ALEX DUNBAR TAKES LEAD IN WORSHIP MINISTRY

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1 November 2018 the palo cedro seventh-day adventist newsletter for family and friends ALEX DUNBAR TAKES LEAD IN WORSHIP MINISTRY Alex Dunbar was ten years old when she first stood up front at Palo Cedro. She had a part in a play called The Christmas Story directed by Gene and Trish Alba. Now as a young adult, Alex is bringing her signature smile and off-the-charts energy to her role as a praise team leader. She also recently signed on as Praise Team Coordinator. In the following interview Alex talks about her passion for worship and for her church. It seems like you have been involved in worship forever. When did you first start singing up front at church? In elementary school and junior high I sang in choir at Redding Adventist Academy, so we performed for the church. During those years I sang once at The Journey with [Pastor]Don Smith. When did you seriously start singing up front at church? I sang with the Youth group En Route during my high school years ( ) and then occasionally while attending Pacific Union College ( ) and Loma Linda University ( ). After Alex Dunbar with Spencer Dunbar on Guitar WHAT S INSIDE Palo Cedro Welcomes New Office Secretary Pastor s Corner AV Ministry Looking to Expand Team Martin Nelson Reaches Out to Those at Bread of Life moving back to Redding in November of last year, I started singing with other praise teams more often, and then officially started my own team in February of this year. Your brothers Grayson and Spencer and sister Rachel are often part of your praise team. It is kind of like a family affair, right? PALO CEDRO SDA CHURCH, SILVER LODE LANE, PALO CEDRO CA 96073

2 It really is. I love when my siblings are a part of worship with me. I'm very thankful we all have a passion for worship and our church. It's a blessing and a lot of fun. What do you enjoy about being involved in worship? Worship helped me through some challenges in my life and assists me in being joyful about the many blessings God has given and continues to give me. I love hearing new songs and introducing them to others, hoping they get as much out of them as I do. Getting to worship with the church that helped raise me is an amazing experience. Did you get your singing ability from your mom or dad? Alex with Praise Team Grayson Dunbar, Richard Dunbar, Rachel Dunbar, Alex, Melissa Gheen This answer has two parts. Technically the ability comes from the Dunbar side, but the passion for worship was instilled in us by my mom. We always have some kind of worship song on in the car, and she's in her element. If you've ever watched her during the praise songs, she worships the same way she does in the car. I would also say I got some of my ability from the music teachers I had at RAA, specifically Mrs. Alexander. Having the opportunity to sing in a choir throughout all my RAA years strengthened my knowledge of music and passion for worship. Not many people have as much energy as you, Alex. Is this a plus for you as worship leader? In life in general? [Laughter] Yes, I do have a pretty high energy level, and yes, it's a plus as a worship leader. People may not know this, but I spend hours and and hours prior to my week as the leader choosing and practicing songs (Shout out to Melissa and Claudio for your support!). I think having the songs deep in your heart and soul really reflects when you're leading, so I try to put the proper time and energy into the songs I choose. I also try to spend less energy on negative thoughts and actions in life in general, so I have more energy for the fun things in life. However, sometimes I need to be reminded to slow down. Do you ever get tired? Sometimes. Sabbath afternoon after my team leads in praise I crash a bit. But it doesn't take long before I'm excited about the next set of songs. Working with people and worship music are passions of mine, so I focus on the fun of it rather than the work as much as I can.

3 Any special plans as Praise Team Leader and Coordinator? With my own praise team I want to create a comfortable and genuine worship atmosphere and choose songs with powerful lyrics that will stick in the congregation members minds, no matter the age. However, I would love to see the youth and young adult age groups grow. My hope is to reach that age group with songs they can relate to. Involving more church members and adding variety to the services are also dreams of mine. Alex and Sister Rachel Praise Together at The Journey 2010 What made you decide to live in Redding after your education? Family. My biological family, my school family, and my church family. I love "my people" for raising me, supporting me, and helping make me who I am today. Redding will always be home. Palo Cedro has been your home church all your life. Now you are here as a young adult. Why doesn t this happen more often? My main reason for coming back to my home church was because I grew up going to church with my family every week, and felt loved and welcomed by the congregation. I think the more consistent parents are with their kids and church, the more likely young adults will want to come back and raise their kids the same way in the same church.

4 PALO CEDRO WELCOMES NEW OFFICE SECRETARY The Palo Cedro church office just got a big dose of sweetness and light. Elizabeth Pruitt has taken the reins as office secretary. Elizabeth and her husband Logan came to Palo Cedro about a year ago. Most church family will remember Logan, a large man, cradling their tiny, infant daughter Serena Faith in one arm. Serena turned a year old a couple of months ago. She was dedicated in the Spring. Now Serena accompanies her mom to work each day. When I had this opportunity at Palo Cedro, I knew it was from God, says Elizabeth. We really needed a job, and I had been looking for months with no luck. Dismayed, I stopped looking and started praying. Then within a week or two, this position at the church opened up. I am so thankful to be able to have Serena here with me. Elizabeth grew up in Hayfork, as did Logan. They went to the same high school and eventually started dating. Both Elizabeth Pruitt with Daughter Serena Faith attended College of the Redwoods for several semesters. Then Elizabeth studied culinary arts at Shasta College. That is my passion, she says. Elizabeth has worked in retail in Redding. Her first job was in trail maintenance around the small lake near Hayfork. She really enjoyed this work. Now she is busy raising Serena and putting her stamp on things at Palo Cedro. She has made some colorful upgrades to the weekly Blast which goes out via . I wanted to make it brighter, she says. I ll use different colors for each season. Elizabeth was not raised with any religious background. I was basically told that if I wanted to learn about the Bible, it was on the bookshelf, and I could start reading. It wasn t because my parents didn t care. They had just never been church-y and didn t really know. Elizabeth and Logan came to Palo Cedro about a year ago when she was still pregnant. We visited once or twice, and I just felt like it was home. We have been coming here ever since. Elizabeth will be baptized in the near future. Church office hours are 9:00 to 12:00 Monday through Friday.

5 LET US BE FAITHFUL It is with great sadness that I write this article. I hope those who read it will give careful consideration to what I m saying. We, as an Adventist church, are entering into difficult times. In some ways I feel it s like shooting ourselves in the foot. I will give some limited background but I am assuming that most of you do not have your heads in the sand and are aware of what is happening in our denomination. Pastor s Corner The General Counsel year-end meetings have taken place and the vote to recommend the document on unity (so called but not sure it will have the effect planned) was approved by a vote of 185 to 124. In my opinion, this document will have a negative effect on the mission of the church. Again, I am of the personal opinion that this was an overreach of power by our General Conference president. This may surprise some of you, but anytime someone tries to control what only God has the right to control, they are on unholy ground. For those who may misunderstand, let me clarify this. You can stand for the truth, preach the truth and live the truth, but you cannot control, force or coerce others to follow the truth. Even God won t do that, so how do we think we can? In the following section, I am enclosing some quotes that I find appropriate at this time. Please understand these are not my words, but the thoughts and words of others. "Many of us are dealing with fear, disappointment, and even anger." - NAD statement regarding the Annual Council vote "This document violates Sola Scriptura.... This is the first time in the history of the church that we punish our leaders on non-biblical grounds." -Jiri Moskala, dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary This morning as I pondered the implications of the recent GC vote, I wished Ellen White were alive today to speak truth to power. But, just as quickly, I realized they would not have listened to her either... This is not the first time that the GC leadership has been on the wrong side of history. Probably the most infamous example was the GC leadership's failure during the 1888 General Conference to establish righteousness by faith as our salvation bedrock. Leadership then doubled down by seeking to diminish the influence of the righteousness by faith advocates, Ellen White, Jones, and Wagner. Ellen White was sent to Australia, if you recall, with most Adventist historians agreeing it was an attempt to silence her. Since college I have marveled at the fact that Ellen White in her righteous indignation did not start another church! I also marveled at her loyal persistence. She still worked with the Church and yet continued her resistance, and the Church was better for it. I still firmly believe in the message of the Adventist Church and that our Church has the best and clearest view of who God is. At the same time, pharaohs, kings, and popes come and go, while I am still called to faithfulness. I intend to be faithful to my calling and work with my Church, while at the same time I will be challenging it to be faithful to our principles - some of those principles that corners of our Church are struggling with - including the heritage of the Protestant Reformation, sola scriptura, and Present Truth. Following these makes us truer to our Adventist roots than growing a beard. -Jim Lorenz, Northern California Ministerial Director.

6 I agree with Jim that I believe in the message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church. I will work faithfully to fulfill my calling in Christ in spite of those elected officials who go off the rails in their selfishness and selfcenteredness. I will also fulfill my calling to invite all to come together in a spirit of humility to work together to further the Kingdom of God. Anytime someone acts in a manner to control the church or the work of Jesus Christ, they are promoting a divided house. Jesus is calling HIS church to be faithful to Him. Won t you humble yourself today to be a part of God s work here at Palo Cedro? My prayer is that Jesus will stand up right now and let the church and the world know who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus, please help us see ourselves through your eyes! Remember, God loves you like crazy! MARTIN NELSON REACHES OUT TO THOSE AT BREAD OF LIFE Every Wednesday morning at 9:30, Martin Nelson puts on his Bread of Life apron and starts mixing with those who are there for food. I try to greet everyone as they are sitting around. I may not remember their names, but I recognize their faces. They know who I am because of my apron, he says. Some will tell me their story. Some won t. But I know they re hurting. I tell them we have all gone through things, and we just have to look for the blessings. Martin is quick to share his story. I tell them how my mom was murdered in India. They get tears in their eyes when I tell them the story. Martin s parents were missionaries in India after his dad retired from medicine. His mom was always Martin Nelson with a Couple of Friends at Bread of Life helping everyone else, especially young mothers who needed help with their babies. One day they had two flat tires. After the second, they had no spare. So Martin s dad hitched a ride to town to buy a tire. When he returned, Martin s mom was lying in a ditch with her throat cut. After a long manhunt five men were arrested. Four were convicted and executed. Martin says, My dad said he wished they had given their hearts to the Lord before they were put to death.

7 Martin tells Bread of Life clients about how he lost everything in the Carr Fire. Well, at least I won t ever have to worry about what to do with all my stuff, he says. That I am still cheerful is something that touches them. I tell them that without hope in the Lord, there is no hope in this world. As he shares his story and listens to people tell theirs, Martin will often offer to pray with them. Is it alright if I pray with you? he will say. I ve never been turned down. When Martin was in dentistry, many of his patients were friends and family. As they talked, he would tell them that he would remember them in prayer. One day I said, why not just ask them if I could pray with them right there? If they don t want me to, they can say so. I was never turned down. I thought, Why didn t I think of this before? Most of the people who come to Bread of Life are struggling to make ends meet, says Martin. They re on a fixed income and are usually retired or on disability. Some are homeless. I tell them, You just have to hang in there. You have to trust in the Lord. One lady came in who had been contemplating suicide, but she decided to come to Bread of Life instead. We still pray for her. I ve had several people tell me they would come even if we didn t have food, because we care so much. This past year Martin ran into one of his former patients who owns Orchard Nutrition. They had lunch, and Martin told him about Bread of Life. We give away food sometime, he told Martin. So Martin invited him to come by one Wednesday to see what goes on. Now Orchard Nutrition donates bread, cookies, milk and other food. Three years ago Jan Clendenon invited Martin to come help at Bread of Life. I haven t missed a Wednesday since I started, he says, except when I m out of town. It has really brought me closer to the Lord. At almost 88, Martin still has a spring in his step. I m just thankful everything is moving along alright, he says. I m still a kid at heart. AV TEAM IS LOOKING TO EXPAND We Need Back-up Help!! * SOUND BOARD * COMPUTER * RECORDING Can you get involved in this important ministry? Contact Judy Martin at

8 22585 Silverlode Lane Palo Cedro, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Our Vision: Wholly Human for the Common Good (The Way of Jesus) The Palo Cedro Seventh-day Adventist Church (530) Pastor: Kevin Kuehmichel Office Secretary: Elizabeth Pruitt Sabbath School 10:00 Family Service 11:00 Videos of all Pastor Kevin s NEWSLETTER STAFF Editor: Diane Butler Photographer: Diane Butler Technical Advisor: Sam Meek Mailing: Penny Coley sermons are now posted on the church website Click on Online Sermons at the top