Good Afternoon Church Family,

In 1960, an American physicist with Hughes Aircraft Corporation constructed the first working laser from a ruby crystal rod. Since that time, the laser has revolutionized every realm of modern life. The word LASER is actually an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” (I think I prefer LASER!) With an ordinary beam of light, the photons vibrate and scatter in every direction, whereas a laser beam is a tightly focused and perfectly aligned beam of light. 

A laser beam is produced when light bounces back and forth between two mirrors with a special medium, like ruby crystals, between them. This causes all the photons, particles of light energy, to vibrate in exactly the same synchronized phase, like soldiers in a troop. 

Today lasers are used in virtually every field, from communications and industry to medicine and military. Many modern devices, including bar code readers, DVD players, and printers, use lasers. These powerful beams of light can also transmit voice or data via fiber optic cables at much improved speed and capacity. Lasers have also been used to determine very precise measurements with great accuracy. 

The distance between Earth and the moon was measured with lasers to within one inch. In medicine, conventional eye surgery has almost been totally replaced by the miracle of lasers. In industry, lasers are used to cut, align, and measure with great precision. 

Incredibly, lasers can also produce extreme cold. Normally, when you shine light at something it heats up. But under the right conditions, laser light will actually cool atoms! In laser cooling, the laser is tuned to such a frequency that atoms traveling toward the beam get slowed down. A number of criss-crossing laser beams create a trap for the atoms, which get slower and slower, and therefore colder and colder. With this technique, researchers have used lasers to reach temperatures of nearly absolute zero. 

The extremes of heat and cold produced by laser light remind us of the words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15). When the laser light of the Holy Spirit shines on our hearts, we will either be energized for Jesus, or turn away in coldness and desolation. 

For God, who commaded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

In The News

This Sabbath’s message will be brought to you by Elder Carl Ashlock. I hope God will speak to your heart through Brother Ashlocks sermon.

AYA – Come join us this Sabbath evening at 7:30 p.m. to close out the Sabbath with music from Dan Sanford / Ole Timey Musical. It is encouraged to bring your own instrument to play along. It will be a rich blessing, and we hope to see you there! 

Mid-Week Prayer Meeting – Wednesday night prayer meeting will be on ZOOM at 7:00 p.m.. We will be studying Mark 4. The Phone Number is 1-646-931-3860. The meeting ID number is 781 549 3992, and the passcode is 37743 for those using a home/cell phone.

On the church’s website there is a link to the mid-week Bible study, I will also send out an email with the zoom link. 

ABC Bookmobile – Place your orders ASAP ABC Bookmobile will be here on Sunday, August 28^th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. They will setup behind the church building. If you need information about the food specials please contact church office. 

North-East Tennessee Campmeeting – It’s that time of year again for our Annual NE TN Campmeeting. This year’s Campmeeting will be September 16-17 at the Oaks Retreat Center. DON’T FORGET to register and let us know you’re coming. Lodging information and pricing are available on the registration form. Contact Heidi at (706) 629-7951. For weekend schedule and more information on what to bring, visit  https://www.gccsda.com/northeast-tennessee or click the link. For the luncheon, bring your food prepared in a cooler or warming bag, water bottles, and lawn chairs. Dress is casual. 

There will be no services here at the church for Sabbath School, Church or AYA for the weekend of September 16-17.

GCC Women’s Ministry Day Retreat: October 29, 2022, | Occasions on the Square | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $15/person. Retreat includes lunch, worship, and fellowship. Please visit https://www.gccsda.com/events/100767 to register and find more information.  Registration deadline October 6. 

ENGAGE LEADERSHIP CONVENTION: September 30 – October 1, 2022. New in Ministry?  Veteran Youth Worker?  Come to our annual training event for Youth Leaders, Youth in Ministry (ages 16+) and Pastors Breakout sessions offered for everyone at Cohutta Springs. Keynote Speaker – Andres Palacios, Associate Pastor of the Calhoun, GA SDA Church. Registration deadline noon on Thursday, Sept. 22.  For more information or to register, go to: https://www.gccsda.com/events/engage2022.  Questions? Contact Alyse: 706-629-7951 or alyse@gccsda.com.

Ministry In Motion

This week we had a chance to help our sister, Sheryll Morrison, clean up a fallen tree in her front yard, due to a storm that passed through. If it wasn’t for Larry Boughman and his jeep and chainsaw it would have taken us more than a day to clean up! Praise God for the right tools to use for the right job.

Week At A Glance

Sabbath, August 27      

9:15 a.m.       Sabbath School/Rhoda Kanna

11:00 a.m.       Church Service – Elder Carl Ashlock

  2:30 p.m.       Adventurer Meeting

  5:30 p.m.       Adventurer Induction Service

  7:00 p.m.       AYA – Dan Sanford / Ole Timey Musical

SUNDAY, August 28

10:00 a.m.       Adventurer Meeting

  1:00 p.m.       Osvold/Hastings Bridal Shower

 WEDNESDAY, August 31

   7:00 p.m.      Prayer Meeting via ZOOM

THURSDAY, September 1

  6:00 p.m.       Pathfinder Meeting

SABBATH, September 3   

  9:15 a.m.       Sabbath School/Larry Boughman

11:00 a.m.       Church/Pastor Nate

                                   NO AYA