January, 2016 - NEWSLETTER

(11/29) (12/6) (12/13) (12/20) (12/27) Sunday School 133 122 147 117 124 Budget offering 71,953.68 Budget requirement (per week—9,707.11) 48,535.55 YEAR TO DATE 2015 Budget requirement 486,268.79 Received for Budget 487,091.10 Over Budget 822.31 WEEKLY OFFERING

STAFF Michael Wilkinson - Pastor Peyton Kelly - Minister of Music David Easley - Associate Pastor Cissie Brushaber - Secretary

Non Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Pascagoula, MS

39581 Permit no. 113

Arlington Heights Baptist Church

3819 Arlington Street Pascagoula, MS 39581 www.ahbconline.net Office: 228-769-2789 Email: office@ahbconline.net

Return Service Requested

The Herald

Join us for three nights of church history as John Blackmon presents:

January 25—27 beginning at 6 pm Nursery Provided

Education Fund 5,345.00 Wednesday Supper 476.00 Choir Fund 44.22 Gideon 90.00 Lottie Moon 14,604.00

Poinsettias 10.00 Youth 730.00 Uganda 5.00 Building Fund 640.00 Brotherhood 100.00

Reimburse office 3.00 Reimburse Utilities 223.69 Nursery 500.00 Benevolence/Salvation Army 200.00 AH Service Team 18.05

Open dates for placing flowers in the auditorium in honor or memory of a loved one are:

January 17 & 24, February 7, 14, 21 & 28 . If you would like to reserve a date,

please contact the church office.

The flowers in the auditorium on Sunday, January 31st, are in memory of

Willie Moore with much love from his family

January 31

USHERS: Mike Wixon, Captain

Randy Stockfleth, Randy Mitchell, Clint Avery, Spencer Bailey, Kenny Novak, David Buckley, Bill Pope, Josiah Ory,

Joshua Sherman, & AG Robinson

DEACONS: Frankie Sherman (PM), Buck Townsend (V)

GREETERS: Bob Freeman, Bill Pope

SOUND & MEDIA: Joel Rigby & Patti Branam

NURSERY: Teresa Carrier, Captain—623-1722

Carol Corley & Robin Walls—Bed Babies Kim Wiley & Brittan Moore—Children’s Church

Billy & JoAnn Rowell—Toddlers Brittany Moore & Teresa Dixon—Night

Beverley Dry & Brenda Brushaber—2 & 3 yr olds

January 10

USHERS: Mike Wixon, Captain

Randy Stockfleth, Randy Mitchell, Clint Avery,

Spencer Bailey, Kenny Novak, David Buckley, Bill Pope,

Josiah Ory, Joshua Sherman, & AG Robinson

DEACONS: Jeremy Boulware (PM), Larry Braswell (V)

GREETERS: Eddie Moore, Brenda Brushaber & Danny Glass

SOUND & MEDIA: Joel Rigby & Patti Branam

NURSERY: Lynn Russell, Captain—217-9225

Kayla Broome & Micah Nelson —Bed Babies

Mary Lee & Ginger Lee—Toddlers

Jonathan & Melissa Tolbert —2 & 3 yr. olds

Jana & Donald Paul —Children’s Church

Robin Sherman & Judy Frye—Night

January 3

USHERS: Joe Abston, Captain

Joe Odom, John Simpson, J. W. Scott,

Frankie Sherman, Jeremy Howell, Taylor Stockfleth,

David Hobbs & G. R. Hamilton

DEACONS: Terry Davis (V), John Jones (PM)

GREETERS: Bob & Pat Freeman, Bill Pope

SOUND & MEDIA: Frankie Sherman & Michelle Gossom

NURSERY: Bettie Concannon, Captain—762-2633

Leigh Ann Woods & Diane Pope—Bed Babies

Kay & John Jones —Toddlers

Joe & Missy Abston —2 & 3 yr. olds

Kayla & Ben Broome — Children’s Church

Brittany Moore & Jan Avery—Night

January 17

USHERS: Charles Frye, Captain

Jim Underwood, Danny Glass, Raymond Johnson,

Spence Sublett, George Thames, Harold Walters,

Eddie Moore, Stanley Brewer, Lequin Hamilton

DEACONS: Clint Avery (V), Mike Wixon (PM)

GREETERS: Brig & Jan Avery, Charles Frye

SOUND & MEDIA: Frankie Sherman & Jessica Wilkinson

NURSERY: Joy Lynn Gable, Captain— 990-0721

Shari Ehlers & Alice Dodgen—Bed Babies

Kathy Simpson & Beverley Gallaspy —Toddlers

Brandon & Kayla Ogle—2 & 3 yr. olds

Summer Bradley & Patti Branam —Children’s Church

Brittany Moore & Shirley Moore—Night

January 24

USHERS: Joe Abston, Captain

Joe Odom, John Simpson, J. W. Scott,

Frankie Sherman, Jeremy Howell, Taylor Stockfleth,

David Hobbs & G. R. Hamilton

DEACONS: George Thames (PM), Erich Corley (V)

GREETERS: Teresa & Jewel Dixon, Jeremy Boulware,

Taylor Stockfleth

SOUND & MEDIA: Mike Wixon & Michelle Gossom

NURSERY: Sharron Alderman, Captain—327-1023

Carol Ann Godfrey & Sissy Smith—Bed Babies

Michelle Wilkinson & Brenda Wiley —Toddlers

Jon Rutland & Callie Thames —2 & 3 yr. olds

Susie & Jeremy Boulware — Children’s Church

Jan Walters & Pat Freeman—Night

A message from

OUR PASTOR

I know that everyone is excited to get the new year started and I cannot think of a better way to do that than to get ourselves some education! Jesus rose and left the Apostles with the Great Commission over 1900 years ago. A lot has happened since then that I suspect most Christians know very little about. Until now! On January 25-27 (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Nights), my friend and scholar John Blackmon will come and give us a “crash-course” in church history. He will take us from the Apostles to present day and point out the high and low points in between. Plan to come with your thinking caps on for this exciting week of filling in the blanks of church history. It’s going to be an exciting and challenging year as we seek to push back darkness in Pascagoula and the rest of the world. I pray that you will be excited to get involved in what God is doing at AHBC. Praying for the Flock, Pastor Michael

….Mr. & Mrs. Richard Wood & family in the death of his sister, Mary Jane Padgett.

...Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Scott & family in the death of his sister, Elaine Scott Mosley.

Wednesday nights at 5 pm Reservations required. The cost is $3 for adults and $1 for kids 12 and under

1/6 — Chicken Salad & Vegetable Soup

1/13 —Jambalaya 1/20—Chili

1/27—Chili Cheese Frito pies

Congratulations to Pat & Bob Freeman on the birth of their great grandson, Bishop Randall Roney. He was born on December 28, 2015 weighing 7 lbs, 2 oz and was 20.5” long. Proud parents are Brett & Bailey Roney of Calera, AL. Proud grandparents are Diane & Rick Roney.

“And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you

shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV)

The January Deacons’ Meeting will be held on Sunday,

January 10 at 7:45 am in the church fellowship hall.

Business Meeting Sunday, January 17th

following the evening worship service.

Because of your generosity we were able to donate over $1,200 worth of groceries to

the Salvation Army!

Below is a text we received from the Salvation Army:

Thank you all so much for all of the food you blessed us with today.

God is AWESOME!

Observance of the Lord’s supper on

Sunday, January 31, during the morning worship

A message from

David

Note: As many of you know, I am currently working on a Masters of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This is the second article in a series that I am adapting from a paper I wrote for my systematic theology class in the Fall 2015 semester.

As stated in my previous article, Wayne Grudem’s three statements summarizing biblical teaching on the

Trinity will be used as the definition of the Trinity in this series. These three statements are as follows: (1) God is three persons, (2) each person is fully God, (3) there is one God. All non-biblical positions on the trinity deny one of these statements. This month we will take a look at the denial of the first statement by evaluating Modalism as taught by the United Pentecostal Church. Next month, we will take a look at Arianism as taught by the

Jehovah's Witnesses and see how they deny the second statement. In church history there have not been any significant controversies regarding the claim that there is but one God. Even as the early church was coming to understand the biblical teaching of the Trinity, a denial of monotheism was never prominent. Modalism and Oneness Theology Modalism is the teaching that God does not exist in three distinct persons, but rather reveals Himself to human beings in different “modes.” Contemporary proponents of modalism often refer to it as “Oneness,” “Oneness Theology,” or “The Oneness Doctrine.” In his book Essentials of Oneness Theology, David K. Bernard describes his position as the belief that “...God is absolutely and indivisibly one. There are no essential distinctions or divisions in His eternal nature.” Oneness theology is prominent in Pentecostal circles and is formally embraced by the United Pentecostal Church. You can often spot the Oneness heresy by the teaching that baptism should be done in Jesus name only as opposed to baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Oneness theologians seek to affirm passages like Deuteronomy 6:3, which make it clear that God is one, by adopting a “radical monotheism.” They point out the complexity of the Trinity and argue that a more straightforward solution to understanding the Father, Son and Spirit language found in the New Testament is to see these as different modes and not persons. Bernard states, “The title of Father refers to God’s roles as father of all creation, father of the only begotten son, and father of the born-again believer. The title of Son refers to God’s incarnation... The title of Holy Spirit describes the fundamental character of God’s nature.” The analogy of a man, who is but one person and yet performs multiple roles in his vocation or life, is often used. For example, a man might be a teacher, administrator and counselor, and yet he is still one person in every sense of the word. Oneness teachers interpret plural references to the Father and Son as distinctions between the deity and humanity of Christ, and not individual persons within the Godhead. Focusing on the fact that God is spirit, they point out that God does not exist in any physical form other than Jesus Christ. The argument is then made that verses stating that Jesus sits at the right hand of God are not to be taken literally.

While oneness theologians affirm the orthodox Christian teaching that God is one, they make a serious error by failing to affirm the three distinct persons of the Trinity. On the surface these views may not appear to be a big deal, but denial of the biblical teaching of the Trinity raises significant theological problems. A multitude of passages in scripture discuss intimate moments of relationship between the Father and Son. The Father’s

affirmation and the Spirit’s presence at Jesus’ baptism, the pleading of the Son with the Father in the garden of Gethsemane, and the prayer of Jesus, the true and ultimate priest, in John 17 become mere

illusions if Jesus is not a separate person from the Father. Doctrinally, God’s total self-sufficiency is diminished if we do not accept scripture’s teaching that there is a perfect relationship that has existed eternally in the Trinity before man was ever created. Even the very heart of the gospel is marred by Oneness theology as it takes away the biblical teaching that the cross was the Father pouring out his eternal wrath on His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. David

I Can We Sing Too Much About the Cross? The following is an exert from an article written by Bob Kauflin, pastor & director of music at Sovereign Grace Church in Louisville, KY: “Years ago I talked with a respected Christian leader about the need for our songs to refer more often and concretely to the cross of Christ. His response caught me off guard. “I think Matt Redman has written enough songs about the cross for all of us.” Eventually I heard he had changed his mind. But he’s not the only person I’ve met who has struggled with how many “cross songs” are being written and sung today. In fact, you might agree with a prominent worship leader I recently saw quoted as saying, “We sing about the cross too much in church.” Why would someone say that? There could be a number of reasons. You might think singing about the cross all the time is introspective and even depressing. You could offer that the cross is simply one of many biblical themes we can sing about when we gather. Some people have suggested that songs about the cross have the effect of minimizing the significance of the resurrection. You might be able to add to this list. The Center of Our Praise But the more I’ve studied Scripture, the more I’m convinced that as we worship God for his word, his works, and his worthiness, the blazing center of our praise will always be the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus. Christ dying for our sins and rising from the dead is “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The death of Christ gives us access to God and makes all our offerings of praise acceptable (Ephesians 2:14–18; 1 Peter 2:4–5). Paul said that whenever we share the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming Christ’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26). Paul gloried in the cross and admonished those who were enemies of the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14; Phi-lippians 3:18). Baptism is a visual representation that we have been baptized into Jesus’s death (Romans 6:3). In the Book of Revelation, worship is directed not only to the One on the throne, but to the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:9–14). If the worshipers of heaven never get over the cross, neither should we. But people still ask, “Can we sing about the cross too much?” My short answer is no. At least, not if we’re going to be in line with heavenly worship. But we can sing about the cross in the wrong ways.” Over the next few months we will explore the rest of Bob Kauflin’s article. You can read the article in its entirety at www.desiringgod.org/articles For His Glory, Peyton

Worship Choir Rehearsal All adults are welcome! Wednesday’s @7 PM in the sanctuary. Nursery provided.

Handbell Choir Rehearsal Sundays @4:30 PM. See Peyton to sign up!

Posted on the bulletin board:

Christmas cards from Gwyn Turner, Bob Harrison, The Richmond family,

The Frye family, Hord Architects, The Nichols’ family, Mary Alice Ditsworth,

M & D Construction Co., Anderson Mechanical and Frances Holifield

Baptist Friendship House newsletter Youth Revival (Rally) from Heritage Baptist Church

Jesus is Greater DNOW Weekend

January 15-16.

Students 6-12 grade are invited to join us for a

weekend of fun, service, worship and discipleship. The

cost is $50.

For more information or to sign-up contact David through the church office.

Sunday, January 31 Brotherhood Breakfast at 7:45 am in the

church fellowship hall. Men of all ages are invited to attend. Following breakfast there

will be a rehearsal of the men’s choir.

Senior Adult Game Night Seniors, invite your friends and family, bring games and game prizes and join us for game night Thursday, January 28, at 6 pm in the fellowship hall. A meal will be provided. If you would like to help with the meal, please contact Teresa Dixon. Donations accepted. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the foyer.

Sunday, January 24

in the church fellowship hall immediately following the

morning worship service. Child care provided. Please RSVP to

the church office.

Students and adults are welcome to come learn foundational principles of money

management on Monday nights at 6 pm beginning Monday, February 1st. The cost is

$93 which covers the cost of the book, workbook, budgeting system, etc.

Dinner and childcare will be provided. See David Easley to sign-up.