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)
Guest Ministry is calling all Greeters to attend a luncheon on Sabbath, December 5 in the Primary II Room, after second service. We will fellowship, share ideas and make plans for next year. There will also be a presentation on security by the Church’s Security Team. Please contact Megan Conway <megatconway@ gmail.com> or Elizabeth Abel <eabel7914@aol.com> for more information. Sabbath School Brunch: December 6, 10:00 a.m., Fellowship Room A. All adult Sabbath School teachers, superintendents, secretaries and music committee members are invited. Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, formerly of the G.C. Public Relations and Parliamentary Affairs department will introduce the 1st quarter 2016 Sabbath School lesson, which is on the Great Controversy. Pranitha Fielder, our Discipleship and Congregational Care pastor, will also share a special plan on building community at Sligo Church. AIM needs Sligo Church to turn out 100 members at the upcoming Child First and Housing Action on December 9, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., at St. Camillus Church, 1600 St. Camillus Drive in Silver Spring (carpools available). AIM will petition the County Executive and Council for after-school funding for the 2016-2017 academic year. Sign up via the bulletin insert, visiting the AIM Atrium table, or by contacting a Sligo AIM member. Budget Booster: It’s that time of year again when we ask our members to 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. CHILDREN & YOUTH Be part of a vibrant music ministry! Bring your child to join Sligo Children’s Choir. Rehearsals are held on designated Sabbaths from 1:15 - 2:15 p.m in the Choir Room. To register, please contact Joya Follette at 240.505.8020 or <jkf530@aol.com> Sligo Underground Youth Service will be held today! Worship, fellowship, go deeper! Bulletin information deadline is Monday evening! E-mail information to: kdriscoll@sligochurch.org Sunset: Sabbath celebration ends today at 4:47 p.m. and commences on Friday, December 4 at 4:46 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.
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welcome
Welcome to Sligo Church. Often when we look at life’s circumstances we see and experience situations that we cannot fully explain or understand. Life is full November 28, Saturday of trials and tribulations that surprise, anger, baffle Young Adults GLOW (God Lighting Our World), and perplex us. But when one of these debilitating trials happens to bless us, this purposeful yet painful Memorial Chapel, 9:30 a.m. process requires it’s own definition and explanation. Children’s Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room, 1:15 p.m. So I decided to coin a term for these strange and baffling blessings. I call them “Backward Blessings.” Some of you may have experienced November 30, Monday backward blessings in your own lives. A “Backward Blessing” is when Regeneration Ministries, Office Conference Room, 7:30 p.m. you are blessed through life’s worst adversities and most debilitating December 2, Wednesday stresses. It is when your lose your job but find Jesus. A backward blessing is when you are diagnosed with cancer but discover the Prayer Gathering, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. depths of Christ’s love. A backward blessing is when your cherished (or by phone: 949.229.4400 Pin:4997774#, 7:35 p.m.) loved one dies and your pain becomes a path for you to heal and help others. Today, my sermon titled, “Backward Blessings,” tells us December 3, Thursday how God can use our worst trials and tribulations to bring about the Exercise Class, Office Chapel, 6:30 p.m. ultimate blessing - our salvation.
calendar of events
December 4, Friday Washington Adventist University Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m.
worship schedule SABBATH, December 5 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. Crossroads, WAU Student Activity Center, 11:15 a.m.
p r o f i l e o f g i v i n g - N o v e m b e r 21 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: Nov. 22 $ 12,246 Nov. 22 YTD $496,427
This Year: Nov. 21 $ 23,748 Nov. 21 YTD $ 497,388
BUDGET FOR NOVEMBER 21 YTD: $ 496,809 BUDGET BOOSTER:
Nov. 21 Goal
$ 2,690 $40,000
Total Raised $ 7,444 Needed $32,556
Church Building Improvement: Greenwood Avenue Entrance Women’s Bathrooms Nov. 21 YTD $ 50,807 Total Raised $121,409 Tithe: All of these funds are sent to the Potomac Conference. October 2015 contributions are $ 235,285 October 2014 contributions are $ 190,654 MTD Contributions are $44,631 more than last year. Today’s designated offering goes to Potomac Partners. Loose offering goes to Church Budget.
worship.nurture.outreach
at worship THE CHURCH
- Cheryl Wilson-Bridges
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).
CHRIST FIRST N OV E M B E R 2 8 , 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
*Benediction
SANCTUARY – 10:00 A.M.
SANCTUARY – 8:45 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M.
Postlude Fanfare / Nicholas Jaques Lemmons
Song Service
Cheryl Wilson-Bridges
+Sligo Live Advent Celebration Prelude Come Thou Long Expected Jesus / arr. Rowland Prichard & Laura Page +Song of Gathering Joy to the World / No. 125 Welcome and Church Life
Gerry Lopez
we honor and praise him *Hymn of Praise Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing / No. 334 Prayer
Deric Tomenko
Anthem Adoration / Felix Borowski, arr. Clair W. Johnson +Blessings / Laura Story *Advent Candle Lighting Sharpe family we reflect +Children’s Message Scripture Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV)
Gerry Lopez Elikem Nkpe
Sermon Backward Blessings
Cheryl Wilson-Bridges
Invitation to Give
Cheryl Wilson-Bridges
Offertory Assurance / Pheobe Knapp Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring / J.S. Bach, arr. John Beck +He’s Been Faithful to Me / Sara Groves
we go to serve *Hymn of Response Moment by Moment / No. 507
*Congregation is standing Congregation is kneeling where possible + 11:00 service only
Blair Peace & Judy Codling, deacon & deaconess on duty Leading our music today are: Patrick Alston, organist Charlene Milam, chorister Juliana Baioni, flutist Gylchris Sprauve, pianist & vocalist
Footnotes: Juliana Baioni is an alumna of Washington Adventist University where she studied music performance in flute. She is currently teaching lessons in the Rockville/Silver Spring area and regularly performs at her home church and other venues. She will graduate this December with her Masters of Arts in Arts Management from George Mason University.
Adult Sabbath School
welcome
Theme Song Trust and Obey Scripture & Prayer Welcome
Cheryl Kisunzu
Deric Tomenko has been at Sligo since 1994, is a Washington Adventist University graduate and a long time resident of Takoma Park. He assists his wife, Keri, with a Kindermusik class at Sligo each Wednesday morning and has been playing the viola in the New England Youth Ensemble for several years. Deric and Keri have three children.
next week, here at Sligo... Join us as we celebrate the beauty and meaning of The Lord’s Supper during our sacred Communion Services. Our special musical guests will be Lauri Preston, Regina Reid, Columbia Collegiate Chorale and the New England Youth Ensemble of Washington Adventist University.
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.
Cheryl Kisunzu ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mission Feature Special Music Mary’s Little Boy Child / Hairston Lesson Study Jeremiah’s Yoke Prayer
Anna Karla Carreno
Cheryl Kisunzu
Zelma Edwards, pianist
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: Peace, Dos Santos & Ebbess families Request healing/comfort: Aurora Constantino, Usha Alexander, Carmine Pino, David Peters & Pushpawati Borge Sanctuary flowers are given by Erwin Mack with appreciation to his wife, Sylvia for 61 years of a loving marriage! Membership Report (second reading): Joining Sligo: Selina Monickam and Salena Reynolds Joining elsewhere: Joseph Diaz, Tania Diaz, and Goldie Meshach
Elikem Nkpe has been a member of Sligo Church for just over a year, though attending for three years. She was attracted to Sligo because of its many programs for children. Elikem, her husband, Samuel and their two children Naomi and Juliana love the Sligo experience. She enjoys reading and working with children. Gylchris Sprauve’s music ministry has been used by God to encourage millions worldwide through radio, television and live presentations. Currently he explores another gift as a linguist, working as an Italian teacher in PG County, MD.
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
sabbath devotional
“Adversity and challenges are life’s way of creating strength. Adversity creates challenge, and challenge creates change, and change is absolutely necessary for growth. If there is no change and challenge, there can be no growth and development.” - Willie Jolley
“Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.” - Edgar Allan Poe
Holy Communion will be celebrated next Sabbath, December 5, in both the first and second services. The Communion service is a celebration of our freedom from sin, and our joy in Christ. If you know anyone who needs to have communion brought to his or her home, please call Erwin Mack at 301.434.1622 or email Pr. Fielder pfielder@sligochurch.org Communion rehearsal takes place today, following the 11:15 a.m. service. Members of the diaconate are invited to be present. Please meet by the platform at approximately 15 minutes following the close of the worship service. The Takoma Academy Fine Arts Department invites you to join them in a special Community Christmas Celebration, “Have You Seen the Baby?,” featuring Takoma Academy’s renowned choirs Camerata and Chorale, along with the Takoma Academy Band. This special evening is designed to inspire hope and healing. Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you on December 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sligo SDA Church. Admission is free. A free will love offering will be collected. Sligo Women’s Ministries Book Club will meet on Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Discipleship Room to discuss “A Train in Winter“ by Caroline Moorhead.