Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

A Beautiful Thing
by Tom Goodman
March 30, 2011

Perfume and cologne bottles are already starting to come in. Bring yours this Sunday.

Last week I asked the congregation to starting bringing in perfume and cologne bottles to add to a display we're creating for the front of the Worship Center. For the next few Sundays, Margaret Miller will be available at the end of each morning worship service to collect and tag your bottles.

On Palm Sunday, April 17, we'll display these bottles at the front of the Worship Center. You'll see charming antiques and elegant contemporary designs. You'll see Old Spice and Este Lauder. You'll see Avon bottles shaped like cars and frosted glass shaped like lilies. You may even see a Disney bottle bearing the image of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid."

What's this all for?

The display will be used if we launch our Worship Center renovation project. Do you remember the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with a container of expensive perfume? You can find it in Mark 14:1-9.

The apostles said, "Why this waste?"

But Jesus said, "No, she has done a beautiful thing to me."

Now it's our time to do a beautiful thing for Jesus.

Our Worship Center is the place we gather to praise God's Name and to study God's Word. The attention we give to it says a lot about how important those activities are to us! That's why, in the days of Haggai, God expressed such strong offense at the neglect his people showed to the place of worship in comparison to the attention they gave to their own houses (see Haggai 1:1-15).

Right now, our congregation is prayerfully considering a proposal to renovate our Worship Center. The project was introduced in last Sunday's business meeting, and we're now in the middle of a week of prayer before voting this Sunday evening, April 3.

I can't impress on you enough how important it is to do two things: (1) Use this week of prayer to pray, and (2) attend Sunday night's meeting at 6:45pm. I know that it's a real sacrifice for some of you to arrange your schedule and your kids to make meetings like this. But it's important that our vote to renovate the Worship Center be a well-attended vote.

I'm hopeful that we'll proceed with Worship Center renovation. Based on that hope, I'm encouraging you to bring in those perfume and cologne bottles. I can't wait to see your contribution to our display!

--Tom

The proposal that was presented to our church last Sunday can be viewed online. It includes all the slides from the presentation.

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them at www.HillcrestAustin.org/beacon.

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored," with its Links to Your World -- interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

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FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

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MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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A Beautiful Thing by Tom Goodman March 30, 2011 Perfume and cologne bottles are already starting to come in. Bring yours this Sunday. Last week I asked the congregation to starting bringing in perfume and cologne bottles to add to a display we're creating for the front of the Worship Center. For the next few Sundays, Margaret Miller will be available at the end of each morning worship service to collect and tag your bottles. On Palm Sunday, April 17, we'll display these bottles at the front of the Worship Center. You'll see charming antiques and elegant contemporary designs. You'll see Old Spice and Este Lauder. You'll see Avon bottles shaped like cars and frosted glass shaped like lilies. You may even see a Disney bottle bearing the image of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid." What's this all for? The display will be used if we launch our Worship Center renovation project. Do you remember the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with a container of expensive perfume? You can find it in Mark 14:1-9. The apostles said, "Why this waste?" But Jesus said, "No, she has done a beautiful thing to me." Now it's our time to do a beautiful thing for Jesus. Our Worship Center is the place we gather to praise God's Name and to study God's Word. The attention we give to it says a lot about how important those activities are to us! That's why, in the days of Haggai, God expressed such strong offense at the neglect his people showed to the place of worship in comparison to the attention they gave to their own houses (see Haggai 1:1-15). Right now, our congregation is prayerfully considering a proposal to renovate our Worship Center. The project was introduced in last Sunday's business meeting, and we're now in the middle of a week of prayer before voting this Sunday evening, April 3. I can't impress on you enough how important it is to do two things: (1) Use this week of prayer to pray, and (2) attend Sunday night's meeting at 6:45pm. I know that it's a real sacrifice for some of you to arrange your schedule and your kids to make meetings like this. But it's important that our vote to renovate the Worship Center be a well-attended vote. I'm hopeful that we'll proceed with Worship Center renovation. Based on that hope, I'm encouraging you to bring in those perfume and cologne bottles. I can't wait to see your contribution to our display! --Tom The proposal that was presented to our church last Sunday can be viewed online. It includes all the slides from the presentation. Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them at www.HillcrestAustin.org/beacon. Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored," with its Links to Your World -- interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.