American Apocalypse: 'What Is Past Is Prologue'

Calamities Most Awful, Most Unexpected

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

Saturday, September 26, 2020
Program: 
Opening Music
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God • Johann Walther
Andrews Academy Orion Strings; Elsy Gallardo-Diaz, director; Kenneth Logan, organ, Minister of Music
Welcome
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
Welcome Video
Andrea Luxton, President, Andrews University
Call to Worship & Prayer
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor
"A Mighty Fortress"—A Hymn Cycle
"A Shelter in the Time of Storm" SDAH 528, st, 1-3 • "A Mighty Fortress" SDAH 506, all stanzas • "In Christ Alone"
Rosemary Bailey, Grace Dockerty, Giancarlo Leonor, Marcelo Martins, choristers
Congregational Prayer
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
Pioneer Testimony
Rodlie Ortiz, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church; with Kevin Wilson, Associate Pastor, Oceanside SDA Church
Children's Story
Dick Mackie
Children's Prayer
Audrey
Scripture Reading
Betty Paulraj and Jonathan Picon
Worship in Music
"It Is Well" • Matthew Riley
Andrews Academy Orion Strings; Elsy Gallardo-Diaz, director; Marcelo Martins, piano, Andrews Academy Faculty
Message
"American Apocalypse: 'What Is Past Is Prologue'—Calamities Most Awful, Most Unexpected"
Dwight K. Nelson, Lead Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church
Connect Card
Closing Hymn
"The Savior is Waiting" • SDAH 289
Closing Music
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" • attr. Martin Luther
Kenneth Logan, organ, Minister of Music
Offering for January 3, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

There is something special about the beginning of a new year. It’s the energy and the excitement. It’s the opportunities that it offers. It provides the chance to forget the past and its challenges, while we embrace the possibility to start over.

The New Year offers the opportunity for us to look at the future with optimism and gratefulness. For this reason, I like new, don’t you? Paul liked the idea of new also. That’s why he encourages us to look towards the future instead of looking back. He says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3: 13, 14, NIV), we should press toward the goal to win.

The encouraging thing is, when Christ is in the lead, we must succeed. For this reason, we can embrace the possibilities of the new year– striving to be better stewards for God. So may our goals this year include spending consistent time in worship and developing a relationship of steel with God. May we take care of our wellbeing (physically and psychologically) and witness about His love by using our talents and gifts.

May we faithfully return to God the designated portion of our wealth and take care of our world and the environment. Let’s determine to make 2026 an exceptional year of sacrificial generosity, in our local church and worldwide. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Church Office Holiday Closure: 12/22-12/26 & 12/29-01/02

Please note that the church office will be closed from December 22 to 26 and again from December 29 to January 2 for the holiday season. We will reopen on January 5. Our church services will proceed as always. If you have any announcements, please submit those no later than December 19. Thank you for your understanding. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!