Blog Posts

The Good Shepherd VBS

5/31/2024

VBS team from Wrangell

This year was the 10th year of Vacation Bible School with the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Company in Bethel, AK. The theme was Good Shepherd. The stories included Beyond the Good Shepherd, the Lost Sheep, the Unmerciful Servant, the Good Samaritan, and Psalms 23. Each night 20+ kids came to share in songs, Bible movies, games, crafts, and Bible puppets. Many kids by the end of the week could quote the memory verse, which was Psalms 23:1. The kids also enjoyed enthusiastically singing the theme song, "I Just Wanna Be a Sheep." The team was blessed in so many ways including getting air miles to use for travel and having a place to stay in Anchorage for free. The team wishes to thank everyone who provided support for this year's endeavor.

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The Miracles of Jesus Begin

4/30/2024

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April 27 saw the Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist Congregation starting their new monthly collaborative sermon series. As previously mentioned in this blog, since the church does not currently have a full time pastor it falls on the elders and other lay members to provide the weekly sermons. One way that they have resolved to fill in the gaps is by having a monthly testimony service or in this case a collaboration with the congregation and the speaker. This month they started going to go through the miracles of Jesus in chronological order.

Brooke Reynolds, one the elders, begin by reading the first parable of Jesus where he turns water to wine (John 2:1-11). The congregation was then invited to share their thoughts on the miracle. One person mentioned that Jesus' first miracle was for a couple who didn't even know the miracle was happening at their wedding. Next someone read the second miracle, the healing of the official's son (John 4:43-54). And again the congregation shared their thoughts and questions on if miracles only happen for those who have faith in them.

After a special music, Marlin Benedict, another elder, picked up with the third (Mark 1:21-27) and fourth (Mark 1:29-31) miracles. In the miracle of the evil spirit leaving the man, the congregation was remind that Jesus is Lord of all the physical, mental, and spiritual. In the final miracle (4th) of the sermon, the healing of Peter's mother in law, it was pointed out that the woman was so grateful that she began to serve. Jesus didn't heal her just to make her do something for them.

So for the next few months, one weekend a month the congregation will join together to look over the miracles of Jesus. As they do they hope to grew in understanding and be able to share with others what they have learned.

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The Blessing of the Parables

3/24/2024

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The beginning of April will mark the end of a several month study of the Parables of Jesus. The Friday night Bible Study group has enjoyed, reading alongside the parables, the book Christ Object Lessons. Participants in the study have said it was life changing and drew them closer to God.

Of note the parables of The Sower, The Lost Son, The Unmerciful Servant, and The Good Samaritan were especially insightful studies. In the parable of The Sower we are reminded that God grows the seeds and we are along to help him. The Lost Son reminded us that God never gives up on us. The parable of The Unmerciful Servant gave us the challenge to extend forgiveness to others in our lives. And lastly The Good Samaritan gave us pause on thinking too highly our own work that we neglect to meet the needs of those before us.

As a way to share this blessing further, March 23 Sharing Service, the congregation was invited to share their favorite parables. Many parables were shared including The Net, The Two Sons, and The Laborers. One Bible Study participate gave a ringing endorsement of how the parables have challenged and changed her. The Friday Night Bible Study looks forward to the next set of studies beginning in April.

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Children's Ministries Training

2/28/2024

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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.

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A Sharing Service Begins

1/28/2024

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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.

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Cookie Making Party

12/17/2023

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(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.

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Friday Night Bible Study

11/12/2023

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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

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An Afternoon with Senior Boxes

10/18/2023

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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.

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Sharing Steps to Christ

9/28/2023

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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.

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Good Soil- Bethel Mission Trip

8/23/2023

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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.

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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!

The Good Shepherd VBS

The Miracles of Jesus Begin

The Blessing of the Parables

Children's Ministries Training

A Sharing Service Begins

Cookie Making Party

Friday Night Bible Study

An Afternoon with Senior Boxes

Sharing Steps to Christ

Good Soil- Bethel Mission Trip

Active in Ministry Blog

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