Pioneer Women's Ministries invites you to share in the joy of the season by registering for this year's Advent devotionals, "Why Did Jesus Come? Going beyond John 3:16." Join us as we dig deeper into God's amazing love, care, and deep desire to spend eternity with us. Devotionals will be sent daily December 1-25, 2024. You can receive a brief synopsis of each day's devotional by text and the full devotional by email by texting the word ADVENT to 269.281.2345. We look forward to sharing this blessed season with you.
#RxF4Now
Jolly Old St Nicholas Goes to Bethlehem
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
Saturday, December 03, 2016
Program:
As We Begin
On This Day Earth Shall Sing • Gustav Holst / Smith
Praise
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing • st. 1 & 3 of 122 / O Come, All Ye Faithful • st. 1 & 2 of 132 / Silent Night • st. 1 & 4 of 143 / Joy to the World • all st. of 125 / I Will Exalt You
Prayer
José Bourget
"Go!"
Rodlie Ortiz
Tithes & Offerings
Joy to the World • Daniel Kallman
Children's Story
Michael Bryson
Bible Reading
2 Corinthians 1:18-20 NIV
Worship in Music
What Child Is This? • Alfred Reed
Sermon
#RxF4Now: “Jolly Old St Nicholas Goes to Bethlehem” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
What Child Is This? • 141
As We Depart
Symphonic Prelude on Adeste Fideles • Claude Smith
More In This Series
“Jolly Old St Nicholas Goes to Bethlehem”
- Proverbs’ One Prayer
- Proverbs 30:8—“O Lord, give me neither nor , but give me only my .”
- A Christmas prayer asking God to keep me in because (v 9):
- The great danger in wealth is that it tends to make us feel of God. (Psalm 73:12; Job 21:13-15)
- The great danger in poverty is that it tends to make us feel by God. (Isaiah 8:21)
- “O God—give me neither poverty nor riches—but give me only my daily bread.”
- Joshua Becker, The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own” (Loc 199-213):
- www.becomingminimalist.com
- In the US we now consume as many material goods as we did 50 years ago.
- Over the same period the size of the average American home has nearly tripled and today contains about items.
- On average our homes contain more than people.
- The US Department of Energy reports that due to clutter, % of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park cars inside, and another % have room for only one vehicle.
- One out of 10 American households rents off-site —the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades.
- The average household’s credit card debt stands at over $, while the average mortgage debt is over $.
- Will Rogers: “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”
- “My daily bread”:
- Born in a village whose name meant “House of ”(Beth-lehem).
- A fitting birthplace for Him who one day would teach us to pray: “Our Father who is in Heaven, give us this day our daily .” (Matthew 6:11)
- A fitting prayer from Him who one day would declare: “I am the of Life—whoever comes to Me will never go hungry.” (John 6:35)
- God’s One Promise
- 2 Corinthians 1:20—YES! and AMEN!
- Psalm 33:6, 9
- Isaiah 55:11
- John 6:63
- Jesus: “Give and it will be given to you—pressed down, shaken together and running over!” (Luke 6:38)
- AMEN!
- Joshua Becker, The More of Less: “It’s true that the less we , the more we can . But what if the inverse is also true? What if the more we give away, the less we need? In other words, what if leads to contentment?”
- God: “Bring the whole tithe into My storehouse and test Me and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)
- AMEN!
- Tweet: “The antidote 2 Black Friday is 4 words long. Memorize them—you’ll have no problem driving past a shopping mall 2day: “I don’t need it.” (@DwightKNelson)
- 2 Corinthians 1:20—YES! and AMEN!
“Give me Jesus”
2024 Advent Devotionals
Fellowship Dinner
Following the second worship service, there will not be a fellowship dinner this Sabbath.
Offering for November 23, 2024
Michigan Advance Partners
“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”(Exodus 40:34) Years ago, members of Metropolitan Church in Plymouth, Michigan, decided to build a “tabernacle” to praise His holy name!
Unfortunate things happen on this side of eternity – sometimes to earthly tabernacles. Regrettably, water dripping from a leaking roof drenched the carpeting in various parts of the church building. This prompted the church to initiate a fundraising campaign for the repairs and updating of the church interior. Simultaneously, an indoor pipe burst, producing serious flooding to the entire interior, which caused the immediate need for major repair of the entire church interior.
Given the serious water damage, the Church Board requested financial assistance from the Michigan Conference MAP Department. It was inspiring to witness firsthand the benefits of the monthly, sacrificial giving to MAP by the members of the Michigan Conference. The church was granted $8,536.50, which was used to defray part of the large expense of roof repair. Michigan Advance Partnership is integral to sustaining our churches in Michigan. True to its name, it does act as a Partner when one of the churches requires assistance. Funds used to assist the churches are generated through generous donations by members of all Michigan churches during a special appeal made every last Sabbath of every month. Therefore, when you contribute – you are MAP.
The Book of Exodus records; “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do, and the people were restrained from bringing more . . . “(Ex. 36:5-7) Thank you for your faithful support of MAP and all of our sister churches.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Women and Friends Outdoors Group— Walk With Us!
Would you enjoy meeting sister outdoors-people? Group membership is for women but members are welcome to bring along friends or family members on the hikes. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. No experience needed. During the winter we will hike once a month.
The Crayon Box Annual Christmas Concert
All are invited to our annual program, "Joy to the World," as our children (ages 0–12) celebrate everything that makes this joyful holiday season: Thanksgiving, Winter, Christmas and New Year's! Following the concert, a donation will be collected for our center. "Joy to the World" will be held in the Howard Performing Arts Center.
"Reminiscence" Voice Recital
Come and enjoy music performed by Raleigh Pettey, baritone, and Jonathan Clough, pianist—an evening celebrating God's gift of music through singing.
Grow Groups Ministry Meeting
On Sabbath, November 23, at 3:30 PM in the PMC Commons, there will be an organizing and planning meeting for Grow Group leaders and for those who are interested in small group ministry.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
We invite you to take part in the Feed the Need, Pioneer’s annual Thanksgiving food collection coordinated by the Evergreen Pathfinder club. The club dropped bags in the community last weekend. They will return to pick them up on November 17.
You can also bring your donation of non-perishable food to church on Sabbath November 23. As part of "A Feast of Hymns" Pathfinders will collect the food bags during the Procession of Thanksgiving.
If you know of a family in the area who needs food this upcoming holiday season call Pioneer at 269.471.6565 to submit their name to receive a food bag/box.
10th Annual 'We Sing' Voice Vespers: A Tribute to Hale & Wilder
Join the AU Department of Music voice students for their annual 'We Sing' Voice Vespers. This year marks the 10th year and features a tribute to the iconic singing duo 'Hale & Wilder'. Robert Hale and Dean Wilder sang over 4,000 sacred concerts. The voice
students and special guests will present selections from their repertoire. Marcelo Martins joins as a guest accompanist.
Dinosaur Encounter
Dinosaur Encounter is coming to Berrien Springs High School on December 7, 2024. Reserve your tickets at dinoencounter.com/pmc
