The MESSENGER November 2018 Volume 6, Issue 11 A Message from Pastor Jason White Although I don t get it as much as I used to, one of the questions I get from time to time is What should we wear to church? Often it s not been in the form of a question but rather in the form of a stated opinion (seen in their eyes as a fact). I came across this article which addresses this subject, and I thought I d share it with you this month What Should We Wear To Church? written by Jon Bloom (desiringgod.org) When I was a little boy, probably 80% of men wore a coat and tie to our church, and 90% of women wore dresses. By the time I was in high school, 40% of men wore a coat and tie, and 50% of women wore dresses to church the majority of both genders being middle-aged and elderly. Everyone else dressed business casual. Jeans were rare. Tee shirts even rarer. Shorts were never seen outside the nursery, even in mid-july. Today, in the church I attend, no man wears a suit or sport coat unless it s a special occasion. And ties are seen less than coats. I d say less than 5% of women wear dresses on Sunday. Shorts, tee shirts, and sandals are commonly worn in warmer weather. My young son wonders why he has to dress up for church if I tell him to change into better jeans and a nicer tee shirt. In the small Protestant denomination I belong to, no pastor I know of preaches in a coat or tie on a typical Sunday. Pastors, worship team members, and other platform participants dress pretty much like everyone else minus the shorts, tee shirts, and sandals. These changes in what people wear to church reflect the wider cultural changes over the past fifty years regarding clothing. The whole of American culture has dressed down. This has produced largely generational debates over appropriate church attire. Those who favor more formal dress suspect casual clothes reflect a disrespectful, irreverent attitude toward God. Those who favor casual dress feel it reflects a more authentic approach to God. Does either have a biblical case? Does God tell us what we should wear to church? The debate over formal versus casual church clothing is a shrinking one for at least two reasons: 1. the pro-formal party is shrinking, and 2. the pro-formal remnant is now so outnumbered it hardly seems worth the effort to argue. Most folks who lament the casual trend came of age in an era where public dress in general was more formal. They, like most people in every era, simply assumed their own cultural norms. It just wasn t right to wear casual clothes in certain places, especially in church. So, as the cultural clothing norms changed, and people typically younger people started wearing casual clothes to those places, including church, it felt wrong. It felt like a form of disrespect, even rebellion, toward the older generations. In church, it felt like disrespect, even rebellion, toward God. But is this true? Certainly, on the microlevel of sinful individuals, plenty of rebellion toward elders and God took place, just as it has in all generations. The pro-formal crowd had their own generational expressions of rebellion. But from a biblical standpoint, there is no compelling exegetical case to be made that more formal dress is de facto more respectful toward God than casual dress. Church clothing is a preference formed by culture and tradition. Continued on Next Page Inside this issue: Student Ministry News Kids Ministry News 2 3 Music Ministry 4 Ladies Ministry Events November Calendar 5 6 Special Points of Interest: OCC Box Packing Party Student Ministry Bake Sale Thanksgiving Meal Exercise Class Women s Ministry Painting Night BCCM Fall Food Drive
A Message from Pastor Jason White, continued On the other hand, many of those who embrace the trend toward more casual have come of age during the dressing-down decades, and they are just as vulnerable to assuming the cultural norms that have shaped them. It feels fine to wear jeans and a tee shirt to church, perhaps the same ones worn on Saturday. But why does it feel okay? As I mentioned before, authenticity is the most popular answer. We are coming to God as we are, putting on no airs or masks with him. It sounds good, but I don t really buy it. Wearing casual clothes is no more de facto spiritually authentic than formal clothes are de facto spiritually respectful. We might not be at all authentic standing before God in our jeans. We may choose casual clothes primarily to fit in socially, or to attract attention to ourselves, or to nurture a cool image. In other words, we may wear casual clothes to church and worship God with our lips, while our hearts are far from him (Is. 29:13). Perhaps casual clothes can help us approach God more authentically in ways formal clothes don t. Perhaps formal clothes can help us express respect and reverence toward God in ways casual clothes don t. I have significant doubts about both. God does not explicitly endorse either formal or casual clothes in corporate worship. He doesn t even enter the debate. In fact, outside of ritual Levitical laws that no longer apply in the new covenant, God says virtually nothing regarding how we should dress when we come together to worship him. It s not that clothing doesn t matter to God. Clothing matters a great deal to God just not in the same ways or for the same reasons it typically matters to us. God refuses to decide the formal-casual debate, but he does explicitly tell us what he wants us to wear to church: Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet. 1:5) What are we supposed to wear? Humility. All clothing formal, casual, work, sport, beachwear, sleepwear, underwear, headwear, every other kind of wear can be a source of great pride. There isn t a clothing item or style that we can t turn into an expression of self-centered, self-exalting self-worship. But if we clothe ourselves with humility, if we count others more significant than [ourselves], and look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others, then no matter how we dress, we will honor and reflect Christ (Phil. 2:3-4). God doesn t specify what external clothes honor him most, because he cares what our hearts wear. What s inside of us either honors him or dishonors him either approaches him with authenticity or with inauthenticity. If our hearts are wearing humility, no matter what we wear, we will dress in loving ways. If our hearts are wearing pride, formal clothes will always be disrespectful and casual clothes will always be inauthentic. If our hearts are wearing humility, what will matter to us is whether God is glorified and others are loved. But if our hearts are wearing pride, we will disregard God s glory and others spiritual health in favor of our personal preferences and freedoms. And, in the end, if our hearts are wearing humility, we will think of our clothes as little as possible when we draw near to God together in worship. In His Name, Jason White, Lead Pastor 512.282.0875, x14 jason@manchacabaptist.org Only 4 Months Left to Go, Can You Help? Can you help us reach our goal of being debt free by March of 2019? If so you can give during the offering time at one of our services (mark Freedom Initiative on your check), online (at manchacabaptist.org), or in person at the church office throughout the week. Did you know that you can also donate stocks, bonds, property, etc. by contacting the office as well? Thanks in advance for partnering with us to set the church up for future success in this community! Page 2 The MESSENGER
Student Ministry HEY MBC FAMILY! As we enter into November I find myself overwhelmed with what the Lord has been doing over the school year so far! Redneck Homecoming was a success, and students are with one another more and more. Sunday nights have been so uplifting as we have been in our identity series and it is apparent the spirit is moving. If your student hasn t been able to make it yet, I hope you ll help them arrange their schedules so they can be here. It has truly been a fruitful experience. For the month of November, we have several things going on for students and yourself to be a part of, and to be praying for. November 4 th is a special MBC Students Parent Service. We are asking all parents to attend and participate in our Sunday night service as we close out the identity series. This special night will let parents see what our students are a part of as well as hopefully grow their relationships closer to Jesus and each other. November 11 th we are rolling out our mission trip for students to sign-up to be a part of the team for the summer. Last year we experienced our students really growing in Jesus and connecting their faith to outside the walls of the church. Please pray our students will respond to God s calling on them accordingly. Last, is our Student Bake Sale on November 18 th during the Thanksgiving lunch. All of the money raised goes towards our fall and spring retreats to help with scholarships and other things of that nature. Please consider participating in the silent auction. We are so excited about this time of year and feel it will be very impactful for many of our students. As the holiday seasons begin, we ask that you continue to pray for our students. Pray that the Lord helps them realize all the blessing that they have through Jesus Christ and that if any of them do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, that He would bring them to know and fall deeply in love with Him. Because of Grace, Tanner Shumake, Student Pastor 512-282-0875, ext. 22 tanner@manchacabaptist.org Children s Ministry In November we all have so much to be thankful for and I am so excited about the monthly themes for MBC Kids. This month we will begin teaching our preschoolers to grow up with eyes that see the helpers in their life and a heart that is thankful. Because no matter how grown up you are, you always have people helping you and a thank you goes a long way. Also, this month our Elementary kids will be learning that cooperation is a spiritual concept that originates with God. God created us to work together in community. Throughout the Bible, we see how God brought people together to accomplish something big for Him. When we work together, we reflect what Jesus envisioned for His followers. Our love for one another can point people to Him. As we enter into November together, my hope is that we all are overwhelmed with thankfulness for all God has done in and through our lives. I am so thankful for each of you and it is an honor to serve with you at MBC. In His Joy, Jenny Childress Children s Director 512-282-0875, ext. 26 jenny@manchacabaptist.org Volume 6, Issue 11 Page 3
Music Ministry I don t know how many times you have read the New Testament, but I am finding more and more, that I have missed the simple points that God left me through His word. I know that Jesus died for my sins and through Him, I am set free, but what does it really mean to follow Him? Matthew 4:19 is one of my favorite examples of the urgency of the Gospel. Jesus meets Simon Peter and his brother Andrew on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and immediately calls them into ministry by telling them to drop their nets and follow Him. Jesus said that He would show them how to become fishers of men. Jesus didn t go to the temple and pick two religious men or to a place of education and pick two scholars, He picked two of the most blue-collar people of that day and time fishermen. Jesus has called us. The Gospel is urgent, and the time is now. He will show us how, but we have to set out on the path with him. I think all too often we are afraid to invite people to church because we are afraid of failing. Two things- fear is not of God and He cannot fail because He is God. Deuteronomy 31:6 The choir has begun leading worship in the 8:30 service again. With this, I think we have been given an amazing opportunity to reach out to people that enjoy/prefer a more traditional style of worship. There are not that many choirs around anymore. This is a fact. Each one of us probably knows someone that is frustrated because of this. Some people even leave their church over it. It s up to us to spread the word that Manchaca Baptist Church has a choir again. Right now, you may be thinking of someone who needs to hear this. Maybe it s your mom or dad or your grandparents. Maybe it s your neighbor. We all need to have the faith of Simon Peter and Andrew and just drop our nets and follow Jesus. You will not fail because He is God! Keith Davis Worship Pastor 512-282-0875 keith@manchacabaptist.org Student Ministry Bake Sale Wednesday Dinner Menu Nov. 7 Taco Soup, Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, Dessert Nov. 14 Ham, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, Dessert Nov. 21 No Meal - Thanksgiving Week Nov. 28 Spaghetti, Green Beans, Bread, Dessert Page 4 The MESSENGER
Baptist Community Center Mission (BCCM) The BCCM is having their annual Fall Food Drive, and are collecting the following items: Canned goods: can chicken, can ham, tuna, beef stew, chili without beans, spam, chicken & dumplings, hash, sloppy joes, ham spread, bbq beef, chicken spreads, roast beef, deviled ham, vienna sausage, salmon, potted meat, corned beef, all canned vegetables, canned fruit, soups. Dry goods: peanut butter/jelly, pancake mix, syrup, sugar (2-lb bags), gravy packets, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, taco sauce, mayonnaise, catsup, mustard, relish, tomato sauce/paste, Jiffy cornbread mix, cereal, rice (1-2-lb bags), pinto beans (dry/1-2-lb bags), instant potatoes, pop tarts, oatmeal, grits, crackers, flour, muffin/bread mixes, Crisco/oil, baking soda, baking powder, spices, cake mixes, cake frosting, pie filling, puddings, brownie/cookie mixes. Beverages: tang, juices, tea, coffee, hot chocolate mix, evaporated milk, nonfat dry milk. Baby Items: formulas, cereals, can meat, fruit & vegetables. Soap & Washing Detergent: all kinds/small boxes, bath soap, dish detergent. Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. MBC collects various items all throughout the year. For the month of November we are collecting cash for shipping, underwear and socks (all sizes). Items to be donated all year are: shoeboxes, and cash donations which we will use to buy items for the boxes and for shipping. To find out more information about OCC, or to volunteer to serve in this ministry, please contact Marta Knight 512-657-2366. Join us on Sat., Nov. 10, at 9:00am, in the Gym, for our Box Packing Party. Invite a friend and bring a dish for our snack table! Ladies Ministry Events IF:TABLE - ALL LADIES are invited to our November IF:Tables. For locations and times, please contact Amanda Burchett: burchett.amanda@gmail.com LADIES BIBLE STUDY - All ladies are welcome for Bible Studies on Fridays at 9:30am in. LADIES COFFEE - Ladies meet at the Texican Café at 9:00am the 4th Sat. of each month (excluding Nov. & Dec.) for coffee, Dutch-treat breakfast and great fellowship. O.A.S.I.S. O.A.S.I.S. (Older Adults Still In Service) ALL Senior Adults are invited for our monthly gathering on November 9, at 11:30am, in, for some good food, wonderful fellowship and dominoes! Volume 6, Issue 11 Page 5
November 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1Adventurer s Acad. 1:30-3:30pm Gym Open Studio 10:00am-2:00pm E115 Men s Lunch Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym 2 Ladies Bible Study 9:30-11:30am Terry s Dayhab 10:00-11:00am Gym 3 in Use 11:00am-4:00pm Childress Baby Shower 2:00-4:00pm Kids Worship Room Daylight Saving Time Ends - Set Your Clocks back an Hour! 4 11 Student Ministry Parent Service 5:00pm The Loft Deacon Meeting 2:30pm 5 MBC Kids Weekday 9:00am-2:00pm 12 MBC Kids Weekday 9:00am-2:00pm 6 Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym 13 Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym 7KW 9:00am-2:00pm - Family Meal 5:45-6:30pm Gym - Men s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S204 - Women s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S207 - Sr. Adult Study 6:30-7:30pm - AWANA 6:30-7:45pm 14KW 9:00am-2:00pm - Family Meal 5:45-6:30pm Gym - Men s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S204 - Women s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S207 - Sr. Adult Study 6:30-7:30pm - AWANA 6:30-7:45pm 8Adventurer s Acad. 1:30-3:30pm Gym Open Studio 10:00am-2:00pm E115 Men s Lunch Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym 15Adventurer s Acad. 1:30-3:30pm Gym Open Studio 10:00am-2:00pm E115 Men s Lunch Golden Corral 10:45am Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym 9 Ladies Bible Study 9:30-11:30am Terry s Dayhab 10:00-11:00am Gym O.A.S.I.S. 11:30am 16 Ladies Bible Study 9:30-11:30am Terry s Dayhab 10:00-11:00am Gym 10 Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party 9:00am Gym 17 Project Linus 10:00am 2:00pm 18 No 8:30am Service 19 20 21 22 23 24 Congregational Thanksgiving Meal and Student Ministry Bake Sale 12:00pm Gym Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym No Scheduled Activities Church Office is Closed at 12:00pm. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! No Scheduled Activities Church Office is Closed 25 26 MBC Kids Weekday 9:00am-2:00pm 27 Basketball Ages 18+ 7:00-9:00pm Gym 28KW 9:00am-2:00pm - Family Meal 5:45-6:30pm Gym - Men s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S204 - Women s Study 6:30-7:30pm Room S207 - Sr. Adult Study 6:30-7:30pm - AWANA 6:30-7:45pm 29*Adventurer s Acad. 1:30-3:30pm Gym *Open Studio 10:00am-2:00pm E115 *Men s Lunch Golden Corral 10:45am *Adapted Sports 6:00-8:00pm Gym *Ladies Event 6pm E115 30 Ladies Bible Study 9:30-11:30am Terry s Dayhab 10:00-11:00am Gym Page 6 The MESSENGER
New Exercise Classes Daylight Saving Time Ends Is your new year s resolution to be healthier in 2019? If so then you are invited to attend a lunch time exercise class led by MBC s own Lindsey Lear. Classes begin January 10 th and will be held on Thursdays from 12:00-12:30pm in the Gym. This class is for adults of any age, and will be exercises that can be adjusted for any fitness level. Got questions or want to know more? Contact Lesa Yanes in the Church Office at 512-282-0875. Daylight Saving Time Ends November 4 Set your clocks back 1-hour Sat., Nov. 3. Ladies Event WOMEN S MINISTRY PAINTING NIGHT When: Thursday, November 29 Where: MBC, Time: 6:00-8:00pm Cost: $10.00 Amanda Burchett will be leading us to paint the winter scene you see here! Sign-up on the table located in the Main Foyer. Questions? Contact the Church Office at 512-282-0875. Volume 6, Issue 11 Page 7
October 31, 2018 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2 Manchaca, TX 1215 W. FM 1626 P.O. Box 400 Manchaca, TX 78652 Phone: 512-282-0875 Fax: 512-292-0043 E-mail: info@manchacabaptist.org I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. - Micah 7:7 Return Service Requested Annual Thanksgiving Meal