Saturday, December 16, 2023
OPENING MUSIC
“While by My Sheep I Watched at Night” • trad. carol
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
“OF ANGELS TO SHEPHERDS”: A CAROL CYCLE
“Angels From the Realms of Glory” • 119, st. 1-2
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” • 122, st. 2-3
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” • 130, st. 1-2
“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” • 140, st. 1-2, 5
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
BABY DEDICATION
Abigail Regina Banda, presented by Jaston and Stella Banda with Ben Martin
OFFERTORY
“What Heavenly Music!” • Early Advent Melody / Kenneth Logan
CHILDREN’S STORY & PRAYER
Floyd & Latoya Green, Pioneer Members
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8-14 NIV
Luciana Malia Press, Pioneer Member
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“The Work of Christmas” • Dan Forrest
MESSAGE
“An Earthly Audition for Heaven’s Own Choir”
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” • 135, st. 1, 3-4
CLOSING MUSIC
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God in the Highest”) • Allan Greenway
OPENING MUSIC
“While by My Sheep I Watched at Night” • trad. carol
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
PRAISE
“Joy To The World (Joyful, Joyful)”
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Jenifer Daley, Associate Pastor
BAPTISM
Luciano Kida & Lucrecia Kida with Shane Anderson
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
“The Work of Christmas” • Dan Forrest
OFFERTORY
“What Heavenly Music!” • Early Advent Melody / Kenneth Logan
CHILDREN’S STORY & PRAYER
Janine Lim, Pioneer Member
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8-14 NIV
PRAISE
“Emmanuel” • “O Come All Ye Faithful” • “Worthy of It All”
MESSAGE
“An Earthly Audition for Heaven’s Own Choir”
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
CLOSING MUSIC
“Silent Night”/“Adore”
BLESSING
Shane Anderson, Lead Pastor
CLOSING MUSIC
“Gloria in Excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God in the Highest”) • Allan Greenway
Offering for December 27, 2025
Michigan Advance Partners
When I was in my teens, I read a powerful promise, "Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet" (Ministry of Healing, p.481).
It really was not relevant to me then because my parents provided my food, lodging, and basic needs. But after I got married and had our three children, many expenses ate our income rapidly. Every dollar mattered. I remembered wishing that our babies would hurry up and get out of the “diaper stage” because every diaper cost money.
It would be easy to rationalize that our children are part of our ministry, therefore, we didn’t need to give our offerings for several months. But that would put me in charge of running “God’s business” instead of allowing God to take care of our needs. We learned to step out in faith and depend on Him.
Now that I look back on those days, it is amazing how God came through in thousands of ways to provide for our needs! It was fun to see how He provided all our needs then and continues to do so now. Today, let’s not rationalize our commitment to God. Let’s trust God with all our needs by returning our tithes and offerings faithfully.
—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!
Christmas Blessing Opportunity
Be part of a Christmas blessing this year! Chiang Mai Adventist Academy, which serves primarily Buddhist students from around the country, is looking for a set of Bible story felts to use in teaching the Bible in their Sabbath schools. FARM STEW missionaries will be going to Thailand in January and deliver them. If you have a felt set you would like to donate or would like to donate towards buying a new set, please contact Deby Andvik. (andvik@andrews.edu or call/text 269-277-4145)
Pioneer Women's Ministries 2025 Advent Devotionals
Pioneer Women’s Ministries’ Advent devotionals will highlight a few of the promises of Jesus. To receive the “Red Letter Promises” daily devotionals by email for the first 25 days of December, text the word “ADVENT” to 269-281-2345. You can also receive a short daily text message preview of each day's devotional by providing your cell phone number when you register. We pray you will sense the nearness of Jesus during this holy season through these devotionals.
House of Prayer
Please join us for House of Prayer Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the Earliteen Loft for a time of singing, Bible study and prayer.