November 5, 2014 Vol. 67 No. 45
God’s mission for Temple Baptist Church is to love Him fully and follow Him faithfully .
From The Senior Pastor Dr. Reggie Bridges I want to encourage you to be praying especially for wisdom and discernment over the next few weeks as we make some significant decisions about our leadership and resources. From choosing deacons and staff to approving our church budget, you have great responsibility to your spiritual family. This coming Sunday (November 9), you will be asked to nominate ten men to serve on our active Deacons Council. I cannot tell you how important it is for you to consider the biblical qualities a deacon should embody (see Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13), note those men who represent such characteristics, and pray that the Spirit confirms His choice in you. In addition, we will be discussing the proposed 2015 budget next Wednesday night (November 12). You should have received a copy of this budget already, and you have most likely observed that there are two areas of significant increase. The first is in our missions endeavors. This increase reflects $20,000 more in Cooperative Program giving, which is the primary vehicle used to fund our Southern Baptist ministries and missionaries. Moreover, we have recommended $12,000 to support our very own Nicaraguan Christian Outreach missionaries, Joseph and Susan McWhorter. While I believe this to be a substantial investment, this will in no way cover their ministry in Nicaragua; subsequently, it is incumbent upon us to give above and beyond our tithe to help them. (Please think about how you might contribute monthly in this effort to get the McWhorters to Nicaragua as soon as possible.) The missions budget also includes funds for many traditional responsibilities while covering new partnerships (e.g. Los Angeles and SEND mobilizers). I have always held that the more we give to missions, the more we will experience God’s favor in other areas. The old adage is true: You cannot out give God. The second area that has a significant increase is our personnel line item. While it represents basic cost of living adjustments, the bulk of the increase involves the funding of the full-time Associate Minister of Music. I am convinced this is a necessary step in our continued ministry expansion. An appropriate search committee will be presented for your approval on Wednesday night as well. My prayer is that the committee members will work accordingly and focus on Chris Albritton as their primary candidate. These are exciting days at Temple Baptist Church! No doubt, He has blessed us with many opportunities and resources. We must continue to recognize this and meet the responsibilities that come with such blessings. Hoping you will participate actively in the decisions before us! See you Sunday!
FROM THE RECORDS OF November 2, 2014
9 a.m. Blended Worship Service
650
11 a.m. gathering Worship Service
418
Combined Morning Total
1068
6 p.m. Evening Worship
208
SS Attendance
‘14
‘13
Adults
409
403
Singles/ Young Adults
123
120
College
109
84
Youth
62
51
Children
105
93
Preschool
113
110
Local
921
861
Off Campus
93
157
Total
1014
1018
Sunday, November 2, 2014 Budget Sharing the Light
$57,667.90 $2,625.00
Extended Session 11/9/14 9 a.m.—Jennifer Black, Kelly Guerrero, Marianna Easley, Alan & Paula Trammell, Sarah Davison, Margaret Alexander, Stacey Collinsworth 11 a.m.—Charles & Jon Anne Winstead, Byron & Cheryl Williams, Dale & Sadel Oden, Stan & Johnna Cronk, Stephanie Griffin, Ann Marie Queen, Lindsey O’Neal
The Journey Place Tiny Trekkers & Summit Kids Sally Hearn We had a wonderful time with our 4th-6th graders at our Pumpkin Party last Thursday night. A big Thank You to Shane and Carmen Echols for hosting at The Barn! Operation Christmas Child Shoebox collection is underway. Completed boxes need to be turned in by Sunday, November 16. Children's Sunday School classes will fill boxes this Sunday in Sunday School classes. Bring items to put in your class boxes. Temple will serve as a Relay Center again this year. If you would be willing to help with the Relay Center, please call The Journey Place Office to sign up!
Mark your calendar: Family Ornament Party: Thursday, December 4. Parent's Night Out (Childcare for Sunday School Class Christmas Parties): Saturday, December 12, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Welcome to our newest members:
Olivia Loewer
Timothy Gregoire
Charissa Aalgaard, Abbey Baker, Blake James Becnel, Allison Brister, Jennifer Cook, James Delatte, Kelly Dickson, Kelly Doughty, Kathryn Ebeyer, Anthony Ellis, Scott Felder, Scotty Floyd, Sarah Fogle, Blake Gautreaux, Brett Hooks, Micah Ivey, Maegan Kammerdeiner, Amanda Labude, Annie Lee, Hannah Moore, Tyler Pitson, Steven Polk, Rashon Porter, Jenna Marie Price, Alaina Proctor, Amy Claire Rabinowitz, Katie Rose, Mandi Rose, Rhett Tynes, Frededreia Willis
Sign-up has begun! Registration Cost: $70 1st-6th grade Basketball and Cheerleading Basketball shorts & Cheer turtlenecks: $15 (optional)
Evaluation Nights will be December 8 & 9 from 5-7 p.m.
Registration deadline: December 9
Upward brochures are located throughout the church or register online at www.temple-ruston.org and click on the Upward link.
Missionary Round Table Friday, November 14, at 9:30 a.m.
in the home of Edith Hawkins, 502 Savannah Trace. Freddie Jo Nichols will be the reviewer. Guests are cordially invited.
for the Joseph McWhorter Family as they go as Missionaries to Nicaragua in January We want the McWhorters to have a tangible reminder of what they mean to their Temple church family and how much we are praying for them. If you are interested in participating, there is special paper in the Church Office. Please personalize these as your heart leads, but be as creative as you like! You might want to include a photo of your family or let your children draw a picture for them. (Ideas: words of encouragement, a prayer for their ministry, scripture that speaks to you) Pages need to be returned to the Church Office by
Sunday, November 30.
The family of Inez Rainwater, mother of Mike Rainwater. Ronny & Dianne Volentine and Tommy & Nancy Smith on the birth of their granddaughter, Tessa Grace Smith.
Myrtle King Lunch Bunch
Thursday, November 13 12 p.m., Fellowship Hall Speaker: Sylvia Stroops
The Temple Baptist Church Christmas Decorating Committee is in need of volunteers. Decorating of the Sanctuary, Foyer, Fellowship Hall, and the Gathering Space will take place the week after Thanksgiving, December 1-5. We need people who are willing to help hang garland and put up trees as well as those who enjoy trimming a tree. Please contact Alisia Thomason at 243-8475 or
[email protected] if you would be willing to serve our church through this area of need this year.
Sugar for CCA
We are responsible for 55 bags of sugar each month. Thank you for your support with this great ministry!
Attention Ordained Deacons: If you would like to serve on our Deacon of the week Ministry team, please sign up in your Sunday School Class or email Andrea at
[email protected].
Responsibilities for your week of service include Pray in the Blended Morning Worship Service Attend GROW Visitation (Wednesdays, 6 p.m., FH) Contact visitors and new members Maintain contact with the Church Office for other needs Arrange for another deacon to take your place if you are unavailable and let the Church Office know of the change Faithfully attend services
Reservations will be received until Sunday, November 30, for the poinsettias to be displayed in the Sanctuary. Please Note: MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS ARE TO BE SEPARATE RESERVATIONS MADE IN SEPARATE ENVELOPES. $12/poinsettia—Payment is due at the time of reservation. Red reservation envelopes are available throughout the church.
Loy Seal I am sure you have heard all the emphasis on our participation the “SEND Cities” projects with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). You heard Matt Lawson preach a couple of Sundays ago about his efforts to plant a church in Los Angeles and how Temple will be helping in that effort. You have heard from the 26 temple-tech students who were involved in church planting efforts in three cities last summer and will have even more participate next summer. Church planting is the major business of NAMB. Did you know that Sunday School has a similar strategy? We plant new classes at Temple using the same reasons and procedures as do church planters. New people are attracted to new churches and to new Sunday School classes. Older churches and classes usually maintain themselves instead of inviting new people to become part of the group. In Sunday School, it is difficult to grow without adding new classes. So far this fall, we have begun three new classes, with our most recent class in Adult 10, with Kevin and Sheri Herren as teachers. We are making plans to begin other new classes soon. MERRY CHRISTMAS, RUSTON! is less than one month away. We will again partner with Zion Traveler on Saturday, December 6, to distribute bells and door hangers to every home in Ruston, and to pray for each of those homes as we go. We will need over 200 people to join us at 8:30 a.m. on December 6. Make plans for your family to participate!
THE TIDINGS (USPS #020005), Published Weekly except Christmas by: Temple Baptist Church, Periodical Postage Paid, Ruston, LA 71270 Postmaster send address changes to: Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270
Sunday, November 9 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Worship Services
Deacon Nominations
Wednesday, November 12
Label here
6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
2015 Budget Proposal Discussion Approval of the following individuals to serve on the Associate Minister of Music Search Committee:
Chris Barr, Denise Cox, David Darland, Gray Hipp, Robin Robbins, Kay Turner
Deacons of the Week—November 9-15 Mack Blake, Eddie Blick, Mike Brister
Phone: (318) 255-3745 * Fax: (318) 255-0134 Website: www.temple-ruston.org
Week-at-a-Glance
SUN 11/9/14
Heart of India Mission Trip (11/7-11/16) 8 a.m.—Orchestra Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 8:30 a.m.—Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 9 a.m.—Blended Worship | Deacon Nomination-Special Called Business Meeting (Sanctuary) 10 a.m.—Bible Study for all ages 11 a.m.—the gathering | Deacon Nomination-Special Called Business Meeting (GS) 4 p.m.—Adult 11 Women’s Bible Study (Rm. 231); TT Choir Rehearsal (Choir Rm.) 4:15 p.m.—Women’s Bible Study—Children of the Day (Rm. 233) 4:30 p.m.—Sanctuary Handbell Rehearsal (Rm. 213B); Youth Guys & Girls Bible Study (FLC) 4:45 p.m.—Celebration Choir Rehearsal (Choir Rm.) 6 p.m.—Evening Worship (Sanctuary) 7 p.m.—TT Sunday Night Supper
TUES 11/11/14
9:30 a.m.—Women’s Bible Study: The Amazing Collection (Rm. 231) 6 p.m.—Bible Study for moms of children with special needs (JPMPR)
WED 11/12/14
9 a.m.—Friendship International (Rm. 72 & 76) 3:30 p.m.—Women’s Bible Study: Children of the Day (Rm. 216) 5 p.m.—Family Night Meal (FH) (Menu: Fried and Baked Fish) (Cost: $4/person, $2/child under 8, $12 max/family) 5:45 p.m.—Children’s M3 (Missions, Music, & More) (JP) 6 p.m.—Special Called Business Meeting (FH); Grow Visitation (Green Team (FH); Youth Wednesday Night Worship (Rm. 228) 6:45 p.m.—Heart of India Interest Meeting (Rm. 76) 7 p.m.—CORPS (Rm. 270); Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Rm.); Orchestra Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
THUR 11/13/14
12 p.m.—Myrtle King Lunch Bunch (FH)
FRI 11/14/14
Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference (11/14-11/16)
Vision: To become authentic, loving followers of Jesus, who are experiencing life transformation through God’s Word, for the purpose of impacting our world.
Core Values: A u t hor it a t i ve Tr u t h A u t he n ti c Co mmu n i t y Ha n d s - O n M i ssi o n s
Str e n g t he n i n g Wor shi p In t e n t io n a l Tr a n sfor ma t i on Re la t i o n a l E va n ge li sm
C o mp a ssi o n a te Se r va n t hoo d
Family Life Center Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The Journey Place Free Play Hours: Monday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 2:30-5 p.m.; Friday: 8-11 a.m. Media Center Hours: Sunday: 8:15-9 a.m.; 10-11 a.m.; Wednesday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1:30-5 p.m. Broadcast: Sundays at 9 a.m. Channel 11 (KAQY)
