Before, During, and After

Dear Friends, Neighbors, Guests, and Members,

Welcome! What a gift to have you with us! We know God often leads people to just the right place at the right time and we’re confident that today could be just such an occasion.

I’ve been using prepositions as a sermonic device. Prepositions don't just change sentence structures, they change relationships, locations, and spiritual standing! That’s why I’ve been using them to build sermons that communicate just how amazing God’s relationship to us already is, and how transformative our relationship with Them might actually be. This Sabbath, August 29, is no different, though this will conclude my series. You may benefit from viewing the previous messages on this theme.

For those of you who don’t know about our church, Seventh-day Adventists usually engage the rite of Communion (Lord’s Supper) on a quarterly basis, taking seriously Jesus’ command to wash each another’s feet. It’s part of the experience, yes, and so much more. Jesus modelled servanthood, leadership, inclusion in the face of abandonment, blessings upon the symbolic foods of bread and wine, and promised that “he would not drink of the cup” until he returned in glory. We encourage any and all believers to participate with us. Adventists practice “open” Communion.

Next Sabbath (September 5) will be Chase’s last Sabbath with us as Summer Intern. Because a number of us will not be available to acknowledge, bless, and thank Chase for his time with us, we’re going to celebrate this Sabbath after church. Please listen for an announcement to learn the “what and where.” I want to go on record with my own appreciation! Time has gone quickly…. Chase has been a pleasure to host, an asset to our ministry, and a thoughtful partner in exploring the challenges both unique to Hollywood and common to Christians and Adventist Christians everywhere. Thank you, Chase!

We have another transition. I’d like to acknowledge, thank and bless Princess Demiar, our primary worship leader. Princess will be involved in a full-time music and young adult ministry elsewhere, and not be available to Hollywood as in the past. This new development means change. Change can be both exciting and scary. We certainly thank Princess for the many amazing sets we have enjoyed over the last couple of years! I particularly enjoyed this past Sabbath, and look forward to those occasions when she will be able to bless us once again.

Lastly, I want to point forward to Adventist Heritage Month, coming up soon in October. It’s going to be a time both to look back to the past and to our present with an eye to reshaping our church’s future. What we have been is not a blueprint for what we must become. As we’re crafting this important series, my hope is that we’ll be able to celebrate where God has been present to us, for us, with and within our midst—and where repentance is required. Please share anything that stands out to you that might be important as we plan.

Pr Greg