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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2020)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 15, 2020 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES U.S.P.S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE: http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/ Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax (541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site: www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow County; $25 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere; $31 student subscriptions. David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to 100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch. For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for pub- lication must be specified. Affidavits must be required at the time of submission. Affidavits require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required). For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space for the obituary. For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. Peace be with you As I was thinking of the Easter-day homily, something from the Bible struck me very deeply. I was concentrating on the topic “peace be with you.” How to describe this theme of Easter in the context of the pandemic disease? The parish community cannot even come together as one to pray and worship the Risen Lord. The scriptural passage from the Gospel of John reminded me of a message for the occasion: “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you believe now? The time is coming and is already here when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the father is with me. I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!’” (John 16:31-33) This Gospel passage was very apt this year when we all celebrated Easter in our own homes. Unthink- able is the image of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem to crowds of admirers who were most certainly not practicing social distancing. A Maundy Thursday meal without the disciples. The way to the Crucifixion with- out the loved ones watching his journey. The Catholic Church is finding different ways for us to celebrate life and hope during a time of uncertainty, as Easter arrived devoid of fanfare and we watched everything behind closed doors – which has become a symbol of unity and hope in a world faced with an uncertain future. And Christian hope cannot be quarantined. The fear of coronavirus and joy of Easter are simultaneous- ly possible, just like it was for the women who came to Jesus’s tomb that first Easter. Even at this time we need to shout, “Alleluia, God is with us!” Because Jesus declared long before his death what is going to take place in the world after his death: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). In this world, we do now have trouble - the coronavirus. Is Post Easter reflection Years ago, while in college, I went to an Easter Sunday service with my roommate and his family. I wasn’t much of a believer back then, but it seemed like the thing to do. During the sermon, the pastor noted that there were people pres- ent that he would not see until Christmas; at which point my roommate’s father whispered, “Someone want to take that knife out of my back?” Personally, as a pastor, I have never minded “twice- a-year” attenders or those who only show for a wed- ding, funeral or baptism. I rejoice at who is with us in worship no matter what. All are welcome. Most of us sat home on Sunday, foregoing Easter services at church, the most attended Sunday of the year. Maybe a televised ser- vice from somewhere else, or a radio broadcast of “The Messiah,” or even an old John Wayne western filled our Easter morning. We all dealt with social isolation and this major Christian holiday in our own ways. I wince when I see huge gatherings in the midst of this plague of COVID 19, and pastors telling their pa- rishioners that God would rather see them in church than cowering at home. My prayers are that they are right, and that their congre- gants have not become new vectors for the spread of the virus. Most of us, however, have stayed at home, and most of us have done the right thing for ourselves, our neighbors and all God’s children. Now, on this week af- ter Easter, the temptation is to feel a bit let down, and think that Easter just wasn’t the same this year. it not that losing the oppor- tunity to celebrate Easter in the church as a family is a form of true suffering? But we need to hope for the best. In the above scripture passage, Jesus’s prediction for the world is already at hand, for the coronavi- rus fulfills that “you will be scattered, each of you to your own homes.” But though we have been left alone, believers all over the world have strength- ened their faith in Christ through various ways. This Lenten season, we have had a chance to experi- ence that Christ is risen —in new ways. Those ways have been quieter and seem smaller, but we made it merrier and bigger. Over the past week, we met as a community of believers vir- tually through live stream- ing, YouTube, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. This pandem- ic fear has also served as a momentum builder, to bring all of us together in different ways to raise hope that we’re still all together as true Christians. It’s been strange, but it has fostered closer relationships among the families and one another. I hope these relationships will continue once things return to nor- mal, possibly strengthened through feelings of thanks- giving. Pope Francis has tried to keep the church united with Christ. His Urbit et Orbi blessing was actually a moment of building peace with Christ. This is what Christ reiterated to disci- ples before his death and to us when we are caught in the grief and loss of our dear ones due to COVID -19, “You will have peace by being united to me.” It is very apt at this time. We could really overcome fear, anxiety and nervousness through the support of our praying communities in which we took part and prayed. The risen Lord always greeted his disciples in all the post-resurrection scenes with these words, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19) He also mentions, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) This Easter season reminds us all to come a little closer to the Lord, who is caring for us, who is protecting us, and will still protect us from all threating events of the world. Instead of looking for comfort and pleasures from material and worldly things, the Lord invites everyone to come closer to Him and trust Him more. Let these words of Christ resonate in our minds and hearts: “Be brave! I have defeated the world.” I think that is the real mes- sage of Easter, “Be brave I have conquered the world.” If you, too, remain in Him and His words remain in you, surely, we, too, can conquer the threating virus of corona with our faith. Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church We’re Here To Help! In these trying times, if you feel at risk, remember that we offer delivery and mail service. Our goal is to help you stay healthy. Call us! 217 North Main St., Heppner, OR Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426 murraysdrug.com www.murraysdrug.com Do you want to vote for President in the May 19, 2020 Primary? Oregon has closed primary elections. This means that if you wish to vote for ei- ther the Republican or Democratic presidential candidates, you must be registered to vote with either the Democratic or Republican Party. If you are not registered with either major party, you will still be eligible to vote for measures and any non- partisan candidates offices in your voting district. Major Party Ballot Not a member of a party • US President • Judges • US Senate • Morrow County Candidates • US Representative • Ballot Measures • State Legislature • Secretary of State • Treasurer • Attorney General • All Non-Partisan Candidates Do you know which party you are registered with? Don’t be surprised when your ballot comes in the mail. Check now at oregonvotes.gov/myvote You can register to vote or change your party by April 28, 2020. You can pick up a paper Voter Registration form at any elections office, Oregon DMV or post office in Morrow County. If you have questions or concerns please call (541) 676-5601 or email mcclerkrecords@co.morrow.or.us , Bobbi Childers, Morrow County Clerk. As always ballot drop sites will open after ballots are mailed and will close on Election Day at 8 p.m. Return Ballots are now pre-paid. Please mail back prior to May 12, 2020 to ensure arrival by election day. True enough, but some perspective might be help- ful – starting with Scrip- ture. On that first Easter morning, everyone except a few brave women stayed at home. Social isolation was practiced on the morning of the first resurrection, but it was isolation from the virus of fear. Secondly, there were times through- out the history of the early church when the threats of persecution were so great that early Christians avoid- ed gatherings of more than just a few faithful folks, no matter what Sunday. There were lonely Easters during the Black Plague, during smallpox outbreaks, or even here, out west, during chol- era, typhoid and typhus outbreaks. And I remember my grandfather, who was an army dentist during WWI, talking about how deserted streets and churches were in Vancouver and Portland during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Point is, while it would have been glorious to gather and celebrate Easter with our churches and families last Sunday, it was not the first time in human history that such gatherings were not happening. Which brings us to the central point of Christ’s res- urrection. It is not about big gatherings or candy eggs. It is about new life, and our own, internal awareness that God has shown us, through Jesus’ resurrection, that we are never alone. Death is not the final word. Not never, not ever the final word. Easter is about renewal and new life. We need to re- member that in these times of COVID-19. This virus is not the final word. The final word is hope. The fi- nal word is grace. The final word is renewal. Whenever we gather again in whichever com- munity of faith we belong, that will be Easter Sunday. Until then, however, take the message of Christ’s res- urrection to heart. It is your own personal offer of new life. And that gift to your soul is there no matter how many or how few shared the day with you. Blessings, Rev. Jim Monroe, Heppner United Method- ist Church The Loop schedules meetings Morrow County Spe- cial Transportation The Loop will be holding its quarterly advisory commit- tee meetings on April 21 at the Bartholomew Building lower conference room. In response to the cur- rent health emergency re- sulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, county facilities have limited seating capac- ity and meetings are being held electronically to pro- vide participation other than in-person. The meetings will be available for view- ing via Morrow County Zoom meeting. To schedule a Zoom meeting invitation please provide your name, phone number and email address to Morrow County Special Transportation The Loop via phone message at 541-676-5667 or kimes@ co.morrow.or.us The Special Transpor- tation Fund Advisory Com- mittee meeting will begin at 3 p.m. On the agenda for the meeting will be pub- lic comment, approval of minutes, revenue/expense reports, ridership and other business as needed for the good of the order. The Statewide Trans- portation Improvement Fund Advisory Committee meeting will start at 4 p.m. On the agenda for the meet- ing will be public comment, approval of the minutes, revenue/expense reports, fixed route, and other busi- ness as needed for the good of the order. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print *Mail Sykes Publishing 541-676-9228 ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Honesty • Integrity • Independent VOTE Cody High MORROW COUNTY TREASURER WORKING FOR YOU
