OPENING MUSIC
“Cantilena” • Josef Rheinberger
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Ben Martin, Associate Pastor
HYMN OF PRAISE
“To God Be the Glory” • 341
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Kevin Galeano, AU Graduate Student
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” • 290, chorus only
OFFERTORY
Forgive Our Sins, As We Forgive” • Bradshaw
CHILDREN’S STORY
Thiago Rossendy, AU Graduate Student
Chloe Smith, RMES Student
CARE FOR CUBA REPORT
SCRIPTURE READING
Arnelly Miechel Siby, AU Graduate Student
Micah 7:18-19 NIV
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“Forty Days and Forty Nights” • Brenton Offenback
MESSAGE
“Return to Calvary:The Extreme Prayer (How to Let Somebody Go)”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor
CONNECT CARD & PRAYER
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive”
299 (to the tune of 315)
CLOSING MUSIC
“Christ We Shall Praise Well” • Johann Sebastian Bach
OPENING MUSIC
“Cantilena” • Josef Rheinberger
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Ben Martin, Associate Pastor
PRAISE
“To God Be the Glory” • 341, st. 1-3
“Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow” • 695
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Kevin Galeano, AU Graduate Student
PRAISE
“Come, All Christians, Be Committed” • 634, st. 1, 3 & 4
OFFERTORY
Forgive Our Sins, As We Forgive” • Bradshaw
CHILDREN’S STORY
Thiago Rossendy, AU Graduate Student
CARE FOR CUBA REPORT
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“Forty Days and Forty Nights” • Brenton Offenback
MESSAGE
“Return to Calvary:The Extreme Prayer (How to Let Somebody Go)”
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor
CONNECT CARD & PRAYER
CLOSING SONG
“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive” • 299 (to the tune of 315)
CLOSING MUSIC
“Christ We Shall Praise Well” • Johann Sebastian Bach
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!
