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"You Turned My Mourning into Dancing"

Part 1

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Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight 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, November 11, 2017
Program: 
As We Begin
Holy, Holy, Holy • J. Curnow
Praise
Bless the Lord with Me • You Are God Alone • Holy Spirit Rain Down
Prayer
Sharon Terrell
Baptism
Agatha Kayaga with Rodlie Ortiz
Ordination of Elders
Sabine Vatel & Dwight Nelson
Melissa Gibson, Juliette Horton, Julie Logan, Michael Orvek, Jessica Yoong
Children’s Story
Let My People Go • T. Scott
Worship in Music
Total Praise • J. Thompson & R. Scruggs
Sermon
"'You Turned My Mourning into Dancing'" • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes, & Offerings
Come, Thou Fount • 334

More In This Series

11/18/2017
The Habitude of Gratitude
All Sermons
Print Download

"'You Turned My Mourning into Dancing'"

www.newperceptions.tv

  • The Story—1 Chronicles 21​
  • The Song—Psalm 30
    • Jean Twenge: iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood (and What That Means for the Rest of Us): "In 2016, for the first time, the majority of entering college students described their mental health as below average.... The sudden, sharp rise in depressive symptoms occurred at almost exactly the same time that smartphones became ubiquitous and in-person interaction plummeted." (104)
    • Tommy Walker/Ron Kenoly: "You've turned my mourning Into dancing again/You've lifted my sorrows/I can't stay silent/I must sing for Your joy has come..."
    • Ellen White, Ministry of Healing:
      • "Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of  and . It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to . If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house?" (251)
      • " is a weapon we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour’s presence, we shall have health and His blessing." (254)
      • "It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express thoughts, it is also true that thoughts follow words [feelings follow (behavior)]. If we would give more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we know we have—the great mercy and love of God—we should have more faith and greater joy [talk faith until you have faith]." (251-253)
    • Miroslav Volf: "There can be no redemption unless the truth about the world is told and justice is done. To treat sin as if it were not there, when in fact it is there, amounts to living as if the world were redeemed when in fact it is not." (Alberto Garcia, John Nunes Wittenberg Meets the World: Reimagining the Reformation at the Margins 75)

"You turned my mourning into morning!"

Offering for May 2, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

In 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 225 tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 155 lives. Miraculously, a four-year-old girl named Cecelia was the sole survivor. Investigations revealed that during the plane's descent, Cecelia's mother, Paula Chican, unbuckled her own seatbelt, knelt in front of her daughter, and wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia to shield her from the impact. This selfless act of maternal love protected Cecelia, demonstrating the profound lengths to which a parent's love can go.

Oh my, the love of a mother, this is what God is telling us today, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15,
NIV). The local church should be a place where people feel that kind of love.

John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

As we celebrate Mother’s Day next week, let’s return our tithes and offerings with grateful hearts knowing that Christ’s love is even greater than the love of a mother. Let’s worship God today, and may we love Christ
deeply as we appreciate our mothers.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Young Adult Mission Trip in Peru!

Maranatha Volunteers International invites young adults, ages 18-28, to join Catalyst, a service experience for their age group. Build a church for the Calapuja Adventist Church, operate medical clinics, and lead VBS programs. Learn more at Maranatha.org/volunteer or call 916-774-7700. 

ZOOM IN! Summer Camp 2026

 ZOOM IN! to God’s Amazing World at The Crayon Box Summer Camp, running June 1–August 20, 2026. Children entering Kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy a summer filled with nature, science, creativity, teamwork, and play as they explore how God’s hand is at work all around them. Each themed week encourages campers to notice the small wonders, big ideas, and amazing details of God’s creation. Located on the beautiful campus of Andrews University, The Crayon Box offers a safe, joyful, faith-centered place for children to spend their summer vacation with on-campus adventures, campus field trips, and visits from zoo and wildlife educators. Enrollment is open now at andrews.edu/services/crayonbox/summercamp. Space is limited. Forms are due May 18, 2026.