Potluck Schedule

The potluck schedule has been condensed and moved to the upper right hand side of the website.  If you look to the right of this post, you will see a link that says "Potluck Schedule."  This is where you will find the potluck schedule for each month from now on.  After viewing the potluck schedule, to return to the blog, simply click on "home," and you will be taken back to the main section of the blog.  Happy week, friends!

Our Church Family

 Children's Story is always an interactive and interesting time for our children.

We're missing about 12 members in this photo, but here we are!  Pastor Shawn is on the far righthand side.  We wanted to say "Hello!"  Looking forward to seeing you if you're thinking of coming by for a visit in the near future!

Remember the Happy Family Bible Seminar!

If you did not get a chance to read the post on the Happy Family Bible Seminar that Pastor Shawn is currently presenting, please click on the following link for the schedule and a description of the seminar.

http://lighthousesdagrandeprairieab.blogspot.com/2011/02/happy-family-bible-seminar.html

Sermons Are Back!

Fortunately, we were able to provide the sermon from April 2, 2011, AND the sermon from today, April 9, 2011.  They are both ready and available for download!  Enjoy, and God's Blessings!  Thank you for being patient!

Sermon for Downloading

If you are one who downloads our sermons every week, we wanted to explain the missing sermon from March 26, 2011.  Our trusty PA operator was out of town, and this did not get recorded as planned.   We are working on uploading the sermon from April 2, 2011, and hope to have it uploaded by the end of this week.  Our apologies to those who were looking forward to downloading those sermons.

Communion: Foot Washing + The Lord's Supper

Last Sabbath, we had Communion at our church.  Communion in the Seventh-day Adventist church is a two-fold event (as it was biblically), and this is how we hold Communion.  First, comes the foot washing, and second comes the Lord's Supper (grape juice and bread).

With dusty feet they arrived at the upper room for the Passover.  Someone had provided a pitcher of water, a basin, and a towel for the customary footwashing, but no one wanted to perform the menial task.  This was due to the jealousy amongst the disciples against one another for they were still contending as to who should be considered the greatest in His Kingdom (Luke 22:24, Matthew 18:1, 20:21).

"During supper" (John 13:2, 4) Jesus quietly arose, took the servant's towel, poured water into the basin, knelt down, and began to wash the disciples' feet.  The Master had become the servant.  Understanding the unspoken rebuke, the disciples were filled with shame.  When He had completed His work and returned to His place, He said, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."  (John 13:14-17)

The ordinance of foot washing and the Lord's supper make up the Communion service.  By humbling ourselves and washing each other's feet, we are following Christ's example and coming into the right spirit for Communion.

The foot washing does more than clean feet, it represents a higher purification - a cleansing of the heart.  Like the disciples, when we have accepted Christ and been baptized we have been cleansed by His Blood.  But as we walk the Christian life, we fail.  Our feet become dusty.  We must come to Christ again and let His cleansing grace wash away the defilement.  Foot washing as an ordinance reminds us of our need for regular cleansing and that we are totally dependent upon the blood of Christ.  Foot washing itself cannot cleanse from sin.  Only Christ can purify us.  Foot washing and the Lord's Supper were not done away with when Christ died, as the Bible clearly states.  This combined with the Lord's supper that takes place immediately following in the sanctuary at church is how Christ would have us hold Communion, just as He did.

*Seventh-day Adventists Believe...A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines, Published by the Ministerial Association General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 1988, Hagerstown, MD*

Early Sabbath School & Church for March 19, 2011

Because the Salvation Army Church will be needing the facilities for a wedding on Sabbath, we will be starting Sabbath school at 9:00 am for the Sabbath of March 19, 2011 ONLY.  This will allow us to have our regular schedule of Sabbath school and church while ending at an earlier time so that the people needing the church can come in and decorate, etc.  There will be no potluck after church, but remember to call Joseph at (780) 882-2114 (Karla will be out of town) to let him know what you will be bringing for potluck for the Sabbath of March 26th!