Will There Be Thanksgiving in Paradise?

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 17, 2018
Program: 
Choral Invitation to Joy
Bring Joy! Give Thanks! • Kenneth Logan
Call to Joy
Psalm 100
Response of Rejoicing
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee • 12
Words of Joy
Job 38:1, 4-7
Hymn of Joy
This Is My Father’s World • 92
Words of Joy
Psalm 98:1-6a
Hymn of Rejoicing
Sing Praise to God • 29
Prayer of Rejoicing
José Bourget
Words of Joy
Colossians 1:15-16
Hymn of Rejoicing
Fairest Lord Jesus • st. 1, 3-4 of. 240
Words of Joy
Ephesians 4:4-6
Anthem of Joy
One Faith, One Hope, One Lord • Craig Courtney
Homily
“Will There Be Thanksgiving in Paradise?”
Dwight K. Nelson
Hymn of Thanksgiving
Now Thank We All Our God • 559
Letters of Thanksgiving
Prelude on Rhosymedre • Ralph Vaughan Williams
Invitation to Giving
What Gift Can We Bring? • Donna Kasbohm / Kenneth Logan
Procession of Thanksgiving
Gifts of Food, Song, Tithes and Offerings
Benediction in Thanksgiving
Dwight K. Nelson
Choral Response in Thanksgiving
Take Joy! Live Thanks! • Kenneth Logan
Offering for January 3, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

There is something special about the beginning of a new year. It’s the energy and the excitement. It’s the opportunities that it offers. It provides the chance to forget the past and its challenges, while we embrace the possibility to start over.

The New Year offers the opportunity for us to look at the future with optimism and gratefulness. For this reason, I like new, don’t you? Paul liked the idea of new also. That’s why he encourages us to look towards the future instead of looking back. He says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3: 13, 14, NIV), we should press toward the goal to win.

The encouraging thing is, when Christ is in the lead, we must succeed. For this reason, we can embrace the possibilities of the new year– striving to be better stewards for God. So may our goals this year include spending consistent time in worship and developing a relationship of steel with God. May we take care of our wellbeing (physically and psychologically) and witness about His love by using our talents and gifts.

May we faithfully return to God the designated portion of our wealth and take care of our world and the environment. Let’s determine to make 2026 an exceptional year of sacrificial generosity, in our local church and worldwide. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Church Office Holiday Closure: 12/22-12/26 & 12/29-01/02

Please note that the church office will be closed from December 22 to 26 and again from December 29 to January 2 for the holiday season. We will reopen on January 5. Our church services will proceed as always. If you have any announcements, please submit those no later than December 19. Thank you for your understanding. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!