Greetings Meadow Glade SDA Church family and friends! (12.19.2024 Edition)

Merry Christmas everyone!!! This Sabbath we have a special Christmas service to enjoy together full of music, Scripture and a word from Lead Pastor Michael Brackett. Before the worship service we are having our traditional Christmas brunch together in the Fellowship Hall. Your pastors are making pancakes, so come hungry and bring a side dish to share! This is in lieu of Sabbath school and will take place from 9 to 10:30 am.

Please remember "Church Budget" in your year-end giving. December has traditionally been the month we receive a large portion of our church budget monies and as usual we are praying for God to move through our members in a major way! We are still $118,560.44 behind for the year but ever hopeful to finish strong. Half of our church budget goes to support our schools (MGAES & CAA), while various ministries, building and maintenance, and staffing make up the other half. Please also keep in mind our "Building Fund" for Center Point renovation. Glory to God for how He continues to move through you, our wonderful church members, who sacrificially give for His kingdom's sake!

Pastor Michael Brackett has written the following special thanks: "I’d like to say a special thank you to Brandon Farrell, a guy who constantly serves our beloved church family in even self-sacrificing ways. Brandon is our church Facility Maintenance Engineer and Sound Team coordinator. He stays booked out a summer in advance to help run sound for weddings. He constantly gives of his time, his talents and his treasure. Brandon, we want you to know we treasure you and are so grateful for all the things you have done this year to keep our building in top shape and our people feeling like they have someone upon which they can depend. We are grateful to God for your heart and your expertise!"

Check out this week's Pastor's Devotional by Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht on the church app, bulletin board and website.

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK

* This Friday is Anchor Cafe. All 7th and 8th graders are invited! 6:45-8:00 pm at Center Point. Come for food, fellowship and worship!

* Sabbath Begins – 4:31 pm on Friday.

* This Sabbath is our church family Christmas program! Pastor Michael Brackett will share a brief message. The worship service starts at 10:45 am in the sanctuary. Watch our livestream worship service online by following links on our church website (meadowglade.com). You can also find our livestream and past worship services on our Facebook page and our church app.

* Church offering this Sabbath: Local Church Budget.

* Sunset Sabbath evening is 4:31 pm.

* There is a Preschool Play Group every Monday at 10 am in the church Fellowship Hall. This is a great time for your preschool children to interact with other kids and for parents to interact with other parents. Call the church office for more information. There is no meeting this upcoming week of Christmas.

* Women to Women (W2W) Bible Study is every Monday at 6:30 pm in the downstairs W2W room. All women are welcome to come! Call/text Shelly Williams at 360-513-5188 for more information and to reserve a book. Next topic for study: Feasts of the Bible. Please RSVP for a book ($10)!

* Our Battle Ground Adventist Community Services (ACS) Food Bank & Clothing Store is open every Tuesday and Thursday and operates on the bottom floor of our Center Point Building (11117 NE 189th Street). They are open every Tuesday from 1:00 to 5:30 pm and every Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Donations are accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Find them also on our church website; check out their personalized website; and visit their Facebook site. ACS will be closed from December 20 to January 1 for Christmas & New Year's.

* Every Tuesday evening at 7 pm Belle Cantori (women's choral ensemble) meets in the church fellowship hall. There is no meeting this upcoming week of Christmas.

* Prayer meeting is every Wednesday from 1 to 2 pm and meets in the W2W Sabbath School room downstairs in the church. Everyone is welcome to attend! There will be no prayer meeting December 25 or January 1. We will reconvene January 8 with a luncheon at 1 pm in the fellowship hall!

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE HORIZON

* December 23 to January 6, Church office closed. January 2 the office is open by appointment only. (Email Cara Farrell if you need to make an appointment that day.)

* December 25, Christmas Day.

* December 28, Pastor Kristen will be our speaker.

* December 31, New Year's Eve.

* January 2, Rock Climbing - Youth, Collegiate, and Young Adult Rock Climbing event January 2, 2025 from 3-6 pm at the CAA Rock Wall. Contact Pastor Kristen with questions at 503-866-1747.

* January 4, Pastor Michael will be our speaker.

* January 4, Arlene Ermshar Memorial Service at 3 pm in the sanctuary.

* January 7, Grief Connect Group meets at 3 pm in the church board room. They meet to provide a safe place to discuss the grief some are experiencing because of a significant loss. Meeting with others experiencing the same emotions can be very helpful. For more information contact Randy Hesgard at 208-559-3052 or John Ryan at 503-896-2340.

* January 8, Adventurers Club meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the kindergarten room downstairs in the church. Adventurers Club is for ages 3 years old through 4th grade. Adventurers Club focuses on four areas: My God, myself, my family, and my world. Please register by contacting Sharon Stewart at 360-601-7885.

* January 10, Women-to-Women (W2W) Agape Feast. 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

* January 11, Pastor Evan will be our speaker.

* January 18, Youth Ignite!

* January 18, Church Wide Photo. We are excited to take a group photo with the entire church family in the sanctuary. Please plan to be at church that day and ready to smile for the camera together!

* January 21, Grief Connect Group meets at 3 pm in the church board room. They meet to provide a safe place to discuss the grief some are experiencing because of a significant loss. Meeting with others experiencing the same emotions can be very helpful. For more information contact Randy Hesgard at 208-559-3052 or John Ryan at 503-896-2340.

* January 22, Adventurers Club meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the kindergarten room downstairs in the church. Adventurers Club is for ages 3 years old through 4th grade. Adventurers Club focuses on four areas: My God, myself, my family, and my world. Please register by contacting Sharon Stewart at 360-601-7885.

* January 23, Finance & Board meetings at 5:30 pm and 7 pm respectively.

* January 25, Pastor Jim will be our speaker.

* January 27 to March 3, Alpha Evangelism Series in the Fellowship Hall. Stay tuned for details! Check out and please share this link for more information: https://relevantevent.org/BattleGround

* February 1, Children's Ministries Gym Night from 6-8 pm in the MGAES gymnasium.

* February 1, Save the Date: "Punch and Proverbs" Social Event in the Fellowship Hall!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SABBATH SCHOOL

* Sabbath School Classes (9:30 to 10:30 am Sabbath mornings):

Beginners (Ages 0-2): Leader: Jannelle Jackson. Location: Lower Level Room # 125.

Preschool (Ages 3-4): Leader: Jannelle Jackson. Location: Lower Level Room # 129.

Kindergarten (Ages 5 to Kindergarten): Leader: Jenee Hilliard. Lower Level Room # 132.

Primary I (Grades 1 to 2): Leader: Ben Leake. Location: Lower Level Room # 124.

Primary II (Grades 3 to 4): Leader: Laura Liu. Location: Lower Level Room # 108.

Juniors (Grades 5 to 6): Leader: Laura Liu. Location: Lower Level Room # 113.

Earliteen (Grades 7 to 8): Leader: Laura Liu. Location: Lower Level Room # 111.

High School (Grade 9 to 12): Leader: Pastor Kristen Zollbrecht. Location: Center Point banquet room.

Koinonia (Adult): Leaders: Steve Gibb, Wayne Holm, Jason Krenzler. Study: Sabbath School Quarterly. Location: Lower Level Room # 119.

New Believers: Leader: Pastor Michael Brackett. Location: Lead Pastor's Office Room # 242.

Quest: Leaders: Scott Davis, Brian Ford, Pattie Gilliland. Study: Sabbath School Quarterly. Location: Center Point Room # 306.

RENU: Leaders: Mari Cheney, Kelsi Gilkey, Nikki Scalf, Nina Vallado, Shelly Williams. Study: Current topic: FIELD NOTES for the WILDERNESS (Sarah Bessey). Location: Center Point Room # 300.

Study in the Sanctuary: Leaders: Pastor Jim Bollin, Ric Peinado, Bill Pritchard. Study: Sabbath School Quarterly. Location: Church sanctuary.

The GAP: Leaders: Jeff Fry, Gene Heinrich. Study: Sabbath School Quarterly. Location: Lower Level Room # 120.

The Wanderers: Location: Study: Life of Christ. Location: Lower Level Room # 139.

This is Us: Leaders: Warren Blanck, Nate Nelson, Mechelle Peinado. Study: Gospel of Mark. Location: Church board room.

W2W: Women's Ministries: Leader: Shelly Opdycke. Location: Lower Level Room # 107.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY

* We are partnering with Voice of Prophecy to garner Bible study leads in our surrounding community. The studies start with mailed copies and then an eventual invitation to study in person. We have many studies ongoing and are asking for prayers for these precious souls! We could use extra helpers! If you would like to be a contact for those who are engaged in studies call Jannelle Jackson at 360-921-6408.

* Ministry positions to prayerfully consider: Assistant Treasurer, Worship Program Coordinators, Deacons, Greeters, and Pathfinder helpers. Please contact the church office, Cara Farrell or one of the pastors for more information.

* We have a goal of raising approximately $10,000 for new church video cameras. We are over halfway there! Please consider giving to help improve our Audio/Video (AV) ministry.

* Church Flowers - If you would like to sponsor flowers at the pulpit please click here for the link to go to our new sign up genius page. You can still sign up by calling the church office.

* At our June 17 Business Meeting we unanimously voted as a church family to proceed with the fundraising necessary to renovate our Center Point building. A project of up to $2 million was approved with the stipulation we have 90% board donor support and $1.5 million in-hand (including pledges) before work commences. What work will be done with this renovation project? The banquet hall will be refreshed with new countertops and carpeting (and more); the hallways will be uniformly carpeted throughout the majority of the building; a new, large Youth Room created by an expansion and retooling of the existing kitchenette and office (across from Quest Sabbath School); our industrial kitchen will be retooled and fully functional again; the hallway closest to the church will be renovated to match the nicer side of the building including new doorways, ceiling and sheetrock throughout; 4 new adult Sabbath School classrooms created in the vacant storage rooms located on that hall; and new, much higher capacity restrooms created on that hallway for men and women. We have $165,545.12 in pledges and collected funds so far. If you would like to give toward this project, please give to our church "Building Fund." We are so grateful for everyone who has been involved in the work over the past two years that has led us to this exciting point! May God bless us and continue to move in our hearts collectively to move expediently on this project as we have done so many times in our history. See two attachments to this email for more info.

* Parents, please help us curb potential liability issues by being aware of where our children are while at the church on Sabbath or any day of the week. Please continually educate young ones to not use the elevator for entertainment purposes and to walk (not run) in the hallways to keep from potentially causing someone else to fall. Thank you for understanding and helping protect our people and our building from unnecessary harm.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY

* Sharon Conn is asking for prayers for her granddaughter, Jasmin Folk, who is 6 months pregnant with her first child and has been admitted to the hospital in Honolulu, HI with HELLP, a serious preeclampsia like condition. Prayers for mother and baby and the doctors treating them.

* Please continue to pray for Daniel Veach, brother of Denise Wilkinson, who had major surgery recently. Pray for healing and a smooth recovery process.

* Prayers for Ed and Ann Johnson who recently experienced a house fire. They are both safe but their garage and its contents burned down as well as part of their home.

* Please continue to pray for Curt Charlton and his ongoing problems with hearing and vision. Pray that God gives him guidance in the treatments needed.

* We have a male church member in need of affordable housing. He needs a room with a bathroom, kitchen and laundry privileges. Please contact Pastor Michael if you have questions at 828-552-0153.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS

* Oregon Young Adults and Big Lake Youth Camp Staff Retreat is Friday, January 10 to Sunday, January 12, 2025! This is a winter retreat for snow fun, meeting new friends and worshipping together. Please contact Pastor Kristen at 503-86601747 if you are interested in going! Registration is now open!

* 2025 Oregon Prayer Conference - “The Sanctuary and Prayer” - March 21-23 at Twin Rocks Conference Center, Rockaway, OR. Registration opened October 1, 2024. Guest speaker: Dr. Richard Davidson, a beloved teacher, a deep student of the Bible and a wellspring of knowledge. Dr Davidson has been a professor at the Andrews University Seminary since 1979. He is currently Senior Research Professor of Old Testament Interpretation. For many years he was the chair of the Old Testament Department. He has also served as the President of the Adventist Theological Society. He has received numerous awards for academic excellence. He has written several books and authored the Sabbath School Lesson. He has a passion for the Sanctuary. In 2022, he wrote a book on the sanctuary: “A song for the Sanctuary: Experiencing God’s presence in shadow and Reality.” You don’t want to miss his powerful dynamic presentations on prayer and the sanctuary. Twin Rocks Conference Center. 18705 US-101, Rockaway Beach, OR 97136. Questions? 541-671-3645 or [email protected]. Weekend Prices (per person): Lodge Room (2-4 per room) – $275. Cabin (2-5 per cabin) – $240. Day Use – $120. RV Site – $160. Fee includes 2 nights lodging and 5 meals.

* The Executive Committee for Battle Ground HealthCare under the leadership of Board Chair David Russell has initiated a search for a new Executive Director. If you have interest in this position or questions please call him at 503-704-2223 or email him at [email protected]. Battle Ground Healthcare is a ministry started by the Meadow Glade SDA Church and still supported by our members. Battle Ground Healthcare is dedicated to improving the health and well being of our community through providing access to quality, no-cost care services. Check out their website by clicking here to see how they might support your health journey and also discover ways to partner with them and volunteer to help this important ministry!

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Meadow Glade Seventh-day Adventist Church

11001 NE 189th Street

Battle Ground, WA 98604

Church Office # 360-687-2265

www.meadowglade.com

Church Office Hours:

Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Check out our Center Point Building website. Center Point is adjacent to the church, operated by the church and is available for short-term rental spaces for various events.

Download our church app in your smartphone app store! Search for "Meadow Glade Adventist Church." (Enable push notifications within the app to get the latest news banners.)

Please remember our pastors will never text you asking for money. If you are in doubt, call the church office or the pastors directly and verify if the text or email you are receiving is legitimate.