Messenger

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect?
Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning
to be astonished.

The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing,
since all the ingredients are here,

which is gratitude,
to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy, to the moth and the wren,
to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.

by Mary Oliver

TOUCHES OF INTEREST

SonBridge Open House. Come celebrate the Education Center for Better Living on December 10 from 4–6pm. Enjoy refreshments, tours, and a celebration of our community's achievement!

Classroom Coordinators Needed! Our Kindergarten 1 and Primary 2 classes are looking for a person willing to organize teachers weekly for their rooms! We would love someone who enjoys teaching in case they need to fill in on occasion. Volunteers must complete (or have already completed) the Verified Volunteers training and screening.Please contact Pastor Jenn today if this call is for you! jenn.ogden@wallawalla.edu or 509-527-2800.

GERMAN CHRISTMAS SINGALONG, 10:00 am on Saturday, Dec. 2, in room 208 of the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center on the campus of Walla Walla University in College Place.  For more info contact Kurt Schäfer at 527-3116.

Retired Denominational Workers’ Potluck December 3, 5:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall, Village Church.  Bring a small fee ($1.50) for the Pathfinder bus, to be transported to Cordiner Hall following the meal, for the annual “Feast of Carols”.  Also, remember to bring a can of food or a small cash donation for admission.  You won’t want to miss this festive occasion!!

Rogers Adventist School Christmas program for grades 5-8 is on Tuesday, December 5 at 7pm in the WWVA Auditorium. The program for grades K-4 is Tuesday, December 12 at 6:30pm in the WWVA Auditorium.

Walla Walla Valley Academy will present their annual Christmas Concert featuring their Band, Choir, Hand Bells, Singers and their Orchestra. The program will take place in the WWVA Auditorium beginning at 7pm on Sabbath, December 9 .  

James Sadoyama passed away. We mourn with his many friends and family. He will be missed. Please remember his family in prayer. The memorial service will be December 3 at 10:30am in the Sanctuary.

The memorial service for Bernard B. Yanke will be November 25th at 3pm at the Village Church.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  Sabbath, December 9, 2017 — 3:30 p.m.  “Good Christian Friends, REJOICE!”- the annual Vespers Celebration of Lessons & Carols will be presented by the Village Church Choir, Brass Ensemble, Kids of the King Children’s Choir, Orchestra, and Grace Notes Handbells directed by ministers of music Terry and Terri Koch.  College Place Village Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Milton-Stateline Adventist School is accepting applications for a janitor. Experience preferred. Position to start January 2018. For more information email info@miltonstateline.org or call 541-938-7131

The Cantrell family is grieving the unexpected and tragic loss of Kevin Cantrell, who died in a auto accident on November 14, 2017. One way you can help the family in this time is to sign up via this Meal Train to provide food while they are processing this terrible loss. click here: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/e74v7e

Jim and Virginia Davidson of “Jesus and Science Seminars, Inc.” present two afternoon topics at the Umapine SDA Church on Sabbath, December 2. At 2pm, the topic is “Outside the Box” and at 3pm “Zero Probability and the ABC’s.”  All are welcome.

Guests coming and need an extra guest room? Havstad Alumni Center has 3 beautiful guest rooms. For guest room availability and information go to  www.wallawalla.edu/alumni/wwu-alumni-association/guest-rooms/  or call 509 540-8095. 

Need space for family/friends event? Havstad Alumni Center is available for rent for those special events. Choose between the 1st floor beautiful home-like living room setting or the 2nd floor which includes a full kitchen.  Located on 4th Street on the Walla Walla University campus.  For more information, please call 509 527-2241 between 9am - 5pm Monday - Thursday.

Come and enjoy “Miracle On Bethleham Street” a play and performances by the MSAS Band and Choir! The fun starts at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 14th in our gymnasium.

Milton-Stateline Adventist School invites you to a Pancake breakfast on Sunday, Dec 3rd 8:00 am to 10:00 am in the Stateline Adventist Church Fellowship Hall. There will be pancakes, eggs, hash browns and a whole lot more! By Donations. All proceeds go to the 8th grade trip fund.

If you’re a medical doctor or dental hygienist and are interested in going on a mission trip to Bolivia with a church group in March, please contact Monique Morris at moniquemorris@gmail.com or call 509-540-9345.

The Christian Aid Center needs you! This important ministry partner of the University Church is always in need of volunteer help. In particular, the director of volunteers at CAC (and our church member), Jeannette Regalado, is requesting for help with chapel speakers (6:30pm daily), breakfast cooks (Sunday and Monday mornings), and van drivers to pick up donated food (Tuesday and Thursday mornings). Contact Jeannette at 509.525.7153.