A Note from Pioneer

Being thankful is more than just saying "thank-you." It's about being ThankFUL. Are you a person FULL of blessings, or have you perhaps not taken the time needed to reflect on thankfulness? As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we invite you to take the time to really focus on the things that matter most in your life. Then, take a moment to not just say "thank-you," to a friend, loved one, or God; but BE thankful. May God bless you as you explore your thankfulness this holiday.

-Pioneer Memorial Church

Feature Announcement

Feast of Lights

Be inspired by a program of music, Scripture readings, and drama honoring the King of Kings. Feast of Lights is an evening of bells, instrumental music, choral and congregational singing, lights, and a Nativity scene joyfully retelling the Christmas story.

Friday, December 13, 7:00 PM
Location: Pioneer Memorial Church Sanctuary

Feature Announcement

Angel Tree

Pioneer would like to continue to brighten the Christmas season and bring a smile to struggling families. Next Sabbath, November 30, please stop by the Christmas Angel Tree located at the Welcome Center downstairs and the Narthex. Choose an angel from the tree, you can either donate (money, gift card, food, toys, etc) or buy a gift for them. You may bring your gift with the angel attached to it to the church offices by December 18 (Wednesday).

Feature Announcement

Seniors Christmas Banquet

Senior members of the Pioneer Memorial Church are invited to a Christmas Banquet. Reservations must be made by calling the Village Church at 269.471.7795 by December 8. Please provide the name(s) who will be attending, contact number and indicate your church affiliation.

Friday, December 15, 1:00 PM
Location: Village Seventh-day Adventist Church

Feature Announcement

Pastor José to Leave

I've got good news and bad news. Let’s do the bad news first. Jose Bourget, our executive pastor this past year and our associate chaplain for Andrews University the previous seven years, is leaving us. Over these eight years, he has made a major contribution to Pioneer’s life, serving as our second service worship team leader organizing the student leaders and musicians from Sabbath to Sabbath, as well as filling multiple roles as associate chaplain for Campus Ministries. And then this past year his new pastoral role as administrator for Renovate: Heart & House has been huge—as with Carey Carscallen and the Building Committee and Karen Nash, our construction manager, he has helped guide our roof replacement and sanctuary renovation to its successful completion. All associated with this vital project know we could not have done it without Pastor Jose.

Now for the good news. He is moving 100 yards away as the newly appointed Lead Chaplain for Campus Ministries (CM) at Andrews University. With the sudden and unexpected resignations of two of the campus chaplains this summer, the university has faced the challenge of finding a new lead chaplain who could maintain essential continuity and at the same build an expanding vision for the chaplain’s office and role with the students of this university. And so after much prayer, Pastor Jose has accepted the university’s invitation to lead the CM team of chaplains and student leaders beginning January 1, 2020.

Of course, we will miss him, but we will pray for his immediate success and seek to find every way as a congregation to join him in his mission to write a new spiritual-life chapter on this campus. For him and that mission, we claim God’s promise “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Our Pioneer farewell for Pastor Jose and Christine will be on Sabbath, December 7, and will include a church-wide potluck dinner and program after second service. (Be watching for further details.)

Pastor Dwight

Feature Announcement

Soup for Students

It is that time once again to show love and support to our students during finals week. We are looking for people to commit to a pot of soup. We need approximately 30 pots of soup and volunteers to help serve. If you are willing to participate, please complete the form below before Thursday, December 5. Drop off your pot of soup at the church on December 10, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Soup for Students
December 10, 6:00 PM
Location: Pioneer Commons

Serve

Feature Announcement

Pioneer Toy Drive

Join us in collecting toys for families that need some extra kindness during this holiday season. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the church on December 14 to be collected during our Children's Celebration of Christmas.

Feature Announcement

GROW Group Survey

GROW Groups are winding down for the Fall, but we’ll be starting up again in the Spring semester and we need your help! We want to know what kinds of groups you’d like to have available here at PMC so that we can do our best to meet the needs of our community. Have an idea (or two or three?) Text IDEA to 269-281-2345 and fill out the form. It's a quick and easy way to let us know what you're looking for in a small group! Don't like texting? You can take the survey online. Thank you for your suggestions!

Take Our Online Survey