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
calendar of events
ANNOUNCEMENTS (continued)
December 30, Monday Regeneration Ministries, Office Conf. Room, 7:00 p.m.
First Monday on January 6 - get equipped to share hope: with a Spiritual Gifts seminar in Fellowship Hall A at 7:00 p.m. Bring soup & salad to share. Sligo Book Club will meet on January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Discipleship Room to discuss “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. ACTION IN MONTGOMERY VOLUNTEERS: Interested in working on community initiatives that enhance the lives of the less fortunate? Action in Montgomery (AIM) is an interfaith alliance of 30 congregations and neighborhood organizations in Montgomery County that develop leaders to organize change for social justice in the County. As a member of AIM, Sligo SDA Church has been blessed to play an instrumental role in the development and successful adoption of past AIM initiatives, such as Affordable Housing in the County. As Sligo’s “Year of Hope” approaches, we are seeking 50 committed volunteers who are passionate about helping others and are interested in being an integral part of this important community outreach initiative. If you would like to become part of the Sligo AIM Team, please fill out an information card to indicate that and place it in the offering basket. Alternatively you can contact Pastor McFarlane this week at dmcfarlane@ sligochurch.org. We will be kicking off development of our 2014 Sligo AIM Strategy in January. Training will be provided for all volunteers.
December 31, Tuesday Prayer Gathering, Prayer & Praise New Year’s Eve Program Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. January 1, Wednesday Sligo Church Office is closed Sligo Ringers will be on break until January 15, 2014 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal cancelled January 5, Sunday Pathfinder Meeting, Office Chapel, 9:00 a.m. 55+Brunch Potluck Club, Fellowship Hall A, 10:00 a.m. January 6, Monday Regeneration Ministries, Office Conf. Room, 7:00 p.m. First Monday, Fellowship Hall A, 7:00 p.m.
worship schedule SABBATH, JANUARY 4 Church Service, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m., Speaker: Charles A. Tapp Mizo Service, Office Chapel, 11:15 a.m.
CHILDREN & YOUTH
profile of giving
Sligo Underground will resume on January 11, 2014.
DECEMBER 21, 2013
Mission Trip meeting will be held on January 18 in the Youth Room at 1:00 p.m. for those attending the July 2027, 2014 trip to the Dominican Republic. All those high school students who have registered please be present along with your parents. Lunch will be provided. Email pfielder@ sligochurch.org if you have not yet registered. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory for anyone who wants to go on the mission trip.
CHURCH BUDGET: This offering pays for the outreach and
Bulletin Information Deadline is Monday evening! E-mail information to: bulletin@sligochurch.org
sunset Tonight: Jan. 4:
4:53 5:00
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)
directory
Last Year: Dec. 22 $ 10,586.18 Dec. 22 YTD $ 524,119.29
PHONE: 301.270.6777 EMERGENCY: 301.980.1009 FAX: 301.270.3518 WEBSITE: www.sligochurch.org Domestic Violence Hotline: 240.777.4000
BUDGET FOR DECEMBER 21 YTD: $ 617,328.00
SENIOR PASTOR Charles A. Tapp, ext. 126
Media Projects:
PASTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE & ADULT MINISTRIES Don McFarlane, ext. 116 dmcfarlane@sligochurch.org
Dec. 21 $ 1,319.90 Total Raised $ 25,616.31 Goal $45,000.00 Needed $ 19,383.69 Tithe: All of these funds are sent to the Potomac Conference. November 2013 contributions are $ 242,010.49 November 2012 contributions are $ 193,549.89 Today’s designated offering goes to Potomac Partners. Loose offering goes to Church Budget.
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The phrase “The Real McCoy” is an expression that is used when there is an issue of authenticity at stake and the user wants to ensure that everyone understands that the item under consideration is not a fake but the genuine article. I’m sure we’ve all encountered a situation where someone tried to pass off to us a cheap imitation for the real thing and if truth be told, in some cases they may have been quite successful. But as we will see in today’s message, We Have THIS Hope, out of all the things that are attempted to be passed off as “The Real McCoy” none is more dangerous than an attempt to substitute God’s truth for a version that is nothing more than a cheap knock off.
nurture ministries of the church and the church school, along with necessary expenses such as utilities and maintenance of the church building. This Year: Dec. 21 $ 17,475.73 Dec. 21 YTD $ 534,581.67
worship.nurture.outreach
at worship THE CHURCH
welcome
ctapp@sligochurch.org
PASTOR FOR CONGREGATIONAL CARE Debbie Eisele, ext. 127 eiseled@sligochurch.org PASTOR FOR MEDIA AND OUTREACH Paolo Esposito, ext. 136
pesposito@sligochurch.org
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 WORSHIP Cheryl Wilson-Bridges, ext. 123
cbridges@sligochurch.org
HEAD ELDER Erwin Mack 301.434.1622
7700 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 I 301.270.6777
8:45 & 11:15 A.M.
D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 013
Sligo
a seventh-day adventist church The Washington Adventist University Church
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
*Congregation is standing Congregation is kneeling where possible + 11:15 service only
SANCTUARY – 8:45 A.M. AND 11:15 A.M.
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
Adult Sabbath School SANCTUARY – 10:00 A.M.
Song Service Blair Peace & Rose Bara, deacon & deaconess on duty
+Song of Gathering The First Noel / No. 118 (stanzas 1, 2 & 4) Welcome and Church Life Paolo Esposito we honor and praise him
Leading our music today are: Victor Phillips Jr., organist Jon Gilbertson, chorister Christina Rosette, soprano Sam Stone, baritone horn
Prayer
Deric Tomenko
Anthem Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit / arr. W. Dawson
we reflect +Children’s Message Scripture Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
Robert Browning
Monica Seals & Zachary Green
+Music for Meditation Mary, Did You Know? Sermon We Have THIS Hope Invitation to Give
Charles A. Tapp
Charles A. Tapp
Offertory What Child Is This? / arr. Gilbertson
w e g o t o s e r v e *Hymn of Reflection We Have This Hope / No. 214 *Benediction
Charles A. Tapp
Postlude Christmas Medley / arr. Phillips Jr.
Prayer
Scripture
Colin Doherty
Earliteens/Alina Tomenko
Welcome
Victor Kindo
Special Music: It Was a Happy Day C is for the Christ Child
Kindergarten/Little Friends Primary I
*Hymn of Praise My Maker and My King / No. 15
Prelude Silent Night / arr. Phillips Jr.
Footnotes: Christina Rosette is a junior at Washington Adventist University, majoring in Biology. She’s been a member of the Sligo Church community since birth. Her hobbies include Pathfinders, music and swimming.
Recitation of Memory Verses Primary II Recitation of the Beatitudes Juniors Lesson Study Class Leaders Exhortations From the Sanctuary Benediction & Offering
Class Leaders
Monica Seals’ first contact with Sligo has been through our Radio program “Simple Truths for Life”. On Resurrection Weekend, after receiving an invitation through the radio, she felt God calling her to come and visit our church. She’s been coming together with her family ever since. She has also been a part of two cycles of the Homes of Hope Bible Studies and was baptized during our 2013 Festival of Praise. Sam Stone grew up in the Sligo Church family. He knows every corner and every secret passageway, which suits his geocaching hobby. Sam knows where the bunker is and how to find the natural source of water in the church foundations. More importantly- he knows Sligo people and Sligo history and he serves this church as Facilities Manager with love. Deric Tomenko has been attending Sligo for over 20 years. He moved to this area from Stavropol, Russia, to study business at Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University. Deric and his wife Keri, both musicians, have two children, Nikolai and Elena. He also takes joy in teaching Sabbath School and helping Keri with her children’s music ministry.
welcome 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 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 a friend, then invite them to come to church in person at 11:15 a.m. We hold in prayer those who: Have lost loved ones: Dawson, Gilbertson, Lamarre, Molina, Fielder & Castro families Request healing: Karnnel Charles, Tammie Conway, William Miongo, Mary Peters & Carol Hammond Sanctuary flowers are presented to the Lord for all the blessings He bestowed upon our parents Vijaya and Arthur Ganta as they celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary today, December 28, 2013. With Love from Vijay, Vincent and Valerie Ganta.
sabbath devotional
Treasurer’s Note: Many of you will be giving your year-end offerings in the month of December. There are several ways that you can give in addition to your giving at church. You may contribute through our on-line giving, 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. New Year’s Eve Prayer Gathering: A special prayer and praise celebration you won’t want to miss!
“Hope is the raw material from which faith builds the
Membership Report (second reading): Joining Sligo: Diana Gomez, Kathy Martin, Leonardo Ramos, Eugenia Roque, Ana Velazquez Joining elsewhere: Michael Atolagbe, Cheryl Hill, Donna Morningstar, Yvonne Peart, Amanda Rich, Ashley Rich, Ethan Wu, Nahla Wu, Sarah Wu
house.”
The Hope of His Coming: Give a beautiful, limited-edition poetry book, written by our own award-winning poet, Soraya Homayouni, that tells the story of Jesus Christ’s birth as a special holiday gift to your friends and family. Please make a generous donation for these lovely books. Donations for each book can be placed in the giving envelope and noted in “Other Offering” for Worship Ministry.
- Rex Rouis