On September 28, 2019, the Laurelbrook church service began with a welcome and announcements by Rodney Herra. Most of the announcements were in the bulletin.
Daniel (freshman) played an introit, Rodney Herra had the invocation, and the congregation sang “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.” Joubert Pierre had the Morning Prayer, and the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Rodney Herra then called for the morning offerings; the loose offerings went toward Georgia-Cumberland Ministries. Daniel played the piano while John Ellis and Daryll Ellis collected the offerings. The congregation sang “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”, and Rodney Herra prayed for the offerings.
Arielle Perre told the children about experiencing Hurricane Andrew in Miami. The family huddled together in a room. Cracks started appearing in the walls. If these met, the walls and roof would be gone. The mother prayed and sang. When finally the storm moved on, the family saw that the roof was gone for all the house rooms except for the room they had been in. The Lord had protected them.
Yzzynne (sophomore) and Say Say (freshman) sang a vocal duet for special music.
Aaron Ramback read the scripture reading – Matthew 24:37-39 “37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Joubert Pierre had the sermon titled “The Storm Is Coming!” The congregation sang “Higher Ground”. Joubert Pierre had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Aaron Ramback – works in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Arielle Pierre – wife of Joubert Pierre
Joubert Pierre – one of the academy science teachers
Rodney Herra – local head church elder / runs an auto repair business on nearby Highway 30
Following are some notes from the sermon:
- Many people are unprepared for storms that come – people in Noah’s day. “Repent, reform, get ready!”
- Warnings of Christ’s coming
- Matthew 24:5-6 “5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
- Matthew 24:7 “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Hurricane Dorin reminds us of this.
- When a hurricane comes, people need to have an emergency box ready. Spiritually we are to build a heavenly character.
- A replica of Noah’s ark had over 43,000 square feet, roughly an acre. Yet this was only one floor.
- God gave us a blueprint for our character in Jesus.
- Also we must build up fellow humans in the right character that Jesus shows us. Nothing but Jesus can save us.
- We must build our experience of faith in God before the trials come.
- God is calling us to higher ground, a place where we have to look up.
- As we see God’s warnings fulfilled, seek God’s higher ground.