May 8, 2008

This Sabbath we honor the women who care for us, nurture us, and give us a sense of belonging. Pastor Mark Sigue’s sermon title is “Mom Said She’d Be Back” and music will be provided by a special women’s chorus.

Our Sligo children will be putting on a play called “Fat, Fat Jehosephat!” at New Community Fellowship at 6 p.m.

Pray that your pastors will come back refreshed after the Potomac Conference pastor’s meetings focusing on “Discipleship” at Camp Blue Ridge May 12 – 14.

Next Sabbath we will celebrate Sligo Adventist School’s 90th anniversary! A full day of events is planned and lunch will be provided at the school. See more details on the school’s website: http://www.sligoadventistschool.org . Elder William Loveless will preach for both morning services and Edna Mae Loveless will be the speaker at the Branson/Ortner Sabbath School class.

Sligo School teacher, Erica Aranda and her team are making exciting plans for Vacation Bible School June 22-27. The theme is: “Walking it Out With God.”

Nathan Stone, a student at Sligo School, recently wrote a free verse assignment titled “Where I Want to Be.” He describes the beauty of his favorite place and concludes:
   “I want to be in a peaceful place
   Where all those things are.
   Where I can imagine my future.
   This is where I want to be.
   This is where I belong.”

What are we doing as a church family to give those who enter our doors a sense of belonging? Last Sunday I saw a sign at a restaurant stating: “Free Crab Tomorrow!” You know that establishment is not going to lose a dime on their crab, because tomorrow is never present. Let’s use every opportunity to give our youth a sense of belonging and help them imagine their future now!

The Disability Action Team, led by Noelene Johnsson, is researching ways to make Sligo a place of belonging for everyone. They have already set up more handicap parking spaces. More hearing devices are available and more readily accessible in the atrium as well as upstairs at the soundboard. A Braille hymnal and audio Bibles were donated to us. Jennifer Tyndaal, a member of this action team who is blind, has typed phone numbers in Braille so that she can assist us in delivering reminders to those who have no access to email.

Sligo Elders are also providing a sense of belonging by making our church more user friendly. An elder might even ask you to help a visitor find what they’re looking for.

My greatest desire for Sligo is that because of your presence here, others will sense that God is in this place and say, “This is where I want to be. This is where I belong!”

Pastor Debbie

 

 

May 1, 2008

 

WEEKEND WORSHIP SERVICES
May 2 – 4 Columbia Union College celebrates another graduating class and Sligo Church congratulates graduates, wishing each God’s richest blessings as they embark on the next phase of life and service.

 

• Consecration service will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday with wonderful music including Dr. James Bingham as organist, tributes by graduates and a homily titled “Act as if . . .” presented by Stefanie Johnson, Controller at Florida College Hospital of Health Sciences.
• The 8:15 a.m. Sabbath worship service will feature music by Sheryl Lizarraga, parent of a graduate. Debby Szasz will be the organist for both services and Dr. Gaspar Colon, parent of a graduate (also CUC Professor of Religion, Executive Director, Center for Metropolitan Ministry and former Interim President of CUC), will speak for both services. His sermon is “Up, For This is the Day . . .!”
• Sabbath School music, mission feature and lesson study will be presented members of the graduating class.
• The Baccalaureate service will begin at 11:15 a.m. with a beautiful prelude and processional. Dr. Gaspar Colon’s message (see above) will be enhanced with music by the Columbia Collegiate Chorale, James Bingham, director and the New England Youth Ensemble, Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, founding director and Preston Hawes, associate director.
• New Community Fellowship at 6:00 p.m. Sabbath. Pastor Terry Johnsson will be speaking.
• College Commencement will begin at 10a.m. on Sunday. Dr. Vijayan Charles, member of the CUC Board of Trustees, will give the address titled, “Faith and Science: Navigating the 21st Century.” A string quartet—members of the New England Youth Ensemble—will provide music. Dr. James Bingham will be the organist.

 

PRAY FOR GOD’S LEADING IN RECRUITMENT OF NEW SENIOR PASTOR
Two opportunities for special prayer on behalf of the church as we seek God’s will for senior pastor leadership:

 

• National Day of Prayer on May 1. The church will be open for prayer from noon until 1 p.m. and from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, May 6 has been designated as a second Day of Prayer and Fasting. The following is from Steve Chavez, chair of the Search Committee: On Monday, April 21, the Senior Pastor Search Committee approved a list of five individuals to be approached about serving as senior pastor of Sligo Church. Since then the Executive Committee of the larger Search Committee has begun contacting these individuals about being considered. Please make this a matter of prayer as we seek the Lord’s will for Sligo Church as well as for the persons with whom we’ve been communicating. A Day of Prayer and Fasting is being planned for May 6 and a special Prayer Gathering that evening. Join us in praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us all in this important decision.

FIRST MONDAY FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES
Sligo's Women's Ministries continues its Great Women of the Bible series on Monday night, May 5 in the Fellowship Rooms, 7-8:30 p.m. Women of all ages are invited to come for a light supper, fellowship, and a special presentation of monologues featuring Takoma Academy students. Some of the monologues are scripted and some are self-written, capturing the emotions and moments pivotal to the stories of the biblical characters being portrayed: Eve, Ruth, Esther, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Come for a spiritual blessing and to meet some new friends in our Sligo community and neighborhood. Sligo member and TA teacher Myrna Candelaria is directing the group. For more information, contact Dr. Joan Francis, Women's Ministries Director: jfrancis@cuc.edu. 

SLIGO PATHFINDER CLUB
Members thank all who supported our "Walk for the Bus" campaign in recent weeks. God provided a lovely afternoon on April 26 to walk and grow closer together. Of the crowd that started out there were more than fifty who completed the entire ten mile walk! Pathfinders and other participants were joined by parents, siblings and even pets. Even if you couldn't walk with us we felt your encouragement and commitment to the youth of the church.

OUR WISH FOR CUC’S GRADUATES
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.
    Numbers 6:24-26 NLT

Pastor John

April 24, 2008

Worship Services This Sabbath
Pastor Pete Garza will present the message this Sabbath, entitled “Let Me In.” Music will be provided by the Sligo Sanctuary Choir during the 11:15 worship service and by Larry Vauhn, lyric baritone, during the 8:45 service.

Come at 6 p.m. for New Community Fellowship. Darlington Johnson will be the speaker.

Power of Prayer
I saw the power of prayer at work last week as I visited an orphanage in the remote village of Bong Ti, on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. People, whose lives had been torn apart by the hatred and greed of war, were brought together into a new family- a community of compassion- where every need is supplied through prayer. Read more about this miraculous community’s medical ministry and its Bible and language school at http://www.bambooschool.org.

Pray for the students and teachers of the G E Peters Seventh-day Adventist School in Hyattsville, Maryland, that was destroyed by a tornado last Sunday afternoon. We are grateful that no one was injured. Pastors from Sligo will be there today to offer prayer and counseling.

Pray with us as a church family, Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in the Sanctuary, as we offer seasons of prayer for seasons of life. Learn how to nurture faith and pray for age specific needs. In May we will highlight our children in kindergarten.

Remember to pray that we will find a senior pastor who will lead us to be the church family God wants us to be. Another wonderful opportunity to unite in prayer will be offered Thursday, May 1, which is the National Day of Prayer. The Sanctuary will be open at noon for prayer surrounded by the sounds of soothing organ music and from 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Room with piano music for prayer and meditation. Prayer partners will be available.

Prayerfully yours,
Pastor Debbie

April 17, 2008

SABBATH CELEBRATION
Come and experience God as a living presence in your life this Sabbath! As we turn our hearts toward God in earnest praise, God promises to speak to us and to bless us with a healing, renewing touch. The pastors and staff have been praying for you this week, especially for the things that seem to rob you of your sense of peace and trust in God.

Nowhere is Christianity more radical than in its sweeping command to forgive. Pastor Rebecca Brillhart preaches for the 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. worship services: “The Bitter Root.” Soprano Vonda Beerman will provide the ministry of music. Celebrate with Melinda Pandiangan in baptism and the rest of the Pandiangan family in dedicating a little one to God. Don’t forget to join New Community Fellowship (NCF) at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary featuring Pastor Terry Johnsson as preacher.

SABBATH SCHOOL BRINGS CONNECTION FOR ALL AGES/INTERESTS
We walk by faith, not alone, but in a covenant community. The 10 o’clock hour every Saturday morning provides an opportunity to study God’s Word in small groups, to discuss issues in our lives and reflect on their meaning from a perspective of faith, as well as to find warm fellowship with one another. Studying together is an essential aspect of our discipleship, a commitment we make to the entire community if we want to see it grow in health and understanding. Sligo’s own Roy Adams, associate editor for The Adventist Review, authored this quarter’s adult lessons: “The Wonder of Jesus.” Let’s reason together!

SR. PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE: APRIL 21 AT 7 P.M., FELLOWSHIP A
A special meeting of the Senior Pastor Search Committee has been called to hear a report from the smaller executive committee assigned to collect and research names of possible candidates. Conference officers Bill Miller and Ray Pichette will be in attendance to help answer questions and relay the next steps in the process. Elder William Johnsson will be presiding in the absence of Lay Board Chair Steve Chavez.

OFFICE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
Have you noticed the brand new siding and garage doors in the Church Office parking lot, seen the new carpet in the Office Building, or peeked at the remodeled and updated women’s restroom on the first floor? Older is looking much better! Kudos to our treasurer, the finance committee, the facilities team and all others who are spiffing the place up for us. Come by and take a look.

INSPIRATION FROM WEDNESDAY A.M. DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY
Great Questioner, make me a far-sighted witness with my heart open to Your Word (unfinished), loving (not righting) other pilgrims on this journey, not confined to heaven.
I was blown away by the passionate discussion of Paul’s letter to the Romans today!

Pastor Rebecca