Most residents of Walla Walla are familiar with the orange glow emanating at night from the north side of town. The Washington State Penitentiary houses some 2,500 men and employs many hundreds of people from across the region. Most valley residents don’t regularly interact with those who live on the hill. A good portion of us are afraid of them. A number of us might even prefer to act as though they’re not just next door. They’re suffering the consequences of their deeds, some of us might think, justice isn’t always pretty. And they’re only getting what they have coming.

The Washington State Penitentiary on the north side of town is truly a city and culture to its own; and yet it is ours. If it weren’t for Jesus’ explicit commands to look after, visit, and show kindness toward this population, we might be tempted to continue to look the other way; or perhaps just offer contempt. Instead, we hear Jesus whispering, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

What Walla Walla residents don’t often know, is what happens to offenders after they have served their sentences, when they are released to the community.

When offenders get out (always in the county where their crime was committed), they often have nothing more than $40 in their pockets and the shirt on their backs. After having been incarcerated for years or decades, the experience can be overwhelming. For those without family support, simply figuring out housing or jobs can feel monumental. Add in past crutches like substance abuse or employers’ legal right to discriminate against hiring felons, and it isn’t surprising that 30% of parolees without support end up back in prison.

Just over ten years ago, a group of Christians and other community leaders sought to engage more deeply men and women released from incarceration in Walla Walla County. They established “The Star Project,” a beautiful God-drenched non-profit organization, to fill the gap between prison life and life on the outside. The goal of the Star Project is to assist men and women in fully re-integrating in their communities, healthy and whole. Star Project volunteers and employees walk alongside former inmates and offer mentoring and education as they navigate basic life challenges. It also partners with area organizations, service-providers, and even landlords to help smooth the path for reentry.

The University Church supports this essential ministry with a modest monthly contribution, as do many of our members on a private basis. Presently, the Star Project has a particular need for new donated toiletry items and bedding. In addition, the organization provides a weekly dinner for all those in the program and they presently need volunteers to help with meal preparation.

For more information on how to contribute to the work of the Star Project, call their office at 509.525.3612 or email info@thestarproject.us. You can also visit their website: www.thestarproject.us to discover more.

TOUCHES OF INTEREST

SonBridge Dental Clinic is looking to fill the paid position of a Dentist at 3 days/week. Call Mel Lang at (509) 301-3460 if interested.

Membership Transfers (second reading)
(IN) Volker and Linda Henning, Collegedale, Tenn.
Nerissa Lewis, Baton Rouge, La.
Glyn Marsh, Clarkston, Wash.
(Away) Rick and Sue Bockmann, Post Falls, Idaho
Norma Flores, Keene, Texas

Your Input Requested in Selection of New UCC President: The North Pacific Union Conference is looking for your assistance as we select a new conference president for Upper Columbia Conference. The input from each church member in your family is valued in the selection process. A letter from John Freedman, president of the NPUC, explaining the presidential search process; and a survey for you to include your input is available here: https://sp.uccsda.org/news2018-01-23/ Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the selection process and if you desire, to also fill out the survey.

Come one and come all to the 75th  annual OPS Amateur Hour February 24th  8pm at the Winter Education Complex. This year we have nine amazing acts ranging from original songs to acts that will leave you in amazement. This year we are blessed to have the show hosted by the one and only Peter Flores, who is a former Amateur Hour contestant and ASWWU Spiritual Vice-president. Tickets are $6.00 and $13.00 for families. A portion of the proceeds of the ticket sales will go towards Cancer Research. “

Employment Opportunity: Rogers Adventist School is hiring a part time 7th/8th grade teacher for the 18-19 school year. SDA certification required (or will be completed by the beginning of the school year), state certification preferred. Applicant should be skilled in teaching algebra, language arts, and Bible. Interested applicants should submit a resume with references and a cover letter to Holley Bryant at holley.bryant@rschool.org.

All-Church Potluck - including students and visitors - Sabbath, March 10 after Second Serve (1:15 PM) in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Please join Elder Arthur Dahl’s family in celebrating his 100th birthday on February 25th, 2018. You may remember him as the Pastor of the Village church, General Hospital, and Clovis, among others. Come wish him happy birthday and enjoy some cake at the Courtyard Marriott, 550 West Rose Street, Walla Walla, between 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Denominational Retired Worker’s Potluck, March 4, 5:00 PM, Village Church Fellowship Hall.  Following the potluck, Pastor John Stafford will present power point pictures and stories of his recent trip to West Africa with Gospel Outreach.  We always welcome new retirees to join us each month.

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 volunteers to serve as barbers/hairstylists, registered nurses to help in our health clinic, and a van driver to pick up donated food on Monday mornings. Contact Jeannette at 509.525.7153.

Market With A Mission: Come enjoy delicious food, baked goods, specialty items, and live music. Stateline SDA Church Friendship Center, Sunday, March 4, from 4-7 pm.  Proceeds will benefit our local Christian Aid Center/Rescue Mission.

Milton-Stateline Adventist School invites you to a New Student Visitation Day on Friday, March 9th 8:15-10:00 am. We service preschoolers to 8th graders. Come and see what we have to offer! Call 541-938-7131 or email info@miltonstateline.org

Beat the winter doldrums and come to the fair! Milton-Stateline Adventist School’s Annual Fair is Sunday, March 11th, 4:00-7:00 pm. There will be games, face painting, a cake walk, put someone in jail and prizes! Delicious vege-burgers, vege-corn dogs, a taco bar, snow cones and whole lot more! No admission fee. All booths run on 50 cent tickets. Fun family night for all ages!

Jamie Jorge ~ Healing Music Concert Tour: Jaime Jorge, a world-class violinist, will be performing a free concert on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 6pm at the College Place SDA Church. Jamie was born in Cuba and raised in a communist country. Jaime has a passion for proclaiming the gospel through his music. His gift of musical interpretation brings new life and excitement to every song. You will be inspired by his music and blessed as he shares his testimony. The Julianna Sayler Foundation is pleased to partner with Jaime Jorge in presenting this concert and in support of families fighting pediatric cancer.

You are invited to a New Student Visitation Day at Milton-Stateline Adventist School on Friday, March 9th 8:15 am to 10:00 am. We have Preschool to 8th grade. Free bus service to and from Walla Walla, Milton Freewater and College Place.

Discovery Preschool is now enrolling children 3-5 years of age. It is the goal of our staff to work closely together with each family to provide a solid foundation for intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual growth of the child. Children are encouraged to explore their world through self-expression in a natural, playful, social environment. Contact information: stacy.maxted@wallawalla.edu or 509.527.2252. Visit: wallawalla.edu/preschool

Milton-Stateline Adventist School is having a FAIR! Our annual fair is filled with great things to eat and games to play is on Sunday, March 11th 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Great family fun! There will be vegeburgers, vege-corn dogs, nachos and drinks. The kids can ride the merry-go-round, go through the maze, have a pillow fight and play games for prizes! All the booths run on tickets. the tickets are 50 cents each. No admission fee.

ROSARIO SINGLES RETREAT April 5-8, 2018 in Anacortes WA. Marvin Wray, pastor of the Napa California SDA Church is our speaker for the weekend. His passion in ministry is to share the absolute assurance of God’s gift of salvation. Arrive Thursday and spend Friday on an Island Adventure in the San Juan Islands. Registration is $235 for the full retreat. Other registration options are listed on the registration form. For more details and a registration form, send an email to RosarioRetreat@Gmail.com. For those without access to email, you may call our registration line at 360 588-3179 to request info. The deadline to register is March 19, 2018.