Mission of the Month, February 2012
College and Career Readiness Day
February 23, 2012
White Bluff Chapel, in cooperation with the Whitney Ministerial Alliance, will present the 6th annual College and Career Readiness Day for Whitney High School junior class students. To be held again at the Whitney First Church of the Nazarene, the program will be followed by lunch provided by the Ministerial Alliance and a motivational closing by Dr. Chris Auten, a Whitney chiropractic doctor.
This year's chairperson from White Bluff Chapel, Betty Newman, reports that students will be able to participate in their choice of three of the seven vocational panels to be offered. Panel topics include Business, Creative Arts, Public Service, Education, Healthcare, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and two-year certification specialties. Each panel will discuss the education required for the jobs and what students can expect once they go out into the workforce.
Panelists featured will include professionals from Texas State Technical College, McClennan Community College, Hill College and the Ministerial Alliance. Representatives from the military will be present to guide and answer student's questions. Gwen Eubank from King Memorial United Methodist Church has also arranged for managers from both Brookshire's and WalMart to participate. A local retired firefighter along with a current EMS and a member of law enforcement will be featured on the Public Service panel. High school principal Chris Hestilow, along with Superintendent Gene Solis and Counselor Jana Delaney are offering support. Betty Newman is especially grateful to Ms. Delaney for her extensive help in putting this special day together.
Betty Newman is a member of the Educational Sub-Committee of the White Bluff Chapel Missions Committee. She brings much experience to the chairmanship of this project, having recently retired as Executive Director over Student and Scholar Development for Midland I.S.D. In that capacity, Newman supervised all the guidance and counseling programs for 22,000 students, including the Advanced Placement, Gifted and Talented, and college-bound programs. Ms. Newman also served as keynote speaker for this event in Whitney in 2009 & 2010. For more information about the Whitney College and Career Readiness Day, email Betty Newman or call her at 694-7290.
What's Happening
Who Will Dethrone Monica Allen?
Posted February 2, 2012
Chili cooks, experienced or aspiring, are urged to put on their aprons and get out the chocolate, peppers, cinnamon, mustard or whatever and start mixing and cookin'.
The Third Annual Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by the WBC Men's Ministry, is scheduled for Sunday, March 4, 2012. The judging will start during fellowship, immediately after the Worship Service.
Who will dethrone Monica Allen? Monica has won the Grand Prize for the last two years with her amazing recipe. Both years there was a tie that had to be resolved with a taste-off.
There will be five categories:
- Chili HOT
- Chili Regular to Mild
- Chili with Beans
- Wild Game Chili
- Vegetarian Chili
Chili will be judged on five characteristics:
- Color (red preferred)
- Consistency
- Taste
- Aftertaste
- Aroma
First place awards will be given in all categories with an Over-All Champion selected from the five winners. The judges have been selected: One is a true-blood Texan who knows chili cooking inside and out; another knows just what's healthy to eat and what is not (would your chili pass?); and the third, well let's just say, is hardly a Texan and will be looking from the bottom of the pot up. Three great judges!
Registration forms should be completed and turned in no later than Thursday, March 1, 2012.
Immediately following the judging, a chili lunch will be served with corn bread. All attending will have the opportunity to taste every entry. For further information, email Harry Seurkamp or call him at 694-7206.
Super Bowl Inspires Souper Bowl of Caring
Posted February 2, 2012
The big game is just around the corner, and in conjunction with the national campaign, "Souper Bowl of Caring," White Bluff Chapel is participating in the effort. WBC's contributions will benefit Whitney's Food Bank, Our Daily Bread, which is seeking donations of canned goods of all kinds. While the food bank is appreciative of all donations, there is a particular current need for peanut butter and canned corn, tuna, and soups.
A collection box in the Maurice Martin Fellowship Hall will be available to accept food contributions through February 8. Cash donations in lieu of the food items are always welcome, too, since the Food Bank can purchase food stuffs at a greatly reduced price that stretches your dollars much beyond than their purchasing power at a grocery store.
Those wishing to make monetary contributions should write their check to White Bluff Chapel and indicate your designation for the Souper Bowl of Caring (or the Whitney Food Bank) on the memo line.
Go to the What's Happening page for prior news & events.
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On the Road Again |
Holy Ground Moments
Posted February 2, 2012
by Ann McAlpin, written while in Port Townsend, WA, August 29, 2011
Mountains and ocean – the beauty and power of God displayed! This is what I have seen in the northwest this summer. When I stand by the water and look at the mountains, I feel that I am on God's holy ground. But there have been many "holy ground" moments in my 71+ years of life.
- As young child I stood at the altar of a small church in Milford and proclaimed Christ as my Savior and God accepted me as His child –HOLY GROUND!
- As a fearful 18 year old freshman walking alone across the campus of UT in Austin, suddenly a ray of sun seemed to warm me with Christ's love saying, "You are not alone." I was reassured and ready to meet the challenges ahead – HOLY GROUND!
- As a young bride standing at the altar of that small church in Milford, I was flooded with the presence of Christ's love –HOLY GROUND!
- Looking into the eyes of John and knowing his deep love for me as he left for the completion of his army enlistment – HOLY GROUND!
- Holding my new born sons and feeling their warmth and seeing the hope that the future held for them – HOLY GROUND!
- Holding a new born grandson – HOLY GROUND!
There have been numerous "holy ground" moments in times of vacation.
- Mountains in Colorado
- Canadian Rockies
- Grand Canyon
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean in Maine
- Alps in Europe
- Inspiration Point in Yellowstone
Experiencing the power of God's creation daily in the wildlife around me in White Bluff brings "holy ground" moments almost daily. But there have been "holy ground" moments during heartbreak. Surely one of the holiest moments was saying good-bye to John as he left this world to enter heaven.
Thank you, Lord, for these special times. May I continue to experience "holy ground" moments as long as I live.
Go to the On the Road Again page to see prior "On the Road Again" articles.
What We've Done
Financial Highlights Reveal Generous Giving
Posted February 2, 2012
WBC Treasurer Bob Harris took great pride in announcing the financial highlights for the year 2011 at the quarterly business meeting of the congregation on Sunday, January 29. Most significant in the report was that in 2011, 41% of the total White Bluff Chapel expenditures were dedicated to Mission activities, approaching our long-term goal of 50%.
Toward the end of 2011, the WBC Board of Trustees established an Extra Blessing Fund, resulting from the generous contributions by members. The Extra Blessing fund for 2012 is $50,000, of which the Missions Committee will receive $40,000 and $10,000 will be used to establish a Benevolence Fund.
Outgoing Trustees Honored
Posted February 2, 2012
Chairman George Feather, 2011 outgoing Chairman of the Board of Trustees, was presented a plaque of appreciation by Milt Bergman, new Chairman of the Board of Trustees for 2012, at the quarterly business meeting of the congregation on Sunday, January 29. Bergman also honored outgoing members of the Board, Sara Edwards and Susan Johnston, with framed certificates of appreciation. Johnston also served as Secretary of the Board in 2011.
Trustees join the Board for a tenure of three years, and each year three members rotate off the Board while three new members come on. New trustees joining the Board in 2012 are Nancy McGinnis, Jean Rose and Howard Clement. Continuing trustees are Chairman Milt Bergman, Vice Chair Karen Williams, Secretary Tom Moore, Treasurer Bob Harris, and members Larry Chapman, Keith Moreland and John Upchurch.
Go to the
What We've Done page to see prior "What We've Done" articles.
