Advent

In the Shadowland of Death a Light

Resources

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, December 05, 2020
Program: 
Opening Music
"O Magnum Mysterium (O Great Mystery)" • Morten Lauridsen / Reynolds
Andrews University Wind Symphony; Byron Graves, director
Welcome & Call to Worship
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
* "Advent Light in Darkness": A Hymn Cycle
"O Come, O Come, Immanuel"—SDAH 115, st. 1 & 2 • "What Child Is This?"—SDAH 141 • "Angels From the Realms of Glory"—SDAH 119, st. 1-3 • "As With Gladness Men of Old"—SDAH 123 st. 1
Lisa Jardine, William Fagal, vocals; Kilim Chung, cello, Andrews University student; Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music, Pioneer Memorial Church
Praise
"Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)" • "He Shall Reign Forevermore" • "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
Kelly Miller, praise leader; Giancarlo Leonor, Grace Dockerty, vocals; Zachariah Schnepp, cajon; Johnny Schnepp, cello; Ben Loenser, piano; Hadassah Schnepp, violin
Congregational Prayer
José Bourget, Chaplain, Andrews University; Kyle Smith, Assistant Chaplain, Andrews University
Pioneer Life
Michelle Odinma, student
Children's Story & Prayer
Craig Harris; Junesuh
Scripture Reading
Davide Sciarabba, Pioneer Elder
Worship in Music
"Jesu, Joy" • Johann Sebastian Bach / Reed
Andrews University Wind Symphony; Byron Graves, director
Message
"Advent: In the Shadowland of Death a Light"
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
Closing Hymn
"Joy to the World" • SDAH 125, st. 1, 3-4
Charles Reid, tenor, Andrews University Professor; Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music
Closing Music
"O Come, O Come, Immanuel" • anon. French melody
Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music, Pioneer Memorial Church
* First Service Only

More In This Series

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