The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on March 9, 2019 began with Rich Sutton welcoming everyone and making a few announcements. The group going to Cuba was called to the platform for a special dedication prayer.
The church bulletin mentioned that Beecher Zollinger, Robert D. Zollinger’s brother, passed away March 7. A memorial service will be held later.
Jacqueline Miller played an introit. Rich Sutton had the invocation, and the congregation sang “The Lord in Zion Reigneth”. Rich Sutton had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Eliseo (junior) then called for the offering. John and Daryll Ellis then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to Adventist World Radio. The congregation sang the doxology, and Eliseo prayed for the offering.
Beth Brandt told the children a story about her grandmother who lived on a cherry farm (she showed them a picture of that farm). Her grandmother’s parents were strict Baptists, but there was no church in the area when the family moved there. Her grandmother started walking to a nearby community church. After she graduated from elementary school, she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle so she could have further schooling. And wonder of all wonders – there was a Baptist church there.
Then the aunt and uncle moved to Lansing, Michigan since her uncle was involved in the state legislature. As she walked to school, she noticed a small church. Announcements were passed out about meetings in that church, and she and her friends went to the meetings for some entertainment. Her grandmother attended further meetings despite heavy snowfall.
Her cousin told her parents about her attendance, and they were not happy. Her father forbade her to attend the Adventist meetings. She was ready to be baptized. But her mother took her home. She prayed almost all night. In the morning, her father expelled her from the home and confiscated many of her pretty things.
She was faithful to Jesus until she died. She married a minister and travelled all around the world.
Yzzynne (freshman), Maria (junior), and Leilani (junior) sang “Sanctuary”, accompanied by Asher Westcott on the piano. Mahary (junior) then read John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
Pastor Richie Perez discussed the topic “Without a Wedding Garment”. The congregation sang “Whiter than Snow”. Pastor Richie had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Beth Brandt – wife of Clayton Brandt, who takes care of Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment
Daryll Ellis – son of John Ellis / works at the nearby stone company / local church deacon
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus
John Ellis – retired mechanic and former Laurelbrook staff / local church deacon
Pastor Richie Perez – Laurelbrook campus chaplain
Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president
Robert D. Zollinger – retired Laurelbrook president and board chairman
Following are some notes on the sermon by Pastor Richie:
- Maranatha – Jesus is coming.
- Satan wants to destroy everything but especially teenagers.
- One of life’s decisions is getting married.
- Teenagers want their own way and are convinced that nothing bad will happen to them.
- A hidden relationship, Ellen White says, is wrong.
- When thinking about marriage, people should pray four times more per day, according to Ellen White.
- She also says that people 12-20 are poor judges of those they should marry.
- When you starting touching or kissing as a teen, you are taking the first step towards a tragic marriage problem.
- Satan wants you to do this to ruin you spiritually for eternity.
- Thinking about the opposite sex can lead to spiritual adultery and masturbation, which leads to a door of no return.
- Many times people don’t ask God if the person they are thinking about marrying is the right one. The resulting marriage leads a person right out of the church.
- Getting married is a big step. You should be able to support yourself and your prospective wife.
- Put God in the center of your life, a big step towards a happy marriage.
- Matthew 22:1-14 “1 ¶ And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them]. 7 But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.”
- The king was inviting special people to his wedding, but they wanted to do other things and mistreated his messengers. Israel had gotten a special invitation through God’s prophets and Jesus, God’s Son. Eventually Jerusalem was destroyed just as was the city in the story.
- The king invited ordinary people. One person didn’t put on the wedding garment so he was cast into outer darkness.
- A wedding is come – the marriage of the Lamb and His church. The garment we must put on is the righteousness of Christ.
- John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
- Now the invitation is for everyone. Dress? The righteousness of Christ.
- Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
- Will you open your heart and let the Holy Spirit control your heart?
- Ephesians 3:16-17 “16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.”
- Can people see Jesus in each of us?