23 March 2020 | The Times of Israel recently highlighted glowing remarks made by Pope Francis about Saturday Sabbath-keeping as observed by the Jews. On March 18, the publication republished footage of the Pope speaking positively of Jewish Sabbath-keeping on a 2018 edition of 60 Minutes that went viral after a portion of the interview […] Source: https://atoday.org/pope-francis-praised-jewish-sabbath/
SDACC RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES REGARDING COVID-19
Video script:
Dear Adventist family throughout Canada,
During this time greatly engrossed by the news of the coronavirus, be at peace. The same Jesus who calmed the winds and waves cares for you and those dear to you.
As a Church, we will continue to follow the guidelines outlined by public health officials and government leadership. We encourage our membership to consult their local conferences for specific information within your region.
And while we take our precautions, I charge you to remember who we are.
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, we are the Church that loves the Lord and does for others what we would want done for ourselves.
We are the Church that amidst the panic purchasing, sees the single mother living pay cheque to pay cheque, stressed over how she will provide for her family during this crisis, and offers our blessings of time and money to assure her troubled heart.
We are the Church that seeks the elderly and vulnerable and ensures they are equipped with groceries and sanitation supplies, because we desire to keep those at higher risk safe.
We are the Church that supports church leaders as they develop plans to meet congregational needs and prepare churches with proper sanitation.
We are the Church that works together, as a national congregation, to provide peace amidst the storms of fear.
We are the Church that knows the call to love our neighbours never ceases.
Together, we will stay connected to Jesus, the Light of the World, so we can shine in every one of our communities.
Fear not, my friends.

As the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada prepares for our Sabbath worship and fellowship during our national crisis regarding COVID-19, and our schools cope with rapid adjustments, it is important for the SDACC to encourage our membership to consult their local Conferences for specific information as it pertains to their locality. Some provinces have already issued cautions with large gatherings and some have given specific directions as to the size of these gatherings.
During a crisis we will have many opportunities to practice a Christlike generosity to others in our church and those in our communities. This is a time for our churches across Canada to shine in our communities. Please practice Health Canada guidelines as you minister to those in your communities and those within our churches.
Please consult the following updated guidelines:
- If you have recently traveled to a COVID-19 infected area or you are currently showing signs of having a cold or flu like symptoms, we ask that you STAY HOME. There are many with compromised health conditions that you might spread the virus to and you have a moral and spiritual obligation to remain at home and worship online or with your family.
- If it is absolutely necessary for you to leave your home, implement a hug and handshake free zone and maintain a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from others. We also strongly urge that potlucks and Communion be suspended till further notice.
- Have a church plan ready to meet the needs of the elderly and those who live alone or with special needs. Develop plans and assign people to regularly check in on them and make sure that the necessary supplies are on hand to care for sick and elderly members.
- Avoid all unnecessary physical contact with others at church or school and wash hands often (with warm water and soap) while avoiding contact with one’s face.
- Provide hand sanitizers to everyone who enters the church or school.
- Regularly clean high-touch surfaces during Sabbath School, church services and in our local schools.
- Place offering plates at the back of the church instead of having the plates circulating during collection.
- Consult your local health department and Health Canada to pass along reliable information to your membership.
- Support those who are front line workers. They may be extra support as they serve on the front lines in our health care facilities.
- Practice the 8 laws of Health while promoting a lifestyle that will strengthen the immune system.
Resources
There are several resources available that will be helpful to churches and members as they evaluate how to best move forward with the mission of the church.
- Adventist Risk Management: COVID-19 Insurance FAQ’s and Resources
- AdventHealth: Video podcasts, including special considerations for congregations
Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/news/sdacc-recommended-guidelines-regarding-covid-19
Death of Heather Margaret Robertson
Death of Heather Margaret RobertsonSource: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2020-03-23/death-of-heather-margaret-robertson/
Never Yield Christian Principle
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 56:5.
I feel deep sympathy for you, knowing that you are sorely tempted. The enemy is trying to make you faint and become discouraged. I feel no less sympathy and deep interest for your husband. Our Saviour will be his Saviour, if he will accept Him. Never, never are any one of us to feel that it is anything but the highest honor to become sons and daughters of God.
My sister, never, never yield to the temptation to sacrifice Christian principle in order to meet the world’s criterion. Be firm, be faithful, for you are bought with a price. Your duty to your Saviour may not lead you in the smoothest paths, for your Redeemer never walked in paths of self-pleasing and self-indulgence. He lived not to please Himself. He went without the camp, bearing the reproach. Wherever Providence has placed you, God will give you strength to stand firm in the faith. Let nothing interpose between your soul and God….
Christ did not merely give us directions as to the path in which we must travel, but He came to be our Teacher. He did not merely tell us how we ought to obey, but in His own life He gave us a practical example of how we should obey. Thus He is the true Helper. Going before us, he beats down the obstructions, and tells us to walk in His footsteps. Our blessed Saviour says, “Follow Me. I will lead you. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness” (see Matthew 4:19; John 14:6; 8:12).
Christ served as a true Son, an obedient Son. He declared, “I have kept my Father’s commandments” (John 15:10). Sanctification is a lifelong obedience. We can be greatly honored by being in co-partnership with Christ. “Take my yoke upon you,” He says, “and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The obedience of which Christ has left us an example is perfect and complete….
My sister, the Lord loves you, and He wants you to have the crown of life. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5). The white robes are the garments of Christ’s righteousness, and all who have this righteousness are partakers of the divine nature. They have written upon them, “The name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (verse 12).—Letter 48, June 1, 1898, to a believer in Australia.
The Upward Look p. 166
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my brother Jim and my cousin Larry who have both had strokes this month. Rose
—-Please pray for the many requests from those with the Corona virus or know someone with it.
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Dear Friends,
During this time of great distress throughout the world, I thought I would share with you something I wrote about prayer some years ago.
What a privilege is prayer! We can come before the throne of the Great King of the Universe, Who upholds ” all things by the word of his power” yet is interested in us as if we were the only person in all the world. Heb 1:3 Think of it! From the moment we renew our commitment to God every morning by asking Him to dwell within our heart, till we fall asleep at night, we can walk in close communion with the Great Creator. Paul, speaking of this very close relationship, bids us, ” Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 Of course he realized that we cannot spend all of our time with our hands folded and our head bowed, no! He is speaking of that constant companionship that the One Who gave His life for us is yearning to have with us.
As we go about our daily duties, we can be in His presence. We have the privilege of telling Him all of our sorrows, all of our joys, asking Him for victory over sins yet unconquered, talking to Him regarding the happenings throughout our day, meditating upon His Word, listening to His voice. Our Great Redeemer says to us as He said to Joshua of old, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Josh 1:8
It is only when we take our eyes off from Jesus, that we go astray. It is only when we forget to “practice the Presence” and become so busy that we forget Him, that we begin to wander from “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6 It is when we begin to listen to the world’s beckoning voice that we get into trouble. We soon become fascinated with the fleeting pleasures the evil one has to offer, lose our balance, and fall from the Path. The apostle John advises, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17
Let us daily give our heart to Jesus, praying as did David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.” Ps 51:10-14 Let us look to Him in these perplexing times for protection from the evil that surrounds us and pray, “O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou [our] arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.” Isa 33:2 Let us diligently keep our weak and trembling hand in His mighty nail-scarred hand, walking with Him is sweet fellowship, telling Him all of our joys, all of our sorrows, all of our fears and trusting Him to lead us all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/AMnxO3X89vU/never-yield-christian-principle.html
Psalm 91:3
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~s/dailybible/main/?i=http://dailybiblepromise.com/verse/2020/03/23
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dailybible/main/~3/31WvRHXGEYM/23



