The Sabbath services on July 28, 2018 began with a song service led by David Smith, accompanied by Jacqueline Miller on the piano. The opening song was “Bringing In the Sheaves”.
David Smith welcomed everyone and had prayer and read the scripture reading – John 6 “1 ¶ After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered [them] together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
He then showed Mission Spotlights on the North Asia - Pacific Division, which includes South Korea, Japan, and China. In South Korea, the church has concentrated on the elderly and on the Sejong administrative center. In Tokyo, a young man is making a community aware of the local Adventist church, which had only ten people attending. Attendance, inspired by young people, has climbed to 50 people.
He then called for the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which was collected by David Smith and John Ellis and which goes to support Laurelbrook mission trips. Rebecca Nowdesha presented some of the stories behind the hymns in our hymnal and had the congregation sing each one. She was accompanied on the piano by Jara (2018 sophomore).
David Smith had the closing prayer and explained the classes (only one class since the students were on a camping excursion). James Brenneman led the lesson study in the main sanctuary. There were no student classes.
Following are a few notes from the hymns part of the program:
Personnel Other Than Students:
David Smith – helps with transporting nursing home residents / one of the academy teachers / husband of Juanita Smith, the vice-principal for academy classroom activities and registrar
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus
James Brenneman – works with the grounds department / one of the academy history and English teachers
John Ellis - retired auto mechanic living nearby
Rebecca Nowdesha – assistant academy girls’ dean