Vol. 50 January 30, 2014 No. 5

Calvary Baptist Church

North 18th at Bosque

Waco, Texas 76707

a photo of the Sanctuary taken in 1975

It is common to hear of church splits, not church mergers, but the latter happend with the establishment of Calvary Baptist Church. On February

5, 1928 Brook Avenue Baptist and Provident Heights Baptist merged to form Calvary Baptist Church.

86th

AnniversAry edition

Mary Alice Warren passed away last year and was the last living member when Calvary Baptist formed in 1928. Her husband, E.K. Warren, was organist for 52 years. His final day playing was on September 27, 1992. If you had been looking for the organ's metal pipes, you won't find many. The current organ in the sanctuary was built mostly from Canadian wood by a Canadian firm for $35,000 in 1953.

From its inception, Calvary has viewed Sanger-Heights as its neighborhood. This continued through occasional demographic shifts in both north Waco and the congregation. The call from Christ to be good neighbors in our community has manifest itself in myriad ways including Calvary's Community Garden, Children's Bible Clubs, Meals and Wheels, Zumba and Calvary English Classes. Calvary's mission to proclaim the Gospel is intertwined with Calvary's community in the Sanger-Heights neighborhood of Waco. Sharing the Good News involves our words and deeds.

Decades ago, God led two congregations to come together and form Calvary Baptist Church at 18th & Bosque in Waco, Texas. God's presence has remained constant from that merging through the present. May it always be so that those within the church edifice and those without its walls hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed in word and deed.

Calvary Baptist ChurchA Brief Historical Overview

The total membership of the newly formed

church in 1928 was approximately one thousand. Both pastors stepped down and a new pastor, Dr. A.J. Holt began his career at Calvary on April 1. Dr. A.J. Holt served Calvary for 30 years and ten pastors have served since.

In 1929 the total church budget was $19,985 and there were only three paid staff positions: pastor, care taker, and the financial secretary. Not surprisingly, expenses for Sunday school consumed a large portion of the budget.

Calvary first met in what is now the chapel. It was the first sanctuary in Waco to have air-conditioning and has been remodeled four times since it was built in 1914. The education building that faces Bosque was also part of the original formation of Calvary Baptist. The balcony of the first sanctuary is now where the 30's and 50's meet for Sunday school. Take a look at the ceiling and you'll see that it resembles the same one in the chapel.

Ground-breaking for our present sanctuary was in December 1952, and the first services were held on January 24, 1954. It has been remodeled twice. The welcome center was constructed in 2007 as part of the Beyond Belief Campaign. Pledges totaled about 2.1 million.

Making All Things New Building Committee. Pictured here, among many, are Julie Corley, David Lintz, and Pat Melton.

early photo of the first sanctuary - now the chapel

Second Sunday Birthday Lunch!Calvary has a birthday coming up on February 5! Join us for Second Sunday lunch on February 9. We ask that the College, Young Adult, and 60’s classes bring salads and bread. We ask that the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and Intergenerational classes bring spaghetti. We will celebrate with cake right after lunch and before our Winter Ministry Conference.

Calvary in China and LebanonThis summer, Calvary will take two mission teams to Lebanon and China. If you are interested in joining one of the teams or learning more about these summer partnerships, contact Tim and Sheila Smith (ibnbulus@aol.com or sagsmith@aol.com) about the Lebanon trip, and Dennis and Agnes Tang (dwmtang@yahoo.com or agnesctang@yahoo.com) about the China trip.

Family to Family CollectionCalvary will collect the following items through February for the Family to Family “baby shower” to support Midway High School, University High School and Waco High School: diapers (newborn to size 4), toys (ages infant - 18 months), diaper bags, baby carriers (slings, backpacks), baby blankets, bibs, burp cloths, formula (Similac), and wipes (unscented/sensitive). You may place these offerings in the donations box located in the Welcome Center.

Enneagram: Sunday School ElectiveStarting this Sunday, February 2, Jon Singletary and Meghan Becker will be teaching an elective course during Sunday School on the Enneagram as a tool for spiritual formation. If you are interested in learning more about the personality you have become and how the Enneagram can help you live out of the essence of who God has made you to be, we would love for you to participate in this six-week series. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall.

"Stitches" Book ConversationJoin us for a conversation on Anne Lamott's newest book, "Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope, and Repair." We will meet on Wednesday night, February 5, from 6:00-7:00 PM in Calvary's library. Discussion led by Summer Oeth.

Wednesday Night Book StudyThe Pastor will lead a book study of Walter Bruggemann's Using God's Resources Wisely: Isaiah and Urban Possibility on Wednesday nights. This will begin on February 5 at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome; you may purchase the book through amazon or other retailers.

Women's Life Group Beginning this SpringAre you interested in joining with other women at Calvary for fellowship and spiritual formation? An intergenerational women's life group is starting this spring. Women will meet bi-monthly in homes, and other opportunities for fellowship and fun will be available throughout the month, too. For more information, contact group leaders Laurieanne Tuttle, Amber Stark, or Sarah Miller. The group's first meeting will be Thursday, February 6 at 7 PM.

Meet Mike and Brooke: CBF Field PersonnelMike and Brooke are preparing for ministry in Southeast Asia to be a presence of Christ in a community where Christians make up less than 10% of society. They go in CBF’s partnership model of service working alongside local leaders to wage peace. Mike is a graduate of Truett Seminary, and many of you know Brooke as a former member of Calvary. Join us on Sunday evening, February 16, at 6:30 PM in the chapel as we learn more about Mike and Brooke’s ministry and ways that we as Calvary can partner with them.

Calvary’s Community Yard Sale As you are doing spring cleaning, you are welcome to begin bringing yard sale items to the closet in the Fellowship Hall for Calvary’s community yard sale later this spring. Please try to keep your items within the blue lines designated in the closet so that they are easily accessible later this spring. Questions? Contact Mary Alice.

Up AheadShortlines

Online Giving

www.calvarybaptistwaco.cloverdonations.com/regular-offering

Financials

Sunday, February 2ndSunday SchoolWorshipYouth ChoirYouth GatheringZumba

Monday, Febrary 3rdESL & GED Classes

Tuesday, February 4thESL & GED Classes

Wednesday, February 5th

ESL & GED ClassesFellowship MealChildren's TutoringChildren's Missions & MusicCalvary English ClassesYouth GatheringIntergenerational Choir Rehearsal

9:30a10:30a5:00p6:00p7:00p

9-2p

9-2p

9-2p5:00p

6:00p

7:00p

Designated GiftsTotal for 2013

Building Fund$30,424

Samaritan Fund$10,524

Chapel Renovation$5,969

China Mission Trip$15,273

Lebanon Mission Trip$19,773

CBF Global Mission Offering$1,773

Total: $83,736

Let’s have a party! Calvary has a lot to

celebrate: we turn 86 on February 5--birthday cake for everyone! We made budget in 2013--we can afford birthday cake for everyone! We had a surplus in 2013--we can afford some fancy writing on the cake!

These are things to celebrate. God provided through you and our membership. You are invited (expected, urged) to attend our Winter Ministry Conference Celebration on Sunday, February 9, during Second Sunday Lunch. While we eat birthday cake, Michelle Berry, our Chair of the Finance Team, will review our 2013 expenditures and thus close the books on last year. There is a lot of good news.

Playing off of our 2014 Budget discussion last November, in which several members asked for more information on the giving side of our books, we will transition from a review of spending in 2013 to a review of giving in 2013. Calvary is extremely transparent in our expenditures—salaries, programming, utilities, etc.; and we should have this accountability as a church.

But, this level of openness is only part of the picture. As one member put it, “[T]he

money we spend is not just a magic pot of funds that comes from somewhere mysterious and to which our responsibility is only to spend it wisely. The money we have to spend - the very money we were asking the budget team (and the [Coordinating Council] and the church as a whole) to be accountable for - comes from us (or doesn't come from us, as the case may

be).” We will have giving broken down in multiple ways to cast more light as to where our offerings come from.

The point of this is to provide more awareness and accountability. Tithing, giving, and contributing are elements of discipleship. It is part of the commitment that comes with membership at Calvary. It is part spiritual maturing that moves us from

a place where we ask initially “what does God want with my possessions/money?” to place of liberation where we can ask, “how much of God’s gifts do I keep for myself ?”

This might make for some

anxiety. That is not the point. The point is to celebrate last year and give thanks to God! Join us for this discussion, celebration and birthday cake on Sunday, February 9, in the Fellowship Hall right after Worship.

Birthdays this week

Prepare for Worship

Sunday, February 2nd

Text:Matthew 6:25-34;

Isaiah 49:8-16a

Message:Don't Stare at the Trees

Preaching:Jim Coston

Jeff Riemenschneider 01/30

Jean Sury 01/30

Stephen Bender 01/31

Joel Weaver 02/01

Roger Olson 02/02

Josh Borderud 02/03

Becca Cleaver 02/03

John Carlson 02/04

Lisa Cleaver 02/05

There are several ways to reach us - pick your favorite! 1001 North 18A St. • Waco, Texas 76707.2977 vx 254•753.6446 • fx 753.1971 • cbcinfo@cbcwaco.com

Winter Ministry ConferenCe: Church Giving, Family Giving, Church-Family Giving

By: Jim Coston

An importAnt Word from CAlvAry’s personnel teAm

One of the most important roles of the Personnel Committee is to work closely with current ministers and staff to assure that policies, procedures and organizational structures are in place so they can use their gifts and talents to lead and serve the congregation well. Recently, Jim and Mary Alice asked that we take a

fresh look at Mary Alice’s job description. Was it possible to reprioritize the hiring of a Minister of Children and allow Mary Alice to move more fully into adult ministries (including life groups)? With three open staff positions (Minister to Youth, Minister of Children & Minister of Missions), we agreed it was a good time to reevaluate. Although we would like to immediately fill all three part-time positions, we recognize it will take continued growth and financial stability within our budget to support such action. After much discussion, the Personnel Team would like you to consider the following recommendations:

• Move funds currently allocated to Minister of Mission position to the Minister of Children position

• Organize a Minister of Children Search Committee with the hope that a new person can be in place in time to plan and lead summer activities

• Remove children’s ministry responsibilities from the Associate Pastor position

• Temporarily divide the top priorities of the Minister of Missions position between the Pastor,

• Associate Pastor and Missions Team until a part-time Missions ministry position can be funded

• Continue to utilize Social Work interns to help maintain support and consistency for families with long-term relationships with Calvary

We will bring this proposal before the congregation at the February 9 Winter Ministry Conference during Second Sunday Lunch in the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions or suggestions, never hesitate to contact anyone serving on the Personnel Team. Together, faithfully serving and tithing, we can continue God’s work at 18th & Bosque!

the personnel teAm

Jodi Heston, Chair

Clara Holleyman, Chair-Elect

Les Palmer

Meghan Becker

Cindy Riemenschneider

Julie Corley

Jim Coston, Ex Officio