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 1, Sunday Pathfinder Meeting, Office Chapel, 9:00 a.m. 55+ Club Brunch/Potluck, Fellowship Hall A, 10:00 a.m. December 2, Monday Regeneration Ministries, Office Conf. Room, 7:00 p.m. First Monday, Fellowship Hall A, 7:00 p.m. December 3, Tuesday Prayer Gathering, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. December 6, Friday Youth Bible Study, Youth Room, 6:00 p.m. Telugu Vespers, Memorial Chapel, 7:00 p.m. WAU Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. December 9, Monday Regeneration Ministries, Office Conf. Room, 7:00 p.m. December 10, Tuesday Prayer Gathering, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy “Songs for My Sisters,” a benefit concert featuring duo pianists, a vocalist, and a choir on Sabbath, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the Capital Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Temple, Highland, MD. Admission is free, but your pledge or donation will help raise $20,000 for the General Conference Women’s Ministries (GCWM) women’s scholarship fund. Sligo Women’s Ministries Book Club will meet on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Discipleship Room to discuss “The Scenic Route” by Binnie Kirshenbaum. Adult Sabbath School Teachers needed: If you wish to serve as an Adult Sabbath School teacher, please fill in one of our information cards to indicate this. Alternatively, please email Pr. McFarlane at dmcfarlane@sligochurch.org 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. Bulletin Information Deadline is Monday evening! E-mail information to: bulletin@sligochurch.org CHILDREN & YOUTH Pathfinder Fundraiser: Sligo Challengers are headed to the International Camporee in Oshkosh Wisconsin and we are kicking off our fundraising with the return of Pathfinder Candy. You can taste samples of our hand made gourmet candies and chocolates in the Atrium today. Orders will be taken between now and December 14. Candy will be ready for pick up the weekend of December 21st. Please help us meet our goal of $38,000. For more information contact Pr. Lopez at glopez@ sligochurch.org or Darrell Milam at dmilam@sligochurch.org Sligo Adventist School’s third Annual Christmas Craft Fair and small business showcase will be held on December 15 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Come shop and share in the holiday spirit with your school and community! Vendor space is available for $35 a table! Call 301.434.1417 for more information. Christmas Caroling on December 14, from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Join our Youth along with your families in the Youth Room at 4:00 p.m. as we minister to our neighbors!
sunset Tonight: Dec. 7:
4:47 4:46
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at worship THE CHURCH
welcome I’m sure that there are many things in life we feel we could probably live without. How about debt? And that is just for starters. Yet out of all the things we could possibly live without, hope is certainly not one of them. Because hope is this intangible that can’t be held in our hands, for many of us, it is hard to define. But despite the fact that we can’t hold it in our hands, or store it away on a shelf, hope is something that can be stored in the safest place of all, our hearts. If you have it, it enables you to hold on for another day, but if you don’t, it can make life seem impossible at best. Today as we conclude our series on the book of Amos, despite all of the prophet’s warnings of gloom and doom, we end this series on the same note as does Amos, with a word of hope, in my message titled, “Living with Hope”
Summary of our Beliefs worship schedule SABBATH, DECEMBER 7 Church Service, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m., Speaker: Charles A. Tapp Sligo Underground, Sanctuary, 11:15 a.m., (Youth & Young Adult Service) Crossroads, WAU Activity Center, 11:15 a.m., (WAU Collegiate Service) Mizo Service, Office Chapel, 11:15 a.m.
profile of giving
• 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)
NOVEMBER 23, 2013 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. 24 $ 6,783.19 Nov. 24 YTD $ 467,089.54
This Year: Nov. 23 $ 12,968.44 Nov. 23 YTD $ 485,325.01
BUDGET FOR NOVEMBER 23 YTD: $ 532,464.00
Media Projects: Nov. 23 $ 721.00 Total Raised $ 21,603.41 Goal $45,000.00 Needed $ 23,396.59 Tithe: All of these funds are sent to the Potomac Conference. October 2013 contributions are $ 224,254.75 October 2012 contributions are $ 191,290.01 Today’s designated offering goes to NAD Evangelism. Loose offering goes to Church Budget.
worship.nurture.outreach
8:45 & 11:15 A.M.
N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 013
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 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
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 Postlude Praise to the Lord the Almighty / Bish
we gather in his name
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
Adult Sabbath School SANCTUARY – 10:00 A.M.
SANCTUARY – 8:45 A.M. AND 11:15 A.M.
*Congregation is standing Congregation is kneeling where possible + 11:15 service only
+Song of Gathering Hark! the Herald Angels Sing / No. 122 Welcome and Church Life Gerry Lopez we honor and praise him
Leading our music today are: Matt Daley, organist Jon Gilbertson, chorister Soraya Homayouni, soprano
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! Prepare the way of the Lord!
Footnotes: Soraya Homayouni serves as Associate Editor of the adult Sabbath School lesson quarterly for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as well as Editor of the Easy Reading Edition and Editor of the Abridgment Edition of the the Sabbath School lesson quarterly. Having dedicated her writing talents exclusively to the service of her beloved Heavenly Father, Soraya, whose specialty is persona poetry, writes poems in the points of view of the”forgotten” and voiceless biblical characters, such as Gomer, Vashti, and Lot’s Wife. After losing her singing voice nineteen years ago as a result of a life-threatening illness, Soraya never expected to sing again. Two years ago, God, who miraculously healed her of the tumor, in 1996, which almost took her life, graciously removed the physical impediment that has prevented her from singing. Now after a year-and-a-half of studying voice with Jon Gilbertson, Soraya is heartbreakingly grateful, after a silence of almost two decades, to be an instrument through which God, once again, may make a joyful noise to His glory.
we reflect
Sylvan Coke & Jean Ott, deacon & deaconess on duty
Prayer
*Hymn of Praise When Morning Gilds the Skies / No. 43 Jonathan Chavez +Victor Kindo
Anthem Be Thou My Vision/ arr. Gilbertson *Advent Candle Lighting
Gulley/Wear Family +Virgo Family
+Children’s Message
Robert Browning
Scripture 2 Peter 1:1-4 (NIV) Sermon Living with Hope
Jennifer Chavez +Othniel Joseph
Invitation to Give
Charles A. Tapp
Charles A. Tapp
Offertory It Is Well/arr. Gilbertson/Homayouni
we go to serve *Hymn of Reflection We Have This Hope / No. 214 *Benediction
Charles A. Tapp
Judith Pino
Theme Song The Wonders of Redeeming Love
welcome
Scripture & Prayer
Jey Vedamuthu
Welcome
Jey Vedamuthu
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.
Prelude On Christmas Night / Wold
Song Service
Advent Calendar Friday, December 6 WAU Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. Sabbath, December 7, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. Holy Communion Speaker: Charles A. Tapp Thursday, December 12 Sligo Adventist School Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 13 Takoma Academy Christmas Concert, Sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. Sabbath, December 14, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. Speaker: Charles A. Tapp Sabbath, December 21, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. A Celebration of Christmas Sabbath, December 28, Sanctuary, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. Speaker: Charles A. Tapp
Special Music Come Unto Him - Handel (The Messiah)
Judith Pino
Mission Feature Lesson Study Class Leaders The Pre-Advent Judgment Benediction & Offering
Class Leaders
Fred Weber, organist
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: Job & Philpotts-Kerr families Request healing: Obioha Obi, Poleta Hutchinson & Hisnelle Philpott Sanctuary Flowers: The flowers today are in honor of Jeff Dever’s 60th birthday from his family. Flowers are designed by Mary McFarlane. *If you would like to enhance the beauty of our worship by providing flowers, please contact Flor Balay at the Church Office, 301.270.6777, ext. 114. Deacons and Deaconesses, rehearsal for Communion will take place following the 11:15 a.m. service today. Please meet by the platform at approximately 15 minutes following the close of the worship service.
sabbath devotional
Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV)
Holy Communion will be celebrated next Sabbath, December 7, in both the first and second services. This is a time of reflection on our relationship with our heavenly Father, as well as a time when we celebrate our freedom from sin, made possible by the sacrifice of our Lord. If you know anyone who needs to have communion brought to their home, please call Pr. Debbie Eisele at 301.270.6777, ext. 127 Message from Sheila Schlisner Hendricks, Executive Director of Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington, Incorporation: ACSGW thanks you wholeheartedly for your generosity! The donation of food you brought to the church has helped feed approximately 1000 low-income families in our community at Thanksgiving. ACSGW strives to ensure no one goes without a healthy meal during the holidays and to help people help themselves. First Monday on December 2 - Ministries are joining forces to provide gifts for people who have no homes this Christmas. We will meet December 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall A to assemble, fill and wrap shoeboxes filled with toiletries and other small gifts. See notice board for ideas.