Keepers of the Kingdom - Standing Strong in Today's Battle for Truth. July 14-18, from 9 - 11:45 AM at Niles Westside Adventist Church (1105 Grant St, Niles) for kids in Pre-K (age 4) - 6th grade. Please register early online at www.nileswestside.org. Email nileswestsidevbs@gmail.com or call 269-683-5998 with questions.
How to Become an Influencer: Paul—A Biography
Thanksgiving Behind Bars
Resources
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, November 20, 2021
More In This Series
OPENING MUSIC IN JOY
“I Believe in One God” • Wolfgang Mozart
“Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!” • Kenneth Logan
CHORAL INVITATION TO JOY
“O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord” • anon. Irish
CALL TO JOYFUL WORSHIP
Psalm 100
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor
LEADER: Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands.
PEOPLE: Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
LEADER: Know that the Lord He is God:
PEOPLE: it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
LEADER: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
PEOPLE: For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.
HYMN OF JOY
“Sing Praise to God” • anon. / Kenneth Logan
PRAYER OF JOY
Gianna Bacchiocchi, Andrews University student
“BRING JOY!”: A HYMN CYCLE
“Praise to the Lord” • “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!” • “Jesus Saves”
MISSION REPORT WITH JOY
William Dos Reis with Dwight K. Nelson
HYMN OF JOY
“Joyful, Joyful”
THANKSGIVING MESSAGE
“Thanksgiving Behind Bars”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor
NOTEWRITING IN THANKSGIVING
“Now Thank We All Our God”H. W. Tauscher / Kenneth Logan
Shania Watts, viola; Kenneth Logan, piano
CHORAL THANKSGIVING ANTHEM
“The River of the Water of Life” • Malcolm Archer
“GIVE THANKS!”: A HYMN CYCLE
“For the Beauty of the Earth” •. “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” • “We Plow the Fields and Scatter” • “Come, Sing a Song of Harvest”
COMMUNITY THANKS-GIVING
Pioneer Evergreens Pathfinders
Errol Prentice, Director Lindsey Pratt, Associate Pastor
HYMN OF THANKSGIVING
“Now Thank We All Our God”
THANKSGIVING BLESSING
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor
FINAL THANKSGIVING
“Now Thank We All Our God” • Wilhelm Teschner
VBS at Niles Westside Church
Offering for June 28, 2025
Michigan Advance Partners
Author Melvin Santos Speaking: For the longest time, in my early years, I quietly disagreed with this Bible passage in Acts 20, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NKJV).
I wondered how people can say, “I receive a blessing when I give.” On the contrary, in my younger years, I always enjoyed receiving gifts. To pay for the gift and give it to someone wouldn’t bring me joy. That would cost me time and money.
When I fell in love, got married, and had children, I finally learned that when you’re in love, there is a greater joy in giving gifts to your wife and children. I would do anything for them because I love them.
Then I understood that this is the Spirit of Christ, who sacrificed all to share His love with us. When I participate in giving, or helping someone in need who cannot reciprocate the deed or pay me back, I’m sharing the love of Jesus. Now, that’s the heart of Jesus.
Just seeing the smiles on my family’s faces was enough for me to experience this passage, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Today, let’s share our gifts with a generous heart.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries