Sabbath evening, March 1, at 6:30 PM, all Widows and Widower’s are invited to the Stevensville church for a Vegetarian Soup & Bread Potluck. Bring soup, artisan bread, garlic bread, or sandwiches, crackers, and dip. Bring your favorite board game to play after we eat. For more details, contact Brenda at 269-861-5174
Chasing Hope
From an Empty Tomb
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, March 26, 2016
Program:
As We Begin
That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright • Sharon Rogers
Praise
Christ Is Alive • Mighty to Save • How Deep the Father's Love for Us • Because He Lives
Prayer
Ben Martin
Children's Story
That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright • David Johnson
Processional of Hope
Dwight & Karen Nelson / Christ the Lord Is Risen Today • 166
Sermon
“Chasing Hope: From An Empty Tomb” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
He Lives • 251
As We Depart
Alleluia • Théodore Dubois
More In This Series
“Chasing Hope: From an Empty Tomb”
- “The Instinct of Hope”
Is there another world for this frail dust
To warm with life and be itself again?
Something about me daily speaks there must,
And why should instinct nourish hopes in vain?
'Tis nature's prophesy that such will be,
And everything seems struggling to explain
The close sealed volume of its mystery.
Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace
As seeming anxious of eternity,
To meet that calm and find a resting place.
E'en the small violet feels a future power
And waits each year renewing blooms to bring,
And surely man is no inferior flower
To die unworthy of a second spring?
—John Clare (1793-1864)
- The Narrative of Hope
- Matthew 28:1-10
- Desire of Ages: “The earth trembles at his approach, the hosts of darkness flee, and as he rolls away the stone, heaven seems to come down to the earth. The soldiers see him removing the stone as he would a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God, come forth; Thy Father calls Thee. They see Jesus come forth from the grave, and hear Him proclaim over the rent sepulcher, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life.’ As He comes forth in majesty and glory, the angel host bow low in adoration before the Redeemer, and welcome Him with songs of praise.” (780)
- The Promise of Hope
- 1 Peter 1:1-3
- 1 Corinthians 15:13-19
- Earnest Becker: “The soberest conclusion that we could make about what has been taking place on the planet for about three billion years is that it is being turned into a vast pit of fertilizer.” (The Denial of Death 283/in Lewis Smede’s How Can It Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong? 132)
- 1 Peter 1:3-5 The Message: “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.”
- Lewis Smedes: “We may as well be very candid: Christian hope is fixed on the last square of our date book. Hope bets that the last square is not that closed closet commonly called a coffin, but a front door into a new world where everything is right, right in all its dimensions. There will be an intermission, of course, between my arrival at my own private last square and the arrival of the new world. But I will not feel as if I need to wait for it to come. In fact, when I find myself in the new earth, I will feel as if I got there at the moment I left the last square of my calendar. It may be light years away, but in the new dimension it will seem like tomorrow.” (How Can It Be All Right, When Everything Is All Wrong? 124)
- Rubem A. Alves: “Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it.”
“And the future starts now!”
Caring Hearts Widow/Widower’s Potluck
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
Following the second worship service, there will be a fellowship dinner in the commons on the lower level. Visitors are welcome!
Chasing Away the Winter Blues
On Saturday night, February 22, at 8 PM, in the Howard Performing Arts Center the Andrews University Chorale and Singers will present a special collaborative choral concert featuring the University Singers of Southwestern Adventist University. It is a perfect concert for families and it is wonderful way to help melt away the winter blues. The concert is presented by award-winning and internationally renowned choirs on a mission to celebrate Christian values to the constituents of our community and the world. Included in the repertoires are timeless musical gems like “America the Beautiful” arranged by Joseph Martin, and “Give Me Jesus” by South African conductor and composer André van der Merwe. Edifying selections of love songs include “Yesterday” arranged by Bob Chilcott, “Skylark” arranged by John Rutter, “All the Things You Are” arranged by Ward Swingle, and “I Love You / What a Wonderful World” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson. Admission is $0 – $7. Please visit https://howard.andrews.edu/events/ for more information.
Academy Day March 4
All eighth-grade students are invited to attend Academy Day on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Come and see the exciting programs Andrews Academy offers and experience one day with us. Lunch will be served, and T-shirts and prizes will be given. Registration is in the gym from 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. Activities will conclude by 3:15 PM. Call 269-471-3138 to RSVP or with any questions you may have.
Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Visitor's Day
Students who will be in the 1st through 8th grades next school year are invited to visit Ruth Murdoch Elementary School on March 4. Make friends, meet teachers and have fun!
- Grades 1–6: 8:15 AM–11:30 AM
- Grades 7–8: 8:15 AM–3:30 PM
Parents, please call 269-471-3225 to register.
RMES Kindergarten Parent Night and Kindergarten Visitor's Day
Parents with students who will be five years old by Sept. 1, 2025, are invited to come meet our Kindergarten teacher, tour the classroom and school, enjoy refreshments, meet other Kindergarten parents, etc. Please call us at 269-471-3225 to let us know you are coming! March 10 6:00 PM. Kindergarten Visitor's Day is the next morning, March 11!
Offering for February 22, 2025
Michigan Advance Partners
Did you ever wonder why God created the elements of the world in a specific order? In His divine plan, He created the world in logical sequence to prepare a home for mankind. He created mankind in His image and created the Sabbath for man so He can spend special time with them. But sin disrupted this plan.
God sent Jesus to redeem us and restore what was lost. Through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit, God uses the Sabbath and stewardship of time, talents, treasures, temple, and testimony, to restore this relationship and develop our character. One way God prepares us to handle His eternal riches is through tithes and offerings. Giving regularly and faithfully is important because it develops kindness and selflessness.
When we give systematically, we become more generous like Christ. However, giving isn't about expecting rewards here on earth but knowing we're partaking in Christ's eternal glory. Giving regularly makes us grateful and humble as we contribute to the well-being of others. It recreates a new attitude in us that giving is more satisfying than receiving. Most importantly, giving is not about charity; it's a way to worship and show our faith, trust, and love for God.
Today and through the Holy Spirit, let’s participate in Christ’s eternal glory through our tithes and offerings.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Neighbor to Neighbor Volunteer Help Needed!
Do you enjoy sales and pricing? Are you organized and detail-oriented? Would you like to make some new friends? If so, Neighbor to Neighbor needs your help!
Housewares Volunteer:
- Sort, price, and organize dishes, kitchenware, toys, and other household items
- Arrange items within the store Crafts Volunteer:
- Organize and price fiber arts, homeschooling, gift bags, and general craft items
- Arrange items within the store Train with other volunteers and then make your own schedule within operating hours.
Come join the Neighbor to Neighbor volunteer family! Contact Stefanie Marschner at stefaniem@n2nhelps.com or 269-471-7411
Sing Praise! Wind Symphony Vespers
An evening of praise and worship, “Sing Praise!” will be presented at the Howard Performing Arts Center by the Andrews University Wind Symphony and invited guest ensembles on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature performances by the Wind Symphony under the direction of Denisse Santos, University Singers under the direction of Stephen Zork, Deliverance Mass Choir under the direction of Michael Owusu, and The Watchmen led by Abel Siamubi. Favorite hymns and contemporary praise songs will be part of the evening, complete with opportunities for audience participation! Songs will include renditions of How Deep the Father’s Love, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace, In Christ Alone and more! Join us for an evening of music and praise like no other! The event is free and no tickets are required.