The Perfect Home

Greetings Church Family!

Biosphere 2 was a state-of-the-art greenhouse built on three acres in the Arizona desert. It was a giant, computer-controlled environment intended to be a miniature version of the much larger biosphere 1, better known as Earth. Completed in 1991 at a cost of $200 million, it included five wilderness areas, ranging from a rainforest to a desert, and was stocked with thousands of exotic plants and animals. 

Eight humans (“biospherians”) were to learn how to live off the land, isolated from the outside world except for communications. The designers envisioned Biosphere 2 as the first step toward human colonization of Mars. But when this landlocked Noah’s Ark set sail for its two-year voyage of discovery from 1991 to 1993, it ran aground from a host of unforeseen environmental and human disasters. 

Oxygen levels inside the complex dropped so low that emergency oxygen was pumped in—violating the main tenet of isolation. And crop production was so poor that the starving crew got hungry enough to steal food from one another or have it smuggled in. Nearly all the birds and animals that were supposed to thrive inside died—except for “crazy ants” and cockroaches that now fill the place. Their proud vision of man making utopia on Earth became a joke—today Biosphere 2 is a tourist attraction masquerading as science. 

The Bible describes the restoration of God’s people and land. It depicts the perfect home for us in which to thrive. “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious” (Isaiah 60:13). 

Someday, when Jesus returns, He will restore our planet to its state before the fall of mankind. We will enjoy the ideal environment, where all of our needs will be abundantly provided. There will be no need for stealing food. Death will be gone. The air will be pure. And we will live forever. 

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”

Isaiah 35:1

Senior Pastor Update

Pastor Crutcher’s first Sabbath with us will be January 21, 2023. We will have a fellowship meal following the special Sabbath Worship Service. Please continue to pray for the Crutcher family as they transition from Atlanta, GA to their new home here in Greeneville, TN. Our church family has been providing Pastor Crutcher with real estate information in our area. Pray that God will lead them to the right place.

What’s Coming Up Next?

• Sabbath October 21

  Morning Speaker: Randy Nomura

  Sermon Title: A Creator Created Creation

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  Elders Meeting after Worship services @ 12:30pm

  Adventurer Meeting @ 2:30pm

  AYA @ GAA (Greeneville Adventist Academy) Mission Trip & Fundraiser Event @ 6pm

• October 23

  Adventurer Meeting @ 10am

• October 24

  Parent Teacher Conferences @ GAA from 4 – 7pm

  GAA School Board Meeting @ 6pm

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  October 26

  Home & School Prayer Circle (GAA Gym) @ 8:00am

  Prayer Meeting (Mark 9) on Zoom @ 7pm

• October 29

  Morning Speaker: Walt Cross

  Fall Social @ The Pavilion from 6:30 – 9pm

• October 30

  Pathfinder Fundraiser/Flea Market Drive Thru @ TBA

News & Events

LOCAL EVENTS & NEWS

DESERT TREE MINISTRY – You may want to check out the new website for  Desert Tree Ministry which has been updated!  This ministry was begun by Jonathan and Melody Dietrich, who used to be members of the Greeneville SDA church and who are now volunteer missionaries in Chad, Africa. Learn what their printshop and Bible Learning Center are doing for the Lord.  Learn ways you can help! https://deserttreeministry.org

CHURCH DIRECTORY Randy Nomura will be updating the church directory. He will be taking photos on the next few Sabbaths. If you have a photo you would rather use, you can email the office. We would like to have faces to go with the names. Thank you for your cooperation.

ABC BOOKMOBILE will be here Sunday, November 6, at the back of the church from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Flyers are on the glass table in the front lobby and on the podium at the back of the church.

Remember the smell of Mom and Grandma putting up Applesauce?

     Those memorable memories of family times putting up food for the winter are swiftly fading away.  The positive outcomes of canning weren’t just having enough green beans when times were tough or fresh food wasn’t available, but a time for families to share together, something which rarely happens today. 

     Come, bring the kids, join the community, and learn as Connie Smith and Pam Pickett share; “How To” properly and safely use a pressure canner and other basic techniques of canning.

     This FREE class will be, Thursday, October 27th, at 6:00 p.m. at 710 Asheville Hwy. Greeneville, Tenn., next door to Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

     Please call 423-638-5014 for information and to register.

GCC EVENTS & NEWS

Nearly 1500 Pathfinders from Georgia-Cumberland Conference attended the Southern Union Pathfinder Camporee at Camp Kulaqua in Florida. Magnify Worship, from GCA, wrote the theme song and led in worship. We are proud of our young people! Be watching for a story in the November/December Communiqué on how this camporee helps Pathfinders make connections, not just with other young people but also with their Heavenly Father.

ACS Warehouse and Donations Management Training, October 28-30, Cohutta Springs Conference Center. Continued training for ACS Disaster Response volunteers. Contact Luis Biazotto if you have questions regarding this event.

Joy in Jesus – Rogersville, October 29, Occasions on the Square, Rogersville, TN. Women’s Ministries day retreat. Women, this is your opportunity for fellowship and addressing issues that threaten your happiness. Come lean how to have joy more abundantly. Learn more and register.

MUSIC CLINIC – November 3-4, 2022 at Fletcher Academy in Fletcher NC. Homes-schoolers, all students in grades 5-12 are welcome to expand their musical skills while enjoying the company of other Adventist youth in choir, strings, band or bells. For more information: fletcheracademy.org/music

ACF Leadership Reboot, November 4-5, Georgia-Cumberland Conference Office. Training and fellowship for ACF leaders from across the conference. For more info email Don Keele.

Joy in Jesus – Cordele, November 4-6, Lake Blackshear Resort, Cordele, GA. Women’s Ministries day retreat. Women, this is your opportunity for fellowship and addressing issues that threaten your happiness. Come lean how to have joy more abundantly. Learn more.

Pastor Wives Retreat, November 4-6, Cohutta Springs Conference Center. For more info contact Heidi Melton.

Pathfinder Teen Challenge, November 4-6, Cohutta Springs Youth Camp. For more info contact Carin Bartlett.

ASSISTANCE NEEDED

PATHFINDERS need help raising money for a new trailer ($6,000 – $8,000).  Our current trailer is too heavy with all our equipment and kitchen. It is putting too much strain on the tires and axles.  We are already fundraising for the Gillette camporee, so this additional need has added to that process.  Thank you.

IN MEMORY OF

DOROTHY (DOTTIE) BUCKMAN, a long-time member of our church, has died. Visitation: Friday, October 21, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. CDT at the Hendersonville (TN) Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cremation Center. A Celebration of Life is scheduled today, October 22, 2:00 p.m. CDT at the Hendersonville (TN) SDA Church with an hour of visitation prior.

May God bless you today as you prepare for the Sabbath. See you tomorrow!

Pastor Nate!