Services in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on July 27, 2019 began with a song service led by Maria (senior), Yzzynne (sophomore) and Daniel (freshman) accompanied on the piano by Freddy (freshman). The opening song was “Amazing Grace”, accompanied on the piano by Beth Brandt.
Daryll Ellis welcomed everyone. Maria had prayer. Eldric (junior) read the scripture reading – Revelation 22:4-5 “4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
Say Say (freshman) read a mission story about a Seventh-day Adventist martial arts expert in the Solomon Islands who won medals but lost his health through incorrect eating. An elderly relative knocked on his door and helped the expert to overcome his lack of circulation by home remedies and a change in diet. Today he offers free health seminars using Ellen White’s advice.
Say Say then called for the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which was collected by Freddy and Yzzynne (sophomores).
Dorka Ellis had the theme talk on a time when Jesus healed a blind person. Yzzynne (sophomore) and Maria (senior) sang a vocal duet for special music, accompanied by Eldric (sophomore) on his guitar. Dorka Ellis then had the closing prayer and announced the classes. Students met behind the glass for their Sabbath School class with Warren McDaniels as their teacher. Clayton Brandt taught the Sabbath School class in the church sanctuary.
Following are a few notes on the theme talk:
- John 9 “1 ¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8 ¶ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others [said], He is like him: [but] he said, I am [he]. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 13 ¶ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These [words] spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner [or no], I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear [it] again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: [as for] this [fellow], we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and [yet] he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35 ¶ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39 ¶ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
- At the beginning he was told that he was blind due to the sins of his forebearers.
- Jesus made mud and put the mud on the blind person’s eyes. Then the man went to wash, something he could do himself using the senses and power he had left.
- The Jews tried to make the blind man feel guilty even after the miracle.
- But Jesus treated him differently. John 9:36 “He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” Jesus told him his sin was over.
- Revelation 22:4-5 “4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
Personnel Other Than Students:
Beth Brandt – wife of Clayton Brandt
Clayton Brandt - works with Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment
Daryll and Dorka Ellis – Daryll works for a nearby stone company and is a local church deacon / Dorka is his wife
Warren McDaniels – Laurelbrook president