Tremont Temple Baptist Church

Temple Tidings www.tremonttemple.com

JANUARY 2010

Pastor’s Letter

New Year 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Scripture reminds us that "My times are in your hand!" (Psalm 31:15) Can you
believe that another year has already past? Time goes by so quickly as we get
older and it seems to go so slowly for the young. The important thing for all of Dates to Remember:
us to remember is that young or old; time is in God's hands! We do not know
what the future will be. We do not know what awaits us. And isn't that good!? Sunday, 1/3/10
Just think, if we knew everything that was going to happen tomorrow or the next
day, life would become unbearable. But, because we know that all our times, Fellowship Luncheon
every minute, is in God's hands then we can go on.
Thank you for your many kind words of greeting and your Christmas cards 12:30 pm - 2 pm Chipman
which were a great encouragement to us! Janice and I love serving Christ with
you in downtown Boston. God bless you!!
This has been an extraordinary year for Tremont Temple. Pastors have come Wednesdays ~
and gone. Members have come and gone. Sorrows have come and gone. Joy has
come and gone. But, in the midst of it all, there has been a remnant of God's Pre-Prayer Mtg. Fellowship
people that have been faithful to the mission of the Church, "To know Christ and
to make Christ known!" This must be our motto: We must move from Hospitality Room
maintenance to mission. I am pleased every Sunday to meet new people from
the area who are visiting us. That is encouraging, because TTBC has always been 5 : 30 pm - 6 :30 pm
a welcoming and friendly church. But, because of our inner conflict, very often
we have concentrated only on ourselves. Now, in this year of 2010, we must turn
Bible Study & Prayer -
outward…to the people who need a church home and need the salvation offered
in Jesus Christ! Will you pray with me that TTBC may again become such a
“lighthouse for Christ”?! 6:30 pm - 7:30pm Chapel
I am encouraged about the many good things that are happening at TTBC:
Reconciliation and forgiveness is taking place; Thursdays ~ 1/14, 21, & 28
Our Friendship Luncheons and Coffee Hours are encouraging
more fellowship; Organ Recital - 12:15 pm
Prayer Meeting and Bible Study continues to grow;
Our Children's Ministry has excellent leadership; “15 Minutes for God” -
Our Music Ministry creates exciting worship (many visitors
who greet me at the door comment on how beautiful our music Sunday, 1/10/10
has been);
Attendance at all services is increasing;
PeopleSing! -
There was an excellent reception of Dr. Roger Fredrikson's
Ministry of Reconciliation amongst us;
Trustee and Audit Committees have been elected and are func- 12:30 pm - 2 pm Chipman
tioning in a good manner;
A Women's Ministry has begun; Sunday, 1/31/10
TTBC Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners continue to be a
blessing to hundreds; Instrumentalists’ Program
There is new hope that TTBC can be revived and move for- Anniversary Dinner
ward!
These are the good things with which God has blessed us in the past year.
12:30 pm - 2 pm Chipman
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JANUARY 2010

Now we need to move on in the spirit of servanthood and seek new ministry opportunities. Here are some areas for growth:
We need two new Sunday School classes: a.) A Men's class, and b.) A Young Women's class.
We need to begin a College Fellowship for students, as well as Singles Ministry.
An Outreach and Welcome Committee is needed. I am concerned that new people come to our church and
they are not greeted, nor is the right hand of fellowship extended. Instead of talking only with friends, let's
reach out to others in the Coffee Hour following the service!
Do we need a Sunday evening fellowship and study hour?
We need more fellowship with our ethnic ministries within the church: to that end we are proposing sev-
eral joint worship services with our Ethiopian and Hispanic Brothers and sisters. (NOTE: The Union Worship
service of January 24, 2010, is being changed to February 21, 2010, due to a conflict of meetings!)
Home Bible Study and Prayer Groups will help reach others;
We need to attract more people through "Revival” Meetings. A “Spring Revival” with Anne Graham Lotz
may be held in May in order to attract others to TTBC.
We need a Church Assessment of our present structures and ways of conducting missions. To that end, I am
proposing that Dr. George Bullard come the weekend of January 22 -25, to conduct an in-depth study of
where we need to go! Save the dates and keep this time free to meet. Further details will be sent to you!
A fresh blowing of Holy Spirit upon our congregation has begun and will continue as long as we repent,
reconcile, forgive, and open ourselves to the new opportunities of mission that God has placed on our door-
step!
Dear Brothers and Sisters of TTBC! Are you ready to move forward in the New Year with hope and faith and great prayer? I pray
that you will join me and the staff in praying for Revival and Renewal! God wants to bless us, but are we prepared for the
blessing? Are we going to look back or look ahead? Are we going to keep our eyes on what people do, or on what God has done
and is doing in our midst?
Please study this letter, make a note of the dates mentioned and your need to participate in the life of the Church!
Happy New Year! May the Peace and Joy of Christ sustain you in all that you do!

Yours in the Joy of Christ,

Pastor Denton Lotz
P.S. A final word about stewardship! Our tithes and pledges have increased this year, but still many have not yet filled out Faith
Promise Pledge cards, or "Spiritual and Practical Gifts” cards. Would you please prayerfully consider sending in your cards
today!? I am always challenged by the prophet Malachi's report of God's instruction: "Will anyone rob God? Yet you are
robbing me! But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings!" (Malachi 3:8)

1/1 Mary Brewster 1/18 Elsa Jackson

January Birthdays Ergun Merdin Rev. Denton Lotz
1/2 Larry Porter 1/26 Aldwin Miller
1/3 Gene Hyun
1/6 Elizabeth Guedes
1/8 Stella DeCosta
Amy Doherty
1/11 Mary Jane Lyder
1/17 Donna Currie
Sarah Kou
Chantel Chan
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Page 3 TEMPLE TIDINGS

Outreach Corner

Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners were wonderful experiences for outreach to those who
are homeless or have no family to be with during those great holidays.

For all who contributed to the success of these dinners within the church body, those who
have listened to the radio’s “Definition” program, and to supporters of the Boston Christian
Counseling Center , we express our heartfelt THANK YOU! This kind of outreach could not be
accomplished without your part in it.

Happy New Year and many thanks!!!

Pastor Effie Sidiropoulou, Executive Director,

Boston Christian Counseling Center & Minister of Counseling, Tremont Temple Baptist Church

Music Ministry Notes...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Please join us after the morning worship service on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 for our first "PEOPLE
SING" at Tremont Temple Baptist Church. It will begin after the morning worship service at 12:30pm in
CHIPMAN HALL, 6th floor, and will feature a variety of
singers from the choirs, congregation and local colleges.
Our theme for this first program of the year is music from the 1960's. Do you have a song in your heart
that you would love to share?? Join us in Chipman Hall for an afternoon of fellowship that you will be
glad you did not miss!
Light snacks and beverages will be provided. The program should last about an hour.
Many blessings,
Dr. Geoffrey Hicks, Minister of Music
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January 2010
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 Fellowship 4 5 6 Prayer Meeting 7 Organ Recital 8 9

Luncheon & Bible Study 12:15 - 12:30 pm Gospel Choir
12:30 - 2 pm 6:30 PM Converse Hall Rehearsal
Chipman Hall Currie Chapel 10:00am - 11:00am
Choir Rehearsal Choir Rm,7th fl
10 11 12 13 Prayer Meeting 14 15 16
PEOPLESING! & Bible Study Organ Recital
12:30 - 2 pm 6:30 PM 12:15 - 12:30 pm
Chipman Hall Currie Chapel Converse Hall
Choir Rehearsal
17 18 19 20 Prayer Meeting 21 22 23
& Bible Study Organ Recital
6:30 PM 12:15 - 12:30 pm
Currie Chapel Converse Hall
Choir Rehearsal
24 25 26 27 Prayer Meeting 28 29 30
31 & Bible Study Organ Recital
Instrumentalist 6:30 PM 12:15 - 12:30 pm
Dinner Chipman Currie Chapel Converse Hall
12:30 - 2 pm