2024 Newsettes

Dear faith family, 

Ready or not when you get this newsletter, we will be in another Advent season! I have found calling this season the Advent season causes me to prepare much better for Christmas. To become the person we are called to be in Christ takes a planned and purposeful effort. Becoming grounded in the Word and the truths therein revealed by the Spirit of God allows us to know what our role is. To bring joy to a friend who may be struggling with loss, or perhaps presenting peace in an appealing way to those who feel lost in the chaos and harmony to a world that has become so dysfunctional. These are some of the greatest gifts we may give to all people we meet.

Have we considered the colors so prevalent this time of year? White snow, clean and pure, and yet a color of no warmth or depth. Gold and silver that shine and reflect light as they remind us of the sun, moon and stars. Green, the color of the needles on the tree, tells us the story of life. When we see new green on the trees and grass, we recognize new life repeating itself. Red, the color of blood—without it there would be no life. For Christians, followers of Jesus, we are given new life as we have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. All these colors when combined bring us great comfort. Isn’t this what all mankind desires and strives for?

This Advent season let us together look for the true Comforter, the Christ Child given in order that we may find peace with God. Our Heavenly Father’s greatest desire is to bring a lost world back to Himself and He offered it with a child. Ultimately, this story comes to completion as the Christ Child rises from death to claim eternal life for all on Easter Sunday. What greater gift might we share than this with our family and friends?

I would like to encourage each of us to read the story of Jesus’s birth again this season, to prayerfully look for a new understanding and self-awareness of how this event brings us new life. I plan on reading it several times in many styles of writing. The Bible, children’s books and daily devotions give great accounts of this miracle.

In Luke 1 we find a beautiful account of Christ’s birth. Let’s read it together:

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, 33 and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 2:1-20

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of    

David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

These are great verses and the characters brought to life are so vivid. Which person are we in this story? We are to live out this proclamation every day by becoming what God calls us to be: a shining light on a hill for all to see.

Your Brother in Christ, Archie  

   Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for the encouragement, cards, and food that you provided during Fred’s illness and passing. Especially thank you for bringing him milkshakes! Most importantly, thank you for your prayers on our behalf. I really don’t know how I could have made it through without them. I felt them, and they are so important to me. I felt calm and I know it was from God. 

Love, Debby Riggle

THANK YOU! to all who donated to Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes. We filled and delivered 84 boxes! That was awesome. Thank you to CWF for contributing $700 towards the shipping of the boxes.  Private donations covered $90 more of the suggested $10 per box. It's exciting to think that 84 children will feel the love of Jesus through your gifts and the gospel message they will receive with each box. Please pray for those who will receive our boxes, as well as for those who will travel to deliver them.

Bless you,

Carolynn

Have you checked out the make-over in Archie’s office? A HUGE thank you to Mandy Treanor for her many hours of scraping wallpaper and glue, painting, and decorating! And also her crew: Leslie Hasse and Randy Treanor. You are all incredible and it looks fantastic!    

WOW, can you believe that we are about to bring the year 2023 to an end! It has been a busy year for many of us, especially the past of couple months. And now we hurtle into the Christmas season.

Before we ring in the new year, with our new officers and committee chairs, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank those who have given of their time and talents this past year. We are all so appreciative of your service!

2023 Church Officers

Vice Moderator – Mandy Treanor  Clerk of the Congregation – Carol Haddock

Treasurer – Ginger Webster  Asst. Treasurer – Barb Minge

Financial Secretary – Kari Baybado  Asst. Financial Secretary – Ladella Wood

Trustees – Carolynn Vaughan  Historian – Karen Campbell

Ladella Wood

Hank Hudson

2023 Committee Chairs

CWF President – Barb Malone  Diaconate Chair – Ginger Webster

Education – Sharon Hohstadt  Elder Chair- Cheryl Hudson

Finance – Kari Baybado  Local Outreach – Kari Baybado & Stephanie Bare

Membership – Linda Minnich  Property – Randy Treanor

World Outreach – Cheryl Hudson  Worship Committee – Lori Van Leuven

Staff Relations – Jan Matson

Finally, I would like to thank our Administrative Assistant Brenda. Brenda has had big shoes to fill, in this, her first year with us, and I think you would all agree that she has been AMAZING! Not only is Brenda a quick learner and highly organized, but her love of God, the members of this congregation, and for everyone with whom she interacts shines through in all she does.

If you have an opportunity in the next few weeks, please thank these special people that God has placed in our lives.

Stacy Webster, Moderator

Little Red Wagon Sunday will be December 3. Please bring cans of soup for the winter months. Thank you so much!

Gift baskets and sweet pickles are still available for purchase in the narthex. 

CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

All women of the church are invited to usher in the Christmas season Wednesday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m. with a musical program: “Christ Is Born . . . The Angels Sing.” A potluck appetizer light meal will follow in the narthex. 

Our CWF offering that evening will be: Women’s and Men’s Socks.

Please mark your calendar and invite a friend as we share together!

The Fall Bazaar has brought in $3,402 so far! Thank you for all your donations of items, time, and purchases!

PRAYER REQUESTS

At the beginning of the year in January, the names and concerns on the “Continue to Pray for” and “Cancer Treatments” lists will be removed for a fresh list to begin. If there is a person you would like to remain on the list, please let Brenda know.

If you are not receiving Prayer Warrior e-mails and would like to commit to praying for specific needs as they come to our attention, please let Brenda know and she’ll add you to the list. It is such a privilege to pray for one another!

We received a payment of$59.50 for returning used laser-jet print cartridges to EmptiesforCash!  Bring your spent cartridges to the box in the hallway by the drinking fountain for this simple way to bring some funds in! :)

  HOLIDAY DINNER

 December 3

After the Worship Service

Salad & Dessert Potluck

CWF will provide ham, potatoes, and drinks

CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

MUSICAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 

 “Christ Is Born . . . The Angels Sing” 

 December 6 at 5:30 p.m. 

 Potluck Appetizer Light Meal  

 Offering: Women’s & Men’s Socks 

 Bring a friend!  

 CHRISTMAS EVE 

 Please join us for: 

 10:00 a.m. Ecumenical  

 and 

 Night Service 6 p.m. 

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

This gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh, who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:2-4

   Did you know that the church library is packed full of Christmas season stories? If you want to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit in your reading, this is a FREE resource for you! 

To name a few:

The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

Find these on the rack in the narthex in front of the bookshelves.  

  Dear faith family, 

Thought I would bring you some good news as we start this new month. Upon receiving this newsletter, we will have 13 weeks until Christmas! I would love to have seen your faces as you read this valuable piece of information.

This month we will be looking at the teachings of Jesus. He mostly used parables to teach His disciples and others. We might ask, why not just teach the facts as written in the Torah? In my mind, the answer is simply this: they knew the letter of the law, but not the intent of the law as presented by God. We, like the Jews, find it so easy to become legalistic in our understanding of religion and then to become judgmental of others. God’s law is designed to bring us back to God and not drive us away, as we come to understand our sin and our inability to reconcile ourselves back to Him on our own. Only God can do that.

In the book of Psalms, we find our Heavenly Father calling us back to Himself. King David repeatedly finds himself and his people in trouble as they have wandered from the truth. Look at Psalm 46:10 for example:

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

For myself, I find if I do not become quiet and still, I cannot hear God calling. When I concentrate on the storms and chaos of the world, I cannot hear His voice. This is why I started the letter out with the announcement of 13 weeks until Christmas. We are to be the still, small voice reflecting God in the wilderness. Shall we together join God and bring peace and hope to the world? Not the whole world, for it is too big, but finding our purpose here in this place will bring clarity with direction.

Only those called by God will be able to understand His word. It is not our place to judge who has been called and who has not. It is our responsibility to present Jesus in clear, concise language that may be understood by those God will and has placed in our path. Some will hear and some will not.

Our first parable to study this month will be in the book of Matthew about the wedding feast.

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

I would invite you to take a look at this parable before this coming Sunday.

Happy fall!

Your Brother in Christ,

Archie

   Dear pastors and church leaders,

On behalf of our Region’s Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Team, I urge you to promote the Reconciliation Offering vigorously, September 24 - October 1.

In the Foreword of “Forward Together – A Moral Message for the Nation,” Dr. William J. Barber II talks about three Reconstruction periods in our history:

“What are these three Reconstructions? … “After most of our great-great-great-grandparents were liberated from slavery in 1865, there was a short period of the First Reconstruction in the South. A coalition of faith-based progressives and ordinary white tenant farmers and workers joined freed African Americans in a wildly hopeful effort known as the Fusion political movement in late 19th century North Carolina. They succeeded in a hard-won push to build public schools, roads, and hospitals, and to move talented African American leaders into elected office and leadership positions of all kinds.”

Barber tells about the white backlash and rigid apartheid system that resulted and was in place until 1954 when the NAACP’s court victory resulted in Brown vs. the Board of Education, overturning separate but equal schools. The next years, throughout the 1960s, Barber calls the Second Reconstruction period. He then says:

“We believe we are now in a period of the Third Reconstruction, our 21st-century wave of popular revolt against regressive extremism that has squelched economic human rights. … People are suffering greatly in this era when jobs disappear to the lowest global bidder and the social safety net is seen as a crutch for the undeserving.”

This was written in 2012-2014. Think of what’s happened since then! I thought that we “took care of all that” in the 1960s, and that our Reconciliation funds were mostly needed in parts of the south and large cities. The years since this book was written have opened my blind eyes to the racism that surrounds us. Even the history of the Oregon Territory is shocking, about the treatment of non-white people.

Last year, our committee hosted “Tulsa Talks,” using speeches from the March 2022 Kirkpatrick Lectures sponsored by the Disciples Historical Society. The talks focused on our church’s history with Hispanic, Asian, indigenous, and Black Americans in the US. In each case, a General Church leader from the appropriate group joined the online discussion after the lecture.

In 2023—2024, our focus is Anti-Racism training for pastors and leaders; the training is open to all. I will benefit greatly through this process. I try to be open-minded and look on the heart of God’s children, and I think that I usually succeed. But just when I feel good about my progress, I say or do something that makes me realize that I have a long way to go.

Please promote the Reconciliation Offering, Sept. 24 – Oct. 1. Half of our region’s offering stays here, and half funds the church-wide effort. We need to show the love of Jesus throughout our communities.

Thanks,

Cheryl Hudson – Regional Elder; La Grande, Oregon First Christian Church board member; member of the Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Team for Oregon & SW Idaho 

  Food is always needed for the Little Red Wagon donation to the Neighbors Together Food Bank. In addition to regular giving, the highlighted offering for Sunday, October 3, will be cans of veggies. Thank you for blessing our community!

Our congregation will once again be supporting the Children’s Backpack Program for Union County. Donation list suggestions are by the green collection basket in the front hallway. Hunger never ends! 

Thank you!

The Christian Women's Fellowship (CWF) will meet on Wednesday, Oct 4, at 11:00 a.m. at the church. A potluck lunch will follow the meeting. Bath-size dial soap will be collected for donation to the warming station. Noodle making will be on Thursdays Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 from 9: a.m. to noon.

The Church Nominating Committee will soon be preparing a slate of officers for the 2024 calendar year. Members of the Nominating Committee are:

Sharon Hohstadt – Chairperson

Kari Baybado

Hank Hudson

Larry Knape

Lindy Knape

According to our Church Constitution, officers are elected for one-year terms, but may serve 3 consecutive one-year terms (with the exception of Trustees, Elders and Diaconate).

It is my hope that if you are contacted by the Nominating Committee, you will prayerfully consider the importance of your service to this church for the coming year.

Church Officers to Be Elected

Moderator of Congregation Trustees

 (3 yr. term)

Vice Moderator Elders (3 yr. term)

Clerk of Congregation Diaconate 

(3 yr. term)

Financial Secretary

Assist. Financial Secretary

Treasurer

Assist. Treasurer

Historian

This month, for our Fifth Sunday, we will have FAVORITE VERSE SUNDAY. To prepare, please write down your favorite verse and put it in the basket in the narthex prior to October 29.

WORD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Ecumenical Service

 October 8 10 a.m.

Presbyterian Church

 Note: no service at First Christian

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST!  

Methodist Church Parking Lot  

2nd Saturday of the month   

October 14    

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.    

Suggested $10 donation to cover food costs.  

Invite friends, family, and neighbors!  

CWF NOODLE MAKING

9 a.m. to noon 

October 5, 12, 19, and 26

ALL-CHURCH PLANNING DAY  

9 a.m.  

October 21

BINGO!  

2 to 4 p.m.

  October 21   

YOUTH FOR CHRIST TACO FEED

4 to 6 p.m. Tickets: www.eoyfc.org 

October 21 

FIFTH SUNDAY

 Favorite Verse Sunday

 October 29

He is the One you should praise; He is your God, the One who has done these great and awesome things for you that you have seen. 

Deuteronomy 10:21

“He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal.”

--Charles Spurgeon

  The Parables of Jesus is an exceptional collection compiled in 1931 by S. Parkes Cadman, who was at the time pastor of the Central Church of Brooklyn, New York, and radio minister of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. His traditional religious approach and innovative organization of the works presents the timeless spiritual wisdom of Jesus Christ in a format accessible to all.

Dr. Cadman divided the twenty-nine parables in this compilation—often grouping together those that “present the same truth under different forms”—into three distinct categories: Parables of the Kingdom, Parables Illustrating the Grace of God, and Parables of Moral Instruction and Warning. Each parable is first printed using Jesus’s biblical words, appearing on a left-hand page. On the facing page, Dr. Cadman offers a discussion and interpretation of the story and its meaning.

The spirit of these words is made even more beautiful in this book by the inclusion of eight full-color paintings by the great American illustrator N. C. Wyeth.

As Pastor Archie delves into Jesus’s parables in his messages this month, what a great resource this book from our church library is! Check it out!

 Blessings to all,

This month of August, I would like us to explore our relationship with the Spirit of God. Here at the church, we have conversations of God and the Son and the Holy Spirit and their roles in our personal lives as well as in our church life. My first question to myself is simply this: Is there a difference in my personal life and church life?
Have we considered this question? To ask God: What is my life to You? How might You, Father, see my purpose in serving You? If I were a piece of a jig saw puzzle, where would I fit? Often these questions seem unanswered. I believe we struggle hearing God as He answers our prayers.

So, what is the solution?—not to imply that there is one solution for all people, for we are all different. We are all different in the way we communicate, understand and then act as we become aware of God’s response. If we look at the disciples Jesus chose to follow Him, we find a very diverse group of people. Meeting every person where they are and starting a relationship at that place speaks of each person’s value to Him.

Listening to the written Word of God is the key. If we only choose to read the words, we will miss the vital moments of connection He desires. By finding ourselves on the pages of Spirit-inspired truth, we find purpose.

In Matthew we find a simple set of directions:
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

What I find in this Scripture, given directly from Jesus, is this: We need to be specific in our search of truth. Let us together come to know the Spirit of God as He wants to be known. Completely.

Your Brother in Christ, Arhcie 

  By Oswald Chambers

Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." —1 Samuel 3:10

Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, “You are My friends…” (John 15:14). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have spoken to us.

The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me 

(see John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time 

(Continued…)

(Devotion of Hearing continued…)

through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things— things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God’s voice today?

 Food needs in our community continue during the  summer months. For Sunday, August 13, the highlighted offering will be cans of fruit and fruit cups for the Neighbor’s Together Food Bank! Please bring a can/package or two for the Little Red Wagon! It is a joy to witness your generosity!

DOC General Assembly

Cheryl Hudson will be attending the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Louisville, Kentucky that’s being held July 29 – August 1 . This is a convention that takes place every two years with Disciples from all over the USA and Canada. Cheryl will be the voting delegate for our congregation. She will be rooming with her sister, Sharon Nichols, who lives in the Seattle area. They will also be singing in the choir together.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

The Christian Women’s Fellowship will have an Executive Meeting on August 23 at 10:30 a.m.

INTERIM MINISTER

The Regional Personnel Committee, chaired by Moderator-elect Rev. Sandy Berry, assisted the Regional Board in the process of selecting Rev. Karen Renee Johnson Bridwell as Interim Minister, beginning August 18.

**There will not be an Elders meeting in August. Stay tuned for information about an Elders Retreat!

General Board members are all chairs, elders, and the diaconate. The meeting in August is subject to change. Please look for announcements as to the date of the next meeting, but tentatively pencil it in for August 27!

Regional Church Offering Summer Camp in Both Idaho and Oregon

Grades 6-12, August 7-11, Suttle Lake, Oregon

For more information, go to www.oidisciples.org.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

Romans 8:26-27

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

“The more the wind rages the more you feel that the anchor holds you.”

--Charles Spurgeon

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

--John Piper

Staying Happy in an Unhappy World is a book in our church library of hope for those who suffer from burn-out or breakdown. And because Marie Chapian includes preventative measures, it is a valuable tool for you who want to avoid emotional problems. She shows you that the secret to improving your emotional and mental well-being is self-discovery, which she teaches through many intriguing methods. These include Scripture, quizzes, questions, and exercises. Chapian offers simple, yet potentially life-transforming, steps to overcome hurts, depression, and stress in order to find and keep happiness.

Check out this book from our church library and see what you think!

FIFTH SUNDAY HYMN-SING

JULY 30   10:0 a.m.

Worship in the Park

Riverside Pavilion

August 6

 10 a.m. to beat the heat!

Potluck Picnic to follow

Join us for Bunco!

August 19

2 – 4 p.m.

Sign-up will be in the narthex 

DWM Women’s Retreat

August 25-27

Cascade, Idaho

Keynote Speaker: Kim Free

Register by 8/4 at www.oidisciples.org/women

The Christian Women’s Fellowship Rummage Sale was a great success this year! $1,961.10 was earned from the Rummage Sale and $405 was earned from the plants and baked goods sale for Cove Christian Camp. Thank you SO MUCH to all who helped and donated!

Remember Me Project

Christian Women’s Fellowship has received a grant for $500 to assist with Shelter from the Storm in Island City. A need was identified for a new cell phone to use for the shelter’s hotline and subsidy for the hourly wages of the person who answers the phone. Before Covid, the hotline was answered by volunteers. This grant will allow for a dedicated number for the hotline. In addition to the $500 grant funds, a case of over 100 large bars of soap was sent to the church to give to the shelter. The women of CWF have also collected soap for the shelter.

Dana Musgrove is moving to Meridian, Idaho in June. Please join us in the narthex following worship on June 4th to thank her for years of service to the church and wish her well on her next adventure!  

Please plan on joining us for a SPECIAL SNACK FELLOWSHIP HOUR after church on June 18 to honor our fathers!

Cathy and Doug’s Service of Transition

July 15, 2023

1 p.m.

Portland First Christian Church

Ecumenical Worship in the Park

July 16, 2023

Riverside Park

We have an incredible resource of books here at First Christian Church. I want to encourage each of you to take advantage of all the books and movies available for check-out. This month, I’d like to highlight the book Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver. 

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter:

Perhaps the most comforting thing I learned as I worked on that book was that none of us has it all together. Even on our best days and with our best intentions, we all eventually blow it. We start out operating in our gifts and talents—excited to be serving the Messiah—only to have our efforts morph into a full-blown pity party when we don’t get enough help, or we aren’t appreciated, or someone else gets the attention we know we deserve.

But what stood out the most to me was the fact that when Jesus scolded Martha about her busyness, He wasn’t condemning her efficiency and hard work or her can-do personality. He wasn’t telling her she had to be just like Mary to please Him. Jesus simply didn’t want Martha to be so caught up in kitchen service for Him that she missed out on the joy of living-room intimacy with Him (page 3).

You can find this inspiring book in the church library! Check it out! 

Christopher Cook received the VALUES IN ACTION award, given to just one employee a year by Providence Willamette Falls in Oregon City. Attributes honored by this award are: compassion, dignity, justice, excellence, and integrity. Congratulations to Christopher, and to his proud mama, Shirley Cook!

Andrew Ray Hudson of Portland, Oregon; Sarasota, Florida; and Elkhart, Indiana; was honored during the Commencement Service of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, on April 29, 2023. He also received a Commendation in Garden Leadership from the Academic Dean. He anticipates completing his Master of Divinity with a major in Pastoral Ministry in December 2023. Hudson is developing a ministry of helping congregations grow in their sense of sacred belonging to place and land, drawing especially on biblical wisdom to do so. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Reed College in Portland. His parents are Hank and Cheryl Hudson of La Grande, Oregon, and he has an adult son. 

THERE WILL NOT BE AN ELDERS MEEING IN JUNE. On the first Sunday of the month, the elder is encouraged to consult with Pastor Archie about how the Food Bank Wagon Prayer should occur in the service.

 The Board of Trustees are members of our Congregation who act as agents of the church in all legal transactions related to supervision of all insurance and endowment trust funds. They annually review scholarships and any student loan applications and award the money under the established guidelines for each fund. They also perform each duty as required by the Bylaws of the State of Oregon. The Chairperson of the Trustees also serves as a member of the Finance Committee.  

 On Sunday, May 7th, the congregation voted unanimously in favor of electing the following members to the Board of Trustees:

Carolynn Vaughan - Chairperson

Ladella Wood

Hank Hudson

Food insecurity continues during the summer months. For Sunday, June 4, the highlighted offering will be cans of veggies for the Neighbor’s Together Food Bank! Please bring a can or two! Thank you for sharing!

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the camp management team, we want to sincerely thank La Grande First Christian Church for showing up and sharing your time, talent and resources to prepare Cove Christian Camp for the 2023 season. We are truly grateful for your gifts!

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

The Union County Warming Station is not open overnight but is continuing to offer showers and laundry to those in need of such services. Donations are still needed and can be dropped off at 501 Third Street in La Grande. Needed items are:

Shampoo and conditioner

Bars of soap

Towels

Combs

Nail files and nail clippers

Laundry detergent.

As we start a new month and prepare for a new season with anticipation and wonder, let us consider that our old world cycles year after year; each day brings with it the remembrances of the past that affect the reality of the here and brings us hope of the future yet to come. Each breath leads to another, and every heartbeat brings the oxygen from the previous breath throughout the body that strives to live. Like nature, our souls anticipate an awakening of the Spirit within us as we also cycle through life. The Holy Spirit’s desire to speak to us and through us is like a sunny day with cool breezes that never end.

This month I would like us to consider what we, as humans, thinking as worldly people, think of as our greatest possession. When the rich, young ruler asked Jesus what he must give to gain eternal life, Jesus said he should sell everything and give to the poor. We, like this man, follow the rules as our morals dictate and often find ourselves in life situations presenting more questions than answers. This place may be confusing and frustrating. But here, we as followers of Jesus, are reminded and invited to come into His presence. When we hear the Truth spoken as only Jesus can speak, we become complete.

Once again I ask, as a human, what is one of your most valued possessions? The gift of free will, the ability to make our own decisions, was given to us by God Himself. In Matthew 19, Jesus gave the rich, young ruler an opportunity to make an eternal choice: sell everything and give it to the poor, or keep it all. In doing so the ruler would have recognized that what he had was not his, but a gift from God to do His will. We are also given the chance to give and serve with the many blessings we have been given. We do not lose these things when we give them away; we allow God to reinvest them. 

If our will aligns with our Heavenly Father’s will, our definition of wealth gains a new perspective. We, like the disciples, have many questions, and like them, we are being taught by the Master. He has walked our path and is showing us the way.

18 A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow You!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life.”

In these verses we find many human emotions as Jesus speaks to each of us. These same questions have been asked over many generations by believers. Each has been answered in Truth and love.

The next time we are asked to give, remember that it is a choice, and what we are giving is not lost!

Your Brother in Christ,

Archie