When The Other Shoe Drops

Not long ago I read a brief account of some Scottish soldiers stationed in Malta.  A certain private had recently made a decision to receive Jesus as his personal Savior and, apparently, not many in his regiment liked the idea.  One big, tough son-of-a-gun sergeant was especially put out by the private’s decision and was determined to make his displeasure known.

On one particular morning the sergeant walked into the barracks and found the private kneeling beside his bed in prayer.  Wanting to teach him a lesson he’d never forget the sergeant removed one of his mud-caked boots and hurled it at the kneeling private’s head...

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CENTRAL HAPPENINGS & NEWS

This Week (April 6 to April 11): 

Tuesday @ 10:00 AM - Women’s Bible Study with Karen Medeiros (Family Life Room)

Tuesday @ 7:00 PM - Prayer Meeting with JeAnn Davis – “Making Friends”

Wednesday @ 7:00 PM - Spanish Group Prayer Meeting

Various L.I.F.E. groups (in-home small group Bible studies) take place across Sacramento. To locate one near you contact our small groups’ coordinator Richard Anger @ (916) 681-3990

Sabbath @ 9:00 AM - Morning Manna – Elder Ivan Martinez

Sabbath @ 9:30 AM - Central Study Hour with Pastor Chris Buttery + Children/Youth/Adult Sabbath School Classes

Sabbath @ 10:50 AM - Worship Service with Pastor Chris Buttery

Sabbath @ 12:30 PM – Men’s & Women’s Ministry Luncheon

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Preparing for the Harvest: Join us Friday, April 17 @ 6 PM and all day Sabbath, April 18 (until 7:30 PM) for a series of presentations on righteousness by faith. Presenters include Dennis Priebe, Mike Lambert, Larry Kirkpatrick, Christian Berdahl, Allen Davis, and others. Books, CDs, & DVDs will be for sale after sundown Saturday. There will be a children’s program Sabbath afternoon. For more information call the church office at (916) 457-6511.

Welcome to the Family! We wish to welcome the following individuals who were baptized on March 21 to Central’s church family: Barbara Thomas, Kenny Golden, Breana Vasquez, Nathan Vasquez, Angelica Meraz, Aaron Buttery, Sophia Raymundo, Raphael Raymundo, Adrianna Gurrola, and Jessica Castro. May God bless and keep you in your new walk with Him.

Congratulations to the following men who were recently ordained to their positions as elders and deacons on Sabbath, March 28: Elders – Seymour Morgan, Ralph Callender, and George Luh. Deacon – Bryant Ye.

Greeters Needed! Your Neighbor Thrift Store is looking for upbeat, positive individuals to meet and greet customers on a regular basis. If you’re interested and can donate your time, please contact Teri Harper at (916) 456-6500 for more information.

Youth Week of Prayer: Join Pastor Michael Butler and the youth ministries team from April 13 to 17 for a week of getting closer to Jesus. Times and location soon to follow.

Change: Sacramento Central’s Cultural Fair will NOT be held on Sunday, April 18. The event is being moved to another time. More information will come later. Family Life Ministries apologizes for any inconvenience this might cause.

The Healthy Plate: Join us Monday, April 27 for a cooking school extravaganza. Learn more about how to reach your ideal weight, how to fight diabetes, and the best way to lower your blood pressure. For more information contact Health Ministries leader Karen Medeiros at k.medeiros@sbcglobal.net. 

Annual Spring Concert: Mark your calendars for Central’s Spring Concert – Sabbath, May 2 starting at 2 PM. Musicians and performers from northern California will join us, including our own local talent.

Central’s Annual Family Life Retreat is coming up! Mark your calendar and plan now to join us at Leoni Meadows May 29 to 31. Keynote speaker will be Pastor Stephen Bohr from Secrets Unsealed. More information will follow soon.

Youth-Young Adult Vespers continues every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month in the church chapel.  Please join Pastor Michael Butler as he share “The Blueprint” for successfully navigating the world around you, being a victorious young Christian, and recharging your relationship with Jesus!

BULLETIN BOARD - An assortment of happenings, announcements, and resources from around the Seventh-day Adventist Church

News & Announcements

100 Days of Prayer for the 2015 General Conference Session began March 25 and will continue through to the end of GC Session on July 11. Pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to be fully experienced by our church members and leaders during the GC Session.

The Pacific Union Conference (PUC) Executive Committee voted on March 19 to request that all members of the PUC join in a day of fasting and prayer on June 27, 2015. This initiative is being spearheaded by the college churches across North America. The theme is a prayer for “unity” for our church as we anticipate the upcoming General Conference session. This day is NOT to promote any particular position on voting but to be a time of coming together for spiritual renewal. 

Paul Anderson has accepted the appointment to be the director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) for the North American Division. This completes the reorganization of ACM worldwide. Anderson has served 19 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Prior to that he pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences.  Click here to learn more. 

More than 1,500 healthcare professionals and volunteers will operate a no-cost medical and dental clinic in San Antonio, Texas April 8 through10.  Over $10 million in free health-related services will be offered to residents of San Antonio at the Alamodome.  The event is organized by Your Best Pathway to Health, a service of Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Adventist Health System and other entities.  To learn more, click here.

Resources

The Minority Report to the NAD Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) as presented by Edwin Reynolds and Clinton Wahlen. "The current study of ordination involves deeply held values, including faithfulness to God and His Word, fairness and equality, respect for one another, and our unity as members of the body of Christ. The conclusions we reach must not sacrifice any of these values...The current divergence in views on the subject of women’s ordination is due in part to different understandings of the nature of Scripture and how it should be interpreted....To follow the Bible model on the issue of women’s ordination will require courage like that of our pioneers. Nevertheless, it is the only basis on which we can expect to maintain global unity, receive God’s continued blessing, and, most importantly, anticipate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to finish His work."  Click here to read more and go to pp. 192-208 to read the report.

Women Pastors, Why Not?  In this new release Louis Torres considers the biblical view of ordination. Using Mark 16:15, he shares that every individual is called into ministry.  Everyone is responsible to share the gospel message, no matter his or her age or gender. Click here to order your copy.