ELGIN – An interdenominational church eventwill take place from10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at Tom McDowell Park. This year, the annual Church in the Park will feature Linda Lanier’s “A God and Country Patriotic Event.” Lanier tours America singing and giving inspirational speeches and appears on television and radio programs.

She was invited to en-tertain on the hallowed ground of the Pentagon for a 9/11 memorial service, has appeared at numerous governor engagements and has been extremely involved with the Army National Guard.

Prior to the patriotic event, Lanier will give a Life and Healing concert, offering love, acceptance and hope for those whose lives have been affected by abortion. This concert will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at Elgin’s Christian Life Center.

Religion will always be work in progress

A relationship with God is a work in progress – this is the theme of Pastor Ray Smith’s message, “Lose Your Religion,” at the 10 a.m. service at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in La Grande. The central Scripture will be Matthew 11:28-30.

On Aug. 9, the congregation will worship at the Riverside Park Pavilion at

11 a.m. There will be no Sunday school at the church prior to worship, and a potluck luncheon will follow the service.

Communion celebrated in Union

UNION – Pastor Sue Peeples will bring the message this Sunday at 11 a.m. United Methodist Church service in Union. The sermon title will be “Life Bread,” and Communion will be celebrated. Refreshments follow the service.

Each Tuesday the church hosts a senior lunch at noon. This week tater tot casserole will be served.

Anyone who needs assistance getting there should call 541-562-5848 one day in advance.

The Wednesday Prayer Meeting is weekly from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Prayer requests may be called in to 541-562-5848. The congregants also pray daily at

8 a.m. for those they know are needing God’s healing and for those on the Grande Ronde phone line (541-786-PRAY).

The Thursday Bible study is suspended for the summer.

The Colloquy is inviting the community to a concert featuring a Liberian drummer at 2 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Union City Park Gazebo.

Nonprofit organizations that wish to fund raise at the church’s November Bizarre Bazaar are asked to call 541-562-5848 or 541-562-5675.

Sermon title is ‘Bread of Life’ from John 6

COVE – Grace Community Lutheran Church will celebrate God’s word with a worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Carl Seelhoff’s sermon will be “Bread of Life,” taken from John 6. Sunday school for adults continues its study of the Ten Commandments and starts at 9 a.m. Fellowship follows the service.

All activities are held at the Cove Adventist Church. Transportation from

La Grande to Cove and back is available. Contact Bob at 541-568-4230 for more information.

Pastor takes a look at greed in the heart

COVE – On this first Sunday of August, the Communion worship service at the Cove United Methodist Church will be led by the Rev. Ernest Smith.

His message will be taken from various Scriptures and is titled “I Sometimes Have Greed in My Heart.” The service starts at 9 a.m. and is followed by a coffee fellowship time.

For August the Food Pantry will be on the fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The Fresh Food Alliance is on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to

11 a.m.

The church will have a baked food sale from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Cherry Fair, or until baked goods run out. Congregants are asked to donate baked goods made from cherries if possible.

Speaker presents ‘Song of Life’

First Presbyterian Church in La Grande will meet for worship at 9:30 a.m. The message, “Song of Life,” will be given by guest speaker Kate Loftus, and is based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-10. Fellowship time follows worship.

Message is based on Romans 12:18

Doug Edmonds at the La Grande Church of Christ will present “Be a Peacemaker,” coming from Romans 12:18. Communion is taken every Sunday. Sunday morning classes begin at 9:30 a.m., and the worship service follows at 10:30. A “children’s church” is available during the sermon for kids age 2 years through kindergarten.

Wednesday small groups continue to meet at 7 p.m. at various home locations.

What do you want to do when grown up?

Pastor Steve Wolff will ask “What Do You Want to Do When You Grow Up?” during the 10 a.m. service this Sunday at the La Grande United Methodist Church, continuing the summer’s exploration of the book of Ephesians. This is also Communion Sunday.

The congregation practices an inclusive communion: all who hear this invitation and desire to experience God and Christ in the bread and the fruit of the vine are welcome. In keeping with open communion, unfermented grape juice is used in the place of wine and gluten-free bread is provided. Child care is available.

A time of coffee and fellowship follows the service.

Zion Lutheran hosts ecumenical day camp

Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande will celebrate the 10th Sunday after Pentecost with worship on at 11 a.m. outdoors at the Ascension School in Cove.

Along with other local churches, the congregation will join Pastor Katy Anderson and All Saints Episcopal members from Heppner for an outdoor worship led by Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry. Lunch will follow the service. Call 541-963-5998 for further information.

Monday through Friday this week, Zion will host a free ecumenical day camp for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.

The camp will run from

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and will be led by a team from Lutherhaven Ministries from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with volunteers from the sponsoring La Grande churches: First Christian, First Presbyterian, United Methodist, St. Peter’s Episcopal and Zion Lutheran.

Musician serves as revival’s director

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will observe the 10th Sunday after Pentecost at a “Tent Revival” Eucharist at the Ascension School Camp and Conference Center in Cove. The outdoor service begins at 11 a.m. The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church, will preside and preach. Bishop Curry is one of the preeminent preachers in the United States, and the author of “Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus.” Composer and church musician Dent Davidson will serve as music director.

Morning Prayer is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel. A midweek Eucharist is offered Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m., also in the chapel.

Seminary student provides message

This Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church in La Grande, Seth Kunze, a fourth-year student at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, will preach on “God’s love for people, which is good news to share.” Seth is married to a previous member of Faith Lutheran. The adult Bible study – “Our Neighbor’s Confession, Our Critical Commitment” – will consider the Pentecostal churches.

Register now for Rodeo Bible Camp

UNION – A Rodeo Bible Camp for teens age 13-18 will run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 13 at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Grounds in Union. The camp will include all rodeo events and costs $100.

For more information, contact Whitney Wilber at 541-534-4065 or go to

www.rodeobiblecamp.org to download an application.