Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
More In This Series
OPENING MUSIC
“The Holy Boy (A Carol of Nativity)” • John Ireland
Organ: Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music
CHRISTMAS WELCOME
CHRISTMAS CALL
PASTOR: “Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, to herald our salvation;”
PEOPLE: “He stoops to earth—the God of might, our hope and expectation.”
PASTOR: “He comes in human flesh to dwell, our God with us, Immanuel,”
PEOPLE: “The light of darkness breaking, our fallen race befriending.”
PASTOR: “O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
PEOPLE: Amen.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS:“BORN TO SAVE”
“Good Christians, Now Rejoice" • “Now Is Born the Divine Christ Child” • “O Little Town of Bethlehem” • “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
Leanne Miller, soprano; Byron Graves, clarinet, Kenneth Logan, organ
CHRISTMAS FAMILY PRAYER
Rhonda, Aron, and Stella Tomenko
Sonia Badenas and Marco Sciarabba*
CHRISTMAS BAPTISM*
Do Hyun (Paul) Cho with Hong Pal Ha
CHRISTMAS CAROL
“Away in a Manger”
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS STORY
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor
CHRISTMAS READING
Pavel and Sam Tomenko • Davide Sciarabba*
Luke 2:1-7 NKJV
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
CHRISTMAS MUSIC
“What Child Is This?” • Kenneth Logan
Betania Cañas, flute; Kenneth Logan, organ
CHRISTMAS HOMILY
“Peace on Earth All Over Again—Redux 3”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor
CHRISTMAS COMMITMENT
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” • anon. melody
Elizabeth Wilson, mezzo-soprano
CHRISTMAS BLESSING
CLOSING MUSIC
“IN DULCI JUBILO” (“In Sweet Jubilation”)Johann Sebastian Bach
Organ: Kenneth Logan, Minister of Music
*Indicates 11:45 AM Service
Anthony Brown is a creative force in music with unparalleled talent as a songwriter, vocal director, producer, worship leader and singer. Brown, along with his background singers, group therAPy, emerged as a breakthrough artist with their first album in 2012 and they have been going forward ever since with four albums to date. “Uplifting” and “invoking a fresh and joyous spirit” have been words used to describe Brown & group therAPy’s music.
More information and tickets at howard.andrews.edu
This Sunday, January 23, the Pioneer Forever Friends Adventurer Club will be meeting online via Zoom. We will be meeting at the regular time, 10:00 AM. Adventurer families, please check your email for the Zoom link and other important information from Forever Friends leaders. Contact adventurers@pmchurch.org with questions.
Religious Liberty
Matthew 5:9-13 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
The purpose of religious liberty ministry within the church is to protect our ability to share and practice our faith both here in the United States and around the world. The Public Affairs and Religious Liberty departments serve to protect and defend our sacred freedoms through a variety of means, that includes the distribution of literature, the education of members and pastors, and legal advocacy, to name a few.
The funds provided today also help sponsor Liberty Magazine subscriptions to individuals who make decisions that impact our ability to live out our religious convictions. It also supports the legal defense of members that experience religious discrimination in the workplace.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church also advocates on behalf of the religious freedoms of individuals who believe differently than we do. In doing so we honor God’s gracious gift of individual choice and the power of the Holy Spirit to motivate sincere change. We invite you to prayerfully consider giving generously today to help others learn the importance of religious liberty and to assist members with religious liberty needs.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
We would like to inform you that the Seminary Sabbath School class usually taught by Jacques Doukhan and others in room 150 at the Seminary, will be held this quarter (January-March 2022) via Zoom, with the participation of Dr. Felix Cortez, author of the current quarterly on Hebrews. If interested, here is the zoom link for the whole quarter. We appreciate your help in spreading this information to other class members.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84675178306?pwd=ZDNmSEV0Q2pGTVd6OUJ5RWMrdkJtQT09
Time: Jan 1-Mar 26, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 846 7517 8306
Passcode: 603507
Dear friends,
Dr. Jacques Doukhan will teach this week's lesson (January 22), "Jesus our Faithful Brother." I invite all of you to this spiritual feast, to think, discuss and grow together. See you soon,
Jacques Doukhan
Recently, Neighbor To Neighbor(N2N) received $35,000 from the Michigan Advance Plan (MAP) special projects fund to help with the renovation of the Client Services area. This is a gift to the churches in District 9 that support N2N. Have you supported MAP recently? It is an opportunity to support projects like this as well as evangelism, education, camp meeting and camp. Consider being a MAP Partner and devoting one percent of income each month to these lay sponsored projects.
We will show a four part series How to Be Rich by Andy Stanley 1/15 "Congratulations" 1/22 "Side Effects" 1/29 "Dollar Cost Living" 2/5 "Diversify"
Come and learn the Bible way: “I will not put my trust in riches but in HIM who richly provides.”
Something In Common Sabbath School meets in Room 141 at 10:30 am
Adventist Engaged Encounter (AEE) is a fun weekend intensive workshop for seriously dating, engaged, and newlywed couples. AEE is not group therapy, no sharing with the group required, and it IS a private, safe environment with 12 guided sessions by marriage mentors. AEE is a great tool to add to your relationship toolbox, but AEE IS NOT CRISIS COUNSELING. AEE IS designed to help you take your relationship to the next level of love, connection, focus, and commitment. The weekend of Meetings will be held in the lower level of Nethery Hall starting at 6:30 PM 2/18/22.
I hope you will join us (online or in-person) for a worship journey we may never have been on together. "A Banner Unfurled" will be a fresh plunge into the shining truth about our Creator-Savior and His gift of the seventh day, the Sabbath, to humanity.
We won’t be arguing over which Day—we already know. But we will be creatively exploring how existentially/experientially the treasure of Christ embedded in the Day can reignite our pandemic-shadowed lives with new light and meaning this New Year.
I'm praying we'll never be the same again as a result of this exploration. And I hope you invite your friends and family to join us.
For your handy reference here is the lineup of our Pioneer winter Sabbaths in 2022:
–Pastor Dwight
Andrews University’s Children’s Learning Center, The Crayon Box, is looking for a dedicated, responsible, loving and creative individual to join our staff to teach and care for our Pre-K (4 year old) children. Must meet Michigan LARA requirements for Lead Caregiver. Must be available to work 9:00-3:00 Monday - Thursday. This position is temporary with the possibility leading to full time employment. Background check, finger printing, TB test and additional job related trainings required. Job requires much physical activity and a high energy level and accuracy and efficiency is required
The applicant:
Must be at least 18 years of age with high school diploma. Must meet LARA requirements for lead caregiver: a bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood education, child development, or a child-related field, associate’s degree or higher in early childhood education or child development or high school diploma with coursework in child-related field and experience. Must love children. Must have a warm and friendly personality with sensitivity to the feelings and needs of both children and adults. Must display a willingness to fulfill responsibilities in accordance with the center's philosophy and mission. Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Apply online: https://www.andrews.edu/admres/jobs/show/staff_hourly
Pioneer Memorial Church is a place where serving others is its reason for being. There is a healing power in serving others. In the next few weeks, you will hear of opportunities to serve and heal. Respond to the call on your mind and heart. Serve as God leads you. Heal as God heals you.
