Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, and Happy New Year! As we step into this new year together, we are invited to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to Christ. This Sabbath, we welcome Elder Julian Lake to the pulpit as he leads us in a message that points our hearts toward remembrance, renewal, and the future kingdom Christ has prepared for us. Scripture Reading: Job 3:20-26 Sermon Summary: Elder Julian Lake Have you ever imagined the kinds of difficulties God must have looking after his earthly children? Let us explore some questions around the difficulties of being a heavenly parent. We invite you to join us with open hearts as we worship, reflect, and grow together in God’s Word. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube. Thank You for your continued support. Help us continue our mission to create meaningful media. You can donate today by using the link below and at the top specify if it’s a “one-time donation” or “recurring donation” and then below in the box next to “Media Ministries” put the amount you’d like to donate: https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANP8KQ

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, and Happy New Year! As we step into this new year together, we are invited to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to Christ. This Sabbath, as we gather around the Communion table, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, the hope found in His promises, and the assurance that He walks with us into every new season. We welcome Elder Bert Williams to the pulpit as he leads us in a message that points our hearts toward remembrance, renewal, and the future kingdom Christ has prepared for us. Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:29 NIV Sermon Summary: Elder Bert Williams Jesus knew that His time had come. It was the final evening with His disciples before His crucifixion. The disciples were completely unaware of what was coming. They were anticipating great things. But within less than twenty-four hours it seemed to them that all was lost. They were devastated. Broken. All hope was gone. Even when Jesus knew He was facing the worst suffering any human has ever experienced, He was more concerned for His disciples than for Himself. And so, although they failed to hear it at the time, He gave His brothers in the upper room solid reason for hope. As He shared the cup with them He said this: "I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom" (Matthew 26:29 NIV). Today, we are not yet with Him in His Father's kingdom but we have the privilege of sharing the cup together, and looking forward eagerly to that day. We invite you to join us with open hearts as we worship, reflect, and grow together in God’s Word. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube. Thank You for your continued support. Help us continue our mission to create meaningful media. You can donate today by using the link below and at the top specify if it’s a “one-time donation” or “recurring donation” and then below in the box next to “Media Ministries” put the amount you’d like to donate: https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANP8KQ

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We look forward to worshiping together this Sabbath as we welcome Elder Hyacinth Frank-Stephens to the pulpit. She will be sharing a timely and thought-provoking message that invites us to reflect on our role as sowers in God’s kingdom and the responsibility we carry in sharing His Word with intention and faith. Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:10-23 Sermon Summary: Elder Hyacinth Frank-Stephens A sower went out to sow and some of his seeds fell on fertile ground and brought forth fruit. In this story, the sower is intentional. He is armed with the word of God and out to sow seeds of love to harvest fruit for God's kingdom. However, who determines the ideal time for sowing, and what happens if no one decides to sow. What if the sower is carrying seed that is genetically modified, or AI generated. What then? Please also read Matthew 13:24-29 and Matthew 13:37-42. We invite you to join us with open hearts as we worship, reflect, and grow together in God’s Word. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube. Thank You for your continued support. Help us continue our mission to create meaningful media. You can donate today by using the link below and at the top specify if it’s a “one-time donation” or “recurring donation” and then below in the box next to “Media Ministries” put the amount you’d like to donate: https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANP8KQ

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 NKJV Last Sabbath, we heard about the Gospel of Proximity and this week, our obligation at Christmas is to declare that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.” At Christmas, we celebrate the moment that power entered the world—not through force or spectacle, but through a humble child in a manger. The birth of Jesus reveals that God’s saving power is rooted in love, grace, and self-giving, not human strength. Therefore by our discourse and persistent purpose, we must declare that Christmas is more than a story of warmth and tradition; it is the beginning of God’s saving work for all people. The gospel announced at Christ’s birth still has power today to transform lives, bring hope to the broken, and offer salvation to everyone who believes. At Christmas, we are called to not be ashamed of this gospel, but to live it and share it as the greatest gift God has given the world. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube. Thank You for your continued support. Help us continue our mission to create meaningful media. You can donate today by using the link below and at the top specify if it’s a “one-time donation” or “recurring donation” and then below in the box next to “Media Ministries” put the amount you’d like to donate: https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANP8KQ

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, This Sabbath, we welcome back Dr. E. David Fraser, former pastor of the Palo Alto Adventist Church, to share a special Advent message on the hope and comfort of the Incarnation. His message explores the Incarnation as a profound expression of God’s nearness in a world marked by uncertainty, loss, and human struggle. Dr. David E. Fraser title of his sermon is: “The Gospel of Proximity: God in the Midst of Human Struggle.” Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14 Message Summary from Dr. David E. Fraser Drawing from John 1:14, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and Paul’s reflections in Philippians 2, Dr. Fraser reflects on a God who moves toward humanity and invites us to do the same. Through this lens, we are encouraged to see proximity—presence, compassion, and shared humanity—as central to Christian faith and to the healing of our communities. This Advent reflection offers grounded hope and a renewed call to embody God’s love in tangible ways. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, Join us tomorrow for our Annual Sabbath Christmas Program, presented by the talented students of Miramonte Christian School. From Kindergarten through 8th grade, the students will lead us in celebrating the joy of the season through music, scripture readings, and a heartwarming Christmas presentation. This special program is a beautiful opportunity to gather as a church family and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. We encourage you to invite your friends, neighbors, and loved ones to experience this uplifting tradition with us. Come be blessed by the message, the music, and the spirit of Christmas! 🎄✨

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We are excited to worship together this Sabbath. I will be sharing a message from the Word of God that I believe is timely and important for each of us. The title is: "Victory at Thanksgiving Dinner." Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:14–15 NKJV Message Summary Thanksgiving was more than a national holiday. It was a sacred moment, a pause, and a holy remembering. Around tables filled with food, surrounded by family and friends, we celebrated the goodness of God. But Psalm 118 reminds us that Thanksgiving is not just about blessings received, but victories given. And so this Sabbath we must declare that every believer that sat at their Thanksgiving table is a walking testimony of God’s victory. Not because the year has been easy. Not because everything went the way we hoped. Not because we avoided hardship. But because God carried us, strengthened us, and saved us. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We are excited to worship together this Sabbath. I will be sharing a message from the Word of God that I believe is timely and important for each of us. The title is: "God’s Pleasure and Need." Scripture Reading: Acts 17:24-25 NKJV Message Summary Philosophers and believers alike have asked: “What can we possibly give to God? He owns the universe, He needs nothing, and He is complete in Himself.” Yet, the Bible shows us that while God does not need us to add to His being, He delights in certain things that we freely give. What does God need, and why does he need them? That is our philosophical question. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We are excited to worship together this Sabbath. Please join us in welcoming Elder Bert Williams to our church as he leads us on a journey titled: "Listen to Him." Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21 Message Summary: From Elder Bert Williams "We did not follow cleverly invented stories," Peter wrote, as though critics must have been making that accusation. No! Peter insists. "We were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Furthermore, Peter insists, we must "listen to Him." But Peter does seem to realize that, several decades after the actual event, most of his readers would not sense the same impact of Jesus' "transfiguration" as Peter himself had—and still did. So, Peter proceeds with a different approach. We also have the word of the prophets, he writes. "And you will do well to pay attention to it." He urges his readers—he urges us—to understand that the same light he and his friends experienced with Jesus on Mount Hermon is available to all of us from Scripture as "light shining in a dark place." We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We are excited to worship together this Sabbath. Please join us in welcoming Brother Michael Wixwat to our church as he leads us on a journey titled: "Trading Security for a Savior." Scripture Reading: Mark 10:17-22 Message Summary: From Brother Michael Wixwat We have a hard time fully trusting God with our life, and our resources. We often opt for the physical things of life that provide us with comfort, control, and security rather than fully trusting in God and following Him. The invitation to follow Christ has never changed: “Come follow Me.” It is an invitation to trade the false security of this world for the unshakable security of His grace. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We are excited to worship together this Sabbath. Please join us in welcoming Brother Michael Buffington back to our church as he leads us on a journey titled: "As a Man Thinketh: How Our Thoughts Effect Our Ability to Fight Disease." Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:13-14 KJV Message Summary: From Brother Michael Buffington This sermon reveals the powerful truth that our thoughts, beliefs, and spiritual life directly impact our physical health, echoing Scripture’s declaration, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Combining biblical wisdom, the insights of James Allen, modern medical research, and the Spirit of Prophecy, it shows that God designed the body with built-in healing systems that are activated by peace, faith, gratitude, and prayer—but shut down by fear, anxiety, negativity, and stress. While diet and healthy habits matter, true wellness begins in the mind and heart, and healing is both physical and spiritual wholeness. This message invites us to renew our minds, trust in God, and experience the health and peace He intended for us. We warmly invite you to come with open hearts and minds as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk 🌐 Register for our Live Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/yc3vzk62 🔔 Stay connected with us on our journey of faith: 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/bderwssk 🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.paloaltoadventist.org 📘 Follow our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/4n8zcynh 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdxjx65h God Bless You! Happy Sabbath and Have a Great Week! SUBSCRIBE to Palo Alto Adventist Church of Seventh-day Adventists on YouTube.

Greetings, Beloved Congregation and Friends of Palo Alto Adventist Church, We look forward to worshiping together this Sabbath. I will be taking us on a journey entitled: "The Heart and Personality of David." Scripture Reading: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.” - Psalms 27:4 NKJV Message Summary Be as part of our human nature, God has given us psychological defense mechanisms—ways our minds protect us from emotional pain, guilt, fear, or feelings that are too difficult to handle. These mechanisms act like automatic safety shields, helping us cope when life feels overwhelming or threatening. Everyone uses them—not just people with problems—but sometimes, they can also keep us from seeing the truth or growing spiritually and emotionally. Example: Denial—Pretending something isn’t happening because it’s too painful to face. For instance, someone may refuse to believe a relationship is ending or that they have a serious health issue. David, in the Bible, used many of these mechanisms before God. By examining the ways he often responded to life’s challenges, we gain insight into how his personality developed. Perhaps his honest struggles and use of these defenses are part of the reason God called him “a man after His own heart.” This week, we take a closer look at how blessed David was—despite his mistakes—and how his life teaches us about God’s grace and human growth. We invite you to join us with open hearts as we worship, reflect, and grow together in faith. Happy Sabbath! In His grace, Head Elder Alex Clerk