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 19, 2020
Program: 
Opening Music
Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music, Pioneer Memorial Church
Welcome & Call to Worship
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
* "Gloria!": A Hymn Cycle
"Good Christians, Now Rejoice"—SDAH 136, st. 1-2 • "Now Is Born the Divine Christ Child"—SDAH 133 • "O Little Town of Bethlehem"—SDAH 135, st. 1, 3 • "Angels We Have Heard on High"—SDAH 142, st. 1 - 2, 4
Alina Baltazar, Elizabeth Wilson, Karen Nelson, vocals; Jason Marquez, clarinet; Kenneth Logan, organ
Praise
"Angels We Have Heard On High" • "O Holy Night" • "The First Noel / Silent Night"
Natalia Poloche, praise leader; Eli Wilson, Grace Dockerty, vocals; Ben Loenser, piano; Claire Yang, violin; Alex Aguilera, cajon; Gabe Krause, keyboard
Congregational Prayer
Danielle Pilgrim, Associate Chaplain, Andrews University
Worship in Music
"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" • Jonathan Willcocks
Pioneer Sanctuary Choir; Brenton Offenback, director; Kenneth Logan, organ
Pioneer Life
Benjamin Kip & Family with Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor
Children's Story & Prayer
Janet Ledesma, Pioneer Member; Jerianna & Juliesia
Scripture Reading
Matthew 2:3-6 NIV
José Bourget, Pioneer Elder
Worship in Music
"The Birthday of a King" • William Neidlinger / Logan
Leanne Miller, soprano; Kenneth Logan, organ, Minister of Music
Message
"Advent: In the Midnight of Dark a Star"
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
Worship in Music
"As With Gladness Men of Old" • Felix Mendelssohn / Cummings / Logan
Alina Baltazar, Elizabeth Wilson, Karen Nelson, Ladies Trio
Benediction
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
Closing Music
"IN DULCI JUBILO (In Sweet Jubilation) • Johann Sebastian Bach
Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music, Pioneer Memorial Church

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

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!