The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on February 16, 2019 began with Rodney Herra welcoming everyone and making a few announcements. Pastor Richie would like to meet with all the outreach groups in front of the administration building at 3:00 p.m.
Leilani (junior) played an introit. Rich Sutton had the invocation and then sang “Let Us Break Bread Together”. Rodney Herra had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Daryen (junior) then called for the offering. Daryll Ellis and Elieso (junior) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget. The congregation sang the doxology, and Daryen prayed for the offering.
Pastor Richie’s mother-in-law told the children about the things we can do through Christ. Rebecca Nowdesha led the congregation in singing “Because He Lives”. Luis (sophomore) then read Matthew 21:18-19 “18 ¶ Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”
Rich Sutton had a short talk before the congregation took part in the communion service. Rich Sutton and Rodney Herra officiated as elders, Pastor Richie, Scott Sterling, Eliseo (junior), and Daryll Ellis as deacons. Jissel and Itzel (seniors) removed the cloth from the table as deaconesses.
The congregation sang “I Surrender All”. Rich Sutton had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Daryll Ellis – Laurelbrook graduate working for the nearby stone company / local church deacon
Pastor Richie – campus chaplain / heads up an outreach among the local Spanish people
Rebecca Nowdesha – assistant girls’ dean
Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president
Rodney Herra – local head church elder / runs an auto repair business on Highway 30
Scott Sterling – Laurelbrook IT / one of the science teachers
Following are some notes on the talk by Rich Sutton:
- Matthew 21:18-19 “18 ¶ Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.”
- The purpose of this tree is to produce fruit, but this tree had no fruit but had many leaves, a very deceptive situation.
- As Christians, we may look good but may not have the fruit God is looking for.
- Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
- Matthew 21:20-21 “20 And when the disciples saw [it], they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
- Difficulties are removed as we move along doing what God wants us to do. For example, projects and money for the Cuban trip are being provided as time for the trip comes closer. We need faith in God to move forward.
- Are we a fig tree with fruit or a trip without the fruit?
- Philippines 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
- The communion service is like a baptism or crossing the Red Sea, coming closer to God.
- Pride held Judas back from repentance when Jesus washed his feet.
Notes from Comments during the Communion Service:
- Jesus asked for the cup of suffering to be removed from Him but went through with His Sacrifice because God willed it.
- The power of Jesus to save us is greater than the power of the enemy to destroy us.
- After the Cross, peer pressure was gone.