Life @ Montrose, May 26, 2010
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.
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