praise
to the Giver.
We need to distin
guish betw een presents
and presence. L et’s let our
C h ristm as ce le b ra tio n be
m ore ab o u t the p rese n c e
o f God in our lives by lov
ing, giving and redemption,
than the presents under the
tree. Be more excited about
Christ showing up on Christ
mas m orning than Santa.
Party hearty incama
tionally, celebrate well and
be excited about living that
presence all year long. Then
m aybe your hum bug will
become a halleluiah.
-Pastor Keith Price
Christian Life
Center
“A C h r i s t m a s
Moment”
The first Christmas season
d a w n e d w ith p raise and
thanksgiving. Shepherds in
B e th le h e m ’s fields heard
the good new s, wise m en
jo u rn e y e d from afar, and
angels rejoiced declaring,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on Earth peace, good
will toward men.” Luke 2:14
(KJV) They were rejoicing
in what God had done for
man... that Christ was bom,
Emmanuel
God with us.
Today, Christ’s coming brings
joy to all folks here in Heppner
and around the world: from
taxi drivers in New York City,
to housemaids in some far way
place, to the school teachers
and the children right here in
our own backyard. What is all
the singing about? Mankind
is not alone! God is with us in
the bleakest situations bringing
us hope and the joy o f His
eternal prom ise. His light
shines on m an’s darkest days
and warms his coldest nights.
The One who created light and
darkness; who lived before
Wall Street was ever formed
and will be the eternal provider
for His people long after Wall
Street is forgotten, who is this
- Emmanuel - God with us.
2008 came with ample
challenges for us all, and
2009 will be no different.
O u r d iff ic u ltie s seem
overwhelming on one hand
but embarrassingly light when
compared to circumstances
on the first Christmas night
- “And she brought forth her
firstborn son, and wrapped
him in sw addling clothes,
and laid him in a manager;
because there was no room
for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
(KJV) But what makes these
challenges bearable and even
purposeful is the presence
o f Emmanuel - God with us.
Let me remind you that today,
more than any other time in the
history o f Christianity, people
are being drawn to Christ, for
He offers a message o f hope
and peace. Jesus said, “Peace
I leave with you, my peace
1 give unto you: not as the
world gives give 1 unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither be afraid.” John 14:27
(KJV). All you have to do to
experience this peace is believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ. For
He offers more than enough
light to dispel any darkness
that life may bring your way.
So as you go to those
w o n d e rfu l C h ris tm a s
celebrations, attend midnight
candle-light services, open
gifts on Christmas morning,
and even feast around a table
full o f blessing, remember, the
Christmas season reminds us
of Emmanuel - God with us.
May His nearness inspire
hope sufficient for the season
and the New Year to come!
Pastor Dean M. Anonucci
Lexington
Baptist plans
Christmas Eve
service
Lexington Baptist Church
w ill h o ld a C h r is tm a s
Eve Service startin g at 7
p.m . R e fre s h m e n ts w ill
be se rv e d fo llo w in g the
service. Everyone is invited
to attend.
Valby Luther
an announces
Christmas Eve
service schedule
Valby Lutheran C hurch
w ill c e le b ra te C h ristm a s
Eve with a service o f m u
sic, lessons, candles, and
com m union b eg in n in g at
6:30 p.m. on W ednesday,
December 24.
Sunday w orship contin
ues each week at 9 a.m. All
are welcome to attend.
All Saints’-
Hope Lutheran
Christinas
Schedule
Heppner Garden
Christm as Eve worship
services w ill be held at 7
p.m. at Hope and at 10:30
p.m. at All Saints.
T he a n n u a l C h ristm as
retreat with the Right Rev.
Rustin Kimsey and his wife,
Gretchen, will be held at the
Ascension School in Cove
D ecem ber 26-28. For more
information and a registra
tion form , see the retreat
brochure posted on the All
S a in ts ’ b u lle tin b oard or
call the All S ain ts’ office,
676-9970.
T h e r e g u l a r w o r s h ip
se rv ic e sc h e d u le fo r the
month is as follows: Sunday,
D ecem ber 28, All Saints’,
Sunday school, 9:50 a.m.,
worship, 10 a.m.
Youth Group meetings are
held at 7 p.m. on W ednes
days at All Saints, except for
Christm as Eve.
Club sponsors
HES students in
poetry contests
T h e H e p p n e r G a rd e n
C lu b re c e n tly sp o n so re d
elementary school students
for state and national po
etry contests. The them e is
nature’s song. A few o f the
poems that were entered will
be run each week in the Hep
pner Gazette-Times.
Nature’s Song
N ature’s song is...
Beautiful and graceful,
Smooth and swift.
It flows through the lush
oak,
Down to the trickling
stream,
Up to the towering m oun
tain.
This is nature's song.
Ross Cutsforth
Christmas
schedules an
nounced for St.
Patrick’s and St.
William’s Catho
lic Churches
Nature’s Song
The singing o f the
birds, the rushing o f the
rivers, the swaying o f the
trees, the whisper in the
wind, and the sun pound
ing against my face all re
mind me o f N ature’s Song,
that sweet, sweet melody
St. P a tr ic k ’s C a th o lic that I grow more, and more
C hurch and St. W illiam ’s
fond o f everyday.
Catholic Church announce
Caitlynn Bailey
their Christm as schedules:
5th Grade
St. Patrick’s: Wednesday,
Frogs
D ecem ber 24 - Christm as
Jumpy
eater
carols at 8:30 p.m.; Blessing
They
are
green
o f the N ativity scene and
Swimming,
climbing,
glid
vigil mass at 9 p.m.
ing,
croaking
Thursday, D ecem ber 25
High jum pers
- Nativity mass and Christ
Ethan Holmgren
mas carols at 11 a.m.
2nd Grade
St. W illiam ’s: Thursday,
Nature’s Song
The sound o f a m eadow
lark chirping in a tree...
The buzzing o f the little
tiny bumble bee...
A deer trodding on some
sticks...
And the cry ing o f the
chickadee’s chicks...
That is N ature's Song.
Cade Arbogast
Ladybug
Fly, walk
It tickles me
Flying, playing, eating,
walking
Hungry bug
Susie Teeman
2nd Grade
Lions
Fast, running
They hear well,
Sleeping, scratching, hunt
ing, roaring,
Sharp teeth
Dakota Howard
2nd Grade
Dolphin
Light blue,
Lives in water
Swimming, com m unicat
ing, squeaking, playing,
Breathing mammal
Cason Mitchell
2nd Grade
Dogs
Little, soft
They bark loudly
Scratching, barking, roll
ing, laying
Cow dog
Tanner Holmquist
2nd Grade
Flowers
Poking, red
They smell good,
Growing, planting, sprout
ing, sunning,
Red roses
Caitlyn Scrivner
2nd Grade
Flowers
Poking, red
They smell good,
Growing, planting, sprout
ing, sunning.
Red roses
Caitlyn Scrivner
2nd Grade
Sparkly
Night
Outside on
W inter’s eve.
Shavla Looslie
5,h Grade
Rabbit
Brown, white,
They eat carrots
Licking, hopping, playing,
running,
Little bunny
Daniela Sanchez
2nd Grade
D e c e m b e r 25 - N a tiv ity
mass and Christm as carols
at 8:45 a.m.
8000 THRU DECEMBER 31. 2008
Les Schwab Tire Center
124 North Main St., Heppner 676-9481
\
l
Nature’s Song
When I wake up
I hear the birds sing
I hear the wind whistle.
When I wake up
1 smell the crisp air
I smell the scent o f fresh
cut grass.
When I wake up
I taste the air
I taste the sweet honey
suckle.
When I wake up
I feel the dew drip on my
hair
1 feel the wind blow
against my skin.
That is what I feel, hear,
taste and smell,
When I wake up
Sydney Qualls
4,h Grade
Nature’s Song
The chirping o f the birds,
the footsteps o f the deer
all o f this goes together
into
something quite sincere.
The flapping o f the bird’s
wings
sing to me.
Just the thought o f being
outdoors brings me lots o f
cheer.
All o f this is nature’s song,
It’s here, it’s here
Patrick Collins
5th Grade
Nature’s Song
Listen close and you will
hear,
The song o f nature through
your ear.
If you listen, you will hear
A bird, a bee, or even a
deer.
Skyler Hawks
2009 licenses
on sale now
H unting and fish in g
licenses for 2009 went on
sale Dec. 1. The tickets may
be purchased online or at an
ODFW license sales agent.
People can also buy one for
a gift during the holiday
season. See ODFW’s Web
site for what you need to
know. Remember you need
a 2009 license to hunt come
January 1.
“Big game raffle tickets
make the perfect stocking
stuffer,” said an ODFW
news release.
2009 big gam e raffle
hunt tickets are on sale now
online and at POS agents
and they make great gifts.
Winners are entitled to an
extended hunting season
across m ultiple w ild life
management units for deer,
elk, pronghorn antelope.
Rocky Mountain goat, and
bighorn sheep.
G ood time to hunt
predators, forest grouse
Winter is often considered
the best time to hunt for
grouse and mountain quail
because deciduous trees and
brush have lost their leaves,
which makes it easier for
hunters to see flushing birds.
This is also a good time to
hunt cougar and coyote;
snow w ill make tracking
easier. See the zone reports
for more information.
Frigid
temps
prompt winter fishing
precautions
The recent cold, windy
weather has kept many
anglers indoors, but those
hardy souls who brave the
worst o f the winter weather
should heed a few winter
cautions: before you leave,
check road conditions to
make sure you can safely
get to where you want to
fish, carry a change o f warm
winter clothes, take along
hot beverages or a camp
stove and tea kettle, know
how to recognize and treat
hypothermia.