Blog Posts

Children's Ministries Training

2/28/2024

February 4, I (Brooke Reynolds) had the opportunity to participate in training for the Alive in Jesus Sabbath School Curriculum with the North Pacific Union. I was one of four trainees from the Alaska Conference who met at the Vancouver SDA Church in Vancouver, WA. All the conferences from the North Pacific Union were represented and the training was hosted in English and Spanish.

We began our day seated at a round table with several blocks and other kid items on it. As the the training progressed, we utilized these objects to discuss key concepts about teaching children about Jesus. We learned about how to use learning styles to engage children with the lessons. We also discussed how to outreach to those families who have children with specific needs.

Later in the day, we focused especially on the baby and beginners age (1-3 year old). We reviewed the curriculum by going through it with the trainers. That meant we sang songs, listened to bible stories, and experienced what it would be like to run a sabbath school class with the new curriculum.

What I took away from the training is this...we have some amazing material coming our way to work with our children. And I look forward to sharing this with more people in our Alaska Conference and my local church.

A Sharing Service Begins

1/28/2024

The Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church is getting creative. It has been several months without a pastor. While this is not unusual to wait for a pastor, it does cause a congregation to have to utilize their laypeople more efficiency. The Wrangell SDA is fortunate to have two elders who can take turns preaching. However, even they like a break now and then.

Some might think that technology is the answer, load up a sermon and watch together. This is something that the church does and enjoys. However they wanted to engage the congregation in the service more fully. From that came an idea to do once a month sharing service. The idea is not new and was something that early founders of the church did often.

The way it works at Wrangell SDA is that a topic is chosen and people are encouraged to share a verse or a short thought about how God is leading. Thus far they have covered, gratitude and favorite psalms (you can listen here look for Jan. 27). The service not only gives the elders a much needed break but is blessing to all involved.

Cookie Making Party

12/17/2023

(Left to Right) Nicki, Karen, Laura, Rosemary, Brooke, and Sam

December 17 at 11 am, seven eager women met at the Wrangell Seventh day Adventist church for the now annual cookie making party. The cookie recipe is a top secret which is mixed in batches by a select few. The rest of crew set up tables and put cookie cutters out. After that there was a flurry of activity as women rolled out dough and cut out shapes. There were snowflakes, snowmen, gingerbread people, bells, and many more placed on pans.
The pans were closely monitored for the right color and texture. As they came out the next sheets of cookies are placed in. Eventually, the crew ran out of dough and the tables were cleaned off again to get ready for decorating. Cookie sat waiting on cooling racks for the next phase.
Once they have cooled, icing is mixed by hand and then colored red, green, blue and a few other festive colors. Sprinkles were set out and the decorating began. Two tables of women worked together to bring color to the pale looking cookies. There was talking, laughing, and serious contemplation of what colors of frosting to use. In the background, other women started the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.
At the end of the day, there were 23 dozen plus a few to distribute across the community and to individuals who can use a little cheer. The crew was pleased with their efforts and dispersed with cookies to deliver before heading home. Another tiring but well worth the effort year of cookie making had ended.

Friday Night Bible Study

11/12/2023

Fall has come once again and with it Friday night Bible Study has returned to the church. During 2020, the Bible Study Group pivoted to a phone study. The group has been small but dedicated to studying the Bible. As time has gone on they continued to meet via phone as some of the group were joining from out of the community. This year however, renewed interested had been expressed about moving the Bible Study back to the church once a month.

Thus on November 10, 2023 the church was open for the second time this season for in person Bible Study. The group is studying the parables of Jesus, following the verses and readings outline in Christ Object Lessons. The study that evening was about the Two Worshipers from Luke 18:9-14. The group discussed the place for humility in the christian walk. They also discussed the pitfalls of self-righteousness. The next Bible Study is scheduled to meet at the church on December 15, 2023 at 6:30 pm.

In the meantime, if you'd like to read along here is a link for the online book Christ's Object Lessons: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/15.5#0

An Afternoon with Senior Boxes

10/18/2023

April, Wrangell SDA Community Services Coordinator, making deliveries.

October 15, 2023 a small group met at the Wrangell SDA Church. It was time for the monthly distribution of food boxes for seniors. This program has been in place for a number of years and provides supplemental groceries to seniors. The boxes typically come with dry goods like pasta and cereal, as well as canned goods. The seniors also have an option to get a block of cheese.

On this particular Sunday, three volunteers stayed at the church to help hand out and carry boxes for those who picked up their food. Two cars with volunteers took a load of boxes to make deliveries. The cars went all over town. At each stop volunteers not only dropped off boxes but would spend a little time talking with the recipient.

One senior said, "I am really thankful for the help. It stretches my food money." If you know someone who is, 60 + and low income, and they are interested in getting on this program leave us a message at 907-874-3039.

Sharing Steps to Christ

9/28/2023

In 2019 Pastor Charlie Meigs, then pastor of the Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist (SDA), and his wife Dena felt compelled to start writing a blog about their experience reading through the Steps to Christ Recovery Edition. It was that same year that they also had decided, due to medical reasons, to leave Wrangell. Little did they know the impact that the decision to write that blog would have after they left.

Prior to leaving Pastor Charlie had acquired a stack of the books Steps to Christ Recovery Edition, with hopes to pass them out. That did not happened, however it was decided on the blog that the church would offer to send a free copy to anyone who requests it (read blog here). In the past couple of years requests have trickled in for the book from several places in the USA and abroad.

However, earlier this year one special request came in that was unforgettable. That request came from a Seventh-day Adventist church in England. They had been trying to acquire copies of this very book for their recovery program and were struggling to get them shipped to England. They asked if the church would be willing to part with about a dozen books to help with this program. The books were sent as requested. Later the church received a special note from the other church in England which stated that these books were an answer to their prayers. And not only that but had arrived just in time.

The Wrangell SDA church is rejoicing that these books have found eager ears. Little could Pastor Charlie and Dena know that what might have started as unfinished work was all in God's timing.

If you'd like to request a copy of this same book please see this blog post while we still have copies on hand.

Good Soil- Bethel Mission Trip

8/23/2023

August 15, 2023 two members, Brooke Reynolds and Sam Eilertsen, from the Wrangell SDA Church boarded the plane headed north for this year's Bethel Mission Trip. They ran into a snag when the plane abruptly stopped when taking off from a short stop in Petersburg. While it turned out to be a near miss with a eagle, the delayed caused them to still be in the air when their connecting flight to Bethel was taking off. Brooke described it this way, "I was prepared for an unexpected overnight in Anchorage, but also said a prayer in my head." Shortly after this they landed and the flight crew announced that the Bethel plane was being held for them. They landed in Bethel as planned and all totes were accounted for.

Wednesday and Thursday of that week ended up being preparation days. The team decorated the Bethel church for the upcoming Youth Day that Sabbath. They distributed fliers to nearby neighborhoods. They also repacked everything for the team's trip to a nearby village, Kasigluk, scheduled for Friday. On Thursday evening they met with Colette Reahl and Joy Anderson, Arctic Mission Volunteers for Bethel, to go over the last minute details for Friday and Sabbath.

Friday morning they were back at a airport, this time for a charter plane to Kasigluk. There was an unexpected and unexplained delay that meant the team touched down at 1 pm instead of 11:15 am. They had to set everything up in less than 30 minutes before children started to arrive. Despite this they started on time with 40+ children in attendance. They shared the parable of the sower from Matthew 13 using songs, games, crafts, and interactive bible story. Each child was sent home with a goodie bag of things to keep them spiritually growing.

Shortly after that the adult health program was presented on nutrition. Collette Reahl shared one of her favorite natural remedies for colds that included garlic and onion. The recipe was well received despite it acquired taste. The team headed back to Bethel with no delays.

Sabbath morning, the Wrangell team took over the youth sabbath school this time sharing the parable of the wheat and the tares. The guessing game was the biggest hit as children tried hard to figure out words related to the parable. Brooke Reynolds shared a special music on the piano and later shared during the sermon her own parable about crochet.

The team shared one more program that evening for the Bethel children, repeating the parable of sower program. The children especially love learning to make tissue paper flowers. The team hopes that seeds were planted in the heart of all those involved in this year's Bethel mission Trip.

Heavenly Place- SouthEast Campmeeting Recap

7/31/2023

This year's SouthEast Campmeeting theme was Heavenly Place. The speakers presented a unified message of focusing not on earthly things but on the things of heaven. Friday night Pastor Tyler Drumm, Petersburg and Sitka SDA pastor, spoke of loving to serve God.

Sabbath day was warm on Vank Island, where campmeeting is hosted. Sabbath School was was lead out by Kathy Hamilton who shared on Ephesian from the Sabbath Quarterly. Pastor Ira Bartolome, Downers Grove, IL, spoke at church time. In the afternoon some people sat out in the sun visiting and others went to the canoes and kayaks for some water fun. There was also a time to learn more from the Alaska Conference of SDA with Pastor Ashwin Somasundram, Vice President for Administration.

Finally, Pastor Brad Traxler, pastor for Wrangell and Juneau SDA churches, spoke Sabbath evening about prayer. This was Pastor Brad's last sermon before moving to a new pastorate in California. He was also presented with a going away gift of a picture of Nemo, located on Wrangell Island, signed by his church family. He will be missed but we look forward to meeting again if not on earth then in heaven.

SouthEast Campmeeting 2023 Sermons

Doors Arrive at Camp Lorraine

6/25/2023

Photo courtesy of: James Eilertsen

Being a camp caretaker requires a lot of work, especially when that camp is 30+ minute boat ride away. James and April Eilertsen, camp caretakers, can attest to hours of time and energy that they have put into making camp usable throughout the camp season.

So help is always welcome. An impromptu group came together on June 11 at Camp Lorraine on Vank Island. They were ready for a very special project. James had been working on doors for the upstairs of the lodge. Prior to this project the rooms were separated by curtains, which gave minimal privacy. Money had been donate by a friend at the Ketchikan Seventh-day Adventist church to see the doors built.

The doors are the handiwork of James who spent countless hours getting them ready. Not to mention hauling them over to the camp and then with the help of family varnishing the doors. Once that week long process was done they needed to be installed. This is where the volunteers came in. The group helped haul doors up the stairs and clean the rooms so they would be ready for the next camp group.

Among other projects, the volunteers cleaned the kitchen and the lodge area, both of which had been afflicted with sawdust from the door project. The lawn was mowed and tools were put away. It was a very tired but happy group that left that evening with satisfaction of a job well done.

Many thanks to those who donate their time and money to see projects like this completed. To learn more about camp please click here.

Nemo Outdoor Church

6/11/2023

Photo courtesy: Andrea Kizziar

Would the weather hold? was the question on the minds of those headed out to Nemo Camp area on Wrangell Island on Sabbath, June 10. Those who live in town drive through small rain showers to find clear skies at Nemo.

This was the 2nd outdoor church of the year. And as Pastor Brad Traxler often says, "It's always sunny on Sabbath when I am in town." Church members agree that much of the time that is true and that day was no exception.

A small group studied the sabbath school lesson with Brooke Reynolds leading out. The topic was the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast. The discussion was thought provoking as the group focused in on the meaning of steadfast endurance in Revelation 14:12 and what it means to follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

More people made their way up to Nemo for church time where Pastor Brad preached "Satan's Strongholds Will Fall." Pastor Brad challenged the church to pray and watch as God answers and Satan's strongholds fall. Shortly after the sermon, an outdoor picnic was served. The weather was so nice that many people stayed talking and soaking up the sun afternoon. All agree it was a blessed and glorious Sabbath day.

Active in Ministry Blog

Welcome to the blog of the Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The purpose of this blog is share what is going at our local church. We are a small church and active in endeavors to share with others.

Our hope is that you get to know us a little better. We'd love for you to join us!

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