There is no fellowship dinner this Sabbath downstairs in the commons.
A Christmas Prayer For 2015: O Come, O Come, Immanuel (Veni, Veni Emmanuel)
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 05, 2015
Program:
As We Begin
I Saw Three Ships • L. Kerchner
Praise
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing • O Come, All Ye Faithful Silent Night • Joy to the World
Prayer
José Bourget
"By the Word of Their Testimony" Baptism
Chris Ngugi with Ben Martin • Jane-Carla Esperance Idana Gedeon-Sainsurin with Rodlie Ortiz
Baby Dedication
Emmett Elijah presented by Benjamin & Brianna Martin with José Bourget
Worship in Music
Candlelight Procession • Adam Gorb
Sermon
“A Christmas Prayer for 2015: O Come, O Come, Immanuel (Veni, Veni Emmanuel)” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Cards, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
O Come, O Come, Immanuel • 115
As We Depart
Joy to the Season • Sean O'Loughlin
“A Christmas Prayer for 2015: O Come, O Come, Immanuel”
- The Gathering Dark
- James Nelson Black: “As I have looked back across the ruins and landmarks of antiquity, I have been stunned by the parallels between those societies and our own. For most of us the destruction of Carthage, the rise of the Greek city-states, and the Fall of Rome are mere ghosts of the past, history lessons long forgotten. And such things as the capture of Constantinople, the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the collapse of the kingdoms of France and Spain, and the slow withering decline of the British Empire are much less clear and less memorable. . . . But this is the legitimate background of our own place in history, [thus] it is vital that we reconsider the nature of life in those earlier times. For within those eras and movements are the seeds of the troubles we face today.” (When Nations Die 3 www.leaderu.com/common/nationsdie.html)
Social decay:
- Crisis of lawlessness
- Loss of economic discipline
- Rising bureaucracy
Cultural decay:
- Decline of education
- Weakening of cultural foundations
- Loss of respect for tradition
- Increase in materialism
Moral decay:
- Rise in immorality
- Decay of religious belief
- Devaluing of human life
- The Piercing Light
- Matthew 4:16-17—The world was when Christ came the first time.
- Revelation 18:1-3—The world will be when Christ comes the second time.
- Ezekiel 43:1, 2—But as it was the first time so it will be the second time—the Light of will pierce the darkness of the world.
- Malachi 4:2—The of Righteousness will rise with healing in His beams.
- Isaiah 60:1, 2—And He will pierce the darkness through His glory that will shine upon His .
- Matthew 5:14-16—So we must let the light of His shine us.
- Christ’s Object Lessons:
- “It is the darkness of misapprehension of that is enshrouding the world. [People] are losing their knowledge of His character.” (415)
- “The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of .” (415)
- “The children of God are to manifest His glory. In own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.” (415-416)
- “Thus in the night of spiritual darkness God’s glory is to shine forth through His in lifting up the bowed down and comforting those that mourn.” (417)
- “Practical work will have far more than mere sermonizing. We are to give food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and shelter to the homeless.” (417)
- “And we are called to do more than this. The wants of the soul, only the of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in us, our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike will be unsealed.” (417)
- “The whole earth, wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin, and sorrow, and pain, is to be lighted with the knowledge of God’s . From no sect, rank, or class of people is the light shining from heaven’s throne to be excluded. . . . The power of hell has been overcome.” (418)
“Go light your world!”
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.
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).
Sunday Music Series with Carla Trynchuk & Elena Braslavsky
Violinist Carla Trynchuk and pianist Elena Braslavsky will be performing a recital including works by Beethoven, Debussy, and the Jewish Ukrainian composer Meitus. Trynchuk, faculty at Andrews University, has performed internationally as soloist and recitalist in more than 15 countries. Braslavsky, formerly a faculty member at The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music, currently serves on the piano faculty of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg. Trynchuk and Braslavsky were classmates together at The Juilliard School. This will be a FREE recital on February 22, at 4:00 PM.
