There will be a fellowship dinner following the second worship service in the commons.
Farewell Pioneer: Vision Calls
Resources
Pastor
Taurus MontgomeryTaurus Montgomery is the pastor of Pioneer’s Benton Harbor Outreach, Harbor of Hope. Having grown up in the southern inner city of Mobile, Alabama, Taurus is familiar with the struggles and challenges facing urban youth today.
Offering
Saturday, December 23, 2023
OPENING MUSIC
“IN DULCI JUBILO” (“In Sweet Jubilation”) • Walther, Piutti, Lang
WELCOME, CALL TO WORSHIP, & PRAYER
Prescott Khair, Associate Chaplain, Andrews University
“BORN TO SAVE”: A HYMN CYCLE
“Good Christians, Now Rejoice” • 136, st. 3, 2
“Now Is Born the Divine Christ Child” • 133
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” • 135, st. 1, 3
“Angels From the Realms of Glory” • 119, st. 1-3
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” • 140, st. 1
OFFERTORY
“What Child Is This?” • traditional English
CHILDREN’S STORY & PRAYER
CAROL OF THE SEASON
“Away in a Manger” • 124
RECOGNITION OF SERVICE FOR TAURUS MONTGOMERY
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 1:18-21 NIV
Acts 16:6-10 NIV
Rachel Wilson, Pioneer Member
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“Here the World’s Desire” • Kenneth Logan
MESSAGE
“Farewell Pioneer: Vision Calls”
Taurus Montgomery, Associate Pastor
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
“Be Thou My Vision” • 547
CLOSING MUSIC
“IN DULCI JUBILO”, (“In Sweet Jubilation”) • Johann Sebastian Bach
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
Offering for January 10, 2026
Pioneer Operating Budget
You may have heard it said, and it is true that patience is a virtue. What is also true and closely linked to patience is found in the opening verse of the parable of Luke 18:1-8 (NIV). Jesus told his disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (verse 1). In today’s fast paced, instant, and have-to-get-it-now world, learning to be patient and not lose heart or become discouraged is surely a quality that is desirable. The widow in this parable showed the importance of being patient in one’s petitions and pursuits.
In her attempt to get the judge to defend her against her enemy, who seemed to have been making her life difficult, she kept on asking for his defense. Finally, the judge yielded to her persistence and vindicated her.
The same is true of God. When we are diligent in our prayer life, longsuffering when we are seeking to invoke Christ’s intervention, and faithful in honoring Him in our stewardship, He will move to positive action. Let us remember that unlike the judge we cannot wear out God.
Today, as we worship Him through the return of our tithes and giving of our offerings, let us practice being persistent in honoring Him with our substance and the first fruit of our increase.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries