The church service in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on August 10, 2019 began with Clayton Brandt welcoming everyone. There were no announcements.
Jacqueline Miller played an introit on the piano. Dorin Bucata had the invocation. The congregation sang “Work for the Night Is Coming”. Clayton Brandt had the main prayer.
Clayton Brandt called for the offering, which will go to Oakwood, Andrews, and Loma Linda universities. Daryll and John Ellis collected the church offerings. Clayton Brandt then prayed for the offering.
Barbara Ellis told the children a story. Maria (senior) her violin for special music. Wilmer (freshman) then read Deuteronomy 4:4-6 “4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God [are] alive every one of you this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people.”
Dorin Bucatta then spoke on the topic “Our Part in the God’s Work”. The congregation sang “Standing on the Promises”. Dorin Bucatta had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Clayton Brandt - works with Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment
Daryll Ellis – works for the nearby stone company / local church
Dorin Bucatta – boys’ dean / husband of Ana Maria Bucatta, the academy principal
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on Laurelbrook property
John Ellis – retired mechanic living near Laurelbrook / father of Daryll Ellis
Following are some notes from the sermon:
- Seventh-day Adventists are not supposed to be regular Christians.
- Our school doesn’t try to a regular school.
- Deuteronomy 4:5-6 “5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people.”
- God’s people are not supposed to be like everyone else but a group of people who are looked up to.
- God’s blessings cause people to do this.
- David was trying to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 “1 ¶ And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, [and] with every leader. 2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If [it seem] good unto you, and [that it be] of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, [that are] left in all the land of Israel, and with them [also] to the priests and Levites [which are] in their cities [and] suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: 3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.”
- A new cart was made for the occasion. The group showed their happiness. But…
- 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 “9 ¶ And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.”
- This story doesn’t seem to fit in with God’s character. Why did this take place?
- 1 Chronicles 13:11 “And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.” Verse 12 says that David became angry with God. But when the Ark was taken to a nearby house, the Lord blessed that house.
- What went wrong? 1 Chronicles 15 says that David prepared a place for the Ark. Then David followed the rules set up by God for moving the Ark. “Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.” (1Ch 15:2 AV)
- 1 Chronicles 15 also says that David assembled the Levites and the priests with specific instructions as to what they were to do.
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 “For because ye [did it] not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”
- We must ask God how we must do something after His way. Why do we do things the way we do them?
- Deuteronomy 28:10-13 13“10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:”
- This is what God has in mind for Laurelbrook. How are we supposed to know if we are truly following God’s rules and laws? Study the Word. Apply the Word. God will fulfil His promises.