Saturday, January 18, 2025
OPENING MUSIC
"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow" • Johann Walther, attr. Henry Purcell
WELCOME & PRAYER
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
THE LORD'S LIGHT AND LEADING —A HYMN CYCLE
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" • 21, st. 1, 2, 4
"The Lord Is My Light" • 515, st. 1, 3
"Lead On, O King Eternal" • 619
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" • chorus only of 290
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Craig Courtney
CALL FOR OFFERING
Ron Knott, Pioneer Member
OFFERTORY
"Wake Up! For Night Is Flying" • Wayne Wold
CHILDREN'S STORY
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:5-20 NRSV
Guerline Deshammes, Pioneer Member
HYMN OF PREPARATION
"'We Would See Jesus'" • 494, st. 1
MESSAGE
"A Citizen's Guide to the Powers That Be"
Bill Knott, Associate Director, GC Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
HYMN OF RESPONSE
"Come, We That Love the Lord" • 422, st. 1, 2, 4
CLOSING MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Janet Linker
OPENING MUSIC
"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow" • Johann Walther, attr. Henry Purcell
WELCOME & PRAYER
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
"HYMNS OF PRAISE"
"The Lord Is My Light" • 515, st. 1, 3
"Lead On, O King Eternal" • 619
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" • chorus only of 290
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Craig Courtney
CALL FOR OFFERING
Ron Knott, Pioneer Member
OFFERTORY
"Wake Up! For Night Is Flying" • Wayne Wold
CHILDREN'S STORY
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
PRAISE
"Heaven's Jubilee / I'll Fly Away"
"We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials"
"He Touched Me"
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:5-20 NRSV
MESSAGE
"A Citizen's Guide to the Powers That Be"
Bill Knott, Associate Director, GC Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
"Come, We That Love the Lord" • 422, st. 1, 2, 4
CLOSING MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Janet Linker
Offering for January 18, 2025
Pioneer Operating Budget
Author Melvin Santos Speaking: It didn’t make sense. When I was young, I was confused about why there was an offering call every worship service. I really did not understand why a church who worshipped the God who owns the universe and galaxies would let His people beg for funds. I rationalized that perhaps God could not afford to take care of His children, or He wants His children to be poor.
But why doesn’t He just provide for their needs miraculously? He could. Then when I read a passage in Psalms I began to understand why, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Offer to God thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50: 12,14-15, NKJV).
This is where I learned that God wants His children to trust Him for their needs. Through this experience God wants a RELATIONSHIP with His children, not a donation. This giving, however, builds the relational experience where we learn to glorify Him in all things in our lives.
As we give, God blesses so we can bless others and grow His kingdom. Let’s glorify the Lord with our offerings.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
New Children's Sabbath School Curriculum
Pioneer families with 0 to 3-year-olds are the first to enjoy the new Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath School Alive in Jesus Bible lessons. This curriculum will roll out in phases:
2025: Baby Steps (0-18 months) and Beginners (1, 2 & 3 year olds)
2026: Kindergarten (4-6 year old) and Primary (Grades 1-3)
2027: Junior (Grades 4-6) and Earliteen (Grades 7-8)
2028: Youth (Grades 9-12) and Young Adult
Here’s what’s new this year.
Baby Steps Lessons: Our Nursery division begins the first-ever Baby Steps lessons. Our program will continue a half-hour interactive Bible learning for infants and a half-hour of parent training and community building. Download free parent and teacher guides at babies.aliveinjesus.info.
Beginners Bible Lessons: Both Beginner rooms and the Kindergarten 3-Year division have begun the new Beginner lessons for 1, 2, and 3-year-olds. This new Adventist curriculum features beautifully illustrated lessons, inspiring stories, practical tips, craft ideas, and activities to support family worship and Bible learning at home. Parent spiritual nurture and community-building activities will also be incorporated.
A new year brings new opportunities! It’s a chance to renew our commitment to spending time with God and helping our children grow in their relationship with Him. Reading and discussing Sabbath School lessons in family worship at home will deepen everyone’s faith.
Children’s Sabbath School family guides are available at the Welcome Center in Pioneer’s lower entry hall during the first month of each quarter. They are also freely available online for families and teachers, along with engaging songs (Nursery and Beginners Alive in Jesus), videos (for Kinder and Primary GraceLink), and podcasts (for Junior PowerPoints). From a device, you can enjoy lessons anywhere and anytime.
We pray that 2025 will bring a closer walk with God for each member of our church family. May Sabbath School lesson study be a blessing to your home, strengthen faith and family bonds, and welcome friends to join you on this adventure!
Children's Sabbath School Superintendent Team
Howard Center Presents: The King's Singers
England’s premier choral ensemble has long had an unsurpassed tradition of vocal music with roots in both religious and secular singing. Setting the gold standard in acapella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years, the King’s Singers are renowned for their unrivalled technique, musicianship and versatility, which stem from both the group’s rich heritage and its drive to bring an extraordinary range of new and unique works, collaborations and recordings to life. They consistently delight audiences around the world with their incomparable musicianship, wit, and charm. Join us for the King's Singers concert at the Howard Performing Arts Center on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at our website: howard.andrews.edu, or by calling our box office at 269-471-3560.
Sabbath School Lesson Overview
The Sabbath School Lesson Overview scheduled for January 18 has been cancel to allow for particiation in the Religious Liberty program the same afternoon.
Howard Center Presents: SELAH
Selah, a contemporary Christian vocal trio, became known for transforming old Christian hymns into songs with a more modern style complete with powerful vocals and beautiful harmonies. Having sold over 4 million records, won 11 Gospel Music Association Dove awards and has over 900 million streams across all digital music platforms, they are now working on their 22nd album in 27 years of performing. Join us on February 2, 2025 at the Howard Performing Arts Center for an inspiring Christian concert. Tickets are available at our website: howard.andrews.edu, or by calling our box office at 269-471-3560.
Spanish Sabbath School Class
Sabbath School is the perfect setting to rediscover the power of Bible study and prayer. In one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, we aspire to allow all our church members, students, and guests to study and learn in their language. To further this, we are establishing the Spanish Sabbath School Class so all our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters can join us in learning together in our weekly Sabbath School. With that, please grab your Spanish sabbath school lesson and join in the balcony each Sabbath!
Something in Common Sabbath School
Love Like You Mean It begins January 18 through February 22.
- January 18 - "Everything Minus Love = Nothing" & "Love is Patient"
- January 25 - "Love is Kind and Love is Humble"
- February 1 - "Love is Generous and Love is Easygoing"
- February 8 - "Love is Virtuous and Love is Honest"
- February 15 - "Love is Tenacious and Love Never Fails"
Everyone is Welcome each Sabbath morning to join us in Pioneer Room 141 at 10:30 am,
Care for Cuba
A group of students from Andrews University are preparing to embark on a life-changing mission in March of 2025. They will engage in evangelism, health care, and community outreach in Cuba. This mission trip has been going on for 11 years, and the impact has been tremendous, thanks to your help. Would you support this mission once again by donating right here in your church or give at www.careforcuba.org/donate? Thank you for your prayers as they prepare to send off students to serve and share Jesus!