ADVENTISTS KEEPING THE SABBATH HOLY.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

TUJUNGA - ``Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy,'' the fourth of the Ten Commandments, will be the focus of lectures at Sunland-Tujunga Seventh-day Adventist Church beginning Friday.

``It blows me away when educated people, even my colleagues in the clergy, say that we're just following the Jewish Sabbath because we keep the Sabbath on Saturday,'' said the Rev. Mike Elias from Sunland-Tujunga Seventh-day Adventist Church.

``Keeping the Sabbath on Saturday might be strange to other Christians but we do have a biblical explanation,'' he said. ``We're not saved by keeping the Sabbath, a misconception people have of us. We are only saved by Christ's blood on the cross.''

The practice of keeping the Sabbath on Saturday derives from the verse in Genesis that states after six days of creation God rested on the seventh day. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Sabbath is a memorial to creation and a day of celebration.

Seventh-day Adventists observe the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Although some Seventh-day Adventist congregations do hold Friday night services, Elias said, most hold a Sabbath school for adults and children at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. on Saturdays. A fellowship potluck luncheon, usually vegetarian, is held after the service at the church every Saturday.

Maria Pedroza, a member of the congregation for 15 years, said her church holds services on Saturday because Jesus worshipped on Saturday.

``I look forward to the Sabbath. I think, OK, Lord, I'm going to dedicate this day to you and receive your blessings,'' Pedroza said. ``The Sabbath is a tremendous blessing. It's like a big high.''

Through her work in the teen ministries department at the Southern California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Glendale, Pedroza is often asked by teens if Jesus really will come back and if there will be a better tomorrow.

``Oh, yes, he will come back. God does not lie,'' Pedroza tells them. ``He promised he would come back to anyone who acknowledges him as Lord and Savior. Our most important goal is eternal life. So many people don't have hope so that's why they live as if there is no tomorrow. No matter what happens here on Earth, as a Seventh-day Adventist you know there's something better to come.''

Seventh-day Adventists abstain from alcohol, caffeinated drinks and smoking. Church members also do not eat pork or shellfish, identified in the Bible as unclean foods. Elias said that while Seventh-day Adventists avoid certain foods, the practice has nothing to do with salvation. He will discuss this aspect of belief at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10.

Growing up as a Seventh-day Adventist in Jamaica, Errol Fletcher said the healthy lifestyle practiced by his church helped him stay away from substance abuse.

``So many of my friends were affected by drugs and their life was very different from mine,'' said Fletcher, who worked on cruise ships for many years. ``I think God has put me on this Earth to love people, have tolerance and to help other people. It's not a complicated way of life. It's love, kindness and telling people about Jesus Christ.''

The community is invited by the congregation to enter an art and poetry competition expressing some aspect of the Bible Sabbath. Entries must be submitted at the Friday lecture. First, second and third places winners will be announced and prizes given out at a 2 p.m. sacred concert on Feb. 7.

IF YOU GO

``The Creation Sabbath'' will be discussed by the Rev. Mike Elias at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sunland-Tujunga Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7156 Valmont St., Tujunga. ``The Sabbath Jesus Died For'' will be the message at the 11 a.m. Feb. 7 service. Call [phone] for competition guidelines. For more information on Sunland-Tujunga Seventh-day Adventist Church, call [phone]. For information on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States, see www.adventist.org.

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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Errol Fletcher, president of the board of trustees, left, and Rev. Mike Elias stand before new stained-glass windows at Sunland-Tujunga Seventh-day Adventist Church.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

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