THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
What was done
The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a Christian churches that fellowship on Saturday. Preparations for the services were done on Friday where members of the clergy converged to plan for the preaching on the material day .This is known as vespers. General neatness of the church was also considered on Friday. The services began with the youth and children service. It is referred to as the Sabbath School Lesson .Various biblical doctrines and facts about life were imparted in them .This sessions was be conducted by either the deacon though even one of the youths could conduct. After the youth service, the main service began after a short while. All services began with intercessory prayers .Readings of the bible which the minister or pastor would feed the brethrens on were read in advance.
What was my Experience of it?
The session was very lively as musical instruments such as the keyboard and guitar were used to spice up the service. Hymns which co-relate to the season were sung harmonizing and I was carried away spiritually. They have a symbol of a three shaped structure called the Pathfinder. It constitutes of a sword that signifies the word of God and a shield that shows God’s protection to his people .Several colors have diverse meanings: the white symbolizes purity, while red and black are signs of blood and loyalty to the Almighty respectively.
All the members were neatly dressed since smart and clean people are next to God. In addition most of the members of the clergy were in their semi-official clothes-the Bishop’s suit. This could probably be the tradition of the church. The main aim of the services is to purify the hearts of the congregations in preparatory to the coming Christ .Preaching aimed at repentance towards the end of the service .Brethrens who knew full-well that they had not received Christ were asked to go to the front. We were asked to draw out our hands to the sick who were also asked to move to the pulpit. This was a sign of unity in the church.
Its Connection to the Subjects we have been Discussing
All the musical instrument were played at a moderate pitch and the songs sang during the worshiping session were soothing .This set the mood that favors meditation and contemplation among the congregators .Most of them were seen falling onto the ground while others cried themselves out for Christ in the sanctuary.
During the preaching, the congregators are asked to greet their neighbors and tell them something .For example, ’welcome to the service’ .More so the members greet one another after the service. This promotes friendship and love in the church .The holy communion allows interaction between members and non members to encourage friendship since we are all for one creator.
The Eucharist which comes four times in a year in commemoration of Jesus cleaning the feet of his disciples is also practiced .It is popularly known as the Holy Communion. The members also wash each other’s feet as a sign of love and brotherhood. Bread and drinks are taken to represent the body and blood of Christ in that order, (Standish, 2007).
All the teaching focus on repentance .At the end of the service, those who had not received Christ as their personal savior were called forth. Water baptism is also practiced .It is a way of making someone a new creature and be accepted by Christ. Both baptism and repentance are in connection with the preparation for the spiritual journey. The Seventh Day Adventist is a House in which only the Living God is served and all the deeds are aimed at worshiping and praising God in order to appease Him.
Work Cited
Standish, D, Colin, &, Standish, R, Russell .Spiritism in the SDA Church, London: Hartland Publications, 2007.
