The Church in the Mirror

Transcription

1 Adventist Heritage Center From: Sent: To: Subject: Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church Friday, June 12, :00 AM Adventist Heritage Center June 12, 2015 eweekend The enewsletter of Sligo Church June 12, 2015 In this Issue: The Church in the Mirror Upcoming Events An End of School Year Blessing Share a Simple idea with a friend. Dear Lexie, The Church in the Mirror For more than 20 years it's been my privilege to work at the General Conference, the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In many ways it's been an extremely fulfilling experience. But I often have to remind myself that the building where I work is not the church; it's an institution. Read more Upcoming Events Subscribe Learn more Future events include: Prayer Gathering (every Wednesday 7PM) An End of School Year Blessing 1

2 This Sabbath: June 13, 2015 Speaker: Pastor Charles A. Tapp The Spirit of Communion Special Musical Guests: Sligo Sanctuary Choir Beth Petit, flutist John LeSane, vocalist Judy Vandeman, harpist & vocalist O God of all beginnings and endings, we praise and thank You for the gift of this school year, 2014/2015. It has been a time filled with grace and blessings, with challenges and opportunities, joys and sorrows. The days have passed quickly, O Lord, The weeks, the months, the seasons, the holidays and holy days, the exams, vacations, breaks, and assemblies, all have come forth from Your hand. View bulletin View quarterly Connect with Us: Join mailing list Read More Audio Archive Missed Last Week's Sermon? Watch Live or OnDemand: Sligo WebTV Sermon Audio Archive: Forward this This was sent to ahc@andrews.edu by sligo@sligochurch.org Update Profile/ Address Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church 7700 Carroll Avenue Takoma Park MD

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4 Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church The Church in the Mirror 1 of 1 6/12/ :39 PM sligochurch.org utm_medium= Scott Lawrence For more than 20 years it s been my privilege to work at the General Conference, the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In many ways it s been an extremely fulfilling experience. But I often have to remind myself that the building where I work is not the church; it s an institution. Sure, it represents the millions of Adventist believers around the world who keep God s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus (Rev. 12:17, NIV), and its hundreds of employees work to support the work of God throughout the world. But it s not the church. The church is in fact made up of individuals like you and me called to follow Christ and reflect His love to the people around us. The apostle Peter used these words to describe the church: You are God s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). That s what it means to be the church. I only mention this because in a few days thousands of Adventists will descend on San Antonio, Texas, for an event called a General Conference Stephen Chavez session. This session, held every five years, will consider actions and issues that will inform Adventist faith and practice into the future. But chances are, the actions taken will have little or no effect on those of us who live in this community. Why? Because as we go about our daily activities, we won t be consulting the Church Manual or the General Conference Working Policy as we interact with our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members. Indeed, it s highly unlikely that the people in our communities will even care about the actions voted in San Antonio. They certainly won t care enough to read about them in Adventist Review or Adventist World magazines. What will matter more is how well we reflect Christ and His love toward them. The apostle Paul put it like this: You are a letter from Christ,... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Cor. 3:3). Communication like this does little good shut up in a building, even if it s Sligo Church in Takoma Park, or the Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters in Silver Spring. The best and most effective communication is that which takes place every day as we, members of Christ s body, create homes of love, trust, and loyalty; go to our offices; transact our business; and, most important, reach out in service to people in Christ s name. I know, it s tempting to think when faced with a challenge: If only the church knew about this. But before you call one of the pastors, or a deacon or deaconess, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself: What does the Holy Spirit expect me to do? (by Steve Chavez) Tagged with church holy spirit

5 Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church An End of School Year Blessing of 2 6/12/ :42 PM sligochurch.org utm_medium= cdaley O God of all beginnings and endings, we praise and thank You for the gift of this school year, 2014/2015. It has been a time filled with grace and blessings, with challenges and opportunities, joys and sorrows. The days have passed quickly, O Lord, The weeks, the months, the seasons, the holidays and holy days, the exams, vacations, breaks, and assemblies, all have come forth from Your hand. While we trust that Your purposes have always been at work each day, sometimes it has seemed difficult to understand and appreciate just what You have been up to in each school. Give us greater faith in You. Give all school personnel the rest and refreshment needed this summer. Let their efforts of this past year bear fruit. Bring all of their plans to a joyful conclusion, and bless them, according to your will, with the fulfillment of summer hopes and dreams. Watch over each one in the weeks of rest ahead, and guide each day as You have done this past year. May they return to school with a new spirit and a new energy. May they continue to grow in wisdom, knowledge and grace all the days of their lives. Amen. (Chris Daley & Dawn Reynolds)

6 Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church An End of School Year Blessing of 2 6/12/ :42 PM Tagged with Blessing Grace Prayer school