FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 20,2011
Easter messages from area pastors
Emboldened
What If
To be a disciple, in Jerusalem, during that first Easter
season must have been an incredible “ride.” The city would
have been filled with all of the pilgrims that had come for the
Passover. To add to the excitement there would have been talk
of a Rabbi and Prophet from Galilee. Many fantastic stories
would have been told of this Prophet. Perhaps they had heard
o f him raising Lazarus from the deadjust a short time before.
As he enters the city the people treat him as a coming
king. They anticipate him as the Messiah. One who would throw
off the oppression o f the Romans and challenge the puppet
leaders of Israel Their hopes are fulfilled as he “cleanses” the
Temple o f the money changers and speaks parables against the
corrupt leaders of the Temple mount.
But their hopes would be dashed. The comipt leaders
had already plotted to kill the prophet. They feared a revolution
and were worried that they would lose their positions o f power.
They convinced one of his own disciples to turn on him. He
was arrested, illegally tried in a kangaroo court, convicted and
brutally beaten and crucinea. Their hope of a new king crushed,
the leading disciples of his movement feared for their lives and
abandoned him. The entrenched corrupt leadership must have
thought that, yes, the loss o f one man was well worth allowing
them to keep their position.
But then reports began to trickle in...Guards with
fantastic stories of angels and empty tombs, people all around
the city who witnessed this prophet alive. His disciples became
bold and no longer fearful. They began to preach that this was
the resurrection and this prophet, Jesus, was the Messiah. These
disciples no longer feared the corrupt leaders and told them so,
right to their face. It started a movement of the advancement of
the Kingdom o f God that continues to transform to this day. It
is amazing what people can do when they are empowered by
God and no longer fear death...
That story seems so long ago. But our lives today can
be just as transformed and exciting, just as bold, and not fearful
of death if we are empowered by the Spirit of the resurrected
Messiah Jesus. Check it out. You will become alive, because
He is alive.
Pastor Keith Price
Willow Creek Baptist Church
What if Jesus hadn’t been crucified? What if he
died in his sleep after a long and successful ministry, and
then was resurrected? Would Christianity be the same reli
gion? Think about it. We would still have Jesus’ teachings
and miracles, and we would still have the witness of the
risen Christ, pointing us to eternity. Isn’t that enough?
No, it isn’t, because the crucifixion is as important
as the resurrection. The cross represents Jesus’ choice to
confront fear in the world: fear of love, fear of mercy,
fear of generosity, fear of acceptance—all the fears that
manifest in hatred, oppression and violence. The over
whelming message of Jesus’ ministry was to not be afraid,
but instead to be confident in the kingdom come and the
kingdom among us now. A long and peaceful ministry
was not even possible, because he was such a threat to
the powers of this world.
The cross is also the symbol of God’s coura
geous spirit that we are called to hold as our own. The
cross teaches that God’s love is not about compromise,
complacency, or complicity. “You shall know the truth,”
he said, "and the truth will make you free.” Free from
w hat? From fear and the tyrannies of this world. Fear to
live and yes, to die, knowing that we are embraced by God
now and always. Jesus turned toward Jerusalem knowing
he would be killed. But it was the place to speak truth to
power, and he did it to set us free.
Without the cross, we would still know Jesus as a
brilliant teacher and healer, and someone who could even
overcome death. But through his suffering and unjust
death, we are offered so much more. “In the world you
will have tribulation,” he promised, “but do not fear. I
have overcome the world.”
Hallelujah.
Maundy Thursday services at Valby are at 7 p.m.;
the Easter service begins at 9 a.m. with breakfast to fol
low. Everyone is welcome.
Rev. Lea Mathieu
Valby Lutheran Church
The Savior Lives
Among the most cherished thoughts and writings
in this world is the divine statement of truth: “For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.”
This precious Son, our Lord and Savior, atoned
for the sins of all mankind. That memorable night in
Gethsemane His suffering was so great, His anguish so
consuming, that He pleaded, “Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but
as thou wilt.” Later, on the cruel cross, He died that we
might live, and live everlastingly. Resurrection morning
was preceded by pain, by suffering in accordance with
the diyine plan of God. Before Easter, there had to be a
cross. The world has witnessed no greater gift, nor has it
known more lasting love.
The message of Easter is that the Savior lives!
And because He lives all shall indeed live again. This
knowledge provides the peace for loved ones of those
who have passed on, “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence
gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’”
-The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints
As members o f the Willow Creek Branch of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we add
our testimony to the message shared by our prophet and
apostles that Christ lived and died for all mankind and
that he is our perfect example in all things.
President Dieter Waite
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
“Now could be a very good
time to buy a home”
Depending on your situation, now could be a
very good time to buy a new home. We can
help with a mortgage loan that you can live
with. Our loan officers know the local market.
We have several different loan options. We
can help you determine which one is best for
your situation. See us today. We’re an equal
housing lender.
Bank of
Eastern Oregon
Member FDIC
Heppner Branch
541-676-9125
L=J
;Asn
¡one Branch
541-422-7466
Hometown People Hometown Spirit
Hunting for New Life
Like most children, I always loved a good Easter
egg hunt. My extended family would traditionally get
together after church on Easter Sunday and the teenag
ers and adults would hide the eggs for those of us who
hunted them. I especially loved finding the hard-to-locate
Easter eggs. As a teenager, I hid the eggs for my smaller
cousins and always enjoyed watching them hunt for eggs
as well. When I was a young adult, our family sort of
ran out of little children for a few years. My cousins had
become teenagers and my sister and I were not ready to
have children yet. I remember gathering with my family
one year and realizing that we had all dyed Easter eggs
but had no small children to hunt for them. In a stroke of
brilliance, my father and uncle decided that we should
break up into teams and hide the eggs for one another. It
was one of the most fun and memorable Easters of my
adult life. I remember seeing a look of absolute delight on
my grandmother’s face, a woman who was not prone to
delight, when she found the last egg on her team’s hunt.
My five teenage cousins even came out of their “too cool”
fog for a few moments to remember the joy of finding a
well-hidden Easter egg.
The egg was originally a pagan symbol of new
life, but was adopted early on in Christian history as a
symbol of Christ’s resurrection, another form of new life.
Easter is about finding new life. As we head into this Eas
ter season, some new life is easy to find. Like any good
Easter egg hunt, some are easy to find and others are a bit
more difficult. The daffodils and tulips popping up all over
are obvious signs. The trees have started blooming and
the birds are more abundant. The wheat fields are green
and growing. New life is evident in nature all around us.
But just like a good Easter egg hunt, some are harder to
find. One of my closest friends miscarried twins a few
weeks ago. I’ve been talking with her more frequently; as
time has passed and she has started to heal slightly, I can
see that she is on the hunt for new life. She is working to
understand what this life is like after experiencing such
a tragedy. While she will always be grieved by the loss
of her children, she is beginning to remember that there
When I saw the announcement in last week’s is life to live now.
Sometimes new life is easy to see, other times
issue, I wondered how long the Gazette-Times had been
it
is
much
more difficult. During this Easter season, I
offering local pastors the opportunity to submit an Easter
invite
you
on
a life hunt. Hunt for new life all around
message. Upon checking with April, I learned that such
you.
Find
it
in
the easy to se^ places, but also look hard
an opportunity has been extended at least as long as she
to
find
it
in
the
more difficult situations you face. The
and Dave have owned the paper, which has been 31 years.
resurrected
Christ
is all around us. May you be blessed
For 31 years, you, the readers of the Gazette-Times, have
with
an
abundant
hunt.
received the thoughts from area pastors on what Easter
means to them. I wonder, how have their messages af Pastor Stacy Shelton
fected you? Do you read them and say, “That’s nice”? Or lone Community Church
have you sought to learn more?
See EASTER MESSh GES/PA GE EIGHT
The message of Easter is that Jesus of Nazareth
died the death that we all will experience. And He over
came this death and is alive forevermore! Furthermore,
Jesus has promised that all those who receive God’s gift
of faith— faith that God is our Creator; and that Jesus
there will be an Easter-egg
is the Son of God; and that the Holy Spirit is the divine Hope Lutheran, All
Saints
Episcopal
hunt after the service.
presence in our lives—will also receive eternal life. Each
All
Saints
Episco
Before w orship,
one will live forever in the presence of God.
pal
Church,
Hope
Lutheran
breakfast
will be served be
Easter is the revelation of God’s grace. Grace to
Church,
and
the
United
tween
8
and
9:30 a.m. Do
cover all our needs. Grace through forgiveness to cover
Methodist
Church
will
join
nations
received
at the
all of our sins. Grace of the living presence of Jesus, the
together
for
a
Good
Friday
breakfast
will
help
fund
this
Christ.
Tenebrae
Service
at
All
summer’s
Vacation
Bible
I invite you to come and see; to come and hear the
grace of Easter at the ecumenical Easter sunrise service Saints on April 22 begin School.
Everyone is wel
at the football grandstands this Sunday at 7 a.m., or our ning at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, Hope come.
worship service at the comer of Gale and Church, 193
and All Saints will celebrate Valby Lutheran
W. Church Street, at 10:30 a.m.
Easter at Hope with worship
Maundy Thursday
Pastor Jonathan Enz
beginning
at 10 a.m. The services at Valby are at 7
United Methodist Church
service will include Holy p.m.; the Easter service
Communion and Easter begins at 9 a.m. with break
hymns accom panied by fast to follow. Everyone is
brass and organ. Everyone welcome.
The annual Elks Easter Egg Hunt is on Saturday, is invited to bring a fresh St Patrick’s Holy Week
Holy Thursday: 7
April 23 at 10 a.m. The hunt is open to all children from flower to add to a special
Easter
cross
in
the
sanctu
p.m.,
Mass
of the Institution
pre-school through the fourth grade.
ary.
Children
who
have
of
the
Blessed
Eucharist
Pre-schoolers are at the City Park by the museum,
attended
First
Fridays
will
Good
Friday:
12:05
1 ,l-2n,i graders are at the “Lower Field” by the grade school
receive
a
special
gift,
and
p.m.,
Stations
of
the
Cross.
and the 3rd-4,h graders are at Hager Park.
7 p.m., Solemn Commemo
ration of the Suffering and
Congratulations to
Death of Jesus
Jason Hanna,
H oly S atu rd ay :
7.30
p.m.,
Easter Vigil-
Morrow County Grain Growers
Service o f Light, Easter
employee of the quarter. Jason Proclamation, Liturgy of
Renewal
has been with MCGG for over the Word,
of Baptismal Promises and
a year at our Lexington Parts
Celebration of the Eucha
Department
rist.
Easter Sunday: 11
Morrow County Grain Growers
a.m., Easter Mass
thanks Jason and wishes to
St. William's
Good Friday: 5.30
congratulate him for his hard
p.m.. Stations of the Cross
work and excellent customer
E a ste r S unday:
service skills
8:45 a.m., Easter Mass
United Methodist
Good Job Jason!!
Church
Easter worship ser
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
vice at 10:30 a.m.
Easter Grace
Area churches to hold
Easter services
Annual Elks Easter egg hunt
this Saturday
\
ROAD WORK AHEAD
The upcoming project with the cooperation with Oregon Forest Highway Pro
gram and Morrow County, will be working mid May continuing into June on a
20 mile chip seal preservation project on the Willow Creek Road #678. Some
delays will be expected. Morrow County Road dept, would like to remind all
motorists that with any road maintenance project to be aware of the workers.
Watch for signs, flags and work-zone employees and equipment. Morrow
County’s goal is to provide a safe roadway. However, it is always up to the
motorist to drive according to conditions. Be patient and plan ahead. Leave
early if you know you will be driving through work zones. Please use extreme
caution and common sense. They will do their best and would appreciate your
patience. Again be prepared and be safe. Questions or concerns may be ad
dressed 541-989-9500.