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The Christ of the Passion

The Passion of the Pacifist

Resources

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

Does Christ's passion have anything to teach us about pacifism? When He was hostilely seized that night, what did Jesus do? Confronted with our global tensions today, what would Jesus do?
Saturday, May 08, 2004

More In This Series

03/27/2004
The Garden of Hell
In a garden humanity's hope was dashed, and in a garden revived again. What does the garden teach us about His passion? What does it hold for us and call us to?
04/03/2004
The Line Mel Gibson Left Out
The movie was bloody. The reality even worse. Why the fixation on blood in both the movie and the Bible?
04/10/2004
Till Death Do Us Part
Physical blood and gore of Christ's passion were the veneer on the face of the greater trauma. The horrendous suffering transcended anything experienced before or after. What was it, and what did it mean?
04/17/2004
Hast Thou No Scar?
Parallel to its wondrous gift runs its enormous demands. What does the cross of Christ demand of us?
04/24/2004
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
We can participate in the passion. It's both exciting and challenging. Becoming engaged, we discover that the far side of the world is not as far away as it sounds.
05/15/2004
The Six Last Words of God
You've heard about the seven last words of Christ. But have you ever heard about the six last words of God? They may be among the most important words you will ever hear. Talk about hope!
06/05/2004
As Simple as 1-2-3
A call for a not-so-surprising, but oh so comprehensive, response to the passion of the Christ. But then, wouldn't we expect the message of the cross to be at least as practical as it is theological?
06/12/2004
As Easy as A-B-C
As simple as 1-2-3. As easy as A-B-C. Yes, but also as hard as . . . Unless, that is, the passion of the Christ has indeed worked its miracle in us.
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Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 We will not be having fellowship dinner this Sabbath in the commons.

Katherine Smith Celebration of Life

We are saddened to share that Katherine Smith, 95, passed away on August 8, 2025, in Mesa, AZ, from complications of Alzheimer's. A former Associate Dean of Women and Pioneer Memorial Church co-Head Elder, she was a fixture in the Berrien Springs community for over 50 years. An informal Celebration of Life will be held at the Pioneer Memorial Church Commons on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 5-7 PM. Please join us as we share fond memories and  fellowship together while enjoying a light supper. Share your favorite memory with Susie at livrefou@hotmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Neighbor to Neighbor at https://www.n2nhelps.com.

Pioneer Children's Activity Bags

We are grateful that so many families enjoy using the children's activity bags during services. To help maintain this ministry and manage costs, please return the bags and all items inside after each use. We also ask that the contents be handled with care so they remain in good condition for others to enjoy. Thank you for helping us keep this resource available and welcoming for all our children.

Locations for Men's and Women's Foot-washing (Ordnance of Humility)

Due to ongoing renovations to in the Children's Sabbath Schools under the sanctuary locations of the Men's and Women't Foot-washing has been changed. 

The Women's Foot-washing will occur in the Youth Chapel. For the Youth Chapel, please exit the Sanctuary through the front piano-side doors.

The Men's Foot-washing will occur in the Earliteen Loft. For the Earliteen Loft, please exit the Sanctuary through the front organ-side doors; then proceed up the stairs or use the elevator to reach the Earliteen Loft.

The Family Foot-washing will occur in its normal location - the Commons Area. For the Commons Area, please exit through the front Sanctuary doors and proceed down the stairs to the lower level.

Offering for November 1, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

“Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years” (Deuteronomy 8:4, NIV). When the Israelites trusted in God for their needs and were faithful to Him, He always came through. Imagine clothes and sandals that did not wear out over 40 years of use! Now that is the miracle of God. That is a testimony of His love and care of His children.

In our family, my wife and I remind ourselves that everything we own belongs to God! The first microwave we purchased as a married couple became a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. This microwave, after ten years of usage, became a topic of discussion. My wife said, “Any time now, I want to replace this microwave when it stops working!” One morning, the microwave stopped working! My wife rejoiced at the thought of a replacement. I didn’t know anything about fixing appliances. Well, as I was visiting a church member that afternoon, he heard of our dilemma and offered to look at the appliance. In two minutes, he said, “Pastor, here’s the problem. I replaced the fuse and it is now working!” The cost of the fuse? Twelve cents. That microwave continued to work for a total of 21 years—to my wife’s dismay— until we finally donated it to a family member! Our God is always good! Let’s see how God will take care of our needs today.

—Melvin Santos, Kansas/Nebraska Conference in partnership with the North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Time Change

Clocks will "Fall Back" on Sunday morning at 2 AM so we all can get an extra hour of sleep this weekend.

Andrews Academy - Penny Arcade

Andrews Academy invites all seventh and eighth graders to Penny Arcade, Saturday night Nov. 8, 2025. This is a fun evening of games, activities & food; all for just pennies. Get to know Andrews Academy students better as you and your seventh & eighth grade friends enjoy Penny Arcade from 7 - 9 PM. Due to costs, we can only open this to 7th & 8th graders & Andrews Academy students, this is not open to siblings and families.  Parents can drop your child off at 7:45 PM and pick them up at 9 pm. If you have any questions please contact the school at 269-471-3138. 

Adopt-a-Student

Looking for a simple way to bless a student this semester? Consider adopting one! Whether you’re a family or an individual, you can offer warmth, encouragement, and a sense of home to a student who’s far from theirs. Together, we can help students thrive! Reach out to learn how you can adopt a student and make a real difference. Contact Mari Bowerman at belong@pmchurch.org

Something in Common Sabbath School

Starting Point video series with Andy Stanley: Everything has a beginning. Every person, every idea, every journey starts somewhere. Whether it's one small step in a new direction or a major event, from that point forward nothing is ever the same. It's not always comfortable. It's not always easy. But it's a start. This 8-part series ends December 6, 2025.  Everyone is welcome. PMC Boardroom. 10:30-11:30 Sabbath mornings.

Adventist Youth Music Association Stage One Registration

The Adventist Youth Music Association (AYMA) is a collaboration among Adventist universities and colleges to create a space for young musicians to develop their abilities. Registration is now open for this years program. AYMA is looking to host both solo performance adjudication and an elite ensemble music making experience. All high school musicians connected with an Adventist church or academy are invited to submit video recordings by November 9 for adjudication. Participants from stage one with high ratings will be invited to join the summer ensemble experience. Learn more at: andrews.edu/cas/music/ayma/

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