Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 23, 2022 -- THREE
Spiritually Speaking
Reflections for Lent
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
Last Sunday, through the story of Saul and David,
we were reminded to forgive those who offend us. This
Sunday’s Gospel begins with these words of Jesus: “Can a
blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into
a pit?” (Lk. 6:39). The season of Lent is
an invitation to introspect our lives and
realize the dark spots of our lives and
turn to the light of Christ and live well.
I am sure many of you are familiar
with the term “Lent.” Lent is a season of
intense prayer, fasting and fidelity to the
word of God. Lent is a time of introspec- Fr. Thankachan
Joseph
tion. On Ash Wednesday, we read from
the Gospel of Mathew, Chapter 6, the
Lenten tasks expected of all of us. We read in the book of
Exodus the Israelites grumbling, even after the amazing
things God had done for them (Ex 17:3-7). In them, we
recognize ourselves. This is a particular time that we set
aside to work on ourselves for forty days, so we don’t end
up wandering around in the wilderness for forty years.
We do things to burn off the fat that’s weighing us down,
try to improve our spiritual diet, and do some spiritual
exercises to strengthen the muscles we call “virtues.”
Every year, as soon as the season of Lent begins,
the first question many people ask is, “What will you do
for Lent?” Some will answer, “I will give up smoking,”
or “I will give up alcoholic drinks,” or “I will give up
watching movies and TV.” Others may say, “I will go for
daily Mass,” or “I will read one chapter of the Gospels
every day.” But you who neither smoke nor drink nor
watch movies and TV, you who go for daily Mass and
read Gospels every day, for you, what is there to give up?
Some of my thoughts on that which we need to GIVE
UP to be with Christ and be like Him: (Some of you
parents may train your children in a meaningful practice
that is almost vanishing from our Christian traditions.)
1. GIVE UP grumbling. Instead, “In everything give
thanks.” 2. GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed. Instead, use
that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion. 3.
GIVE UP looking at other people’s worst points. Instead
concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. 4.
GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech
be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say
something kind and uplifting. 5. GIVE UP your hatred of
anyone or anything. Instead, learn the discipline of love.
6. GIVE UP your worries and anxieties. Instead, trust God
with them. 7. GIVE UP TV one evening a week. Instead,
visit some lonely or sick person. There are those who are
isolated by illness or age. 8. GIVE UP buying anything
but essentials for yourself. Instead, the money you would
spend on the luxuries could help someone meet basic
needs. 9. GIVE UP judging by appearances and by the
standard of the world. Instead, learn that there is only one
who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.
So, the real question of Lent is not so much, “What
will I give up for Lent?” but rather, “What do I wish to be-
come as a result of Lent?” (More Christ-like, more child-
like, more human, more understanding, more committed
to my daily routine of life and apostolate, etc....) The
Lenten season begins with the blessing of the ashes from
last year’s Palm Sunday’s palm branches and applying
the ashes on the foreheads of all the believers who attend
the services recalling how the people of God listened to
God’s prophets and took upon themselves severe fasting
and self-denial activities. On Ash Wednesday, we read
from the book of Joel; the prophet is inviting everyone
with these words: “Return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning; Rend your
hearts not your garments and return to the Lord your
God” (Joel 2: 12).
Start giving thanks in everything. Start focusing on
others’ best points. Let your speech become more gener-
ous and understanding. Learn the discipline of love. Turn
from anxiety, live today and let God’s grace be sufficient.
Visit some lonely or sick person. Spend only on essen-
tials; we are called to be stewards of God’s riches, not
consumers. Learn not to judge yourself or others. There
is only one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.
O ld T imers ’ N ighT
Thursday, March 3rd
Dinner at 6:00pm
Remembrance Walk Collins graduates
Run returns
from lineman
college
Shamrocks are in the
air and the Friends Help-
ing Friends group has an-
nounced the return of the
St. Patrick’s Day Remem-
brance Walk/Run. The an-
nual event will be held
Saturday, March 12, with
registration starting at 8:30
a.m. and taking off at 9:30.
Registration will be held
outside the United Meth-
odist Church and prereg-
istration is highly encour-
aged. To preregister, mail
your registration to Friends
Helping Friends, c/o Kathi
Dickenson, PO Box 566,
Heppner, OR 97836.
Friends Helping
Friends has been holding
the Annual Walk/Run since
2009. Each year fundrais-
ing efforts have supported
local needs. Past recipients
include Pioneer Memorial
Home Health and Hospice,
Willow Creek Terrace, Pi-
oneer Memorial Hospi-
tal, South Morrow County
Fire and EMS, communi-
ty members and clubs in
need and Pioneer Memorial
Physical Therapy. This year
the event will raise funds to
purchase mobility devices
to assist with safely trans-
ferring patients for Pioneer
Memorial Home Health and
Hospice and new equip-
ment for funeral services
for Sweeney Mortuary.
Everyone is invited to
attend the March 12 event
to walk, run and support the
community.
Bag sale scheduled
The Neighborhood
Center will be having a
bag sale on Wednesday,
March 2 from 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. at 441 N Main
Street, Heppner. Shop for
the entire family and fill
up a bag with clothing,
shoes, books, games, music
and movies. The first bag
purchased is $15 and the
second bag will be sold at
the discounted price of $5.
All other merchandise is 50
percent off this day only.
Proceeds from the sale help
fund the food pantry and
other emergency assistance
programs.
The Neighborhood
Center also has vendor
space available in their
large parking lot right on
Main Street for the Wee
Bit O’ Ireland Celebration
March 11-13 and 18-19,
2022. Available spaces are
10 by 10 ft. and 10 by 20
ft. No electricity hookup
or public restrooms are
available. Stop in to pick
up a vendor application
and reserve your spot. For
additional information or
prices for the vendor spac-
es, contact Lisa Patton at
541-676-5024.
Roy Collins completes lineman college. -Contributed photo.
Roy Collins, a 2020
Heppner High School grad-
uate, graduated Friday,
February 11, 2022, from
the North West Lineman
College in Meridian, Ida-
ho. After a very intense,
15-week curriculum, Roy
graduated with a multitude
of certificates and qualifica-
tions. After graduation Roy
was offered a job at Track
Utilities in Meridian.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Randall Peterson selected as St. Pat’s
Grand Marshal
By Bobbi Gordon
Randall Peterson, own-
er of Peterson’s Jewelers in
Heppner, has been selected
as grand marshal for this
year’s Wee Bit O’ Ireland
St. Patrick’s celebration.
The St. Patrick’s celebration
will run for two weekends
this year, from March 11
through March 19. Peterson
will preside over the Great
Green Parade to take place
on Main Street in Heppner
on March 12 at 1 p.m.
When asked how he
felt about being selected
as grand marshal, Peterson
told the Gazette, “I was
surprised and happy to be
chosen.” He continued, “I
am glad to be recognized.”
Peterson added he
didn’t know if they were
providing a special car for
him to ride in for the parade.
ALL NEWS AND
ADVERTISEMENT
DEADLINE:
Steak
Salad
Roasted Potatoes
Asparagus
Garlic Bread
Dessert
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Randall Peterson
“It would be nice to ride in
a Cadillac convertible, but
I don’t think there is one
in town.” He noted that he
is concerned about what
they have in store for him,
saying, “When people come
into the store to congratu-
late me, they have a twinkle
in their eye, so I am not sure
what they might be up to.”
The St. Patrick’s com-
mittee told the Gazette,
“Randall was selected be-
cause we felt it was time for
him. He was born here and
is an important part of our
community, both personally
and in his investment as a
business.”
Randall is well known
in town as the owner and
operator of the town’s jew-
elry store. He began work-
ing at the store when he was
10 years old, first learning
watch and clock repair from
his father. Peterson’s Jewel-
ers was founded in 1928 by
Randall’s father, John Oscar
Peterson.
According to a news
article published December
9, 1998, in the Heppner Ga-
zette-Times, years ago the
store was open until 9 p.m.
on Saturdays to accommo-
date farmers, ranchers and
their hired hands who came
to town. Saturday was a
busy day, the day most of
the watch repair work was
brought in and picked up.
Randall apprenticed
under his father, who was a
master in the jewelry trade
and noted for his engraving
by hand with a sharp steel
instrument before stainless
steel was prevalent. Randall
learned the trade, work-
ing at the family business
during high school. After
taking time to attend col-
lege at Whitman in Walla
Walla and North Idaho
College at Coeur d’ Alene
and completing a two year
stint in the Army, Randall
returned to Heppner to help
his parents in the store.
His father, J.O. passed
away in 1960, staying ac-
tive in the business until
1959, when Randall took
over operation. He and his
wife, Marlene, operated
the store together until her
passing. In 1998, Randall
said he had no plans for
retirement. The G-T article
quoted Randall as saying,
“A lot of my classmates
stop by, and many have
retired. But I don’t think I
would like it. I like to work,
and I like to keep busy.”
Obviously, Peterson
meant what he said since he
is still actively running his
store nearly a quarter of a
century later.
P ancake S uPPer
Pancakes, Ham, Fruit
Beverage
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
5pm - 7pm
Hopeful Saints Ministry
(Episcopal Church) Corner of Church and Gail St
All proceeds benefit local community needs
Adult $5, Student $4, Family $15