Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Darkness Will Not Overcome" is a 4-part series that will inspire, challenge, and empower you. In the book of John, the writer gives 7 signs to not only prove that Jesus is the Son of God, but of the miracle God wants to perform in your life. We will unlock the symbols and signs in the Bible that answer life's biggest questions and will give you hope for the future.

Words spoken to others matter. Final words especially have weight and meaning. The Scriptures share the final words of Jesus, poignant words from the cross. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” “Amen, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise” “Woman, behold, your son….Behold, your mother.” “I thirst.” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” “It is finished.”  Before we jump into celebrating the resurrection, we move together to meditate on these sacred words. The Azure Hills Pastoral Staff will share short messages on the last words of Jesus. We invite you to take in the depth of the love and sacrifice of Jesus. John 10:18 says, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer. - Henri Nouwen Dr. Delroy A. Brooks will share a message titled “Blessings of the Kingdom.” Pastor Brooks serves as youth, young adult and children’s pastor for the Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, CA. Dr. Brooks is happily married to his wife, Dr. Dilys Brooks, Campus Chaplain at Loma Linda University. Their union has produced two blessings, their legacy, Micah and Matea. He is an author, blogger, podcaster, avid cultural critic, comic book and sci-fi reader, music enthusiast, and sports fan.

Pastor Tara VinCross will share the message, A Call to Healing, the fifth part in the Deep Calling series, exploring eight calls of God. The call to healing is a call to honesty and transparency. It’s an invitation to begin where you are, not where you wish you were. It’s an invitation to a process of trusting the work of the Holy Spirit over time.

Jesus lived and worked in a hostile environment. From the beginning of his teaching career to his death on a cross he faced unrelenting criticism, subtle micro aggressions, and blatant threats on his life. Even though his kingdom was about love and not about political power or popularity, many felt threatened. And threatened people often say and do extreme things, even violent things. How do we live and work in a world like that? How can the peaceful principles of the Kingdom survive in the face of such hostility? How can we defend our faith in a way that is constructive and helpful? We will discover the way Jesus answered those questions. Pastor Mike Leno will speak on “Following Jesus in a Hostile Environment,” based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:33–48.

Pastor Tara VinCross shared the message, "A Call to Community," the fourth part in the Deep Calling series, exploring eight calls of God. The entire Christian life is meant to be done in community. As the people of God ‘do life’ together, the connection and care and compassion exhibited in the body of Christ is the greatest witness to the love of Jesus in the world. We need each other.

Pastor Baron Anthony Sovory will share the message entitled: "Strengthen My Hands."    Rebuilding what was once torn down can be challenging. It may even feel discouraging, and some may try to prevent the progress. However, when we unite with a shared goal and mission, there are no limits to what can be accomplished. Lord, strengthen our hands to carry out your kingdom's work on earth as we prepare for our heavenly kingdom.

Pastor Tara VinCross will share the message, A Call to Rest, the third part in the Deep Calling series exploring eight calls of God. Are you tired? Worn out? Needing rest? The stresses of life are real. What God wants us to realize is that the life of a disciple of Jesus is a life of surrender, which leads to rest.

Church bulletin bloopers can be good for laughs. A simple typo can be deadly in the case of this blooper: “Ushers will eat latecomers.” Or, in another case, could cause some disappointment and missed expectations: "Evening massage – 6 p.m. Communication can be tricky, to be sure. But communication matters, with both people and God. How do we practice prayer in our lives? What does it look like to make space to reach out to God in prayer? Pastor Tara VinCross will share the message, “A Call to Prayer,” the second part in the Deep Calling series exploring the eight calls of God.

James K. A. Smith said, "You can’t think your way into new habits. New habits can only emerge as you practice them.” This is so difficult for us! Perhaps because practicing new habits is so routine, so ordinary. We want something bigger, and dare I say flashier, to bring us into deeper relationship with God, others, and our purpose in the world. Yet, God is doing a slow work of transformation in each of us, at times imperceptible to us. Pastor Tara VinCross will begin a new series called, “Deep Calling,” that explores the eight calls of God, our response to grace. This week, a Call to Devotion. Come and Worship. We hope to see you here!

How do we stay on message when the world pulls us in so many directions? How do we know which message to listen to when there are so many voices trying to get our attention? Is this just a matter of making a New Year’s resolution to be a better Christian?   Pastor Mike Leno will explain how Jesus stayed on message in spite of the pressures of the world and the loud voices of his opposition.  

While it’s fun to get new things for Christmas, all our stuff soon gets outdated. Truth be known, what many of us really want is a new beginning. In tomorrow’s message, Dr. Erik Carter would like to share lessons from the life of Jacob about how all of us can begin anew in 2024.

"The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown increasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas."- Bill Crowder We gather to remember the One who is our Hope, Light, and Love this Christmas. In music and in readings, congregational songs and the spoken Word, we will lift our eyes to Jesus.

The greatest gift you can give your loved ones is your presence! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!     

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." 1 John 1:1 Margaret Philbrick, author of Back to the Manger, shares that seeing Christmas through the eyes of her children opened her eyes to the wonder and fullness of God. She writes, “I’m learning that the key to experiencing Advent with the wonder of a child is found in seeing Jesus.” Our Pastors will share what Christmas is in the Bible and through the lens of our own experience. Christmas is… Peace, Compassion, Generosity, Love, Fulfillment, and Immanuel. From our hearts to yours, together let us focus on the Word of Life, our Immanuel. Let’s recapture the wonder found in seeing and worshipping our God.

God can reconcile us to each other! Take a minute to thrive with Pastor Tara VinCross!