THE BRIDGE PAGE 1 VOL. 9 NO. 49 DECEMBER 14, 2016

Transcription

1 THE BRIDGE PAGE 1 VOL. 9 NO. 49 DECEMBER 14, 2016 Last Sunday evening s Christmas presentation, The Voices of Christmas, was truly outstanding. Our Sanctuary Choir is blessed to have people who love to sing and people who do it well. The Orchestra was wonderful; the drama and acting was outstanding; the children and young people sang beautifully (and the staff managed to stay on key!). There is nothing to quite compare with the sounds and sights of Christmas. This coming Sunday, December 18, we will enjoy one of the most special sights of Christmas the glorious sight of seeing hundreds of people make their way to the altar bearing their offerings of food for families in need. Over 100 families in the Austin area are going to be blessed with special food baskets for Christmas because of the generosity and Christmas spirit that you the ABC family exhibit. I want to thank you for being such a loving, caring, giving people. We are planning to baptize during our worship service on Christmas Day. We have some already committed to be baptized. I want to recommend to any reading this column who have not yet been baptized by immersion as a believer to consider doing so that day, or the next Sunday New Year s Day. What (Continued on page 2) WHAT S INSIDE Contact Information... 2 Holiday Calendar... 2 White Christmas Food List... 3 From the Heart of J. Parker... 4 Music in Worship... 4 Christmas Day Worship... 4 New Year s Day Worship... 4 The Voices of Christmas Music Notes from Dodie... 6 [Un]Apologetics Conference... 7 Call to Prayer... 7 BFG Christmas Parties... 7 BFG Updates... 8 Year-End Giving... 8 Alaska Tour... 8 Parents Night Out... 9 Angel Tree... 9 Matt s Electrify Student Events Calendar/Church Info Retrospective... 13

2 PAGE 2 THE BRIDGE (Continued from page 1) STAFF Dr. Gary Dyer SENIOR PASTOR Cell garyd@aus nbap stchurch.com Dr. David Procter EXECUTIVE PASTOR Cell davidp@aus nbap stchurch.com John Parker ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC & WORSHIP Cell johnp@aus nbap stchurch.com Ma Gillum MINISTER TO STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES Cell ma g@aus nbap stchurch.com Cathy Smith MINISTER TO CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES Cell cathys@aus nbap stchurch.com Dodie Morris MUSIC & WORSHIP ASSOCIATE dodiem@aus nbap stchurch.com Jon Marc Burge CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP ASSOCIATE jonb@aus nbap stchurch.com great opportunities those Sundays yield. It is only once every several years that Christmas and New Year s Day fall on a Sunday. What a memorable act it would be to be baptized in witness to your faith on the day we celebrate Christ s birth. Likewise, being baptized on the irst day of a new year is something that would never be forgotten. If you know that you are saved from your sin and have a heavenly inheritance, but you have not been baptized in witness to your faith, I hope you will consider making contact with us regarding one of those two Sundays. It will be special for you and it will be special for our faith family as well. Merry Christmas! Gary Dyer, Pastor John 3:30 ADMINISTRATION Chris na Mendoza MINISTERIAL STAFF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT / IT SPECIALIST chris nam@aus nbap stchurch.com Jennifer Koret FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR jenniferk@aus nbap stchurch.com Rita Jones OFFICE MANAGER ritaj@aus nbap stchurch.com Derek Tacke FACILITIES MANAGER Cell derekt@aus nbap stchurch.com Cli een Samuelson EVENTS COORDINATOR events@aus nbap stchurch.com Joe Pere DIRECTOR OF MEDIA MINISTRY joep@aus nbap stchurch.com SUN, DEC 18 White Christmas Message: Home for Christmas MATT 2:1 2, 9:11 WED, DEC 21 No Evening Events or Dinner FRI, DEC 23 ABC Offices Closed for Holiday SAT, DEC 24 Christmas Eve Services 4 & 6 pm, Sanctuary Message: To Us a Child is Born ISAIAH 9:6 7 SUN, DEC 25 Christmas Day Worship One Service at 11 am Message: On the Outside Looking In at Christmas LUKE 2:7 (No Bible Fellowship, KidzCare, or Kidz Worship) MON, DEC 26 ABC Offices Closed for Holiday WED, DEC 28 No Evening Events or Dinner FRI, DEC 30 ABC Offices Open 9 am to 5 pm (Doors Locked; Please Ring Doorbell for Admi ance) SUN, JAN 1, 2017 New Year s Day One Service at 11 am (No Bible Fellowship, KidzCare, or Kidz Worship) MON, JAN 2, 2017 ABC Offices Closed for Holiday SUPPORT STAFF Bill Dickson, FINANCE CLERK billd@aus nbap stchurch.com Elena Samper, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT elenas@aus nbap stchurch.com Ka Dobbs, CHILDREN S MINISTRY ASSOCIATE ka d@aus nbap stchurch.com

3 THE BRIDGE PAGE 3 Bible Fellowship Group Item Quan ty per Person Total Needed per Class Abundant Living Large Grape Jelly or Jam 3 Large Jars each person 18 jars Beginnings Cake Mix & 2 boxes & 2 cans Canned Fros ng each person 36 boxes/36 cans Breakaway Cake Mix & 2 boxes & 2 cans Canned Fros ng each person 32 boxes/32 cans Crossroads 2 lb box VELVEETA Cheese 2 boxes each person 62 boxes Disciple Makers Large Grape Jelly or Jam 3 Large jars each person 21 jars Family Ties LARGE Jar Peanut Bu er 2 Large jars each person 54 jars Faith Builders LARGE bo le Pancake Syrup 3 bo les each person 30 bo les General Leadership 56 oz bag KRUSTEAZ COMPLETE Pancake Mix 2 bags each 28 bags God s Masterpiece LARGE can of Fruit 5 cans each person 30 cans Home Builders 56 oz bag KRUSTEAZ COMPLETE Pancake Mix 2 bags each person 34 bags Koinonia LARGE bo le Pancake Syrup 3 bo les each person 69 bo les Lamplighters 4 lbs Sugar + One bag each person 100 bags 1 can Coffee One can each person 100 cans Maranatha LARGE can of fruit 5 cans each person 95 cans Mosaic Cake Mix & 2 boxes & 2 cans Canned Fros ng each person 26 boxes/ 26 cans Pathfinders Large Grape Jelly or Jam 3 Large jars each person 36 jars Prime Time Cake Mix & 2 boxes & 2 cans Canned Fros ng each person 20 boxes/20 cans SALT 56oz. bag KRUSTEAZ COMPLETE Pancake Mix 2 bags each person 26 bags Sojourners Large Grape Jelly or Jam 3 Large jars each person 36 jars Sola Gra a 2 lb box VELVEETA Cheese 2 boxes each person 28 boxes Standing on the Promises 2 lb box VELVEETA Cheese 2 boxes each person 12 boxes The Lobbyists LARGE Jar Peanut Bu er 2 Large jars each person 24 jars Young Marrieds 56oz. bag KRUSTEAZ COMPLETE Pancake Mix 2 bags each person 18 bags 18:29 LARGE Jar Peanut Bu er 2 Large jars each person 24 jars Youth Grades 6 th 12 th (and workers) Box Mac & Cheese 5 boxes each person 300 boxes Babies and All Children 5 th grade (and workers) Canned Corn Canned Green Beans 3 cans each 3 cans each 300 cans corn 300 cans green beans Please bring your food items wrapped in WHITE or in a WHITE bag or sack on Sunday morning, December 18. You ll keep your food with you in your seat un l the end of the service when Dr. Dyer calls the congrega on forward to bring our dona ons to the altar. If you are NOT part of a Bible Fellowship group and would like to par cipate in White Christmas or want to bring extra food, PLEASE bring five (5) Large Cans of Fruit. This is a popular item to help feed hungry families and we can always use more cans.

4 PAGE 4 THE BRIDGE 9:00 AM Go, Tell It On the Mountain Angels We Have Heard on High More than 165 worship leaders beautifully led us last Sunday evening in their presentation of THE VOICES OF CHRISTMAS. I am so proud of our children, staff, students, orchestra, Sanctuary Choir, dramatists, accompanists, directors, technical team, writers, facilities crew and many others behind the scenes who have been preparing their portion of the presentation since August. God bless each one of you for your servant s heart and passion for Christ. May God give you great joy in your service to the Lord and His Church. Thank you for your sacri ices of time and talent to make Christmas so special at ABC. You are a blessing to me! Note: Here are a few photos from The Voices of Christmas. More can be found on the following page. Gloria SANCTUARY CHOIR, ORCHESTRA What Child is This? 11:11 AM Come and Worship Come, O Come Emmanuel All to Us Go, Tell It on the Mountain He Has Come for Us ADRIAN GILLUM & CHRISTA RATCLIFF

5 THE BRIDGE PAGE 5

6 PAGE 6 THE BRIDGE I could not sleep last night because the music from Voices of Christmas was filling my head. Many, many thanks to the choirs, the orchestra, the drama team, and the tech crew who worked together for a wonderful presentation. I sat there listening and kept thinking This is a miracle! We have not practiced enough. We need one more week But every note and every word had been prayed over, and God took our small gift and multiplied it. And therefore, every smidgen of the glory goes to God. You may have noticed other musical offerings during this Christmas season. We have had instrumental and vocal soloists during the services; carolers and instrumentalists greeting folks as they arrive for Bible Study Fellowship; and Dr. Dyer sang and played one of his compositions last Sunday. I hope you did not miss it! It seems to me that some of the best gifts cannot be wrapped and placed under a tree. Music is one of those. I do not look at Facebook much anymore. There are way too many cat videos to sift through. I do scan quickly now and then mainly to check on family members. However, last week a video clip caught my eye. You may have already seen it. I had not. It is Jimmy Stewart s Nativity Scene from Mr. Krueger s Christmas. I have no words to add to it, and I will not try to describe it. If you need a little inspiration, take a look: v=ok85o6fgrc0 Dodie

7 THE BRIDGE PAGE 7 ABC members may register for this conference at the student rate of $20 through February 9, Register on the conference website and pay by echeck or credit card by clicking here. After February 10, the rate will be $30. You are encouraged to register now. Volunteers are also needed and their fee is waived. If you d like to assist as a volunteer, please contact the church of ice at Check out the [Un]Apologetics Conference website for more details about the speakers and schedule.

8 PAGE 8 THE BRIDGE Do you need encouragement? Come join us Sunday for a Christmas lesson that will uplift you and bring you hope! Zack Year End Gifts in 2016 December is the most important inancial month for Austin Baptist Church. Year-end gifts have a signi icant impact on our inancial health. As we come to the inal month of the year, please be generous in your gifts to the Ministry Budget, Building on a Strong Foundation, and to missions. Trying to think of a Christmas gift for that special someone in your life? Why not give them an adventure of Alaska on August 6-19, 2017? Hosts Gary and Teena Dyer have extensive experience traveling to Alaska and can help others enjoy the special, scenic wonders of the country s largest state. Pick up a brochure from the church of ice or Welcome Center to learn more about this unique travel opportunity! For more details, Gary at garyd@austinbaptistchurch.com. Our church has been blessed to meet and exceed our adopted Ministry Budget in all but one year of our existence. This re lects the blessing of God and the faithfulness of God s people. It has allowed our Finance Committee to strengthen our ministries, meet more needs, expand our facilities, and accelerate our debt reduction. Our Ministry Budget for 2016 is $3,670, Our contributions through December 11 total $2,911, We are praying for abundant contributions this month as we near the close of the year. Giving to God s work through our church is a spiritual matter. The Bible has much to say about stewardship, and Jesus spoke powerfully on this subject often. It is striking that his last act of public ministry was to go to the temple and watch the offerings as they were being contributed. Jesus called on his disciples to notice one offering out of the thousands being received. The unlikely contribution of a widow rede ined sacri ice and generosity as God sees it. The Gospels (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4) preserve Jesus observations for us to think about and act upon. The church of ice will be open from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, to receive your contributions. Please ring the bell at the door to gain admittance.

9 THE BRIDGE PAGE 9 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PARENTS NIGHT OUT

10 Since becoming a homeowner a few years ago, I have learned that PAGE 10 there are many aspects of dealing with a house that I don t enjoy. Some of these chores include mowing the lawn and stressing out trying to keep some semblance of green in it during the summer. Other chores like maintaining the fence, ceiling fans fritzing out (ugh), and trying to igure out what to do with the random red wall in our house are equally as irritating to me. I m not exactly a handy guy. THE BRIDGE But one thing I love about owning a home is putting up Christmas lights. First of all, I love getting up on the roof. It s always a special adventure. Second, it s refreshing to enjoy the cold change of winter in the air after a long summer. But most importantly, I love the joy of seeing the inished product of the lights. There is something awesome about driving home on a dark winter s night and seeing your home lit up with sparkling lights. It s like a visual whisper of hope and peace. Matthew 5:14 says, You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. And again Philippians 2:14-15 says, Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like the stars in the sky Christians are designed to stand out among their generations. However, this is not intended to be a blinding, harsh light that drives people away, but rather a light that beckons and guides them home. The lights that we put up at Christmas don t tell us that we worship a God who is out to annihilate us and leave us in darkness; rather they demonstrate a God who sent the Light to dwell among us in Jesus Christ. In Him was life, and that life is the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it John 1:4-5. As we can readily see in our world, darkness still casts a dread over many in our community. But into that darkness, Jesus sends us. What can we do to shine like stars in the midst of our neighborhoods and communities this Advent season? What kinds of things do you build in your life to show the welcoming light that Christ has given you? Who is struggling in the shadow of loneliness? Who is someone who could bene it from the light of Christ in you this Christmas? We never know what an act of service or hospitality can awaken in the person who is far from family or home. We never know what blessings the Lord can grow through simple acts of charity and kindness to those in need. Light by its nature is not still it shines and points the observer back to its source! As we consider how we may better serve Jesus through our hospitality and service, may we be a church illed with believers who cast the Light of our Savior into the weary world around us. May we work with Christ to ill the world around us with His Light that beckons us home. Long lay the world in sin and e er pining, til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! O Holy Night Matt

11 THE BRIDGE PAGE 11 Register at

12 PAGE 12 THE BRIDGE NEXT WEEK AT ABC Sunday, December 18 WHITE CHRISTMAS 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 10:10 a.m. Bible Fellowship Groups 11:11 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Student Ministry iserve: White Christmas 12:30 p.m. Missions Committee Meeting, Rm :00 p.m. AWANA Clubs Wednesday, December 21 No Evening Meal or Activities Friday, December 23 Church Of ices Closed for Holidays Saturday, December 24 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service ON THE HORIZON December 25 Christmas Day One Service (11:00 a.m.) No Bible Fellowship Groups 26 Church Of ices Closed for Christmas 28 No AXIS, No Midweek Meal or Activities 30 Of ice Opened for Year-End Giving; Building Locked; Please Ring Doorbell for Access January 1 New Years Day One Service (11:00 a.m.) 2 ABC Of ices Closed 4 Outreach & Evangelism Team Meeting 5 American Heritage Girls & Trail Life 8 Membership Adults on Mission Meeting 15 Finance Committee Meeting Trustees Meeting 18 American Heritage Girls & Trail Life 23 Deacon Meeting 25 ABC Business Meeting 26 ABC/FCA Dodgeball Tournament February 2 American Heritage & Trail Life Meets 3 Parents Night Out 5 Lord s Supper During Worship Services Student Ministry s Disciple Now Weekend 12 Membership 101 Class Golden Marriage Celebration 13 Adults on Mission Meeting 16 Hill Toppers Potluck Event, Great Hall American Heritage Girls/Trail Life Meets 19 Finance Committee Meeting 20 Deacons Meeting 22 Business Meeting FELLOWSHIP MENU Wednesday, December 21, 2016 No Fellowship Meal Due to Holiday Season DEACONS ON CALL Week of December 19, 2016 Parker Blevins Jimmy Youngquist OUR RESPONSE TO GOD S FAITHFULNESS Annual 2016 General Fund Budget $3,670, Average Weekly Requirement... $ 70, Year-to-Date Requirement... $3,528, Account YTD Budget YTD Variance YTD Actual v. Budget General Fund $104, $2,911, $3,528, ($617,021.35) Designated $19, $97, Bldg./Strong $12, $512, Fill the Rooms $ $335, Total Giving $136, $3,857, Building on a Strong Foundation Total-to-Date $4,317, Our Attendance :00 Service :11 Service Bible Fellowship Amistad Lottie Moon International Mission Offering ABC Goal $42, To-Date: $25, AUSTIN BAPTIST CHURCH 7016 RIBELIN RANCH DRIVE AUSTIN, TX

13 THE BRIDGE PAGE : Deacons Banquet 4-6: Lottie Moon Missions Dinner 7: Lee Harland, Bill Love, & Gene Clark - 9:00 Worship 8: Brass Trio - 9:00 Worship 9: Allen Family Light Advent Candle - 9:00 Worship 10-12: Texas Baptist Children s Home Dinner 13: Crossroads BFG Sponsor TBCH Cottage 14: Staff Greeting with the Samper Family - 11:11 Worship 15: Sass Family with the Advent Wreath - 11:11 Worship