¤¤
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>> Welcome to
Pioneer. We are so glad
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you've joined us, whether
it's in person or online.
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And I know that none of
you came to church this morning
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without noticing those
incredible fall colors.
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It is the one time of year
between summer and winter that
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no one regrets living in
Michigan. So enjoy this
beautiful time of year and this
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beautiful worship service
together. Invite you to join me
now as we read together
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the call to worship.
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Let's pray. Dearest Heavenly
Father, you are the alpha and
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the omega, the God of ages past.
You have brought us to your holy
mountain and made us joyful
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in your house of prayer. Let
the words of our mouths and the
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meditations of our hearts be
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
our strength and our redeemer.
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For your house will be called
the house of prayer for all
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peoples. In the name of the
Son, we ask for your eternal
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blessing. Amen. >> Amen.
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>> Please stand with us and lift
your voices in praise for our
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creator. Amen.
Amen. He is our hope
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in life and death. And we have
this assurance as we prepare our
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hearts for our congregational
prayer. I just invite each of
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you to sing from the depths of
your hearts, from the depths of
your soul. Sing these promises.
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>> Today, we are
going to pause right here
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in our worship celebration
to lift up our hearts
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and give glory to God
for finally finishing this
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project we began --
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Let's see if I get this
right here. We began it the day
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after graduation in May of 2019.
Now, a whole lot of you weren't
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here the day after graduation in
May 2019. This church was empty.
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Nobody, of course, on a Monday
morning is here. We brought in a
crew of 20. Was it 20? Was it
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40? I don't remember how many
eventually assembled. And we
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worked from sun up till late
into the night. You know what we
were doing? Stripping out the
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old pews, stripping out the
carpet, stripping out the
linoleum under the pews all day
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long. And by the time the last
fatigued volunteer went home,
this was just an empty cavern.
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Nothing. Then, we -- we moved
that very week, we moved over
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here to the Howard Performing
Arts Center. Month of May, month
of June, month of July, month of
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August. Thank you, Andrews
University. Double services
every Sabbath over there in the
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HPAC. While crews were
scrambling all over this space.
And at the end of August,
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we came back, and you are
looking at what it is now. God
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has done a wonderful work --
through you, if you were around
in 2019, through you, even if
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you weren't around but you
became a part of the project
after May of 2019 and through
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a host of paid professionals,
who, like -- like ants, just
crawled all over this place.
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Now, Pastor Jenifer, you
actually did some research. You
surprised me in first
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church. Tell us about the number
of people that were just working
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while we're all over there, week
after week, they're in here?
00:13:06.72\00:13:09.72
>> Yes. We had at least
40 companies and suppliers
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supplying goods and services
to Pioneer Memorial Church.
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We had an interior designer.
We had engineers, architects.
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We had lighting consultants,
floor consultants, we had audio
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consultants, all just working
to get the job done. >> Yeah.
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>> And -- And as they were
working, we had our people
inspired by God to give, and
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they were giving, and they gave
and they gave and they gave.
Some gave just to the carpet.
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Some gave just to the roof.
But most people gave just to the
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project called Renovate Heart
and House. And we got -- we
collected donations
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just over $2.9 million. >>
Praise God. >> And that covered
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the cost. >> Yeah. Really. Yeah,
put your hands together. It's
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just a -- We are rejoicing
today. You're applauding for
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yourselves. And, really, we're
applauding God, who enabled us
to do it. >> Absolutely.
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>> I mean, new everything --
lights and tapestry that comes
down from those boxes.
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It's just -- This is our new
home. And I don't mind saying to
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you, when people walk into this
place for the first time, they
come in the middle of the week
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and say, "Hey, show us your
church," it's just like, "Wow!"
This is not ostentatious.
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We didn't spend -- Carey
Carscallen, chairman of our
building committee,
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we didn't spend extra money just
lavishly. But my, oh, my, what a
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beautiful tribute to God. Thank
you. House of prayer for all
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people. Hey, let's burn the
mortgage. Come on. Who's got the
-- Hey, didn't you do a
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children's story a few weeks ago
with fire? Let's do another one
with fire. >> Oh, I'm sorry, we
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can't. >> So, Jenifer, how are
we going to get rid of this
mortgage? We've got to burn
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something, right? >> We will
burn the mortgage, and we will
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burn it together. Watch the
screen. >> Oh, good. >> So, here
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we are, Pioneer Memorial Church,
just outside the church. And
we're going to engage
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in this token act of celebration
of God's goodness. So let me
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share with you the letter I
received from Jermaine Jackson,
the associate treasurer
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of the Lake Union Conference.
It reads, "Dear Pioneer Memorial
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Church. Congratulations. We have
processed your final payment,
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and your account has been marked
'paid in full.' Enclosed is a
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copy of your mortgage note for
your records. Additionally,
enclosed is a certificate of
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acknowledgment to commemorate
the tremendous blessings of God
towards the payoff of this
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account through the faithful
giving of your church members."
And he goes on to say
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a few other things, signed,
"Sincerely, Jermaine Jackson,
Associate Treasurer."
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So here is the certificate of
acknowledgment. And here is the
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mortgage note marked
"paid in full." ¤¤ ¤¤
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So there it is. It is finished.
Thank God for his faithfulness,
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and thank you for your
faithfulness in giving to the
Pioneer Memorial Church.
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Amen. >> Hallelujah. In fact,
you know what we need to do?
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We need to just -- come on.
We've been applauding, but let's
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let's give credit to where
credit is due. Let's stand and
sing the doxology together.
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Shall we do that? Just stand
to your feet. Mr. Minister of
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Music, let's go.
00:16:45.17\00:16:46.60
Amen and amen. Please be seated.
God is so good, which is why
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we're gonna do something we have
never done ever, ever, ever.
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I've never seen it done. But
we're going to do it right now,
and that is celebrate
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the end of one project and
pivot immediately on our heels
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to celebrate the beginning of
another project. You up for this
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one? You say, "Dwight, what
would we need after this
beautiful, beautiful sanctuary?
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What could we possibly need?"
I went to three of our Pioneer
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members. I'm talking about
Esther Tarangle, I'm talking
about Charlene Starlin,
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and I'm talking about Larry
Habenicht. And I sat down with
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them with a camera. We're
talking about these -- these --
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these -- I don't want to say
infamous, but these these stairs
that come in right here.
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Now you're going to see Esther
Tarangle at the beginning, and
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let me just tell you so that you
get it right off the bat. What
she's talking about is that
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every time she comes to church
and they drop her off -- she's
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an elderly lady -- sits in that
second row every first service.
When they drop her off,
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when she gets to the bottom of
the stairs, she darts a prayer
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to heaven. "Jesus, get me to the
top." I have tripped on those
stairs so many times.
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I'm a blooming adolescent,
I guess. It's just --
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They're too short. They're too
-- They're too tall. It's just
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bad. Okay, you listen to them.
Three of them. Here they go on
the big screen right now.
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¤¤ >> When I go in and sit
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down up near the
front so that I can hear,
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I feel so nice inside of myself.
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It's where I want to be on
Sabbath morning every Sabbath
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morning. Well, I feel that if we
don't have spiritual help, it,
uh -- it's a question mark
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whether I will make it okay. I
don't feel that I am so agile
that I must wait -- depend
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upon my own ability at my age.
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>> Well, I've seen a lot of
people have a struggle to get up
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there. In fact, a
couple of Sabbaths,
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I've seen one person that
had to have at least two people
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helping them up, and one
Sabbath, they had to have three
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people.
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You will have more people come
if we have a dependable elevator
and have it big enough
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to hold the wheelchair, plus
maybe a couple -- at least a
couple other people.
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I think there's a lot of people
that aren't coming because it's
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so hard to get into the
sanctuary. >> I'm sitting here
talking with my friend Larry
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Habenicht. Everybody here knows
your mom and dad. I mean, we're
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talking about
Harold and Donna Habenicht.
00:20:43.24\00:20:44.54
>> Yep. >> And
the older you get,
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the more
challenging those stairs become.
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Did you give your folks any
counsel about the stairs or...?
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I mean, what could you do? >>
Well, I tried to get them to --
said, "Dad, there's a
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little elevator over there.
You could use that." But, uh, he
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tried a couple times -- Two
weeks in a row he tried, and the
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thing didn't work. >> Yeah, I'm
telling you. >> Dad, he couldn't
put up with things that didn't
00:21:05.26\00:21:08.93
work. He says, "No, we're not
trying that again." >> So, Mom
and Dad are coming to
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church. I'm talking about this
June. And I'm up in my office,
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looking down on the sidewalk.
And they normally come in under
the awning, which means
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you got those stairs. >>
Yeah. >> But I could almost see
00:21:19.94\00:21:22.91
your dad's wheels turning.
And he stops, and he -- he tells
00:21:22.91\00:21:28.62
Donna, "No, we're turning
around." And he turned around,
and instead of coming in the
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awning, I realized they're going
to go down the stairs into the
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pit that goes into the basement
level. But halfway down, I catch
00:21:37.09\00:21:42.00
up to them. "Harold and Donna,
listen, now, be very careful." I
didn't want to spook them,
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but these are -- these are steep
stairs. "We're okay, Dwight.
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We got it." And so they go down,
and I'm now needing to get --
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There are two double doors they
have to go through. >> Right.
00:21:52.81\00:21:55.11
>> Not one but two. And so
I get ahead them to the door.
00:21:55.11\00:21:58.41
I open that door, and then I
want to get -- Larry, I want to
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get the second set of doors. So
I'm holding onto this while I'm
reaching for the other set.
00:22:01.82\00:22:05.85
Phil Gidding sees and comes
running over. And right like
00:22:05.85\00:22:10.23
that, your mom went down. She
just went boom. >> And I told
00:22:10.23\00:22:13.83
dad, "You know, Dad, there's
other churches in the community
that don't have steps.
00:22:13.83\00:22:16.56
Let's go to some of them." "Oh,
no, this is my church. This is
00:22:16.56\00:22:20.24
my family. I'm coming here." >>
What's a good case for putting
00:22:20.24\00:22:24.97
this elevator in? >> Well, I
think we've stated it. I mean,
our church is for the
00:22:24.97\00:22:29.94
college people, but there's
a lot of us retirees, a lot of
00:22:29.94\00:22:33.85
older people who come,
particularly to their first
service, and with the parking
00:22:33.85\00:22:37.65
lot out here on this
side, we need access. >> Mm-hmm.
00:22:37.65\00:22:41.89
>> Yeah. >> We really do.
And this will be the only access
00:22:41.89\00:22:45.39
from the parking
lot without stairs.
00:22:45.39\00:22:50.73
It occurred to me just before
that interview with Larry,
00:22:50.77\00:22:55.97
"Good night.
Every entrance into the
00:22:55.97\00:22:58.47
Pioneer Memorial Church is
perched atop a series of stairs,
00:22:58.47\00:23:02.81
sometimes two flights of stairs.
00:23:02.81\00:23:05.68
Every single one. Said, "Dwight,
we got a ramp back there."
00:23:05.71\00:23:08.92
Oh, great. 85 years
old. It's snowing out.
00:23:08.92\00:23:11.92
You get out of your car. "Well,
I'll go up the ramp," so you got
00:23:11.92\00:23:14.62
to walk the whole way around the
church. "Just keep walking. No,
you're not there yet.
00:23:14.62\00:23:17.76
Keep coming around. And by the
way, when you get to the ramp,
00:23:17.76\00:23:20.50
the emphasis is on the word
steep." I mean, it is steep. And
so now you're trying
00:23:20.50\00:23:24.53
to slide up the ramp into the
church, and you don't want to
00:23:24.53\00:23:28.44
sit in the back. No. You want to
come all the way up to the front
where you always sit.
00:23:28.44\00:23:31.97
It's untenable. Unbelievable.
And so Carey Carscallen,
00:23:31.97\00:23:37.38
former dean of the School of
Architecture and our building
00:23:37.38\00:23:40.75
chair committee -- chair for the
building committee, both
projects, you assembled
00:23:40.75\00:23:45.65
your group, and you said, "We
got to find a solution. Tell us
00:23:45.65\00:23:49.92
about that. >> Yes. Over
the years, we've considered many
00:23:49.96\00:23:52.39
different options of
how to make this work.
00:23:52.39\00:23:56.03
And we've consulted now with
some architects that we feel
00:23:56.06\00:24:00.37
we've come up with the best
solution that we'd like to
present to you today. The
00:24:00.37\00:24:05.37
architects have produced a nice
little video that we'd like to
show you and walk you through
00:24:05.37\00:24:09.38
the entrance as it will be.
As you see, you come in on the
00:24:09.38\00:24:14.02
right, you'll go to the
elevator. This is starting at
the awning entrance from the
00:24:14.02\00:24:18.62
parking lot. You'll go into the
elevator there. If you don't go
00:24:18.62\00:24:21.69
into the elevator, you continue
straight on as before. The old
00:24:21.69\00:24:26.39
lift is gone and new gently
sloping steps go up to the
sanctuary level. To the left,
00:24:26.39\00:24:31.33
you would go into the sanctuary,
and to the right then would be
00:24:31.33\00:24:35.34
the hallway between the youth
chapel and the elevator. Here
00:24:35.34\00:24:40.28
you see people getting on the
elevator. If you turn around,
coming off the elevator, to the
00:24:40.28\00:24:44.85
left would have been the
sanctuary, and to the right,
straight on through into the
00:24:44.85\00:24:50.65
youth chapel. As you come around
into the youth chapel, you can
see a new configuration.
00:24:50.65\00:24:56.29
The storage areas that we took
away to make the elevator in the
00:24:56.29\00:25:01.53
entrance are now moved to the
back. There's angled walls that
rise up in the back, giving us
00:25:01.53\00:25:06.07
a new storage and space above.
And here, you see in the front,
two bump-outs, one on each side,
00:25:06.07\00:25:12.64
one for the elevator and one for
the improved entrance into the
00:25:12.64\00:25:18.68
youth chapel above the new
storage areas for the chapel are
work areas and offices
00:25:18.68\00:25:24.42
for our media ministry. >> So,
Carey, you came to the church
00:25:24.42\00:25:29.86
board June 26th, and you met
with the board, made this very
same presentation, we looked at
00:25:29.86\00:25:33.76
all the numbers, costs,
everything. And then we said,
"We're not making a decision
00:25:33.76\00:25:38.33
tonight." We will wait two
months till the next board
meeting, which would be the end
00:25:38.33\00:25:41.60
of August, and we will pray and
ask God to reveal to us
individually what we should do.
00:25:41.60\00:25:47.44
We come back together on August
27 or 28, and the consensus is
00:25:47.44\00:25:53.95
absolutely clear. God has called
us to take this step of faith,
00:25:53.95\00:26:00.09
moving to what we're now calling
Renovate 2.0. And I want to -- I
00:26:00.09\00:26:04.56
want to draw attention to
somebody sitting right over
here, because that man is a
00:26:04.56\00:26:08.80
member of our building
committee, began to battle ALS.
Tom McCormick is here today.
00:26:08.80\00:26:14.97
He's sitting in that wheelchair
and has been a part of this
00:26:14.97\00:26:20.94
conversation. So this isn't just
about elderly, elderly people.
This is about everybody,
00:26:20.94\00:26:25.01
servicing the entire community.
And, Tom, we're really delighted
to have you this Sabbath.
00:26:25.01\00:26:31.29
God bless you. So, Pastor
Jenifer, come on. This -- This
00:26:31.29\00:26:36.89
is -- This is quite a project.
>> It is. It is. >> You would
00:26:36.89\00:26:40.06
agree that I need to ask Dave
Nowack, the chairman of our
stewardship committee, to
00:26:40.06\00:26:45.67
reflect, David, please? Look,
because we know the need. I
mean, we all sense it.
00:26:45.67\00:26:49.44
This kind of a no -- this is
kind of a no-brainer. But how
are we going to provide
00:26:49.44\00:26:53.01
for this need? What was
the total cost again, for this
00:26:53.01\00:26:56.34
elevator? >> This? >> The
elevator, the new one. It's
gonna be $1,000,000.
00:26:56.34\00:26:59.55
>> About $1,000,000. >> About
$1,000,000. >> About $1,000,000.
00:26:59.55\00:27:02.38
We're hoping less, but we've
targeted $1,000,000. >> Okay.
00:27:02.38\00:27:06.25
>> The good news is, Dwight
-- the good news is that God has
00:27:06.29\00:27:09.09
already put in motion the
means to complete this project.
00:27:09.09\00:27:12.49
>> Hallelujah.
00:27:12.49\00:27:14.46
>> The fundamental means
that God put in place is the
00:27:14.46\00:27:20.07
congregation at Pioneer
Memorial Church. >> Us. >> Us.
00:27:20.07\00:27:23.87
Pioneer Memorial Church is
among the most generous and
00:27:23.87\00:27:28.34
forward-thinking congregations
in this area. >> Yeah. In the
world. >> In the world.
00:27:28.34\00:27:34.02
And when they see a need,
they step up. That's just it.
00:27:34.02\00:27:38.45
God has caused them to be that
kind of people. And when they
00:27:38.45\00:27:43.22
see that need, they will
respond. I'm looking forward to
hearing all the many ways that
00:27:43.22\00:27:47.83
they'll respond in that way. But
also, in addition, individuals
00:27:47.83\00:27:52.33
have already seen the
need. They've seen the need and
00:27:52.33\00:27:56.04
anticipated through God's
influence, supporting that --
the elevator. There was a
00:27:56.04\00:28:03.08
generous matching gift challenge
of $100,000 already in place,
that once we raise $100,000,
00:28:03.08\00:28:11.62
that will meet that and
match it. And that person
00:28:11.62\00:28:15.79
anticipated the need and knew it
his coming and placed that gift
00:28:15.79\00:28:21.66
ready for this need. >> Yeah.
>> And, finally, we're going
00:28:21.66\00:28:24.60
to try to manage the -- the cost
of this -- this project through
donations, of course,
00:28:24.60\00:28:32.64
that are coming in. But,
you know, sometimes the cost of
00:28:32.64\00:28:37.01
construction exceeds the
donations that are there for --
It's a timing issue.
00:28:37.01\00:28:40.52
And so the finance committee has
put into place an agreement that
00:28:40.52\00:28:45.85
if we need -- and hopefully
won't, pray that we don't -- if
we need, we have a loan from
00:28:45.85\00:28:49.72
the revolving fund that'll be
ready to step in and support the
00:28:49.72\00:28:54.83
cash-flow needs of this
particular project. God has put
into place those things
00:28:54.83\00:29:00.57
necessary to complete this
project in a timely manner. >>
We can do what God can do.
00:29:00.57\00:29:04.94
>> We can do. >> Yeah. You
know, Jesus -- Jesus spoke a
00:29:04.94\00:29:07.91
line, and everybody knows this
line, but it seems to apply to
00:29:07.91\00:29:12.48
our two projects. Jesus said --
you remember this -- "This ought
you to have done..." and now
00:29:12.48\00:29:19.29
what? -- "Leave the other
undone." And, really, we're
simply finishing what we began.
00:29:19.29\00:29:24.69
It wasn't finished. We loved it,
but we loved people more than
finishing a project.
00:29:24.69\00:29:30.80
And we're doing this for Jesus,
for them. God bless all of you
00:29:30.80\00:29:35.40
for your part in it. Pastor
Jenifer, a prayer, please.
00:29:35.40\00:29:40.84
>> Will you join me? Will
you stand with me as we pray?
00:29:40.84\00:29:44.08
Let's pray. Oh, Lord God,
we thank and praise you today
00:29:48.42\00:29:54.49
for your faithfulness. We thank
you, God, that there is no God
00:29:54.49\00:30:00.60
in heaven above or in the earth
below who is like you, keeping
your covenant of mercy
00:30:00.60\00:30:05.40
to your servants. Thank you for
the ways in which you inspired
00:30:05.40\00:30:10.81
and blessed your people to give
to the Renovate project. Over
15,000-plus donations.
00:30:10.81\00:30:19.48
Thank you so much. May your
glory fill this place, as it
covered the tabernacle
00:30:19.48\00:30:28.76
in the wilderness, as it
filled the temple in Jerusalem.
00:30:28.76\00:30:35.00
And, God, as the reality of your
presence transforms your people
00:30:35.00\00:30:40.40
in this house of prayer. May all
people who worship here learn to
love you, Lord God,
00:30:40.40\00:30:48.41
with all our heart and mind and
soul and strength and each other
00:30:48.41\00:30:58.49
as ourselves. As we move forward
together in your will into the
00:30:58.49\00:31:04.86
future, unite us in this house
of prayer. Help us to give you
00:31:04.86\00:31:12.00
all that we are and all that we
have -- our minds, our gifts,
our resources, or influence.
00:31:12.00\00:31:22.31
Please accept our Thanksgiving
today. May our prayers, our
00:31:22.31\00:31:26.72
thanks, our whole selves, our
whole lives ascend to your
throne like sweet incense.
00:31:26.72\00:31:33.82
For you are worthy, Lord. To
receive blessing and honor and
00:31:33.82\00:31:39.43
glory and power,
forever and ever. Amen.
00:31:39.43\00:31:44.03
>> Oh, God, that's our prayer.
We need you. There's not a time
00:31:47.77\00:31:52.41
when we do not need you. There's
not a place where we will not
00:31:52.41\00:31:58.45
need you. We need you every hour
right here, right now, in Jesus'
00:31:58.45\00:32:03.99
name. Amen.
00:32:03.99\00:32:05.55
Question. Does
Jesus have a parable
00:32:05.59\00:32:08.36
that ends with the word --
words, "The kingdom of heaven
00:32:08.36\00:32:12.83
is like unto an elevator"?
Answer -- not as far as I know.
00:32:12.83\00:32:19.27
Question number two -- Did
Jesus ever deal with elder care?
00:32:19.27\00:32:23.64
Are you kidding? It's beautiful.
00:32:23.64\00:32:25.64
You got to look at
words you never knew.
00:32:25.64\00:32:27.94
We're talking about elder
care. Open your Bible, please,
00:32:27.94\00:32:29.88
to John 21. Let's go. John 21.
00:32:29.88\00:32:33.68
Everybody loves a story, and
this one begins with a -- one of
00:32:33.72\00:32:36.72
those -- one of our favorite
stories, of course. The
disciples have spent the
00:32:36.72\00:32:39.39
whole night fishin' and didn't
catch one bloomin' fish. Early
in the morning, some
00:32:39.39\00:32:45.56
stranger on the shore calls out,
"Hey! Throw your net on the
other side, and you'll catch all
00:32:45.56\00:32:50.03
the fish you need." And, boom,
their net is bursting with shiny
00:32:50.03\00:32:59.11
silverbacks. And, of course, the
disciples instantly know, "This
is our beloved master Jesus.
00:32:59.11\00:33:05.51
This is our now resurrected Lord
Jesus himself." And leave it to
00:33:05.51\00:33:11.25
Jesus. He already has a campfire
going. Breakfast is ready to to
00:33:11.25\00:33:16.02
be devoured. And they drag that
heavy load in, they jump out of
the boat, and they start eating
00:33:16.02\00:33:21.66
with Christ. And somewhere
in the middle of that breakfast,
00:33:21.66\00:33:26.23
Jesus stops, and he says, "Yo,
Peter. Hey, Simon, son of John.
Do you love me more
00:33:26.23\00:33:34.31
then all of these?" And Peter
immediately averts his gaze.
00:33:34.31\00:33:40.98
He stares into the flames.
Not sure if he's going to cry or
00:33:40.98\00:33:48.76
not. He says, "Lord, you
know everything. You know I love
00:33:48.76\00:33:56.03
you." And he resumed the
breakfast and it goes on for a
few moments, and scene one is
00:33:56.03\00:34:00.27
repeated as scene two -- "Peter,
Simon, son of John. Do you love
me more than these?"
00:34:00.27\00:34:10.18
"Lord, you know everything.
You know I love you." And the
00:34:10.18\00:34:17.22
breakfast goes on, and the
conversation continues and, boom
-- you got it -- third time.
00:34:17.22\00:34:22.39
I want to pick it up right here.
Number three. In the gospel of
00:34:22.39\00:34:27.56
John 21. Here we go -- verse 17.
"And the third time, Jesus said
to Peter, 'Simon, son of John,
00:34:27.56\00:34:33.34
do you love me?'" Three times
you spit on my name and you
swore you didn't even --
00:34:33.34\00:34:40.74
had no idea who I was --
in public! So three times in
00:34:40.74\00:34:48.38
public, I'm asking you to
testify, do you love me?'" Peter
00:34:48.38\00:34:56.86
was hurt because Jesus asked him
the third time, "Do you love
me?" "And he said, 'Lord,
00:34:56.86\00:35:01.86
you know all things. You know
that I love you.'" And for the
00:35:01.86\00:35:09.07
third time, Jesus says, "Good.
Feed my sheep." Now here comes
00:35:09.07\00:35:16.38
this beautiful elder-care
moment. You've read it so many
times. With new eyes, we read it
00:35:16.38\00:35:21.55
now, verse 18. Let's go. Very
truly. That's a literary device
00:35:21.55\00:35:25.62
that only John uses. It's
a double amen. "Amen, amen."
00:35:25.62\00:35:30.09
Whenever John says it, he says,
"Reader, stop, slow down. This
00:35:30.09\00:35:33.86
is big." So we're slowing down.
"Amen, amen, I tell you. When
00:35:33.86\00:35:39.53
you were younger, you dressed
yourself and you went where you
wanted, but when you are old,
00:35:39.53\00:35:44.47
you will stretch out your hands
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not
00:35:44.47\00:35:48.44
want to go." I remember
preaching on this passage
00:35:48.44\00:35:51.91
when my dad was in the audience
out in California. And the
00:35:51.91\00:35:58.05
moment I read those words, it
suddenly hit me as I'm standing
there. My dad, who my mother has
00:35:58.05\00:36:07.20
been worried. He's experiencing
the onset of -- early onset of
00:36:07.20\00:36:15.84
dementia. Four months after that
moment, Dad went into a nursing
home from which he never left
00:36:15.84\00:36:23.71
until he died. And I remember
coming to those words, "Someone
00:36:23.71\00:36:29.42
else is going to dress you," and
I thought about my dad, "and
someone else is going to
00:36:29.42\00:36:33.05
lead you where you don't want to
go." It's a story of a nursing
00:36:33.05\00:36:38.86
home. Elder care. Wow.
Craig Keener in his wonderful
00:36:38.86\00:36:45.87
commentary on the gospel of
John, Keener writing, "Diogenes
the Cynic reportedly
00:36:45.87\00:36:54.18
told a man whose servant was
putting on his shoes that he
would ultimately have
00:36:54.18\00:36:58.35
to depend on that servant to
wipe his nose, as well." You're
going to get older,
00:36:58.35\00:37:02.25
and he's going to be wiping your
nose one day. You mark my words.
00:37:02.25\00:37:08.92
Keener goes on, "The description
of dependance here in verse 18
could apply simply to old age."
00:37:08.92\00:37:15.83
Elder care. "Oh, but the
language of 'stretching out the
00:37:15.83\00:37:20.00
hands' probably suggests more
than merely the dependance of
00:37:20.00\00:37:23.91
old age." And John makes sure
that we get the double meaning
by putting in verse 19,
00:37:23.91\00:37:28.18
"Jesus said this to indicate
the kind of death by which Peter
00:37:28.18\00:37:32.85
would glorify God. And then he
says to Peter, 'Follow me!'"
"One day, you'll stretch out
00:37:32.85\00:37:36.95
your arms. You'll be crucified.
You said you wanted to die for
00:37:36.95\00:37:40.22
me, didn't you, the other night?
You will be crucified." And the
tradition tells us,
00:37:40.22\00:37:46.13
at his request, upside down.
00:37:46.13\00:37:47.96
But before we dismiss verse 18,
"Well, that's not really elder
care," come on, come on,
00:37:52.37\00:37:56.64
come on. I want you to
think. Think, think, think.
00:37:56.64\00:37:58.77
Who's the man that spoke those
words? Who's this God who spoke
00:37:58.77\00:38:01.48
those words just two weeks
earlier? Also, red-letter words.
00:38:01.48\00:38:07.15
The same person from the cross
gives us the -- the supreme
demonstration of elder care.
00:38:07.15\00:38:12.35
Watch this. Two weeks earlier,
John 19, Friday afternoon, "When
Jesus saw his mother
00:38:12.35\00:38:18.26
there --" he's hanging on
Calvary -- "and the disciple
whom he loved standing nearby,
00:38:18.26\00:38:23.57
he said to her, 'Woman, here is
your son.'" He couldn't point.
00:38:23.57\00:38:29.87
He's nailed. "And then he says
to the disciple, 'Here's your
00:38:29.87\00:38:36.58
mother.' And from that time on,
this disciple took her into his
00:38:36.58\00:38:40.85
home." Talking about elder care.
It doesn't get -- it doesn't get
any more poignant than what we
00:38:40.85\00:38:45.32
just witnessed in that split
second. "Desire of Ages" agrees.
00:38:45.32\00:38:50.93
"Desire of Ages" comes along,
"The perfect example of Christ
00:38:50.93\00:38:54.36
filial." The word "filial" means
the love of a child for his or
00:38:54.36\00:38:58.80
her parent. Christ -- "The
perfect example of Christ's love
for his mother shines forth
00:38:58.80\00:39:03.57
with undimmed luster from
the mist of ages. For nearly 30
00:39:03.57\00:39:08.81
years, Jesus, by his daily toil,
had helped bear the burdens of
00:39:08.81\00:39:12.78
the home. And now, even in his
last agony, he remembers to
provide for his sorrowing,
00:39:12.78\00:39:19.55
widowed mother. The same spirit
will be seen in every disciple
of our Lord." Wow. Suddenly now
00:39:19.55\00:39:24.29
a little shift of the paradigm,
and it's talking about you and
00:39:24.29\00:39:27.13
me. The same spirit will be seen
in you and me. "Those who follow
00:39:27.13\00:39:31.23
Christ will feel that it is a
part of their religion to
respect and provide for their
00:39:31.23\00:39:37.57
elders." Leave the word
"parents" out. To some -- To --
"To respect and provide for
00:39:37.57\00:39:43.41
their elders," the aged in our
midst. That's no leap. "From the
heart, where his love
00:39:43.41\00:39:49.45
is cherished, father and mother
will never fail of receiving
thoughtful care and tender
00:39:49.45\00:39:55.96
sympathy," in the Pioneer
Memorial Church. We'll never
00:39:55.96\00:40:03.16
turn down a need that will
minister to these that God has
preserved in their lives as a
00:40:03.16\00:40:09.54
witness to His faithfulness
in our midst. Wow. That's pretty
00:40:09.54\00:40:14.81
clear. Which is why, by the way,
the preincarnate Christ makes
00:40:14.81\00:40:19.15
sure that the Old Testament is
saturated with elder care. Watch
this. I'm going to just
00:40:19.15\00:40:23.75
fly these by you so fast, you're
going to miss them. But that's
00:40:23.75\00:40:26.76
okay. Just listen. Leviticus
19:32, preincarnate Christ
speaking -- "Stand up in
00:40:26.76\00:40:33.40
the presence of the aged,
people. Show respect for the
00:40:33.40\00:40:36.87
elderly and revere your God.
I am the Lord." Psalm 92:12, 14.
00:40:36.87\00:40:43.27
"The righteous will flourish
like a palm tree. They will grow
00:40:43.27\00:40:47.11
like a cedar of Lebanon. They
will still bear fruit in old
00:40:47.11\00:40:51.08
age. They will
stay fresh and green."
00:40:51.08\00:40:53.28
And I think of one
of our Pioneer members
00:40:53.31\00:40:55.82
who, two weeks ago,
turned 108. Anne Bower.
00:40:55.82\00:41:01.89
She is precious to her family.
00:41:01.89\00:41:04.49
She is precious to her Lord. And
she's precious to this family.
00:41:04.53\00:41:08.63
Wow! 108? Proverbs 16:31
-- "Gray hair is a crown of
00:41:08.63\00:41:17.44
splendor. It is attained in the
way of righteousness." Proverbs
20:29 -- "The glory of
00:41:17.44\00:41:21.78
young men is their strength.
Gray hair is the splendor of the
00:41:21.78\00:41:26.65
old." Isaiah 46:4, God himself
speaking now -- "Even to your
old age and gray hairs,
00:41:26.65\00:41:33.52
I am He. I am He who will
sustain you. I have made you,
00:41:33.52\00:41:38.59
and I will carry you. I will
sustain you, and I will rescue
00:41:38.59\00:41:42.53
you." "You never have to
worry about elder care with me
00:41:42.56\00:41:46.23
because I'm your
father in heaven,
00:41:46.23\00:41:48.14
and I will care for you until
you breathe your last breath."
00:41:48.14\00:41:53.84
And if he's
made that commitment,
00:41:53.84\00:41:56.64
why wouldn't we make
the same? And does it change
00:41:56.64\00:42:00.22
in the New Testament?
00:42:00.22\00:42:01.75
Hardly. Look at this -- 1
Timothy 5, to his young protégé,
00:42:01.78\00:42:06.45
the Apostle Paul is writing,
verses 3 and 5 -- "Give proper
recognition to those widows who
00:42:06.45\00:42:11.56
are really in need, for the
widow who is really in need and
00:42:11.56\00:42:16.83
left all alone --" and we had
many of them sitting in church
today, first church, and some
00:42:16.83\00:42:22.07
are sitting right now besides
you, and you don't even know it.
"For the widow who is really in
00:42:22.07\00:42:28.48
need and left all alone puts her
hope in God and continues night
00:42:28.48\00:42:32.68
and day to pray and ask God for
help." Shall we answer that
prayer? Or shall we say, "No.
00:42:32.68\00:42:39.75
We got what we wanted.
Nice. Too bad for you folks"?
00:42:39.75\00:42:46.66
Of course not. One more line
from Paul, 1 Corinthians 12:
00:42:46.66\00:42:52.50
24-26 -- "But God has put the
body together --" speaking of
the church -- "so that there
00:42:52.50\00:42:56.20
should be no division in the
body, but that its parts should
have equal concern for each
00:42:56.20\00:43:02.18
other. If one part suffers,
every part suffers with it. If
one part is honored,
00:43:02.18\00:43:06.28
every part rejoices with it."
Isn't that the meaning of the
00:43:06.28\00:43:10.12
church? Aren't we a community?
Love -- Love on the move? Isn't
that what we say around
00:43:10.12\00:43:13.99
here? We say, "Well, that's
Pioneer's mission -- love on the
00:43:13.99\00:43:16.36
move." Yeah, it sure is. Love
on the move. That's not based on
00:43:16.36\00:43:20.30
numbers, not based on income,
not based on age, not based on
00:43:20.30\00:43:24.43
education, not based on
profession. Love on the move is
Pioneer's mission to every
00:43:24.43\00:43:30.87
breathing human being on this
planet. It's our mission. Love
00:43:30.87\00:43:35.68
on the move. 'Course we step
forward. Elder care. Beautifully
00:43:35.68\00:43:41.35
models the truth about the
church as the body of Christ so
that its parts that its parts
00:43:41.35\00:43:49.99
have equal concern for each
other -- "If one part suffers,
every part suffers with it.
00:43:49.99\00:43:54.83
If one part is honored, every
part says, 'Wow! Celebrate! High
00:43:54.83\00:43:59.33
five!'" I remember watching
John Paul II. You remember him.
00:44:03.10\00:44:07.74
Struggle with his Parkinson's
disease. And I never could
00:44:07.74\00:44:11.98
figure out, "Why do you do this
on camera?" His -- His voice
became garbled. Speech
00:44:11.98\00:44:23.19
modulation not quite right.
Drooling, the head at an angle
that he couldn't correct.
00:44:23.19\00:44:31.13
And then I came to realize how
intent -- how intentional he was
that his own struggle
00:44:31.13\00:44:38.87
to live and move remind us all
that the weak must be able to
depend on the strong
00:44:38.87\00:44:45.31
to carry them through. And it's
no different here in Pioneer.
00:44:45.31\00:44:53.59
Harold and Donna Habenicht, we
just talked about them. They
died five weeks apart this
00:44:53.59\00:44:56.19
summer. Buried them
both. Esther Tarangle, here.
00:44:56.19\00:45:02.33
The elderly do not attend this
church because they're trying to
00:45:05.43\00:45:09.47
teach us a lesson. Mnh-mnh. But
because they are trying -- they
are trying to demonstrate
00:45:09.47\00:45:14.68
that they are drawn to this
sacred house that has been their
00:45:14.68\00:45:18.35
spiritual home for decades and
decades. "And as long as I can
navigate the journey, I'll be
00:45:18.35\00:45:26.76
here." Oh, I'm so proud of them.
Some of us still haven't come
back from the pandemic
00:45:26.76\00:45:32.56
because it's just, you know,
it's too hard. "We'll just stay
00:45:32.56\00:45:37.87
home and do it." And they're
negotiating these torturous
00:45:37.87\00:45:42.90
stairs just to be here. Wow.
The onset of physical and mental
00:45:42.90\00:45:48.11
struggles that we face are not
reason to stay away but reason
00:45:48.11\00:45:52.95
to find in the community, the
church, in the body of Christ,
our Lord, the emotional
00:45:52.95\00:45:57.45
compassion and personal
sustenance we need, we crave,
and we must have. And I go and
00:45:57.45\00:46:02.39
greet them every Sabbath they're
here. I'm talking about Bruce
and Judy Zimmerman.
00:46:02.39\00:46:07.60
They're in here right now. This
is their church. It's not easy
00:46:07.60\00:46:16.87
to come to church, but they're
here. God bless you. Every stage
of life is precious
00:46:16.87\00:46:23.28
to God and beautiful to us.
That means that when a newborn
00:46:23.28\00:46:29.62
lustily cries out for mother's
attention in the middle of a
quiet moment in worship, we
00:46:29.62\00:46:33.46
smile. We do not grumble. "Why
doesn't our mother do something?
00:46:33.46\00:46:36.36
This is bad. Just get that
kid out of here." No, we smile!
00:46:36.36\00:46:39.89
I'm so glad that child is here!
And if we got a problem with
noise in the balcony,
00:46:39.89\00:46:43.70
I'm so glad the teens are here.
We don't say, "No, if you can't
conform to us, you just stay
00:46:43.70\00:46:48.17
away." No, you --
you -- you keep coming.
00:46:48.17\00:46:52.41
This is your church. It's
not my church. It's your church.
00:46:52.41\00:46:56.34
All of us. No matter what
it costs when that elder member
00:46:56.34\00:47:02.52
stumbles or trips, we rush to
their aid and do all in our
power to prevent that from
00:47:02.52\00:47:06.62
happening again. And that's what
this Renovate 2.0 is all about.
00:47:06.62\00:47:10.76
That's it, in a nutshell. Let's
be clear. This new elevator is
00:47:10.76\00:47:15.70
not for you and is not for me --
not for most of us -- but it is
a gift from all of us,
00:47:15.70\00:47:20.04
young and aged alike, for those
who need it most. A love gift to
00:47:20.04\00:47:27.38
these who are a testimony
to God's goodness. Strength. So
00:47:27.38\00:47:33.62
today we celebrate a very
tangible way that we can show
them we love on them. And by the
00:47:33.62\00:47:36.82
way, it's not just for the aged.
It's not just for the aged. My
friend Tom, wheelchair.
00:47:36.82\00:47:43.26
You already know the routine.
You can't get up to this floor
without going through stairs.
00:47:43.26\00:47:49.70
Impossible. He said, "Dwight,
the ramp, don't ever bring that
00:47:49.70\00:47:53.97
ramp up again." [ Laughter ]
"That ramp is not sufficient."
00:47:53.97\00:47:59.87
You circle the church like
Joshua going around Jericho just
00:47:59.87\00:48:06.82
to get in it. I'm not dissing on
our forefathers and our
foremothers who built this
00:48:06.82\00:48:10.35
beautiful sanctuary in 1959.
But, ladies and gentlemen, the
Americans with Disability
00:48:10.35\00:48:14.82
Act requires every community to
be on the lookout for ease of
access, including churches.
00:48:14.82\00:48:20.83
We don't need the law to tell us
what to do. We do it because we
00:48:20.83\00:48:24.97
-- we have elder care, we have
elder love. And that's why we do
it. Nobody's asked you
00:48:24.97\00:48:30.91
to pledge anything. You're not
going to get a pledge card in
00:48:30.91\00:48:34.51
the mail. This will be done by
you because you believe it's
important for them.
00:48:34.51\00:48:40.72
Out of love for them, you will
do this. You got one letter from
00:48:40.72\00:48:44.62
me this week, and that's it.
00:48:44.62\00:48:46.59
It's very right for this
-- this campus congregation,
00:48:46.62\00:48:50.19
surrounded by young
adults -- I love it --
00:48:50.19\00:48:52.56
surrounded by young adults,
but we cannot forget these
00:48:52.56\00:48:55.80
who -- who are the one
demographic slice that gives
00:48:55.80\00:48:59.63
the most to this church.
00:48:59.63\00:49:01.84
By age and per capita, they give
more than everybody else. When
00:49:01.87\00:49:06.78
they get old, they just say,
"Count me in." Percentage-wise,
out-giving you and me.
00:49:06.78\00:49:13.52
No, we got to do it. There was
nothing for them in the first
00:49:13.52\00:49:17.45
one. We're going to finish
the project right for them.
00:49:17.45\00:49:21.09
Oh, and by the way, as --
as Dave just shared with us
00:49:21.12\00:49:24.76
a moment ago, we do
have a member of this church.
00:49:24.76\00:49:27.96
She, a member of this
church, has written and said,
00:49:27.96\00:49:31.40
"I'll give $100,000 if
you guys will match it."
00:49:31.40\00:49:34.44
Well, that's not hard, $100,000.
00:49:34.44\00:49:36.00
Means we'll get $200,000 just
like that. And that's what she
00:49:36.04\00:49:40.24
wants. Isn't that wonderful?
She's not wealthy. She said, "I
just -- I just want
00:49:40.24\00:49:45.35
to do this for the church." I
got a letter this week, a card
00:49:45.35\00:49:50.95
from somebody on the other side
of the country. Been a Christian
for 14 years. Two years ago, was
00:49:50.95\00:49:56.49
watching Hope TV, met Pioneer,
and has been watching ever
00:49:56.49\00:50:01.70
since. She just wanted to write
and say, "Thanks so much for
00:50:01.70\00:50:04.23
everything. And we have a little
something to help with the --
with -- with just --
00:50:04.23\00:50:09.07
It's a love gift. Receive it,
please." I looked at the check.
00:50:09.07\00:50:12.87
$100,000. She's not even
a member of our community or
00:50:12.87\00:50:20.35
faith. "I just want to help
you." Don't you ever tell me
that God cannot finish this
00:50:20.35\00:50:26.09
project. He has a thousand ways
of which we know not a single
one. That woman stepped forward,
00:50:26.09\00:50:32.13
I talked to her on
the phone this week. Wow.
00:50:32.13\00:50:37.87
Praise God. We can do because
God can do. And he's the
greatest can-do God
00:50:37.87\00:50:46.54
I have ever met in my life.
00:50:46.54\00:50:49.78
Time's up. I want to sing a song
with you. But first, I want to
00:50:54.95\00:50:58.02
put the Connect Card
up. Please. Type the word --
00:50:58.02\00:51:01.92
Put the word, type the word
"Renovate" to -- Here's the
number you're familiar with --
00:51:01.92\00:51:06.03
269-281-2345. Everybody knows
that number now. Visitors don't.
00:51:06.03\00:51:10.30
So visitors do this, please, and
there'll be something for you
00:51:10.30\00:51:13.44
here, as well. Just text
"Renovate" to that number.
00:51:13.47\00:51:15.14
Here's what you're
going to get. my next steps.
00:51:15.14\00:51:16.71
So here they are. "I
want to be part of the
00:51:16.71\00:51:18.91
Renovate 2.0 project to bring
Jesus' elder care to our most
00:51:18.91\00:51:22.61
needy members and
visitors." Yeah, me too.
00:51:22.61\00:51:25.91
If you put a
checkmark there, that's not
00:51:25.91\00:51:27.78
committing you to anything
but to be a part of the project.
00:51:27.78\00:51:30.85
And just seeing
that, "Oh, she put it down?
00:51:30.85\00:51:33.02
Did he check that?
Wow! I'm so grateful."
00:51:33.02\00:51:36.06
You're not committing to
anything except be a part of the
00:51:36.06\00:51:38.73
project. Put a checkmark there.
00:51:38.73\00:51:42.03
It'll bless my soul.
Box number two, "For more
00:51:42.03\00:51:44.57
details regarding the project,
go to pmchurch.org/renovate.
00:51:44.57\00:51:47.54
Some of you
watching live right now.
00:51:47.54\00:51:50.97
You go there.
Three major documents
00:51:50.97\00:51:53.64
with all -- more details
than you ever wanted to know
00:51:53.64\00:51:57.01
are on that site. You
get a feel for the project.
00:51:57.01\00:52:00.28
Go to it --
pmchurch.org/renovate.
00:52:00.28\00:52:03.69
Oh, box number three.
"I want to be part of the
00:52:03.69\00:52:05.39
Pure Desire Conference,"
coming in two weeks.
00:52:05.39\00:52:08.72
"Please send me
information on how to sign up."
00:52:08.72\00:52:11.63
I can't believe all the people
that are signing up already.
00:52:11.63\00:52:14.56
We're pushing this really
hard, as you know, because
00:52:14.56\00:52:16.83
of our series this
semester, looking at
00:52:16.83\00:52:19.63
Blessed are the Pure
in Heart: Sexual Purity."
00:52:19.63\00:52:22.70
It's an important time because
we're not just about the aged.
00:52:22.70\00:52:26.17
We have the young that
we've been sent to mission to,
00:52:26.17\00:52:28.64
and sexual purity is a huge deal
right now for that generation,
00:52:28.64\00:52:33.28
and for you and
for me, all of us.
00:52:33.28\00:52:36.55
You want to be a part of
the Pure Desire Conference,
00:52:36.55\00:52:38.49
put a checkmark there.
You'll get all the information
00:52:38.49\00:52:40.96
you want. And by
the way, we're going
00:52:40.96\00:52:43.26
to -- we're subsidizing
the costs -- it's $100 to get
00:52:43.26\00:52:45.66
in, but we're going to subsidize
it, Pioneer, so that, for $25,
00:52:45.66\00:52:49.56
you can get in.
I'm going to be there.
00:52:49.56\00:52:52.80
You don't go there because
you're telling everybody,
00:52:52.80\00:52:55.34
"Please pray for me."
Now there will be people
00:52:55.34\00:52:58.11
there saying, "Please
pray for me," I suppose.
00:52:58.11\00:53:02.91
But this is so that
we can be more effective
00:53:02.91\00:53:04.71
in relating to one another
in the area of sexual purity.
00:53:04.71\00:53:08.32
So come on, sign up.
It's not going to cost you a
00:53:08.32\00:53:10.05
thing. And we'll send you
00:53:10.05\00:53:12.09
all the information you need.
00:53:12.09\00:53:14.59
Oh, there's a beautiful --
there's a beautiful little
course right at the --
00:53:14.62\00:53:17.76
right at the end of the hymnal.
And it's "We Give Thee All Thine
00:53:17.76\00:53:24.37
Own"? Is that it? "But Thine
Own"? Yeah, Chuck -- Chuck and
00:53:24.37\00:53:28.70
Julie, come here. I want to
pray first before you lead us.
00:53:28.70\00:53:31.31
It's such a beautiful little
piece. I want you to stand
00:53:31.31\00:53:33.64
because we'll close by singing
this very short -- it's so short
00:53:33.64\00:53:37.05
that we're gonna sing it several
times, but... it's a beautiful
prayer. "O God, we give you what
00:53:37.05\00:53:43.45
is already yours." Dear Jesus,
Holy Father, and Blessed Spirit.
00:53:43.45\00:53:49.66
Elder care came from your heart.
And elder care is in our hearts.
We want to do it right.
00:53:49.66\00:53:57.20
So take our humble, humble
commitment. Whatever we give,
00:53:57.20\00:54:02.87
it's yours in the first place.
It's all yours. Others have gone
00:54:02.87\00:54:06.01
before us in some significant
ways. We thank you for their
example, but we cheerfully
00:54:06.01\00:54:11.05
want to do our part. Fill us
with the elder care that is in
00:54:11.05\00:54:18.45
the heart of the God of the
universe right now. In Jesus'
00:54:18.45\00:54:23.86
name. Let's sing together.
00:54:23.86\00:54:25.46
>> Ladies sing.
Men, let's join together.
00:55:11.04\00:55:35.60
One more time together.
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.09
>> Thank you again for
joining us here at Pioneer. And
00:56:28.98\00:56:32.82
remember, as you are leaving,
there's opportunities to give
00:56:32.82\00:56:37.69
today. Let us pray.
Dearest Heavenly Father, sustain
00:56:37.73\00:56:41.60
us and keep us
close to your heart.
00:56:41.60\00:56:43.80
Keep us until the day when
death, mourning, crying, and
pain will be no more.
00:56:43.83\00:56:50.21
The one who has testified of
these things says, "Surely I'm
00:56:50.21\00:56:55.54
coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord
Jesus. The grace of the Lord
00:56:55.54\00:56:59.75
Jesus be with all the
saints. Amen. >> Amen.
00:56:59.75\00:57:03.55
>> Think of the last time
someone said, "I'm praying for
00:57:07.49\00:57:10.46
you." Didn't it
give you a sense of
00:57:10.46\00:57:12.56
peace and reassurance
that "somebody cares for me"?
00:57:12.56\00:57:15.13
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
00:57:15.13\00:57:17.87
saying, "Yo, Dwight, I've
been praying for you lately."
00:57:17.87\00:57:20.30
There's nothing like knowing
someone is praying for you.
00:57:20.30\00:57:22.67
So I want to offer you
an opportunity to partner.
00:57:22.67\00:57:25.01
Let me, let us
partner with you in prayer.
00:57:25.01\00:57:27.41
If you have a special
prayer request or a praise of
00:57:27.41\00:57:29.94
thanksgiving you'd like to share
with us, I'm inviting you to
00:57:29.94\00:57:32.65
contact one of our
friendly chaplains.
00:57:32.65\00:57:34.65
It's simple to do.
You can call our toll-free
00:57:34.65\00:57:36.99
number,
877-HIS-WILL. 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:36.99\00:57:42.09
That friendly
voice that answers?
00:57:42.09\00:57:43.99
You tell him, you tell
her what your prayer need is.
00:57:43.99\00:57:46.76
We'll join with
you in that petition.
00:57:46.76\00:57:49.36
And may the God who answers this
prayer journey with you these
00:57:49.36\00:57:52.07
next few days, until we're right
back here together again next
00:57:52.07\00:57:54.77
time.
00:57:54.77\00:57:55.70
¤¤ ¤¤
00:57:59.77\00:58:19.86
¤¤
00:58:19.86\00:58:26.70