Sunday, February 27, 2005
Church offices in the old fellowship hall?
PROPOSED CHURCH OFFICES IN THE OLD FELLOWSHIP HALL might look something like this sketch, above, handed out to the congregation today by Trustee Chair Randy Stanley. Tinney Chapel's Board of Trustees now wrestles with this sensitive issue after requesting and receiving input from last week's congregation. Following that congregational input, the Trustees voted last Sunday against walled offices in the old fellowship hall, but the possibility was reintroduced today. See related article, below, in Chapel News Section of this Blog post.
CHAPEL NEWS TODAY
TRUSTEES WRESTLE WITH LOCATION OF CHURCH OFFICES
Tinney Chapel Trustee Chair Randy Stanley today presented the congregation with a revised proposal for church office space located in the old fellowship hall.
His proposal follows last Sunday’s vote by the Board of Trustees against locating those offices in the old fellowship hall.
That vote came on the heels of input to the Trustees from members of the congregation earlier that same day, February 20, in response to Randy’s presentation explaining the office space quest, and urging members of the congregation to share suggestions and concerns with individual Trustees during the fellowship break preceding Sunday School.
Among the suggestions the Trustees received: (1) Keep the old fellowship hall open as an area for small group meetings and receptions. (2) Keep the old fellowship hall flexible for possible future expansion. (3) Combine open office space, without walls, and a functional church library, including wall-to-wall-to-ceiling bookcases all around the hall. The latter suggestion would permit church offices to function as do many newsrooms, open, while remaining flexible for future options, including anticipated library growth at Tinney Chapel.
Meanwhile, Randy’s presentation today reintroduces the old fellowship hall as a candidate for walled offices to be used by Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham and church secretary Elaine Knoop.
“The reason the Trustees have chosen the old fellowship hall is that it is more affordable, [and offers] better access to visitors looking for the office,” Randy said in today’s written handout. “The old fellowship hall can still be used for small groups and children.”
Randy’s presentation and handout today also addressed the issue of estimated utility costs for the proposed walled church offices that might be located in the old building, some unspecified arrangement in the new building, and also included one scenario for church options in the event that future expansion might become necessary should the proposed walled offices eventually be located in the old fellowship hall.
“Utility cost for [proposed offices located in] the old fellowship hall is around $20.00 a month. Utility cost for heating two rooms in the new building is around $60.00-plus a month, since the new building is zoned [meaning] you would have to heat more than one room.
“In the future, if we decide we need to expand, then we can always take the wall down and incorporate new offices in the new constructing.”
In addition, Randy’s handout estimated the total construction cost for the proposed new walled offices in the old fellowship hall at about $500.00.
Today’s presentation and handout did not address last Sunday's vote by the Board of Trustees, or the possibility of open church offices, located in the old fellowship hall, but without walls, a concept currently exampled by the office already located in the old fellowship hall, and already in use during church business hours by church secretary Elaine Knoop.
No discussion or question-and-answer period followed Randy’s presentation.
Next scheduled meeting for Tinney Chapel’s Board of Trustees is at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, March 13, in the Conference Room.
SUNDAY WORSHIP TODAY
MORNING SERVICE, 9:00 A.M.
Greeters: Randy Stanley, George Jordan, Matthew Stanley and Danny Lake.
Soundman: Bob Deitering.
Ushers: George Jordan & Randy Stanley.
MUSIC
Pianist: Pat Hollingsworth.
Songleader for hymns: Angela Wylie.
Songs: This Is My Father’s World; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; He’s The Savior Of My Soul; His Name Is Wonderful; There’s Something About That Name; Sanctuary; Only Trust Him.
SPECIAL MUSIC BY TINNEY CHAPEL CHOIR, directed by Pat Hollingsworth.
The Passover Lamb
Choir singers included: Judy Spears, Sadie Jordan, Linda Hallman, Mollie Stanton, Alice Deitering, Emmaline Hallman, Angela Wylie, Angel Hensley, Stacey Stanley, Clay Spears, Ronny Ellison, George Jordan, David Stanton, Derrell Hollingsworth.
Call to Worship & Opening Prayer: Rev. Gene Miller.
Morning Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Pastor Duncan Graham
LITURGY BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR GENE MILLER:
Offertory Prayer
Doxology
Gloria Patri
Apostles Creed
CHILDREN’S SERMON TODAY
Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham briefly played a game, apparently called Rock, with the children today. He told them it was an international game, played all over the world. It was the Pastor’s way of leading the children into a discussion about getting water out of a rock, itself a symbol of the way God provides for His children in our times of need. Pastor Graham told the children that today’s sermon was based on Exodus 17:5-6:
17:5 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.
17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. ---New King James Translation
“This happened when Moses was leading the children of Israel through the desert,” explained Pastor Graham. “But it tells us that when we don’t know what to do, God will provide for our needs. He knows our names, He cares for us and He wants the best for us.”
In his concluding prayer, the Pastor said: “Oh, gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for this day. You are a wonderful Lord, who can even bring water out of a rock. Keep refreshing our memories that You can do the impossible and that it is not difficult for You to do it. We pray that we stay close to Your direction, and that if You ever tell us to do something that seems impossible, help us to do it with faith! Amen.”
ADULT SERMON TODAY
Today’s sermon by Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham was titled, “Jesus In The Temple,” and was based on Mark 11:11-33:
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.
15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." 27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men' "--they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." ---New King James Translation
“Today’s Scripture is interesting from a number of points,” emphasized Pastor Graham. “For instance, why would Jesus curse a fig tree? Obviously, Jesus knew that it was not the season for figs. Over there, they have two crops of figs: One in June and early summer, and another, the biggest one, in the fall. There, they grow figs in vineyards, and care for them very carefully. Figs were important in the diet at that time, and the Israelites sometimes wore them around their necks, like beads on a string. This allowed them to sustain themselves from day to day.
“In this Scripture, Jesus comes, probably in April, and has just made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on the colt of a donkey,” adds Pastor Graham. “What we need to remember also is that the fig itself is symbolic of the nation of Israel, and this Scripture is a Parable of the position of Israel. This fig tree represents Israel, which Jesus condemns for non-belief and non-acceptance of the Messiah. Here, we see Israel portrayed as a fruitless nation. Since nothing is more important than bearing fruit, it’s a message both for Israel and for us.
“How does this Scripture impact our lives?” The Pastor’s answer to this is that when Jesus returns, we want all to be well with our souls. Here, Pastor Graham referred to another Scripture: Matthew 24:32:
24:32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ---New King James Translation
“In this Scripture, we see that the end is near when the bud is gone and the tree gets ready for the fig season,” explained the Pastor. “When you see Israel bud again, you will know the end is near. It is a prophetic prognostication. One recent development is the reinstatement of the Sanhedrin in Israel about two months ago, along with serious plans to re-build the Temple on the Temple Mount, right beside the Dome of the Rock.
“I’ve walked on the Temple Mount, and thought that I could see the ideal spot to re-build the Temple,” added the Pastor. “It’s where you can look out through the Eastern Gate, sealed now, but will be unsealed when Messiah returns. Israel is definitely looking at an area to re-build the Temple. If all this comes to pass as now appears possible, then some who seriously study prophecy in the Book of Daniel are also plugging in some of the possibilities for a rapture of the church: pre-tribulation, post-tribulation, etc. God does have a plan, and we will go before, during or after the tribulation.
“We definitely live in a time period when we need to be as ready for Jesus as ever,” cautioned Pastor Graham. “You can’t go wrong by being prepared, by being the one Jesus wants us to be, as suggested in today’s Scripture. He finds people more interested in self than in worshipping the Lord of Lords. When we go astray, we cease being fruitful. People can become so wrapped up in themselves that their worship goes astray. We need to keep a sense of righteousness toward each other, and avoid the me and my attitude at the expense a God and you attitude. Otherwise, that is a sure-fire formula for the wrath of God!
“And, these people in today’s Scripture thought they were religious,” said Pastor Graham. “They were so self-satisfied that Jesus got a little angry with righteous indignation, and He overturned the tables and booths in what He called a den of thieves where people had no business doing business of that kind. Those people were shocked, chagrined and no doubt went to the authorities to complain about Jesus upsetting their businesses. So, Jesus is ultimately asked by what authority He did the things He did, to which He responds with the counter question about John’s baptism.
“On that point, Jesus had them at a disadvantage,” suggested the Pastor. “If they answer that John’s baptism was from Heaven, then they must also accept John’s statement that Jesus was sent by God. If they say that John’s baptism is not of Heaven, they risk the anger of a population that widely regarded John the Baptist as a prophet of God. They are in a dilemma, and so refuse to answer the question. We, too, face what may, for some, be difficult choices: To please us or to please God? Are we wrapped up in self or in God?
“During this Lenten Season, we should take seriously the call of God for us to serve and worship Him, to get rid of sin, to repent. What did Rick Warren say: It’s not about us! It’s about Him, and what He would have us do and be. This is a time of serious self-reflection.
“As I said earlier, the Sanhedrin has been re-established,” reminded Pastor Graham. “The red heifer is ready for sacrifice. Israel is ready to re-establish animal sacrifice. It’s significant. A lot of people today don’t think that animal sacrifice will happen again, but you watch: It will. It’s important that we have our lives in line with the Lord. If necessary, we should re-establish our relationship with Him and live our lives in ways pleasing in His sight: Bear fruit!
“If Israel is expected to bear fruit, you can be sure the church is also,” added the Pastor. “I don’t know about you, but I want to be ready. I will examine myself very carefully as we welcome the risen Lord.”
In his closing prayer, the Pastor prayed that we all might have spiritual eyes to see, spiritual ears to hear, and that we be granted an understanding of the service that is expected of us during Lent: What we must do! That the signs be revealed to us, and that we may hear it. That the fruit be revealed to us, and that we be empowered to bear it. Amen.
CLASSES TODAY
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TOPICS:
WISE ONES, Frankie Brewer: Overcoming Prejudice.
LADIES BYKOTA CLASS, Peggy Boyd: The Risen Savior.
TINNEY CHAPEL MEN, Bill Knoop: The Case For Christ, a study by Lee Strobel.
OVERCOMERS: Jenna Nelson: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.
YOUTH: Ronny Ellison: Life Lessons from 1 & 2 Peter, a study by Max Lucado.
CHILDREN: Linda Hallman: Who Am I?
THE REMNANT CLASS, Joe Dan Boyd: Healthy Churches Transforming The World, Part 4.
The Renmant Righteousness handout is below:
Life Lessons # 256 from the recent “First Nationwide Healthy Churches Transforming the World” for the United Methodist Church held in Houston, Texas.
Quotes from Bishop Gregory V. Palmer:
2. Healthy churches are filled with healthy individuals.
3. We have been beating ourselves into bad health through the worship wars.
4. We are warring with ourselves and others about how we ought to do worship. Monographs are written about it.
5. First, let’s get our worship lexicon together! This won’t be solved until competing forces get together.
6. Stop the war & do the work to create space for all.
7. When the Apostle Paul says: “I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some,” in 1 Corinthians 9.19-23, it does not seem to be a charade, but rather it seems his duty and high privilege to relate to different kinds of people.
8. As Paul moved into different settings and contexts, he seems to say that he had to see himself in solidarity with those he sought to reach.
9. Perhaps this is a way for you to think about your mission and witness as you struggle for ways to do ministry in this extraordinarily complex and pluralistic world?
10. Perhaps our first goal should be this: To get over ourselves! People of faith have been there.
11. Our goal is not to feel good about ourselves, but rather to proclaim the Gospel of God’s Christ.
12. If you are willing to understand yourself, or your ministry: It’s not something way out there. Rather, where we are [here and now] is a ripe & hungry mission field that hungers for spiritual fulfillment.
13. There’s no evidence in the Holy Writ that we are offered a choice between social justice and personal piety. We are called to do both!
14. Speak up and do something: Look up and imagine the Triune God looking at you and saying, “Go for it!”
15. The only thing that keeps us from finding the Gospel center is fear: Our orientation of heart, mind & body!
TODAY’S DATE: 02-27-05
The Remnant
Sunday School Class
Tinney Chapel UMC
Winnsboro, Texas
ASSIGNMENT FOR SUNDAY: 03-06-05
Healthy Churches, Part 5 (Based on the book, Becoming A Healthy Church, by Stephen A. Macchia.) We will do this study on each First Sunday, eventually covering these topics: Essential ingredients of a healthy ministry; God’s empowering Presence; God-exalting worship; Spiritual disciplines; Learning & growing in community; A commitment to loving and caring relationships; Servant-leadership development; An outward focus; Wise administration and accountability; Networking with the Body of Christ; Stewardship and generosity; The process of becoming a healthy church.
BIBLE READINGS TODAY
Readings for Third Sunday in Lent: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42.
