There will be a fellowship dinner following the second worship service in the commons.
Will There Be Thanksgiving in Paradise?
Resources
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, November 17, 2018
Program:
Choral Invitation to Joy
Bring Joy! Give Thanks! • Kenneth Logan
Call to Joy
Psalm 100
Response of Rejoicing
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee • 12
Words of Joy
Job 38:1, 4-7
Hymn of Joy
This Is My Father’s World • 92
Words of Joy
Psalm 98:1-6a
Hymn of Rejoicing
Sing Praise to God • 29
Prayer of Rejoicing
José Bourget
Words of Joy
Colossians 1:15-16
Hymn of Rejoicing
Fairest Lord Jesus • st. 1, 3-4 of. 240
Words of Joy
Ephesians 4:4-6
Anthem of Joy
One Faith, One Hope, One Lord • Craig Courtney
Homily
“Will There Be Thanksgiving in Paradise?”
Dwight K. Nelson
Hymn of Thanksgiving
Now Thank We All Our God • 559
Letters of Thanksgiving
Prelude on Rhosymedre • Ralph Vaughan Williams
Invitation to Giving
What Gift Can We Bring? • Donna Kasbohm / Kenneth Logan
Procession of Thanksgiving
Gifts of Food, Song, Tithes and Offerings
Benediction in Thanksgiving
Dwight K. Nelson
Choral Response in Thanksgiving
Take Joy! Live Thanks! • Kenneth Logan
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
Offering for January 10, 2026
Pioneer Operating Budget
You may have heard it said, and it is true that patience is a virtue. What is also true and closely linked to patience is found in the opening verse of the parable of Luke 18:1-8 (NIV). Jesus told his disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (verse 1). In today’s fast paced, instant, and have-to-get-it-now world, learning to be patient and not lose heart or become discouraged is surely a quality that is desirable. The widow in this parable showed the importance of being patient in one’s petitions and pursuits.
In her attempt to get the judge to defend her against her enemy, who seemed to have been making her life difficult, she kept on asking for his defense. Finally, the judge yielded to her persistence and vindicated her.
The same is true of God. When we are diligent in our prayer life, longsuffering when we are seeking to invoke Christ’s intervention, and faithful in honoring Him in our stewardship, He will move to positive action. Let us remember that unlike the judge we cannot wear out God.
Today, as we worship Him through the return of our tithes and giving of our offerings, let us practice being persistent in honoring Him with our substance and the first fruit of our increase.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries