Laurelbrook’s church service on January 25, 2020 began with a welcome by Michael (senior). There will be a church board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the administive building conference room. Rodney Herra prayed for Lindsey’s family (she’s a junior) and Sallie Bellini, wife of Sergio, who is having serious health problems.
Felix (senior) played introduction for the service. Jeremiah Samuel had the invocation. The congregation sang “Just When I Need Him ”. Michael had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Itzel (senior) announced the time for the church offerings had come. Gerrie Vermaak and Eldric (senior) collected the tithes and offerings. Any money not designated for a particular purpose went toward the local church budget. The congregation sang “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”. Michael prayed for the offering.
Tatiana Ochoa told the children a story about a girl named Marianna who had a parrot and had worship with it each morning. One day the parrot went missing. In the middle of the night, the parrot was heard singing, influencing others to study the Bible. Next day the parrot was found.
Eiddelyn (sophomore) sang a vocal solo for special music, accompanied on the piano by Daniel (sophomore). Wilmer (freshman) read the scripture – Psalm 139:7-12 “7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. 9 [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].”
Jeremiah Samuel had the sermon. The congregation sang “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”. Jeremiah Samuel had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Jeremiah Samuel – younger brother of Jennifer Samuel Herra, a Laurelbrook graduate married to Bubba Herra, son of Rodney Herra, Laurelbrook’s church elder
Michael (senior) – senior in training as a church elder
Tatiana Ochoa – English language teacher
Following are some notes on the sermon:
- Being a camp counselor was a tough job. One night one boy cried because he missed his family. Another had to be pushed to take a shower; he had a habit of wandering off. It is nice to have one support us.
- Psalm 138:8 “If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].”
- When things are going good, God is there. Similar for the bad times, too.
- The affair with Bathsheba had many areas where David could have stopped. He tried to cover the affair and eventually killed Uriah.
- Nathan the prophet comes to see David, and David repented and went on to become the king he should be.
- But even at this low point God is there.
- Psalm 139:9 “[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;”
- David is putting an end to something endless.
- God is there even when we want isolation.
- Jonah wanted to go to the farthest part of the world possible. Jonah gets thrown into the sea and a fish swallows him (no human way to survive this – God must be there).
- Psalm 139:11-12 “11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].”
- God is there in our lives even in the worst circumstances.
- Challenge God to make Himself to you.
- God is a very personal God.