Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Dear Members and Friends of the Harrisburg First Seventh-day Adventist Church,
On Sunday, March 6, we met with Stewart Lozensky, PA Conference Church Regeneration Director. The purpose of the meeting was to review the results of our Natural Church Development survey and begin a process of planning strategies for our church. During the discussion, we recognized that many were not familiar with the mission of our church.
Harrisburg First Seventh-day Adventist Church Mission Statement:
OUR VISION
We want to be a light on the hill that fulfills Christ’s great commission of His
Three Angels’ Messages (Revelation 14) within our Harrisburg First
Seventh-day Adventist Church, its community, and its global mission.
OUR MISSION
The Harrisburg First Seventh-day Adventist Church,
through the Holy Spirit, desires to empower its ministry through
Christ-centered Worship, Commitment to Service, and Training and Education
in order to share God’s love and to finish His work on earth.
In coming weeks, our ”Implementation Team” will be developing strategies to improve the health of our church to better fulfill our mission.
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If our church family or I can be of assistance to you during this time, please do not hesitate to call: 717-652-6000 (church office) 717-652-6005 (pastor’s line)
God bless,
Pastor Dave Sanner
See the highlighted areas below for new and important information.
**Current COVID-19 Procedures are listed at the end of this email.
Announcements:
Let’s continue to pray to pray for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, but let’s also help…
The North American Division has created an offering code so that church members can give to assist in Ukraine. If you are giving funds with an offering envelope, just label the offering "Ukraine." That offering will then go to the conference, and they will send those offerings through the church channels to Ukraine. If giving online, use the following offering code: #31042-Ukraine. That money will also be directed through the church channels to Ukraine.
Sabbath Morning Services on March 19, 2022:
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Adult Sabbath School in the gymnasium (in-person only)
Children’s classes are held in the church basement classrooms
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon Worship Service in the church sanctuary
The worship service will be livestreamed through Zoom.
PLEASE NOTE that we are using Zoom for all our online public meetings. This will include the Monday “Promise and Prayer” and the Sabbath morning livestreamed Worship Service. (Additional detailed instructions are available on our website – harrisburgadventist.org.)
The Church Zoom link is: https://zoom.us/j/5974917620?pwd=cS9PRHR1Qlh1ZFBjdjJwZU43YzNYdz09
To join manually by computer, tablet, or smartphone
1. Enter this meeting ID – 597 491 7620 and your name
2. Enter this Passcode – 424hfsda
To join by telephone (audio only)
1. Dial the access Number: 646-558-8656
2. Enter this Meeting ID when prompted: 597 491 7620#
3. The ‘Participant ID’ is not required, simply enter: #
4. Enter this Passcode when prompted: 00178096#
New Church Website - www.harrisburgadventist.org – The new attractive design can point you to our “Weekly Digital Bulletin” and information for members including our music and volunteer schedules. Here are other highlights:
- Attractive Design to Engage Visitors!
- Simplified Navigation!
- How to Find Us & When We Meet
- Blended Calendars for Church and School
- News (Pastor’s Message, Events)
- Zoom Connection Information
- Sermon Audio
- Giving (Weekly Appeals, Adventist Giving Link)
- Contact Form and Information
“Promise and Prayer” – Mondays at 12:15 p.m. online with Pastor Sanner.
“Prophecies of Hope” - an in-depth interactive study of Bible prophecy will continue on Wednesday, March 23, at 7:00 PM in the gym with a study of “The Truth About Hell.”
The March Church Board Meeting is moved to Monday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Funds are especially needed in our “Combined Budget” fund to cover our ongoing operating expenses and monthly school subsidy. Your church, school, and conference need your continued support. Contributions for tithes and offerings can be made online from the church website (harrisburgadventist.org) or mailed directly to the church address at 424 N Progress Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17109.
Contributions are also needed in the following local church funds: (Please mark your contributions as indicated.)
Capital Improvement Fund Funeral Dinners Fund
Food Pantry Needs - We are preparing our boxes using the following:
• BOXED MASHED POTATOES / BOXED RICE
• BOXED MACARONI AND CHEESE
• SPAGHETTI SAUCE (no need of any pasta)
• CEREAL AND BOXED MILK
• PANCAKE MIX (COMPLETE) AND SYRUP
• VEGETARIAN SOUPS / TOMATO SOUP
• PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY
• CANNED FRUIT / JUICE/ PUDDING CUPS /COOKIES
The above foods make good boxes and are easy to prepare. We currently have an abundance of canned vegetables, pasta, and beans. Only vegetarian foods may be distributed. Please check expiration/best sold by dates.
We open the food pantry the 3rd Thursday of each month from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Volunteers are welcomed!
THANK YOU!!!
Harrisburg Adventist School
Details for the 2021-22 school year are available on our school website –
https://www.haschool.org/home.
Help spread the news!
Amazon Smile – If you are making purchases on Amazon, please make your purchases through Smile.amazon.com and choose Harrisburg Adventist School. The school will receive a percentage of the purchase and there is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting HAS!
We appreciate all the support that you provide to us each year! Please keep HAS in your prayers during these uncertain times.
Tim Brown, HAS Principal
Pennsylvania Conference Events
- Conference-wide elders training is on Sunday, April 3, with guest presenter Dr. Joseph Kidder from the Andrews University Seminary. ALL elders are encouraged to attend.
- Work-bee at Laurel Lake Camp on Sunday, March 27. Projects will include work in the lodge removing the carpet, the tile, and the base cove and installing wood underlayment; cleaning up the cabins; organizing the tool shop and painting the prayer room. Women and men of all ages are invited to help get Laurel Lake Camp ready for the summer programs. Register for at - https://paconference.org/laurel-lake-camp-workbee/
- One-day Women’s Retreat – “Whole and Holy”, April 2, 2022, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Hershey Lodge, Hershey, Pa.
- One-day mission trip to Blue Mountain Academy on Sunday, May 15. The purpose of this work event is to get our BMA campus cleaned up and ready for Camp Meeting.
Details on these and Pennsylvania Conference Announcements regarding spiritual, family life, women’s ministry, and youth events are shared at https://paconference.org/events/
The PA Conference Youth Department Facebook page - Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/PAYouthMinistries
**HFSDA Current COVID-19 Procedures:
During the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, we want to emphasize the importance of keeping our church family, guests, and community safe.
Masks are not required at this time. However, we do encourage individuals to continue to practice the appropriate safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus, including the wearing of masks, physical distancing, and good hand hygiene. If you feel ill, even with symptoms of a cold or flu, please stay home and join our online worship.
Here are our ongoing plans for Sabbath services:
1. The church has been cleaned and will be cleaned as needed between services. The water fountains will not be available for use. Please plan to bring your own water bottle and take the empties home with you.
2. Adult Sabbath School begins at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium and then divides into smaller classes for the lesson study.
3. Children’s classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. in their designated classrooms on the lower level.
4. The worship service will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. Seating will be every other row in the back one-third of the sanctuary as indicated with gold cords. Please be mindful of the need to social distance, and refrain from gathering in the lobby of the church. Following the worship service, fellowship is encouraged out-of-doors or in the gym during inclement weather.
5. The worship service will be livestreamed to the gym for the overflow.
6. We will link the service through Zoom for those who may choose to stay home.