Saturday, December 16, 2023
OPENING MUSIC
“While by My Sheep I Watched at Night” • trad. carol
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
“OF ANGELS TO SHEPHERDS”: A CAROL CYCLE
“Angels From the Realms of Glory” • 119, st. 1-2
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” • 122, st. 2-3
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” • 130, st. 1-2
“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” • 140, st. 1-2, 5
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
BABY DEDICATION
Abigail Regina Banda, presented by Jaston and Stella Banda with Ben Martin
OFFERTORY
“What Heavenly Music!” • Early Advent Melody / Kenneth Logan
CHILDREN’S STORY & PRAYER
Floyd & Latoya Green, Pioneer Members
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8-14 NIV
Luciana Malia Press, Pioneer Member
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“The Work of Christmas” • Dan Forrest
MESSAGE
“An Earthly Audition for Heaven’s Own Choir”
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” • 135, st. 1, 3-4
CLOSING MUSIC
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God in the Highest”) • Allan Greenway
OPENING MUSIC
“While by My Sheep I Watched at Night” • trad. carol
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
PRAISE
“Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful)”
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
BAPTISM
Luciano Kida & Lucrecia Kida with Shane Anderson
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“The Work of Christmas” • Dan Forrest
OFFERTORY
“What Heavenly Music!” • Early Advent Melody / Kenneth Logan
CHILDREN’S STORY & PRAYER
Janine Lim, Pioneer Member
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8-14 NIV
PRAISE
“Emmanuel” • “O Come All Ye Faithful” • “Worthy of It All”
MESSAGE
“An Earthly Audition for Heaven’s Own Choir”
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
CLOSING MUSIC
“Silent Night”/“Adore”
BLESSING
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
CLOSING MUSIC
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God in the Highest”) • Allan Greenway
Offering for December 20, 2025
Pioneer Operating Budget
My then six-year-old son came up to me and said, “Dad, I need a lot of money, and I need to make it fast!” I smiled and inquired, “Why do you need a lot of money quickly?” I didn’t know what my son was thinking of doing with all this fast cash and why he needed the funds so urgently. I thought maybe he wanted to buy a new toy or bike for himself. He said, “Well, Mom’s birthday is coming up and I want to buy a nice gift for her!” That sure cheered my heart, and so I gave him the funds! My son was asking for money, not for selfish reasons but out of love for his mom.
When I think about church offerings, every gift we give should be measured by the unfathomable Gift of heaven. The greatest offering we received from God is Jesus, and there is no way we can measure His love and sacrifice for us. Anything we give would appear as nothing in comparison. “How vain the endeavor to measure with mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice that is measureless and incomputable!” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.4, p.119). Let’s return our tithes and offerings in response to the abundance of God’s love for us.
—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!
Christmas Blessing Opportunity
Be part of a Christmas blessing this year! Chiang Mai Adventist Academy, which serves primarily Buddhist students from around the country, is looking for a set of Bible story felts to use in teaching the Bible in their Sabbath schools. FARM STEW missionaries will be going to Thailand in January and deliver them. If you have a felt set you would like to donate or would like to donate towards buying a new set, please contact Deby Andvik. (andvik@andrews.edu or call/text 269-277-4145)
Pioneer Women's Ministries 2025 Advent Devotionals
Pioneer Women’s Ministries’ Advent devotionals will highlight a few of the promises of Jesus. To receive the “Red Letter Promises” daily devotionals by email for the first 25 days of December, text the word “ADVENT” to 269-281-2345. You can also receive a short daily text message preview of each day's devotional by providing your cell phone number when you register. We pray you will sense the nearness of Jesus during this holy season through these devotionals.
House of Prayer
Please join us for House of Prayer Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the Earliteen Loft for a time of singing, Bible study and prayer.