There is no fellowship dinner this Sabbath downstairs in the commons.
The Morning Star Rises
The Morning Star Rises: Silent Night
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 01, 2012
More In This Series
“The Morning Star Rises: Silent Night”
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□ A Five Piece Puzzle
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Piece #1—2 Peter 1:19—Peter associates the Morning Star with the bright light of that shines into the dark night just before the dawn breaks.
Like a halogen light, prophecy is a divine gift designed to [1] help us see what liesahead , and [2] help us ward off in that darkness.
- Piece #2—Ezekiel 43:1, 2—Ezekiel describes the glory of God like a that floods the earth.
- Piece #3—Malachi 4:2—Malachi personifies the whose light brings healing to those who fear God.
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Piece #4—Revelation 18:1, 2, 4—John then takes the explosion of the glory of the Sun of God—described by Ezekiel and Malachi—and places that global event at the .
We have no reason to fear the endgame—because the last word always belongs to God—and His last word will be an explosion of the of Christ Jesus throughout the earth! - Piece #5—Revelation 22:16—Jesus is the .
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Piece #1—2 Peter 1:19—Peter associates the Morning Star with the bright light of that shines into the dark night just before the dawn breaks.
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□ Who’s the Star of your life, your religion?
- The quest of prophetic study, the purpose of apocalyptic investigation is so the Morning Star might rise in our hearts.
- Thus the Apocalypse opens with the stunning reminder: “The revelation of Jesus Christ [not the dragon, the beasts, the mark of the beast, or even Babylon]” (Revelation 1:1).
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□ A Four Step Solution
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#1—B the Morning Star.
- I Corinthians 2:2—“I determined to know nothing among you except and Him crucified.”
- Philippians 3:10—“I want to know .”
- The most concentrated glory of the “bright and Morning Star” is in the , so read every new dawn.
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#2—B over the Morning Star.
- The Bible refers to this as .
- Psalm 119:148—“My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may on Your word.”
- #3—B before the Morning Star.
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#1—B the Morning Star.
Steps to Christ: “Through sincere we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.” (97)
#4—B the Morning Star.
Oswald Chambers: “. . . Christian experience in the New Testament is that of personal passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ.” (My Utmost for His Highest 334)
“Make the Morning Star your North Star”
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
Sing Praise! Wind Symphony Vespers Concert
“Sing Praise!” Wind Symphony Vespers is quickly becoming an annual tradition, inviting audiences to experience the joy of music-making through both listening and singing together. This year’s event brings the Wind Symphony together with the University Singers and the Spanish SDA Church Praise Team, creating a powerful shared musical experience. This year’s program features beloved hymn favorites such as “Rejoice the Lord Is King” and “Lead On, O King Eternal,” alongside contemporary works inspired by texts from the Psalms and other scriptures. Bring a friend or family member and join the Wind Symphony for this meaningful and uplifting evening on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM, in the Howard Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.
Chasing Away the Blues - Nature Sings
This Saturday evening, February 21 at 8 PM, the Andrews University Chorale and Singers will present a special collaborative choral program with the University of Notre Dame Chorale under the direction of Stephen Zork. The concert is family-oriented and features thoughtful, edifying, and playful repertoire with allusions to nature’s narratives on love, longing, gratitude, and hope. This concert is a wonderful way to help melt away the winter blues. For more information visit howard.andrews.edu
Church Directory
We are starting the process of introducing a church directory app. Please stay tuned for further announcements. This app will be a wonderful way to get to know others and build connections.
Care for Cuba—Urgent Need
Partner with Care for Cuba to bring much-needed resources to Cuba such as food, medicines and places of worship. Donate online at careforcuba.org
Offering for February 21, 2026
Pioneer Operating Budget
Children are a heritage from God and should be included in the call to respond to Him through stewardship. They, like all of us, are beneficiaries of God’s grace. So, how are children to be involved in the call to be faithful stewards? The instruction to Israel gives an example. “These commandments that I give you today, are to be impressed upon your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, NIV), in the home, outside of the home, and even when you are resting.
Like Israel, as a church, we are to model and teach the concepts of stewardship to our children. Help them to understand what it means to use God’s gift of time to worship and build a relationship with him, to take care of their mind and body, to use their talents and abilities to witness to others, to be caretakers of our environment, and also to return their tithe and freewill offering to the Lord.
We are encouraged as parents to teach our children by example what it means to show their love for Christ, and to bring their offerings to the Lord. Ellen White writes that, “their gifts would be as little rivulets (streams), which when united and set flowing, would swell into a river” (Counsels on Stewardship, p. 293). Today, let us all be model stewards by returning our tithes and offerings, modelling for our children what God desires of us all.
—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.
Andrews Symphony Fundraising Concert
Thursday February 19 at 7:30 PM, the AUSO will be giving a free performance of movie soundtracks and broadway tunes to raise funds for their music tour to California this coming March. This short performance is kid's friendly and promises to be an exceptional evening of great music. Bring your cellphone!
Academy Day March 3
All eighth-grade students are invited to attend Academy Day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Come and see the exciting programs Andrews Academy offers and experience one day with us. While there, you will worship together, go to several classes, and participate in some games and activities. Lunch will be served, and T-shirts and prizes will be given. Registration begins in the gym at 7:30 AM, the full day of activities will begin at 8:00 am and will conclude by 3:15 PM. Call 269-471-3138 to RSVP or with any questions you may have. (Eighth graders in NAS, RMES, VAES, and Eau Claire SDA schools are already preregistered). Drop off/pick up is either in the circle drive or in the parking lot (8833 Garland Ave, Berrien Springs).
Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Visitor's Day
Students who will be in the first through eighth grades next school year are invited to visit Ruth Murdoch Elementary School on March 3. Make friends, meet teachers and have fun! Grades 1–6: 8:15–11:30 AM; Grades 7–8: 8:15 AM–3:30 PM. Parents, please call 269-471-3225 to register. (A special Kindergarten Visitors' Day is being planned for April 8).