OUR VISION
We will g lorif y G od by be i n g i n creasi n g ly tran sfo rmed i nto the l i keness of C hri s t
our life together
ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued) FREE CONCERT! Support the launch of Winter Haven Homeless Hypothermia Shelter by attending Saved!, a fundraising benefit concert and dinner on Sunday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature gospel recording artist and motivational speaker, Doreen Vail, along with other entertainment. Doors open at 5:45. Arrive early as seating is limited. Contact Donna Robinson at 301-325-5596 or visit the website at www.houseofdivineguidance.org for ticket information. Treasurer’s Note: Many of you will be giving your year-end offerings in the month of December. There are several ways in which you can give in addition to your giving at church. You may contribute through our on-line giving (Go to www.sligochurch. org and click on GIVE and choose one of the options). Or if you prefer, by mail, but it must be post-marked by December 31. You can also put your giving envelope in the church office Mail Slot during the week. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving your tithe and for supporting your local church by giving liberally and systematically to the Church Budget. Prayer Gathering: Join us to pray and study “prayers in the Bible” each Wednesday evening, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Plan to make Prayer Gathering a part of your weekly Wednesday routine. Where there’s more prayer, there’s more power!
Welcome to Sligo Church. As we celebrate the first Advent of Christ we contemplate what His coming ushered in. We are trained from infancy to work for everything we have: We earn and are rewarded, and December 13, Sabbath if we are good enough and do the right thing we will Pr. Pranitha Fielder’s Ordination Service, Sanctuary, 1:30 p.m. receive what is due us. It is so ingrained in us to work, to earn, to deserve, and to be rewarded, so much so that we someDecember 14, Sunday times are upset when someone gets a “free ride” for something for Pathfinder Meeting, Office Chapel, 9:00 a.m. which we’ve worked very hard and for which they’ve done nothing. The House of Divine Guidance Concert Event, Atrium, 6:00 p.m. first Advent exposed something that was truly counter-human. God’s grace and gift of salvation cannot be worked for, earned, or deserved. December 15, Monday It is innate for us to focus on what we must do, how good we must Regeneration Ministries, Office Conference Room, 9:00 a.m. be, and how hard we must work. God does not desire “doing;”all the “doing” in the world will simply not do, He desires our “being” – in December 17, Wednesday relationship with Jesus Christ. The response of faithfulness, obedience and love all flow out of that relationship. Christ never has, nor ever Prayer Gathering, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. will, wait for us to deserve or earn His time, His attention, or His love. (or by phone: 949.229.4400 Pin:4997774#, 7:35 p.m.) The most expensive gift is also the freest gift. The Supreme God gave Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room, 7:30 p.m. the Supreme Gift and He gave it supremely free. - Pranitha Fielder
calendar of events
SABBATH, DECEMBER 20 Church Service, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Speaker: Charles A. Tapp Mizo Service, Office Chapel, 11:00 a.m. Kerala Church, WAU Richards Hall, 10:00 a.m. Underground, Youth Room, 11:00 a.m. Crossroads, WAU Student Activity Center, 11:00 a.m.
profile of giving DECEMBER 6, 2014
CHURCH BUDGET: This offering pays for the outreach and
nurture ministries of the church and the church school, along with necessary expenses such as utilities and maintenance of the church building. Last Year: Dec. 7 Dec. 7 YTD
Bulletin Information Deadline is Monday evening! E-mail information to: kdriscoll@sligochurch.org
BUDGET FOR DECEMBER 6 YTD: $529,643.00
$ 17,749.50 $ 521,463.52
Budget Booster: Dec. 6 $ 5,805.00 Goal $ 35,000.00
This Year: Dec. 6 $ 11,524.01 Dec. 6 YTD $ 517,260.68
Total Raised $33,388.70 Needed $ 1,611.30
Church Building Improvement: Dec. 6 $ 440.00 Total Raised $107,472.15 Goal $150,000.00 Needed $ 42,527.85 Tithe: All of these funds are sent to the Potomac Conference. November 2014 contributions are $ 251,321.86 November 2013 contributions are $ 242,010.49 MTD Contributions are $9,311.37 more than last year. Today’s designated offering goes to Adventist Community Services/ World Budget. Loose offering goes to Church Budget.
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at worship THE CHURCH
worship schedule
Sunset: Sabbath celebration ends today at 4:46 p.m. and commences on Friday, December 19 at 4:48 p.m.
CHILDREN & YOUTH All youth Friday night activities and Underground will return in January. Hope to see all our youth soon!
welcome
worship.nurture.outreach
Summary of our Beliefs
• The Bible is the inspired word of God and our only rule of
faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). • Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God and our personal Savior from sin by grace through faith. (John 1:1-3; Ephesians 2:8). • Having been saved, followers of Jesus live in obedience to Him by observing the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20: 1-17; John 14:15). • The Sabbath – the seventh day of the week- established by God at creation and honored by Jesus in His earthly ministry, is to be observed by the followers of Jesus. (Exodus 20:8-11; 1 Peter 2:21). • Jesus is coming back to earth personally and visibly to raise the righteous dead and give His faithful children of all ages immortality in an earth made new. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 22:12; 21:1-3). • Our love for God is demonstrated primarily by our love for our fellowmen. (1 John 4:20; Matthew 25:34-40)
8:45 & 11:00 A.M.
D E C E M B E R 13 , 2 014
directory PHONE: 301.270.6777 EMERGENCY: 301.980.1009 FAX: 301.270.3518 WEBSITE: www.sligochurch.org Domestic Violence Hotline: 240.777.4000 SENIOR PASTOR Charles A. Tapp, ext. 126
ctapp@sligochurch.org
PASTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE & ADULT MINISTRIES Don McFarlane, ext. 116 dmcfarlane@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR DISCIPLESHIP & CONGREGATIONAL CARE TBD PASTOR FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS Pranitha Fielder, ext. 119 pfielder@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES Gerardo Lopez, ext. 122 glopez@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR MEDIA AND OUTREACH PASTOR FOR WORSHIP Cheryl Wilson-Bridges, ext. 123 ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES Ken Flemmer 301.585.6556
Sligo
a seventh-day adventist church The Washington Adventist University Church
TBD
cbridges@sligochurch.org HEAD ELDER Erwin Mack 301.434.1622
7700 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 I 301.270.6777
OUR MISSION We s eek to g row passi onate d i sc i pl es of J es us th ro ugh wor shi p of God , nur ture of o ne a noth er,and outreach to the worl d .
THE CHURCH AT STUDY
THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP we gather in his name
we go to serve
SANCTUARY – 8:45 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.
*Hymn of Reflection O Come, O Come, Immanuel / No. 115 *Benediction Pranitha Fielder Postlude Hark The Herald Angels Sing / arr. Don Hustad
Sligo Live Prelude Go Tell It On the Mountain / Goeschke
+Songs of Gathering It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / No. 130 Holy Ground / Geron Davis Welcome and Church Life
Gerry Lopez
we honor and praise him
Manuel Rosette, deacon on duty Jean Ott, deaconess on duty
*Hymn of Praise All Creatures of Our God and King / No. 2 (stanzas 1, 2 & 4)
Leading our music today are: Patrick Alston, organist Judith Pino, chorister
+Call to Prayer O Come Let Us Adore Him
Sligo Sanctuary Choir Jon Gilbertson, director
Prayer
Sligo Bell Choir Ardyce Griswold, director
+Prayer Response O Come Let Us Adore Him Anthem Angels from the Realms of Glory / Forrest
Danny Rosette
Footnotes:
+Advent Candlelighting Kay Rosburg & Jeff Dever we reflect +Children’s Message
Gerry Lopez
Scripture Neil Braithwaite Luke 2:30-38 (NIV) Sermon Pranitha Fielder The Supreme Gift Invitation to Give Pranitha Fielder Offertory Sing We Now of Christmas-French Carol / arr. Chesney +Angels We Have Heard On High / Angela
Adult Sabbath School SANCTUARY – 10:00 A.M.
Song Service
Roland Halstead
Neil Braithwaite is a Federal Special Police Officer who enjoys writing and often contributes to articles in the Collegiate Quarterly (CQ). He is the set up and breakdown leader for Sligo PowerUp children’s church. Danny Rosette is a freshman at Washington Adventist University. He has been an active Pathfinder prior to starting college. Danny is Manuel and Vicky Rosette’s son and has been part of Sligo Church since birth. He is a very active young man who likes to play Basketball and Soccer. He graduated from Sligo Adventist School and Takoma Academy, from which he graduated last year.
welcome
Theme Song My Hope is Built on Nothing Less / No. 522 Scripture & Prayer
*Congregation is standing Congregation is kneeling where possible + 11:00 service only
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
Welcome
James Gulley
James Gulley
Special Music Selected Kanon in D / Pachelbel Lesson Study Getting Ready for the Harvest Benediction Prayer
Let us hear from you! To write the pastors a note, make a prayer request, or inquire about becoming a member of Sligo Church, please use a card from the hymnal rack. ANNOUNCEMENTS
KG & Primary SS Classes R. Rada & M. Daley Class Leaders Class Leaders
James Gulley
Fred Weber, organist
Simple Truths for Life: Sligo’s Radio Ministry, can be heard each Sabbath morning from 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. on WGTS 91.9 FM. Listen with friends, then invite them to come to church in person at 11:00 a.m. Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes for free from Simple Truths for Life by Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church from the iTunes Store. You can also go to simpletruthsforlife. org/podcast We hold in prayer those who: Have lost loved ones: Edith McNairn, Lalitha Budde, Loida Doukmetzian, Sharmila Thapa & Ofelia Beltran Request healing: Anna Clementson & Wayne Dockter Congregational Care: Please notify Pastor Don McFarlane in the Church Office at 301-270-6777, ext. 116 if you know someone who is in a hospital, nursing home facility, or house bound and in need of visitation. Nominating Report (second reading): Deacons: Rennecks Bailey, Sr., Todd Hollis, and Lloyd Simpson Today’s Sanctuary flowers have been given by the Potomac Conference in connection with the ordination of Pr. Pranitha Fielder.
litany for advent candlelighting We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ, coming again to reign in glory. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Keep awake, therefore, and be ready. The Lord is coming at an unexpected hour. The kingdom of heaven has come near. Go and tell what you have seen and heard: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, And they shall name him Emmanuel, God with us. Prepare the way of the Lord!
You are all invited to the ordination service of Pastor Pranitha Fielder at 1:30 p.m. today, in the Sligo Church Sanctuary. Pastor Fielder has been a part of the Sligo Church community for the past thirteen years and values the support she has received from the church in her development as a pastor and in her personal growth. She loves the members of this Church and will cherish their presence at her ordination service. 3rd Advent Candle – The Shepherd Candle or The Candle of Joy – The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.