Highlights (December 27, 2013)

Birth of Christ gives hope, peace, joy, love

ENTERPRISE – On this First Sunday of Christmas, the worship service with Holy Communion will begin at 9 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Enterprise with Pastor Wayne Haas presiding.

As the church celebrates the 12 Days of Christmas, the gospel, Matthew 2:13-23, Sunday confronts believers with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod. The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from the world, but its light gives people hope, peace, joy and love.

Service celebrates with Christmas carols

The first Sunday after Christmas will be celebrated during the 9:30 a.m. worship service this week at the First Presbyterian Church with a hymn sing of Christmas carols. The scripture readings for the morning are Matthew 1:19-25, Matthew 2:1-11 and Hebrews 1:1-4.

Episcopalians observe first Sunday

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will observe the first Sunday after Christmas with a service of Lessons and Carols at 9 a.m. Kathy Thew and the Rev. Richard Thew will officiate. Carol Ann St. Clair is the organist. The church office will be closed and weekday services canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday. Morning Prayer will resume at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the chapel, and the office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

Circuit pastor leads Sunday service

Service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at the La Grande United Methodist Church. Circuit Pastor Mike Lamb will celebrate the first Sunday after Christmas with the congregation.

Following the service, coffee will be served in the basement. Child care is available, and all are welcome.

‘Jesus Our Brother’

is message

UNION – “Jesus Our Brother” is Pastor Sue Peeples’ message at the 11 a.m. Sunday service of the United Methodist Church in Union. Fellowship and refreshments follow the service.

During the coming week, the church plays host to Fresh Food Alliance from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. There is no senior lunch Tuesday. The usual Wednesday Prayer and Discussion time is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Faith offers open gym, game night

The sermon Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church will focus on Christ’s life when he was young. The entry of Jesus Christ into the world was not well received by all.

For example, the evil Herod responded by killing all the young boys in and around Bethlehem in an effort to kill Jesus. However, Jesus had been taken to Egypt, which gave him safety and fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy of “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Sunday School will be at 8:45 a.m., and the Divine Service at 10 a.m.

Faith Lutheran is hosting an open gym from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Riveria Activity Center. This is a good opportunity for exercise and fellowship. At 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Faith will have a game night with table games, cards, ping pong and more.

Message includes ‘best of’ series

Saturday morning, Pastor Michael Armayor’s message will include some of the “best of” inspirational and Biblically insightful presentations this year. The Cove Seventh-day Adventist church meets at 9:30 a.m., and the La Grande SDA church meets at 11 a.m.