The Cove (Ore.) Church members welcomed the entire community to their 27th-annual Poinsettia Tree Program in December 2011.
Nearly 100 Adventists, community members, and members of the Lutheran Church (currently renting the Cove Church), filled the small building. A "tree" of poinsettias provided a splash of seasonal color. At the end of the program, the poinsettias were given to attendees, some of whom took the plants to members and community members not able to be at the service.
Cove and La Grande (Ore.) Church members presented seasonal music selections. These included the following: Roger Wilkerson played the piano, and Mike Armayor, Cove Church pastor, gave the welcome and offered prayer. Doris Wareham shared a story, A Christmas Far from Home, which encouraged everyone to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
During the Christmas season, everyone loves to hear the talents of children, including the students of the La Grande Adventist School singing and playing bells. They performed one song, "The Virgin Mary," in sign language. Baker City (Ore.) Church members, Gary and Alice Laabs, and Karl and Ma'Lena Wirth, also shared music.
The program gives church and community members an opportunity to share talents together. Cindy and Sue, non-members from the area, joined Marguerite Pike and Ora Rollins in performing several songs.
The Poinsettia Tree program gives the Cove Church, with just under 20 people in regular attendance, additional support in its efforts to connect with the community, showing people can work together, creating something beyond one's own capabilities.
The church was full for the Poinsettia Tree program.
