My Sister’s Keeper—Part I

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Southeast SDA (4/3/21) celebrated a very special Sabbath by kicking off the April sermon series, “My Sister’s Keeper.” This unique series features tag-team preaching by Senior Pastor Stan Hood and his wife, Elder Alisa Hood. Next Sabbath, April 10, Elder Hood will break the word, "The Woman, The Priest, The Prophet.”

group picture of micah elder hood jan arlene and kay

Pastor Hood delivered the message, “My God,” which was taken from the book of Ruth and focuses on the story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Following the death of Naomi’s husband and her two sons, who were married to Ruth and Orpah, the three set out to return to their birthplaces. Both Orpah and Ruth voiced their desire to remain with their mother-in-law, but after Naomi’s insistence that the young women return to their mother’s homes, Orpah relented, but Ruth was determined to remain.

Ruth 1:16-17 states, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”

The sermon brought out two interesting themes found in Ruth and found in our own lives---the “crushing” and the “gathering.” The crushing symbolizes when life is more than you can handle. According to Pastor Hood, “there must be a crushing before there can be a blessing.”

The gathering symbolizes the coming together of like believers. The gathering can include someone in your life who treats you better than family. Pastor Hood stated, “the gathering is not by blood; the gathering is by faith.”

The sermon also emphasized the bond of women who are loyal and remain until the end, such as the women who gathered at the foot of the cross. Jesus did not die alone.

Pastor Hood also thanked the women of Southeast who served the church through adversity. The year 2020 was an historic and exceptionally challenging time for the world and Southeast was no exception. Southeast’s Year-End Review video, which coincided with Pastor and Elder Hood’s 1st Year Anniversary, was shown to the congregation. Written and narrated by Cecily Bryant, this look back emphasized the resilience of Southeast and its determination to thrive.

Southeast also participated in a Holy Communion service.

Pastor Hood and his family were surprised by a presentation of gifts of gratitude and acknowledgment of their one-year anniversary by Janviere Lavender, Arlene Castaneda and Kaye Gilleylen. It was a very special and blessed Sabbath.

--Cecily Bryant

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