Crescent City SDA Church

October 3, 2025
Dear Crescent City SDA Church Family and Guests,
One of the greatest gifts God has given us in this life is the blessing of friendship.
The Bible reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Again, in Proverbs 18:24 we read, “There is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother.”
For many years I thought that friends were free. You spend time together, share
experiences, encourage one another—and it doesn’t cost a thing, right? That’s what
I believed. But God had a lesson to teach me on the other side of the world.
In 1981, my wife and I left for Bolivia to serve as missionaries. We lived there for
six years, and during that time I bought an old French-built car that had no engine
installed. What I got was a pile of about ten cardboard boxes filled with greasy
engine parts. After taking inventory, I believed the important pieces were there,
though I knew I would need new gaskets, seals, and rings. With more optimism
than wisdom, I decided to buy the car.
But soon I realized that I was in way over my head. This wasn’t like any engine I
had worked on before. The cylinders were numbered backwards from what I was
used to. The distributor turned the opposite direction. The deeper I got into the
project, the more I realized I lacked the knowledge to put it all together correctly. I
needed help.
After asking around, I was introduced to Pepe, a retired mechanic who had worked
on this make of car for years. From the moment we met, Pepe felt like an instant
friend. He came to my house, examined my “project,” and patiently showed me
what I had done wrong. For hours he worked with steady hands—torquing bolts,
aligning pieces, making sure everything fit together just right. When the job was
finally done and the engine roared back to life, I tried to thank him by offering
payment.
But Pepe shook his head firmly.
“No, I cannot take money. You are my friend. And I am happy to help a friend. It
costs, you know, to be a friend.”
Surprised, I protested: “No, friends are free!”
Pepe smiled. “No, my friend, you must give unselfishly because you are friends. It
costs to be a friend.”
The more I thought about it, the more I realized Pepe was right. Friendship always
costs something. It may cost time, energy, patience, forgiveness, or even resources.
True friendship means giving of yourself for the sake of another.

And then I thought of the truest Friend of all—Jesus. Our Lord said, “Greater love
has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Friendship with us cost Jesus everything. It cost Him His throne in heaven, His
divine privileges, His very life. He gave Himself so that He could be our Friend,
our Brother, and our Savior.
When I remember Pepe’s words—“It costs to be a friend”—I cannot help but look
to Calvary. There I see the greatest act of friendship the universe has ever known.
So let us thank God for the earthly friends He gives us. But even more, let us
rejoice in our heavenly Friend, who walks beside us in trial and in triumph, who
never leaves nor forsakes us, and who paid the highest cost so that we might call
Him Friend.

______________________________

Our Sabbath School and the Worship services are live and viewable via Zoom. Two
Adult Sabbath School classes are presented each week. One of them is viewable
via Zoom. The Junior/Earliteen Sabbath School class meets in the Pathfinder
Room. Cradle Roll and Kindergarten classes are available for younger children. If
you are unsure where the rooms or classes are being held, please don’t hesitate to
ask one of the greeters for directions.
The Worship service is in the Sanctuary and via Zoom. The Zoom Meeting ID#
and Password are listed below.
Zoom access for Crescent City SDA Church meetings:
Meeting ID #: 993 5770 413
Password: 4642738
You can join by going to Zoom.us, click on join a meeting, and then enter the
Meeting ID # and password; or by dialing 1 669 900 9128, entering the meeting
ID# and password as prompted; or accessing through the Zoom app.
October 3, 2025 – October 10, 2025
Friday 3rd Sunset 6:54 pm
Sabbath 4th Sabbath School 9:30 – 10:40 am
Church Worship Leader, Ginger Finley 11:00 – 12:00 pm
Sermon, Aimee Bolender

Fellowship Luncheon NEXT week

Sunset 6:53 pm
Tuesday Bible Study on Genesis 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Wednesday Community Services 1:00 – 3:00 pm Dorcas
Prayer Group 5:00 – 6:00 pm Church
Bible Study "Focus on Prophecy” 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Attendance via Zoom is welcomed by request.

Thursday Women’s Group 4:00 pm
Friday 10th Sunset 6:43 pm
October 11, 2025 – SPECIAL ALL DAY CREATION SEMINAR WITH Dr. Ryan
and Suzi Hayes in person, and FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON—All guests
and visitors WELCOME!
October 18, 2025 – Worship Leader, Willmer Hechanova; Sermon, Bob Phang

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The October Church Board meeting will be held on October 6.
Next Sabbath, October 11, is our SPECIAL CREATION SEMINAR
PRESENTATION by Dr. Ryan and Suzi Hayes in person. The first exciting
presentation will start at 9:30 AM with EVERYONE meeting in the
sanctuary. After the 11:00 AM presentation, all are invited for our
Fellowship Luncheon. Please bring, if possible, an extra quantity of food
since we hope many community guests will join us. The afternoon programs
at 2:00, 3:30, and 6:30 PM are events you will not want to miss!
There will be an Elder’s meeting on October 21.
Fellowship Luncheons are usually on the first Sabbath of the month, but
because of special Sabbath events, please note the weekly updates for any
changes.

Tithes and offerings are being collected during the 11:00 AM Worship service each
Sabbath. Other options include the locked offering box on the rear wall of the
Sanctuary, the link to Adventist Giving on our church website:
https://crescentcityca.adventistchurch.org or you can download the Adventist
Giving app. Tithes and offerings may also be mailed to Crescent City SDA
Church, P.O. Box 1905, Crescent City, CA 95531. Please designate where the
funds are to be deposited: tithe, church budget, Little Red School House
(School), special projects, etc.
Thank you for taking the time to be part of our church family, in person or via
media. Please reply to this email (or ccadventistchurch@gmail.com) if you have
specific prayer requests. The Prayer Ministry team is active and cares about your
needs—let us know!

______________________________

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
May you walk this week in the joy of knowing Jesus as your truest Friend, and
may we learn to be that kind of friend to one another.
Your friend,
Verlyn
P.S. When my wife and I returned to Bolivia 25 years later, we were amazed to
discover that same car—still faithfully serving its new owner. The efforts put into
friendship last and last!