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Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) — Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6:8–15 (NIV)
STUDENT AID
The University Church's driving mission is to teach people to follow Jesus. This includes young folks, old folks, and everyone in between. Our congregation invests heavily in the work of education at all levels. In particular, the University Church's local budget funds significant operations subsidies for both Rogers Adventist School and Walla Walla Valley Academy.
In addition to this essential investment, however, our church also maintains a "Student Aid" fund. This need-based money is used exclusively to offset tuition for church member's families at our schools. The students this fund benefits might not otherwise be able to enjoy Christian education.
For more information about the Student Aid fund, contact Clare Thompson (thomcl@gmail.com). To donate to this fund, mark your gift "Student Aid," on a tithe envelope or online at wwuchurch.com.
Bulletin Quicklinks
THIS SABBATH
AT THE UNIVERSITY CHURCH
WORSHIP NOTE
Good morning and happy Sabbath to all of you. Today, you will hear pieces presented by three exceptional WWU student musicians: Isaac Arakaki, a senior and long-time member of I Cantori, Brandon Rittenour, an extraordinary freshman cellist, and Roylan Messinger, a talented sophomore music education major and horn player. Each of these students demonstrate dedication to their craft that makes our music department proud. Thank you to Jan Roberts for accompanying them and to Lanny Collins for continuing to lead our congregation from the organ.
We begin the service with a set of organ variations on the Old 124th tune found in Hymn No.22, which speaks of energy and rest for those who sing of God’s greatness. Immediately, we launch into the service and do just that: sing together, proclaiming that we have put our hope in God’s guidance. The anthem, which depicts the story of the crucifixion on Good Friday, reminds us that even though Jesus’s nail-pierced hands are the strongest place to put our hopes, as humans we are prone to doubt the power of the one, true, living God. I encourage you to take time to reflect on your relationship with the most majestic of beings as Brandon and Roylan serenade us after the sermon with two luxurious pieces written by Romantic era composers Massenet (1842–1912) and Saint-Saëns (1835–1921).
I pray that this Sabbath day you find rest and strength, even amidst doubt, in a hope built on Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
-Lindsay Armstrong
GIVE
The Walla Walla University Church is part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. In the Adventist church, all donations marked "tithe" are passed along in their entirety to the local conference (in this case, to the Upper Columbia Conference). From there, some of this money returns to the local church in the form of pastoral and teacher salaries -- and the rest is shared around the conference, union, and world.
In broad strokes, the following graphic illustrates how your donations marked "tithe" are allocated. Thank you for your generosity to the work of the Adventist Church in Walla Walla and beyond!
The local church budget of the University Church funds all local ministries at the church including Children & Family ministries, Youth Ministries, Worship, Broadcast ministries, facility maintenance and utilities, staff salaries of our treasurer, office manager, and pastoral care pastor. To donate to the University Church's budget, mark your gift on a tithe envelope or online.
Click here to make your donations online, or fill out a tithe envelope in the sanctuary during Sabbath morning services. Loose (unmarked) offering this week will go to the Adventist World Church.
Our online giving portal allows any person to set up regular, monthly, weekly, or biweekly contributions to be deducted automatically from their connected accounts into whatever budget, ministry, or funds they choose.
TOUCHES OF INTEREST
The Church Office will be closed on Monday, February 19 in honor of Presidents’ Day.
The Camp, Gish, Wessman, and Howell families wish to thank you for your expressions of love and caring to us during this time of loss. We will be looking for a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather in that great waking up morning.
SonBridge Dental Clinic is looking to fill the paid position of a Dentist at 3 days/week. Call Mel Lang at (509) 301-3460 if interested.
Duwain Warner has been hospitalized recently. Please remember him and his family in your prayers.
Nora Sha passed away. Her memorial service will be Sabbath, February 17 at 2:30pm at the College Place Village Church.
Membership Transfers (First reading)
(IN) Volker and Linda Henning, Collegedale, Tenn.
Nerissa Lewis, Baton Rouge, La.
Glyn Marsh, Clarkston, Wash.
(Away) Rick and Sue Bockman, Post Falls, Idaho
Norma Flores, Keene, Texas
Your Input Requested in Selection of New UCC President: The North Pacific Union Conference is looking for your assistance as we select a new conference president for Upper Columbia Conference. The input from each church member in your family is valued in the selection process. A letter from John Freedman, president of the NPUC, explaining the presidential search process; and a survey for you to include your input is available here: https://sp.uccsda.org/news2018-01-23/ Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the selection process and if you desire, to also fill out the survey.
Come one and come all to the 75th annual OPS Amateur Hour February 24th 8pm at the Winter Education Complex. This year we have nine amazing acts ranging from original songs to acts that will leave you in amazement. This year we are blessed to have the show hosted by the one and only Peter Flores, who is a former Amateur Hour contestant and ASWWU Spiritual Vice-president. Tickets are $6.00 and $13.00 for families. A portion of the proceeds of the ticket sales will go towards Cancer Research. “
Please join Elder Arthur Dahl’s family in celebrating his 100th birthday on February 25th, 2018. You may remember him as the Pastor of the Village church, General Hospital, and Clovis, among others. Come wish him happy birthday and enjoy some cake at the Courtyard Marriott, 550 West Rose Street, Walla Walla, between 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The 50+ potluck and program will be held Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the Youth Center, 8th and Bade, College Place. Come and enjoy good food, fellowship, and a musical program presented by Sherrick Hiscock and his Alto Saxophone. Please bring a friend!
The Christian Aid Center needs you! This important ministry partner of the University Church is always in need of volunteer help. In particular, the director of volunteers at CAC (and our church member), Jeannette Regalado, is requesting for volunteers to serve as barbers/hairstylists, registered nurses to help in our health clinic, and a van driver to pick up donated food on Monday mornings. Contact Jeannette at 509.525.7153.
Market With A Mission: Come enjoy delicious food, baked goods, specialty items, and live music. Stateline SDA Church Friendship Center, Sunday, March 4, from 4-7 pm. Proceeds will benefit our local Christian Aid Center/Rescue Mission.
Jamie Jorge ~ Healing Music Concert Tour: Jaime Jorge, a world-class violinist, will be performing a free concert on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 6pm at the College Place SDA Church. Jamie was born in Cuba and raised in a communist country. Jaime has a passion for proclaiming the gospel through his music. His gift of musical interpretation brings new life and excitement to every song. You will be inspired by his music and blessed as he shares his testimony. The Julianna Sayler Foundation is pleased to partner with Jaime Jorge in presenting this concert and in support of families fighting pediatric cancer.
You are invited to a New Student Visitation Day at Milton-Stateline Adventist School on Friday, March 9th 8:15 am to 10:00 am. We have Preschool to 8th grade. Free bus service to and from Walla Walla, Milton Freewater and College Place.
Discovery Preschool is now enrolling children 3-5 years of age. It is the goal of our staff to work closely together with each family to provide a solid foundation for intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual growth of the child. Children are encouraged to explore their world through self-expression in a natural, playful, social environment. Contact information: stacy.maxted@wallawalla.edu or 509.527.2252. Visit: wallawalla.edu/preschool
Milton-Stateline Adventist School is having a FAIR! Our annual fair is filled with great things to eat and games to play is on Sunday, March 11th 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Great family fun! There will be vegeburgers, vege-corn dogs, nachos and drinks. The kids can ride the merry-go-round, go through the maze, have a pillow fight and play games for prizes! All the booths run on tickets. the tickets are 50 cents each. No admission fee.
Are you an Andrews University alum? Or are you a student considering attending Andrews University? Join us for a complimentary brunch at our Walla Walla regional event on Sunday, February 18 at 11 a.m. at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, 6 W Rose St, Walla Walla, Washington, 99362. Network with Andrews alums, enjoy a delicious meal, and hear the latest news from Andrews University. Reserve your spot (it’s free!) at alumni.andrews.edu/rsvp or by contacting us at (269) 471-3591, alumni@andrews.edu. We hope to see you there!
ROSARIO SINGLES RETREAT April 5-8, 2018 in Anacortes WA. Marvin Wray, pastor of the Napa California SDA Church is our speaker for the weekend. His passion in ministry is to share the absolute assurance of God’s gift of salvation. Arrive Thursday and spend Friday on an Island Adventure in the San Juan Islands. Registration is $235 for the full retreat. Other registration options are listed on the registration form. For more details and a registration form, send an email to RosarioRetreat@Gmail.com. For those without access to email, you may call our registration line at 360 588-3179 to request info. The deadline to register is March 19, 2018.
EVENTS
Sabbath, February 17
2:30pm — Nora Sha Memorial, Village Church
5:23pm — Sundown
6pm — Adventist Singles Fellowship, SonBridge
Sunday, February 18
11am — Andrews Alumni Brunch, Marcus Whitman
5pm — 50-Plus Club Potluck, Youth Center
Monday, February 19
Presidents’ Day - Church Office Closed
7:30am — (daily) Morning Worship, Heubach Chapel
Tuesday, February 20
11:00am — WWU CommUnity, Gospel, Sanctuary
7pm — High Five Youth Group, Jr. High Room
Wednesday, February 21
6:30pm — Pathfinders, Fellowship Hall
7pm — Prayer Meeting, Heubach Chapel
Thursday, February 22
6:30pm — J.U.M.P., Junior Room
Friday, February 23
1pm — “Change the Day” Activity, Youth Room
5pm — Evidence Youth Group, Youth Room
5:31pm — Sundown
8pm — WWU Vespers, with Timmy Oliver, Sanctuary
Sabbath, February 24
6pm — Jaimie Jorge Concert, Village Church
8pm — OPS Amateur Hour, WEC Gymnasium
Click Here for PDF version of this week's Bulletin -- Or go to our Bulletin archive page for past versions.