December 7, 2016
The Mosaic
Volume 30 Issue 23
Don’t Give Until It Hurts
We often hear
the phrase, “Give until it hurts.” This saying
has been attributed to both Mother Theresa
and the
Dalai Lama.
October
2, 2012
The Mosaic
Volume
27 Issue
18
Shouldn’t we heed the advice of such seasoned spiritual and moral leaders? Usually organizations pronounce this platitude
during stewardship campaigns, giving drives, and pledge seasons when more funds are needed. We are asked to give until
it hurts.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, praising their charitable tithes to Jerusalem. He boasted about their generosity to Macedonia
and Achaia. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul claims, “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by
always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”
It seems to me that Paul is asking for Christians to love until it hurts rather than give until it hurts. We are to be cheerful and
happy givers, not admired for our generosity or spurred by our guilt. We give because it reflects a loving and generous God
who gave of the divine self to live among us and experience our pains and our blessings. Giving reminds us of who God is
and what we can accomplish in the name of Christ.
Although giving until it hurts would definitely solve our church budgeting issues while providing the resources for the good
work Royal Lane Baptist Church accomplishes in Dallas, I hope we give because we are loving until it hurts, and that the
pain of loving brings joy and cheer.
In One Heart Full of Love, Mother Theresa tells of a gentleman who came to her house and said, “There is a Hindu family
that has eight children. They haven’t eaten anything for a long time.” She instantly took some rice they were going to use for
supper and went with the gentleman to seek out that family. When finding the family, she could see the specter of hunger
drawn on the faces of the little children. They looked like human skeletons. In spite of their need, the mother of this hungry
family had the courage and compassion to divide the rice that they had brought into two portions. Then she went out. When
she came back Mother Theresa asked her, “Where did you go? What have you done?” She said, “They are hungry also.”
Mother Theresa asked, “Who are they?” It seems a Muslim family with the same number of children lived across the street.
She knew that they were hungry, too.
Mother Theresa’s most captivating summation of her experience is her statement, “I have found a paradox, that if you love
until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” I hope as we wrap up 2016 and enter 2017, that our giving to the
budget of the church is done from cheerful hearts in hope that it brings more love into the world. Royal Lane Baptist Church
has a lot of love to give in 2017. If you have already given all you can, thank you for spreading your gift of love to a hurting
world. If you feel you can give more by making a pledge for 2017, completing your pledge for 2016, or increasing your 2017
pledge, consider making that statement of love and hope in this Advent season. Don’t give until it hurts. Love until it hurts so
there can be no more hurt, only more love.
Pastor Mike
The next issues of The Mosaic are scheduled for December 21, 2016 & January 4, 2017.
The deadline for submissions will be 5:00 p.m. Tuesday prior to the date of publication.
Coming Events
Sunday
8:30 am
9:30 am
9:45 am
10:55 am
12:15 pm
12:15 pm
Wednesday
5:30 pm
6:00 pm
6:15 pm
6:15 pm
7:15 pm
Saturday
9:00 am
Sunday
9:30 am
9:45 am
10:55 am
Wednesday
[
December 11 – Third Sunday of Advent
Deacons Meeting — Portable
Donuts, Coffee/Juice — Family Hall
Christian Education — Christian Education Classrooms & Portable 1
Morning Worship – “SMALL, Dancing LIGHT, presented by the Sanctuary Choir — Sanctuary
Program Council — Family Hall
Youth Lunch (12:15-1:30 pm)
December 14
Family Supper – Chicken Pot Pie, Salad, Rolls, Cherry Fluff — Family Hall
Youth Study Hall — Youth Basement
Children’s Choir — Children’s Building
Midweek Service – “Experiencing the Hymns of Christmas” with Mike Gregg — Family Hall
Adult Choir Rehearsal — Sanctuary
December 17
WOC Gift Wrapping — Home of Kelley Keith
December 18 — Fourth Sunday of Advent
Donuts, Coffee/Juice — Family Hall
Christian Education — Christian Education Classrooms & Portable 1
Morning Worship — Sanctuary
December 21 – Mosaic
No Wednesday Evening Activities – Wednesday Evening Activities Resume January 4, 2016
The deadline for the order of service, the Midweek, and the Mosaic is Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. prior to publication.
“Like” RLBC on Facebook or “Follow” RLBC on Twitter
Royal Lane Baptist Church - Advent
2016 Highlights
December 11
10:55 a.m.
Third Sunday of Advent
Worship
Sanctuary
an Advent service of word and song featuring the Sanctuary Choir,
by Terry York & Taylor Davis.
SMALL, Dancing LIGHT
December 18
10:55 a.m.
December 21
December 24
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Worship
Sanctuary
No regular Wednesday activities
6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
Sanctuary
Carols, Candlelight, and Communion (childcare provided)
December 25
10:55 a.m.
Christmas Day
Worship
Sanctuary
No Christian Education
December 28
No regular Wednesday activities
Midweek activities will resume on January 4, 2017.
Poinsettia Gifts
Poinsettias Given in Memory of:
Vera Allen
Robert Allen
Henry Hall
by Don Allen & Larry Mills
Dick Arnswald
Dorothy Stone
by Babs Arnswald
Dan Bohannan, Terry Kohutek,
Chad Julian, & Angela Stevens
by Shirley Bohannan
Mark Stewart Brandon
by Marcy Waters Brandon
Richard &Betty Brown
Robert & Lenora Spealman
by Gordon & Lyn Brown
Jack Nelson
Doris Gene Nelson
Diane Nelson
Sloan Carpenter
by Darlene Carpenter
Doud Cox
by Ray Cox
Ed Howard
Mel Daniel
by Vickie Daniel
Lynn Darden
Margaret & Sam Furr
Charles Engelman
Kenneth Kunkel
by Margaret Darden
Lyn Darden
by Joan Engelman
Suzanne Groves, mother
by Robin Fields
Tommy Gene Fouse
Jenny Lynn Skinner
by Tom Fouse
David Freemen
by Sheryl Gambill
Nell & Ed Thomas
Jerry R. Thomas
Emmie Lou & Otis Kerley
by Betty Garrett
Gerry Gunnin
by Barbara Gunnin
Pharis Hanes
by Angela Hanes & Kids
Anna Marie & Bruce Lowe
by Paulette &
Harold Harrison
Calvin & Melton James
Our parents
by Shirley James
Jesse Phillips
by Mike Jones
Katherine Smith
by Michael Knight
Jacque Neatherlin
by Doug & Susie
Leinneweber
Mary Walker
Roy Luckett
Mark Walker
by Jamie &
Melissa Walker-Luckett
Shirley Manning
by Everett C. Manning;
Pam & Marcy, daughters;
Wendy, Lisa, Rebecca
& Erin, granddaughters
Donna & Billy Wood, Edna Wood
Douglas Martin
by Donna Wood-Martin
& Scott Martin
Dorothy Jane McCollum
Lavette Epps
by Patricia McNutt
Charlie Bell
by Marsha McRae
Betty Bateman, my sister
Bill McRae, my son
Bob White, my brother
by Jeane McRae-Bishop
Roy & Ruth Moore and sons
Pauline Salazar
Zackey & Lorraine Meachum
by Bettie Meachum
Zackey & Lorraine Meachum
Roy, Ruth, Scott, George, Charles,
& Billy Moore
Mary Katherine Roberts
by Wayne Meachum
Norman & Myrtie Miller,
parents & grandparents
Martha Breidenthal, cousin
by Karen & Lauren Miller
John V. & Ethel M. Pigg
C. R. & Ione Mullinax
by Judy & Jack Mullinax
Cheri, my dog
Charlotte Bevers, my friend
by Shelley Mulry
Mary Ellen Orwig
Gene & Kathryn Vaughan
Ricky Orwig
by Melissa & Matt Orwig
Ray & Alma Christian, my parents
Leon Patterson, my husband
by Emily Patterson
Lonnie Harris
by Maebelle Raiza
Louis & Mary Lee Powers
Robert Rempert
June Brown
by Ken & Rebecca Rempert
Marianne Arnold Sapp
by the children,
grandchildren,
& great-grandchildren of
Marianne Sapp
Dick George, Ed Jones,
& Cliff Schultz
Debbie Williams
by Laurence & Janet Schultz
Jim Sewell & Frank O. Whitaker
by Anne Sewell
M. R. & LaVerne Simmons,
Lloyd B. Alexander
by Terry & Karen Simmons
Richard D. Stouffer
by Dianna Stouffer
Dr. Bill G. Chapman
by Jane Stubblefield
by Jordan Stubblefield
Heidi Sumter
Dorothy, George
& Michael Gresham
by Steve Sumter
& Leonard Gresham
Rev. H. B. Terry Jr.
Louis Avila
by Homer Terry
Martin Tilden, Ralph & Elsie
Stickler
by Dorothy Tilden
Dixie Taylor
Jack Turnbull
by The Turnbull Family
Edgar Francis
Nadine Francis
Bernice Vickrey
Irian Vickrey
by Ray & Sharon Vickrey
Anna Walling
By Cathy Walling
& Tonyia Dotson
Ron Washington
Sue Washington
Inez Washington
Marcus Cannon Moore
Dennis Hartley Waters
by Lisa Waters,
Rebecca Sparling,
& Erin Waters
Jim Sewell
Ruth & Bill Logan
by Charlotte Sewell
& Brian Watson
Wanda Lee
Susie Lowe Raschke
by Cathy Lee Webb
& Carol Lowe Tabor
by Doug &
Sandy Washington
Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Weilage,
Mr. Kermit Moseman,
Cecil Fletcher,
& Josephine Hinze
by Jordan Q. Weilage
Orville & Elnora Wisdom
Charles & Linda Spear
by Garey Wisdom
Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Reeves
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Wooten
Richard Reeves
Irving Wooten
by Harry & Nancy Wooten
Poinsettias Given in Honor of:
JJ Berrier & Terry Berrier
by Babs Arnswald
Shirley Bohannan
by Clay Bohannan
& Faith Julian
Our new pastor and his family
Our church staff
My family & friends
by Shirley Bohannan
Sheryl Gambill
by Darlene Carpenter
Amanda & Mike Gregg
by Margaret Darden
Scott Bryant
Members of Foundation Class
by Dina DiMaria
John Helms & Jack Mullinax
by Formations Sunday
School Class
Tina Chapman
Darlene Carpenter
Sharon Bullard Hughes
Mary Ann Wehring
by Sheryl Gambill
Porter Scott Soames, our grandson
David & Sally, Analise & Charlie,
our children
The Middle Place Sunday
School Class
by Scott & Christine
Gonzalez
Anna Lou & Glenn Brown
The Clark-Soles Family
Paulette Harrison
Cookie Stokes
Layne Smith
Harry Wooten
Ray & Sharon Vickrey
The Amy & Ed Meier Family
Don & Patsy Meier
Garland Hamic
by Peggy & Steve Gooch
In thankfulness for our
RLBC Family
by Michael, Amanda,
Annaleigh
& Beatrice Gregg
The Hammett Family Jeff,
Jennifer, Jonah & Jacob
The Keith Family Phil, Kelley,
Claire & Owen
by Paulette
& Harold Harrison
Ben, Kyle & Summer
by Mike Jones
Marie Coble, mother
Elaine Coble, sister
by Cynthia Kupres
Michael Gregg & Family, PSC,
Intentional Interim Transition
Team & The Martha
Hatcher Family
by Doug & Susie
Leinneweber
James C. Walker
Zadie F. Luckett
Amy & Aaron Stewart
Amber & Kevin Seymour
Luke & Rutledge Seymour
Aidan, AJ & Avery Stewart
Sharon & Ray Vickrey & Family
Harry & Debi Wooten & Family
Michael & Amanda Gregg &
Family
Matthew & Laura Keller & Family
Tim Schaefer & John Duncan
by Jamie &
Melissa Walker-Luckett
Jackie Martin
Shirley Bohannan
Paulette Harrison
Connie Bechtol
Nancy Ferrell
by Donna Wood-Martin
& Scott Martin
Pastor Mike & Family
by Patricia McNutt
My children: Matt, Melissa, Brian,
& Brianna
by Marsha McRae
Aubrey, Adam, Mary Katherine,
& Mac Connatser
Kurt, Amy, Kendall, Allie,
& Ben Meachum
by Bettie Meachum
Kurt & Amy Meachum, Kendall,
Allie, & Ben
Aubrey & Adam Connatser,
Mary Katherine, & Mac
Suzanne Duvall
by Wayne Meachum
The Gregg Family, Amanda,
Beatrice & Annaleigh
Our RLBC Choir
Janet, Barbara, Rosa & Mike H.
Laura, Tim, Harry, Mike G.
by Melissa & Matt Orwig
The Music Ministry of Royal Lane
Our Children: Walt Pfeffer,
Lora Margaret Pfeffer,
Zack Visconti, Adam Visconti
By Maryanne
& Jack Pfeffer
Grandchildren: Lena, Thea,
Mia, Lauren
by Maebelle Raiza
Diane Rempert
by Ken & Rebecca Rempert
Fumiko Jones, Emelda Schultz
& Families
by Laurence
& Janet Schultz
The Sewell/Watson Family
& Donna Sewell
by Anne Sewell
Babs Arnswald
by Dianna Stouffer
Ben, Annette, & Sawyer Terry
Faye Terry
Babs Arnswald
JJ & Terry Berrier
Shirley Bohannan
Anna Lou & Glenn Brown
Sheila & Ed Bright
Barbara Gunnin
Jan & Tex Quesada
Melissa & Matt Orwig
Maebelle Raiza
Cookie Stokes
Martha Hatcher
Linda & Fred Binder
The Nate Green Family
Marge & Scott Bryant
Mike Jones
Bruce Luedke
Janet & Laurence Schultz
The Percy Parrish Family
The Harold Harrison Family
Daryl Willey
The Brian Watson Family
by Homer Terry
Sandra Tilden, Scott Tilden
& Family
by Dorothy Tilden
Kathy Peck
by Cathy Walling
& Tonyia Dotson
Silas Washington, Soren
Washington, grandsons
Addison Birdwell Washington,
granddaughter
by Doug &
Sandy Washington
Donna Sewell
Anne Sewell
Grace, Emma & Sadie Watson
by Charlotte Sewell &
Brian Watsonñ
The Pastor, Ministers and
Staff of RLBC & their families
Our Christmas Angels: Thomas,
Addison, Landry, Kelsie,
Austin, Brooklyn,
Delilah & Kace
by Cathy Lee Webb &
Carol Lowe Tabor
The Woody & Vanessa
Weilage Family
The Kristie Weilage Family
Jann Bryd & Charlesetta Clemons
by Jordan Q. Weilage
Lorelei Wickstrom, my mother,
& Jordan Weilage, my son
by Kristie Weilage
Brad Carter
Linda Hueston
The Wooten Family
The Gregg Family
by Garey Wisdom
Harry Sr. & Nancy Wooten
Polly Smith
Brittany, Blair, Barrett, Jacquie,
Harper, Turner
& Harrison Wooten
Janet Schultz, Barbara Merry,
The Gregg Family, Laura
Keller, Tim Schaefer,
Mike Hurder, Danny Wesley
Ray, Laura Benton
by Harry & Debi Wooten
Harry & Debi Wooten
Barrett & Jacquie Wooten
Brittany & Blair Wooten
Harper, Turner & Harrison
Wooten
by Harry & Nancy Wooten
Welcome to our new members,
Angela Klement and
Jonathan & Rachael Madden,
who joined RLBC on
December 4, 2016.
… that you only have to write one check if you want to donate to multiple ministries/projects at
RLBC? You just need to notate the designations and corresponding amounts in the “memo”
line on your check. The office will make sure to distribute the funds as instructed. If you
prefer to donate cash, simply write the designations and corresponding amounts on the
offering envelope.
Hanging of the Green
Chores for Chickens
It is time to do some work and raise some money for needy
families! Every December the children and youth of Royal
Lane do chores for parents, grandparents, and family
friends to earn money to donate to Heifer International.
Heifer International links communities, and helps bring
sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long
history of poverty. Many of the recipients of our gifts live in
Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Last year we
donated around $200 worth of chicks, ducks, geese, and
honeybees to needy families. We are taking donations
now! Please mark your check “Chores for Chickens.”
Christmas Cheer for Our Staff
Sunday marks your last chance to give to those who have
given so much. I’m talking of course about our Ministerial
and support staff that keeps our church running what often
seems to be 365 days a year because we don’t close for
weekends! This last year during our interim our staff kept
us running and as with any building over a quarter of a
century old, our staff has had to give it extra TLC. Now’s
our chance to provide them some extra TLC. Please place
your check in the offering plate on Sunday. Be sure your
contribution is clearly marked “Staff Love Gift.”
Thank You, David Doom, Deacon Chair
Prayer Requests:
Rosa Barrientos on the death of her aunt, Maria Gomez
Hernandez
Fred Binder
Elizabeth Briggs, step-sister of Danny Ray
David Bryant, brother of Scott Bryant
Laura Elledge, sister of Mike Hurder
Jackie Etheredge Hampton, daughter of Bill & Burnell
Etheredge
Rusty Hatcher, son of Martha Hatcher
Reed & Mary Sue Hoover, friends of Steve & Martha Box
John & Diane Kranz, friends of Sharon Vickrey
Nell Markle
Forrest McKinney
Dorothy Miller
Trapper Pace on the death of his father, Perry Pace
Robert Putman
Maebelle Raiza, Maebelle’s sister, Joan, and friend,
Tahera
C.C. Risenhoover, former member
Marta Sloan, sister of Laura Keller
Cookie Stokes
Dorothy Tilden
Wilma Turnbull, mother of Dennis Turnbull
Karrington & Kingston Pope, twin great-nieces of Doug
& Sandy Washington
Jordan Weilage’s friends: Ann; Carol; Darron, Darron’s
grandfather, step-father and mother; Jon Rabbe;
Keyvan; Larry; Leslie & her father, Jerry; Robin;
Ron; Ron’s brother, Shahin; and Teri
Rob Yale, colleague and friend of Ruth May
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please continue to pray for:
Ed Bright; Terry Burke, son-in-law of Dina DiMaria;
Jerome Collins, friend of Mike Hurder; David Alan
DeLaat, son of Gordon & Lyn Brown’s neighbor, Frieda
DeLaat; Steve Dolloff; Richard Holcomb, brother of
Maebelle; Raiza; Thomas Jarvis, brother of Martha Box;
Pete Johnson; Jordan Weilage; Mark White step-father
of Jeff Hammett
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember the homebound: Faye Laney; Norman Morris; Libba Studdard
Thank You Notes
Thank you “fluffers” and poinsettia
volunteers! You were awesome in
conquering all the tasks in record time.
Our sanctuary is beautifully adorned for
Advent because of you!
Thank you to all the leaders and
volunteers who made the Hanging of the
Green such a jubilant morning.
The RLBC Staff
November 29, 2016
Michael,
Please express my profound gratitude to
the entire Royal Lane community for the
beautiful gesture of love and support that
your letter presented. It is good to have
friends like you to walk the road ahead.
Grace & Peace
George
[George A. Mason, Wilshire Baptist Church]
Experiencing the Hymns of Christmas
Wednesday, December 14, 2016, 6:15 pm
With Michael Gregg
Whether it’s memories of caroling, Christmas pageants, or
Christmas Eve services, the hymns of Christmas are some
of the most evocative parts of the season for many of us.
They refocus our spirits and remind us of the holiness and
mystery of God’s incarnation.
Pastor Mike Gregg will explore the history behind some of
our favorite carols: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Silent
Night, Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and Hark!
The Herald Angels Sing.
Focusing on the ways in which words and music can speak
to the core of our experiences, this Advent study will spend
time in reflection, conversation, and simple enjoyment of
these beloved hymns.
Deacons of the Week
December 11, 2016
Daryl Willey
[214] 597-2854
Charlotte Sewell
[214] 353-7326
December 18, 2016
Nate Green
[214] 649-3259
Cookie Stokes
[214] 770-1637
Midweek Service
6:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Scriptures of the Week
December 11, 2016
Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 1:46b-55
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
December 18, 2016
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
Midweek Menu
Wednesday, December 14
Chicken Pot Pie, Salad, Rolls,
Cherry Fluff
Wednesday,
December 21 & 28
December 14
in Family Hall
No Wednesday Evening Activities
“Experiencing the Hymns
of Christmas”
Happy Birthday!
Mike Gregg
Join us for a Fellowship Meal
at 5:30 pm.
In the Box-Hawkins Gallery
thru January 27
Cecie Boschow
Gallery open by appointment
10-4, weekdays, 10-5 Wednesdays
To change mail or email preferences for The Mosaic,
contact Barbara Merry, 214-361-2809, ext. 10 or
[email protected].
December
Tim Schaefer ............................................. 8
Sean Berrier ............................................. 13
Linda Binder............................................ 14
David Soames.......................................... 14
Kevin Hall ............................................... 15
Janet Schultz............................................ 15
Jordan Simmons ...................................... 16
Mike Hurder ............................................ 19
Royal Lane Baptist Church
6707 Royal Lane
Dallas, Texas
75230-4145
The Mosaic is published twice a month
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday Midweek: 6:15 pm
Sunday School: 9:45 am
Sunday Worship: 10:55 am
Rosa Barrientos, Housekeeping
Laura Benton, Pianist
Michael Gregg, Pastor
Michael Hurder, Facilities Manager
Laura Keller, Minister to Children
Barbara Merry, Administrative Assistant
Samuel Quesada, Video Technician
Royal Lane Baptist Church
6707 Royal Lane
Dallas, TX 75230-4145
Office: [214] 361-2809
Fax: [214] 361-2988
www.royallane.org
Danny Wesley Ray, Organist
Tim Schaefer, Minister to Youth
Janet Schultz, Administrative Assistant
Blake Vickrey, Sound Technician
Ray Vickrey, Pastor Emeritus
Harry Wooten, Minister of Music and Worship