Bulletin & News. Sabbath June 10th, :45 am 10:00 am 11:30 am. We WELCOME you to our Worship Services Today

Transcription

1 Issue No Taking the Three Angels Messages to the whole world King Street Hamilton, Victoria, 3300 Bulletin & News Sabbath June 10th, 2017 We WELCOME you to our Worship Services Today Song Service Sabbath School Church Service 9:45 am 10:00 am 11:30 am "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." [ 2 Peter 2:19 ]

2 ~ Announcements ~ Welcome - We welcome Pastor Justin Bone to the pulpit today and his family for Sabbath praise and worship with us. May God bless you and lead you in His truth always. Combined Lunch - There will be a combined lunch in the church dining room after the main service. All are welcome to join us for fellowship and a light meal. Nominating Committee - We are encouraging people to accept offers for office if approached, for there is a real need for more workers in the Lord's vineyard. Please pray for the nominating committee and God s work in the church. Sabbath Singing Lessons - All Sabbath afternoon singing lessons have been cancelled until mid July. Joi is away until then. Cleaning Rosters - Please make note of the change to the cleaning rosters as July 1st. The new roster is on the notice board in the church foyer under the current one. If you are on the roster and wish to be removed or dates need to be altered, please let Shaun know by June 30th so the new roster can be updated. ~ Upcoming Events ~ Prayer Meeting - June 14th at 5pm. Please join us each fortnight for prayer and a short Bible study. Let us always keep the communication channels to heaven open through our prayers. C.A.R.E. Group meeting, June 16th - It s held every Friday. (See page 10 and Krystal for address and further details.) Literature Evangelists - At our invitation, Joe Paola will visit Hamilton with a team of Literature Evangelists (LE's) from June 20th to the 24th. They had a successful visit to Stawell earlier this year, making about 20 contacts who are being visited by Stawell church members now with Beyond DVDs. We hope to have a similar result here, so please be ready to do some visitation afterwards. Recipe Club - The next recipe club meeting will be Tuesday, June 27th at 7pm. Please pray for the cooking demonstrators who are not church members and do come along and help support this outreach ministry. Communion Service - This quarter s communion service has been moved from June 10th to Sabbath, July 15th. Please update your calendars to reflect the new date. 2

3 ~ Prayer Requests ~ This Week s Prayer List: Please remember: Kyle Thomas, Youn & Lee Koh, The Hamilton Church and its members, Roger Pearce, Ruth O Dempsey, Joan Ruthven, Johnny and David Mocilac, Dale Mea, Olga Novak, Simon Novak, Kezia Derksen, Shaun s Grandchildren, Steve and his children, Trevor at the fish shop, Marilyn McDonald, John & Gloria Tyack, Suzi, Peter Tyzack and family, Maria and John Franjic, the Recipe Club, Sunday Market Stall and our Pastor. ~ Quarterly Prayer Vigil ~ This quarter s vigil: New Endeavours and Outreach in our Church. Please set aside the time on Wednesday, June 14th, 5:45pm for a special season of prayer. Time is short and we need to be ready now! ~ Memory Verse ~ "To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:" [ Psalm 136:10, 11 ] "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:21 ~ Reflections ~ How long will the door of mercy be open? How long will it be before the last chapter written and this world s book is finally closed? Only the Heavenly Father knows! But as the signs of this world increase, know that the hour, nay the last minutes of redemption are upon us and soon the mercy seat will be vacated. Christ Jesus will come! The Editor 3

4 ~ Adventist Review ~ We started by giving food to the homeless, but now we have people who come because they want to hear God s word, says Raquel Marrero Torres, 52. [Photo: Andrew McChesney / Adventist Mission] HOMELESS PUERTO RICANS WASH FEET FOR FIRST TIME Adventists open Church Without Walls in a city s central square. By: Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission A group of church members gathered in a Puerto Rican park at 5 a.m. Saturday (Sabbath) to pray, read the Bible, and eat a light breakfast. Little did they expect to be watched by homeless people when they were ejected from their usual spot and met in the city s central square instead. The one-off move, however, changed their meetings permanently. Their monthly gathering has transformed into a weekly worship and breakfast for the homeless residents that culminated in a special communion service with grape juice, bread, and foot washing. We call it the Church Without Walls, said Raquel Marrero Torres, a 52-year-old university math teacher, who organizes the meal. The Church Without Wall is one of the ways that Seventh-day Adventists are seeking to share Jesus love in their communities in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory 4

5 measuring just 100 miles by 35 miles (160 kilometers by 55 kilometers) in the Caribbean Sea. Some churches organize weekly meals on their premises, and others send members to clean and repair homes during the week. Raquel s church group used to meet once a month in a park in Mayaguez, a city on Puerto Rico s west coast that is home to Antillean Adventist University. But a cityorganized event forced them to relocate to the city square for one Sabbath in As they ate, one church member noticed several homeless people in the square and invited them to join the meal. From that day on, he decided to return and feed the homeless by himself every Sabbath, Raquel said. The man, a small business owner in his early 50s, took hot cereal, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and juice to the central square every Sabbath for several months. Then he told Raquel, I want you to go. I don t want to just give them food. I also want them to hear about God. Raquel, an active leader in her congregation, agreed to accompany him the next Sabbath. Early Sabbath morning, she opened the Bible and read to about 35 men and women. Raquel went regularly after that, and she took over the task of organizing the meals in early To them, washing their feet was like God washing away their sins. These days, 65 to 70 people show up at 7 a.m. every Sabbath to hear the Word of God and eat breakfast. The guests sit in chairs, set up by the volunteers, as they sing and listen to a pastor share a 20-minute message. The pastor recently led the group through the Discover Bible studies, and 40 people who completed the course were taken by chartered bus to a nearby Adventist church for a graduation ceremony. Raquel expressed astonishment that most attendees arrive by 7 a.m., even though they knew that the breakfast will start only 45 minutes later. We started by giving food to the homeless, but now we have people who come because they want to hear God s word, she said. They sit there and open their Bibles and sing. It s amazing. The weekly gathering has become a family reunion. We laugh and cry, Raquel said. We have people who have passed away since we 5

6 started the meetings, and we have wept for them. It is like a family. Many of the attendees have Raquel s cellphone number and call her if they fall ill or have other needs during the week. Some attendees are no longer homeless after receiving apartments from the city. Church members helped them move into their new homes and to furnish them. The program is funded by donations from church members and others. A student volunteer has a mother who works at a major international company, and the company donated backpacks filled with shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and towels to present to the female attendees on the Mother s Day holiday and to the men on Father s Day. A few weeks ago, the volunteers organized a first communion service on the city square. Communion dishes and tables were brought from the church, and the pastor explained the ritual. Many people wept as they washed each other s feet. To them, washing their feet was like God washing away their sins, Raquel said. It was the first time that they had had that experience. It was beautiful. Raquel is unaware of anyone being baptized because of the program, but she is confident that the Holy Spirit is working on people s hearts. We know that the seeds will grow, she said. We know that they love God. This story was originally posted on the Adventist Mission website. ~ Adventist News Network ~ LATVIAN ADVENTIST RUNNERS CHALLENGE, DON T FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW JESUS Church leaders believe marathon is not only promoting Adventist lifestyle, but following Jesus's principle to be visible. Jun 05, 2017 Riga, Latvia Edija Diedrika Coming together from across Latvia, over one hundred Adventist runners, aged 4 to an astonishing 93 years old, took part in the 27th Lattelecom Riga Marathon on May 14. They had one purpose: witness! 6 (Continued on page 11)

7 Lesson 21 The Life of Christ Second Quarter,

8 LESSON XXI - CENTURION'S SERVANT HEALED, AND WIDOW'S SON RAISED. May 27, Capernaum and Nain. (Luke 7 :1-35.) 1. GOING down from the " mount of blessing " to Capernaum, who met Christ there? For what purpose? Luke 7 :1-3 Side Texts to be studied with questions Matt. 8 : 5, What strong plea was offered in behalf of the centurion? Verses 4, 5. See note 1 3. When Jesus was on His way to the centurion's house, who was sent to meet Him? With what message? Verses Hearing this, what did Jesus say to those following Him? Verse 9. See note When the centurion's friends returned to his house, what did they find? Verse The day following, where was Christ leading a large company? Verse 11. See note Drawing near the city, what sort of procession did they see issuing from its gates? Verse 12. See note What moved the Saviour to speak to the woman? With what words did He comfort her? Verse What mighty work did He perform? Verses 14, At sight of this, how were the people moved? What did they say? Verse 16. See note Hearing the general rumor of Christ's wonderful works, what did John's disciples do? Verses 17, 18. Matt. 28: 18; Eph. 5 : Kings 17: 21 ; 2 Kings 4 :35 Matt. 11: 2. 8

9 12. What message did the Baptist then send to Christ by two of his disciples? Verse 19. See note 6. Nun,. 24 :17 ; Dan. 9 25; John 1 : While the men were in the presence of Christ, what did they behold? Verse After they had seen this, what gentle message did Christ send to John? Verses 22, As soon as John's messengers were departed, what did Christ say of him? Verses What consistent rebuke did Christ then administer to the people of His day? Verses After pronouncing woe upon those cities wherein He had wrought, what prayer did He then offer? Matt. I1 : 25, What gracious invitation did He then offer to all? Verses See "Desire of Ages," p Isa. 28: 16; I Peter 2 :6. Matt. 21: Matt. 11: Matt. 16 :17. Jer. 6: 16. READING Matt. 8: 5-13; 11:2-19 ; "Desire of Ages," pp NOTES 1. Several items serve to make this an interesting account. The centurion was counted a heathen by the Jews, but while in command of the Roman post at Capernaum, he had been so favourably impressed with the Jewish religion as to build for them a synagogue at that place. No particular favour was asked for the centurion, but his anxiety was for a servant, a slave, generally considered as a thing rather than a person. Mommen says that all the miseries of negro slavery were a drop in the ocean compared to the slaves of those days. Yet this man's tenderness for his slave prompted him to send to Jesus, whom he had never seen, for relief for his beloved slave. Matthew sets forth the centurion as making the appeal, on the principle that the Jewish elders represented him. Compare Matt. 20: 20 with Mark 10: 35 for a similar case. 9

10 2. Here was a strange saying. One regarded as a heathen was found to have more genuine faith than was in all Israel. And on what ground? Simply that of.believing that the word alone was able to produce the desired result. In this artless faith was a confession that Christ had godlike power, and was, therefore, able to heal the sick by His word. This was greater faith than any one among the Jews possessed, even though that people professed to be then expecting the Desire of Ages. It was indeed a marvellous faith. 3. Nain, the fair, the beautiful, was more than twenty miles from Capernaum, on the northwest slope of Little Hermon, in full view of Tabor and the heights of Zebulon. The most common route to that point from Capernaum was to go by boat to the south end of the lake, then pass down the Jordan Valley to the point where the ravines of Esdraelon slope down to it. Passing thence to the west between Mount Tabor and Endor, the journey was easily accomplished in less than a day. But the fact that "much people" were following Christ on this journey renders it questionable about His having taken this lake route. 4. To die childless was counted a terrible calamity among the Jews, and to have their offspring entirely cut off was regarded a direct punishment for some sin. This woman was already a widow, and was following her only son to the grave, a most. wretched affliction. 5. It may be well to remember that Shunem, the place where Elisha raised the " great " woman's son, was a village on the opposite side of the very hill upon which Nain was situated, and that the plain of Jezreel, the scene of the greatest events of Elijah's life, stretched out in full view of the place. It was perhaps the memory of these great prophets that called to the lips of the people that another great prophet had arisen among them. 6. John had been in prison for a long yet indefinite time. Herod had relaxed his severity enough to permit visitors to see the prisoner frequently, as if almost ashamed to keep the innocent one in confinement. Thus he could hear of Christ's doings, which caused him much thought. John's ideas of the Messiah were evidently those held in common with all the Jews,---that of the establishment of a pure theocracy on the earth. The thought was therefore most natural, If He is the Messiah, why does He not assume the throne of David? Why does He leave me to languish in prison, who went before Him to proclaim His coming? Why am I set aside, apparently forgotten, and my work permitted to drop? (On this point see " Desire of Ages," p. 361.) These very thoughts were calculated to bring despondency, unless he remembered the lives of Moses and Elijah, who had been over the ground before him. No wonder, then, that he had, and even ourselves have, temporary seasons of depression, when looking at ourselves, and the seeming lack of appreciation which follows one's pathway. 10

11 ( from page 6 ) Standing out boldly in bright blue T-shirts, the Adventist runners made a special impression with the slogan on their backs, Don t Follow Me, Follow Jesus. That was the primary purpose of their presence, for people to notice Jesus. Riga, Latvia s capital, is a beautiful city. Being a sunny day, it meant the marathon gave citizens a fine excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the city, traffic-free, while running a distance of their choosing, 6, 10, 21 or 42 km. Throughout the race, they found the message of Jesus reinforced. We believe that other runners noticed this sentence and only God knows how these hearts will be changed with this thought: what it means to follow Jesus, Andis Āriņš, outreach co-ordinator for the Riga 1st Adventist Church says. It is his department that took the lead in arranging the Adventist participation in the race. The T-shirts also advertised the church website, giving opportunity for more followup. This marathon will also be memorable for the Adventist members in Latvia for another reason, they worked together and started the race together as one team. I d never taken part in a marathon before, confessed Mārtińš Subatovičs, an assistant pastor at the Riga 1st Church. I hadn t run for quite a while. I m not a keen runner, but I took part because this is an outreach project. With Adventist Health principles in mind, Daumants Kleimanis, youth director for the Seventh-day Adventist church in Latvian, saw this as not only promoting the holistic Adventist lifestyle, but following Jesus principle to be visible, like a city set on a hill. Other tired runners confessed afterwards that they enjoyed the exercise, but also the special sense of unity and joy that came with running together for Jesus. See a selection of photos of the day on the Latvian Church website. We are not just another small group meeting weekly to read the bible and hang out together - we are a C.A.R.E. Group! C.A.R.E. stands for Christ's Attitude Reflected in Everyone - and that is exactly what we are all about. Our group meets on Friday nights from 6:30pm every week at Amber and Krystal's House. Next gathering - Friday, June 16th. ~ C.A.R.E. Group ~ EVERYONE is welcome to join in the fun of sharing and caring for one another and there is plenty of floor space. For more information contact Krystal/Amber (03) or visit / care_group.htm or find us on Facebook - Hamilton CARE group. See Amber or Krystal for more information. 11

12 ~ From the Spirit of Prophecy - Think About: ~ Duty to Study The Laws of Life (chapter 2, pp ) 24. Physical life cannot be treated in a haphazard manner. Awaken to your responsibilities.--u. T., Aug. 25, {HL 14.1} 25. Ignorance of physiology and neglect to observe the laws of health have brought many to the grave who might have lived to labor and study intelligently.--s. T. Feb., 1894, p. 13. {HL 14.2} 26. To become acquainted with the wonderful human organism,--the bones, muscles, stomach, liver, bowels, heart, and pores of the skin,--and to understand the dependence of one organ upon another for the healthful action of all, is a study in which most mothers take no interest.--t., V. III, p {HL 14.3} 27. Study that marvelous organism, the human system, and the laws by which it is governed.-- C. T., p {HL 15.1} How to Reduce Mortality. 28. If people would reason from cause to effect, and would follow the light which shines upon them, they would pursue a course which would insure health, and the mortality would be far less.... All who possess common capabilities should understand the wants of their own system. --H. to L., Chap. 3, p. 51. {HL 15.2} Learn in Youth. 29. It is of the highest importance that men and women be instructed in the science of human life, and in the best means of preserving and acquiring physical health. Especially is youth the time to lay up a stock of knowledge to be put in daily practise through life.--h. R. {HL 15.3} 30. Those who have occupied positions of influence have not appreciated the work which has been so long neglected.... They consider it far more important to become learners upon subjects of less consequence to the human agent. Thousands upon thousands know nothing of the body, and how to care for it. David declared, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And when God has given us such a habitation, why should not every apartment be critically examined?--u. T., Jan. 11, {HL 15.4} 31. It is best for those who claim to be sons and daughters of God to avail themselves, while they can, of the opportunities now presented to gain a knowledge of the human system, and how it may be preserved in health.... The Lord will not work a miracle to preserve any one in health who will not make an effort to obtain knowledge within his reach concerning this wonderful habitation that God has given. By the study of the human organism we are to learn to correct what may be wrong in our habits, and which, if left uncorrected, will bring the sure result, disease 12

13 The EDITOR and suffering, that make life a burden.... Let the mind become intelligent, and the will be placed on the Lord's side, and there will be a wonderful improvement in the physical health. But this can never be accomplished in mere human strength. --M. M., V. II, p {HL 15.5} Duty of Ministers. 32. The ministers in our land need to become acquainted with the science of physiology. Then they will be intelligent in regard to the laws that govern physical life, and their bearings upon the health of mind and soul. Then they will be able to speak correctly upon this subject. In their obedience to physical laws they are to hold forth the word of life to the people, and lead up higher and still higher in the work of reform.--u. T., Jan. 11, {HL 16.1} 33. In order to be fitted for translation, the people of God must know themselves. They must understand in regard to their own physical frames, that they may be able with the psalmist to exclaim, "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." --T., V. I, p {HL 16.2} From the book Healthful Living (1897, 1898) by (E.G. White) ~ Bible Promises ~ "For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." [ 1 Samuel 12:22 ] The mercy of God will endure with this world until the judgment of the living ends... HAMILTON CHURCH WEBSITE Website: Church info@hamilton-adventist.net recipeclub@hamilton-adventist.net Facebook: Mobile App: Recipe Club: 13

14 ~ For The Kids ~ 14

15 Fathers to Lead Children to Religious Light Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1 ~ Weekly Devotional ~ What can we say to awaken the moral sensibilities of fathers, that they may understand and undertake their duty to their offspring? The subject is of intense interest and importance, having a bearing upon the future welfare of our country. We would solemnly impress upon fathers, as well as mothers, the grave responsibility they have assumed in bringing children into the world. It is a responsibility from which nothing but death can free them. True, the chief care and burden rests upon the mother during the first years of her children's lives, yet even then the father should be her stay and counsel, encouraging her to lean upon his large affections, and assisting her as much as possible.... In that great day of reckoning it will be asked him: Where are the children that I entrusted to your care to educate for Me, that their lips might speak My praise, and their lives be as a diadem of beauty in the world, and they live to honor Me through all eternity? In some children the moral powers strongly predominate. They have power of will to control their minds and actions. In others the animal passions are almost irresistible. To meet these diverse temperaments, which frequently appear in the same family, fathers, as well as mothers, need patience and wisdom from the divine Helper.... The father should frequently gather his children around him, and lead their minds into channels of moral and religious light. He should study their different tendencies and susceptibilities, and reach them through the plainest avenues. Some may be best influenced through veneration and the fear of God; others through the manifestation of His benevolence and wise providence, calling forth their deep gratitude; others may be more deeply impressed by opening before them the wonders and mysteries of the natural world, with all its delicate harmony and beauty, which speak to their souls of Him who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and all the beautiful things therein. Children who are gifted with the talent or love of music may receive impressions that will be lifelong, by the judicious use of those susceptibilities as the medium for religious instruction.... Many may be reached best through sacred pictures, illustrating scenes in the life and mission of Christ.... While there should be a uniformity in the family discipline, it should be varied to meet the wants of different members of the family. It should be the parents' study... to... inspire them with a desire to attend to the highest intelligence and perfection of character.--signs of the Times, Dec. 20, (Reflecting Christ Ellen G White - page 175) 15

16 ~ Sabbath Services ~ Service This Week Next Week June 10th June 17th Divine Service Pastor Justin Bone Bud Beaty Sabbath School Pastor Justin Bone Peter Tung ~ Sunset Times ~ Sunset Sabbath (Tonight) 5:19 pm Sunset Next Friday 5:19 pm This Week: Next Week: ~ Church Offering ~ Pacific Adventist University Local Church Budget June 4th June 17th 2017 ~ Church Cleaning ~ Amber Morris June 18th July 1st 2017 Tung family ~ Garden Maintenance ~ June 4th June 17th 2017 Volunteer Needed June 18th July 1st 2017 Peter Tung ~ Church Website ~ Website : info@hamilton-adventist.net - Contact Details - Pastor Justin Bone