Sunnyside Communiqué

Happy Friday Sunnyside!

This weekend, Memorial Day, is a time that is supposed to be etched in our memories.  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is to be a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.  Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

Where did the red poppies come from?  In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day.  So for us, what does this day mean?  Those who have gone before us are worthy of remembrance!

Tomorrow is really Memorial Day at Sunnyside.  The sermon is entitled, “Revelation’s Memorials”.  It is a message that has excited me as I prepared it.  I must digress for a moment and tell you how I count it a privilege to be your senior pastor and work on the Sabbath messages.  The study time feeds me like nothing else can.  As I see the scriptures come together and to witness the richness of the word of God, I get excited to be able to share the fruits with you on Sabbath.  This week will be another such experience.  We will unlock some passages of scripture that you might have long wondered about.

However, even if you don’t come to hear me preach, come to hear the music.  It will be awesome.  You might want to be there for both services since the music will vary from first to second.

I do want to add just a word about Encounters this Sabbath.  While I fear of ever encouraging one week’s sharing time for fear of making another one sound less important, I do want to encourage you to hear Dianne Glovatsky’s sharing time.  I personally know her story.  You will be blessed should you be able to be there.

Courage in the Lord,

Pastor Scott 

Pastor Scott LeMert
Senior Pastor
Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sunnyside Communique

Dear Sunnysiders,

I write to you today devoid of any interesting stories or profound insights to pick up your spirits as you enter the Sabbath.  I guess that’s what happens when sleep is scarce and it is so easy to be distracted by 10-day-old cuteness.  In case you haven’t heard, Jaclyn safely delivered a baby boy, William Luther Lee Russell, at 8:22 PM on Monday, May 7.  Since then, our family has been in transition, getting used to an extra person and a bit less sleep.  One thing that has fascinated me about this transition is watching how Robby and Lucy adjust to this new family member.  There is no doubt that both kiddos are deeply in love with their baby brother.  But what fascinates me is that they communicate their love so differently.  Lucy is happy to sit on the couch and hold the sleeping baby for hours.  She’ll gently caress him and give him sweet kisses on the cheek.  Robby loves equally, but with a bit more exuberance.  He loves by flopping down beside baby William and assaulting him with kisses, something like a Labrador puppy.  He loves by bringing things to the baby.  A pacifier.  A blanket.  A basketball.  Whatever Robby thinks that little guy needs, he’s happy to provide. And he anxiously awaits the day when they can have wrestling matches in the living room.

The kids are so different, yet they each love completely in their own little way.  It reminds me a bit of our church community.  With hundreds of people trying to live and worship together, we’re bound to do things differently.  We offer worship differently.  We love differently.  We serve differently. We run committees differently. Yet the beauty of it all is that we’re all a part of the same family.  The challenge, then, is to value each other in spite of, no, because of our differences.  By doing things differently, we strengthen and enrich each other.

On to the news:

This week is a great milestone for our ReNew Sunnyside Project.  We have just crossed the $150,000 threshold. This means that there is only $100,000 remaining to reach our Phase 1 goal.  The board has challenged to do this by June 30 so that we can lock in savings and get things installed by early September.  Is it possible?  We think so.  But it will require everyone’s help.  Every $5, $10, $20 or $100 gets us a step closer to the goal.  If you want to get involved, you can give online at our website or mark your tithe envelope “ReNew Sunnyside.”

Sunnyside is the church that never sleeps and this weekend is no different.

Tomorrow at worship, Pastor Scott continues his series on Revelation with an intriguing look at Revelation’s 24 Elders.  You may be surprised what you hear.

At 3 PM we will be hosting the memorial service for Ken Hamilton.  If you know the family, plan to attend and offer your support.

Then at 7 PM, the Portland Adventist String Orchestra (PASO) will be performing their final concert.  If you attended their concert last year, in which they honored the founders of International Childrens’ Care and The Dougy Center, you know that PASO puts a lot of effort into providing a musically excellent, spiritually uplifting program.  This year, the program is titled “Instruments of Grace” and will be focusing on those people and institutions through which God works to bless people.  Don’t miss this inspiring concert.

This weekend, Sunday is a busy day as well.

The Pathfinders will be going to Pathfinder Fair at the Linn Co. Fairgrounds in Albany.  Everyone is invited to attend the fair where there are many activities and displays provided by Oregon’s Pathinders.  Don’t want to make the trip?  The whole event will be live-streamed by the Oregon Conference Communication Department.  You can view it at www.OregonConference.org throughout the day on Sunday.

Sunday night, we have very special Family Night with four unique events.

• Solar Eclipse:  An annular solar eclipse will be in progress during family night.  Erick Nielsen will lead in a viewing party.
• Photography:  View the best work of various Sunnyside photographers
• Assisted Hearing Seminar: Learn about the latest technology in hearing aids and devices to help you hear better.
• “Big Wall Climber”:  Hear Mark Smith’s story about climbing “Wings of Steel,” the most controversial climb on Yosemite’s El Capitan.

It is going to be a great weekend.  I hope that you’ll be a part of it.

Blessings,

Pastor Jonathan

Communique’

Greetings Church of Sunnyside,

Awesome spring weather!!!  Ninety or close to it on Monday!?!  I will be enjoying every minute of it.  I have this weird thing about myself that needs to feel “hot” a few times every summer or I feel deprived.

First, let’s hear it for Jaclyn Russell for bringing into this world “William Luther Lee Russell,” born this last Monday.  Pastor Jonathan gets credit for being a good cheerleader.  I suspect there is some family history tied up in this name; I’m sure we will hear the story in due time.

This weekend will be another true Sunnyside “the church that never sleeps” time.

First, Sunnyside will celebrate its third Walla Walla University/Nurses Dorm/Young Adult Sabbath of the last school year.  The students have really put themselves into this opportunity extended to them by Sunnyside.  As a result of this, the great food feeds at the dorm sponsored by our Sunnyside members and other events, they have had a great spiritual year.  Their new officers are being elected and I have already met with the spiritual vice-president for next year and they are again talking about their growing relationship with Sunnyside.  This is a win for all of us!

This Sabbath our WWU guest speaker is a person of request by the students, Troy Fitzgerald.  He is the WWU University Church Young Adult Pastor.  Troy’s sermon, “Holey, Wholly, Holy,” can only stir my curiosity.  The nurses will be very much involved tomorrow in the service, and, since there has been wide circulation of the news of this event among conference young adults, we should see a good number of young adult guests tomorrow.  Come and make friends with tomorrow’s leaders!

Tomorrow at 3:30 pm, we will celebrate the life memories of Roy Gutsche.  We are expecting many people from the community to join us for this service.

While on the subject of memorial services, here are three more to be aware of; these are the details:

Homer Drury, (father of Charlie Drury), Moscow, Idaho, Friday, May 18.

Ken Hamilton, Sunnyside, 3:00 pm, Sabbath May 19.

Robert Dixon, Sunnyside, being planned for Sunday, June 3.  Watch for more details coming.

 

This Sunday afternoon, 3:00, Sunnyside will host the Oregon Sinfonietta with special guest, Melissa Terrall at the piano.

Encounters will be at 5:00, tomorrow with Ervin Gruia sharing the story of his journey with following his Lord.

Don’t forget elders meeting at 5:30 pm, on Wednesday followed by church board at 7:15.

Next Sabbath I (Pastor Scott) will be speaking on a subject for which you might have never heard a sermon.  It’s title is, “Heaven’s Twenty-Four Elders and You.”  At first blush you might be thinking that the sounds of this title like this is a harbinger of a bad omen.  Please wait!  I think you will find this fascinating.  This will be a Bible study sermon for which you will want to bring your Bible.  The subject of Revelation’s elders has been the topic of much debate over the centuries.  We will see why, and we will find that their unique ministry has everything to do with us.

Before I leave off, I wish to give you all a special thanks for Sunnyside being just seven dollars short of $130,000 towards ReNew Sunnyside, Phase I.

Courage in the Lord,

Pastor Scott

Pastor Scott LeMert

Senior Pastor

Sunnyside Adventist Church

www.sunnyside-sda.org

 

Sunnyside Communiqué

Philippians 4:4-5

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Tomorrow is Sabbath, and what a Sabbath it will be!  Come for worship, come for the food, come for fellowship, come for the day.  Tomorrow is a Sabbath for our youth and they and the adults working with them have put together a very special worship service under the theme and sermon title, “Take It Home.”

It is hard to believe that we are getting to the end of the school year and that this Sabbath marks the end of the Adventurer and Pathfinder calendar (although not the end of their activities). It is time to celebrate all achievements our children and young people have attained this past year. Do join us at the Investiture services at 2 pm and 6 pm. In fact, come to potluck tomorrow and stay because the Belize Mission group will bring us a report at 5 pm at Encounters.

Pastor Scott says he will have a sample for all to try of Belizean “Hot Mamma’s” habanero sauce.  He says you must be brave and try it.  It is not “hell” in a bottle but if you like things fiery, well, he’ll let you set your own pain tolerance by how much you add.  It does add a nice finishing touch to a number of dishes.  This brand won top world honors in Mexico City two years ago against seven thousand other entries.  No, this is not his new sauerkraut; he still has that around as well, although his youngest son just ran off with his last jar.

Sunday morning bright and early the Kids in Discipleship families will make their last visit to O’Bryant Square. Thank you for supporting them with personal care items and financial contributions. This helped extend what originally was a short term project into three and a half years of ministry. I want to celebrate what they have done! To the families who have been changed and touched by this ministry, thank you for your sacrifice of your Sunday morning leisure time for serving the least of these.

Sunday is also a day of celebration and blessing and fellowship. There will be a baby shower at 11 am for Lizette and Bang Nguyen and Joanie and Wes Blumerberg. (We are also looking forward to the safe arrival of a baby brother for Lucy and Robbie soooon). Widen your circle of friends and come and join us to celebrate.

Later on Sunday at 4 pm the Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra will grace us with their music. I hear that the Sunnyside Adult Chorus is singing with them. I always look forward to the comments that Travis Hatton, the conductor, makes in between.

Next Sabbath is our quarterly young adult Sabbath at Sunnyside.  Pastor Jonathan and the Walla Walla University Nurses are putting themselves fully into this, the seniors last special “Sabbath at Sunnyside” before graduation and out to the four points of the globe.  Have you noticed the number of young adults attending Sunnyside?  This is a testimony to the many who have for several years been making friends with this age group and making them feel appreciated and valued.

Do note that the memorial service for Roy Gutsche will be next Sabbath afternoon at 3:30 pm. We also mourn the loss of Robert Dixon, Verna’s husband who passed away this week.

In celebration of what the Lord has done for each of us!

Pastor Scott & Pastor Shirley

Pastor Scott LeMert               Pastor Shirley Allen
Senior Pastor                           Associate Pastor
Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sunnyside Communiqué

Sunnyside family,

The forty-plus members of the Blessings 4 Belize team are back home.  Some of the team members were in Belize for over three weeks.  Some of our Sunnyside members came to Belize from serving on another Central America mission trip. The trip was a success in every way one could count.  The Lord’s blessings were everywhere.  The team accomplished many medical endeavors, the children’s program went very well, our building crew accomplished their goals, the health lectures were well-done and received accordingly, and the evening meetings netted twenty-one baptisms.

The people of Belize were wonderful to us and we left many friends who will never forget the name “Sunnyside.” This Sabbath and next, the Encounters vespers service will feature the pictures, and mementos, and stories of the trip.  We will share our many laughs, stories of the work, fun, and food, as well as the Lord’s blessings.  Please, come to Encounters and share in this moment.  So many of the Sunnyside members who did not go on this trip were part of the financial support that made this trip possible and your prayers were always appreciated.

It was with heavy hearts that we heard on return that Roy Gutsche and Ken Hamilton passed away.  They will be missed!  Look for word in the bulletin in the next couple of weeks for announcements in reference to their memorial services.

We missed our church family while we were gone.  I am hearing from many that while we were gone that the congregation was richly blessed by the Oregon Adventist Men’s Chorus and that Pastor Jonathan’s last week’s sermon was a rich blessing.  It is quite honestly an encouraging blessing to know that the Lord’s work is bigger than any one of us and blessings flow from God’s hand around the world.

This Sabbath we will be blessed by the Sunnyside Adult Choir and we will reflect on the topic, “From Tribulation to Triumph.”  Yes, the Bible does talk about the trials of the final conflict, and we will look at those, but for many of us, we need to get through the trials of today.  This will be the main focus of the sermon presentation; for many of us our prayer is, “Lord, just get me through today!”  I do hope you can all come and join in Sunnyside at worship.

Thank you all for your continued faithful financial support in your tithes, ReNew, church budget, and our many other ministries.  Summer will quickly be upon us and the teams are hard at work planning for VBS and SunnyCity.  There are three symphony concerts scheduled for consecutive weekends in May.  See your church bulletin for details.

Let the Sabbath blessings begin!

Pastor Scott 

Pastor Scott LeMert
Senior Pastor
Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sunnyside Communiqué

Dear Church Family,

I always find it interesting how personal experiences shed new light on Bible passages we’ve read our entire lives.  I’ve been in the Adventist church my whole life.  This means that I’ve had opportunity to study Matthew 25 at least a hundred times.  In Bible class in elementary school.  At youth group.  At the Mark Finley meetings.  At the Dwight Nelson meetings.  For family worship.  For church.  It seems like I’ve studied Matthew 25 in just about every context there is.  You know how it goes:

Matthew 24:6-8   ”You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

If I’m being honest, I’ll admit that as I have grown up with these verses, I haven’t been particularly anxious to see them come to ilfe.  I mean, on the list of things I want to experience in life, labor pains don’t even make the cut.  For 30 years, I’ve been hopeful that these “labor pains” that the Bible speaks of are still far beyond the horizon.

Imagine my surprise this week when I found myself in conversation with my wife this week, openly pining for the moment when labor pains begin to take over and we can get that precious little bundle of joy out of her and into our arms.  I admire my dear, sweet wife for the grace and dignity with which she has handled pregnancy.  She handles all of it far better than I ever could.  But you get to a point when enough is enough.  This week, we arrived there.  With 24 days until Due-day, we still have a bit to go, and we invite your prayers as we navigate these last few weeks of uncomfortable nights and Oreo Blizzards.  (If you really want to get on Jaci’s good side, just randomly bring her an Oreo Blizzard.  You’ll be friends for life.)

This week has also challenged my thinking on Matthew 24.  The labor pains are not something to be avoided, but to be invited.  In the last week, we’ve lost two of our church members to somewhat unexpected illnesses.  Within our church family, there are people struggling to find work, people challenged by health troubles, people in painful family situations.  And I’m about to the point where I say enough is enough.  I can’t wait for that day when Jesus appears to take us out of this mess and into eternity.  And if there’s some labor pains along the way, so be it.

I hope that your courage is strong.  I’m reminded of 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  He’s coming.  We don’t know when.  But He’s coming.  Don’t lose heart.

Happenings at Sunnyside:

For worship services tomorrow, I’ll be preaching a message entitled “Sabbath Morning Mission.”  As Adventists, we’ve grown accustomed to the fact that Mission happens out there, somewhere.  And it happens “in here” when we meet together on Sabbath mornings.  I hope that you’ll be there as we take a few minutes to look at our Sabbath Morning Mission.

This week, our second crop of foreign missionaries will be returning from Belize.  If you have a chance, let them know they were missed and maybe learn a thing or two about their experience.

Tuesday Night, we will be hosting a concert by Canadian University College.  The music should be first rate.  You would do well to be here.  We’re also looking for a few more places for the musicians to stay after the concert.  If you have an empty bed and a warm meal to offer, please contact Jim Newell.

Because of our mission trips, The Church Board and Elders’ Meetings will be this week on Wednesday.  If you are a part of either of those groups, please make plans to join us.

May the Lord bless each of you as we enter God’s Sabbath together.

Pastor Jonathan

Pastor Jonathan Russell
Assistant  Pastor
Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sunnyside Communiqué

Greetings Saints of Sunnyside,

One of the joys of having small kids around is the ability to experience a sense of awe through them on a regular basis.  A month ago, our house echoed with shrieks of joy as Robby and Lucy scrambled up onto the couch to see the snow falling gently on the other side of the window pane.  Two weeks ago, we experienced together wide-eyed wonder as the daffodils on our doorstep burst into full bloom.  This week, we experienced the sheer excitement of traveling on the MAX train, eating popcorn, and cheering on our favorite Trailblazers.  Through a child’s eyes, even the ordinary is extraordinary.  The mundane is magnificent.  The everyday is awe-inspiring.

It’s too bad that as we grow older we lose that sense of wonder.  It’s a tragedy, really, that things as complexly beautiful as snowflakes are met with muttering.  Things as intrinsically cheery as spring daffodils are rushed by on our way to our next “to-do.”

But it’s even worse when the awe and wonder at the beauty and depth of the gospel are weighed down by decades of church life. When the gospel itself is obscured by programs, or people, or politics.

The good news about Jesus is awe-inspiring.  That is, if we allow ourselves to be awed.  As you experience worship this weekend, I hope that you will be drawn into the presence of God and remain in awe of who He is.

This is an exciting weekend for Sunnyside as we welcome Oregon Adventist Men’s Chorus to lead in our worship service tomorrow.  I will be preaching for first service then we will worship together as the OAMC blesses us with their music for second service.  What a day to come for both services!  If you’re joining us online, we unfortunately are unable to live-stream the OAMC concert.  Instead, we will be live-streaming first service and re-broadcasting it on-demand throughout Sabbath. Join the webcast anytime after 11AM to join in our worship service.

Continue to pray for our Sunnyside missionaries as they continue to serve the people of Belize.  This week, a new crop of reinforcements has winged their way southward, while others have returned from their mission service.  If you see someone with an unseasonable tan, welcome them back and ask about their trip.

While you are praying, keep our Pathfinders in mind as they camp this weekend, learning about love of God through outdoor education.

It is such a blessing to serve in this church.  Thank you for all of the prayers and support that you offer to your pastoral team.  It means a lot to each of us.

May your Sabbath be rich with God’s blessings.

Pastor Jonathan

Pastor Jonathan Russell
Assistant Pastor
Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church