Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 21, 2021 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
Chamber Chatter
He took it and
multiplied it
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
Today’s readings invite us to reflect:
Have I a hunger for the word of God, sure
that He will satisfy my need as He fed
the five thousand in the wilderness out of
Thankachan
nothing? Do we feel any active solidarity Fr.
Joseph
for such people who experience spiritual
hunger for the Word of God?
The Second Book of Kings (4: 42-44) speaks of the
Prophet Elisha, who lived in the ninth century B.C., the
successor of the mighty prophet Elijah. Today’s Elisha
story takes place during a time of famine. The people bring
some food for the prophet, the man of God, but the prophet
directs the food be given to the people instead. There are
a huge number of people, and so his servant hesitates
to take the meager food to the people. The food used is
bread, and the servant protests that the task is impossible,
yet the prophet insists, and a large number of people are
fed with a small amount of food, and, in fact, food is left
over. The bread was the bread of the first-fruits, which
was meant to be offered to God. But instead of offering it
to God, Elisha gives it to the people. The miraculous food
is a sign of God’s concern for His people. The leftovers
stress God’s generosity.
In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (4: 1-6), Paul pleads
with the Ephesians to live a life in keeping with the Gos-
pel, placing special emphasis on the need for unity and
harmony. We have to do everything possible to preserve
the unity of spirit among us by our words and/or deeds.
Paul further emphasizes that there is one body, one spirit,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father
of us all. This oneness of faith should lead us to share
all we have with others so that we might witness to our
faith in action.
The Gospel reading from John (6: 1-15) narrates the
faithful, merciful and compassionate heart of the Lord
as He feeds the hungry and needy. (Many of us may not
have experienced physical hunger, but there are many
people in the world who are dying of hunger and mal-
nutrition at this very moment.) Jesus, “the new Elisha,”
replicates the miracle of Elisha. He feeds more than five
thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two
fishes. John tells us that the crowds were huge – about
five thousand men, with perhaps double the number of
women and children. Jesus says to Phillip, “What are
we going to do? How are we going to feed them?” Jesus
knew what He was going to do but He is testing His dis-
ciples. Phillip, with his calculating mind, is working out
the solution: “You just buy the food, but where are you
going to get so much food in this place? Just one piece
of bread for each one would probably cost hundreds of
denarii. How are we going to manage?” Andrew, with a
practical bent of mind, suggests a solution: a boy with
five loaves of bread and two fishes. But what use is that
for this large crowd? Jesus is ready to take the little that is
offered by the boy and work with it. He is not asking for
huge resources beyond our means, but He seeks generous
people who are ready to share the little they have. Jesus
asks His disciples to divide and share the bread with the
multitude, and as they break bread and share, more and
more is available until everyone has more than enough.
Jesus then says, “Please collect the leftovers,” and they
collect twelve basketsful. Jesus must have given them to
the little boy; after all it was his bread and his fish that
made it all possible.
Why was Jesus interested in the leftovers? Wasn’t
the big happening all that mattered? Jesus is also the God
of small things. Every small detail counts in God’s eyes.
Jesus needs what we can bring Him, even if not much.
Little is always much in the hands of Christ. The miracle
continues through us every time we give ourselves in faith
to the Lord. He takes our limited resources, blesses them,
multiplies them and distributes them to His people, and
paradoxically, we still find more left over for ourselves
– either in psychic satisfaction, a sense of fulfillment, or
inner peace. The right question to ask of the Lord is not,
“Where shall we find this or that?” Instead, we should ask,
“What is it I have that you want to multiply?”
Aldritt at 541-571-1367
or Michael Haugen, 541-
314-5434 to donate or for
additional information.
August 1 is the dead-
line for applications for the
2021 culturally based ac-
tivities in Morrow County.
Projects supported in the
past have included quilting,
art displays, historical li-
brary books, cultural enter-
tainment and events, kids’
activities in the parks and
schools, drama and musical
workshops. Grants can be
awarded up to 50 percent
of the total project cost. For
complete guidelines and
application forms, please
contact Jaylene Papineau at
541-676-5630, email jpap-
ineau@co.morrow.or.us or
visit the Morrow County
website under the Clerk/
Elections Office, Morrow
County Cultural Coalition
Information.
Friday, August 6 from
5-10 p.m., Murray’s Annual
Wine Tasting Event at the
Willow Creek Fit Park.
Lawrence Allen Perrin
Three suspects were
apprehended and arrested
after a theft which led to
a pursuit. Lawrence Allen
Perrin, 45, Irrigon, was
charged with Theft II,
Criminal Trespass II and
Attempt to Elude (Felony).
His total bail is $16,000.
Maria Anita Price, 37, and
Jonathan James Price, 39,
both of Hermiston were
charged with Theft II and
Criminal Trespass II with
bail set at $6,000 each.
The Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office Commu-
nication Center received
a 911 call on July 19 at
approximately 8:30 p.m.
reporting that the caller
believed someone just stole
items from his scrapyard.
He told dispatch that he was
in his vehicle on Three Mile
Canyon Road heading north
toward I-84, following the
suspected thieves. He indi-
cated the suspects were in
a gray SUV pulling a small
utility trailer.
Sgt. Nathen Braun
and Deputy Dalton Garcia
immediately responded
to the area and located
the suspects traveling on
the backroads south of the
Boardman area. A pursuit
was called at 8:38pm as the
Save the Date!
New Venue!
Games
Food
suspects continued on back-
roads and fields at speeds
up to 70 mph. The trailer
lost its tires and was throw-
ing sparks, so Boardman
Fire was put on standby.
As the sparks were flying
and items bounced out of
the trailer, the suspects
still refused to stop. They
traveled Tower Road, Kun-
ze Road, Parkside, Sum-
mit Lane, back north on
Parkside, where the suspect
vehicle ran a pickup off
the road near Ridgecrest.
Then across Kunze, through
fields and came out on Riv-
er Ridge to Wilson Lane,
proceeded west on Wilson
Lane, passing several mo-
torists and pedestrians. The
SUV continued to Toms
Camp, south to Kunze and
east crossing Tower Road.
They proceeded to the east
end of Boardman Airport,
then south through Three
Mile Canyon Farms and
around crop circles. The
suspects finally stopped
when they lost a tire on the
SUV. A felony stop was
conducted on the occupants
of the vehicle at 9:03pm.
All three suspects were
taken into custody without
further incident and lodged
in the Umatilla County Jail.
The Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
reported that no one was
injured during the incident
and no fires were started
as a result of the suspects
reckless behavior.
I WANT
YOUR
STORY!
Do you have a community project?
Have you started a new, interesting hobby or
business?
Have you or someone you know hit a significant
milestone?
Is there something you feel needs to be shared
with the community?
I want your story! I would love to share it with the
Heppner Gazette-Times' readers!
Contact Giselle
Call or text cell# 541-914-2157
(PLEASE leave a message if I don't answer!)
office# 676-9228
email graphics@rapidserve.net
Ione School District #2
WE ARE HIRING!
AG Teacher, Secondary Math
Teacher, PE Teacher, Part Time
Preschool Teacher
s!
Summer Fun Day!
July 25th
12:00-3:00pm
Ione Community Church!
Jesus
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo,
NPRA sanctioned rodeo,
will be held August 19 and
20 at 7 p.m. and the MOCO
jackpot on August 22 at 1
p.m.
Sunday, September 12
from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mu-
sic in the Park at Heppner
City Park featuring Chasing
Ebenezer, a Portland musi-
cal group. Hopeful Saints
will be offering food for
purchase by donation to
their Mission and Outreach
fund.
September 18 and 19,
Blue Mountain Century
Scenic Bikeway ride. Reg-
istration and waivers are
available at the chamber
office or on the chamber
website. Contact the cham-
ber at 541-676-5536 to
guarantee a spot as the ride
will be limited to 100 riders.
The Blue Mountain Centu-
ry Bikeway is a scenic loop
of approximately 108 miles
beginning and ending in
Heppner.
Suspects arrested after theft, pursuit
n U
K
Live entertainment will be
provided by Joe Lindsay
from 5-7 p.m. and Brady
Goss from 7-10 p.m.
Sunday, August 8 from
5:30-7:30 p.m., Music in
the Park at the Heppner City
Park will feature a return
of La Grande’s Wasteland
Kings. Hopeful Saints will
be offering food for pur-
chase by donation to their
Mission and Outreach fund.
August 13 Wheatland
Insurance will hold an open
house, with additional in-
formation to be provided at
a later date.
August 17-22 the Mor-
row County Fair and Ore-
gon Trail Pro Rodeo will
be held. The theme this
year is “Morrow County
Strong.” The parade will
take place on Saturday,
August 21 at 10 a.m. Those
who are interested in being
in the parade should contact
the Heppner Chamber at
heppnerchamber@gmail.
com or 541-676-5536. The
Licensed:
Joi
!
ids
Willow Creek Farmer’s
Market runs each Thursday
through September 2 from
4-7 p.m. at the Heppner
City Park. Cost for the
entire season for vendors
is $50 or by the week at
$10 per week. Check out
the Facebook page, email
willowcreekfm@gmail.
com or call 541-720-4399
or 757-285-5792 for addi-
tional information.
Benefit Fundraiser to
help Mary Riggs will be
held July 21 from 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. at the Heppner
Elks Lodge.
A benefit dinner for
Brian Rystedt will be held
July 31 at the Heppner Elks
Lodge, featuring a toco
dinner, bingo and a raffle.
Doors open at 4 p.m. with
dinner at 5 and bingo at 6.
Dinner will be $10 per plate
or by donation. Donations
for bingo prizes and raffle
items are requested. Con-
tact Rhonda Acock at 541-
571-1584, Tonja Lemmon
at 541-561-8953, Mike
Classified:
Head of Maintenance
For application instructions please visit
https://intermountain.tedk12.com/hire
Fun!
Lunch will be provided
Kids and their families welcome!
Contact Gus Peterson
augustofarmer@gmail.com or (509)438-5796
I o n e C o m m u n i t y C h u r c h
Celebration of Life
Shannon LuAnn Boor
4 7 0 E M a i n S t r e e t , I o n e
Summer worship at 10:00 AM
Benefit
Fundraiser
Fabric SALE
Wednesday, July 21
11am - 7pm
Heppner Elks Lodge
Sunday Mornings
Proceeds to help Mary Riggs
LOTS OF FABRIC! Precuts, Scraps,
“ Y o u w i l l s e e k M e a n d f i n d M e , w h e n
y o u s e a r c h f o r M e w i t h a l l y o u r h e a r t . ”
- J e r e m i a h 2 9 : 1 3
Join Us in the Search
July 29, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Heppner Elementary Gym
Fabric on bolts, Fabric yardage (solids,
calicos, vintage, outdoor, camo, western,
batiks, polka dots, Christmas, panels),
Unfinished Projects, More... $1 & $2/yard
SEWING SUPPLIES! Sewing machines,
Bobbins, Thread, Cutting Mats, Misc.
EVERYTHING MUST GO!
Questions?
Call Nancy Arnson 509-760-2291