From the first moment I walked into Tabernacle I knew it was a special place. I knew that this place was much more than a beautiful historical building. It is the people in this place that made it so special. You could tell the people were intentional about be-ing in this space together. The people were genuine in their desire to know you. The people had so much love to give, and were determined NOT to focus it all in on themselves. It’s through the people at Tabernacle that I see God’s work at hand.

could God bring an

could God bring an amazing group together and not expect great things. While I sing Tabernacle’s praises to anyone and everyone who will listen, I am fully aware that it is

NOT an easy place to worship. Every time I walk in the door I am challenged. I am challenged to get out of my comfort zone. I am challenged to love those who may be difficult to love. I am challenged by the diversity of people that I see sitting in the pew next to me. I see God’s work in bringing so many people together who are not scared away by these chal-lenges. I am excited about what the future will bring at Tab-ernacle. I believe that the journey has only begun and that people will continue to arrive at our door-step to carry out our plans to continue to be a light in the world. - Kate Ayers

A GODA GODA GODA GOD----SIZED VISION: KATE AYERSSIZED VISION: KATE AYERSSIZED VISION: KATE AYERSSIZED VISION: KATE AYERS

As I look around the Sanctuary, I am amazed at the diver-sity that I see. I see diversity not just in culture, but also pro-fession, faith back-ground and spiritual gifts. The extraordi-nary talents that are represented by our congregation astound me each week. I am constant-ly asking myself how

KATE AYERS’ PRAYER FOR TABERNACLEKATE AYERS’ PRAYER FOR TABERNACLEKATE AYERS’ PRAYER FOR TABERNACLEKATE AYERS’ PRAYER FOR TABERNACLE

• I pray for the integration of our congregation so that when I look out into the Sanctuary on a Sunday morning, the American-born and the Burmese-born are sitting side by side.

• I pray for the Youth of Tabernacle. I pray for more people who want to be a mentor to our youth.

• I pray for the leadership of Tabernacle. As a teaching church, the leadership changes. I pray for smooth transitions as leaders move in and out of our midst.

EASTER LILIESEASTER LILIESEASTER LILIESEASTER LILIES

If you would like to purchase lilies to be displayed in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday in honor or in memory of a loved one, please place your order and check in the offer-ing plate by Palm Sunday, April 13. The cost per plant is $12.50. A form can be found at the back of the Sanctuary and on the flower table in the hallway by the Sanctuary.

SABBATICAL SUMMER IS COMINGSABBATICAL SUMMER IS COMINGSABBATICAL SUMMER IS COMINGSABBATICAL SUMMER IS COMING

Although we still had snow this week, summer and Sterling’s sabbatical are right around the corner! Last summer, Tabernacle was awarded a Lily Foundation grant that provides for a three-month sabbatical for Ster-ling and a time of renewal for the church. The theme for the sabbatical is “Coming Home for the Very First Time.” During the summer, Sterling will “come home” to his fami-ly for some much needed rest and rejuvenation. He will also “come home” to the Holy Land and to Burma – trips that will enrich and inform his ministry for years to come.

While Sterling is gone, we at TBC will be having fun interpreting the sabbatical theme in worship each week and engage in enjoyable, meaningful theme-related renewal activities. Decide which of the activities and dates below look interesting to you, and make plans to join us as we “come home” together. “Come Home” with us for three church-wide Fellowship Opportunities:

June 8th Church-wide picnic –good food and fun activities for all ages July 9th Ice Cream social plus age-specific book discussions (children, youth, adult) August 20th Movie night – The Wizard of Oz: popcorn plus conversation about “coming home” “Come Home” with us for three Creative Arts Opportuni-ties:

after worship on June 15th

after worship on July 13th after worship on Aug. 3rd

Join us as local artist and minister Suzanne Stovall Vinson leads us in creating unique and versatile themed stoles and banners for worship. We will also make some new Chrismons for our Christmas tree. Get to know new and longtime church members during these inter-generational creative arts sessions! “Come Home” with us as we attend some home team sports events:

Baseball with The Richmond Flying Squirrels Soccer with the Richmond Kickers.

We will buy a block of tickets for church members to use. Stay tuned for dates and details.

Finally, as we move toward summer, please pray for the Severns Family and for TBC as we celebrate and prepare for this special season of our life as a church!

EMBRACING A GODEMBRACING A GODEMBRACING A GODEMBRACING A GOD----SIZED VISIONSIZED VISIONSIZED VISIONSIZED VISION

MARK YOUR CALENDARMARK YOUR CALENDARMARK YOUR CALENDARMARK YOUR CALENDAR

• May 4: Vision Sunday. Please join us after Church Services on Sunday, May 4 to enjoy lunch and hear an update from our Vision Campaign Team. We’ll share information about how we plan to move forward with the Vision you helped us mold over the past eight years, and Vision Commitment Packets will be distrib-uted. This is a very special occasion and every mem-ber of the Tabernacle family is urged to attend and fully participate—invite friends and neighbors if you like! Our children will enjoy a party, and nursery ser-vices will also be available. You want to be sure to attend this event!

• May 18: Celebration Sunday. Please make plans to join us during worship as the church family comes together to celebrate our 127th Anniversary. We will look back to remember what God has done and then commit ourselves to the vision cast before us. We will bring Vision Commitment Cards and submit them to the Lord as an act of worship. We will celebrate what God is doing and will do among us as we move for-ward. To God be the Glory!

PRAY FOR OUR CHILD CARE CENTER PRAY FOR OUR CHILD CARE CENTER PRAY FOR OUR CHILD CARE CENTER PRAY FOR OUR CHILD CARE CENTER

FAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILY

We have experienced deep loss with our amazing three dads from Tabernacle Child Care Center in the past four months. Our hearts for our moms and children are heavy. Please lift up all of our children, parents, and educators in prayer. Dr. Megan Limburg, Chaplain at St. Christopher’s, has offered to serve as a resource to us, and we are reaching out to local professionals as we set up support systems. Dr. Limburg will be with us April 10th, Thursday, 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Our staff will be there, and we are hopeful you can join us as a sign of support for TCCC.

EASTER EGG HUNTEASTER EGG HUNTEASTER EGG HUNTEASTER EGG HUNT————APRIL 19APRIL 19APRIL 19APRIL 19

The Easter Egg Hunt is a decades-old tradition that is held in the yard of Judy and Eric Fiske. This is a joint event with the Tabernacle Child Care Center. Children grades 5 and under are invited to hunt eggs! The Easter Bunny makes an appearance around 5:00 p.m. A tradi-tional picture of the entire group of children is taken and, soon after, the egg-hunting begins!! Around 5:30 all of the eggs are found and everyone settles down on the lawn for dinner. The Church and Center provide ham-burgers, hotdogs and veggie burgers. Bring a side dish or dessert to share, a blanket or some lawn chairs and join us for the Egg Hunt.

CURRENTCURRENTCURRENTCURRENT INCOME UPDATEINCOME UPDATEINCOME UPDATEINCOME UPDATE

Receipts include: tithes/offerings, Endowment Fund contributions, facilities use donations, and some designated gifts (IMO/IHO, etc.)

THANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

I would like to thank the TBC family for all the prayers, cards, calls, visits, food, etc. following my recent surgery. You have made my recovery both faster and more pleas-ant. Jean Finley

BOARD OF DEACONS NOMINEESBOARD OF DEACONS NOMINEESBOARD OF DEACONS NOMINEESBOARD OF DEACONS NOMINEES

Below is a list of the nominated deacons to serve begin-ning April 1, 2014. A vote will be taken on March 30, 2014 for the ordained deacons to begin a new rotation and the individuals nominated to be ordained. Ordained deacons beginning a new rotation: Bill Welstead, Bill Fin-ley, Jean Finley, William Strollo, Charlotte WrightIndividu-als nominated to be ordained: Art Wright, Lawt Awng, Naomi Reddish, Kate Ayers

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULEHOLY WEEK SCHEDULEHOLY WEEK SCHEDULEHOLY WEEK SCHEDULE April 13 Palm Sunday, Children's parade and Worship April 17 Maundy Thursday Service, 6:45 p.m. April 18 Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. April 19 Easter Egg Hunt, 5 p.m. April 20 Easter Breakfast and Worship Be sure to visit online calendar for details

MONTHLY MISSION PROJECT: HELP US SERVE MONTHLY MISSION PROJECT: HELP US SERVE MONTHLY MISSION PROJECT: HELP US SERVE MONTHLY MISSION PROJECT: HELP US SERVE

OUR COMMUNITYOUR COMMUNITYOUR COMMUNITYOUR COMMUNITY

For the month of April, we are collecting soap. Donated items will be shared at our weekly Clothes Closet and Food Pantry Ministry. If you are interested in helping to collect items or volunteer on Thursdays, please contact Dick Denzler.

CAMP ALKULANACAMP ALKULANACAMP ALKULANACAMP ALKULANA Camp Alkulana is a traditional rustic over-night summer camp that serves a nontraditional camper population. A ministry of the Richmond Baptist Association, Alkulana serves children and youth from the Richmond area that might not otherwise be able to afford a summer camp opportunity. This summer will be the ministry's 100th summer of camp! Tabernacle supports Camp Alkulana through its mission offering and by its active engagement in the Richmond Baptist Association. We send volun-teers to clean and make repairs on the camp's annual work days and host our church-wide retreat there each fall. Beth Wright is the Director and Anna Tuckwiller is the Registrar. Several members of our church family have been active as campers or counselors at Alkulana, too! Here's how you can help: Bring a pack of D, AA, or AAA batteries with you to wor-ship over the next two weeks. We'll collect these and give them to Alkulana to help keep their campers' flashlights running all summer long! Plan to participate with Tabernacle on the May 17 Alku-lana's work day. Consider giving a financial gift to the camp this spring as part of their annual Alkulana Offering. This year's goal is $148,335. Pray for the camp this summer and for the campers and counselors who experience the ministry there.

Received in February: $ 45,571.79 Received Year to Date: $ 77,976.58 Expenses in February: $ 38,019.76 Expenses Year to Date: $ 87,838.72 Difference $ 7,552.03 Difference $ (9,862.14)

Budgeted for February: $ 43,149.33 Budgeted Year to Date: $ 86,298.66

METRO BAPTIST/RAUSCHENBUSH METRO METRO BAPTIST/RAUSCHENBUSH METRO METRO BAPTIST/RAUSCHENBUSH METRO METRO BAPTIST/RAUSCHENBUSH METRO

MINISTRIES CLUE CAMP IS COMING!!MINISTRIES CLUE CAMP IS COMING!!MINISTRIES CLUE CAMP IS COMING!!MINISTRIES CLUE CAMP IS COMING!!

Tabernacle will partner with two of our former interns, Eric Hasha, from University Baptist in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Bryon Lepere, from First Baptist in Buena Vista, Virginia to lead Clue Camp July 27-August 2. This will involve traveling to New York City to lead camp for 50 elementary age children for the week. If you are interested in joining this team, please speak with Judy Fiske for more infor-mation, fiske@tbcrichmond.org. There will be several other opportunities to partner with Metro Baptist. Speak with Judy if you are interested.

www.tbcrichmond.org

1925 Grove Avenue | Richmond, VA 23220 | 804.355.0134

IN OUR PRAYERS

Recent Addi*ons We celebrate with Sophie Jones in her profession of faith and anticipate her baptism on Easter Sunday with great

joy.

We welcome Bawk Ja Mahka back home to Richmond after a month of family reunion in Nebraska.

We celebrate with Amanda and Graham Ashcraft in the birth of Zane and Levi.

The Corbitt family

Khant Naw’s studies and graduation

Ah Hki’s family seeking an apartment

Biak Tling, in the death of his mother, Alice Iang Chin, in Yangoon, Burma

We welcome Ah Khi John and Ah Nyi Bawk Ra and Suri, our newest members and look forward to worshipping and serving together for years to come.

Shirley Bumgartner’s family, as they mourn her death

Good health for Ah Nyi’s mother in Burma and for the Fish Dee family’s grandmother and mother also in Burma

Employment for Moi Moi Thwang and Ah Dee Lahtaw

Kate Ayers, Lawt Awng, Naomi Reddish, and Art Wright, our recently nominated deacons for ordination

Family members of flight 370

Peace and resolution in Ukraine, Russia, and Crimea

We celebrate with Samantha Denton in her new employment at Chic-fil-A

Continued Care

Michael Booth, Val Andrist, Chris Hines, Nell Broach, Jace Cox, Dick Spain, Brenda Gradwell, Jennifer Cave and Bobby Goin