Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 23, 2015
- THREE
Christmas Messages of Hope and Peace
Peace in the Here and
Now
The Gift of Supernatural
Peace—Calm in Chaos
The prophet Isaiah foretold of a child who would
be Prince of Peace, whose kingdom would know end-
less peace. Hundreds of years later, on the night this
child was born, angels announced the arrival of peace
on earth. This child brought a kind of peace that will one
day transform the whole world. We get glimpses of his
peace this time of year, when we gather after dark to sing
carols, light candles, and hear the familiar story of that
night long ago when heaven came down and touched the
earth. But too quickly, that leeting glimpse of peace is
drowned out once more by the noise of everyday life.
Lasting peace, the kind only our Prince of Peace can
deliver, still seems so far beyond reach these many cen-
turies after his birth. The battleields of Syria, the streets
of Chicago, the custody battles being waged in court-
rooms near and far, the private warfare around kitchen
tables, all the conlicts that rage on around the globe
long after they’ve disappeared from the headlines…
these things could be evidence that lasting peace is noth-
ing but a pipe dream.
But the peace our Prince brings is not deined by
the absence of conlict. It’s deined by the presence of
justice, righteousness, healing, wholeness…that is, by
the presence of God, the Word made lesh, who chose to
dwell among us in spite of the conlicts that rage around
us. Isaiah and the angels can announce peace, even in the
midst of a chaotic world, because the child who brought
God’s peace to earth is himself Creator and King of the
universe, with God from the beginning.
In Jesus, God recreates our story, and not just by
giving it a different ending. God’s gift of Jesus inter-
jects hope into our lives now, making it possible for us
to know peace now, even when this world says there is
none. And that’s true whether we’re in the middle of a
hard day at work, or struggling to recover from this win-
ter’s nasty virus, or standing in the cold wind up at the
cemetery. Jesus is our peace when things are going just
the way we want them to go, and when nothing seems
right.
Or, at least he can be. It’s a gift he offers to each
of us—the deep and lasting peace that surpasses un-
derstanding. Seems like a gift too valuable to leave un-
opened….
Rev. Katy Anderson
Shared Ministry of Hope Lutheran Church & All
Saints Episcopal Church
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and
the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6 KJV)
Robert Louis Stevenson tells of a storm that caught a
vessel off a rocky coast and threatened to drive it and its
passengers to destruction. In the midst of the terror, one
daring man, contrary to orders, went to the deck, made a
dangerous passage to the pilot house and saw the steers-
man, lashed fast at his post of holding the wheel unwav-
eringly, and inch by inch turning the ship out once more
to sea. The pilot saw the watcher and smiled. The daring
passenger went below and gave out a note of cheer: “I
have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled, ‘all is well.’”
Does our heart smile in the middle of terror and
unrest? Jesus said, “Peace I give you.” It’s because we
have the Prince of Peace living inside of us. Jesus gives
us continual reminders to not take on anxiety and fear. In
fact, He desires that we give ourselves reminders that we
have a promise of the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do
not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, ‘I am
going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved
me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for
the Father is greater than I.” (Jn. 14:27-28)
Reminder One: Peace I leave you.
Reminder Two: Peace I give you.
Reminder Three: Don’t let your hearts be troubled
or afraid.
Have you heard the saying “peace of mind”? It
means…
The Prince of Peace Himself guards our hearts and
minds. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, pres-
ent your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV)
What are we supposed to do in troubled times? God’s
word pleads with us to pray and give petition, despite
what the NY Times article says in bold headlines. God
still works through our prayers. He also asks us to give
thanksgiving as He inhabits the praises of His people. I
can appreciate the scene in the Titanic where the musi-
cians are playing as the ship is sinking as if to add calm to
chaos. Jesus wants us to take our eyes off of the troubled
times and place our eyes on Him or we will surely sink.
It is knowing that we are at peace with Christ. We can
have a peace that Christ is our Redeemer, the only one
able to restore our souls, the one you can walk in complete
harmony with, and the one who is the Captain running
your ship. He sees your storms and is conident that He
will steer you through them by keeping you calm or just
calming the storm as it is the Master Captain’s choice.
Our God is the ruler and distributor of peace. When
Jesus left this earth He sent the Holy Spirit to provide
counsel, peace, joy and love. We have access to all of
those fruits because this is our new identity. This is
supernatural living and it means knowing that we have
access to supernatural peaceful living at all times. The
Lord thinks that you are a keeper and He promises the
comfort of His Holy Spirit for eternity.
Jesus did not promise a life without trial but He did
promise supernatural peace found only in the Prince of
Peace. Man cannot destroy the peace that God has or-
dained for those that belong to Him. It is not only possible
but it is promised, and this peace surpasses all human
understanding. I pray that you will allow it to guard your
heart this Christmas.
(Num. 6:24-26) “The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious
to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you
peace.”
Tony Long-Drew, Pastor
Christian Life Center
Chamber Chatter
Thursday, Dec. 31, 7
p.m. to midnight, Heppner
SDA Church: Come out
for nonalcoholic family
fun. Enjoy refreshments,
games, movie and more.
The church is located at
560 Minor Street; contact
541-561-9132 for more
information.
SAGE Center – Christ-
mas Lights show, 4:30 – 9
p.m. daily until Friday, Jan.
1: Make sure you take the
time to check out the agri-
culture-themed Christmas
lights show. Donations of
non-perishable food items
are being accepted for the
Community Action Pro-
gram of East Central Or-
egon (CAPECO) for the
duration of the display.
The canned goods can be
dropped in marked contain-
ers at the front doors of the
SAGE Center.
Thursday, Jan. 14 - 6
p.m., Heppner Chamber’s
Town and Country Com-
munity Awards Event: This
year’s event is sponsored
by Invenergy, LLC dba
Willow Creek Energy (gold
sponsor) and Northwest
Farm Credit Services (sil-
ver sponsor). Come out
and help the community
recognize and celebrate the
Man of the Year; Woman
of the Year; Business of
the Year; Citizen-Educator
of the Year; Youth Award
and Lifetime Achievement
Award. Pudding on the Ritz
will cater the evening meal
and will be serving prime
rib with au jus and horse-
radish sauce; baked pota-
toes with sour cream, but-
ter and bacon; dilly green
beans; cranberry pecan
romaine salad; rustic bread;
pumpkin dessert square;
and beverage. Tickets will
be available on Monday,
Dec. 28 for $20 per person
at the Bank of Eastern Or-
egon, chamber ofice, city
hall, Community Bank and
Murray’s Drug. Please pur-
chase your tickets early so
we can make sure we have
enough food and seating for
everyone.
ODOT warns of winter
weather hazards
BEND—Winter weath-
er, including snow and
high winds, is adversely
affecting driving conditions
across the state, especially
in Central and Eastern Ore-
gon. In addition, forecasters
are predicting high winds
and precipitation in the Wil-
lamette Valley, which will
cause additional driving
challenges.
ODOT is asking motor-
ists, both in private vehicles
and large commercial car-
riers, to drive according to
these inclement weather
conditions, including slow-
ing down and turning off
cruise controls.
For drivers anticipating
travel throughout Oregon
during periods of hazard-
ous weather, which may
persist this week in Eastern
and Central Oregon, ODOT
recommends checking Trip-
check.com or calling 511 to
be aware of current high-
way hazards.
ODOT recommends
the following safety pre-
cautions:
-Be ready to use your
chains. Be patient. Go slow.
-Expect a long com-
mute that could last hours.
You never know when
weather or trafic incidents
will cause the road to be
closed for extended periods.
-Keep fuel tank full (in
case you get stuck in road
closure).
-Carry emergency sup-
plies (water, food, warm
clothes, lashlight, etc.)
-Turn off your cruise
control.
-Increase the following
distance between you and
the vehicle ahead of you.
-Keep cell phone
charged up (but don’t use
it while driving).
-Keep a watch on
weather conditions through-
out the day in anticipation
of the next snow storm that
could make current road
conditions worse. Tune
to local radio stations for
Christmas
celebrations at area
churches
Willow Creek Baptist Church—Christmas Eve service
Thursday, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m. The service will include singing
Christmas carols, harp and violin music, and scripture reading.
Worship weekly at 10:45 a.m. every Sunday.
Shared Ministry of Hope Lutheran and All Saints Epis-
copal—Christmas Eve festival service of lessons and carols,
candles and Communion at All Saints Episcopal Church Dec.
24 beginning at 7 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 27, lessons and carols,
also at All Saints, beginning at 10 a.m.
Christian Life Center—Christmas Eve candlelight service
Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. Dessert will follow.
Heppner United Methodist Church—Christmas Eve
service Thursday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. for a festival of nine les-
sons and carols.
Church of the Nazarene—Christmas Eve candlelight
service with Christmas carols, scripture reading and lighting
of the Advent candles Thursday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church—Christmas carols, candle-
light procession and blessing of the nativity scene Thursday,
Dec. 24, at 8:30 p.m. with Christmas holy vigil to follow at 9
p.m. On Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Mass will be celebrated
at 11 a.m.
St. William’s Catholic Church—Friday, Dec. 25, Christ-
mas carols, blessing of the nativity scene and Christmas Mass
at 8:45 a.m.
update travel information.
“ODOT appreciates the
patience of travelers who
delay their trips or experi-
ence longer commutes,”
stated an agency release.
“We cannot be everywhere
at once to clear the roads
and we cannot clear the
roads when they are stacked
with trafic. The coopera-
tion of the traveling public
is imperative in keeping the
highways passable.”
A Gift Like No Other
When we think of Christmas we often think of
the giving of gifts, the smell of freshly baked cookies,
decorating the tree, and shopping centers. Of course, for
some, thoughts of long lines at those stores along with
the January credit card bill can strike fear in the heart of
even the most devoted holiday enthusiast. Still for oth-
ers, Christmas can be a time when the loss of a loved one
becomes especially poignant.
These are often our experiences this time of year.
Some are good and wholesome, while others may not be
so pleasant. However, there is another side to the experi-
ence and story of Christmas.
On December 25 the world stops to remember a
baby who was born 2,000 years ago. As strange as that
may seem, the story gets even more incredible when one
considers that this baby is like no other child before or
after Him. This baby was Almighty God, come to earth
as a helpless child who would need to be clothed and fed,
just like every other baby. Why would God, a being who
has everything, knows everything, and needs nothing take
on such a humble disposition?
The answer is the meaning of Christmas. God came
to earth that irst Christmas night on a rescue mission to
ix a desperately broken world. God broke into the world
as a man to live so that He could be nailed to a wooden
cross and die for us. Each one of us, because of the holy
justice of God, deserved that kind of death. However,
because of God’s great love for us, He died on a cross so
that we would not have to face that kind of death. Instead
of eternal death we can receive the gift of eternal life. The
only requirement is to accept this free gift by admitting
that you have messed up and done wrong, believing that
Jesus died in your place, and then begin walking in His
way. This is a Christmas gift like no other! Have you ever
asked Jesus for this gift? If not, why not receive it today?
You will never be the same again.
May your heart be illed with joy in Jesus this Christ-
mas as you ponder who He is, why He came to earth, and
what He has accomplished for you. Then you can truly
sing with the angels of Christmas, “Glory to
God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to
people He favors!” (Luke 2:14).
Tripp Finch, Pastor
Willow Creek Baptist Church
Christmas Hope in the
Midst of Chaos
It was cold and dark in the church on Monday night
when I ran by to pick up a forgotten item from Sunday’s
service. And as I walked up the aisle, my mind was full
of everything that must be done in the next few days.
Making those lists and checking them twice.
But when I stopped to admire the beautiful swags on
the wall and the banners of Advent that proclaim Hope,
Faith, Joy and Peace, I began to think about the life of
our church and its own story of Christmas these past 100
or so years.
The story of the birth of Christ told and re-told over
time, using scripture found in the books of Isaiah, Titus,
Luke, Matthew, Mark…each offering a glimpse, a proph-
ecy, a kernel of information about that night more than
2,000 years ago.
Those tidbits cobbled together into the greatest story
of love ever told. A story we celebrate each year as we
gather in worship on Christmas Eve.
As I sat there, I could imagine the men and women
from so long ago arriving near midnight brimming with
hope. The hope of a new life, in a new land, for an im-
migrant family. The desperate hope of a community that
its young men would come home from wars unscathed.
Did Mary have the same hopes? The same dreams?
Was hers the hope that the baby she carried for all hu-
mankind would be enough?
Think about the great faith it took for those families
to pull up stakes, cross a country or a continent and settle
in this little logging town. They built our church and even
put it to rights when a lood moved it down the street.
Great faith indeed.
And the simple faith of that tired young woman who
traveled far to birth the babe that would change our lives
in breathless wonder.
If you sit very still when the church is really quiet,
you can almost feel the joy of Christmas. The music, the
pageants, the readings, the excitement. The story of the
Nativity presented in so many ways.
And the joy of a miraculous birth. The gift of a baby
born in a stable or maybe a cave, a gift greater than we
could ever earn or deserve. The babe who will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace…
and Jesus.
And peace. The kind of peace that can be found when
you slip into a worship space for just a minute…
It’s that coming-to-terms-with-life kind of peace
we feel when we think about birth and death, weddings,
funerals, baptisms and all those other things that take
place in the course of someone’s life, both worldly and
spiritually.
In the midst of all the chaos that can be our lives as
we approach Christmas, pause and ask yourself this: Is
there room in your heart for the Prince of Peace?
Blessings,
Patty Nance, Pastor
Heppner United Methodist Church