Thirteenth Sabbath Program

This quarter we have focused on the Inter-European Division.

Opening Song
“Rescue the Perishing”
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 367

Welcome
Superintendent or Sabbath School teacher

Prayer

Program
“European Exam for Youth and Adults”

Offering

Closing Song
"Seeking the Lost"
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 373

Closing Prayer

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Participants: Two narrators—Narrator 1 reads question, Narrator 2 reads answers.

Props: Flags (or pictures of flags), from Austria, France, Italy, and Romania.

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Narrator 1: During this quarter, we’ve been hearing stories about people living in the countries of: Austria, France, Italy, and Romania. These are the countries where the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering projects for this quarter are located.

Narrator 2: Today for our special Sabbath school program, we are going to review some of the things we’ve learned this past quarter by taking a “European Exam.”

Narrator 1: Try to see how many questions you can answer correctly. But don’t worry if you don’t know all of the answers—it’s never too late to learn!

Narrator 2: If you think you know the answer raise your hand and we will call on you.

Question 1: In which world division of the church are these featured countries located?

Answer 1: The Inter-European Division (EUD). This world division has 178,380 Adventist members worshipping in a total of 2,550 churches and 548 companies.

Question 2: In what city and country are Adventists meeting in the ground floor of an apartment building?

Answer 2: Ragusa, Italy, located on the island of Sicily. The group has outgrown the current facility and desperately needs a church building of their own. Our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help them to build a new church.

Question 3: True or False—the “Live to a 10+ Level” is a program to help children in Romania improve their math skills.

Answer 3: False. The “Live to a 10+ Level”[1] is a Seventh-day Adventist program offered as an extra-curricular activity in middle and high schools throughout Austria. The program features diverse themes and seminars for every grade level and age, and addresses topics such as health and nutrition, dealing with addictions, personal development and good manners, social relationships and problems specific to the teen years, personal finance, the impact of technology and how to use the internet responsibly, and more. Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help provide more materials for these classes as well as fund teacher training programs and a week-long camp for students.

Question 4: In which city and country has the city government given sole responsibility to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for operating a food assistance program for needy families?

Answer 4: In Ragusa, Italy, on the island of Sicily.

Question 5: In one of the stories this quarter we were introduced to someone, who as a Jewish young man, was disowned by his father when he decided to become a Seventh-day Adventist. In what city and country did this family live?

Answer 5: Paris, France. France is home to the third largest Jewish population in the world, after the countries of Israel and the United States of America. Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go to help build a Jewish-Adventist Friendship Center in Paris.

Question 6: Refugees from the Middle East are flocking to Adventist churches in this city because they feel accepted and loved. Some are being baptized. What is the name of this city?

Answer 6: Vienna, Austria. People from many different countries worship at the International Seventh-day Adventist church in Vienna. The building where they currently meet is very old and has many challenges, including with mold. Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering today will be used to help build a new building closer to the city center for this church.

Question 7: What was the first country in Europe where Adventist doctrines were preached?

Answer 7: Italy. A man by the name of M. B. Czechowski, (check-COW-ski), a Polish ex-Catholic priest, who had been baptized in the United States in 1857, went to Italy as an unofficial missionary in 1864.

Question 8: True or False—There are no Adventist hospitals in France.

Answer 8: True. there are no Adventist hospitals in France, but there is an Adventist retirement home called “Rosemary House.” A portion of today’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will be used to help establish a Jewish-Adventist Friendship Center in Paris. France has the third largest Jewish population of any country, after Israel and the United States.

Question 9: The largest population of brown bears in Europe lives in which of our featured countries this quarter?

Answer 9: Romania. In addition, Romania's Carpathian Mountains are home to 400 unique species of mammals, including the Carpathian chamois, a kind of mountain goat.

Question 10: Which city that we have read about this quarter is famous for its music?

Answer 10: Vienna, Austria. Many young people come to Vienna to study in the city’s famous music schools and other universities. Several of these students are coming to the International Adventist church where part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will be going.

Question 11: In what European city and country did a homeless man sleep with beavers?

Answer 11: In Vienna, Austria. The man’s name is Ferdinand and after several years of living on the street, he was rehabilitated at the ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) Center of Influence in Vienna, where he now serves as program director.

Question 12: Out of the four countries being featured this quarter, which one has the largest number of Adventist members and churches?

Answer 12: France. There are 122 Adventist churches, and 13,712 Adventist members in that country. There are several Adventist churches in the city of Paris—one of which meets in what was once an underground movie theater! Currently, the Jewish-Adventist friendship group meets once a month in one of the rooms of this former underground theater. Part of today’s offering will be used to establish a center of their own.

Question 13: In what country did 90 non-Adventist teachers attend a weekend convention at a Seventh-day Adventist youth camp where they learned about an Adventist run program for middle and high school students?

Answer 13: Romania. During the teachers’ convention, seminars on personal development are also offered, and the Adventist organizers encourage teachers from the same area to get to know each other and form supportive small groups.

Question 14: A young man in this country stood strong for his faith and the seventh day Sabbath and refusing to compete in the national mathematical Olympiad in his country because it was scheduled on a Saturday. After meeting with this young man and asking him several questions regarding his faith, the Olympiad directors re-scheduled the national competition to be held on a Friday. In what country did this take place?

Answer 14: Italy.

Question 15: Of the main languages spoken in this quarter’s featured countries—Italian, Romanian, French, and German, which one is the most studied?

Answer 15: French is the second most studied language in the world after English. The Salève Adventist University in Collonges, France, offers classes in French language and culture. The Adventist school in Austria, Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen offers classes in German, and the Italian Adventist College in Florence, Italy, provides classes to learn the Italian language.

Narrator 1: We hope that you have enjoyed reviewing some of the things that we have learned this quarter—and perhaps you have even learned something new!

Narrator 2: The offerings that you give today for the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will make a big impact on the lives of the people living in these countries.

Narrator 1: In Italy and in Austria, your offerings will help build much needed Adventist churches. In France, your offerings will provide funds for a Jewish-Adventist Friendship Center. And throughout the country of Romania, your offerings will make a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children and young people in public schools as they receive training in healthful living by dedicated Adventists.

Narrator 2: Thank you so much for your support of mission and for giving generously to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering today.

[Offering]