Pastor Mike. Taking the Long View

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1 Taking the Long View In his second year as Chair of Deacons, David Doom and I recognize the importance of examining and clarifying the longrange future of Royal Lane. With a full and equipped staff, an active Program Council, a dedicated Diaconate, and energized committees, now is the time to prepare the fertile soil of Royal Lane Baptist Church for the patient growth and potential harvest ahead. David and I have selected a strategic long-range planning task force, approved by the Diaconate, to review the processes, procedures, ministries, and facilities of the church that need ongoing attention. The team includes Dottie Brashear, David Doom, Alan Greider, Theresa Helms, Jan Quesada, Dan Thompson, Doug Washington, and Garey Wisdom. They each bring many years of connection and longtime service to our congregation. They will work closely with the church staff and communicate with appropriate committees and leadership groups to dream boldly into the future and prepare the way for the next healthy stage of Royal Lane s journey. I am reminded of a prayer by Archbishop Oscar Romero that highlights the importance of each member of the church adding to the overall mosaic of diversity and skill. We can each only take one step at a time into our good future and we need each other for support and guidance. It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about: We plant seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, and opportunity for God s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own. Let us be the gardeners of grace and the prophets of God s good future together. Pastor Mike The next issues of The Mosaic are scheduled for May 2 & 16, The deadline for submissions will be 5:00 p.m. Tuesday prior to the date of publication.

2 Coming Events Sunday April 22 Fourth Sunday of Easter / Earth Day 9:30 am Donuts, Coffee/Juice Family Hall 9:45 am Christian Education Christian Education Classrooms & Portable 1 10:55 am Morning Worship Laura Keller, Preaching Sanctuary Wednesday, April 25 through Sunday, April 29 Alliance of Baptists Gathering Dayton, Ohio Wednesday April 25 3:30 pm Holy Rollers Mission Project Bride s Room 5:30 pm Family Supper Meatloaf, Roasted Potatoes, Salad, Rolls, Strawberry Cake Family Hall 6:00 pm Youth Activities/Study Hall Youth Basement 6:15 pm Children s Choir/Missions Children s Building 6:15 pm Midweek Service Bible Study Mark 9:14-11:11 with Jan Quesada Family Hall 7:15 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary Thursday April 26 6:30 pm Education Committee Room 206 Sunday April 29 Fifth Sunday of Easter 8:45 am Properties Committee Portable 1 9:30 am Donuts, Coffee/Juice Family Hall 9:45 am Christian Education Christian Education Classrooms & Portable 1 10:55 am Morning Worship Tim Schaefer, Preaching Sanctuary Tuesday May 1 WOC Spring Fling Reservations Due! 6:30 pm Missions Committee Room 202 Wednesday May 2 Mosaic 3:30 pm Holy Rollers Mission Project Bride s Room 5:30 pm Family Supper Family Hall 6:00 pm Youth Activities/Study Hall Youth Basement 6:15 pm Children s Choir/Missions Children s Building 6:15 pm Midweek Service Bible Study The Gospel of Mark with Mike Gregg Family Hall 7:15 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary The deadline for the order of service, the Midweek, and the Mosaic is Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. prior to publication. Like RLBC on Facebook or Follow RLBC on Twitter

3 Missions Matters Royal Lane has a long history of answering God s call to love through service. Missions Matters will appear in the Mosaic on a regular basis. It will highlight our continuing commitment to missions and other matters where we reach out to the community. This will be a place where we will tell our stories and perhaps help you find what matters most to you. Youth Believing in Change Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14 Another ministry partner with Royal Lane is Youth Believing in Change. (YBC) Founded in 1995 by Rev. Vincent E. Gaddis, who, after tutoring children In the Vickery Meadows community, found that the thing that was missing in their lives was Jesus. YBC serves more than 200 children from September through May, in faith based after school programs including hot meals, tutoring, mentoring and homework help. They also offer an eight-week summer program that focuses on music, art and leadership. Royal Laner, Dennis Turnbull, who is a great believer in home missions, has been on the board of directors for 18 Years. He says the kids kinda got a hold of my heart. Others from Royal Lane who are volunteering there include DeeDee Young, Connie Bechtol and Laura Keller. They put together a library for the center. Volunteers are always needed there. DeeDee will tell you that these children are wonderful to work with and give more than they get. If you are interested in volunteering, talk to one of these church members or visit their web site: ybcdallas.org. We Over Me Farm Paul Quinn College A Successful Workday April 14, 2018

4 Prayer Requests: Ray Ashcraft & Family, friends of Mike Gregg, on the death of Ann Ashcraft Billie Boteet, mother of Michael Rogers Dale & Cindy Boyd, friends of Cathy Webb Marisa Cummings & Family, friend of Janet Schultz, on the death of Marisa s mother, Mariana Cazarez Tonyia Dotson s mother Mary Ellen Fisher, friend of Michael Knight & Mark DeWitt Rusty Hatcher, son of Martha Hatcher Anna Charles Hollis, friend of Larry Forth David Homan, father of Amanda Gregg s college friend Fred Kern, friend of Steve Box Dot Johnson Forrest McKinney Charlotte Mulry, mother of Shelley Mulry Emily Patterson Steven Rhodes Daniel Solyom Richard Svendsen, brother-in-law of Kristie Weilage Ray Vickrey Jordan Weilage s friends & family: Cynthia s boyfriend Steven Bouquet; Ann; Carol; Darron; Darron s grandfather, step-father and mother; Jon Rabbe; Leslie, her father, Jerry, and brother-in-law, Larry; Nikki; Robin; Mehran & his brothers, Shahin & Keyvan, sister, Ladah, & uncle, Massoud; Steve; and Jordan s grandfather, Jim Byron Willey, cousin of Daryl Willey Please continue to pray for: Connie Bechtol; Terry Burke, son-in-law of Dina DiMaria; Jane Carter; Jerome Collins, friend of Mike Hurder; Thomas Jarvis, brother of Martha Box; Doug Leinneweber; Robert Putman; Lou Etta Ray; Emelda Schultz, mother of Laurence Schultz; Ron Sumter, father of Steve Sumter; Jordan Weilage; Carol Williams, niece of Lou Etta Ray; Joan Wright, sister of Maebelle Raiza; Melissa Yale, friend of Ruth May Remember the homebound: Faye Laney; Norman Morris; Betty Renfroe; Libba Studdard; James C. Walker Thank You Notes April 4, 2018 Dear Royal Lane Family, Thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement in the recent days since my Mom s passing. She is now skipping down the streets of gold with my Dad. Thank you for the beautiful plant. I m off to Canada tomorrow for the memorial service on Saturday, April 7, See you on my return Lovingly, Marilyn [Munro] Is your family celebrating a Graduation? Send picture and bio of your graduate to the church for Recognition Sunday, June 3. All information needed in the church office by May 16 to include in the June order of worship and in The Mosaic. Dedicatory Concert Royal Lane Baptist Church Three Manual, 48-Rank Pipe Organ Garland Pipe Organs, Inc. 2016, Opus 50 Guest Artist Patrick A. Scott Tuesday, May 8, :30 pm Reception Following (childcare provided)

5 Deacons of the Week April 22 Blake Vickrey [972] Martha Hatcher [214] April 29 Rosa Belgard [214] Scott Bryant [972] Midweek Service 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Family Hall April 25 & May 2 Bible Study: The Gospel of Mark Join us for a Fellowship Meal at 5:30 pm. In the Box-Hawkins Gallery Juan Manuel Campos Gallery open by appointment 10-4, weekdays, 10-5 Wednesdays Scriptures of the Week April 22 Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18 April 29 Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22: Joh 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Midweek Menu Wednesday, April 25 Meatloaf, Roasted Potatoes, Salad, Rolls, Strawberry Cake Wednesday, May 2 To be announced Midweek Meal Prices Adults - $7 per person Families - $15 per family Seniors - $5 per person Menus are available on the RLBC website calendar. Open Midweek Family Dinner for details Happy Birthday! April Nancy Ferrell Ruthi Neal Dorothy Tilden Theresa Helms May Jaxson Hill... 1 Patsy Meier... 1 To change mail or preferences for The Mosaic, contact Barbara Merry, , ext. 10 or bmerry@royallane.org.

6 Royal Lane Baptist Church 6707 Royal Lane Dallas, Texas The Mosaic is published twice a month Royal Lane Baptist Church 6707 Royal Lane Office Hours: Dallas, TX Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday Midweek: 6:15 pm Office: [214] Sunday School: 9:45 am Fax: [214] Sunday Worship: 10:55 am Rosa Barrientos, Housekeeping Michael Gregg, Pastor Michael Hurder, Facilities Manager Laura Keller, Minister to Children Barbara Merry, Administrative Assistant Samuel Quesada, Video Technician Tim Schaefer, Minister to Youth Janet Schultz, Administrative Assistant Blake Vickrey, Sound Technician Ray Vickrey, Pastor Emeritus David Weigle, Organist Harry Wooten, Minister of Music and Worship