Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Saturday, January 06, 2018
Program: 
Praise
Days of Elijah • Open the Eyes of My Heart • Power of Your Love
Prayer
José Bourget
Adopt a Student / GROW Groups
José Bourget
Children's Story
Prelude • Edvard Grieg / B. McBrien
Dwight K. Nelson
Worship in Music
What Wondrous Love Is This?
Kenneth Logan, piano
Sermon
"Bring Your Heart to Life"
Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Holy Spirit, Gracious Guest • 589

"Bring Your Heart to Life"
www.newperceptions.tv

  • The Dream
  • The Promise
    • Romans 5:5—God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
    • Christian Wiman: "In any true love—a mother's for her child, a husband's for his wife, a friend's for a friend—there is an excess energy that always wants to be in motion. Moreover, it seems to move not simply from one person to another but through them, toward something else. . . . This is why we can be so baffled and overwhelmed by such love (and I don't mean merely when we fall in love; in fact, I'm talking more of other, more durable relationships): it wants to be more than it is; it cries out inside of us to make it more than it is. And what it is crying out for, finally, is its essence and origin: God. Love, which awakens our souls and to which we cling like the splendid mortal creatures that we are, asks us to let it go, to let it be more than it is if it is only us. To manage this highest form of loving does not mean that we will be showered with earthly delights or somehow be spared awful human suffering. But for as long as we can live in this sacred space of receiving and releasing, and can learn to speak and be love's fluency, then the greater love that is God brings a continuous and enlarging air into our existence." (My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer 23-24)
    • Spence Reece: "All I know now / is the more he loved me the more I loved the world." (23)
    • Philip Yancey:  "When she enters a room Susan assumes that, bidden or not, God is already present. 'We love because he first loved us,' she says, quoting John, 'and I picture God pouring his pitcher into me so that I can pour out to others, and then be replenished with God's love. I enter with a smile, feeling privileged to share the sacred ground on which someone clings to life. If I forget that God goes ahead of me, and think instead that I am bringing God into the room, I can have an air of smugness. I feel pressure to say the right thing, try to impress the patient and staff—in short, I take myself too seriously. I need the constant reminder that God precedes me in that room, and that the person in the bed has a story I can learn from." (Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? 66-67)
    • "What is a saint? I like Reynolds Price's definition: someone who, however flawed, 'leads us by example, almost never by words, to imagine the hardest thing of all: the seamless love of God for all creation, including ourselves.'" (Yancey 71)
    • Duncan Hamilton: "Amid the myriad moral dilemmas in Weihsien, [Eric] Liddell's forbearance was remarkable. No one could ever recall a single act of envy, pettiness, hubris, or self-aggrandizement from him. He bad-mouthed nobody. He didn't bicker. He lived daily by the most unselfish credo, which was to help others practically and emotionally. Liddell became the camp's conscience without ever being pious, sanctimonious, or judgmental. He forced his religion on no one. He didn't expect others to share his beliefs, let alone live up to them. . . . 'You came away from his meetings as if you'd been given a dose of goodness,' said a member of the camp congregation. 'Everyone regarded him as a friend,' said another, giving voice to that unanimous verdict." (For the Glory: The Untold and Inspiring Story of Eric Liddell, Hero of Chariots of Fire 8-9)
  • The Strategy
    • #1—Ask to be filled (in the morning).
      • Ellen White: "Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love." (Steps to Christ 94)
      • Romans 5:8—"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us."
      • Picture the cross in your mind, kneel there, ask to be filled with God's love.
      • www.steps-to-personal-revival.info
    • #2—Ask to be unfilled (through the day).
      • Next Steps on your Connect Card

"Ask to be filled—and then unfilled"

 

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
This New Year I would like to pour out the love God pours in by:
Fruit Delivery Next week

If you ordered fruits during the Pathfinder Fruit Fundraiser and requested shipment to PMC, the orders are anticipated to arrive on Tuesday, December 5th. The fruits may be picked up between 6 PM and 8 PM in the PMC Commons.

Soup for Students

Pioneer Young Adult Ministries is hosting Soup for Students. All Collegiate-aged individuals are welcomed to attend and enjoy soup and a touch of home while studying for finals.  Volunteers can contact Prescott Khair (prescott.khair@pmchurch.org)

You Visited Me

Jesus said, "When I was in prison, you visited Me."  If you have a heart for reaching out to a lonely person in need of encouragement while incarcerated, have I got a person for you!  Please contact Sue Wein (whitewsu@andrews.edu).  I will give you the details and help you in connecting with her.

Bring a Toy, Spread some joy.

In just a few weeks, on December 9, we will be having our annual Children’s Celebration of Christmas. This is the worship service every year where we bring a new unwrapped toy for a child up to age 16. These gifts will go to families in our community who are not able to purchase gifts. This is yet another way that Pioneer can be Love on the Move!

4th Annual "First Advent" Reflections

It is time to join the 4th Annual "First Advent Reflections". This Christmas season the Pioneer Women’s Ministries Team is delighted to invite you to reflect on Handel's "Messiah".

A daily email and a text will be sent to the ladies who sign-up. To register text the word "Hallelujah" to 269-281-2345

Love on the Move - GH4K

Would you like to show "Love on the Move" to foster, adoptive, kinship families in our community? This is your invitation to join God's Hands 4 Kids in doing just that. Could you make a pan of lasagna for GH4K's Connect Support Group Christmas Celebration on December 8 delivering ready to serve. For details and to sign up go to our website GH4K.org There will be more opportunities to give shared there. Godshands4kids@gmail.com

Howard Center Presents "Welcome Christmas: Peace on Earth"

The award-winning Andrews University Singers and Chorale conducted by Stephen Zork collaborate with the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marc Élysée in the 25th annual presentation of Welcome Christmas. The theme of the concert is “Peace on Earth” and comprised of a festive garland of heartwarming and endearing sacred and secular symphonic choral works and carols. The variety of musical offerings encompass Giacomo Puccini’s “Gloria” to Harry Simeon’s choral setting of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Join us for this special concert featuring special guest soloists and presenters.

Christmas Banquet for Seniors Sunday, December 10

The Christmas Banquet for Seniors comes this year on Sunday, the 10th of December, at 1:00 PM at the Village Church Fellowship Hall. This year, Village Church is responsible for decorating the tables, the meal, and the program. (Next year it will be PMC's turn.) The cost of the meal is $20 for everyone. However, PMC and Village Church will pay for all attending Senior members of their respective churches. All other Senior members will need to pay at the door. If you have not yet signed up for the Christmas Banquet, please call either the Village SDA Church at 269-471-7795 OR Pioneer Memorial Church at 269-471-3133 OR Cleon White at 269-471-5553 by December 5.

Clothing Donation Drive

The Social Sciences and Social Justice club is a department club on campus that is currently running a clothing drive this semester where we are collecting clothes from students, staff, and faculty on campus to create a pop-up thrift store in December for
a fundraiser. This fundraiser's profit will be going towards Phoenicia Finesse, a project in Lebanon that helps fund reusable napkins for women in need, as well as educating them on menstrual cycles. We currently have a drop-off box in the Campus Center as well as in the PMC lobby, so any donations are appreciated! The pop-up will be on December 3rd from 3-6 PM, so if you would like to donate, please come by!

Something in Common presents the Love and Respect video series with Dr. Emerson Eggerich

The Series continues each Sabbath through December 16. Come join us in PMC Room 141 each Sabbath morning from 10:30-11:30. Everyone is welcome on Sabbath mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM in Room 141

Pages