Adventist Heritage Month: Blessed Advent Hope
Dear Friends and Family,
Today begins our Adventist Heritage Month! We’re part of something so much bigger than we are—something traceable back to Jesus himself. Our church in Hollywood stands as a unique participant and contributor to the larger whole. Like our children—each one unique—I’m very proud to be pastor of this amazing collection of people and histories! I’m also grateful for the many blessings that came with being raised in the Adventist Church.
My sermon will speak of the movements within Christendom that pre-date and anticipate our own yet critically address our modern context. It will recognize both the dignities and indignities that frame Adventism’s beginnings as a uniquely American denomination and sub-culture. Like with any family, we have things that distinguish us in really special ways, things that might not be all we have hoped. We’re journeyers, alike and yet uniquely distinguishable from everyone else. Adventism is truly a large and diverse family! We are a reflection of this reality in so many ways. It’s worth taking time to appreciate such a community.
There’s so many things to look forward to this month:
October 3. "Blessed Advent Hope." A look at the movements within Christendom that pre-date Adventism yet also address our modern context.
October 10. Our former pastor Branden Stoltz, now our regional director, will speak as we participate in a very special celebration of the 125 years that our local conference (Southern California Conference) has been organizing and assisting churches.
October 17. We're planning to secure a bona fide historian as a guest teacher/speaker.
October 24. Our beloved summer intern, Chase Wilder, preaches on aspects of the African American experience within the Adventist faith.
October 31. Finally, we’re delighted to feature Pastor Jonny Moor and students from Glendale Adventist Academy in a Sabbath extravaganza that helps us understand the importance and reach of education within the Church.
The whole lineup should be fun, interesting, and a real blessing too! I hope you’ll be able to share the whole experience with us one way or another.
Thanks for sharing this time with us!
Pr Greg