SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Spiritually Speaking
Advent first Sunday: Wake up
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
As we begin the new liturgical year, let me begin
with warm and prayerful wishes. May the
peace and joy of the new born Child of
Bethlehem be with you all throughout this
New Year – that is my wish and prayer
for all. Let me begin this week’s reflection
with a small quiz I used to use during my
preaching: Imagine that you are sleeping.
You are dreaming. A huge wild animal Fr. Thankachan
is chasing you. You try to run away, and Joseph
you see a tiger coming in front of you.
You turn, but every side you turn to, you find a ferocious
animal coming to attack you. How can you escape? The
answer: Wake up. This is what all the Scripture readings
of the week are trying to teach us.
Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of the
Lord. Generally, we understand this to be His coming at
Christmas, which recalls His historical birth 2000 years
ago, and His coming on the Last Day. The season of
advent reminds us of our waiting for the second coming
of Christ.
As we wait for the second coming of the Lord, the
second reading of the week is our central focus, from the
letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2).
The Thessalonians to whom Paul writes were obsessed
with the nearness of the second coming of Christ. In his
second letter to them, Paul reprimands them for giving
up work and living in idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Apparently, some of them thought that the Lord’s com-
ing was so near that there was no point in providing for
the future. Such excesses on the part of believers gave
non-believers the impression that the second coming of
Christ was a fear factor fabricated by Christian preachers
to scare people into accepting the faith. Paul’s opponents
in Thessalonica were making such claims. The enemies
of the church in Thessalonica were saying that Paul’s
teaching that Jesus would come back to take His followers
with Him was Paul’s own fabrication. To support their
case, they point out that some of the first Christians who
thought that Jesus was coming back to take them with Him
were already dead. In other words, they were deceived in
their belief. Paul’s response is that their death does not
mean that they will suffer any disadvantage when Christ
comes. At Christ’s coming, the dead will rise and, togeth-
...continued from page five
-MCSO received a
report on Wagon Wheel
Loop, in Irrigon. Caller
advised that there are two
dogs on her property, they
are described as a light
brown German shepherd
with a red halter and white
great Pyrenees puppy. She
believes they belong to the
neighbor across the street.
-MCSO received a re-
port on W Eighth Rd, in
Irrigon. Caller advised that
there are 4 to 5 hogs head-
ing north on eighth. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Blakes Ranch on Elk
Trail Ln/Blake Ranch Rd.,
in Heppner. Past the cattle
guard on Blakes Ranch, just
past Pond Rd on the right on
the other side of the creek
there is an elk that is down.
Caller is concerned this is a
game violation. Caller was
referred to OSP game unit.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Thomas Ave,
in Irrigon. Caller advised
the male at this location
threatened her with an axe
and chain saw. Male is at
the shop at this residence.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Caller advised there
is a child going around on a
homemade go cart going up
and down California.
-MCSO received a re-
port on 5309 rd. off of
Sugar Bowl Ridge out of
Heppner and there are 3
small fires going on, pos-
sibly intentionally set. She
advised there is one tree
and two stumps- they are
trying to get them out them-
selves with fire extinguish-
ers but are not sure they
can. MCSO referred the
information to John Day
Dispatch.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Rustic Truck Bar &
Grill on E Highway 730.,
in Irrigon. Older male, c/b
large cut on head. Patient
transported to GSH.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 E, in Board-
man. Red Chevy S10 with a
red canopy, swerving in the
lanes, older model.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 E, Semi truck
hitting the rumble strips and
going into the other lane
multiple times.
er with the living, they will meet the Lord in mid-air (1
Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The Gospel reading is taken from the last chapter of
Luke (21:25-28, 34-36), just before the passion narrative
in which Jesus is teaching in the Temple. We hear Jesus
speak to His disciples about the need for vigilance and
prayer as they wait for the coming of the Son of Man in
glory. This passage marks the conclusion of a lengthy
dialogue in which Jesus predicts the devastation of the
Temple in Jerusalem, cautions about the persecution and
tribulations to follow, and identifies the signs that will
signal the coming of the Son of Man in glory.
Watchfulness is the slogan of Advent. A funny anec-
dote comes to my mind to describe this particular aspect:
A drunkard went for a Sunday Mass, listening to a long
dull sermon. Feeling still hung over and tired, he finally
nodded off hoping no one will notice. The priest had been
watching him all along and at the end of the sermon he
decided to make an example out of him. “Whoever in this
room would like a place in heaven, please stand up,” he
exclaimed. The whole room stood up except, of course,
for one. Obviously displeased, the priest said loudly,
“And he who would like to find a place in hell, please
stand up.” The man, catching only the last part, sleepily
stood up, only to find that he was the only one standing
up. Confused and embarrassed, he said, “I don’t know
what we are voting on here, father, but sure seems like
you and me are the only ones standing for it.”
We have begun the season of Advent—the coming of
our Lord. Watchfulness is the keyword for this season. We
always need to be watchful for the coming of the Lord.
Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a
time of preparation, a time of great expectation and great
anticipation.
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188 W Willow, Heppner • 541-676-9228
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Road
Ione Oregon. 97843
Church Services
1st & 3rd Sundays
10:00 AM
Available for:
Weddings • Funerals
Family Events
541-422-7300
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
Old
Country
Church
All Are
Welcome
$750,000
Owner/Broker David Sykes
188 W. Willow
P.O. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
Sheriff’s Report
November 8: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on High-
way I 84 E, in Boardman
of MVA. Grey SUV was
on its side at the median at
this location
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Caller advised that
a white dodge pickup drove
by revving his engine. Call-
er states that they do this
every day, and it shakes
his whole house. They are
currently headed towards
division.
-MCSO received a re-
port at United States Post
Office on N Main St., in
Heppner. Grey and white
dog running around by the
Taco’s hometown truck ..
-MCSO received a
report at Se Division St/
Se Kristen Dr, in Irrigon.
Caller advised there is a
SUV parked on the walk
path near this location.
Caller believes a Honda
but unknown color. MCSO
responded; vehicle has been
moved.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Highway 74, in
Heppner. Vehicle spun out
in front of deputy. Matthew,
Felix Maurico was issued
citation for fail to carry
proof of insurance and care-
less driving and was issued
a warning failure to carry
and present.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Se Utah Ave, in
Irrigon. Red dodge pickup
sped towards tenth street.
Caller advised it is a diesel
pickup.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Shell Station
on E Highway 730., in Irri-
gon. Caller advised that his
debit card was stolen from
the Shell. Last seen on Fri-
day. Caller is also missing
money out of a bank ac-
count. Under investigation.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Ritter Rd/Potato
Hill, Two snags on fire with
a lot of embers that they are
trying to keep contained,
won’t be reachable with a
regular vehicle will need
off road vehicle. MCSO
advised, referred to USFS.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Lewis And Clark
Dr/Highway 730, in Board-
man. Caller advised there is
a large tire in the road.
Do You Have Something to Share?
david@sykesrealestate.net
November 9: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a request for ex-
tra patrol on McCall Lane
in Irrigon for suspicious
activity.
--MCSO received a
report of power out in Pond
Drive in Heppner. The call-
er reported that he was on
oxygen and was unable to
take oxygen from his tank.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a small white Hon-
da parked in front of the
reporter’s house..
-MCSO received a
report of a Fedex driv-
er almost running the red
lights on a school bus in
on California & Division
in Irrigon. Extra patrol was
requested.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a fire alarm coming
from the gym area at River-
side High School in Board-
man. It was a false alarm.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a subject, possibly
a transient, waiting to go
through the garbage at the
Bank of Eastern Oregon
in Heppner. An officer was
unable to locate the subject.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a gold Honda Ac-
cord at the Irrigon Shell
station that drove off with-
out paying for $26 in fuel.
-MCSO received a re-
port from a subject on Es-
tate Loop in Irrigon who
reported a goat in his yard.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a juvenile complaint
at A.C. Houghton Elemen-
tary in Irrigon.
-MCSO received a re-
port from a subject who
said her friend hit her car by
accident and now doesn’t
want to pay for it.
-MCSO received a
report from a subject in
Boardman who requested
contact regarding fraud.
Subject said her daughter
was abducted and she paid
$5,000 through wire trans-
mission.
ALL NEWS AND
ADVERTISEMENT
DEADLINE:
541-980-6674
$235,000
INVESTMENT PROPERTY
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515 E COWINS ST Heppner
$365,000
INVESTMENT PROPERTY
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$300,000
A classic beauty in Heppner. From the front sitting room thru
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Call for an appointment to see this!
195 N GALE ST Heppner
Brand new two unit duplex. Two total units with 3 bedrooms
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DELBERT ST Ione
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You've always wanted the white picket fence house. Well here
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340 E HILL ST Heppner
Buyer Agent Services
Buying a home in a For Sale By Owner can be complicated. I would like to help
you through all the details involved in the purchase. I can handle Negotiations,
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I can also work as a Seller’s Agent on the sale of your property.
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David Sykes • Sykes Real Estate
Licensed Oregon Principal Broker
541-980-6674 Cell (call or text) • 541-676-9228 Office
david@rapidserve.net
188 W. Willow St • Heppner, OR 97836
Broker license: 990400057 • Real Estate Business license: 201106044
I Have Buyers Looking!
I have buyers looking for homes in the Heppner, Lexington and Ione area.
Now is the time to sell! Call, text or email me.
$230,000
SOLD!
50.61 Acres in the country with 3 bedroom, 2 bath
1976 mobile home. Has a good well and newer septic
system. It is partially electric fenced now for horses.
Tired of neighbors or city living, this is the place for you
(ultimate in social distancing). Sale would need to be a
cash. Owner says property qualifies for LOP tags. Call
me to schedule a showing.
68354 BERGSTROM LN Heppner
$165,000
SOLD!
Completely remodeled 3 bedroom 2 bath 1975 double-
wide mobile home now being used as Airbnb. Inside is
immaculate. Entire home has been redone. New fur-
nace less than one year old. Continue using as an Airb-
nb (financial data will be provided to serious buyers)
or buy as a home to live in. Great view of the city and
valley. Nice landscaping. Furnishing and appliances
available separately.
233 Linden Way Heppner
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Information deemed correct
not guaranteed