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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 15, 2021 -- THREE Spiritually Speaking Let us see your face, we shall be saved By Fr. Thankachan Joseph We might sometimes feel that if only we had been there when Christ was born, we would have been so fortunate, and at times we have doubts and wish we could see God and be reassured in our faith. So, Sun- day’s response psalm voices our plea: “Lord make us turn to you; Lord let us see your face and we shall be saved.” The Fr. Thankachan Lord is coming. Are we ready to see him, Joseph meet him, hear him? The prophet Micah (5:1-4a), who came from Beth- lehem, a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, preached the message of repentance, asking the people to turn away from their sins. Micah reminds the people that the Messiah will not come from the sophisticated well- known city of Jerusalem. Its people were too hardened, their kings had been oppressing the people, and the pres- ent kings were no good. He points out that the Messiah will come from the small town of Bethlehem: “Oh Beth- lehem, you who are one of the little clans of Judea, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule Israel.” Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and this town had no importance at that time but had ancient ties to the dynasty of Jesse and his son David. Micah makes the God’s great promise to His people. Between that promise and its fulfillment was a long time of waiting. Only those who waited in hope saw that promise fulfilled. As believers, we want to draw close to God, want to experience God, and we pray that we might encounter Him. We have our expectations of how God should come into our lives, but God has His own way. That He will come into our world is certain, but will we encounter Him? Perhaps we have to abandon our “Jerusalem” and look for little unknown Bethlehem, abandon our plans and wait in hope for His coming. Have I seen Jesus on the street where I live? Perhaps He does live there, but only with eyes of faith can we recognize Him. From the Letter to the Hebrews (10:5-10), we read, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocaust and sin offerings you took no delight. Behold I come to do your will of God” (5-6). What He desires from us is our willingness to be obedient to Him and His statutes so that our sins might be forgiven, and He might come into our lives. To prepare for His coming, we have to repent, turn away from our sins, and turn to God. Often, we create barriers to His coming into our lives. If we stick to our old ways, to our sinful habits and prejudices, we will not hear His call when He knocks at the doors of our hearts. The Gospel of Luke (1:39-45) tells of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, to assist her in her pregnancy. We are told that through Mary, God kept that promise announced a long time ago through the prophet Micah. Important is not only that God came into her life, but that she recognized His coming. As Mary enters Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth beholds with eyes of faith the coming of the Lord into her life. Mary could just be a younger cousin on a social visit that happens to come when Eliz- abeth needs help. But Elizabeth sees God’s hand and the Lord’s presence in what is happening. “Why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” At Christmas, God keeps His promise, that Promise One is named Jesus, revealed to all who have faith and fulfilled in all who have love. We will only recognize the face of Jesus when we have love in our hearts, for God and for our neighbor. We might look for God in the high and mighty, yet He might be hidden in the small, the sick, the senile, the simple and the socially outcast. On Christmas we remember the magnanimity of God, who shared His only son with humanity, a little babe bringing peace, joy and happiness to a suffering humanity. Just as the Father shared His Son with us and dispelled our gloom, sin, shame and suffering, so, too, we are called to dispel the gloom, suffering and shame of others. We have a beautiful example in Mary, who reaches out to the needy, who prepared herself for the first Christmas by sharing her joy with her cousin Elizabeth. We, too, can thus prepare for Christmas, as the miracle of Christmas is the miracle of sharing and reaching out. Tom & Jerry Party December 17th 5:00 pm Steak Dinner 6:30 pm Music School board to proceed with bond issue By April Hilton-Sykes The Morrow County School Board, at their Mon- day night meeting at Hep- pner Elementary School, voted to proceed with plans to put up a bond issue for construction and refurbish- ing district schools. The board chose a middle of the road plan and intends to present it to voters in February of 2022. The middle option which specifies a bond amount of $138 million with a $2.67 tax rate calls for: 1) Educational needs-modernizing learn- ing environments and ad- ministration area, improve technology and add ADA Improvements. 2) Safety and Secu- rity-securing entry vesti- bules, card access control, fire sprinkler upgrades and adding cameras. 3) Building system up- grades-heating, ventilation, electrical and plumbing-ad- dresses most urgent needs and replaces some aging equipment; 4) Traffic Flow and Parking Improvements at Sam Boardman Elemen- tary, Heppner, Jr./Sr. High School, Irrigon Elementary and Irrigon Jr./Sr. High School; 4) Athletics and Activ- ities-a full gym, locker and wrestling room at Riverside Jr./Sr. High School, a full gym and locker room at Irrigon Jr./Sr. High School and an auxiliary gym and locker room at Heppner Jr./ Sr. High School. 5) Boardman Capaci- ty-Four elementary class- rooms and four junior/se- nior classrooms. Boardman schools currently have room for 276 more students. A lower and a higher bond amount were also presented, with the lower at $105 million and a $2.03 tax rate which includes: the educational needs and safety and security op- tions, addresses most urgent needs in building system upgrades, makes traffic flow improvements at SBE, HJSHS and IES, provides auxiliary gyms at RJSHS, IJSHS and HJSHS, but does not include added capacity for Boardman Schools. The higher option, at $154,000,000 with a $2.99 tax rate, includes the edu- cational needs, safety and security options; major system upgrades and re- placements; traffic flow and parking improvements at SBE, HJSHS, Irrigon Elementary, IJSHS and A.C. Houghton Elementa- ry; a full gym, locker and wrestling room at RJSHS, a full gym and locker room at IJSHS, and an auxiliary gym and locker room at HJSHS; eight elementary classrooms and four junior/ senior classrooms at Board- man schools. A graph of levy rates of surrounding districts places the Hermiston School Dis- trict the highest at nearly $3.50; Pendleton School District at a little over $2; Athena-Weston and Con- don at around $1.75; and Umatilla at nearly $1. Mor- row County School District was one of the lowest, along with North Wasco School District, Ukiah SD, South Wasco County SD, Arling- ton SD, Black Butte SD and Ashwood SD. Superintendent Dirk Dirksen told the board that the first order of business was to recruit members for a screening committee. He suggested a board of around 15-20 people from the three different commu- nities, Boardman, Irrigon and Heppner areas. Concerning growth in the three areas, Dirksen reported that Boardman schools gained 33 students over the past year. He said he had expected that area to have gained more students this year. He presented the fol- lowing enrollment report for December: A.C. Houghton Elementary, Irrigon-217; Sam Boardman Elementa- ry, Boardman-334; Heppner Elementary-176; Irrigon Elementary-249; Windy River Elementary, Board- man-249; Heppner Jr./Sr. High School-162; Irrigon Jr./Sr. High School-371; Riverside Jr./Sr. High School, Boardman-488; Morrow Education Center, Irrigon-76; Total-2,254. Boardman area schools gained 33 students from 1,038 in December of 2020 to 1,071 in December 2021; Heppner schools gained 27 students from 311 in December 2020 to 338 in 2021; Irrigon schools gained 10 students from 759 in 2020 to 769 in 2021; the Morrow Education Cen- ter lost 46 students, from 122 in 2020 to 76 in 2021; the district gained 24 stu- dents from 2,230 in 2020 to 2,254 in 2021. Dirksen reported that the district has started re- ceiving taxes for the cur- rent year and said, “They are coming in higher” than budgeted. Total reve- nue for 2021-2022 shows $32,187,062 in total re- sources, $23,325,543 in r e v e n u e y e a r- t o - d a t e , $9,422,589 anticipated, for a total of $32,748,132. Concerning Superin- tendent Dirksen’s retire- ment at the end of the school year and the upcoming superintendent search, the board received a superin- tendent salary comparison by region. Dirksen said that he would stay on, if necessary to assist with the bond issue. In other business, the board: -heard a presentation by Andrea Perry-Nelson, on the STEM classrooms. -heard a presentation by students attending the FFA convention. -approved the follow- ing employment action Elks Members and Guests only HEPPNER ELKS 358 "WHERE FRIENDS MEET" 541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST Public Comment at Board Meetings-rescinded, Public Comment at Board Meet- ings, Compliance and Re- porting on Standards, GBE Equal Employment Oppor- tunity, Workplace Harass- ment, Suspected Sexual Conduct with Students and Reporting Requirements, Suspected Abuse of a Child Reporting Requirements, Instruction Goals, Freedom of Expression, Alternative Education Programs, Bilin- gual Education, Instruction- al Resources-Instructional Materials, School Counsel- ing Program, Assessment Program, Equal Education Opportunity, Educational Equity, admission of Non- resident Students, Student Conduct, Hazing-Harass- ment-Intimidation-Bully- ing-Menacing Cyberbully- ing-Teen Dating Violence or Domestic Violence-Stu- dent, Weapons in Schools, Suspected Abuse of a Child Reporting Requirements and Suspected Sexual Con- duct with Students and Reporting Requirements. -adopted new, revised or rescinded ARs on Dis- crimination Complain Pro- cedure, Public Comment at Board Meetings, Suspected Sexual Conduct Report Procedures and Forms, Hazing, Harassment, In- timidation, Bullying, Men- acing or Cyber Bullying Report Procedures-Staff, Suspected Sexual Con- duct Report Procedures and Form, Reporting of Sus- pended Abuse of a Child, Reporting of Suspected Abuse of a Child, and Re- porting of Suspected Abuse of a Child. -heard the following announcements: winter break from December 17-January 2; board work session January 10, 6 p.m. at the North District Office/ Morrow Education Center, Irrigon; next board meeting, Monday, January 10, 7 p.m. at the North District Office. Ch r i s t m a s a t I o ne C o m m u n i t y C h u r c h 4 7 0 E M a i n S t r e e t , I o n e , O r e g o n Church School & Adult Study at 10:00 am Advent Worship at 11:00 AM with Lighting of the Advent Candles each Sunday until Christmas. Children’s Christmas Program Dec. 12th as a part of morning worship –with potluck following. Christmas Candlelight Worship Christmas Eve – Dec. 24th at 7:00 pm. Send out your Christmas wishes to your customers and the community! The Heppner Gazette-Times will publish our special Holiday edition on December 22nd. The Christmas section will be full color and is a great way to thank your customers for their support throughout the year. Contact Giselle at the Heppner Gazette-Times for more information on how to have your advertisement included. Deadline for the December 22nd issue is Monday, December 20th at 5pm Pastors Invited to Submit Christmas Messages The Heppner Gazette-Times will publish Christmas messages from area pastors on Wednesday, December 22nd The deadline to submit messages is Monday, December 20th at 5 p.m. for December: resigna- tions-Briggete Campos, IJSHS CARE coordinator, November 17, 2021, Tina Crowell, RJSHS assistant cheerleading coach, Tay- lor Davis, IJSHS junior high assistant girls’ basket- ball coach, Jason Dunten, IJSHS assistant high school football coach, Rhonda Fox-Brennan, RJSHS ju- nior high head volleyball coach and DART/TAG coordinator, Bruce Krug, IJSHS special education teacher, January 30, 2022, Eric Solis, IJSHS ed assis- tant and junior high head football coach, December 16, 2021, Hilaree Vander- pas, RJSHS junior high assistant girls’ basketball coach; employment/pro- motions/transfers-Angela Hanson, HJSHS ed as- sistant, Mariah Stephens, HJSHS library tech; extra duty contracts-Ken Grieb, HJSHS c-team boys’ bas- ketball coach, Michael Hughes, RJSHS head golf coach, Kacee Lathrop, HJSHS junior high head girls’ basketball coach, Dan Locey, IJSHS temporary high school assistant boys’ basketball coach, Gustavo Madrigal, RJSHS assis- tant high School wrestling coach, Richole Osborne, IJSHS head tennis coach, Paulina Pena, RJSHS as- sistant junior high girls’ basketball coach, Albert Phillips, IJSHS C-team boys’ basketball coach, and Teiko Villegas, RJSHS junior high head girls’ bas- ketball coach. -approved the follow- ing for the first reading of rescinded, new or revised policies: All Students Be- long-rescinded, All Stu- dents Belong, Bidding Re- quirements and Graduation Requirements. -adopted rescinded, new or revised policies on Nondiscrimination, In- dividual Board Members’ Authority and Responsi- bilities, Board Meetings, graphics@rapidserve.net ● heppner.net 541-676-9228 ● 188 W Willow St., Heppner Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Morrow County Veterans Services 541-922-6420 Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228
