VOLUME LVIV ISSUE NO. 10 APRIL 25, 2018

Transcription

1 Exalting Christ... Equipping the Church... Engaging the Community VOLUME LVIV ISSUE NO. 10 APRIL 25, 2018 I was reading an article recently about Chick-fil-A s venture into New York City. People are flocking to the chicken sandwich in New York City, even though the Mayor tried to deny the company access to the people. But the people cried out Eat mor Chikin and the people won over the mayor. The interesting thing about this article was not in regard to the chicken sandwich; it was about the Christian background of the organization. In the author s opinion the company should not be able to dispel their brand of Christianity on the good folks of New York City. He was offended that their mission statement of the company includes the phrase to the glory of God. Here is a quote from the article: What the author really seems angry about is that the company s CEO opposes same-sex marriage. But the framing of the piece made Christianity the villain, and the headline -- Chick-fil-A s Creepy Infiltration of New York City -- was Bruce Worley sufficiently troubling that Nate Silver quickly tweeted This is why Trump won. Fair point. Religious bigotry is always dangerous. The article caught my attention not because of the attack on Chick-fil-A or even because of its anti-christian bias, but because of the demographics that were revealed. The article gave the demographics for White Evangelical Christians in the following way. This information is based on a Pew Research Study. The Silent Generation = 17% (I don t know why they are called Silent?) The Baby Boomers = 37% (I feel sorry for the people born between as they have no name) Generation X = 25% Older Millennials = 10% Young Millennials = 9% Perhaps you can see a trend developing here from each subsequent generation. With the exception of the Silent generation who are beginning to die off, every generation after the Baby Boomers becomes smaller. Here is the implication of the article. As the people age, Christianity will have less influence on society and we will be rid of such archaic ideas. Okay, now let me get more pointed. How are these numbers reflected in the fellowship of Western Heights Baptist Church? I think we can all agree that we are top heavy in one area and it is not in the millennial generation. So what is the implication for us? If something does not happen drastically in our fellowship we, too, will cease to have an impact on the next generation. Numbers do not lie! We cannot keep doing the same things over and over and expect different results. As Pastor, I need your help. I cannot lead this church in the direction we need to go to impact the next generation without your help. Someone said If you are leading people to follow you and you turn around and no one is with you then you are just taking a walk.. Our Lord Jesus wants us to reach the next generation with the gospel. Many of them are our children and our grandchildren, but if they are not yours, then they are someone s children and grandchildren. What are you willing to do to reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ? However, I don t want to leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. The greatest growth in Christianity in America is among Asian immigrants. Second is among Hispanic people and then among African Americans. So it is not all bad news. We can still make a difference in the community in which we live, but we may have to look at things differently and perhaps do things differently. Of course, I could be wrong and none of this really matters. But what if I m right? Are you willing to stake their eternity on me being wrong? I hope not. Let s be more like Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. I look forward to taking this walk with you in the future as we strive to walk like Jesus and be like Jesus. In HIS Name, Bruce

2 Our children s ministry is planning to start another kids club at a nearby apartment complex. We are looking for volunteers to join our team! The club will most likely meet on Monday afternoons from about 3:45-5:15. We would like to begin in the fall, so it is time to enlist workers now! If you are looking for a way to serve God and make a difference in the lives of children, this may be the perfect service opportunity. Those of us who serve in Colonial Kids Club have been greatly blessed by the children we teach each week. We can also use additional volunteers in Colonial Kids Club, which meets on Tuesday afternoons. If you feel Marcy Smith God leading you in this direction, please contact Marcy Smith at Children s Day will be Sunday, May 20, beginning with the 11:15 service (there is no 8:45 service on Children s Day). During the morning service (at 11:15) our Bible Study classes will make presentations to share what they have been learning. Children will share special music, serve as ushers, read scripture, and more. Children s Day continues at 5:00 with a Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner in the Fellowship Hall. After the meal we will move to the Sanctuary for Children s Day Part Two, which includes presentations by our Bible Drill team, RAs, GAs, and TeamKid. Also, our Children s Choir will present their musical, titled GPS: God s Plan of Salvation. Please make your plans to be here for Children s Day. Your presence and participation will be a blessing to our children and their families. VBS will be Monday, July 16- Friday, July 20 from 9:00-Noon. The theme is Game On: Gearing up for Life s Big Game. Kids will discover that in Jesus we have everything we need to live a life that honors God. Thanks to those of you who have already joined our team! We still need more workers. Please begin praying about how you can be a part of VBS, and then give me a call! Preteen Camp will be June The $25 deposit is due Friday, May 11. Your deposit reserves a spot for your child. Online registration is now available. Registration instructions are included in your information packet. Parents, if you missed our Preteen Camp Meeting and would like your child to attend camp, please contact me in the office as soon as possible. Please note: there will be no evening services on May 13, in observance of Mother s Day. Hello Western Heights Family! I hope you are having a wonderful week. Thank you all who came out to worship with us this past Sunday for our Hymn Sing. We had such a great time worshipping as a church, as well with other churches in our area. The students are continuing to take service opportunities. Please let them know of anything Josh Miller around your home that needs their assistance. It is also an opportunity for them to supplement the cost of camp. We have already served some this year and I could not be more proud of our group. We are happy to serve you and love you all this year; so don t hesitate to let us know what you need. Finally, if you have a heart to disciple young people and are interested in serving with me, give me a shout. I would love to chat and pray about having you as a part of the student ministry. Here are the upcoming events in youth ministry Youth Car Wash: April 28th 8am-1pm Time Out: April Borchgardts Camp Meeting: May 29th While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew Blessings, Josh

3 ARMSTRONG BROWNING LIBRARY TOUR FREE!!! Friday, May 4th, at 9:30 AM. We will leave from the church office parking lot. Come join us as we tour the beautiful library and see one of Waco s nationally known treasures. We will return to the church after the tour for those who do not wish to attend a Dutch treat lunch following the tour. Kip Osborne NATION S CAPITAL PRAYER WALKERS TRIP PLANNING MTG Monday, April 30th at 1:00 PM in the Partner s Room. Come join us for planning and praying! This has been born out of the Widows and Friends lunch group, but all are invited! We prayer walked the County Courthouse on April 12th and plan to prayer walk our state capital sometime this summer. Ultimately we intend to plan a driving trip to the nation s capital to prayer walk and tour the National Museum of the Bible, National Cathedral, and do ministry at the Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home in DC. In addition, there will be a discussion about possible traveling sites to tour such as The Noah s Ark replica in Kentucky and the Billy Graham Museum in North Carolina. Come and give your input. We will look at dates about a year from now to allow for planning and saving toward the cost of this trip. This will be a once in a lifetime trip with many highlights and great spiritual focus. You are encouraged to come and participate in the planning session as a help to determine your interest in participating. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Let me start out with a confession. I am horrible at keeping a steady devotional time. I know that I am far from the only one. This doesn t mean that my walk with Christ is insecure. This doesn t mean that I love Jesus any less than those awesome saints who live by their devotional time. It means that I struggle with discipline in my own life. This one area seems to be where it is fleshed out the most. The days that I am sure to spend some time devoted to meeting God in His Word and through prayer are some of the greatest days of my life. I feel connected to a supernatural electricity that is palpable. It is evident in every interaction I have during that day. It anchors my thoughts and feelings. The days that I miss that time are the days I needed it the most. Jeremy Wilson David and other psalmists wrote multiple times on the importance and advantages of meditating on God s Word (Psalm 119). The measure by which the kings of Israel and Judah would be judged focused intently on their attention and meditation on God s Word (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). The examples in Scripture go on and on. When confronted with this, I am convicted deeply. It is through the daily intense focusing - not simply reading over, but slow digestion of God s Word that the Holy Spirit can build me up into the man God created me to be. To bring a New Testament example in, I have a natural leaning to be a Martha rather than a Mary. I want to make sure all of the things are done, and that they are all done to the highest quality possible! In doing this, however, I can and have missed out on great blessings from simply sitting. Sitting in silence and soaking up all of the wisdom and love that God wants to grant to me through His Word. Friends, I encourage you today, drink deeply from the well that is God s Word. God wants to transform each and every one of your lives, but apart from His Word, you won t see it happen. Take time specifically this week to work on your meditation habits. The God who created the universe wants to meet with you one on one. God bless, Jeremy

4 Bruce Worley Pastor Kip Osborne Associate Pastor/Minister of Music Josh Miller Associate Pastor of Students/Contemporary Worship Marcy Smith Minister of Children & Education George Livingston Minister of Administration/Finance Jeremy Wilson Associate Pastor for College and Young Adults Ann Albers Church/Pastor s Secretary whbc@whbcwaco.org MaryAnn Bailey Church/Pastor s Secretary maryann@whbcwaco.org May 2 Fajita/Taco Night May 9 Barbeque Sunday Bi-Weekly Financial Report 2018 April 15 April 22 Weekly Budget Goal... $9, $9, Weekly Budget Receipts... $7, $7, Budget Receipts. Month to Date. $24, $31, Budget Expenses.Month to Date. $18, $35, Designated Receipts Month to Date. $4, $6, Budget Goal Year to Date.... $143, $153, Budget Receipts..Year to Date $134, $141, Budget Expenses.Year to Date... $143, $160, Designated Receipts Year to Date.... $30, $32, Designated Mission Contributions Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Goal $2, Receipts to Date $2, Monday through Friday 8:00 am-12:00 noon 1:00 pm-4:30 pm The offices are closed and telephones are not answered between 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm, and after 4:30 pm. 04/29/2018 thru 05/12/2017 Kip Osborne Scott Day David Parker Church Phone # Rachel Ellison Children s Ministry Assistant rachel@whbcwaco.org Don Deatherage Building Superintendent/Custodian don.deatherage@yahoo.com

5 April 29, 2018 through May 12, 2018 Sunday, April 29, :45 am Traditional Worship Service 10:00 am Bible Study 10:30 am Church Library Open 11:15 am Contemporary Worship Service 4:30 pm Pre/Chi Bible Study Teachers Meeting 5:30 pm Mission Preschool 5:30 pm Bible Buddies/Bible Drill 5:30 pm Adult Bible Study w/pastor 5:30 pm Small Group Meetings Monday, April 30 1:00 pm Senior Adult National Prayer Walkers Trip Planning Meeting 5:30 pm BSF Meeting Tuesday, May 01 11:00 am Men s Weekly Fellowship Lunch 1:30 pm Ministry Choir 3:45 pm Colonial Kids Club 6:30 pm College Grow Group Wednesday, May 02 9:00 am Financial Review 9:30 am Women on Mission 5:15 pm Family Fellowship Meal 4:30 pm Daniel Plan Study 6:00 pm Mission Preschool 6:00 pm Children s Choir 6:00 pm Youth Fuel 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Grow Group Led by Don Deatherage 6:45 pm TeamKid 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Thursday, May 03 11:00 am Merry Widows and Friends 6:00 pm ECA Athletic Banquet 7:00 pm Contemporary Worship Rehearsal Friday, May 04 4:30 am BSF Leaders Meeting Saturday May 05 8:00 am Prayer Group Meeting Sunday, May 06, :45 am Traditional Worship Service 10:00 am Bible Study 10:30 am Church Library Open 11:15 am Contemporary Worship Service 4:00 pm Deacons Meeting 5:30 pm Mission Preschool 5:30 pm Bible Buddies/Bible Drill 5:30 pm Adult Bible Study w/pastor 5:30 pm Small Group Meetings Monday, May 07 6:55 pm BSF Meeting Tuesday, May 08 11:00 am Men s Weekly Fellowship Lunch 1:30 pm Ministry Choir 3:45 pm Colonial Kids Club 6:30 pm College Grow Group Wednesday, May 09 9:00 am Financial Review 2:00 pm Vision Folder Volunteers 4:30 pm Daniel Plan Study 5:15 pm Family Fellowship Meal 6:00 pm Mission Preschool 6:00 pm Children s Choir 6:00 pm Youth Fuel 6:30 pm Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Grow Group Led by Don Deatherage 6:45 pm TeamKid 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Thursday, May 10 11:00 am Merry Widows and Friends 7:00 pm Contemporary Worship Rehearsal Friday, May 11 4:30 am BSF Leaders Meeting Saturday, May 12 7:00 am Pancake Breakfast by ECA 8:00 am Prayer Group Meeting

6 April 15, 2018 Gracie and Madison Russell, Canyon Ledbetter, Jane Bostick, Debbie Todaro, Da Naizah, Meryl Wolff, Hunter Long, Robert & Dawn Lopez. April 22, 2018 Gracie and Madison Russell, Jane Bostick, Violet Payne, Robyn Partridge, Sarah Gardner, Debbie Todaro, Jeri Orris, Da Naizah, Sam TobackMeryl Wolff, Hunter Long. VBS will be Monday, July 16- Friday, July 20 from 9:00-Noon. It takes about 90 volunteers to provide a great VBS experience for families in our community. Please begin praying about how you can be a part of Vacation Bible School, and then give Marcy a call at Children s Day will be Sunday, May 20, beginning with the 11:15 service (there is no 8:45 service on Children s Day). During the morning service (at 11:15) our Bible Study classes will make presentations to share what they have been learning. Children will share special music, serve as ushers, read scripture and more. Children s Day continues at 5:00 with a Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner in the Fellowship Hall. After the meal we will move to the Sanctuary for Children s Day Part Two, which includes presentations by our Bible Drill team, RAs, GAs, and TeamKid. Also, our Children s Choir will present their musical - GPS: God s Plan of Salvation. Please make your plans to be here for Children s Day. Your presence and participation will be a blessing to our children and their families. April 29 will be the day for the 5th Sunday Food Drive. The food items and funds given will go to Shepherd's Heart. They can do a great deal with money, because they are able to buy food for pennies on the dollar. If you are giving money, please put it in an envelope and mark it for Shepherd's Heart. The envelope can be left in the office or placed in the offering plate. If you prefer to bring food they can use the following: mac & Cheese, dry cereal and peanut butter. Food should be placed in the boxes located around the church. You are invited to come get your car washed and help our youth ministry earn money for camp! We hope to see you there! Preteen Camp will be June The $25 deposit is due Friday, May 11. Your deposit reserves a spot for your child. Online registration is now available. Registration instructions are included in your information packet. Parents, if you missed our Preteen Camp Meeting and would like your child to attend camp, please contact me in the office as soon as possible. This meeting will be Monday, April 30th at 1:00 PM in the Partner s Room. Come join us for planning and praying! This has been born out of the Widows and Friends lunch group, but all are invited! We prayer walked the County Courthouse on April 12th and plan to prayer walk our state capital sometime this summer. Ultimately we intend to plan a driving trip to the nation s capital to prayer walk and tour the National Museum of the Bible, National Cathedral, and do ministry at the Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home in DC. In addition, there will be a discussion about possible traveling sites to tour such as The Noah s Ark replica in Kentucky and the Billy Graham Museum in North Carolina. Come and give your input. We will look at dates about a year from now to allow for planning and saving toward the cost of this trip. This will be a once in a lifetime trip with many highlights and great spiritual focus. You are encouraged to come and participate in the planning session as a help to determine your interest in participating.