November - Hamilton Square Baptist Church

Hamilton Square
Baptist Church
NOVEMBER 2015
A Word from Pastor
Judging Who Is Worthy - and Who Is Not:
Exploring grace and merit in reality TV’s "The Briefcase."
By: D. L. Mayfield
Most people view reality TV as a guilty
pleasure. I tend to agree—that it can be a
pleasure to watch and that we should feel
rather guilty for it—but not just for the
reasons you might imagine (exploitation,
public humiliation, greed). Shows which
prey on the lives of the desperate to wring a
few emotions out of the audience are
nothing but reformulated morality plays,
crafted so viewers are placed in the enviable
position of judge and jury, deciding who is
worthy and righteous, and who is not—a
position that the Bible makes clear was
never meant for us.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in
the new, controversial CBS show The
Briefcase. The premise goes like this: a
family in financial need is given a briefcase
full of $101,000. Naturally, they freak out
on camera and are overcome with happiness.
Then they are told that there is another
family, just as in need of money as they are.
And the family has 72 hours to decide if
they will keep the money or give some (or
all) of it away to these strangers in need.
I suspect that as many viewers watch the
countenances of the previously joyful
families fall, they start to feel it is
inappropriate to watch for personal
entertainment. A tragedy, the intimate
struggle of morality that we all face, lit by
hot camera lights and sandwiched by
advertisements for stuff we don’t need. And
then you find out the twist: the other family
is given an identical suitcase and told an
identical story, but neither is aware of this
fact. The next few days go by in a blur, and
the families are given bits of information
about each other and eventually paw through
each other’s homes, looking for clues about
their life situation, what their financial and
social pressures are—and at the end, at the
big reveal, they face each other and are
either shamed or exhilarated at the amount
they chose to share.
I decided to watch one episode at
random. In the first few minutes of the
program, as the squirmy conceit is explained
via voice-over, the phrase “middle-class
families” is mentioned no less than four
times.
Church Events

Nov 1st – Try God 1st

Nov 2nd – Worship
Committee Meeting

Nov 4th – World Mission
Circle

Nov 9th – Pastoral Care
Meeting

Nov 11th – Executive Board
Meeting

Nov 17th – Beta Tau Kappa
Meeting

Nov 20th – Coffeehouse

Nov 22nd – Congregational
Meeting

Nov 28th – Decoration Day
Sunday School Volunteers Needed
Message provided by our Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministry. Volunteer
will lead the group in activities related to the message of each week. If willing to serve
Him in this ministry, please contact Jackie Johnson, 609-320-5096,
[email protected].
A Word from Pastor
(continued)
This is important, because already we assume that these people will be
deserving. If they were rich or poor, we would have to worry about their
moral credentials. But since they belong to the mythically elevated group
that so many of us ostensibly identify with, we can breathe a sigh of relief.
One of the families in this episode is from small-town Texas, with all of
the cultural trappings you might expect: white, God-fearing, fun-loving
Republicans (their words, not mine). They have back injuries, college
tuition and weddings to pay for, and the first grandchild on the way. The
other family is a multiracial lesbian couple who are caring for their two
nephews in the heart of Baltimore. They would like to pay for private
school for the boys and be able to afford fertility treatments in order to have
children of their own.
Obviously, these families have been juxtaposed for peak dramatic
effect. The Texans slowly realize that the family whose financial happiness
lies in their hands does not conform to their views of marriage or morality.
The Baltimore family struggles with their initial charitable impulses being
tempered by their dreams for children. As they walk through each other’s
houses—with the inhabitants absent, of course—looking at family
photographs and bills strategically scattered on kitchen counters, they
struggle to empathize.
This particular episode ended with the women in Baltimore choosing to
give away all but $400, while the Texan family gave away a quarter of their
money. I felt tense and breathless as I watched, judging the Texans for
giving away less, and judging the lesbian couple for their self-satisfied
smiles. The recipients left humbled, bewildered, grateful, and more than a
little shell-shocked; and they promised to use the money for only good
things.
The show constantly asks the question “What would you do?” (In fact,
they even have a hashtag: #WhatWouldUdo.) As the one watching, it is
easy to be sure of myself. Of course, I would give it away. Of course, I
would keep only enough to help others. Of course, I would prove how
righteous I am.
The message that The Briefcase—and indeed, the vast majority of
reality TV and competition shows—bludgeons us with is that there are
deserving people and there are those who are not. At this particular moment
in America, many of us probably believe “deserving” includes being
middle-class, caring for family members, not being overtly racist or
homophobic, and proving that you work hard.
If there are deserving people, then there must be the opposite. And in
the world of reality shows, we get to decide who is who. Only those who
are good and sad and have tried really hard deserve a new house, $100,000,
or a chance to compete on Master Chef. Anyone else, well, they might not
have earned those second chances or a shot at fame. And this would not be
acceptable or palatable to the average viewer, myself included, all because
of our underlying horror that we will somehow be taken advantage of.
“God helps those who help themselves” is how many people understand
reality. I hear this mantra all the time, and I also believe it at times. Oh,
how we wish we lived in a meritocracy, where good begat good and evil
begat punishment. Christians have even taken to reading the Bible along
these terms, forcing God into a purveyor of blessings based on a simple
formula. The good are rewarded accordingly, and the wicked are punished.
Except, of course, the Bible contradicts these points wildly, showing us
time and again that God chooses to use messed-up, horrible, lazy,
indifferent, angry, lying people to accomplish his purposes. God is not—as
we who try hard to be good so often wish he was—in the business of
policing and rewarding. He is, instead, a God of scandalous grace who
offers freedom from ourselves and sin when we embark on the wild ride of
saying yes to whatever he might ask of us.
Our culture, much like The Briefcase, is steeped in the myths of
moralism—where only the select, perfect few receive reward. Humans love
to create ever smaller, tribal definitions of who is worthy. It speaks to our
love of rules and regulations, legalism and punishment—all systems which
are set up to benefit the dominant culture. It makes sense that we humans
would love to be the ones who decide who is good and who is not, how we
love to imagine that we are like God. But the God of the Bible does not
play by these rules. Instead, he blesses and bestows grace on the
undeserving—gluttons and drunkards, the unscrupulously wealthy and the
immoral—always the opposite of our intuitions. Jesus himself came to be
taken advantage of, and he asks us to be willing for the same to happen to
us: “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away
your goods do not demand them back” (Luke 6:30, ESV).
What would he do? Perhaps he would give all the money away. Or
perhaps he would refuse to play by our rules at all, opting instead to bestow
mercy freely, whether or not we deserve it.
A Word from the
Moderator
We are coming into a very busy time with Thanksgiving and
Christmas just around the corner. This time of the year is such a
great time to reach out to people. Not that we don't do that all year
long, but with the holidays coming I always think of the people that
just need a little extra cheer. Maybe they have lost a loved one or
maybe they don't have anyone to share a holiday dinner with.
Reaching out and doing for others is very special. To me it is the
best gift that you can give, the gift of sharing a meal or even just a
visit with someone that is alone. To me that is what the holidays are
all about, and the best gift I could ever receive is the smile, and
hearing the words, “Thanks for coming”. I believe that this is what
God wants us to do, and by doing this the blessings are endless.
We had a powerful Coffeehouse in October with Edinburg Road
Chapel Praise Band. If you were not there you missed a powerful
evening. The turnout was the best ever, and the fact that we ran out
of coffee and food which has never happened was amazing. The
Pastor and his wife (who was part of the Band) were there and a lot
of their members came and supported their band and also our
Coffeehouse. The evening was a great success.
We are looking for another powerful Coffeehouse this month
with Descendants of Noah. So please take some time to come out
and be part of this outreach; you will be blessed. Also don't forget
that at our Coffeehouse we are collecting nonperishable food items
for the Capitol Co. Children's Collaborative. Their goal is to receive
1 ton of groceries in November. So let’s pitch in and help them reach
their goal.
We will also be starting our Cancer Care Ministry. We want to
thank Emma Stype for leading us all in this Ministry called The
Journey of Hope. Be sure to look in the bulletin for the day and time
of the meetings and also personnel testimonies that Emma will be
sharing. Come out and be part of this great ministry.
Our Bible studies are on Monday evenings at 6pm and
Wednesdays at 12:00 noon. We are studying the Book of
Revelations. Be sure to try to make these studies. You will be
blessed by Rev. McMillan's teaching.
Try God 1st is going well. Last month we had Dane Isles of
Facedown with us and a pastor friend of Rev. McMillan's and then
we had Pastor George come and bless us with his musical talent and
testimony. Through this outreach many are being blessed.
Also a reminder we will be having our Congregational Meeting
on Sunday November 22nd following Worship Service.
Here are some upcoming dates to remember please mark your
calendars and as we get closer we will have more information.
Decorating of our Church for Christmas will be on Saturday,
November 28th at 3pm. There will be refreshments so please come
out and help us decorate. On Saturday, December 5th we will have
the live Nativity, as well as the Hanging of the Greens Dinner and
Service. Blue Christmas will be on Monday, December 14th at 7pm.
Christmas Eve Service Thursday, December 24th at 7pm
We have a lot to be thankful for here at HSBC. Our God is a
good and faithful God. As we move forward in faith and trusting in
Him, He will bless us beyond what we could ever imagine. A
stepping out in Faith our God is and will be right there with us. Be in
prayer and in the Word like never before and as we do these things
watch and see what our God will do here at HSBC. Let us also be in
prayer for the sick of our Church and also for Denise who just lost
her Dad, Ed Niclas. Praying God will touch each one that is sick and
those going through procedures and for the ones that have lost a
loved one and it is in the Name of Jesus we pray this. Amen
Blessings to each and every one in Christ Jesus Our Lord and Savior,
Anna Venettone
Moderator
News from the
Youth Pastor
Psalm 100:1-5 "A Psalm
for giving thanks. Make a
joyful noise to the Lord, all
the earth! Serve the Lord with
gladness! Come into his
presence with singing! Know
that the Lord, he is God! It is
he who made us, and we are
his; we are his people, and the
sheep of his pasture. Enter his
gates with thanksgiving, and
his courts with praise! Give
thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his
steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all
generations."
Give Thanks... As I am
sure this is a common theme
this month. As we are
approaching Thanksgiving,
let's be reminded to give
thanks to the Lord with all
things. As simple as it is to be
thankful for the obvious such
as family, friends, food on the
table
and of course the beautiful gift
of salvation, let's be reminded
we are called to praise the
Lord with everything he gives.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says
"Give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for
you." I encourage each of us
to take a look at the "rough"
parts in our life; it could be
health, finances, maybe even
family. Praise the Lord for
them. Though they may be
difficult he gave us a helper in
the Spirit to be our strength,
protection, love and joy!
Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my
strength and my shield; in him
my heart trusts, and I am
helped; my heart exults, and
with my song I give thanks to
him." This Thanksgiving, let's
be reminded to worship the
one who gave it all, for us, His
lost sheep.
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
regrets to announce the deaths of:
Arleine Meyer
Ed Niclas
Lay Leader & Greeter Schedule
November 1st
Lay Leader: Amy Young
Greeter: Don & Gloria McCarty
November 8th
Lay Leader: Jackie Johnson
Greeter: Bud Woodward
November 15th
Lay Leader: Anna Venettone
Greeter: Lois Stuller
November 22nd
Lay Leader: Scott Johnson
Greeter: Karen Sutton
November 29th
Fellowship Organizations
Beta Tau Kappa (BTK)
The next BTK meeting will be held on Tuesday, November
17th (please note change of date to 3rd Tuesday) at 12pm in
Burke Lounge. Kay Reed will be doing fall arrangements.
A special thanks to Rev. Liz Congdon for being with us in
Oct to tell about refugee camps in Thailand where many Burma
Karen lived before coming to Trenton. Also about ABCUSA
mission in Thailand.
Lay Leader: Florence Wisn
Greeter: Emma Stype
World Mission Circle
The next World Mission Circle meeting will be held on
Wednesday, November 4th at 1pm in Burke Lounge. We will
be working on White Cross bandages. Need only white or light/
pastel colored cotton sheets.
Our Journey of Hope
According to the American Cancer Society, over 12 Million people in the united states are living with or have been
personally Diagnosed with cancer. Every year, 1.5 million more people receive a cancer diagnosis. That means in a
church of 200 people approximately eight people are living with cancer and two more will be diagnosed with it every
year. Each of these individuals has family members and care givers who are affected as well. Cancer carries a weight of
fear and concern that few have understood. The ability to lift that burden and offer hope and comfort to those affected by
cancer is one of the greatest acts of love that we can offer. Each cancer care ministry has the power to touch a church and
a community with the love of God. The potential impact is beyond description, so please continue to keep these families
and this ministry in your prayers as we continue grow OUR JOURNEY OF HOPE
God loves you,
Your Pastoral Care Ministry
Endless Grace Christian Coffeehouse
Our next Coffeehouse will be held on Friday, November 20th at 8pm and will feature
Descendants of Noah
This Christian Praise/Contemporary band out of Philadelphia played at our first Family Fun Day,
but they have never played our Coffeehouse. So let’s give them a big Christian welcome.
Come out and join us for an evening of good Christian Fellowship.
As always bring a friend and there is never a charge.
See you at the Coffeehouse
Hour of Power Bible Class
Please join us for weekly Bible Classes held every
Monday at 6pm
Wednesday 12pm
During the month of October we will be continuing our discussion of
The Book of Revelations