Lately we have had several people ask about the translation that Pastor Ken is using in his messages.
For about the past year Pastor Ken has been using the Holman Christian Standard Bible. B&H Publishing (formerly Holman and Boardman) is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Several years ago they commissioned a new translation, and the HCSB version is the result. He likes the combination of easy readability, modern English usage, and adherence to the underlying Hebrew and Greek original texts.
If you would like more information about this version, click here.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The first Wednesday Night Connectiong Point...
was a big success. Over 100 adults and almost 40 kids were here. As always, the meal was suburb. I am convinced there is no BBQ anywhere, from anyone, better than what Chef Leroy serves us. The fellowship was great, and Pastor Ken's presentation was challenging and opened a lot of eyes. He provided some material to take home for further reading and reflection.
We will be doing it again next month. The first Wednesday falls on February 4, so mark your calendars and plan to be with us. We will have sign up sheets in the Welcome Center. If you are bringing kids ages 6th grade and younger, it is especially important you sign them up so Children's Ministry Director Amy Gieger can have adequate workers arranged for the kid's part of the evening. (It's not just childcare; they are doing a growth exercise of their own.)
We also suggest you bring your Bible with you. We will have Pastor Ken's primary scripture references on the screen, but having your Bible with you helps with the context of the references, and to look back to the reference passages during the discussion period.
Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor
We will be doing it again next month. The first Wednesday falls on February 4, so mark your calendars and plan to be with us. We will have sign up sheets in the Welcome Center. If you are bringing kids ages 6th grade and younger, it is especially important you sign them up so Children's Ministry Director Amy Gieger can have adequate workers arranged for the kid's part of the evening. (It's not just childcare; they are doing a growth exercise of their own.)
We also suggest you bring your Bible with you. We will have Pastor Ken's primary scripture references on the screen, but having your Bible with you helps with the context of the references, and to look back to the reference passages during the discussion period.
Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor
Monday, January 05, 2009
Something new...
is happening beginning Wednesday evening, January 7.
When we did the recent survey, one frequent thing we saw was a desire by a wide range of people to do something more as a body than Sunday morning. Of course, we believe that our various Small Group environments are the best place to deepen community and grow spiritually, but not everyone has yet connected with a suitable group. There are also people who want more opportunity to meet other members of the larger Argyle family socially, and want more opportunity to learn from Pastor Ken.
For all these reasons, we are now doing the Wednesday Night Connecting Point. On the first Wednesday of each month, we will gather for a great family dinner served by Chef Leroy and his Kitchen Elves. Right afterward, we will have an age-graded environment for our kids age 6th grade and younger. Children's Ministry Director Amy Gieger has arranged for a real learning and fun opportunity for our kids; it's not just child care.
While the kids learn in a safe, nurturing place the adults will spend some time with Pastor Ken as he takes us more deeply into his current teaching series. We will also have time to discuss these questions in a more intimate environment with 7 or 8 others. The best part is we promise to be finished promptly at 7:30 pm.
We will begin serving at 6:15, but the doors will be open for coffee and chat at 5:30. Kids can move to their area beginning at 6:30; we will serve until 6:45 and begin the discussion then.
The first menu includes Chef Leroy's World Famous BBQ Pulled Pork dinner, with green beans, baked beans, coleslaw, and assorted drinks and desserts. Adults eat for $4, kids 6th grade and younger only $2.
We have about 115 people on the fix food for me list for January 7, and we are excited about the buzz already developing.
We would love to hear back from you with your ideas and opinions.
Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor
When we did the recent survey, one frequent thing we saw was a desire by a wide range of people to do something more as a body than Sunday morning. Of course, we believe that our various Small Group environments are the best place to deepen community and grow spiritually, but not everyone has yet connected with a suitable group. There are also people who want more opportunity to meet other members of the larger Argyle family socially, and want more opportunity to learn from Pastor Ken.
For all these reasons, we are now doing the Wednesday Night Connecting Point. On the first Wednesday of each month, we will gather for a great family dinner served by Chef Leroy and his Kitchen Elves. Right afterward, we will have an age-graded environment for our kids age 6th grade and younger. Children's Ministry Director Amy Gieger has arranged for a real learning and fun opportunity for our kids; it's not just child care.
While the kids learn in a safe, nurturing place the adults will spend some time with Pastor Ken as he takes us more deeply into his current teaching series. We will also have time to discuss these questions in a more intimate environment with 7 or 8 others. The best part is we promise to be finished promptly at 7:30 pm.
We will begin serving at 6:15, but the doors will be open for coffee and chat at 5:30. Kids can move to their area beginning at 6:30; we will serve until 6:45 and begin the discussion then.
The first menu includes Chef Leroy's World Famous BBQ Pulled Pork dinner, with green beans, baked beans, coleslaw, and assorted drinks and desserts. Adults eat for $4, kids 6th grade and younger only $2.
We have about 115 people on the fix food for me list for January 7, and we are excited about the buzz already developing.
We would love to hear back from you with your ideas and opinions.
Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Looking ahead...
to the new year is a tradition at year's end. We plan, we ponder, we predict, and sometimes we even manage to get it right.
What do we want out of 2009? I think we all want our national economy to show some signs of real recovery. We all want our military efforts in the war on terror to be successful. Regardless of how we voted in November, we want the new President and Congress to succeed. We want our families and friends to be safe and happy.
What does our church want? Despite what it may seem money is not our main concern. What we really want is to carry out our mission-to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. If we do that, the money will happen. We want to develop people who are serious about glorifying God and telling the world about their relationship with Him through Jesus. We want to help people understand they must become less dependent on the world, and more dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to grow a close, loving community within our Argyle family.
Hal Hunter
What do we want out of 2009? I think we all want our national economy to show some signs of real recovery. We all want our military efforts in the war on terror to be successful. Regardless of how we voted in November, we want the new President and Congress to succeed. We want our families and friends to be safe and happy.
What does our church want? Despite what it may seem money is not our main concern. What we really want is to carry out our mission-to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. If we do that, the money will happen. We want to develop people who are serious about glorifying God and telling the world about their relationship with Him through Jesus. We want to help people understand they must become less dependent on the world, and more dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. We want to grow a close, loving community within our Argyle family.
Hal Hunter
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The 2008 Tree...
is now history. We had a great turnout. More than 2,000 people braved the cold to enjoy the 14th anniversary production.
We sometimes wonder if it's worth the effort and expense. After all, over a hundred people have been working, some since August, to put this puppy together. Is this effort paying off?
I think so. On each night we heard from people about their impressions. Some were veterans, and attending the Tree is a family tradition. Some were newbies, and they were, without exception, blown away. Everyone we talked to agreed this is an important ministry to our community.
The Saturday before we began, I spoke to a friend who is Choir Director of a United Methodist Church in Arlington. When I told him about our Tree, with 70 voices, 15 musicians, new music every year, done outdoors for four nights, he was flabbergasted. Understanding the challenges, it is something he can't imagine attempting.
I believe God blesses audacious things done to promote His glory and the Gospel. Done in our own power, I think the Tree would fizzle; done in His Name and in His power, it becomes a powerful way to reach people in our community.
Hal Hunter
We sometimes wonder if it's worth the effort and expense. After all, over a hundred people have been working, some since August, to put this puppy together. Is this effort paying off?
I think so. On each night we heard from people about their impressions. Some were veterans, and attending the Tree is a family tradition. Some were newbies, and they were, without exception, blown away. Everyone we talked to agreed this is an important ministry to our community.
The Saturday before we began, I spoke to a friend who is Choir Director of a United Methodist Church in Arlington. When I told him about our Tree, with 70 voices, 15 musicians, new music every year, done outdoors for four nights, he was flabbergasted. Understanding the challenges, it is something he can't imagine attempting.
I believe God blesses audacious things done to promote His glory and the Gospel. Done in our own power, I think the Tree would fizzle; done in His Name and in His power, it becomes a powerful way to reach people in our community.
Hal Hunter
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Weather Watching...
It's not just farmers and fishermen who watch the weather. People who put on major outdoor events involving hundreds of people and a lot of electronic equipment and musical instruments also ponder the sky.
Each year we present an Outdoor Singing Christmas Tree. 2008 is the 14th year. Our Tree has become something of a tradition in our community. (After all, it can be heard a mile or more away on a still evening!) The singers and musicians started rehearsing in August. Over 80 people have spent months learning music and practicing.
Last week we built and decorated the Tree structure. This morning we set up the mixing console (48 total channels for the techies), powered speakers, sub-woofers, amplifiers, signal processors, lights, spotlights, computers, projectors and flat-screens, drum kit, two keyboards, and what seems like a bazillion music stands and a couple miles of wire.
Now comes the weather watching part: predictions say we should expect rain Thursday. Not just rain, but the "possibility of severe thunderstorms." There have been a couple times over the years when we had had to cancel a single performance for weather, but we hope that Thursday is not one of them. The hour-by-hour predictions say the storms should be over by late afternoon, with clearing by 6:00 pm. If those predictions are accurate, we are good to go with performing at 8:00 pm.
Join us in praying for good weather later in the day Thursday. Since God encourages us to bring all our cares to him, let's get specific: rain ending by 4:00 pm, followed by quick clearing; conditions at 8:00 pm- clear, dry, still and 58 degrees.
We invite everyone to attend. It's free, with plenty of parking and seating. We even provide hot chocolate and coffee. This may be the only time this Christmas season some of the people attending the Tree will hear the Gospel and hear the real Christmas story. That's one of the main reasons we do it, and one of the main reasons you should join us in praying for the weather.
Hal Hunter
Each year we present an Outdoor Singing Christmas Tree. 2008 is the 14th year. Our Tree has become something of a tradition in our community. (After all, it can be heard a mile or more away on a still evening!) The singers and musicians started rehearsing in August. Over 80 people have spent months learning music and practicing.
Last week we built and decorated the Tree structure. This morning we set up the mixing console (48 total channels for the techies), powered speakers, sub-woofers, amplifiers, signal processors, lights, spotlights, computers, projectors and flat-screens, drum kit, two keyboards, and what seems like a bazillion music stands and a couple miles of wire.
Now comes the weather watching part: predictions say we should expect rain Thursday. Not just rain, but the "possibility of severe thunderstorms." There have been a couple times over the years when we had had to cancel a single performance for weather, but we hope that Thursday is not one of them. The hour-by-hour predictions say the storms should be over by late afternoon, with clearing by 6:00 pm. If those predictions are accurate, we are good to go with performing at 8:00 pm.
Join us in praying for good weather later in the day Thursday. Since God encourages us to bring all our cares to him, let's get specific: rain ending by 4:00 pm, followed by quick clearing; conditions at 8:00 pm- clear, dry, still and 58 degrees.
We invite everyone to attend. It's free, with plenty of parking and seating. We even provide hot chocolate and coffee. This may be the only time this Christmas season some of the people attending the Tree will hear the Gospel and hear the real Christmas story. That's one of the main reasons we do it, and one of the main reasons you should join us in praying for the weather.
Hal Hunter
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Electronic giving is now happening at Argyle...
We have been researching electronic giving options for months. After all the looking we have found a company that offers the right mix of cost and features coupled with safety and integrity.
We are now using eGive to allow members of the Argyle family to automate their giving. We took a survey several months ago, and most of the people who responded said they would prefer to do their giving using an electronic method.
It's safe, secure, costs nothing to the giver, is reasonably priced to the church, and simplifies bookkeeping for everyone involved.
Want to check it out? Click here to visit our Online Giving FAQ page or call us in the office (777-1238) during regular hours.
Hal Hunter
Administrator
We are now using eGive to allow members of the Argyle family to automate their giving. We took a survey several months ago, and most of the people who responded said they would prefer to do their giving using an electronic method.
It's safe, secure, costs nothing to the giver, is reasonably priced to the church, and simplifies bookkeeping for everyone involved.
Want to check it out? Click here to visit our Online Giving FAQ page or call us in the office (777-1238) during regular hours.
Hal Hunter
Administrator
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