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

OPENING MUSIC

“Allegro maestoso e vivace” • Felix Mendelssohn
“Arise, My Soul, Arise!” • Dale Wood

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP

Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor

“HELP FOR THE HELPLESS”: A HYMN CYCLE

“Power in the Blood” • 294, st. 1,3
“Just As I Am” • 314
“Amazing Grace” • 108, st. 1
“My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” • 522, st. 1, 3
“To God Be the Glory” • 341, st. 1, 3

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

Heidi Ha, Pioneer Member
“Rescue the Perishing” • 367, st. 1

OFFERTORY

“Fugue on ‘Marvelous Grace’” • Kenneth Logan

CHILDREN’S STORY

 

SCRIPTURE READING

Tanya Neri, Pioneer Member
Mark 8:34-36 NIV

WORSHIP IN MUSIC

“And Can It Be” • Dan Forrest

MESSAGE

“Mission: Impossible (Maybe)—Sign Me Up (Not)!”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor

CONNECT CARD & PRAYER

 

HYMN OF COMMITMENT

“Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” • 328

CLOSING MUSIC

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” • Max Reger

 

OPENING MUSIC

“Allegro maestoso e vivace” • Felix Mendelssohn
“Arise, My Soul, Arise!” • Dale Wood

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP

Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor

CHORAL INTROIT

“Cantate Domino”

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

Heidi Ha, Pioneer Member
“We Gather Together” • 8

BABY DEDICATION

Livio Henri-Johnson, presented by Tantely Henrisse Lovanantenaina and Jasmina Lantomandimby with Jenifer Daley

OFFERTORY

“Fugue on ‘Marvelous Grace’” • Kenneth Logan

CHILDREN’S STORY

 

PRAISE

“Holy Spirit”
“Champion”
“Indescribable”

SCRIPTURE READING

John Bitterman, Andrews Academy Student
Mark 8:34-36 NIV

WORSHIP IN MUSIC

“And Can It Be” • Dan Forrest

MESSAGE

“Mission: Impossible (Maybe)—Sign Me Up (Not)!”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor

CONNECT CARD & PRAYER

 

CLOSING SONG

“Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” • 328

CLOSING MUSIC

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” • Max Reger

 

Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 There will be a fellowship dinner following the second worship service in the commons.

Offering for January 10, 2026

Religious Liberty
 

Seventh-day Adventists have stood firmly for religious liberty—for everyone—for more than 150 years. But do you know the reason why? Part of the reason is that, when our church was founded, almost every American state had Sunday-keeping laws on the books. Adventist pastors, farmers, laborers, and others were arrested, jailed, or fined for doing “secular work” on Sunday. Even Wille White, son of James and Ellen, was arrested in Oakland, California, in 1882 for keeping the Pacific Press Publishing presses operating on a Sunday! But that’s not the full story. The deeper reason why we continue to stand for religious liberty—in the courts, before legislatures, and through the pages of Liberty magazine—is because we want to reflect the character of the God we serve. He’s a God who created us in His image and who has given each one of us the freedom to choose whom we will worship. He’s a God who, in the words of Ellen White, “desires only the service of love,” which “cannot be won by force or authority” (The Desire of Ages, 22).

Today, please help support this vital ministry of religious liberty. It’s a ministry that defends not only the rights of individual conscience, but also the ability of our church to continue to do its mission. And as we face uncertain days ahead, your prayers and support are needed now, more than ever.
 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries