tbc Worship & Fellowship

Realizing Our God-Sized Vision:  Looking Ahead at Our Future Direction

During our recent Quarterly Business Meeting, Nelson Melton provided church members with an important update from the Construction & Renovation Committee.  That report gave our congregation an overview of actual costs of the project and the recommended sequence of construction events as we continue our fundraising efforts.  The committee members are very appreciative of the support received throughout this process of planning and fundraising for the monumental tasks before us.

Since that update, the Committee decided to address directly the reality that the construction and renovation costs are significantly higher than originally estimated(based upon additional plan requirements primarily to meet code requirements, asbestos abatement, and higher current market construction cost of materials and subcontractor pricing).  The Committee agreed to work with our architects and general contractor in a team effort to ensure that we are making wise choices in how we utilize the money you have generously given to this effort and will give in the future.  We believe that one of our most important roles in representing you is to be good stewards of the funds entrusted for creating a physical structure that meets the needs of our spiritual ministries.

Therefore, the Committee has agreed to move forward over the next four to six weeks with our lead architect to complete a professional program evaluation of the use of our existing space.  In this way we make certain that we are utilizing all of our available areas in the most efficient and effective ways.  This ensures that we as a Committee are more certain about the direction we are taking for the future of Tabernacle in meeting our needs as they change with our ongoing growth.  Even though you will not see construction begin in January 2016, we believe that you will see change begin in early 2016.  A presentation will be made in the January church business meeting that will provide you with more details.

We will also move forward with the removal of the asbestos from the row houses, as well as with patching the Williams Building roof.  Further discussions with the roofing company indicate that we do not need a new roof for this winter, saving a significant amount of money as we finalize our sequence of construction events.

We are encouraged in scripture to “run with patience the race before us”.  This is exactly the manner in which the Construction and Renovation Committee is working.  Every day Tabernacle Baptist Church takes patient and planned steps toward our God-Sized Vision.  Your gracious giving makes this possible.  We rely upon your continued support as we pursue a God-Sized Vision for our church and our future.  If you or someone you know would like to know more about how you might participate or different ways that you might become a donor, please do not hesitate to call one of our Construction & Renovation Committee members (Nelson Melton, Bill Welstead, Kathy McGraw, Jim McMurray, or Donna Soyars).

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 13

This is the thirteenth and final session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Toward a New Theology of Sexuality.” We’re making these podcasts available if you were unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us this coming Sunday morning (Dec. 13, 2015) from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss this previous Wednesday’s topic. This session will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION:

  • What is one of your biggest takeaways from this series? (What was especially significant for you? What is one new idea you now have?)
  • How has this series made you uncomfortable, stretched you, or pushed your buttons?
  • How has this series changed what you think a healthy sexuality looks like?
  • How has this series shaped how you think about the role of the church in matters of sexuality?
  • What lingering question or questions do you have, or what is one issue that you will continue to wrestle with?
  • Has this study created or revealed a gap in your formal and functional theologies related to some aspect of sexuality? What might you need to do to close the gap?

*NOTE: We were unable to capture the audio recording of the Wednesday evening program this week due to a technology glitch. Art Wright recorded a summary of the presentation and discussion, and that recording is available here for our weekly podcast.**

EVALUATIONS: We would be grateful if you would click through this link to complete an evaluation of this series. We are looking for your honest assessment. This feedback will help us as we reflect on the series, as Tracy Hartman prepares to teach a seminary course on this topic, and as other churches think about having similar conversations.

RESOURCE LIST: Tracy Hartman and Art Wright have complied a list of resources that they found helpful as they prepared for this series. You can download a pdf of this resource by clicking here (the file will download from Dropbox). Please note that Tracy and Art attempted to pull in a variety of perspectives as they researched and prepared for the weekly topics.  Neither they nor TBC necessarily endorse every view represented in this resource list. The list is lengthy; if you have specific questions or interests, please consider emailing us and we can direct you to specific resources appropriate for your interests or questions.

Schedule and Previous Podcasts from the Series:

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 12

This is the twelfth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Dealing with Shame and Guilt.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

If you’d like to view the Brené Brown video that Dr. Tracy Hartman shows during this session, you can find it here.

Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 11

This is the eleventh session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “How to have Difficult Conversations.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Sexuality Series (2015)

Let’s Talk About Sex: A Conversation about Sexuality and the Church

Fall 2015 Wednesday Evening Adult Study

Series Topics

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

 

Let’s Talk About Sex:
A Conversation about Sexuality and the Church

This fall, TBC is offering a Wednesday night series entitled “Let’s Talk About Sex: A Conversation about Sexuality and the Church.” Sexuality and sexual orientation have been in politics and the news a lot lately, and there have been relevant developments closer to home. The time is right to talk at length about these questions. What do we as individuals and as a church believe about sex and sexuality? What messages do we and our children get from our culture and media? What does the Bible say about marriage, divorce, cohabitation, same-sex relationships, gender, and childbearing? What exactly constitutes “good (i.e., ethical) sex”? When and how should we talk to our children about sexuality? The answers to these questions have a bearing on us all as individuals and as a church.

We don’t tend to talk about sex in church much, and when we do it’s often in negative terms: “Don’t do this” and “Don’t do that.” Instead of getting real help from the church on this important topic, we end up getting (mis)information and mixed messages from culture and the media. Here at TBC, we believe that the church is the place where we can and should talk about sexuality in positivity and healthy ways. So we’re going to talk about sex.

And we are going to try to do it with as much honesty and integrity as possible. The topic of sexuality can be contentious, so we’re going to share multiple view-points and admit when we don’t have all the answers. We’re going to speak and listen with respect and be willing to be vulnerable as we wrestle with the topic. We’ll find that we don’t agree on everything but we will offer love and care for one another and break bread together. We will find unity even in our diversity, as we celebrate the goodness of God’s creation and the goodness of our bodies.

Just a quick head’s up for all of you who have children and young ones, or those who blush easily when this topic comes up: We will use anatomically correct words for body parts. We will talk about specific sexual acts (intercourse, etc.), but will not describe them in graphic detail. We recognize that this is a challenging, awkward subject for some, so we will be sensitive and use care as we discuss sensitive topics. We will also provide time for Q&A and discussion each week.

We are excited about this series. We hope it gives us permission to talk about things that we should be talking about, but more often than not avoid altogether because of embarrassment or shame. We trust that you’ll find something helpful in your own life as we grapple together with these questions. And we trust that the conversation moves us as individuals and as a church forward in healthy ways.

We’re looking forward to the conversation.

Grace and Peace,
Art Wright and Tracy Hartman

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 10

This is the tenth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

Tentative Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)