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)
welcome
calendar of events
Sweet Treats: If you ordered Pathfinder candy, it is available for pick up today, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., in the Atrium. Any remaining orders can be picked up between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Pathfinder Office. LIVEFOR1 Concert will be held today at 5:30 p.m. in Capital Memorial SDA Church (3150 Chesapeake St., NW Washington, DC). Presented by the Columbia Union Conference ASI Ministry to benefit Syrian Refugees who are seeking refuge all over the world. This concert includes performances by Javier Gonzalez, Karla Rivera Bucklew, Rudy Micelli, Alessandra Sorace, Rachel Hyman, Paulette Jumalon, Joy Alexander, and Wendell Phipps. Please support the needs of those who truly need our help. If you’re unable to attend the concert, please go to LIVEFOR1.COM to learn more and make a donation. Admission is free! Potomac Conference executive committee voted to suspend English camp meeting for one year (2016) while a designated subcommittee researches and explores different avenues for camp meeting. Potomac members’ ideas and input are encouraged. Please read the full statement and submit your input at <http:// pcsda.org/campmeeting2016>. Budget Booster: Please give extra to our budget through the Budget Booster. Our goal this year is $40,000. In faith, we allocated more for our ministries at Sligo. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for your continued support of the needs here at your local church. The Sligo music department is inviting you to join the choir! For more information, contact our new Choral Conductor, Paul Byssainthe Jr., at pbyssainthe@sligochurch.org or by calling 301.270.6777, ext. 124
CHILDREN & YOUTH Bulletin information deadline is Monday evening! E-mail information to: kdriscoll@sligochurch.org Sunset: Sabbath celebration ends today at 4:48 p.m. and commences on Friday, December 25 at 4:51 p.m. *Consent To Use Photographic Images: Sligo SDA Church films all worship services. Attendance at, or participation in Sligo worship services constitutes an agreement by the participant to Sligo’s use and distribution of the attendee’s image, voice, or likeness in photos, video, electronic reproduction and audio tapes of such activities. Follow us now on Facebook and Twitter
Welcome to Sligo Church. Recently while sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, a news segment came across the television in the waiting room that December 19, Saturday caught my eye which kept me riveted to the screen. Young Adults GLOW (God Lighting Our World), It was a montage of the most newsworthy events of Memorial Chapel, 9:30 a.m. 2015. It didn’t take long before you got the idea that Peters Memorial Service, Sanctuary, 4:00 p.m. most of the things that made the news this year were very frightening and disturbing in nature. This brief segment, which December 21, Monday I’m sure was only about two minutes in length, featured some of the Regeneration Ministries, Office Conference Room, 7:30 p.m. most horrific tragedies in recent years. When you think about it, 2015 in many respects and for many people has not been a very good year. December 23, Wednesday Planes have fallen out of the skies, the earth appears to be breaking Prayer Gathering, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. at its very core and man’s inhumanity to man seems to have reached an all time high. I’m sure to many our world appears to be completely (or by phone: 949.229.4400 Pin:4997774#, 7:35 p.m.) Sanctuary out of control. But this is where we as believers are given a different Sligo Adult Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room, 8:00 p.m. perspective. Because we “Worship the King,” we realize that peace is December 24 & 25, Thursday & Friday just on the horizon. Not a peace that is temporary, but an everlasting peace that comes from God being “with us.” Church Office will be closed - Charles A. Tapp
Summary of our Beliefs
worship schedule SABBATH, December 26 Church Service, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:00 a.m. Speaker: Richard Castillo Mizo Service, Office Chapel, 11:00 a.m. Kerala Church, WAU Richards Hall, 10:00 a.m.
profile of giving - December 12 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. 13 $ 23,188 Dec. 13 YTD $540,452
This Year: Dec. 12 $ 9,427 Dec. 12 YTD $540,906
BUDGET FOR DECEMBER 12 YTD: $ 560,653 BUDGET BOOSTER:
Dec. 12 Goal
$ 508 $40,000
at worship THE CHURCH
Total Raised $13,585 Needed $26,415
Church Building Improvement: Greenwood Avenue Entrance Women’s Bathrooms Dec. 12 YTD $ 52,444 Total Raised $123,104 Tithe: All of these funds are sent to the Potomac Conference. November 2015 contributions are $ 224,731 November 2014 contributions are $ 251,322 MTD Contributions are $26,591 less than last year. Today’s designated offering goes to Local Church Budget. Loose offering goes to Church Budget.
worship.nurture.outreach
• 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).
CHRIST FIRST D E C E M B E R 19 , 2 015 8:45 & 11:00 A.M.
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 ADMINISTRATION & ADULT MINISTRIES Don McFarlane, ext. 116 dmcfarlane@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR DISCIPLESHIP & CONGREGATIONAL CARE Pranitha Fielder, ext. 127 pfielder@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS Joseph Khabbaz, ext. 119 jkhabbaz@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES Gerardo Lopez, ext. 122 glopez@sligochurch.org
The Washington Adventist University Church
PASTOR FOR MEDIA & OUTREACH Richard Castillo, ext. 136 rcastillo@sligochurch.org
OUR MISSION
PASTOR FOR WORSHIP Cheryl Wilson-Bridges, ext. 123
cbridges@sligochurch.org
ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES Ken Flemmer 301.585.6556
HEAD ELDER Erwin Mack 301.434.1622
7700 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 I 301.270.6777
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
Worship the Newborn King O Come All Ye Faithful
SANCTUARY – 8:45 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.
+Sligo Live Christmas - Why Celebrate? Prelude Praise The Lord With Drums & Cymbals / Sigfried KargElert +Song of Gathering The First Noel / No. 118 (stanzas 1, 2 & 5) Welcome and Church Life
Gerry Lopez
we honor and praise him *Hymn of Praise O, Little Town of Bethlehem / No. 135 (stanzas 1, 2 & 4) Prayer
Joseph Khabbaz
*Advent Candle Lighting
we reflect
Fanai family +Joseph family
+Children’s Message O, Worship The King!
Gerry Lopez
Cheryl Bridges
Prophesy of a King Isaiah 7:14; 9:6,7; Luke: 1: 30-33 (NKJV) +Musical Selection O Come, O Come, Emmanuel / arr. John Rutter Musical Selection Still, Still, Still, Austrian Carol / arr. Norman Luboff +Musical Selection Christmas Medley The Night of His Birth Cheryl Bridges Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV) Musical Selection O Holy Night / Adolphe Adam *Congregational Hymn It Came Upon the Midnight Clear / No. 130
Adult Sabbath School SANCTUARY – 10:00 A.M.
Musical Selection Angels From the Realms of Glory / arr. Dan Forrest Born! Homily Charles A. Tapp Invitation to Give
Charles A. Tapp
Offertory Joy to the World / arr. Jim Hammerly
we go to serve *Hymn of Response Angels We Have Heard on High / No. 142 (stanzas 1 & 4) *Benediction
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
Charles A. Tapp
Postlude Hark! The Herald Angels Sings / arr. Jess Anderson
Song Service
Kay Rosburg
welcome
Theme Song Trust and Obey Scripture & Prayer Welcome
Yuri Tomenko Yuri Tomenko
ANNOUNCEMENTS Mission Feature Special Music Lesson Study Back to Egypt Prayer
Imad Madanat
Shane Kelley
Yuri Tomenko
Zelma Edwards, pianist
Barry Rowe & Nuha Taweel, deacon & deaconess on duty
Sligo Sanctuary Choir Paul Byssainthe, Jr., director Brass Quintet Griffith Kazmierczak, trumpet; Frank Stroup, trumpet; Avery Pettigrew, french horn; Stephen Omelsky, trombone; Ed Vinson, tuba
4th Advent Candle Lighting: 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,
next week, here at Sligo... Pastor Richard Castillo will present a Christmas message and music will be provided by the Sounds of Steel Pan Orchestra, under the direction of David Campbell.
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: Borge, Lawrence, Djordjevic, Gurubatham, Scott, Peace, Dos Santos & Ebbess families Request healing/comfort: Zenith Ram, Rosita Davies, Kyle Alexander, William Miongo, Aurora Constantino & Pushpawati Borge A memorial service will be held for Richard Peters this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the Sligo Church Sanctuary. The Peters family invites you to join in this celebration of life, hope, and the Christmas spirit by participating in an old-fashioned Christmas carol sing-a-long.
*Congregation is standing Congregation is kneeling where possible + 11:00 service only Leading our music today are: Patrick Alston, organist; Paul Byssainthe, Jr., pianist; Desmond Pierre-Louis, chorister; Mark Di Pinto, piano; Matt Daley, piano; Emilie Flores, violin; Caitlin Day, percussion; Judy Vandeman, harp; Aren Bruce, acoustic guitar; Shane Kelley, trumpet; Dwight Joseph, saxophone; Kris Boyd, bass guitar; Joe Balay, piano; Richard Castillo, soloist
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.
and they shall name him Emmanuel, God with us. Fear not, for there is good news of great joy for all people: To us is born this day in Bethlehem a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord!
Blood Pressure Screening, sponsored by the Health Action Team, is being held in the Atrium between 10:00 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. today. Information is also available on various health topics. Members and visitors are welcome to ask a medical doctor health related questions between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. today in Fellowship Hall B, located near the blood pressure screening area. Advent poetry books, “The Hope of His Coming” by Soraya Safavid, will be available as gifts at the end of the service. 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. The Church Office will be closed for the Christmas Holiday on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25. If you have an urgent matter that cannot wait until the office reopens, please call our emergency number 301-980-1009.