Seventh-day Adventist and Roman Catholic Ecumenical Service

Interfaith worship service held between Seventh-day Adventists and Roman Catholics

Editorial | AdventMessenger.com

On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, an ecumenical service took place at Auburn Seventh-day Adventist Church. Participants came from 6 different denominations: Seventh-day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and Methodist. The theme was to celebrate Lent, a Catholic tradition where ash is applied on the forehead in preparation for Easter Sunday.

Seventh-day Adventist senior Pastor Dan Appel gives the welcome to the ecumenical worship and prayer service commemorating Lent 2014 in his own SDA Church.

The service included celebration-style music and worship, with drums and the raising of hands. “The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing.” Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 36.

The Rev. Bryron Hansen of Bethlehem Lutheran Church gave the scripture reading and prayer. He read the prayer of Jesus found in John 17 where Jesus prayed for the unity of His people.

Catholic Priest Arnold Parungao of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Auburn gave the keynote speech at the Seventh-day Adventist church. His very first opening words were: "I am a Catholic Priest preaching at our Adventist Church."

When Roman Catholic Priest Arnold Parungao is not speaking at Seventh-day Adventist churches, he is usually found giving mass at his own church.

Here the Senior Seventh-day Adventist Pastor approaches his Roman Catholic Priest friend.

Here comes the embrace! Get ready, smile for the camera! Say Cheese!

Awww! Very nice Kodak moment! But what is happening to our distinctive mission and message? Our people need to wake up. We have message to give and these kind of entanglements cause us to become distracted from our calling.

“We are to treat with kindness and courtesy those who refuse to be loyal to God, but we are never, never to unite with them in counsel regarding the vital interests of His work.” Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 108.

Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-gIIay2IOc