THE TIDINGS (USPS #020005), Published Weekly except Christmas by: December 8, 2010 Temple Baptist Church, Periodical Postage Paid, Ruston, LA 71270 Postmaster send address changes to: Vol. 63 No. 48 Temple Baptist Church, 1515 South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270 God ’s mission for Temple Baptist Church is to love Him fully and follow Him faithfully . Label here Education & Administration News From the Shepherd’s Heart Loy Seal Dr. Rick Byargeon THANK YOU TEMPLE FAMILY!! Over 200 people distributed the Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Saturday morning, you made “Merry Christmas, Ruston!” bells and door hangers on Saturday the difference with “Merry Christmas, Ruston!” Over 200 of you and they did make it to the TempleTech tailgate party on time. It came and walked, prayed and ministered on the streets of was a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer walking. Just Ruston. We are already getting feedback from our door hangers. think, the entire city of Ruston was blanketed in prayer for spiri- As of Monday, one person prayed to receive Christ, and another tual awakening last Saturday. had asked for a visit. Wow! But you know what is really amazing; when you walk a street you see it with different eyes. I know I Our revival got off to a great start on Sunday, with four people did. We need to start thinking carefully about how we can do for accepting Jesus as Savior. Two of them were baptized Sunday Ruston what we do for Nicaragua. night and the others will be baptized later in the week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Are you ready for this? Remember that we will have only one worship service this Sun- Deacons of the Week —December 12-18 Sunday morning we had our March for Missions. You gave to the day at 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary for our big Christmas musical. Phone: (318) 255-3745 * Fax: (318) 255-0134 Lottie Moon International Missions Christmas Offering a total of Sunday School will follow as soon as it is over. Victor Avery, Cecil Barham, & Curtis Barham Website: www.temple-ruston.org $56,202.00 on Sunday. Our grand total to this point is $64,576.15 . We are a long way toward meeting our goal of Sunday, December 26, we will have ONLY one worship service at $100,000 . I am absolutely confident that by the end of the 10 a.m. There will be no Sunday School or evening worship that month we will meet the goal. day. Bring your whole family to worship at 10 a.m. and enjoy being with them the entire day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What a day on Sunday as we kicked off our revival. We had four professions of faith (2 adults and 2 children). We have at last count another 5 to 6 folks that Music Ministry are awaiting baptism as well. Our numbers were outstanding with over 1100 in worship and almost 600 Sunday evening. Ronnie Hill Jodie Williams and Chris McDaniel have done an outstanding job in preaching THE FIRST NOEL, BORN IS THE KING and leading worship. I can’t wait to see how things conclude. …I certainly hope you are planning to be here for worship this Sunday, December 12, Thank you for being faithful. as three of our choirs plus our church orchestra will present spe- Week-at-a-Glance Vision: cial music for the season. Our combined TempleTech and Youth Dr. Rick Choirs will start off the service with a new selection entitled “Ring To become authentic, loving followers of Jesus, the Bells.” The musical, “The First Noel, Born is the King” will 9 a.m. —The First Noel: Adult Music Program (Sanctuary) follow. It will feature Dr. and Mrs. Byargeon as the narrators. 10 a.m. —Bible Study for all ages who are experiencing life transformation through God’s Word, Solos will be performed by Michael Greene, Alexa Lambert, and SUN 3 p.m. —Youth Axis Meeting (YR) for the purpose of impacting our world. From The Associate Pastor 12/12/10 4:30 p.m. —Adult Handbells (Rm. 213B) Emily Cox. The musical will consist of several new Christmas 5 p.m. —Youth Choir (Choir Rm.) Dale Oden songs plus several familiar favorites of the season. 6 p.m. —Evening Worship (Sanctuary) Our group of 60 folks enjoyed our visit to Branson last week. We Other opportunities to hear music of the Christmas season in- saw five wonderful shows and ate lots of delicious food. Ron and MON 11:45 a.m. —Bistro 360 (FH) (Cost: $5/person) clude the church-wide Christmas caroling event on Sunday eve- 12/13/10 6 p.m. —Choir Christmas Party (FH) Margie White joined us from North Carolina for some of the ning, December 19. We will be dividing up into groups and going week’s activities. One of the highlights this year was a tour of the to all the area nursing homes, assisted living homes, and to our 9 a.m. —Friendship International (Rm. 72) College of the Ozarks. If you have never been on that campus, let 5 p.m. —Family Night Meal (FH) (Menu: Po Boy Sandwiches; church shut-ins to sing familiar carols. Additionally, we have me encourage you to visit it for a tour. It was very impressive. WED Cost: $4/person, $2/child under 8, $12 max/family) some excellent Christmas music planned for our annual 12/15/10 6 p.m. —Children’s Choir Christmas Program (Sanctuary); There is also a very nice restaurant on the campus that served us Christmas Eve Candlelight service on December 24, at 5 p.m. I Youth Christmas Party (Youth Rm.) a great meal. Our Branson trip did put us in the Christmas spirit. 7 p.m. —Youth ONE Ruston Christmas Worship (Trinity) hope you will make your plans to be a part of each of these Don’t miss our Christmas musical presented by the Sanctuary events. 6:30 a.m. —Prayer Time (Chapel) THU 11:45 a.m. —Sr. Adult Luncheon (FH) Core Values:::: Choir this Sunday, December 12, at 9 a.m. You will be blessed by 12/16/10 7 p.m. —the PATH (GS) the message and music of this presentation. 7:30 p.m. —Youth Girls Bible Study (Youth Rm.) Authoritative Truth Strengthening Worship Dr. Rick will be preaching at FRI 5:30 p.m. —Youth Progressive Dinner Authentic Community Intentional Transformation Zion Traveler Baptist Church 12/17/10 Hands-On Missions Relational Evangelism Lottie Moon on Sunday, December 12, at 6 p.m. Compassionate Servanthood Our congregation is invited to attend. Christmas Offering Family Life Center Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 6 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Wednesday: 6 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Temple’s Goal : $100,000 David Abernathy will be leading 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. to date: $64,576.15 our evening worship at Temple. Women on Mission would like your new, unused Neighbors and Nations Christmas cards to be distributed in our prison ministry. John King Michael Greene Please drop off your cards in the Church Office on or “Are we there yet?” The theme for this year’s Lottie Moon Don't Forget ...next Sunday is Temple Baptist Church's The First Noel Music Program — December 12, before Wednesday, December 15. Christmas Offering for International Missions asks us a basic Christmas program. The adult choir will be presenting " The First 9 a.m. Combined Worship, Sanctuary question. That question grows out of reflection on the Lord Jesus’ Noel: Born is the King ". Including a mixture of new songs to final challenge to his disciples, the Great Commission. In Matthew be sung and favorite traditional carols, The First Noel will surely Children’s Choirs Christmas Program — December 15, 6 p.m., Sanctuary 28:19-20, Christ calls His followers, including the present-day be a program that reminds us all that our focus should remain Church-wide Caroling & Fellowship — December 19, His Kids & Little Lambs church, to make disciples of all nations. Over the past 2000 years, fixed on the Savior who came to give us a way to our Heavenly 5 p.m., Fellowship Hall the church around the world has made tremendous progress Father. Sally Hearn toward that end. However, the question remains an important one Christmas Eve Candlelight Service — December 24, 5 p.m., Sanctuary rd th to ask. On another note, this past Sunday our drummer, Russell Moore, A big “Thanks” to Jessica Williams, Helen Cox, Becky Mills, 3 -6 Grade GA’s and parents for distributing cookies on Sunday as a said a few words in leading our band upstairs in a pre-service Holiday Worship Service — December 26, 10 a.m., Combined Worship, The task that King Jesus left us with is not an easy one. The Greek prayer that I found refreshing and left me looking in the Sanctuary (No Bible Study or Evening Worship) reminder of the work of Lottie Moon . We are well on our way to term he used to describe our target in making disciples is panta ta our church goal. mirror. "Lord, let us be windows, not doors. We desire to be ethne , meaning all the distinct groupings of culture, society, and transparent so that the world will see you..." I believe that too Come Ride the Float with us in the language in the world. This is what we are talking about when we often we try and be the door to which people enter into a Ruston Christmas Parade ! use the term “people groups.” Though estimates vary slightly, by relationship with God, but instead we end up being only a door Welcome to our newest members: This Friday! Meet at the TAC parking lot at 5:15 p.m.