During this Thanksgiving season, it is appropriate to highlight an anonymous quote that goes like this: "If you can't find anything for which to be thankful, then make up your mind that there is something wrong with you."

Ingratitude is considered one of the biggest sins, not because it's bigger, really, but because it's so fundamentally basic to the sinfulness of our human nature. It goes to the core of our selfishness and pride.

Henry Ward Beecher is quoted as saying: "Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."

Everyone has reason to give thanks and say thanks. We should never be hesitant to say thanks to God many times a day. God never gets bored with our thankfulness and praises. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) we're told: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Renese King, a member of The Waymark Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was among the individuals selected to participate in the November 3 Day of Remembrance Celebration for Thomas Menino, Boston's longest serving mayor, who died on October 30 after battling cancer.

King was accompanied on the piano by Annette Siver, a member of the College Church in South Lancaster, Massachusetts.

King is recognized regionally as a talented instrumentalist, choral director and arranger. She has toured internationally as a percussionist, pianist, and vocalist with a number of Massachusetts-based choral and orchestral ensembles.

She has been the featured soloist in several holiday, gospel, and patriotic concerts, on national television broadcasts, and a 17-city national tour with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Her orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Boston Pops, Thayer Symphony, Cape Anne Symphony, and the Melrose Symphony Orchestras.

News reports indicate that King "moved Menino to tears" when she sang at a Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast that he attended while still in office. At the Day of Remembrance Celebration Renese King performed "For Good."

WATCH THE VIDEO . . .

The North American Division held its 2014 year-end meetings in Silver Spring, Maryland, October 30-November 4. Below are several links from the meetings that may be of interest to you that you can view or read at your convenience.    

 

 

Videos 

View videos of year-end devotionals and sermons  

 

Articles    

Share the Vision of Hope Amidst Challenges   

  "The ultimate goal for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (also called the North American Division) is Jesus and His soon return," said Daniel R. Jackson, President of the Division, in his report that kicked off the first full day of the 2014 North American Division Year-end Meetings. His report was addressed to 325 members of the Executive Committee gathered at the Division's headquarters. READ MORE.

Jackson: God Will See the Adventist Church Through  

Daniel R. Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD), said we serve a sovereign God who created the universe, reigns supreme, and is a God of forethought, designs, and plans Who will see His Church through any issues humans have generated. READ MORE. 

 

North American Division to proceed with relocation from GC building 

Following an afternoon of spirited debate the Executive Committee of the North American Division (NAD) Year-end Meeting approved two motions regarding the potential relocation of the NAD headquarters: 1) to accept the recommendation by the President's NAD Council and NAD and Union Officers (NADOUP) that the NAD headquarters be moved to someplace within the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area; and 2) that the NAD should proceed with the relocation process. READ MORE.  

    

Delegates vote statement on civil discourse  

The North American Division (NAD) Executive Committee unanimously adopted a statement that encourages "respectful, Christ-like dialogue" between Christians, particularly in regards to the upcoming 2015 General Conference Session vote on women's ordination. READ MORE.  

   

NAD Sees Challenge as Number of New Members Dips  

The North American Division added fewer new church members in 2013 compared with the previous year, continuing a gradual decline for the fourth year in a row, division executive secretary G. Alex Bryant said in an annual report. READ MORE. 

Check out the NAD on Facebook by searching for North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and on twitter @ NADadventist 

Pray One Million is the 2015 North American Division Prayer Ministries initiative. The initiative encourages people to spend one minute a day in prayer for someone special. It could be a friend, a loved one, or a complete stranger. For more information, visit the Pray One Million Web site at prayonemillion.org.

 

WATCH PROMOTIONAL VIDEO  

The Atlantic Union Conference is seeking applicants to fill the position of Communication Assistant. E-mail résumés for the position using the subject "Communication Assistant Position" to Ednor A. P. Davison (communication @atlanticunion.org), assistant to the president for communication, on or before November 6, 2014.

Atlantic Union College is pursuing a highly motivated, enthusiastic and dynamic leader to join its newly-formed Paraprofessional department as Director of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Master's degree in ESL, Linguistics, or a related field, and at least 3 years of administrative and teaching experience in an academically-oriented university, managing, supervising and evaluating teaching staff, and developing curricula and teaching material preferred. Fluency in a second language is desirable. Submit cover letter, including a statement addressing the specific minimum and preferred qualifications, résumé, copy of transcripts, and three professional letters of references to: roberto.reyna@auc.edu. For details, visit: www.auc.edu.

Southern New England Conference is looking to hire a part-time person to lead the Literature Evangelist Program. Interested persons should send résumés to Jose R. Alarcon, Southern New England Conference executive secretary, jalarcon@sneconline.org. Résumés will be accepted until November 20, 2014.

 

 

CLICK HERE for the job description for the position.