Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/611901
Onemorningsome twenty-five years ago I was a young parish priest con- templating the fact that a woman in my con- gregation had missed an appoint- ment in my office. Ordi- nary proce- dure would be to call her later, ask politely what happened, schedule an- other appointment. Pro- priety — given the risk of the appearance of sex- ual misconduct — dictated I should never be foolish enough to go to her home when — if she was there — her husband would be away at work. Yet I knew two things about Susan — she was afflicted with bone cancer and very re- liable at keeping appoint- ments. I tried calling her several times with no an- swer and the alarms in my head grew more strident that something was terri- bly wrong. I drove to her home. What I saw shocked me. After some delay I looked through the glass center of her door to see her lit- erally crawling up the hall on hands and knees. She managed to reach up to unlock so I could enter. I helped her to a padded bench up the hall where she managed to gasp that the cancer pain was re- ally bad. I called her hus- band at work and he left immediately on what was a twenty minute commute, asking me to remain until he could arrive. At Susan's request I sat on the bench with her, cradling her head in my lap and telling her children's stories to keep her conscious while we waited for her husband to arrive and hoped the medicine I gave her would work. Clearly I had thrown propriety out the win- dow in several ways. But I fully observed protocol. When her husband arrived he took over; I left when I could see he no longer required my assistance. Eventually God fully healed the cancer, but my preferential observance of protocol enabled her to survive long enough for that day to come. Susan's husband, Van, thanked me and to this day credits me with saving Susan's life. Our God operates on the basis of protocol in ev- erything He does — from hailing the pagan kings of Egypt and Babylon be- fore warning them to let His people go to wash- ing the feet of the disciples who would desert the Son in His need. The Church — and certainly the secu- lar culture — operates all too often on the basis of propriety. Both concepts sound good but the differ- ence between them is pro- found. Propriety is observance of standards of conduct as they are laid down in law, policy, and procedure. Protocol is about hon- oring first God, second the people He loves and has called us to love, and third the laws, policies and procedures we have established to support the first two. Propriety is when we see to it the ser- vants wash the feet of our dinner guests if they de- serve such deference. Pro- tocol is when we wash our friends' feet ourselves, as Jesus did the night before His death. Protocol never violates law. It simply extends it- self to encompass and transcend the letter of the law in favor of its spirit, as the New Testament ex- horts in 2 Corinthians 3:6. It is — for biblical Jews — observing the sacred Sab- bath's prohibition on la- bor while still happy to rescue someone trapped in a well, or confronting a friend with his misbehav- ior while steadfastly re- fusing to judge. It is also Jesus confronting the Pharisees — the primary legalists of His day — over twisting the spirit of the law to evade responsibility to support their parents in favor of the religious establishment by calling gifts corban in Mark 7. He goes after them on the same grounds in Matthew 23 when He says they tithe faithfully of their goods on legal grounds while ne- glecting the weightier le- gal matters of justice and mercy. It is what I hon- ored when I allowed the prompting of the Holy Spirit — coupled with re- spect for proper proce- dure and the strong exist- ing relationship I had with Susan and Van — to im- pel me to go to her home that day. Propriety limits it- self to legalism — follow the procedures and re- main safe within the le- gal limits. It is what the priest and the Levite cited when they abandoned the man left for dead by rob- bers (Luke 10) leaving it to the "ungodly" Samari- tan to demonstrate being a good neighbor. It is the hypocrisy of the men who dragged an adulterous woman before Jesus (John 8) with no explanation of why the man was let go — or why they had free time on a weekday morning to be peering into someone's bedroom window. Protocol is the way of God; propriety is our way of remaining out of His reach. JamesWilsonisthe author of Living As Ambassadors of Relationships and The Holy Spirit and the End Times — available at local bookstores or by e-mailing him at praynorthstate@ charter.net. GODTALK Propriety versus protocol — legalism versus life Pastor John Bohrer has served Red Bluff for 27 years and will start a new work with his congregation, formerly Antelope Home Fellowship, Dec. 6 in the El Camino area. The New Life Baptist Church will meet at 10 a.m. for Sunday School and 11 a.m. for services at 8345 State Route 99W. Everyone is invited to be part of the new venture, where the Bible is taught and preached and worship is through song and preach- ing. NEW LIFE BAPTIST ChurchopeninElCaminoarea During this time of joy- ful expectations, prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew at Advent Taize Prayer services offered each Sunday during the season of Advent 7-8 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, at St. Pe- ter's Episcopal Church in Red Bluff. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays, Ad- vent Taize Prayer services offer an hour of quiet medi- tation, listening to the read- ing of scripture, prayer and singing. The word Advent means coming and is celebrated by the church during the four weeks before Christmas. During this time, Chris- tians are asked to prepare their hearts and lives in anticipation of the celebra- tion of Christ's birth. It is a time to slow down and be- come quiet; a time to med- itate about the meaning of Christmas. There is focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was ful- filled in Jesus. Advent is a time of waiting in prepara- tion for Christmas; and in the waiting, God comes. The Advent season is an especially appropriate time to experience a Taize Prayer service which com- bines meditative prayer, readings of the Psalms and Scripture, simple repetitive songs, a time of silence and prayers. The reading of the Psalms places all believers in a sense of communion together. Reading of the Scripture allows worship- pers to discover God's heart through His word. Silence allows believers to quietly listen for God's message. Prayer provides an opportu- nity for praise and thanks- giving, as well as a time to share sorrows and joys with God. Throughout the ser- vice, contemplative songs nourish the worshipper. Advent Taize services are open to all, regardless of denomination. St. Peter's is at 510 Jefferson St., on the corner of Jefferson and Elm streets. For more informa- tion, call 527-5205 or write to stpeters@sbcglobal.net. Visit www.saintpetersepis- copal.org. Taize Prayer is co-spon- sored by the congrega- tions of Sacred Heart Ro- man Catholic Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the Tehama County United Methodist Churches and the Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff. ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL Ta iz e Pr ay er s er vi ce o ffe rs quiet during the holidays Jim Wilson By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE Pope Francis has dismissed a question about whether condoms can be condoned in the fight against AIDS by saying there are more im- portant issues confronting the world, like malnutrition, environmental exploitation and the lack of safe drink- ing water. Francis was asked about the church's opposition to condoms while returning Monday to Rome from Ke- nya, Uganda and the Cen- tral African Republic. Africa in general and Kenya and Uganda in particular have been hard hit by the AIDS epidemic, and the Catholic Church has faced criticism that its position has contrib- uted to the problem. VATICAN Pope: There are bigger issues than condoms and HIV TehamaCountyChurchDirectory RedBluff.... ABUNDANTLIFEFELLOWSHIP 21080LutherRd.•528-2499 Pastor J.E. Heitman • WORSHIP Sunday 11AM & 6PM APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 1321 Nelson Dr. • 527-8541 Pastor Rudy Cepeda • WORSHIP • Sunday 1:00PM & Friday 7PM BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD 625 Luther Rd. • 527-0445 Pastor David Blythe • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM CALVARY CHAPEL 12375 Paskenta Rd. • 527-8219 Pastor Gilbert DeLao Jr. • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am CHURCH OF CHRIST 1605 Park Ave • 529-3063 • Evangelist Gary Den WORSHIP • Sun. 11AM & 6:30 PM • Bible Study • Sunday 10AM & Wed 7PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Antelope 545 Berrendos • 529-2506 • Bishop Phillip Smith • Sunday 11AM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Red Bluff 545 Berrendos • 527-7012 • Bishop Jim Wilhite • Sunday 9:00AM CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS 857 Washington St., Open Daily 9-11am Pastors Brad & Susan Harms•WORSHIP•Sunday 2PM•Bible Study Thur 2-4pm COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 598 Round -Up Ave. 527-4203 Pastor Dr. Paul Wright • WORSHIP • Sunday 9AM • PRAYER • 6PM CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF GOD Hwy. 36, Jorgenson 527-9210 • Pastor Roy Duggins • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM & 5PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 501 Pine St. • 527-4361 Pastor Bruce Cloutier • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Hickory & Madison • 527-4688 Pastor Daryl Jones • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM FIRST CHURCH OF GOD Jackson & Luther • 527-5717 Pastor Sean Story • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Johnson & Hickory • 527-3361 Pastor Jesse Morris • WORSHIP • 10:30 AM FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH 585 Kimball Rd. • 527-5083 Don St. John • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 525 David Ave. • 527-5754 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Cure • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM FREEDOM CHURCH 601 Monroe St. • 355-2284 • Pastors Pete & Bev Williams • WORSHIP Sunday 10:30AM • YOUTH Thurs. 7PM GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, IND. FUND. 12830 Glasgow Dr. 527-2964 • Pastor Jeff Eldred • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM & 6PM LAKE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHURCH Lake Club • 347 6970 Jim Bredow, Pastor • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30-10:15AM NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH 1625 Johnson St. • 527-8134 SERVICE • 10:00AM NORTH VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH 345 David Ave • 527-0543 Pastor Scott Camp • Sunday 11:00AM, Sunday School 9:30AM www.northvalleyredbluff.com NUEVA VIDA 11841 Hyw 99W • Red Bluff • Spanish-speaking Pastor Freddie Villasenor • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM OPEN VISTAS AWARENESS CENTER 807 Lincoln St. • 529-9285 Rv. Tresha Wing • SERVICE • Sunday 10:00AM OUT OF THE BOX MINISTRIES-COWBOY CHURCH 585-3070 22812 Antelope Blvd. –– Wednesday 7:00PM –– Sunday 10:00AM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Jefferson & Hickory St. • 527-0372 Rev. Beth Hoyt • 11:00AM Worship • 9:30AM Sunday School PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD 370 Kimball Rd. • 527-6346 Pastor Mike Cox • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM RED BLUFF COMMUNITY CHURCH 1920 Park St. Pastor Stan Kolbert • SERVICES • Sunday 9:30AM • 282-2248 SABBATH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN 705 So. Jackson St. • 529-1890 Pastor Ron Largent • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:45AM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 515 Main St. • Father Sherwin Colaste MASS • Saturday 5:15, Spanish 7PM • Sun. 8:30AM, 10:30AM, Spanish 12PM THE SALVATION ARMY 944 Walnut St. • 527-8530 Major Kit Wetter, Pastor • SERVICES • Sunday 10AM & 11AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH 720 S. Jackson • 527-3733 Pastor Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:30AM ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-3414 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30AM & 11AM ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-5205 Rev. Maryly Adair • Sunday 9:30AM, Holy Eucharist Rite II SUNRISE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP GARBC Corner of Cedar & Jackson 529-6884 • Pastor Chris Hurton • WORSHIP • 10:50AM • Bible Study 9:30AM TEHAMA COUNTY'S MERCY PLACE FELLOWSHIP, bilingual 836 Washington St., Red Bluff • 2:00 PM Sundays • 262-9474 TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 8529 Placer Rd., Redding 243-5726 • For service dates & times • 529-9246 TRINITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 20920 Hampton Rhodes Dr. 528-8668•Pastor Loren Browning • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:45AM & 5PM - Wed. 6PM THE ROCK CHURCH OF RED BLUFF 285 Gilmore Road • 527-7234 Pastor Vik Hylen•WORSHIP • Sun. 10AM & 6:30PM - Tues. 7:30PM - Men's Prayer Sat. 9AM VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 738 Walnut St. • 527-2449 Pastor Steve Igarta • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN CENTER RHEMA Bible Church • 527-9065 435 Round Up Ave.• Pastor Michael Ragsdale • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:30AM ZION CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES 836 Washington St. 529-1836 • Pastor Joshua John McKim • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15AM Bowman... COMMUNITY CHURCH Bowman Rd. & Landes • 347-6130 Pastor Mark Lugg • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM Capay... COMMUNITY FRIENDS CHURCH • 4th & Moller Ave. • 865-2806 Pastor Toni Brown • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30AM Corning... BELIEVERS CHURCH OF GOD 783 Solano St. • 824-6502 Pastor Dan Steigmn • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1418 South St. • 824-3603 WORSHIP • Sunday • 10:30AM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1440 Yolo St. • 824-4333 David King, Minister • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM & 6PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Marguerite & Blackburn • Bishop Scott Davis • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM CORNING FOURSQUARE 404 5 th St. • 824-5776 • Sr. Pastor John Gehrung WORSHIP • Sunday: adults 9:15, 10:30 AM • Tues.10AM prayer meeting FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH Marin & Pear Sts. • 824-9989 Rev. Russ Ziegler • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:45AM & 6PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 506 Colusa St. • 824-3490 Pastor Chris Fissori • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15AM • Sunday School 9AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1421 Marin St. • 824-5739 WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 824-5535 • 471 Marguerite Pastor Julie Horne • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM HARVEST CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH OF GOD 1006 6th St. 824-2091 • Pastor Michael Sharp • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH 824-5879 814 Solano St. • Father Cormac Lacre • MASS • Sun. 10AM, Spanish 12PM INDEPENDENT LUTHERAN CHURCH OF CORNING Houghton Ave. between Solano and Yolo Worship: Sunday 11:00 am • Pastor Dennis Wyman • 526-4736 MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH 341 Solano St. • 824-5530 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke • WORSHIP • Sunday 9AM NEIGHBORHOOD FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 901 South St. • 824-2323 Pastor Ken Killinger • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:50AM & 6PM NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY CHURCH 824-3426 • Pastor J.R. Gonzales WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM - Sunday School 9AM OLIVE BRANCH BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP 565 1st St. • 824-3661 • SERVICE • Sunday 10:30 AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH West & Butte • 824-2153 Pastor Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 11AM SONLIGHT WORSHIP CENTER 1520 East St. • 824-0175 Pastor Lenny Duval • WORHSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM & Wed. 6:30 PM ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 820 Marin St. • 680-0353 Rev. Diana Lueckert • CHURCH • Sunday 10AM Cottonwood... FOURSQUARE CHURCH 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH 11220 Hwy. 99E • 527-2329 Pastor Catherine Joseph • WORSHIP • Sun. 9AM El Camino... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Hwy. 99W • 385-2314 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Cure • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30AM NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH 8345 SR 99W, El Camino Sunday School • 10AM • WORSHIP • 11AM SHADY REST FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 7211 Hwy. 99W 385-2155 • Pastor Andrew Dalson • WORSHIP • Saturday 7PM Gerber... BAHA'I FAITH OF TEHAMA COUNTY 385-1091 Prayer meetings Fridays 7:30PM Brickyard Creek Apartments FAITH HOPE LOVE MINISTRIES 21941 Chard Ave. 385-1431 • Pastor Ina Driggers • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM GERBER BIBLE FELLOWSHIP 301 Samson @ Ventura 385-1718 • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM Los Molinos.... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sherwood & Josephine 384-2656 • Pastor Ray Watkins • WORSHIP 11AM MILL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH HWY 99E and Taft St., 384-1564 Pastor Carl DeBiase • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM & 6PM SPIRIT OF LIFE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD 25235 Orange St., 310-4990 Rev. Kenneth & Pamela Auld • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Manton... MANTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Forward Rd. • 474-5156 Pastor Michael Stiener•WORSHIP•Sunday School 9:30 Sun. 10:45 Paskenta... PASKENTA FLOURNOY BIBLE CHURCH 13140 Round Valley Rd. Sunday 10:30AM • 833-0557 Platina... ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA MONASTERY Begum Gorge Rd. Abbot Herman • LITURGY • Sunday 8:30AM Rancho Tehama... COMMUNITY CHURCH (Non-Den.) • 585-2526 WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES Stage Coach Rd. • 585-2961 Pastor John and Sandra Edmiston • SERVICES • Sun. 10:30AM, Wed. 6PM Tehama... ASSEMBLY OF GOD Third St. • 384-2603 Pastor Walter Bright • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D • MASS • Sunday 8:00AM - Bilingual Vina... VINA COMMUNITY CHURCH 5th & D Street • 839-2340 WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS 816WalnutSt.-RedBluff FD 652 Thisdirectorysponsoredby: TEHAMA ESTATES A Retirement Community for the Active Senior Citizens 750 David Ave. - Red Bluff - 527-9193 REDBLUFF DODGE, JEEP, CHRYSLER, RAM Urgesyoutoworshipregularlyatthechurchofyourchoice 545 Adobe Rd., Red Bluff - 366-3166 FAITH » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, December 5, 2015 MOREAT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A8