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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2009)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 23,2009 - THREE Christmas messages from area pastors A message of great hope An inspiring invitation and great freedom in Jesus M a tt 1 :1 8 , 23 Now the birth o f Jesus Christ took place in this way... "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Im m anuel” (which means, God with us). The power and po litical system at the time of the birth of Jesus was an interesting one. The Ro mans were in power in that part of the world and while their occupation offered protection and peace, these came at price: Taxation was tremendous and per sonal freedoms were heav ily controlled. Many Jews were severely punished or crucified at the hands of the Romans. Rome did offer some "self-governing,” but the "political” party they (mostly) offered it to, the Sadducees, was corrupt and more interested in maintain ing their wealth and power with the Romans than in truly helping the people. The Sadducees political adversaries, the Pharisees, were not much better. They were sticklers in following the letter o f the beloved Torah, the Word of God, but found ways to explain around its demands. They had knowledge, but no ac tions. They w ere hypocrites. Throw into that mix some isolationists (Essenes) and revolutionaries (Zealots) and you had quite a volatile social and political mix. In many ways these were a part of the problem instead of being a solution. - Today is not so different. Taxes, climate change, health care, debt, economic and financial in stability, cost of living, war, threats o f nuclear power, poverty...well, you get the picture. And I’ve got to be honest with you; I have little use for politicians (and 1 am trying to be very polite here). Like the Sadducees and Pharisees our leaders seem more interested in maintaining power, control and prestige than in really helping the people. The older I get, the more I see them as part of the problem, not the solution. I could see how someone would want to throw up their hands and quit. And yet, even though I see the world around me as more messed up, unstable and dangerous than I have ever seen it, I have more hope, confidence and peace than I have ever had. Let me explain... During this Roman occupation many looked for the coming of the promised Messiah; one who would fix the mess, one who would be “God with us,” Immanuel, one who would establish the kingdom of God. There was great hope. And One did come. His name was Jesus, which means “Yah- weh saves” as he would save the people from their sins. He challenged the political corruption of the Sadducees, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the vio lence of the Zealots and the isolationism of the Essenes. But, He did not come to overthrow the political es tablishment. His kingdom was a different kingdom. His followers were to be know n for their repentance, for following Torah with passion and compassion. They would love God and love their neighbor. This "kingdom” would be about releasing captives and heal ing. His followers would have freedom, joy, shalom, and a peace that passes all understanding in spite o f and in the midst of all of the social and political turmoil. You see, I too have great hope, freedom, joy, shalom and peace that passes all understanding, because I am a follower of this Messiah Jesus, “God with us.” Even in spite of and in the midst of all of the problems of the world and in my life, I will not be afraid. I will try to love God and love people with passion and compassion. I have to tell you, there is great freedom in this... Perhaps you find yourself during this holiday season a little down in the dumps. It might be because of the social and geopoliti cal circumstance. Maybe it is something intensely per sonal. No matter. I would offer you a message of great hope and great freedom in Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us.” Keith Price Willow Creek Baptist Church Be grateful for a season when our Savior was born Before Jesus was born, a prophet taught of Christ, that “He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bow els may be filled with mercy, according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the people, that he may blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliver ance.” Christ has made it possible for us to overcome all things. Let us all be grate ful for this season of joy, a Lexington Community Bible Church to hold Christmas Eve service The Community Bible Church in Lexington (formerly Lexington Baptist Church) will be holding a Christmas Eve Service on Thursday, December 24, begin ning at 7 p.m. There will be special music and a candle lighting service will be held. Refreshments will be served after the service. The community is invited to attend. season where, “Unto us a child is bom, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlast ing Father, The Prince of Peace.” Let us be grateful for a season when our Sav ior was bom. Elder Miles and Elder Mick The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Christm as Eve services to be held at Valby The community is invited to a traditional ser vice of carols and scripture at Valby Lutheran Church on Thursday, December 24, at 6 p.m. V alby, a sm all All Saints Episcopal/Hope Lutheran to church set in wheat fields 15 miles south of lone, w as hold Christmas Eve Eucharist service founded in 1886 by Swed All Saints Episcopal and Hope Lutheran Church ish immigrants. es will hold a Christmas Eve Eucharist service at 7:30 For directions call p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, at All Joel Peterson at 422-7215. Saints Episcopal Church. Last year, at this time, you probably received dozens, or maybe hundreds, o f Christmas cards. You probably read the verse, though maybe not. Even if you did, the chances are that you do not remember it now. This year, one person did remember the verse that was on one card. That verse was: "Blessed is the Season that invites you to engage in the birth of the Savior!” What an interesting invitation. It invites all of us to be more than spectators in the birth of the Savior. It would seem to invite all of us to bring a know ledge and love of the Savior to our world. As I thought about this, I thought of the oppor tunity each of us has to be a spiritual influence in the lives of others. As I write this article, the news media brings us some good news. However, through the year it seems to predominantly bring us the ills, hardships, immorality, evils that exist in our world. An example of this is w hat happened in Ta coma recently. Four police officers were shot, initially, the media gave much more coverage to the perpetrator of the crime than to the lives of the officers. Eventually, there was a wonderful me morial tribute to them. So, frequently, the message we are getting is about vio lence. In a less significant way it was interesting that the couple w ho crashed the President’s Banquet got more publicity than anyone else at that event. It also seems that there is concern that the forthcoming trials of terrorists may be used by them to make a mockery of our justice system. So the invitation to engage in the birth of the Savior is especially a time for Christians to con centrate on the good that there is in the world. We might want to recall those who have had a spiritual impact in our lives. They may have been our parents, our favorite teacher, or our clergy. They reflected the goodness of the Savior, and so can we. As we engage in the birth of the Savior, we have the possibility of also being an inspiration to others. What a wonderful celebration of the birth of the Savior, if every Chris tian inspired someone else to come to Bethlehem and become a true follower of the Infant Savior. As we engage in the birth of the Savior, it will truly be a season of hope and a truly blessed Season. Father Gerry Condon St. Patrick’s Catholic Church St. William's Catholic Church Christmas greetings from Christians known as Heppner United Methodists Have you received any “religious” Christmas cards this Christmas sea son? If you have, they prob ably depict the nativity scene with Mary and Joseph gathered around the cradle in which the baby Jesus is softly sleeping. There may be some animals in the scene also to remind you that Jesus was bom in a stable and that “cradle” in which Jesus is sleeping is really a feeding trough. And maybe there are some men dressed in regal wear standing next to camels or kneeling in front of the baby. And there may be a big star over the stable. Our Christmas cards depict a peaceful, serene, beautiful gathering of adoration of the baby Jesus. In the commentary of the “Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible,” we are reminded that the bibli cal account of the birth of Jesus, as it is written in the Gospel according to Luke chapter 2 versus 1-21, is anything but a sterile ro m anticized scene. Mary who is pregnant and Joseph to whom she is engaged have just completed a 40- mile hike from Nazareth to Bethlehem. When they arrive in Bethlehem, they find a town over-crowded with descendants of King David who have come to be counted in a census. By the time they get to Bethlehem, all of the inns are full. 1 am sure that there have been times for all of us that w hen we needed some thing the most, it wasn’t available. It would have been great for Mary and Joseph to find a clean, safe place to stay since Mary’s due date was fast approach ing. But, it was not be. Mary gave birth to her first bom son in a stable and placed him in the feeding trough to sleep, while Mary lay down to rest and recuperate from the ordeal of giving birth unassisted by modem medicine. Her rest and re laxation was interrupted a short while later as a group of shepherds came visit ing - shepherds smelling of wood smoke and sweat and sheep, still in a state of shock of being informed for the birth of their Savior by a host of angels, keep ing watch over their flocks by night. I am sure that there are times in your life when things have not happened the way that you would have liked them to happen. Things that you dreamed o f happening in a certain way, actually, turn out to be messy. When things do not turn out the way we have dreamed, there is a tendency to question what has gone wrong with our prayers and our relationship with God. In such times, it is important to reflect upon the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, into this world - an event anticipated for hundreds of years; an event announced by angels in a blaze of light, an event unquestionably orchestrated by God. God's will is accomplished in our lives - in our world - even in situations which may appear to us to be messy at first glance. So, this Christmas, either on the ev ening of the 24th or 25th, 1 encourage you to visit the church of your choice to join others in cel ebrating the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, who came into this world to teach us what it means to live God's love that we might have an abundant live and receive eternal life. At Heppner United Methodist Church, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus on the eve of Christ mas, December 24, at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. You are welcome to join us. Jonathan Enz Heppner United Methodist Church St. Patrick’s, St. William’s Catholic Churches announce Christmas schedule St. Patrick’s and St. William’s Catholic Church es in Heppner and lone announce their Christmas schedules. On Thursday, De cember 24, Christmas car ols will be sung at 8:30 p.m., followed by a candle light procession, blessing of the Nativity scene and Vigil Mass at 9 p.m. On Friday, December 25, at 11 a.m„ Nativity Mass will be held and Christmas carols will be sung. Everyone is welcome to join in these celebrations. At St. W illiam ’s Catholic Church in lone Christm as Mass will be held and Christmas carols will be sung at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, December 25. Ev eryone is w elcome to join in this celebration as well. REGARDING BOMBING RANGE ROAD TEMPORARY CLOSURE Dauid Sykes Qtal Estate Ä^azette-Times sBfei'ubl’ir'ieJt A C «« 3 £ jv s lh n rd - * % B p»! ïpîfr keepmq 1 3 f Ï ylutunw Gazette Times Editorial.Dept ■MpWilU'.u; Ptinting ®TûpRiC Design Meçç Gazette- GiiapRics thank : you TOO your business : -V A A m. Morrow County Public Works Department would like to announce Due to reconstruc tion on the south end of the Bombing Range I Hwy 207 Intersection project It is necessary to close the South end section of Bombing Range road for a penod beginning on January 4, 2010 and continuing through January 29, 2010 weather permitting. The primary north detour route will be Gneb Ln. The South de tour route will be Juniper Canyon to Baseline Rd All traffic of any kind with the exception of those local residents will be restncted and the closure will be stnctly enforced dunng this penod Local residents will be allowed access subject to following traffic control measures necessary at the time This protect is an Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Any questions or concerns may contact the Public Works office 365 W Hwy 74, P 0 Box 428, Lexington, OR. 97839 541-989-9500 Have a News story or Photo for the Gazette? Email to edltor@rapidserve.net I
