Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

Gratefulness Sabbath is a time of testifying of God's blessings, lifting our voices in praise, and celebrating our mission projects.

What if the moments of your deepest pain are the very places where Jesus draws closest? As Thanksgiving weekend approaches, and we prepare to gather around tables with family and friends to share meals and stories, this Sabbath we’ll explore a sacred encounter Jesus had ‘at the table’. In Luke 24:13-32, two heartbroken followers of Jesus discover hope and healing in His presence. Come and experience how Jesus transformed their sorrow into joy—and how He can do the same for you!

The enemy tries to intimidate. At times you feel weak, powerless, vulnerable. Yet the truth is, you are not alone. That doesn’t mean we always feel the strength that we have. Poet Elisabeth Elliot writes that, "Sometimes fear does not subside and one must choose to do it afraid.” This is courage. The Word of God and prayer are two powerful weapons that God has given us to take up courageously in the fight. As we seek God, God fills us with courage to believe the Word of God spoken over our lives, families, and communities. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, "The Sword of the Spirit and the Power of Prayer - The Armor of God," pt. 7.

Join us as Azure Hills Church celebrates 60 years of ministry on January 17-19! Here’s a special message from our senior pastor, Pastor Tara VinCross, sharing a glimpse of the joy and inspiration awaiting us during this milestone weekend. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:17, NIV. In warfare, the helmet and the sword were the last two pieces of armor picked up by the soldier. After fastening the rest of the armor on, the helmet, which was hot and uncomfortable, would be placed on just before heading off, protecting the soldier in battle. Often the believer’s battle with the enemy takes place in the mind. The helmet of salvation protects us, giving us safety and assurance as we fight. Salvation is more than something off in the future, it affects our lives today. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Helmet of Salvation - The Armor of God, pt. 6.

The most frequently used word in this section on the armor of God is stand. The Scripture even compels us, put on the full armor of God so that "you may be able to stand your ground,” then it for emphasis, "and after you have done everything, to stand.” The enemy works to throw off our faith, using other people and situations to cause us to stumble. We are flooded with discouragement, temptation, and even numbness. But we aren’t meant to do this alone. We see in this study of the shield of faith this truth: we stand strongest in our faith when we stand together. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Shield of Faith - The Armor of God, pt. 5. In this message we learn again how essential community is in the journey of faith.

I’m wondering, what is throwing off your peace this week? Have you faced difficulties, stresses, or relational struggles that have caused you to fear? Life is not easy. We must wear the right footwear for the journey. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace - The Armor of God, pt. 4. With shoes fastened in readiness of the gospel of peace, you don’t have to worry about losing your footing. You can move out through tough terrain, knowing your peace will hold, firm and secure.

Every day you’re a part of a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” Yes, the struggle is real. This is how it is here on this earth, yet in this struggle, God has provided everything we need for protection. The Breastplate of Righteousness, held by the belt of truth, provides vital covering. Come and find out more about how we can put on this protection and live differently as a result. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Breastplate of Righteousness - The Armor of God, pt. 3. This word will leave us all singing a song of hope, filled with deep gratitude for our Savior Jesus!

One of the devil's favorite weapons is lies. He distorts the truth, and makes it hard for us to see things as they really are. Yet, as we stand in God’s armor, we are surrounded by the belt of truth. God gives us discernment and wisdom to know the Truth. As we know and live in the truth, we are set free.   Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, The Belt of Truth - The Armor of God, pt. 2.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world...” The very next verse says, "therefore put on the full armor of God…" There is a battle going on. Are we living in awareness of this battle? This fall, we begin a new series on the Armor of God. We look to the One who stood firm under enemy attack and overcame. Jesus, the One who fought for our salvation and stood strong under pressure. Together, we remember that because of our union with Jesus we too, can stand. We are clothed in his armor, protected by his power, strengthened by his service, and enabled by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Tara VinCross will offer a message titled, Stand in the Armor of God, pt. 1.

We're excited to welcome our guest speaker Pastor Raewyn Orlich! She serves as associate pastor for discipleship and nurture at the La Sierra University Church. In her book, “In Grandpa’s Shoes: An Invitation to Intergenerational Connection,” she shares how her grandfather, Eric Webster (pastor and ultra-marathon runner) helped inspire her ministry and provides reflection questions for small groups. She and her physician-poet husband, Michael, are raising three members of Generation Alpha: Eleanor, Eric, and Desmond. "What's your favorite song, the song you would most like to share with people from different generations? Why is it important to you? This Sabbath we look at an ancient Hebrew song, Psalm 145, that was used to teach the faith, exploring what it says is the most important to share." - Pastor Orlich

We have come to the end of the story of the book of Mark and here we find the greatest miracle of all. We remember that in our own lives, “Healing and redemption are all about allowing, receiving, and creating space for the Wonder-Worker to move… We don’t make the miracle,” says Arianne Braithwaite Lehn. Braithwaite Lehn goes on to say, “And when we’re still in the place of the broken, sad, hard thing, the one promise we can know for sure is… God’s not done.” This is the promise we can hold to in our own lives, for those we care about, and for our world. Pastor Tara VinCross will share a message titled “The Greatest Miracle.”

Life if full of highs and lows. There’s no escaping it. As Kahlil Gibran says, "Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?" We look upon the One who experienced the depths of human joy and sorrow. Pastor Tara VinCross will share a message titled “Sweetness and Suffering.”

At the end of Mark 13, Jesus says "Watch!" and our natural instinct is to think that it's external; that what we need to watch for is something that we see. But what if it's an internal matter? What if the crux of what Jesus was describing was inward? Join in as we unpack from the topic "Watch, In."

We are excited to welcome our guest speaker, Elder Will Penick, to Azure Hills. He is the Ministerial Director at the Southeastern California Conference (SECC). Will loves Jesus and is blessed to serve our pastors in SECC. He has a passion to share the gospel in a divisive public space and encourages the church in growing as disciples, not just members. Will currently is living in Riverside with his amazing wife, Connie, and their daughter, Ariella, and son, Liam. He enjoys sports (Go Warriors), good food, and spending time with his family in his free time and a little golf when he can fit it in.   The New Testament scholar for everyone, NT Wright, spelled out the human predicament. “God has always wanted us; the question is do we want God?” We have a choice to hold onto the vineyard we protect or the answers we already have or be open to the new possibilities that are found in Christ. -Elder Will Penick Ministerial Director, SECC

Pastor Daniel Xisto, our new administrative pastor, shares his first message with our church family where he will invite us to explore the triumphant entry of Jesus in Mark 11. We will consider the crowd’s cry of "Hosanna!" We'll delve into the deep significance of this moment, understanding how it reflects our own hopes today. Prepare to reflect on what it truly means to welcome Jesus into our lives with the same joy and anticipation that greeted Him all those years ago!

What keeps people out of the Kingdom of God? Mistakes? Pride? Continual sinning? No, there are plenty of examples in Jesus’ ministry of people who did all of those things and more but were forgiven and accepted into the kingdom. Jesus did, however, point out certain people that would have a hard time entering the kingdom of heaven. And when he did that, the disciples, in amazement and disbelief said, “Who then can be saved?” According to Jesus, part of the problem is our human tendency to compare and compete with each other. We think there has to be a pecking order. Surely someone has to be greatest in the kingdom! But what if Jesus’ criterion for who is in the kingdom makes us uneasy? It certainly made the disciples uneasy. Pastor Mike Leno explores the stories of Jesus blessing the children and turning away the Rich Young Ruler. In these stories Jesus tells us what sort of kingdom he is offering, and how we can get in on it. With God, all things are possible.