Friday, January 4, 2019

Dear Church Family,

Happy New Year! Consider the following questions as we begin this new year together:

Search carefully and see whether the truth which you have accepted has become a firm principle with you. Do you take Christ with you when you leave the closet of prayer? Does your religion stand guard at the door of your lips? Is your heart drawn out in sympathy and love for others outside of your own family? Are you diligently seeking a clearer understanding of Scriptural truth, that you may let your light shine forth to others? These questions you may answer to your own souls. Let your speech be seasoned with grace and your demeanor show Christian elevation.

A new year has commenced. What has been the record of the past year in your Christian life? How stands your record in heaven? I entreat you to make an unreserved surrender to God. Have your hearts been divided? Give them wholly to the Lord now. Make a different life history the coming year from that of the past. Humble your souls before God. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” Put away all pretense and affectation. Act your simple, natural self. Be truthful in every thought and word and deed, and “in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Ever remember that the moral nature needs to be braced with constant watchfulness and prayer. As long as you look to Christ, you are safe; but the moment you think of your sacrifices and difficulties, and begin to sympathize with and pet yourself, you lose your trust in God and are in great peril.

Testimonies for the Church. (1855). (Vol. 4, pp. 521–522). Pacific Press Publishing Association.

In the news:

This Sabbath I will be sharing the morning message entitled, “The Iron Furnace.” This marks the beginning of a new series on the Exodus entitled, The Long Journey Home.
I am excited to announce that we plan to begin live streaming this Sabbath! You can find our live stream on our church’s Facebook page and in the coming weeks, we plan to establish a YouTube channel as well where it can be viewed. Thanks to Russel Meier and the A/V team for their diligent efforts in getting this going.
This Sabbath we will have a volunteer sign up slip in the bulletin in anticipation of our upcoming prophecy series at the Crescent School in February. Our primary need at the meetings is for Table Hosts. Please see the insert and sign up sheet in this week’s bulletin and let us know how you would like to be involved. The meetings will begin on February 11. The meetings will be held on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday evenings for five weeks. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. at the Crescent School with supper and the one hour evening presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Last Sabbath we featured the Mitchell family in our “Getting Acquainted” series. Here’s the video for those who missed it.
We have received $17,075 so far and $1300 in pledges. The project is expected to cost $26,696 and plans are to begin February 8 with the renovation. It’s not too late to give if you would like to support this important project and help ensure that we can move forward with the renovation on time.
This Sabbath there will be a Deaconess & Youth Deaconess meeting after the worship service on the organ size of the Sanctuary.
There will be a fellowship dinner this Sabbath with the Rojas team hosting.
Start 2019 With Power! Join us on Sabbath evening Jan. 5 @ 5pm as we have a special service to commence 2019! With a special guest, author, and speaker Francisco Perez. What are your goals with Jesus this year? How are you going to get there? See you there!
I am sad to report that Vernon Silva passed away this morning at around 1:15 a.m. Service arrangements are as follows: Visitation this Sabbath from 2-4 and from 6-8 at Kister Rose Funeral Home. The funeral will be on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Kiser Rose Funeral Home and the graveside will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
This Monday evening at 6:30 p.m., we will have another “How To” class for the community on gardening. Tony Koskovich will be presenting with a look at composting. This provides a perfect opportunity to bring a friend from the community to our church.
This Tuesday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. we will have Dinner with the Doctor. Dr. Odell will be the presenter with a talk entitled, “Your Sugar Is Not Always Sweet: The Diabetes Epidemic”. Bring a friend and be sure to call the office to register.
All Greeters and Receptionists for 2019/2020 are asked to attend a meeting at our home on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Supper will be provided.
You may have heard that Dr. McKinney retired Monday, Dec. 31, from Takoma Regional Hospital after 58 years of service as a physician in Greeneville. Takoma is planning a celebration of his years of service to the community with a reception on Sabbath, Jan 12 from 2-5pm at the Homeplace at Johnston Farm (100 Joe Johnston Lane, Greeneville, TN 37743).
Next Sabbath, Eric Flickinger will be sharing during the worship hour. Please invite those you became acquainted with from last years meetings as we want to give them a chance to see Eric again and to be invited to our upcoming series in February.
Looking ahead, the vesper program Jan. 12 at 5 pm will feature the challenges of providing orphan child care and education in Bolivia. Miguel and Tara Tello, directors of the new Eben-Ezer Orphanage and Boarding School, will chronicle this mission’s effort to provide a safe home and learning environment for those escaping situations of abuse and domestic violence. Tragically, nearly 80% of Bolivian children facing physical, psychological, and/or sexual abuse in their homes. A love offering will be taken in support of this school.
We will have a planning meeting for everyone who would like to go on the church mission trip to Peru on Wednesday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. The trip is scheduled for June 9-23, 2019. Plans are to visit the city of Cusco & Machu Picchu while there. The evangelism site will be in the city of Cajamarca, an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes mountains. Participants are invited to either speak a full 10 part prophecy series with notes and slides provided or share health lectures, children’s programming, or singing. If you are interested in going, please email me. It will cost $2000 per family plus airfare or $1000 per person plus airfare if a room is shared with someone. Note these costs might be slightly reduced but details are still being worked on. We also can share with you the power points for those speaking so that you can begin to practice.
Hope you all enjoyed the New Year holiday. We spent some time visiting family over in Columbus, NC. Over New Year’s Jordan and I each painted a picture under the guidance of my brother-in-law, George. Had a lot of fun. And the boys worked with Tina and Nanna to sew some pajama pants out of some old remnants of fabric.