January 2022 Newsletter I Will Be Here (Happy New Year) 2022!!!
Inside this issue: Pastor’s Letter
1
Church Member Feature
2
Youth Events Coming Up
3
Treasurer’s Corner
4
Church Activities
5
Birthdays & Blessing Boxes
6
John Gray
7
Calendar
8
Updates & Reminders
9
The official newsletter of the Pendleton Adventist Church is published the last week of each month.
• Stephen Farr, Pastor ................. Cell 360.477.7362 Office 541.276.0882 Email stephen.farr@uccemail.org
• Craig Kellogg, Co-Head Elder .......... 541.377.6290 • Glenn Holbrook Head Deacon ........ 541.310-1230 • Martha Dutterer, Head Deaconess . 541.310.8625 • Rhonda Iverson, Clerk ..................... 541.969.0340 • Ronda Beers, Treasurer .................. 541.276.1049 • Sandra Easley, Church Secretary ..... 541.215.5664 • Lynn Beier, Prison Ministries .......... 541.240.1740 • Church Website ..... www/pendletonadventist.org • Church Email ..... pendletonadventist@gmail.com All material published in the newsletter must be submitted by the 20th of each month. There is no guarantee submitted material will be added to the newsletter.
It seems with each passing year the world we are living in is getting harder and harder to live in. The three things we all need more of is faith, hope and love but it feels like while the demand is high the supply is short. However, in spite of all that we are facing in this world, I believe that we have a lot to look forward to in the new year. Keep reading if you want to know why 2022 is going to be an amazing year. I have only lived in Pendleton 213 days as of January 1, 2022. Why do I keep counting the days? I am counting because when I came here, I started praying for God to use me to inspire the Pendleton and Pilot Rock Churches to believe that what God is getting ready to accomplish through us is greater than even the greatest moments of the past. Look back at what God has already accomplished here through the Pendleton and Pilot Rock Churches. Then imagine being a part of what God is going to do now. The Bible says, “I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19). Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” Perhaps you wish you would have lived on the earth when Jesus was here in the flesh. I know I have wished that from time to time. However I find a lot of comfort in the words Jesus shared with His disciples before He returned to heaven. “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). In the gospel of John chapter 14 Jesus promised us that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us. “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:15-20). In 1989, Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a love song called “I will be there.” It is often played at weddings to this very day. However when I listen to it. I hear Jesus singing a love song to us all. Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the sun does not appear, I will be here. If in the dark we lose sight of love hold my hand and have no fear cause I, I will be here. I will be here when you feel like being quiet and when you need to speak your mind, I will listen. And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying, through the winning, losing and trying we'll be together, because I will be here. Continued on pg. 9...
Family Feature …The Martin Family!!! Steve Martin was born on June 11, 1969 in Pendleton, Oregon to Larry and Sharon Martin. He has a younger brother, Jerry, and has lived in Pendleton almost his whole life. Steve went to McKay Elementary School for Kindergarten and to Harris Junior Academy (HJA) from 1st through 10th grade. He attended Gem State Adventist Academy (GSAA) in Caldwell, ID for his Junior and Senior years and graduated in 1988. After graduation he started working at Harris Pine Mills. In December of 1988 he began working at Rhodes Bake n’ Serve in Caldwell. After working there for 16 months he moved back to Pendleton to From left to right: Joe, Steve, work for his Dad at Soft-Step Interiors as a floor covering specialist. He has Dana, Jenna & Jonny Martin been covering floors ever since. After his dad retired in 2005, Steve tried to take over Soft-Step but preferred being in the field so in 2009 he became an independent floor covering contractor. Steve’s hobbies include reading, collecting things, playing Word’s with Friends and Candy Crush. Dana (Maine) Martin was born June 18, 1972 in Ontario, Oregon to Alan and Glenna Maine. She has two older siblings, Dale and Diane, and was raised in Jamieson, Oregon. Dana went to school at Treasure Valley Elementary School in Payette, Idaho from 1st through 8th grade then attended GSAA from 9th through 12th grade and graduated in 1990. During her senior year, while also working at Rhodes Bake n’ Serve, Dana began dating Steve. They were married on March 3, 1991. Dana attended BMCC and received her AA Degree in Business. She has worked for Umatilla County Housing Authority, Safeway, and Dr. Chris Lundquist. Dana’s hobby is raising and homeschooling her 3 children. In 2016 Dana started volunteering at HJA and eventually became employed as Janitor and teacher’s aide. This fall she started working as a full-time teacher’s aide at Hermiston Adventist School. Dana’s love for children prompted her to go back to college to get her degree in Elementary Education. She will graduate this spring from BMCC with her AAOT Degree and then transfer to Eastern Oregon University where she will continue her education through their extension program on the BMCC campus. She plans to graduate in 2024. Joseph is 22 (he will be 23 on January 7) and is a senior at WWU majoring in Bio-Chemistry/PrePharmacy. He attended HJA for 2nd and 3rd grade and half of his 8th grade year. He was homeschooled the other years. He attended WWVA his junior and senior years and graduated in 2017. His hobbies include watching movies, playing video games and checking out memes on his phone. Jonathan is 16 going on 17 (he turns 17 December 29, 2021). He currently is schooling from home through Baker Web Academy. Most of his education has been through homeschool. He did attend HJA for 7th and 8th grade. Jonny’s hobbies include gaming with his friends and Pathfinders. Jenna is 14 and will turn 15 on May 14, 2022. She is a freshman at UCA. Her education has also been mostly through homeschool although she did attend HJA for 5th and 6th grade. Jenna’s hobbies include baking, watching YouTube Video’s on her phone, and Pathfinders. The Martin’s are very family oriented, introverted and home bodies. They enjoy going out to eat as a family and playing family board games. Steve and Dana have always been very active in the Church. They have been Pathfinder, Adventurer, Youth and Primary Leaders. Dana has been VBS leader and Cradle Roll Leader. Steve has been a deacon, an elder and has served on the School Board and Finance Committee. They hope that their children will learn from them as they learned from their parents the importance of loving Jesus their savior, serving God their Father and inviting the Holy Spirit into their lives. We are so grateful to the Martins for choosing to be a part of our Pendleton Church Family. Thank you so, so much for all that you do! Page 2
Jonny Martin reading to the kiddos during VBS, 2021!
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Youth Events, Don’t Miss Out Saturday, Jan. 8 Family Movie Night: Family Movie Night! Jan 8th, bring a blanket and get cozy with the family while we watch The Prince of Egypt on the big screen. Invite friends, family and neighbors to enjoy a family friendly night of entertainment. Come early for a fundraiser dinner by the Youth Room. Dinner starts at 6pm in the fireside room. The film starts at 7pm in the Sanctuary.
And Coming Next Month…. Toby Mac Concert : February 26th at 7PM at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, see pg. 5 for more details. School Ski Trips: Pendleton Christian School will be going to Anthony Lakes Ski Resort for their annual ski lessons and adventure. Please feel free to contact Ms. Whidden and find out how to join in on the fun. They will be going the last two Thursdays in February and first two Thursdays in March, weather permitting! February 17 & 24 and March 3 & 10.
Pathfinder Events Coming Up for January:
DAY 15 Pathfinder Rally day at WWVA 22 *Talent Show 28-30 Teen Retreat
4:00 Vespers 5:00 Fundraiser Dinner
$5/person, $20/family of 4
6:00 Show begins
*Please see Traci Carothers or Danielle Clayville to sign up to share a talent at the talent show!!!
And remember, talent comes in many different forms from art, crafts, magic, dance, karate, singing, instruments, comedy, story telling and more! Maybe you can shoot laser beams from your eyes, we’d love to have you share your talents with us!!! Contact Traci 541-626-3084 or Danielle 541-975-4546
Page 3
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Offering Schedule December
Treasurer’s Corner
Jan. 1
Local Church Budget
Jan. 8
Religious Liberty
Jan. 15 Local Church Budget Jan. 22 UCC Advance Jan. 29 Local Church Budget
How God Rewards Good Stewardship Managing a little leads to managing a lot. Do you agree? Look at what Jesus said: (Luke 16:10) "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." What is Jesus talking about? Was He promising to make us richer financially if we are faithful stewards of our money, as some in the prosperity movement teach? No He isn’t. Although I imagine that the apostle Paul was faithful with any money he handled, he certainly wasn’t wealthy. In fact, he was often in complete poverty – and content with that, in fact (Philippians 4:10-11). So if the promise of financial wealth is not what Jesus is teaching, what is He teaching? He is teaching the surprising truth that God uses our stewardship financially to determine how much He can trust us with spiritually. Look at how Jesus explains it. "So if we have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth [money, material things], who will trust we with true riches? [spiritual things] {12} And if we have not been trustworthy with someone else's property [money], who will give you property of our own?” (Luke 16:11-12) What did Jesus mean by “property of our own?” It’s eternal things! Jesus is saying that God is testing our financial stewardship to determine who He can trust us with spiritual and ministry privileges that last forever. Our management of money affects the eternal impact we will have. That is the “property” we can keep. It’s eternal! Jesus never promised us worldly wealth here on earth, but He does say that the way we manage whatever amount of money or worldly possessions we have is really a spiritual test. And God is grading that test. How much we have is not an indication of our spirituality; how we manage what we have is an indication of our spirituality. Some believers will be tested on their stewardship with a six-figure income. It’s a test, one which God may give them a grade of A, B C, D or F. Other believers will be tested with subsistence level living and receive the same variety of grades. Stewardship testing starts early and lasts throughout life. Grade school children are tested when they get an allowance. High school students with a part-time job are being tested. Our management of money continues through our working life and retirement. God is looking for people he can trust with real eternal things – and He uses our management of entrusted money and possessions in that evaluation. So every financial decision is a spiritual decision. Stewardship means a whole different way of thinking. Excerpt from Biblical Financial Stewardship
https://bible.org/book/export/ Part 4 Page 4
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS IN JANUARY Women’s Ministries Meetings January 3rd will be our next Women’s Ministry meeting at the Fireside Room at the Pendleton Adventist Church, Lead by Marci McMurphy. February 7th Women’s Ministry meeting will be at the Pendleton Fire Dept. Station 1 (new station)
Prince of Egypt Movie Night January 8th dinner will be at 6pm (donations accepted) and the movie is free and begins at 7pm! Please feel free to invite friends and family.
Jaime Jorge Vespers Coming January 27th Please join us for a beautiful evening of violin music by Jaime Jorge January 27th at 7pm in the Pendleton Adventist Church Sanctuary!
Join Pastor Farr in the “Bible in a Year Challenge” and get involved with a small group This is for all those interested in reading and studying the bible cover to cover in 2022! Pastor is encouraging the small groups to do the One Year Bible Reading Challenge beginning in 2022 as the topic for the small groups each week. A very simple, easy to follow, one-year bible reading plan is available from the church or you can find it online on our website and print it. It is Pastor’s hope that it will then be discussed each week during small group! Pastor Farr will also be going live on Instagram daily to share insights from each reading at 5:15 PM. You can find Pastor Farr on Instagram by searching @stephenfarr12 Bible Reading Plans will be available in the church foyer, office and online for you to view or print. Again this is very easy to follow and will include scripture from the Old and New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in each day’s study, so that you can see how the whole bible works cohesively. If you want to join a small group, you can sign up on the small group page at pendletonadventist.org under the Get Involved tab. A description of each small group along with the number of spaces available per group can be accessed there. Small group leaders please email Sean Ruud at psdacweb@gmail.com and find out what information he needs to list your small group on the Pendleton Adventist Church Website. Pastor Farr is hoping that everyone will be involved in a small group this year. Please consider joining one that already exists or start a new one to make room for more people!
Join us in a night of praise and worship with Toby
Mac
You are invited to come along on Feb 26th to see Toby Mac in concert at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. This evening will be full of energetic music with a focus on God. Come and see if you know more lyrics than the Pastor! You can still join us as we are purchasing more tickets, new deadline January 5th! If cost is a barrier, let the Pastor or Sandra know, we want you there if you want to come. Lastly, the Toyota Center (concert location) does require proof of recent negative Covid test or Covid vaccination card. Contact Pastor Farr to find out more, 360.477.7362, call or text. Concert Details: *(If you need transportation let us know. Arrangements What: Toby Mac Concert and details will be worked out closer to the date.) Date: Feb 26th a 7pm Where: Toyota Center Kennewick* Cost: $42 per ticket in our section: Ticket request Form: https://forms.gle/qKSuAjTthxRPKhuf9 Page 5
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Birthday Blessings!
James C Linda O Esther S Chad C Chris G Kayden S David Y Coleen B Sean M Ryan M Chad G Joseph M Tayla C Coy J Jaime H
Tabatha B Shelley S Chris V JD Baird Domanic A Emily G Dennis O Alyssa B Sue E Katelyn P Traci C Tyson B Donna S June M
Gil B Jade A Delores H Shelby M Corey S Mike D David S Heather C Liza A Matthew C Amanda C Cira D Carol W
Are you looking for a blessing?...to pass on to someone you know—someone who is hurting or for a special occasion? Pendleton Adventist Church has the answer for you— a Blessing Box. The Blessing Box Ministry was born in the CIA (Christians In Action) Small Group as a way of ministering to our community and staying in touch with our church family while the church had limited attendance during COVID lockdown. We targeted people who were ill, had lost a loved one, or even congratulations. Our first Blessing Boxes were delivered in January 2021 and to date we have delivered 65. If you have the name of a person who needs a blessing, CIA invites you to bring the name and items you would like to see included in the box to the CIA Sabbath School room (across from the Fireside Room). We have boxes, cards, and bagging supplies. We are glad to work with you to put the box together so you can take it with you to deliver. Come and fix a Blessing Box and see what kind of blessing you receive. Contact Al or Doris Olson for more info! Page 6
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
In loving memory of John Luther Gray Only a few short weeks ago I received a phone call that John was in the hospital. I was amazed as I talked with him at the level of faith he displayed even in the face of what looked like an imminent cancer diagnosis. John wanted to get out of the hospital and come to the Christmas concert. He knew based on the tests that had already been conducted what he was facing and yet he talked of his hope in Jesus. It was an honor to stand with a man of such faith, hope and love. It was an honor to be with him, his wife and children. A few weeks later I had the privilege of anointing and praying for John again. This time his whole family and grandchildren had gathered for what looked like the final moments of John’s life here on earth. Carol was by his side day and night near the end, holding his hand and praying. Her strength and courage clearly came from the Lord. Sadly, John Gray passed away on Christmas Day. While his family is happy that he isn’t in pain anymore, John is going to be missed. He is going to be missed by all of us who had the pleasure to know the man who was a friend to all of the people he ever met. John was born January, 11 1942 and passed away December 25, 2021. He was 79 years old. Those of you who knew John know that he loved fishing. He served in the Army, he was a dedicated Church deacon and an enthusiastic Seattle Seahawks fan. However, the thing that made John the happiest was family. He was always a hard worker, but the title he valued most was “PaPa.” John loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He will be missed. Carol told me she would love to have visitors. She knows John was loved by all of us and is happy to have people come by to honor his memory, share stories and even tears as we mourn this loss together. John is survived by his wife, Carol (Lee) Gray; son, Tony Gray; daughter, Diana Burns (David); and daughter Kristi Sewell (Rob); six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. John is proceeded in death by his parents, John and Wardell, and his sister Shirley. A public memorial service will be announced at a future date. To express condolences, please visit www.pioneerchapel.com. A public memorial will be held in the spring. Please join me in praying for John’s family during this hard time. Be sure to visit and send cards and love as I know they will be very appreciated. Sincerely Pastor Stephen William Farr
Page 7
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
January 2022 Pendleton & Pilot Rock Adventist Church
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 Pilot Rock– 9:30AM Farr
Pendleton— 11AM Farr 2
3
PCS back to school!
9
16
5
Pathfinders 6:30PM
10
11
7
PCS School Board Meeting 7pm 12
Pathfinders 6:30PM
Arise Meeting /dinner 6pm Fireside Rm
17
18
19
No School
No School
24
6
8 Pendleton— 9:30 AM Farr Pilot Rock–11AM Farr
Women’s Ministry 6:30PM, Fireside Room!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
23
4
Elder Meeting– 5:30PM Church Board– 6:30PM Pathfinders 6:30PM
Arise Meeting/dinner 6pm Fireside Rm.
25
26
13
Sunset 4:28 PM
14
Prince Of Egypt Dinner & Movie at Church 6PM
15 Pendleton– 11AM Guest Pilot Rock— 11AM Farr
Sunset 4:36 PM
20
21
Sunset 4:45PM
27
28
22 Pendleton— 11AM Farr P. Rock—11AM Guest Pathfinder Talent Show 4pm Vespers 5pm dinner 6pm show
29 Pendleton 11AM– Guest
30 Page 8
31
No Arise Tonight!
Jamie Jorge 7PM Vespers at Pendleton Church
Pilot Rock 11AM– Guest Sunset 4:57PM
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Women’s Ministries It is the goal of Women’s Ministries to be a safe place for women to come and feel comfortable in being themselves. It is a place where women can talk to other women about things they are going through or dealing with and learn that they are not alone! It is a place to bond with one another, study our bibles together and just laugh! We are hoping to mix things up a bit this year in order to be able to reach out to more women. We will be taking turns leading the group each month, but only if you volunteer to. We realize that everyone enjoys a different meeting and leadership style and that’s okay. We have a variety of activities planned for this year, from bible studies, special speakers, excursions, paint parties, some community outreach activities, and the list goes on. We understand that coming to every meeting is not always possible and that’s okay, there’s no need to feel guilty. We plan to post what activities are coming up a couple months in advance so you can decide which meetings will interest you most. There was a meeting a few months back in which one of our lovely ladies was having some issues with waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety attacks. We discussed the situation at the meeting as a group, the other ladies shared similar and different problems they were having. Tears were shed that night and we all hugged and prayed and hugged some more. Recently this person came to one of our meetings again and shared that she is no longer waking up with anxiety, it seems to have passed! Praise the Lord, our prayers were answered! We are to be there for each other and encourage each other. We need to come together in one accord. Let the past stay in the past and move on to make a place for women to feel safe and welcome.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
God is working through this group of ladies. We are really trying hard to be as inclusive as possible. We want to be there for you. If you want to be a part of this group, feel free to join us the first Monday of every month at 6:30 pm. Location will be posted in the bulletin, newsletter and online as occasionally it may be at a different location, otherwise it will be held at Sandra Easley’s house, 648 SW 44th St. Pendleton. Contact Shana Boyer 541-429-2334 or Sandra Easley 541-215-5664 for any questions or if you have ideas to share, we are all ears!!! January 3rd meeting will be in the Fireside Room!!! Continued from pg. 1….Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future is unclear, I will be here. As sure as seasons are made for change your lifetimes are made for years. So I, yes, I will be here. I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder, when the mirror tells you your older, I will hold you. And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty. I will tell you all the things you are to me. I will be here. I will be true to the promise I have made to you and to the Father, God, who gave you to me. I will be here. Love sincerely Jesus. Yes, I can say without a doubt that 2022 is going to be a good year. Not because we won’t face ups and downs but because as we do I hear Jesus saying “don’t worry I will be here with you. Love sincerely Pastor Stephen William Farr Page 9
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Suggestions for the Newsletter? Please share them with Sandra at:
This newsletter is published by the Pendleton Adventist Church. Layout & design by Doris Olson. Editor and printing by Sandra Easley.
pendletonadventist@gmail.com A big thank you to everyone who contributes to our Newsletter; you are a blessing!
Page 10
Pendleton Adventist Church Newsletter, January 2022
Pendleton Adventist Church 1401 SW Goodwin Place Pendleton OR 97801
BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 36
Return Service Requested
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, or would prefer an electronic version please contact us at: pendletonadventist@gmail.com
