Huguenot Road Baptist Church was founded in 1964 as a mission of Bon Air Baptist Church. Every June, we celebrate our birthday as a church family. This year we turn 48! Our celebration will include:

·A combined worship service at 11 am, preceded by Sunday School at 9:45 am (note the time changes for this Sunday only)
·Covered dish dinner on the grounds, following the service
·Special Heritage Day Offering, which will go to the It’s Time capital improvements fund, moving us closer to our $800,000 goal for construction to begin
·Recommitment to our mission and vision as a congregation

Our schedules are full, so I hope you will intentionally make the time commitment to be here to celebrate this milestone. Sometimes Heritage Day gets a bit lost between Graduate Recognition Day on the first Sunday of June and the beginning of summer vacations.

It would be wonderful to get a boost in the It’s Time contributions that day, so that we can authorize detailed building drawings and get on with the much-anticipated improvements to our facilities. We will soon see the beginning of upgrades to our sanctuary sound and video systems which will greatly expand our flexibility in worship. Changes will soon become obvious, as anticipation turns to excitement.

See you on June 10 for Heritage Day!

Bert Browning

How’s the Fam?

You may not think you need the Caring for Your Family Conference we’ve put together for Sunday, May 6, but you do. We all do. You may not think you have the time, but you need to make the time. Because you matter and your family matters.

There are two one-hour sessions for conferences specifically aimed at your age bracket and your stage in life. The first session, 4:30-5:30 pm and the second session, 6:15-7:15 pm, have a tasty dinner break in between. The cost is $6 per person with a $30 maximum per family.

Conference topics are aimed at challenges your family faces, focusing on teenagers, young adults, parents, and older adults.

• Do you know how to promote literacy in your preschooler? How to choose the right school for your kids?
• Could you use help understanding your middle-schooler? Do you understand the internet world that teens encounter?
• Would you enjoy talking with other teenagers about handling your family life and would you like some help in approaching adulthood?
• Are you sandwiched between your children and your aging parents? Have you taken an honest look at what older adulthood may hold for you?

Conference leaders are trained experts in their respective fields. Yes, you need this conference! Where else can you find such variety under one roof at one time? Register, please, by April 29. (Registration closes after the congregational meeting this Sunday!)

~ Bert Browning

Think about it…

• ·The church needs your presence. You need to be present to worship, to fellowship and to be discipled by your church family. You need to be involved in Bible study, Sunday School, music ministry, missions, or in a host of other areas as much as HRBC needs you to do so.
• ·The church needs your financial support. You need to give — as a spiritual discipline, as an act of worship, and as an acknowledgement that everything ultimately belongs to God.
• ·The church needs you to lead. And somewhere in your life, you need to step up and step out as a leader. Leading can be as obvious as leading a team, an organization, or a ministry; or it can be as subtle as leading by example. Leading is how we learn to more deeply follow God. Funny how that works. Without your leadership, the church is crippled in its ability to effectively minister in all the areas it senses a calling.
• ·The church needs you to constantly grow and mature in faith, so that it does not stagnate but moves forward in its mission. And, yes, you need to grow and mature in faith so your life is fulfilling and meaningful, as God intends.

What a coincidence!

 

Daylight Savings Time returns on March 11th. Those who keep records of such things tell us it is among the worst-attended Sundays for church services. No one likes losing an hour of sleep — not even to “gain” some evening daylight.

An hour may seem like not that much time, but it takes most of us a week or so to adjust to starting our day an hour earlier. An hour, in reality, is much more significant than we might at first think.

An hour of exercise a day could make a dramatic difference in our health — and our weight! An hour of time spent with a spouse, a child, or a friend could be life-changing over a span of months or years. How about an hour less in front of the TV or on the internet? What could you accomplish in that reclaimed time? That alone would give us 7 additional hours per week, almost the equivalent of another work day.

HRBC worship services generally are about an hour in length, as are Sunday School classes and small groups. What a difference those hours can make! One hour a week over a year’s time totals to more than 2 full days.

Some of us could benefit from an extra hour’s sleep each night. We would live longer, feel better and have more energy for what really matters.

Think about the hours that have slipped by already in your life, that you have used for less than worthy purposes. They are gone and cannot be reclaimed. They add up, don’t they?

Ephesians 5:16 says, “Make the most of every opportunity.” I suggest we all find at least one hour each day we can put to better use.

Bert Browning

God works in mysterious ways, and the month of February turns out to be a divinely-orchestrated focus on worship at HRBC.

Phillip Brown Turns 20 (as our Music Minister, anyway)
Phillip joined the ministerial staff on February 9, 1992, as Associate Pastor for Youth and Music. He has been directing and conducting here ever since. We will celebrate his anniversary a few days early with a reception on Sunday evening, January 29. You will want to express gratitude to Phillip for his faithful service among us.

Winter Bible Study on Worship
Dr. Deborah Loftis, Visiting Professor of Church Music at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, is our guest Bible study leader for the first three Wednesday evenings in February (1, 8 and 15) at 6:15 pm. The study’s focus will be worship.

Ash Wednesday
The season of preparation for Easter, known as Lent, begins on February 22. We will offer an Ash Wednesday worship experience that evening at 6:00 pm. The service will be creative and family friendly.

Children-led Worship Service
The children’s Wednesday evening ministry will wrap up a study of worship by leading a worship experience for us on Wednesday, February 29 at 6:45 pm in the sanctuary. The service is being planned by them. I know they would love for you to be present.
Don’t miss these opportunities to celebrate worship, worship leadership, and through worship!

Bert Browning

It’s Time has gone well, but we aren’t “there” yet. As of this writing, we have committed over $500,000 to the First Fruits Offering portion of our capital fund-raising campaign. We must have $800,000 in hand before we can begin any renovation/construction.

We have pledged an additional $637,000 over the next 3 years, for a total commitment of more than $1.2 million. Our goal is to have commitments of $1.6 million, which would leave less than $1 million to borrow toward the $2.5 million construction cost.

We should reach the $800,000 mark in no more than 12-18 months. How much we must borrow toward construction will depend on your generosity over that same time period.

Thank you for all you have done and are doing financially.

Concurrent with our fund-raising efforts, the ministerial staff is developing spiritual and numerical growth plans in all areas of the church’s ministry. We are planning for expansion and deepening in the areas of children, youth, adult and older adult ministries, in music and worship, in missions outreach, in Sunday School and small group options.

Some of these plans require additional space that we hope we will have in the foreseeable future; some of the plans require no additional space or can be implemented in creative ways and/or in creative spaces.

Growth plans will be clustered around the 6 priorities identified several years ago in our spiritual strategic journey. We have not forgotten them, and we continue to work toward them:

·Kingdom Focus
·Faithfulness to Acts 1:8
·Identity and Calling
·Heart Transformation
·Calling out and Empowering
·Healthy Relationships

We are moving forward, intent on growth in both spirit and in number.

Bert Browning

In a surprise announcement bordering on extravagance, God has once again this year declared the intention to offer limitless love to anyone and everyone.  Jesus, spokesperson for God, was quoted in the Gospel of Luke as saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news.”  Religious authorities were quick to dismiss the claim, stating, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

The announcement by God is believed to be another effort to promote his “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is Near” campaign.  For over 2000 years, the campaign has met with mixed success.  Skeptics cite God’s overreaching goals and unrealistic expectations of a faith response from humanity.  Numerous practitioners of religion have opted to reject God’s campaign of grace and forgiveness, in favor of a strict adherence to ritual, law-keeping and good works.  One critic, identifying himself simply as “a spiritual person” observed, “Why should I surrender my destiny to this senseless display of mercy, when I can maintain complete control of my own life?”

God appeared, as in previous years, to be undeterred in his quest to offer good news to the world.  Jesus was heard lamenting to those expressing little interest in the campaign, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, but you were not willing.”

There is no immediate indication that the campaign to win the world will be abandoned by God.  “It appears God is committed to this effort for the long haul,” one observer noted.  “We can only hope that potential followers will respond to the generosity of God with equal generosity in return.”  Economists reported, however, that many investors appeared more interested in short-term gains than in eternal returns.

 

 

November will go down as one of the worst months of your life, or one of the best. It depends on your perspective. This is the month when we consider and adopt the 2012 church budget, and it is also the month we put the It’s Time capital fund raising campaign into high gear.

That word has the effect on some of challenging and motivating them; others it horrifies and sends them running for the exits. Some will step forward in commitment and let it be known they can be counted on for their support, while others will quietly slide under the pew and hope no one notices them until at least after Christmas. Like I said, for some it will be a terrific month; for others….well, not so much.

While we are discussing the budget (Nov. 6, 6pm) and adopting the budget (Nov. 13, both worship services), we will also kick off our most challenging fund-raising effort in recent memory: a campaign to raise $2.5 million for building renovation and modest expansion. Some are thinking, “Isn’t that great!” And some are thinking, “Great that isn’t!” I understand. It all depends on your perspective.

For those who think, “We don’t need to spend all that money to renovate,” my response is, “Well, yes, we do.” I won’t go into the details here (you’ll be getting lots of information from other sources), but buildings that are 25-45 years old simply have to be updated, reconfigured, and made more accessible. And we have run out of space to begin new Bible Study units.

To those who think, “This is a terrible economy to start a capital campaign,” I say, “Sure is!” We began our Road to Freedom debt elimination campaign immediately after 9/11, and succeeded. Let’s give God some credit for doing good things in bad times.

For those who worry, “But this will hurt our missions giving and efforts,” I respond, “No, it won’t.” We have increased our missions giving and efforts every year in recent years, even when paying off debt.
For those who lament, “I don’t have much of anything to give,” I can reassure you: It’s Time is about equal sacrifice, not equal gifts.

Now for those who say (to yourself, of course), “I’m cheap and I’m not giving that church another penny,” well, I don’t think I have any response to that. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m not God, and we can all be grateful that the one true God is a God of grace and forgiveness.

I hope November is a great month for you. Keep an open mind and an open heart, so God can speak to you about budgets, capital campaigns and other necessary components of doing Kingdom work and being on mission. Depending on your perspective, this could be one terrific month.

Bert Browning

Recognizing that our beautiful facilities are in need of updating, renovation and modest expansion to make them accessible, flexible, welcoming and secure, we are embarking on a challenging capital campaign to pledge and raise the over $2 million necessary to make this a reality. Yes, it’s time.

·It is time to add space for fellowship, rest rooms, classrooms and office use.
·It is time to intentionally address handicap access and safety concerns.
·It is time to put the basics in place to help us grow beyond the 400 barrier in Sunday School.
·It is time to update and reconfigure outdated and unusable areas of the Wallis Building.
·It is time to act on the plans we have prayed over and discussed for a year.
·It is time to commit ourselves financially to this task.

Even a quick look around our educational facilities reveals that we are overdue for a reshaping of our space to meet current ministry, discipling and community needs. On page 3 of this newsletter you will find a listing of the leaders of our It’s Time capital campaign. They will be calling on each of us to help meet the challenge!

In recent years, the congregation has adopted an annual theme to express the direction and intent of our ministry together. Words such as “Make a Difference” and “Be. Love. Serve” have helped both to motivate and to shape how we spend our time, energy, resources and our very selves for the Kingdom of God.

The theme adopted by HRBC for this church year is “Life is Mission.” It captures our conviction that who we are and what we do, individually and collectively, finds its deepest purpose and meaning in serving God and others.

For these words to be more than a slogan on the printed page will require our best efforts to seek God and where God is at work — and join him there.

Bert Browning

 Spiritual and numerical growth do not require church buildings, but buildings can enhance or deter growth. We are launching a fall capital fund-raising campaign to help us improve and expand our facilities so they work for us and not against us in spiritual and numerical growth.

The funds raised will allow us to create space that is accessible (think elevator and additional first-floor classrooms and office space), flexible (think moveable walls), useable (think reclaiming currently wasted and underutilized areas), and welcoming (think covered entrance, enclosed commons area and additional rest rooms). We do all this to help us reach every segment of the community around us, in a facility that is practical and inviting.

This is an important step in HRBC’s commitment to growth. Let us covenant together to grow:

·The Kingdom of God, for Jesus Christ gave us that job
·In faith, as we live the Christian life
·Disciples, by our teaching, witness and lifestyle
·In outreach, by using our facilities as our worship, training and launch point
·Our commitment to make a difference in the world for the glory of God
·In number, for growing disciples multiply
·Through giving that is generous and God-honoring
·In spirit, as we mature in every aspect of life
·The influence that HRBC has on the lives of those whose paths we cross
·Our focus beyond our walls to those God would have us minister to

Every worthy undertaking, project or goal costs something. As “unglamorous” as renovation may seem, it is a necessary step in our commitment to reach our community and the world beyond it with the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no better investment we can make as a church than an investment in growth.

Bert Browning

We are delighted to welcome to the ministerial staff Reverend J. Matthew Hensley, who will serve as Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Missions.

A native of South Carolina, Matthew is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BA in Journalism and Political Science. He earned the Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond in 2007.

Since 2004, his place of ministry has been the Haymarket Baptist Church in Northern Virginia, where he served first as Minister to Students and more recently as Minister of Education. He has experience in virtually every area of church education, discipleship and missions ministry.

Matthew and his wife, Beth, are the parents of three children: Jack (age 6), Reese (age 2) and Haley, born in May. Beth is a nurse educator.

Pray for Matthew and his family as they make the transition to the Midlothian area. We know it will take a while for them to put names and faces of the HRBC family together, and longer still for Matthew to know the congregation well enough to offer his most effective leadership and ministry.

As we invest in this young family’s future, remember that they, too, are making a significant investment of themselves in the life and future of HRBC, as well.

Remember to repeat to them often your name(s) and your appreciation for their desire to serve with us and among us!

Bert Browning

Sooner or Later…
As I write this article, I have no idea whether the feasibility study currently being conducted will indicate the congregation is ready or not to renovate our facilities and to raise the necessary funds to do so. Doesn’t matter. Sooner or later, we are going to have to do so.

The reasons are simple. Sooner or later, we must:

·Install an elevator
·Expand/improve education space
·Consolidate office areas
·Connect our buildings for security and accessibility
·Add handicap accessible restrooms

These are not luxuries; they are necessities. Some parts of our buildings have not been improved since the 1960’s and 70’s, and they show it. Our facilities are not welcoming to the disabled or to young families. We lack adequate, flexible gathering space for Bible study, discipleship and other purposes. The church has never had sufficient education space. It is time to address these needs.

Do I relish the thought of spending perhaps in excess of $2 million to make these needed improvements? Absolutely not! But sooner or later, we must do so — and it will only grow more expensive with time. Some are concerned we will sacrifice ministry and missions for bricks and mortar. But our facilities are a significant aspect of our ministry. Think of it this way: no one requires a house to have a family. But every family needs a place in which to experience quality life. Admittedly, sometimes people build or buy far more house than they need or can afford, but that does not negate their basic need for shelter and a place to live. Our church family is no different. No church requires bricks and mortar to exist; but every church needs a place in which to experience quality life: worship, study, fellowship, training, equipping, etc. — whether they rent it, borrow it, or build it.

Our buildings and facilities are intended to support and enable the ministries and missions in which we engage. They must never become ends in themselves. This is why it is vitally important that we raise the funds needed for construction over and above our regular tithes and offerings. Ministry and mission must go on. The sooner we can raise the needed funds and pay off the building debt, the better we can accomplish what we truly want to focus on: God’s intended future for HRBC.

Our intent is to build and improve only what we absolutely need to effectively carry our mission and ministry forward. You may or may not agree with my assessment of the situation, or with the timing or with the proposed expenditure. Doesn’t matter — sooner or later, we must address these needs.

Bert Browning

Heritage Day 2011 — A Missional Celebration
Sunday, June 12 will mark the 47th birthday of HRBC. What better way to celebrate our founding anniversary than with our partners in missions?

Joining us that day, either in person or on video or through Skype, will be persons representing as many of our missions relationships as we can possibly accommodate. They are too numerous for me to list in this column. Suffice it to say there will be ample opportunity for you to engage with a large number of persons around the world, in our region, in our community and even within our church, who are on mission either with or through HRBC.

Because the day will be uniquely different, our schedule and format will also vary from the norm.

Join us under the courtyard tent for coffee and donuts at 9:30. Here we will fellowship and hear information and instructions for the day.

Sunday School will consist of conversations with our missions partners, beginning at 10:00. You will select a missions “track” for the hour and interact with a variety of missions areas.

Heritage Day worship will be one combined service at 11:15. We will celebrate God’s blessings upon our past, God’s call to mission in our present, and God’s vision for our future.

A covered dish luncheon at 12:30 will be an opportunity for further conversation and interaction with old and new friends and with our missions guests. Eat inside or under the tent!

Make every effort to be present for this unique day. As we continue to seek ways to “be, love and serve” locally, regionally and globally, Heritage Day will serve as the way we look beyond ourselves to the world God has called us to impact with the gospel of Jesus Christ. See you there!

Bert Browning

May 1st will be pivotal…
in the life of Huguenot Road Baptist Church. I highlight two major considerations for you.

Calling an Associate Pastor for Discipleship
The Personnel Team has worked diligently to fill this ministerial staff vacancy which has existed for nearly a year. The Team has met, prayed, listened to input from the congregation, considered scores of resumes, and now has a recommended candidate to present to the congregation.

You will have an opportunity to meet the candidate in both worship services on May 1. He and his family will spend the day with us. A reception will take place from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Family Life Center prior to the Quarterly Congregational meeting. This will be your opportunity to talk with him and to ask questions.

You will be asked to vote at the 6:00 pm quarterly meeting to extend a call to him, to begin service among us on August 1.

Consideration of a Proposed Facilities Renovation Plan and Fund-Raising Effort
The church has worked since July 2008 to develop a master plan for development and renovation of our church facilities. The Facilities Development Team will bring a recommendation to the Quarterly Congregational meeting on May 1st to proceed with Phase 1 of that plan.

The plan is to increase security by linking all three buildings by a new commons area; to improve accessibility by moving all church offices to the first floor and by adding an elevator and more rest rooms; to enhance flexibility by adding new first-floor education space and by renovating the Wallis Building second floor. Approximate cost is estimated to be $2.5 million.

The recommendation will include a proposal to work with a church stewardship consultant to raise funds for the project this coming fall. Construction could begin as early as the winter of 2012.

You can see the proposal for the first floor plans and read more about the potential renovation and expansion by clicking here. Information sessions will be held on May 1st at 8:45, 10:00 and 11:15 am to answer your questions about the proposals.

As you can see, you do not want to miss this important day at HRBC. Other matters will be considered at the Quarterly Congregational meeting, as well. Plan to be part of the decision-making process of your church by participating in the Congregational meeting, beginning at 6:00 pm in the Family Life Center.

Bert Browning

The congregation will have the opportunity in April to nominate persons to serve as deacons for a three-year term. We need you to participate in this process. Our Deacon Ministry Resource Guide describes HRBC deacons as “servants of Christ who meet tangible needs within the congregation.” That is no small task!

The deacon ministry is organized into teams which serve in the following areas of our church’s life:

• Through each adult Sunday School class
• As assistants in worship 
• Relating to members not involved in a Sunday School class
• Intercessory prayer
• Hospital visitation
• Bereavement ministry
• Contact with inactive members
• Assimilation of new members

These are ongoing tasks that require constant attention. Consequently, HRBC looks to those who fulfill the Biblical description of deacon: spiritually mature individuals of good reputation who exemplify servanthood and faithfulness to the mission and ministry of the church. Consider these qualities as you nominate persons to serve.

In recent years, the deacon ministry has focused its efforts on improving and enhancing our sense of fellowship. This has been their way of contributing to fulfilling our strategic vision as a congregation. The recently-concluded Winter Warm-up emphasis was conducted by the deacons, as well as coordination of the pancake supper at the end of February.

HRBC is blessed by those who serve as deacons. Let us choose them prayerfully and thoughtfully.

Bert Browning

This year’s Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia (CBFVA) General Assembly will take place March 10-11 at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville. Since it is close by, I hope you will attend and participate. I will conclude my one-year term as moderator at the meeting. Registration begins at 1 pm on Thursday and the meetings conclude at 1 pm on Friday. There is no charge for registration.

Dr. Bill Leonard, well-known and much-published professor of Church History and Religion at Wake Forest Divinity School, will be the featured speaker. There will also be business sessions, breakout times, and a World Music Festival on Thursday evening at 7:30 pm.

HRBC relates to CBF at both the state and national level. We support CBF missions causes within Virginia, across the United States, and around the world.

Our other missions partners include the Richmond Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

The General Assembly sessions will be a great opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the people and ministries of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

To learn more, visit the 2011 General Assembly site to see the schedule and the list of speakers and activities.

~Bert Browning

Churches are always in process.  HRBC is no exception.  Take note of what is currently being worked on around our church family.

The Vision Team will reconvene on March 29 to discuss the book, Missional Renaissance, a recent publication by church leadership specialist Reggie McNeal.  McNeal was the featured speaker at the most recent annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.  His book has generated considerable interest and discussion among a good number of our church family.  

The Personnel Team is currently receiving and reviewing resumes for our vacant ministerial staff position.  Advertisement of the position has attracted much interest and a large number of promising candidates.  Pray for the team as it continues its work.  The team will eventually select some candidates for further contact and for interviews.

The Facilities Development Team continues to review plans and to consider various options for updating, improving and expanding our facilities.  They will report their findings and recommendations to the church at the appropriate time.

The Mission Strategy Team is looking to strengthen missions partnerships, both locally and regionally.  They appreciate your input and your prayer support as they continue to match our gifts and resources with the needs they discover.  They want to discern God’s leadership.

The deacons are hard at work on Winter Warm-up group activities and on planning for the churchwide pancake supper on February 27.  Support them as they seek to deepen our ties with one another.

The ministerial staff will invite others to join us on mission February 21-23.  Pray that we will identify where our time and talents can best be put to use.

These are not the only groups within the church who are working to fulfill God’s calling, but they are a strong representation of our people seeking to engage in Kingdom ministry.  Pray for these, encourage them, and find your place serving alongside them! 

Bert Browning

“What is a Facilities Development Team supposed to develop?”

Seven folks, plus myself, make up the Facilities Development Team.  These brave souls have agreed to continue the process, begun some two years ago, of discerning and recommending to the church family what building improvements and expansions are needed at HRBC.  That’s a tall order, wouldn’t you agree?

Three buildings comprise the HRBC complex.  The Wallis building was completed in 1967; the children’s building and gym were completed in 1978; and the sanctuary was completed in 1986.  Our buildings range in age from 40+ to almost 25 years old.  One renovation of a portion of the Wallis building occurred over 10 years ago.  With time and with changes in Christian education needs, we find ourselves facing several facilities challenges:

· We lack adequate first-floor education/activity space, especially considering the aging of the church family and of the community around us

· There is no elevator to provide access to any second floor space in any building

· Restroom facilities are too few and too small

· Space on the second floor of the Wallis building is badly configured, rendering several rooms inaccessible and/or unusable

· The Wallis building second floor also lacks the flexibility of use we all enjoy on the first floor in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)

· Public space is inadequate to handle the flow of people to and from various areas of the buildings, creating congestion

· Security is difficult with open-air breezeways connecting separate buildings

It is time to address these needs.  We certainly do not want to put more emphasis on or financial investment in bricks and mortar than we absolutely have to; but neither can we ignore our base of mission and ministry from which we operate and where we gather for worship, training, fellowship and discipleship. 

I ask you to pray about several things:

· What would God have us do, as stewards of this valuable and visible facility?

· How can we fully utilize our space?

· Ask God to guide and use the Facilities Development Team as they suggest our next steps.

Bert Browning

Worship services don’t just “happen” on any given Sunday.  They are thought out, prayed over, planned and revised by the ministerial staff and by creative lay leaders.  Here is a look at our worship times together over the next few months.

We will complete our year-long journey through the Gospel of Luke on Sunday, November 28 — the first Sunday of Advent.  I began preaching through Luke in December of last year.  How time flies!  November 28 is also the day we begin four Sundays of Advent worship in one service only, at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.  Please remember that Sunday School will shift (for those four weeks only) to a beginning time of 9:30 a.m. 

The remaining three Sundays of Advent we will focus on God’s gifts to us of love, joy and peace.  The Christmas Eve message will highlight our gift to God: we become God’s people.

Many of you have expressed a desire for the entire church family to worship together on occasion.  The four Sundays of Advent will be our opportunity to do so.  This will allow us to sing Christmas carols together and to enjoy the beauty of the symbols of Christmas — such as the Chrismon tree — together in the sanctuary.

The Sunday after Christmas, December 26, there will be one service — but it will be in the gym at 8:45 a.m. and will be the Crossroads Contemporary Service.  Jon Greenhill will preach.  Sunday School will follow at 10 a.m.

With the new year, we will return to our regular Sunday morning two worship service schedule.  Beginning in January and continuing through mid-March, our worship will center around the theme of Be. Love. Serve. 2.0.  We will use Richard Foster’s classic book, Celebration of Discipline, as the basis for the messages.  Each Sunday we will consider a different spiritual discipline, including prayer, study, simplicity, service, confession, celebration and many others.  These will help us in our reach toward being, loving and serving in deeper ways.

Our worship experiences as church family will draw us closer to God and closer to one another.  I hope you will make every effort to participate as part of the worshipping family of God.  And bring someone with you who needs to encounter the living God and the people of God.

Bert Browning

“Be. Love. Serve. 2.0” is the basis for the coming year’s stewardship emphasis and proposed church budget.  It seems appropriate that this year’s church theme also be this year’s stewardship emphasis theme.  Who we are and hope to be, how we love God and others, and what we believe is God’s call to service, are all matters of stewardship in the deepest sense.

Stewardship is so much more than what we give financially to the church!  It is how we give of ourselves and of our God-given resources to minister in the name of Jesus Christ, both far and near.  Stewardship is a reflection of our understanding of responsibility to God for how we live, act, think and speak.

But stewardship does involve our sharing of financial resources, as well.  It is a practical — and necessary — expression of who we are as God’s people and how we extend Christian ministry into the world around us.

The Stewardship Team has been hard at work assembling the proposed 2011 plan for ministry expenditures.  They have consulted with many Group and Team leaders, organization leaders and the ministerial staff, and have arrived at what they believe to be a reasonable and also ambitious budget for the coming year.  The total budget figure of just over $1,034,000 is not dramatically different from last year’s budget goal, but it reflects a determination to continue to provide meaningful ministry in the midst of a sluggish economy.  It is a reasonable and attainable giving goal for this congregation. 

You either have received or shortly will receive in the mail a special edition 2011 Stewardship Campaign newsletter.  It contains a line-item summary of the proposed budget; it also contains a pledge card that you can fill out and turn in as an act of worship and faith commitment on Sunday, November 21st. 

Prior to that date, the budget will be discussed by the congregation at 6:00 pm on Sunday, November 7 and will be adopted by the congregation during the two worship services on Sunday, November 14.

Will you pray about how God would have you to be, love and serve in the coming year?  And will you pray about what you can contribute financially to the work of God through Huguenot Road Baptist Church in 2011?  It’s a matter of stewardship!

Bert Browning 

Anger flows freely and conflict escalates in many sectors of life these days.  Tea party folks are mad at governmental heavy-handedness; other citizens are mad at the prospects of a mosque being constructed too close to Ground Zero in New York; some church folks burn copies of the Qu’ran because they are mad at militant expressions of Islam; many in our country are mad about immigration policies, healthcare reform, corporate bailouts, unemployment, a slow real estate market and recession woes.  Some are mad at elected officials at every level.

Bill Wilson, president of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, NC notes that even conflict in church congregations is high and on the rise.  Whether you are a political activist, parishioner, or just plain private citizen, anger seems to be “in.”

Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t find free-floating conflict and expressions of anger particularly helpful. 

Demonstrating is an exercise of free speech and freedom of assembly in this country — so do it, and then come home and work for political reform and campaign for those candidates whom you believe represent what you value.  Enough, already, with just being mad; channel that anger into positive action. 

Exercise freedom of religion by living your faith and by upholding that freedom for those of other faiths.  This is the hallmark of America.  We are different from countries who repress certain faiths and who persecute those who differ from the majority.  Let’s model what we stand for. 

Participate in public life by hearing all sides, civilly discussing issues and working for constructive and realistic solutions to the difficult problems that face us.  Getting mad solves nothing.

At church, express your views, hear those of others, and realize that not everyone sees things as you do, either theologically or politically.  Some spirited discourse may result, but that is so much healthier than spouting off and daring anyone to disagree.

For my own spiritual and emotional health, I have stopped reading, watching or listening to those in public media who have only anger to share.  They need to share that in private therapy, not on a political soapbox or for my supposed entertainment.  Instead, I look and listen for those who redirect their frustration into discovering and proposing solutions.

Writing this article has helped me deal with my own frustration with worldwide anger and conflict.  I hope it helps you, too.  If it made you mad, we can talk about it.  That seems a lot healthier to me.

Bert Browning

Be. Love. Serve. 2.0

That’s right.  We aren’t done with Be Love Serve Repeat just yet.  Or maybe it isn’t done with us.  For the past year, HRBC has been challenged to grow as disciples, to learn to love others, and to serve wherever and however God leads.  It seems too good a theme to set aside, and so we won’t.

When computer software is updated and improved, it is assigned a number to indicate what version it is — the original, or a subsequent version.  Be Love Serve 2.0 is a continuation and hopefully a deeper expression of that challenge for each of us.

This means we intend, over the coming church year, to discover ourselves more fully, to love others even more deeply, and to serve more faithfully and in new ways.

Jesus called his disciples to constantly and consistently discover ways to live their faith and to reflect his will.  We want to do the same as Christ’s church.  What this means is that some of us have another opportunity to begin the journey of being a disciple of Jesus; some of us can deepen our Christian walk; and others of us can find new ways to be the presence of Christ in the world.  

Over the summer, we have offered a number of ways for you to Be Love and Serve, right here in the surrounding community.  For those who have participated, it has been a great opportunity to grow in faith, love and service.  But there are so many more of you who could be and need to be involved in living out your faith and in giving yourselves away.

Look at the church website for the stories of those who have committed themselves to a Be Love Serve lifestyle.  Discover the numerous ways you can do the same in the weeks ahead. 

When the 2.0 version of Be Love Serve catches on, we will see things change.  Spiritual growth will occur in many.  Numbers of those involved in ministry and mission will increase.  Attendance will improve, along with financial gifts.  And the lives of those touched by our lives will be blessed and will begin to exhibit the signs of transformation. 

This is how individuals come to a saving faith in God through Christ; it is how families find health and wholeness; it is how communities are transformed; it is how the world is changed.  It begins with committed people, on mission, willing to Be Love and Serve. 

Will you be one of them?  2.0 means we are going further and deeper in our mission and ministry.  We welcome you to come along.  We could use you, but more importantly, God will use you.  And the world needs you.

Bert Browning

Over many months the Vision Team has engaged in a time of spiritual discernment. Through much prayer and discussion, this team of over thirty individuals representing a cross-section of the congregation listened for common themes to where we sense God leading us as a congregation. These five themes affirm current ministries, provide future direction, and/or establish new priorities that will enable every member to live out God’s calling to the fullest.  Feel free to share your thoughts about these themes with a member of the Vision Team and the ministerial staff.

Intergenerational Ministries
HRBC has organized numerous activities and projects that involved members across all ages. However, we sense God leading us to seek more repeatable opportunities to draw all age groups together for ministry and fellowship.  The benefits of such intergenerational activities are endless, including learning alongside other generations and strengthening fellowship between the two worship service communities.

Local Missions
HRBC’s approach to missions work has exploded in recent years, offering some distant opportunities to serve in places like Charlotte (Hyaets), the Gulf Coast, and now in Kentucky (Owsley County).  However, the time seems right to consider additional ways of serving our Lord in places just outside our window.  The desire is to explore new local ministries that are consistent with our outward focus to reach out more intentionally and regularly to those who are close by and in need.

Identify Gifts & Matching Opportunities
HRBC has many diverse needs that require a variety of gifts.  Our members possess such resources, but in order to fulfill our kingdom potential, we need to identify and develop those gifts and match them with corresponding ministry opportunities.

Equipping

An integral part of our spiritual growth is to be better equipped to serve the Lord. We will evaluate other channels to provide developmental tools (either hands-on or otherwise) so that we can more effectively minister in the areas we are called.

Healthy Relationships
Our members deeply value the relationships we develop at HRBC.  Because these relationships are so vital to our ministry and our identity, we will explore ways to nurture healthy relationships with each other and, by extension, with Christ.

Many events converge in this spring/summer season that serve as reminders to me that time stands still for no one.

On the first Sunday of June, we will recognize our graduating high school seniors (note the date change — Heritage Day moves to the second Sunday of June this year). What a significant milestone this is for so many! Remember to congratulate them and to pray for them.

Heritage Day marks our 46th birthday as a congregation. It is a time to celebrate God’s goodness to HRBC through the years.

In June, both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship hold their annual national gatherings. These are times of fellowship and also for networking resources.

The Baptist World Alliance World Congress takes place in late July. I look forward to participating in this once-every-five-year event.

Each of us experiences life as a series of occurrences and events which come our way, each one reminding us of the inevitable passage of time.

In this calendar year, I have already celebrated the birth of my first grandchild, thanks to our middle daughter. Still to come this year is the marriage of my youngest daughter. What a year!

What marks in time remind you of the onward march of life? Are you enjoying and embracing those events? Sometimes we wish time would stand still — it never does. Invite God to be your companion along the way, and live each moment to the fullest! After all, time cannot and will not stand still for any of us.

Bert Browning

 

This past year we focused our HRBC  mission and ministry around the theme of “Make a Difference.”  It has been a good year of understanding what that means and of putting it into action.  Our mission and ministry theme for the upcoming months is: “Be. Love. Serve. Repeat.”

 

The purpose of a theme is to give us a common thread to tie together who we are and what we do together for the Kingdom of God.  It isn’t enough for Christian people to “be good” or for Christian churches to “do good.”  There needs to be intentionality and direction for us to fully live out our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.

This year’s new theme will lead us as the family of God to explore more deeply who we are, how we live, and what we do.  It is far better that we explore and discover these truths for ourselves than to allow the world around us to shape us in its own image.  How much better that we invite God to shape us and then use us as God sees fit!

As we study the Gospel of Luke this year (and we will do so throughout 2010), let us be open to seeing in the life and ministry of Jesus what it means to “be, love and serve,” repeatedly.

As we live into the theme, we should grow in Christ-like faith, discipleship and service.  So let’s get started!

Bert Browning

 

I am looking forward to the first Sunday in October when we will begin what I hope will be an enjoyable and in-depth three month Bible study journey together. The scripture passage studied in Sunday School each week will also be the central text for the sermon that day and then the topic for discussion in the following Wednesday night adult Bible study.

This will afford each of us the opportunity to consider Biblical passages, topics and themes in a variety of settings, in a variety of ways and from a variety of perspectives. Hopefully, what will emerge is a deeper understanding of scriptural truth for all who participate.

We will begin with a five-week focus on Baptist distinctives. This will be followed by three sessions dealing with our stewardship of self and of our resources. Late November and the month of December will feature Advent and Christmas passages for consideration.

The way to enjoy the richest experience will be to do the following:
Commit yourself to study of the Sunday School lesson.
Participate in your Life Community’s consideration of each passage.
Actively listen to the sermon on the topic.
Discuss and offer feedback in the Wednesday night Bible study time.

We will have a great time in God’s word, together!

We are about to enter the final trimester of the calendar year.  It is also the beginning of the new church year.  The calendar year to this point has been filled with opportunities for ministry and missions service.  The new church year promises yet more ways to act on God’s call to serve in his name. 

There are several ways to respond to the call to be on mission.  We can ignore the call; we can run the other way; we can complain about what we are being challenged to do; we can say, “Here am I, send me!”  

Each of the above-mentioned responses is found at least once in scripture: for example, a rich young ruler ignored the call of Jesus to become a follower; the prophet Jonah ran away from God’s call; Moses whined, on several occasions, about the people he was called to lead and about the expectations of God concerning his leadership; Isaiah heard God’s voice and said, “I’ll do what you need done.” 

Followers of God in Christ have a clear call to impact the world by living, being, announcing and doing the good news.  I hope you are growing in your faith walk with God, first of all.  As that happens, you will see before you people and needs that God has called and equipped you to impact.  These are the specific ways you can make a difference in someone’s life and in circumstances where the love of God is needed. 

Make a difference!  In doing so, you will represent God, be used by him, and honor his holy name.