The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on June 23, 2018 began with Ricardo Reid welcoming everyone and having a few announcements. Prayer meeting this Wednesday will be by Westcotts at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Jeremy Westcott played an introit. The congregation had a silent invocation and then sang “The Lord in Zion Reigneth”. Sebastien Roy-Lavallee had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Heissel (junior) then called for the offering. Hiram (senior) and Cllifton Brandt then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local conference advance. During the offering collection, Benny (sophomore) played a trumpet solo, accompanied by Jeremy Westcott on the piano. The congregation sang the doxology, and Heissel prayed for the offering.
Josia (graduate) and Haniel (graduate) told the children a story. A girl in a local village wanted a Bible. After waiting and saving for six years, she found that she could buy a Bible from a man in a town 25 miles away. She walked those miles and got her Bible even though the book was expensive. We should treasure the Bible more.
Sebastien Roy-Lavallee read the scripture reading – Mark 10:48 “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.” Rebecca Nowdesha sang “Like a River Glorious”, accompanied by Jeremy Westcott on the piano.
Pastor Richar Perez discussed the topic “Have Mercy on Me”. The congregation sang “I Surrender All”. Pastor Richar Perez had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Clifton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s water, sewer, and boiler systems / local church deacon
Jeremy Westcott – one of the academy English and Bible teachers
Rebecca Nowdesha – assistant girls’ dean
Ricardo Reid – works in the Laurelbrook Nursing Home / local head church elder
Richar Perez – new boys’ dean and campus chaplain
Sebastien Roy-Lavallee – men’s work coordinator
Following are some notes on the sermon by Pastor Richar:
- Mark 10:46-52 “46 ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
- Jesus was close to the new city of Jericho passing this blind man.
- Blind people can act like a normal person when they make up their minds to do so.
- The blind person Jesus saw begged for money. Probably he felt left behind as people do as they live their lives.
- But one day he felt an unusual excitement as Jesus approached because he heard what Jesus could do for him.
- The blind person shouted loudly so Jesus would hear him, but the rest of the group pushed him to be quiet.
- Every time you want to do something for Christ the devil tries to shut you up.
- Sometimes we – like the disciples – can make something more important than it really should be.
- Jesus found time for this blind man, to heal his broken life.
- Right now Jesus is passing by and wants to do something for you.
- Are you using the opportunities for witnessing that God sends you? You may the answer to someone’s prayer.