April 2008 Archives
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH WITH PASTOR CAMPBELL
This Sabbath we continue our series on Ephesians with part 2 of "Walking in the Light" (based on Ephesains 5:5-21). We are studying about how to live lives full of wisdom from God. Have you ever been in a dark room? Perhaps a cave? Then you know just how important the light is that we take for granted each day. I hope you'll come and worship with us this Sabbath as we seek to learn how God can brighten our lives. Plan to stay after church for a scrumptous potluck and singing over at Valley Manor.
CAMPION VESPERS
This Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. we are in for a real treat. Our constituent academy, Campion Academy, will be here for a special musical program. We are going to have about 35 academy students here for this special evening. Come join us for a real musical treat as we begin the Sabbath together.
SCHOOL YOUTH RALLY
This Sabbath David Swinyar is hosting a youth rally at Spring Creek Adventist School. Pastor Campbell will be speaking for Sabbath School, and Mr. Swinyar has put together a special worship service for our young people. I hope you'll encourage your young people to participate in this special worship opportunity.
RELATIONSHIPS
We're continuing our series on relationships. This past week Heidi shared about what men should know about women (you should ask for a copy of her worksheet if you missed out!). This coming Tuesday we are going to look at how to resolve conflict in marriage. I hope you'll come and learn how you can strengthen your communication skills and your marriage.
VEGETARIAN POTLUCK
A week from this coming weekend our church is going to host a community-wide vegetarian potluck. This is a follow-up from our recent cooking school that was so well attended. It was well attended by people in our community, and they are asking that our church continue to host something to help encourage a healthy lifestyle on an on-going basis. If you attended the seminar or just want to make a new friend this is a great opportunity to taste delicious vegetarian dishes. Contact Gordon Reichard or Lorena Gladding for more information.
PASTOR'S BLOG
I didn't know it was possible to have so many meetings in a week. Despite the late nights I think we've made some real progress. Tonight the emergency constituency meeting will look at the recommendations that the School Board has made based upon Sunday evening's meeting. Part of the urgency is that we need to have registration for our school (April 16-17). It is only an "emergency" meeting in the sense that we have not had the normal two weeks that are required for an ordinary meeting. I want to thank Bridget Cline, Jacque Adragna, and David Swinyar for the great year we have had and I know God is going to continue to bless as our children wrap up the last six weeks of school together.
In the past two days I've had two people call me and ask to start studies with me for possible baptism. We have a growing church so I want you to pray for these two people, and possibly others who would like to have Bible studies. On May 12 Jonathan Gardner will be arriving here for the summer to be our Bible worker. I'm going to be ordering Bible study invitations for us to pass out throughout the community on Sabbath afternoons over the next month. I'd like for us to think of other creative ways to share Jesus Christ with others. My dream is for our church to hold evangelistic meetings in the near future.
Did you have fun at the church social/auction last Saturday night? I know that I sure did. I'm still trying to find out how that one corner struck it rich! I think an important part of church life is not just worship on Sabbath morning (as important as that is so please do not misunderstand me). Our church is about building up one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm pleased because I see our church as a vibrant community committed to lifting up Jesus Christ and strengthening one another.
You may be interested to know that our church is hosting the monthly Montrose Clergy Meeting today for lunch in the fellowship room. We have an active group of clergy both here in Montrose and Gunnison. I think it is a privilege that our church can host this meeting. I want to thank our deaconesses, in particular Alice Carpenter, for providing the meal for our pastors. I know we have some godly men and women across our community who love Jesus, and I appreciate the chance to pray and talk with them about ministry. I think Ellen White was right when she writes about how Adventist pastors should rub shoulders with other faith leaders and this helps people in our community to understand what Adventists believe.
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH WITH LONNIE HETTERLE
We are fortunate to have our conference education superintendent, Lonnie Hetterle, to worship with us as he breaks God's word to us. The message, about life in Christ, is based on 1 John 5:11-12. Please come and join us for a Spirit-filled worship service as we worship Jesus together this Sabbath.
RELATIONSHIPS
We're concluding our series on relationships. This past week we talked about resolving conflict. This coming week we're going to look at strengthening our families. This will be the conclusion of our series on relationships. In April 29 we are going to begin a new prayer meeting series. Stay tuned for details.
VEGETARIAN POTLUCK
This Sunday our church is going to host a community-wide vegetarian potluck. This is a follow-up from our recent cooking school. It was well attended by people in our community, and they are asking that our church continue to host something to help encourage a healthy lifestyle on an on-going basis. If you attended the seminar or just want to make a new friend this is a great opportunity to taste delicious vegetarian dishes. Contact Gordon Reichard or Lorena Gladding for more information.
PATHFINDERS
I would like to ask our church members to consider giving a little extra for our Pathfinder club. We used to have a Pathfinder club and funds that the club used to have were absorbed into the mission trip fund or our new Adventurer club. Either way, our club is starting in a deficit because we needed new supplies like banners, equipment, etc. that a club would normally have that are either missing or no longer usable. I know our church has rallied in the past in support of other worthy projects, but now I am appealing to our church family to please invest in our new club. I'm challenging our church to give $2,000 by the end of May so that we have sufficient operating funds and money with which to pay for these extra costs.
I would like to ask our church members to consider giving a little extra for our Pathfinder club. We used to have a Pathfinder club and funds that the club used to have were absorbed into the mission trip fund or our new Adventurer club. Either way, our club is starting in a deficit because we needed new supplies like banners, equipment, etc. that a club would normally have that are either missing or no longer usable. I know our church has rallied in the past in support of other worthy projects, but now I am appealing to our church family to please invest in our new club. I'm challenging our church to give $2,000 by the end of May so that we have sufficient operating funds and money with which to pay for these extra costs.
SCRAPBOOKING
Women's ministries is having their monthly scrapbooking fellowship and fun day this coming Sunday. I know Heidi and a number of ladies in our church enjoying scrapbooking so if you would like to scrapbook or know of someone who does please encourage them to come on Sunday for this fellowship opportunity. Contact Sharon Holbrook for more information.
PREACH SEMINAR
Next Tuesday (April 22) our church is hosting a PREACH seminar hosted by our General Conference ministerial department for helping pastors and lay people learn how to improve their preaching. Would you like to learn how to hone your homiletical skills? Perhaps you know of a pastor in our community who might like to come? I've already got about five pastors signed up so please contact me if you would like to come or know of someone who should come to this event. Our church is going to be one of the host downlink sites for this special seminar. Contact Pastor Campbell for more information.
PASTOR'S BLOG
Yesterday was our day of deliverance. On tax day (an infamous day in our family because a year ago on the same day I received a serious raquetball injury) the back of our fence blew over this year because of the combination of high wind and the lack of dirt to support it due to road construction behind our house. Some of you also know that about six weeks ago I was hit by a car. Unfortunately the police officer lost the witness's name and number, and the other person's insurance had declined my claim. Amazingly enough, the missing namd and number turned up yetserday and as of yesterday afternoon the other driver's insurance had now accepted liability for the claim. Plus, I found out the city is going to put in a retaining wall and either fix or replace our fence. So I'm praising the Lord. Yesterday truly was a day of deliverance for our family. I've really felt the devil has been trying to get us down and discourage us so I want to thank you for your support and prayers.
This summer we're starting a new series about "What Jesus Taught...." on a host of topics. We're going to be studying the gospels to learn more about the life and teachings of Jesus--something that I would like to explore further for our prayer meeting series this fall. I also have a dream that I'd like to share with you. I'd like to see our church host a two week evangelistic series some time this fall to follow up on several church programs and the work of our Bible worker this summer. Would you please join me in prayer as we seek guidance that God will use us to effectively share the gospel here in our own community? I believe that our church is poised to grow. I plan to spend a considerable amount of time with our church leaders over the next couple of weeks and months strategizing about how we can be more intentional in our evangelism.
This past Sunday I presented a paper at Loma Linda University for the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) Committee (it is the highest theological thinktank in our denomination). This 26-page paper was fun to write because it is based on some of my dissertation research. The BRI and White Estate are putting together a book on hermeneutics and my paper will eventually be a chapter in this forthcoming volume. Unfortunately I was not aware that I was supposed to speak at the school event on Saturday evening for vespers so my apologies to those of you who were expecting me there.
This week is a busy week for me because of the added responsibility of being a volunteer chaplain at the hospital. I discover that there are a lot of hurting people in our community--both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While HIPPA and other laws prevent from stating anything about the people with whom I meet with, I just want you to please pray for one annonymous family with whom I visited with yesterday. They need the grace of Jesus Christ in an extra special way right now.
COMMUNION THIS SABBATH WITH PASTOR CAMPBELL
This Sabbath is the beginning of a new quarter (with a new Global Mission feature) and for church we are going to celebrate the ordinances of humility. My sermon, "Communion in Two Worlds" is about what the Lord's supper should mean for us here on earth and our prepratation for the heavenly world to come.
RELATIONSHIPS
We're continuing our series on relationships. This past week I shared about what women should know about men and the role of husbands. This coming week Heidi is going to share in prayer meeting about what men should know about women and the roles of wives/mothers in the family. I hope you'll come. If for no other reason that this is a rare opportunity when Heidi is going to do something like this.
SURVEYS
The Sabbath before last I passed out 30 surveys to various members of our church. So far I've received 19 of them back (thank you!). For those of you who haven't turned in your survey yet, this Sabbath is your last opportunity to do so before I send them in. Our goal as a church is to spread the gospel and a saving relationship with Jesus Christ to others, and we want to see what our greatest areas of strength and weakness are.
ShareHIM LAY EVANGELISM RALLY
Gordon Reichard is going to take a small group with him to the ShareHIM Lay Evangelism Rally in Phoenix from April 10-12. The only cost for the trip is the cost of your hotel room. Contact Gordon Reichard if you would like to go. The Rocky Mountain Conference is sponsoring a group of pastors this fall to hold evangelistic meetings (through ShareHIM) this October. I'm one of six pastors signed up to go. If you would like to participate in overseas evangelism this would be a really great opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved.
JOHN WATSON PUBLISHES BOOK
For those of you who may have missed it, John Watson has published an autobiographical memoir. He is trying to raise money to build a church overseas. To read the full newspaper article from this week, visit this link:
PASTOR'S BLOG
It's been a busy week. On Sabbath Heidi and I went up to Gunnison to visit our church family up there. I have a lot of fun every time I go up there, and we were especially blessed on the way up to see bighorn sheep and on the way back by the gorgeous sunset. I don't mind the drive. In fact, it is rather relaxing. It also gives us a chance to visit members while we are up there. This summer Nate Cranson is going to be working with the Gunnison Church. I had an opportunity already to listen to his sermon that he preached at Montrose so I know what a blessing he will be up there for them. Incidentally, I also appreciate David Swinyar preaching this past Sabbath at Orchard Valley. We have a lot of talented people who are dedicated to the Lord and I appreciate their willingness to share their love for Jesus with others.
On Sunday afternoon I drove out to Denver for an all day seminar on Monday on pre-marital counseling using the Prepare/Enrich program and the Fisher Relationship Scale. These are great tools to learn how to use. If you are interested in either of these tools please contact me. Monday night I got stuck trying to drive home after the 71 car pile up closed down Interestate 70. I praise the Lord for getting home safe and sound. We should pray for those who have been injured and the family of the person who lost her life in the accident.
In our most recent elder's meeting we voted to support an initiative that Gordon Reichard is leading to develop a prayer list. We're going to include an insert each week that lists our regular prayer requests, and I am looking forward to it because it will be a useful tool to have to use during the week to remember the needs of our church family. Contact Gordon for more information.
