Looking for a luxurious and thoughtful Christmas gift? These limited-edition, 100% wool blankets are crafted from the wool of the sheep raised at the AU Agriculture Education Center to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Andrews University. Made at
Mountain Meadow Wool Mill with natural, undyed wool, these high-quality blankets are perfect for family, friends, or anyone who values something special and meaningful. With only 45 still available, they’re truly one-of-a-kind! To learn more, go to the Made at Andrews store (www.madeatandrews.com) and search for "Logo blanket."
The Pugwash Factor:
How to Turn Mingle into Mission
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight 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
Saturday, September 05, 2015
Program:
As We Begin
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove • John Dykes
Praise
Indescribable • Awesome God • Hosanna
Prayer
Sabine Vatel
"By the Word of Their Testimony" Baptism
Dianne (POF), Chloey, Haley, and Dominic Cherry with Rodlie Ortiz
Children's Story
Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners • Dale Wood
Worship in Music
I Love to Tell the Story • Robert Reid
Sermon
“The Pugwash Factor: How to Turn Mingle into Mission” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Cards, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
Fill My Cup, Lord • 493
As We Depart
Come, God, Creator, Holy Spirit • Johann Sebastian Bach
More In This Series
“The Pugwash Factor: How to Turn Mingle into Mission”
Matthew 9:9-13
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (Ministry of Healing 143)
- Following in Jesus’ Five Strategic Steps:
- #1—You among people as one who wants the very best for them.
- To mingle simply means to show up where already are.
- Becky Pippert: “How can we be the salt of the earth if we never get out of the salt shaker?” (Out of the Salt Shaker 124)
- Jim Cymbala: “Christians often hesitate to reach out to those who are different. They want God to clean the fish before they catch them. If someone’s gold ring is attached to an unusual body part, if the person doesn’t smell the best, or if the skin color is not the same, Christians tend to hesitate. But think for a moment about God reaching out to us. If ever there was a ‘reach,’ that was it: the holy, pure Deity extending himself to us who are soiled, evil-hearted, unholy. God could have said, ‘You’re so different from me, so distasteful, I would really rather not get too close to you.’ But he didn’t say that. It was our very differentness that drew his hand of love. Jesus didn’t just speak the healing word to lepers from a distance of thirty yards. He touched them.” (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire 8)
- Practice what the top Fortune 500 CEOs do—M By W A.
- Philip Samaan: “Taking the initiative to mingle with others naturally comes easier to some than to others. I always find it more comfortable to mingle with individuals I encounter in normal daily events. The people we rub shoulders with as we work, shop, bank, [study] and carry out other daily activities. . . . Because we have built bridges with such individuals, they (and we too) are much less likely to be apprehensive or fearful of each other.” (Christ’s Method Alone 53)
- Sports events, school concerts, weddings, parties, service clubs, community volunteering, after-school tutoring, PTA meetings, neighborhood projects, et al
- #2—You show your for them.
- #3—You identify and minister to their .
- #4—You win their .
- Gregory Boyle: “There is no force in the world better able to alter anything from its course than love. Ruskin’s comment that you can get someone to remove his coat more surely with a warm, gentle sun than with a cold, blistering wind is particularly apt. Meeting the world with a loving heart will determine what we find there. . . . Sooner or later we all discover that kindness is the only strength there is.” (Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion 124)
- #5—You then invite them to meet .
- Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use .”
- Desire of Ages: “As disciples of Christ we shall not mingle with the world from a mere love of pleasure, to unite with them in folly. Such associations can result only in harm. We should never give sanction to sin by our words or our deeds, our silence or our presence. Wherever we go, we are to carry Jesus with us, and to reveal to others the preciousness of our Saviour.” (152)
- Ty Gibson invitation
- Mary Oliver: “There are things you can’t reach, but you can reach out to them all day long.”
- #1—You among people as one who wants the very best for them.
The Good News of the Gospel is Jesus.
150th Anniversary Commemorative Blanket Available
Pioneer Annual Toy Collection
We invite you to join us in spreading joy this holiday season! Please bring your unwrapped toys for children in our community to our Annual Toy Collection on December 14.
Your generosity will make a difference in the lives of children and families this season. Thank you for sharing the gift of giving!
Instruments for Cuba: Help Launch the Andrews Academy of Music!
We are collecting new or gently used musical instruments to support the creation of the Andrews Academy of Music in Cuba. If you have an instrument you no longer use, please consider donating it to help bring the gift of music to underprivileged children.
Instruments can be dropped off at the church office or at the seminary by December 9, 2024. For more information, please contact us at: careforcuba@andrews.edu, or www.careforcuba.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
Free Archaeological Dig for School Students
In the Spring 2025 semester, the Berrien Springs Parent Partnership will be offering all school students aged 8+ the opportunity to participate in a real archeological Dig right here in Berrien Springs. There is no cost for students who live in the Berrien Springs school district who attend private, public, or church schools, or who are homeschooled. Registration is from December 2 until December 13 at the Parent Partnership website. 
Fellowship Dinner
There will be a fellowship dinner, following the second worship service in the commons on the lower level. Visitors are welcome!
Offering for December 7, 2024
Pioneer Operating Budget
Recently a friend of mine had major surgery on her jaw, which would prevent her from eating normal food. She lived far away from me, so I encouraged her in her recovery with texts and my prayers. When she recovered enough to be able to talk, she shared with me how well her local church had cared for her.
From the moment she went into surgery, to the days that followed, they provided her with rides and round-the-clock care. She lived alone at the time, and she had been quite concerned about the logistics, but her local church family had acted as her own family would have, making sure she had everything she needed.
They even went as far as providing her with a gift card to purchase smoothie drinks for the weeks that followed, until she could go back to eating solid food. When I think of what it means to be a church family, my friend’s recovery from surgery comes to mind.
Not everyone is blessed to live in a loving family with others in their household. When the church steps in to provide that necessary comfort and care, our faith takes on a whole new meaning! Today’s offering is for our local church budget.
As you give today, give with an open heart, and consider all the ways our own church is touching lives.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Prayer and Financial Support - Honduras Mission Trip
Your prayers and financial support are requested for the Pioneer Youth Mission Honduras team. The team will partner with the Hogar de Niños to provide a Friendship Camp. Scott Schalk and Glenn Russell will lead the Friendship Camp for about 75 children from the surrounding community. There will also be a special camping retreat for the Hogar de Niños, something these youth have never experienced before. The Hogar desperately needs a bus. Donations should be made to Pioneer Youth Missions Honduras.
AU Department of Music Christmas Extravaganza!
Join the Andrews University Department of Music for an unforgettable Christmas Extravaganza to welcome the season! This event will feature the University Singers and Chorale under the direction of Stephen Zork, the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Marc Elysée, the Wind Symphony under the direction of Denisse Santos, as well as students from the piano studio of Chi Yun and string ensembles from the studio of Carla Trynchuk.
The concert will feature music favorites such as Of The Father’s Love Begotten and Patapan, scenes from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and the ever popular Leroy Anderson Sleigh Ride.
Join us at the Howard Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening, December 7, or for a repeat performance Sunday evening, December 8. Both concerts begin at 7:30 PM For tickets and more information, visit howard.andrews.edu.
Andrews Academy's Feast of Lights Concert
Andrews Academy Invites You to the Feast of Lights Concert
Andrews Academy will be presenting the 51st annual Feast of Lights program on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM. The community is invited to attend this spectacular night of music, Scripture and drama honoring the King of Kings. It is an evening of lights, bells, instruments, choral singing, congregational singing, shepherds, a Nativity scene, and the retelling of a glorious Christmas story. Chorale and Orchestra will end the program with the Hallelujah chorus. The church sidewalks will be arrayed in Christmas lighting. The program will speak to your hearts of His wondrous love. All are invited to attend this free program held at Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University.
You are also invited to an evening of popular Christmas music on Saturday, December 14, at 7:00 PM at the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. Join us for this free program as we bring in the holidays with a variety of well-known Christmas songs including a grand finale played by the combined musical groups.
2024 Advent Devotionals
Pioneer Women's Ministries invites you to share in the joy of the season by registering for this year's Advent devotionals, "Why Did Jesus Come? Going beyond John 3:16." Women and men are invited to join us as we dig deeper into God's amazing love, care, and deep desire to spend eternity with us. Devotionals will be sent daily December 1-25, 2024. You can receive a brief synopsis of each day's devotional by text and the full devotional by email by texting the word ADVENT to 269-281-2345. We look forward to sharing this blessed season with you.