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"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat:"

Longue Durée

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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

As we enter the final chapter of Joseph's story, we ask "what does it all mean?" Perhaps most important, what does it all mean for us today?
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Program: 
As We Begin
Adagio
Felix Mendelssohn
Praise
Our God
Beautiful
How He Loves
In Christ Alone
In Christ Alone
Prayer
Don Dronen
Thank you!
Children's Story
Prelude on HOLY MANNA [Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners]
Dale Wood
Worship in Music
I Waited for the Lord (from Lobgesang)
Felix Mendelssohn
Sermon
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Longue Durée”
Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
Day by Day • 532
As We Depart
Allegro assai vivace
Felix Mendelssohn

More In This Series

04/18/2015
Sweet Revenge
Now ruler of all Egypt, Joseph is suddenly brought face to face with the demons of his past. Can he forgive his brothers who sold him to a life of slavery? Or will they suffer his wrath?
04/11/2015
Me and Mrs. Potiphar
Joseph's hard work and dedication to God is seemingly paid off as he is placed in charge of all the household of his master Potiphar. But his master's wife has a wandering eye...
04/04/2015
He's Alive!
When Jacob learned that his son Joseph still lived, it was as if his boy had been resurrected from the dead. It is fitting then that we look to this story as we celebrate the resurrection of the One who died that we might live.
03/28/2015
How to Find Healing for Our Deepest Relationships
It's one of the most beloved stories from the Bible: the story of Joseph. But what can this ancient story teach us about our own broken relationships?
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“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Longue Durée”

www.pmchurch.tv

 

  • Genesis 50:15-20
    • “The you planned to do to me has by God’s design been turned to .” (Genesis 50:20 New Jerusalem Bible)
    • “And we know that God causes to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 New Living Translation)
    • Thomas Schreiner: “The text does not say that all things are intrinsically good or pleasant, but instead that the most agonizing sufferings and evils inflicted on believers [those who trust God] will be to their good by God. It is correct to say, then, that agathon [GK: “good”] is eschatological, since the ‘good’ will be evident and fully realized only at the end of time.” (Romans 450)
    • God has the capacity to everything (no matter how evil, no matter how long) to mysteriously work together ultimately for our !
    • John R. W. Stott: “‘Thus all that is negative in this life is seen to have a positive purpose in the execution of God’s eternal plan.’ is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence.” “We do not always understand what God is doing, let alone welcome it. Nor are we told that he is at work for our comfort. But we know that in all things he is working towards our .” (Romans 247, 248)
    • The longue durée (French for “long term”) concept of history
  • The six last words of God
    • No matter what happens to you in this life, remember that God’s last word is this: “ .”
    • God can turn the for you into the for you.
    • God can get from your “” to His “”.
    • For He is El Shaddai, the (Genesis 48:3).
    • In the suffering death of Jesus, God took the of the very worst and turned it into the of the very best.
    • Ellen White: “All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”  (9T 286 emphasis supplied)
    • Walter Bruggemann:  “The riddle and insight of biblical faith is that only anguish leads to life, only grieving leads to joy, and only embraced endings permit new beginnings.” (Prophetic Imagination 56)

 

“I can get there from here”

Offering for January 24, 2026

Michigan Advance Partners

The Conference leadership is tasked with guiding the churches in proclaiming the gospel in their areas. They do this in at least four ways. First, they provide pastors and specialized personnel like Family Ministries. Second, they encourage conference-sponsored evangelism activities done through pastors and members. Third, the conference supports and supervises Adventist schools. Fourth, they collaborate with the local congregations to build churches, schools, and other facilities.

For much of this work, the Conference depends on the local church and its members for their financial contributions, as the tithe only covers the salaries of the pastors and other specialized conference ministries and personnel. To finance the remainder of these projects, most conferences collect an offering once per month. The name for this offering may vary in some conferences, but it is generally called Conference Advance. While each giver must decide for themselves how much to give, it is recommended that each of us give the equivalent of 1.2% of our income. When this offering is collected, the local treasurer will then forward it to the conference.

Thank you for your committed support to the conference initiatives through your giving and for not becoming “weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:2, 9, ESV).

May you receive the bountiful blessings of God today.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Something in Common back in the commons!

 Hello, church family. After moving from room to room as space allowed, Something in Common is returning to our roots and will meet in the Commons again starting this week. Something in Common focuses on relationships: with God, with others, in marriage, and in parenting, featuring a variety of speakers and topics. Our current series, Vertical Marriage, wraps up next week. If you’re interested, come check us out.

Love on the Move

 God's Hands 4 Kids, a PMC Grow Group outreach to our community serving foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship families partnering with Berrien County Department Of Health and Human Services. As a gift to the families served by them and as a gift to the community of ministry leaders and professionals, we will be providing Hope for the Journey, a video conference on Trust Based Relational Intervention - trauma,  on Sunday afternoons in February here at PMC. It is produced by Show Hope. For more information and to register go to our website GH4K.org

Honduras Mission update

Honduras Mission: Our 20 person Youth Mission Team sang, camped, taught, laughed and prayed. They also conducted a day camp for about 60 children, built a two car garage, led 19 worships, set up a security system, and provided food for 60 families. Thank you for your prayers and support for Pioneer Youth Missions.

With This in Mind...

 Forgiveness, a key aspect of the Christian experience, promotes mental and physical well-being. Research shows it reduces emotional tension, psychological conflict, and even psychosomatic pain. Dr. Karen Swartz of Johns Hopkins notes that anger triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, raising heart rate, blood pressure, and disease risk. Forgiveness, by contrast, fosters peace and lowers depression, anxiety, and stress. As Scripture reminds us, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Go ahead! Enjoy peace of mind.

Adventist Seniors of Michiana (ASM) January Meeting

DINNER FOR SENIORS Sunday, January 25, from 1 to 3 PM, Andrews Academy invites all senior citizens (55 or better) to a banquet at the Academy, to thank us and give us a report on how our support has been a blessing. Bring your appetite and your checkbook, and come enjoy the program and food they are preparing for us.

Master Guide Toolbox!

Please join us for the next Master Guide Toolbox event at the Andrews University Seminary, February 6-7, 2026! Share with your friends, colleagues, students or in your newsletters! If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Logan at cjhlogan@gmail.com. Spread the word! 

Introducing Parent Circle: A Sabbath Space for Growing Together

Parent Circle is a new discipleship space where parents of kids ages 4–12 connect, study the Bible, and grow together while their children are in Sabbath School. The resource area features a lending library, as well as support for completing youth and children’s ministry certifications. Join us on any Sabbath, anytime from 10:30-11:30 AM.

A British Winter's Night: Wind Symphony Winter Concert

A British Winter’s Night concert will be an evening of lively traditional British tunes and ballads.  From the popular Vaughan Williams Sea Songs and English Folk Song Suite, to the rousing tunes of the Irish Washerwoman and Country Gardens, this evening is sure to delight! The Andrews University Wind Symphony, under the direction of Denisse Santos-Gooden, will once again collaborate with the Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band under the direction of Mark Hollandsworth. The two ensembles will take the stage at the Howard Performing Arts Center on January 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM. Start off your new year with toe-tapping tunes and swaying sweet melodies! Tickets are available at howard.andrews.edu.