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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2019)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 18, 2019 WISHING EVERYONE Identifying with God It’s time to go deep. I love hot chocolate, Hershey Kisses and Christmas music as much as anyone else, but there is a danger this time of year in getting so caught up in the happy holidays that it is easy to overlook the deeper purpose of this time of year. That deeper purpose is identification with Jesus Christ. That identification came in what is referred to as the incarnation. This is the event in which God became human. The authors of the Bible appreciated just how difficult this is to un- derstand. It is further com- plicated by that fact that the history of ideas had already mixed notions of human/ god hybrids in Greek and Roman mythology. Even Caesar Augustus referred to himself as son of god. How could people possibly grasp such confusing and muddy concept? The answer is as simple as it is complex. Primarily, it had to be this way. God becoming human was the only way people could be made whole and reach God. All of our attempts to go to God are a dismal failure. We need him to come to us, which is exactly what he did. Imagine the same being who made the mighty Columbia River, who is infinitely all powerful and all knowing, the same one who fashioned together the complexities of the human body or the perfect smile of a toddler decided to inhabit one of these human bodies knowing its limitations and frailties. Only love could explain such devotion. The Apostle John de- scribed this event as the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. That Word is the power that created the universe in the beginning. It was not another god, like in mythol- ogy born out of the wedding of gods and humans, it is the God. This One John speaks of is the One and Only Son from the Father. There is no other like him. There are no other gods. This is the one true God who is trying to reach you and me this Christmas with the good news that he has made a way for us to finally be at peace. This peace has come because he came to us in a lowly manger 2,000 years ago. Of course, all this must be believed in order for it to be effective and change your life here on earth and for eternity. That belief comes by faith. We all live by faith whether we would like to admit it or not. We really have little to no con- trol over what the peo- ple around us do or what circumstances we face. We choose to believe that things will work out. We trust that our children will eat their vegetables. We be- lieve that the people around us have our best interest at heart and will act accord- ingly. We all live by faith. The real question we must ponder is, what am I really putting my faith in? This Christmas and beyond am I trusting that it will all just work out or am I trust- ing in this magnificent wa- ger that God has placed on the table? Will you accept his offer this Christmas? Could you by faith believe that God has come to you in the person, Jesus Christ? Pastor Tripp Finch Willow Creek Baptist Church The reason for the season For many of us, Christ- mas is one of the busiest times of the year, and for some it can begin losing its joyful celebration of life and change into a time of physical and financial stress. Responsibilities re- lated to parties, gifts, bak- ing and decorating can drive one nuts. Perhaps as crazy as doing everything possible to celebrate the birthday of someone you don’t know all that well or at all… The truth is Christmas can be most enjoyed by those who have an active relationship with Jesus Christ, know the story of His birth and life and death and resurrection, and fully understand what it means to humanity and their own lives. They understand why the night of His birth was different from all the other nights throughout history; why a small town in Israel was briefly the most bless- ed place on earth; why the birth of a child changed ev- erything; why angels sang to simple shepherds and wise men made a difficult journey to a faraway land. Understanding is ev- erything when it comes to Christmas. If you’ve never stopped to consider the reason for the Christmas season, or perhaps you know but have just lost touch with it, please know that the “why” is what brings Christmas to life. God comes to us in this busy Christmas season to make all things new. Where we are too busy, God brings peace; where we are lost, salvation; where we are sad, joy; where we are bitter, God gives us courage to love again. Area churches to hold services C olumbia b asin E lECtriC C o -o p W e are happy to serve you ! MERRY CHRISTMAS THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS! Celebrate the light Ch r is t ma s Me s s a g e s Hopeful Saints Minis- try, a Lutheran and Episco- pal partnership, will cele- brate the birth of Jesus with a festive service of lessons, carols, communion and candle lighting on Decem- ber 24 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal building located at the corner of Church and Gale in Hep- pner. Everyone is welcome, including kids of all ages. Willow Creek Baptist Church, 560 Minor Street in Heppner will hold a special Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24 at Christmas Eve can be an amazing and joyful time to acknowledge this most pivotal point in human his- tory, and honor how God reached down from heaven and built a bridge between Himself and humanity. The story of that in- carnation — God sending His Son to be born into the human race — is beautiful beyond our ability to ex- press. Some churches in our area extend open invitations to hear the timeless story of an infant king, to have your spirit lifted by the sound of Christmas carols and celebrate the miraculous event that brought us hope, reconciliation with our Cre- ator and the promise of an eternity that transcends the bonds of our earthly existence. These Christmas Eve services typically take only an hour or two of your time, and it could be the very thing that adds depth and meaning to all you do this Christmas. The friends and family of the Ione Com- munity Church invite you to our own Christmas Eve celebration, taking place at 7 p.m. on December 24, and hope you will come! All are welcome, so bring a friend. Jeff Clabaugh Minister Ione Community Church In these darkest days of the year, light is a precious commodity—not just be- cause daylight is short, but also because we lack the ability to cast much light into our surroundings at a time when common ground has become so elusive, careful listening to oppos- ing views has become so rare and an end to violence and homelessness and hun- ger seem so far beyond reach. And yet, in the middle of this dark season, we can still celebrate the light. Why? Because long ago God sent his son to inter- rupt the world as we’d been running it . . . a world God created as good and orderly, but we defiled with self- ishness and carelessness. The infant we celebrate at Christmas grew up to be the conqueror of darkness and THE 2020 MORROW COUNTY FAIR AUGUST 19-23, 2020 T hank you for your supporT ! OTPR AUGUST 21 & 22, 2020 MOCO RODEO AUGUST 23, 2020 MERRY CHRISTMAS! We are proud to be of service to you throughout the year THE STAFF OF WHEATLAND INSURANCE Heppner & Ione 5 p.m. This will be a brief candlelight service filled with singing, joy, Scripture readings and even live harp music. There is no better way to kick-off the holiday celebration. You don’t want to miss it. There will also be regularly scheduled ser- vices on Sunday, December 22 and 29 beginning at 10 a.m. All are welcome. DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5PM www.communitybanknet.com 541-656-5430 178 W Willow St. Heppner The friends and family of the Ione Community Church invite everyone to their Christmas Eve cel- ebration taking place at 7 p.m. on December 24. Holiday Design by Addalyn Pointon of Lewiston, ID. 111 N Court St. Heppner Merry Christmas from WOOD on WOOD death. The birth of Jesus, and the ministry, death, and resurrection that followed it, cast a light that can never be extinguished, no matter how much we continue to make a mess of things. How can we find the light we need in this beau- tiful but broken world? How can we find hope? By dropping to our knees and recognizing that light and hope are all wrapped up in a manger that holds the king of peace, the light of the world. “Whoever follows me,” Jesus said, “will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b) Rev. Katy Anderson Hopeful Saints Ministry a Lutheran-Episcopal Partnership Heppner Hermiston 127 N Main St 541-676-5745 50 E Theater Ln 541-289-4480 Member FDIC G T MERRY CHRISTMAS! From all of us at Sykes Publishing David, April, Bobbi, Giselle, Chris & Andrew
