June 2010 Archives
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (9 AM) & Montrose (11 AM): Pastor Campbell is preaching on "What does it mean to be a Seventh-day Adventist?"
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "On the Sea with Jesus" that will take place at the Montrose Adventist Church from July 5-9. For more information please contact Allison Duncan at 209-5336.
PRAYER MEETING
Gunnison (9 AM) & Montrose (11 AM): Pastor Campbell is preaching on "What does it mean to be a Seventh-day Adventist?"
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "On the Sea with Jesus" that will take place at the Montrose Adventist Church from July 5-9. For more information please contact Allison Duncan at 209-5336.
PRAYER MEETING
Prayer meeting will resume again in August.
CHURCH RETREAT AT RIDGWAY STATE PARK, JULY 9-10
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
"Our mission as the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."
"We seek to accomplish this through:
Inspiring worship services
Quality Adventist education
Contagious evangelism and outreach
Selfless community service
Family activities that appeal to all ages
Fellowship and small groups"
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
Since last week our church has received some good news: the school will receive $5,000 in insurance money from the damage it sustained. Praise the Lord! I know at our school board meeting I was really happy to hear about all of the projects that Carlton is planning to give the school a face life. I'm also thankful for three of our school board members who are just finishing up their two-year terms (W. D. Hess, John Short, and Tom Watson) along with new board members (Celia Georgia, Wes Cooper, and Lance Daniel)--subject to a church vote this Sabbath. We're so thankful for their service and all that they do for our church family.
Since last week our church has received some good news: the school will receive $5,000 in insurance money from the damage it sustained. Praise the Lord! I know at our school board meeting I was really happy to hear about all of the projects that Carlton is planning to give the school a face life. I'm also thankful for three of our school board members who are just finishing up their two-year terms (W. D. Hess, John Short, and Tom Watson) along with new board members (Celia Georgia, Wes Cooper, and Lance Daniel)--subject to a church vote this Sabbath. We're so thankful for their service and all that they do for our church family.
I was thankful that when a family this week called I was able to refer them quickly to our very able community service's director, Tavia Wilson, who by the way is looking for someone to pick up the reins of leadership as she transitions to Pathfinders. The family was very appreciative of a food basket from our church family. The task--other than for requests that arise from time to time--is chiefly focused on a few major community events such as the cropwalk in August and Sharefest in September. If you are interested in helping out with community services please feel free to give Tavia a call or feel free to contact me.
This morning I listened to a presentation at Heidi's Deli by the founder of Samaritan Aviation. What a neat group! I was invited by a friend who gets together community leaders to discuss topics of interest. I was so glad to hear of this great ministry. And it was all started only about ten years ago by a college student, and I was amazed to hear how God has blessed them.
I was happy to meet a lady last week who came to church on Sabbath: she is looking for a safe place to be able to come back to church. I was so delighted to see so many different people welcome her and include her as a part of our church familiy. She wants to start coming back to church. As our church fulfills its commitment to make our church a safe place I believe we will see our church grow. It is a part and parcel of the Great Commission: our job is to point others to Jesus Christ!
Yesterday we had a phone conference call to work on plans for next year. I'm really delighted that we've firmed up the dates for camp meeting, June 16-18, 2011, and the location for the entire time will be the Montrose Pavillion. By the end of the summer we hope to have our speakers lined up. I'm especially appreciative of several of our church members who shared ideas for speakers and themes, which I was able to share yesterday, with the rest of the group. We're moving ahead and we are planning to have another terrific camp meeting so please plan to save the date.
It is my prayer that we will be sensitive and alert to the Holy Spirit speaking to each of us in our lives. Let's continue to press together to advance the work of Jesus Christ.
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison: TBA
Montrose: Pastor Campbell is speaking.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "On the Sea with Jesus" that will take place at the Montrose Adventist Church from July 5-9. For more information please contact Allison Duncan at 209-5336.
HERITAGE CLASS/PRAYER MEETING
We're wrapping things up for this year with two more classes left--next Tuesday evening by special request I am doing a lecture on the history of Shepherd's Rod and the Branch Davidians (postponed from last week). If you would like to learn more about this divergent group in Adventist history please come and we'll have a fun time learning together.
CHURCH RETREAT AT RIDGWAY STATE PARK, JULY 9-10
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
"Our mission as the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."
"We seek to accomplish this through:
Inspiring worship services
Quality Adventist education
Contagious evangelism and outreach
Selfless community service
Family activities that appeal to all ages
Fellowship and small groups"
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
I've heard nothing but overwhelmingly positive feedback about our 2010 Western Slope Camp Meeting. A few people have even suggested that they don't think we can do better than we did this year, but I believe with the Lord's help we can continue to keep this up. From my perspective camp meetings aren't about information--they are about transformation! Also, if you have positive suggestions about how to improve camp meeting for next year please let me know. I let one thing slip and that was getting a survey passed out on Saturday night about ideas and suggestions for next year. So I'm doing this through this e-mail. If you have a speaker you would like to see come, a topic discussed, or some logistical aspect that you would like to have the camp meeting planning consider (basically all of the western slope pastors in conjunction with our conference leaders) please let me know and I will be happy to share your idea(s).
This week I am the hospital chaplain. I always find my visits with various individuals so meaningful. Yesterday I listened to a lady talk about her life--she eventually broke down and cried. "I didn't think anyone cared anymore," she said. We then had a season of prayer. Today when I went back the person was sleeping so being at the hospital gives me an opportunity to share Jesus with others, and some times people even ask what church I'm from so I get to tell them and it leaves them with a positive (I hope by God's grace!) impression of Adventism.
I was especially appreciative of Lloyd Wenzel and Ted Dickerson taking me as their guest to the weekly Rotary club meeting. While there I heard an update from Sue Montgomery who manages The Dolphin House (www.dolphinhousecolorado.com). For those of you who may not be aware it is a place where victims of sexual abuse can go to be interviewed by law enforcement and other agencies. It is intended to be a safe place. She said that statistically this year that they believe they will have a record yet (how sad!) of victims at their center--over 200 for our community at the rate things are going for this year. They are looking for 200 people to make a commitment of $25 a month for a year to help support this agency. The $25 per month over the course of the year covers the approximate cost that it takes to interview and take care of one child who comes in. I was also surprised at several other people who I've gotten to know in town who are members of Rotary.
We're especially appreciative of LD Mechanical, which this month is installing a new heating system at church. Several people have asked what is going on so if you see pipes or noises during the week there is a good chance that these men are working at the church so please be careful not to trip over anything!
I had to cancel prayer meeting last night because of several emergencies: among them was the fact that Eulah Hawk's younger sister committed suicide earlier this week. Please pray for her and Sam and the rest of their family (per their request). We have other families in our church who continue to need our prayers as well.
Last but not least I received a letter from the conference auditors who checked our church books, and we can thank Dick Walters once again for all of his hard work! We're really blessed with some talented individuals and being treasurer is one of those thankless jobs that we don't take the time to always say "thank you" so if you get a chance give him a phone call or drop him a card to express your appreciation.
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison & Montrose: Church services will be held in conjunction with the Western Slope Camp Meeting. Please check the program schedule for specific details.
Potluck lunch: We will have a potluck lunch for those who are interested in the River Bottom (Baldridge) Park. There is a large shelter that we've reserved for all day on Friday and Sabbath for those who would like a quiet place to have lunch (with lots of extra picnic tables and shady spots in the trees). For members of Gunnison & Montrose please plan on a potluck lunch at the park and please bring a comfortable lawn chair.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "On the Sea with Jesus" that will take place at the Montrose Adventist Church from July 5-9. For more information please contact Allison Duncan at 209-5336.
HERITAGE CLASS/PRAYER MEETING
We're wrapping things up for this year with two more classes left--next Tuesday evening by special request I am doing a lecture on the history of Shepherd's Rod and the Branch Davidians. If you would like to learn more about this divergent group in Adventist history please come and we'll have a fun time learning together.
CHURCH BOARD ON SUNDAY
Due to a scheduling conflict this is just to remind those of you on church board that church board will not be this Thursday evening--because camp meeting starts that same night--and instead it will be on Sunday evening at 7 pm. See you there!
CHURCH RETREAT AT RIDGWAY STATE PARK, JULY 9-10
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
"Our mission as the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."
"We see to accomplish this through:
Inspiring worship services
Quality Adventist education
Contagious evangelism and outreach
Selfless community service
Family activities that appeal to all ages
Fellowship and small groups"
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
I'm so thankful for the large number of church members who showed up to show love and support to the Watson family after the passing of Ann last week. I really appreciate our church family. The same Sabbath I was up at Gunnison and we had 30 people show up for church. The church felt rather full with twice the number of people who are usually there! Last week we had family here so on Thursday afternoon and Friday I was finally able to squeeze some time off to do some fun things with my in-laws while they were still here. We decided to take them down to Mesa Verde National Park. What a neat place to visit and to see and learn about an ancient people from here in the southwest.
Most of my time this week has been abosrbed into two things: last minute things that come up related to camp meeting and I am beginning to teach my class for Southern Adventist University. I have 35 students--usually they cap out the class at 25--but so many teachers need to work on their denominational certification that SAU expanded the class for more people to take it. Already it has been a lot of fun as students discuss various facets of Adventist history. I've got a wide range of students--everybody from an automechanic student, several business and nursing majors, to about half the class which is made up of teachers who are either working on their denominational teaching credentials or trying to keep them up-to-date. It is a lot of fun for me. Last night until I woke up this morning there were 86 posts on the online class discussion bulletin board.
I'm really pleased at how well things are coming together for camp meeting. We've had so many people come and pitch in. It is a wonder to me that we never went with the Pavilion to begin with--it is costing us about $1,100 to use the facility and we have a budget of about $3,000. So we are stretching every dollar, but if this year goes really well and we receive a generous enough offering (to expand camp meeting we need to receive at least $2,000 in offering this Sabbath in addition to the $2,000 we receive from Rocky Mountain Conference). If we receive that amount we should be able to expand camp meeting so that we can have all of the children's programs at the Pavillion next year. We've already tentatively reserved the dates, June 16-18, 2011. If you have ideas for a theme and speakers for 2011 please let me know because we'll be getting the pastors who are here together some time this weekend to lay out plans for a year from now. I'm especially grateful how everyone has really pitched in from a variety of churches to put together the music for this weekend.
I've got to head out the door to make it to our bi-monthly hospital chaplain's meeting. My next week as the hospital chaplain is next week and it is always good to rub shoulders with my colleagues in ministry. Speaking of the hospital, that reminds me that Steve Wilson fell off a ladder as he was working on a treehouse for his kids on Monday. Please keep him in your prayers as he is pretty bruised up and they are doing tests on him today to make sure that he is OK. Last but definitely not least: we extend congratulations to Jacque and Jason Adragna who gave birth to Jamison on Monday evening (8:53 pm). He weighed in at a wopping 9 pounds, 11.7 ounces and measured 21 3/4 inches. We congratulate Jacque and Jason for taking seriously their part in helping to literally grow our church family! Congratulations!!
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (11 AM): David Olson is preaching.*
Montrose: (11 AM): Gordon Reichard is speaking about "Self-deception."**
*There will be a regularly scheduled potluck.
**Potluck has been cancelled due to the Watson funeral.
FUNERAL FOR ANN WATSON
We were all deeply saddened by the passing away of Ann Watson this past Sunday afternoon. Our prayers go out to their entire family. Tom shared with me last night that the funeral will be this Sabbath afternoon at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary in Grand Junction at 3:00 p.m. (if you need directions go to: http://www.callahan-edfast.com/ ). Pleaes continue to keep the Watson family in your prayers.
SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH MICHELLE CAVINESS
This Sunday morning there will be a special breakfast at the school. Carlton and I are going to have fun making pancakes together so come on out for a bite to eat and a chance to talk with our new school teacher, Michelle Caviness. She arrives this week in Denver and will be coming out here to do some house hunting among other things. So please extend to her the same warmth that you extended to us when we first moved here, and if you have any questions about next school year or perhaps just want to get acquainted this is the perfect opportunity for parents and church members to come on out for a nice time of fellowship.
ADVENTIST HERITAGE PRAYER MEETING SERIES
The class is now in its fourth week but it is not too late to join us for inspirational stories from our Adventist past. So far we've covered the background and rise of the Adventist movement, the life and work of William Miller, and the development of Adventist beliefs and organization. Next week we will be covering the saga of the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session.
The class is now in its fourth week but it is not too late to join us for inspirational stories from our Adventist past. So far we've covered the background and rise of the Adventist movement, the life and work of William Miller, and the development of Adventist beliefs and organization. Next week we will be covering the saga of the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session.
WESTERN SLOPE CAMP MEETING
Due to problems with flooding at the school we will now have western slope camp meeting at the Montrose Pavilion. Children's and youth programs will be at the Montrose Adventist Church. The rest of the programming will remain the same beginning with a keynote address by our conference president, Elder Gary Thurber, on Thursday evening. On Friday there will be seminars and presentations by our two featured speakers for the weekend, Elder Jim Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate, and Gary Gibbs, the associate director of The Hope Channel. Andrea Jacobsen, a highly desired youth speaker from Andrews University, will be with the youth in the youth tent. The ABC will set up and sell books in the lobby of the Pavillion.
Due to problems with flooding at the school we will now have western slope camp meeting at the Montrose Pavilion. Children's and youth programs will be at the Montrose Adventist Church. The rest of the programming will remain the same beginning with a keynote address by our conference president, Elder Gary Thurber, on Thursday evening. On Friday there will be seminars and presentations by our two featured speakers for the weekend, Elder Jim Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate, and Gary Gibbs, the associate director of The Hope Channel. Andrea Jacobsen, a highly desired youth speaker from Andrews University, will be with the youth in the youth tent. The ABC will set up and sell books in the lobby of the Pavillion.
CHURCH RETREAT AT RIDGWAY STATE PARK, JULY 9-10
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!
PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
"Our mission as the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."
"We see to accomplish this through:
- Inspiring worship services
- Quality Adventist education
- Contagious evangelism and outreach
- Selfless community service
- Family activities that appeal to all ages
- Fellowship and small groups"
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
The last few weeks have been a special delight as we have had both sets of our parents out here in Montrose visiting us (and more likely, I suspect, visiting their grandchildren!). What is family? I think it is more than just having a common set of DNA. It is a collective set of memories, shared values, and a common love and commitment for one another. The dictionary even defines it is as a "social unit." But even more than that, family is a group who we know love us and whom we trust. That love and trust is foundational. And I believe the same things extends to us as a church family. We can only be a healthy church family so much as we take the time to learn to love and trust one another. My dream for our church family--if you please--is that we are a safe place so that no matter where you are at you can come and know that you are in the right place and while you are here that together we will all keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!
I can't believe it is already the end of the school year. I'm so thankful for the many individuals who made this past year a success. We had a wonderful graduation program on Sunday evening to celebrate the achievements of Karly and Chad. On Friday morning I finished up my last chapel with the kids until next year. I'm so thankful for so many church members who have helped us get through this school year. I'm also excited about where our school is headed. Carlton Mason is trying to raise $5,000 to do a facelife at the school and already has $2,000 raised. We were also so delighted last week to get the news that Michelle Caviness has accepted the teaching position here. Please pray for her and her family during this transition time.
Yesterday I was in Denver for Conference Committee. I'm grateful that tithe for the year is up 5.87 percent across the Rocky Mountain Conference, which is a tremendous blessing. Things have been very tight for quite a while so for the moment we praise the Lord. The other thing, in addition to lots of other business that the committee considers, is some intentional plan to begin working toward a church planting strategy that will help to identify in an intentional way where our conference is headed and so that we can also help to avoid church splits. The bottom line is that if we are going to be serious about sharing the Adventist message here where the Lord has given us we have to stop fighting with one another and focus on our mission: sharing the good news of the gospel, the everlasting gospel, to the world. I'm also grateful to hear about how God is blessing in other parts of our conference, and I am reminded of the potential we have to do the same thing here in Montrose.
Some times we are so focused on being right about lifestyle issues that we miss the mission for why we are here. Mrs. White certainly wasn't dogmatic like that. She gave counsel and applied principles to particular situations, but she was also all to keenly aware of how some people would misuse these counsels, too. For example, she wrote: "There are many whose religion consists in criticizing habits of dress and manners. They want to bring every one to their own measure. They desire to lengthen out those who seem too short for their standard, and to cut down others who seem too long. They ahve lost hte love of God out of their hearts; but they think they have a spirit of discernment. They think it is their prerogative to criticise, and pronounce judgement; but they should repent of their error, and turn away from their sins. . . . Let us love one naother. Let us have harmony and union throughout our ranks. Let us have our hearts sanctified to God. Let us look upon the light that abides for us in Jesus. Let us remember how forbearing and patient He was with the erring children of men. We should be in a wretched state if the God of heaven were like one of us, and treated us as we are inclined to treat one another" (RH, Aug. 27, 1889).
The bottom line is that when we are family we don't criticize--we build each other up. That is my prayer today for each member of our congregation. I'm here to serve, listen, and do everything I can so that each church member has the tools that they need to fulfill God's mission for your life. And I pray that we will continue to press together as a church family.
