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St. John Messenger
(April 2003 Vol. 9, Issue 4)
Men’s Day 2003
By Erskine W. Lytle, III
Sunday, July 13th is Men’s Day at St. John A.M.E. As is always the case, it promises to be a special occasion. The theme this year is “Men of God: Working For Peace in The World”.
The leadership for this year is provided by Bros. Alexander Murray and Lonnie Chandler. Pastor Johnson has secured an exciting speaker for the occasion. Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson has agreed to deliver the message.
Bishop Richardson is the presiding prelate of the 19th district based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Previously, he served in the 14th District in Botswana. He began his ministerial career more than 40 years ago and served assignments in Florida and Georgia. He served 18 years @ Bethel
A.M.E. in Tallahassee before being elected to the episcopacy in 1996 in Louisville, Ky.Bishop Richardson is known as an eloquent and dynamic speaker who is also highly motivational. Most recently, he was the Commencement Speaker at the spring ceremony at Florida A. & M. University. One of the highlights of “FAMU” is the “Marching Rattler Band”. This group has been noted as one of the elite marching and performing aggregations for years. Our speaker was one of the Drum Majors for the band during his college days. Now he’s a “Drum Major for Jesus.”
The men are sponsoring the usual slate of activities including a Fish Fry and
a souvenir brochure with patrons and ads.
Let’s support the men of the church, and come out to hear a highly
motivational and dynamic speaker.
13th
District Christian Education Leadership Congress
On Saturday, July 19 at Fisk University, the 13th District will convene a one-day Christian Education Leadership Congress. For this year, it will rep lace the week-long Congress that has been held in Louisville for the last few years.
The schedule is as follows:
9—9:30 a.m.—Orientation
9:35—10 a.m. Worship and Devotions
10:15 am—3:35 pm Workshops and Lunch
3:45—4:15 Plenary Session and Closing
The workshop topics are:
a) You are a Methodist — So What?
b) Church Etiquette and AME culture
c) Relating to the Hip Hop Generation: Creating Intergenerational Fellowship and Worship
d) New Ways of Worshipping
e) Live Smart: You Are What You Eat
f) How to Prepare Youth for Leadership
g) Christian Education for What?
h) How to become more efficient church secretaries
i) The legacy of Richard and Sarah Allen
j) New ways of worshipping
k) Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts: Developing scouting in
the church
l) Women, Poverty and Population: Through the Eyes of Women
m) Ministry of Music in Worship
Registration is $30, including lunch and materials, and should be submitted to Rev. Johnson by June 30. There will not be on-site registration.
Report from the YPD Self Denial Retreat /Banquet
There were 19 youth and adults from St. John in
attendance at the Retreat/Banquet, Friday, May 30—Sunday, June 1 at the
Wyndham Nashville Airport Hotel and Bethel AME Church. The overall theme was “Hearing
God’s Voice: Young People Can Hear God Too!”
The retreat opened on Friday evening with a Praise and Worship service led by
the conference president and the worship leader. This was followed by a Talent
Show featuring talent from each area. Most of the areas were represented by
drill teams from their respective churches. However, one area presented a unique
and entertaining skit on why youth should choose to “hear God’s voice”
rather than follow their peers down the wrong path.
Saturday’s activities began with workshops for each
age group. The youth had three workshops: “AME Facts: Youth Trend s”; ”Body
Piercing and Tattooing, Right or Wrong?” and “Fitness/Health Awareness.”
The AME Facts were presented in the format of the TV game “The Weakest Link:.
There was one contestant from each area and the winner was given a monetary
prize. In the Fitness/Health Awareness workshop, line dancing as a form of
exercise was demonstrated and all were encouraged to participate. Information
about high blood pressure and diabetes as major health issues for all ages was
discussed. Two workshops were held for the adults covering Leadership Skills and
Fitness/Health Awareness.
The annual Self-Denial Banquet was held at Bethel AME Church. After a formal
opening with prayer and greetings, music was provided by the Ebenezer Youth
Choir and Lee Chapel Mime Ministry. Awards were given to the first, second and
third place winners of the poster and essay contests. After lunch, a very
challenging address was given by Mr. Kevin Moore, the YPD Connectional
Chairperson of the Evaluation Committee. His talk from Acts 4:4-11 was entitled
“I’m Cleaning Out My Closet.”
The Retreat ended Saturday evening with entertainment:
a Luau for those 12 and under and a formal Gala for those 13 and up. The Luau,
complete with leis, games, music and food began on the back parking lot of the
hotel but later moved inside. The Gala was held in the hotel ballroom. At this
activity, the local YPD presidents, including Hillary Johnson, were presented by
the Conference Director and given certificates of appreciation.
Comments from some of the youth in attendance:
“We had a great time and I liked it a lot”. “What I liked about the
retreat was the workshops”. “I really enjoyed having the opportunity to
worship and praise with my fellow
YPD friends and family”. “I loved the food and
drinks”.
Special thanks to Eva J. Arnell, Gail Booker, Vickie Holmes, Yolanda King, Eula
McAdams and Pastor Johnson for their attendance and assistance and to all who
provided financial support to make our participation possible.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH
Prayer: Redeeming God, help us to share the story of
your son, Jesus Christ, with all people. Teach us to show others how Jesus
can change lives today as he did thousands of years ago. Amen.
Thought: Jesus calls each of us to proclaim God's love. —Source: Upper Room
Daily Devotional, 5/25/03 dailydevotional@bbs.upperoom.org
Think About It!
Signs in front of
Churches
1.
The best vitamin for a Christian is B1.
2. Under same management for over 2,000 years.
3. Soul food served here.
4. Tithe if you love Jesus! Anyone can honk.
5. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
6. Beat the Christmas rush, come to church this Sunday!
7. Don't wait for the hearse to take you to church.
8. We should be more concerned with the Rock Of Ages, instead of the age of
rock.
9. Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case!
10. Come early for a good seat in the back.
11. Life has many choices, Eternity has two. What's yours?
12. Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due.
13. A man's character is like a fence. It cannot be strengthened by
whitewash.
14. K-mart isn't the only saving place!
15. Preach the gospel at all times ... Use words only if necessary.
16. Delay is preferable to error.
17. It's hard to stumble when you're on your knees.
18. What part of "THOU SHALT NOT" don't you understand?
19. A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
20. The wages of sin is death. Repent before payday!
21. Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive.
22. Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings.
23. Forbidden fruit creates many jams.
24. May is God's apology for February.
25. To belittle is to be little.
26. Don't let the littleness in others bring out the littleness in you.
27. God answers knee mail.
28. Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back.
Bible Lesson
"Worrier or Warrior?"
Read: Ephesians 3:14-21
[God] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. —Ephesians 3:20
A missionary wrote a newsletter to thank his supporters for being "prayer warriors." Because of a typing error, though, he called them "prayer worriers." For some of us, that might be a good description.
In his book Growing Your Soul, Neil Wiseman writes, "Prayer must be more than a kind of restatement of fretting worries or a mulling over of problems. Our petitions must move beyond gloomy desperation, which deals mostly with calamity and despair."
During an anxious time in my life, I became a "prayer worrier." I would beg, "Lord, please keep my neighbor from causing me problems tomorrow." Or, "Father, don't let that ornery person spread gossip about me."
But then the Lord taught me to pray for people, rather than against them. I began to say, "Lord, bless and encourage my neighbor, and help him to sense Your love." Then I watched to see what God would do. The Lord's amazing answers not only helped others but also helped to cure my own anxiety!
Paul was no "prayer worrier." He prayed for God's people that they might know the strength, love, and fullness of God, who is able to do far more than we can ask or even think (Ephesians 3:14-21). Such confidence made Paul a true "prayer warrior." Are your prayers like that? —Joanie Yoder
As we resolve to live for Christ
In actions, words, and deeds,
We'll yield our anxious hearts to Him
And pray for others' needs. —Branon
MEDITATIVE THOUGHT: Fervent prayer dispels anxious care.
Good Black Men
Author Unknown (Submitted by Rev. Ralph Johnson)
Everyone reading this either:
Is a good black man, Has a good black man, or will be blessed with a good black
man soon.
Good Black Men are indeed all around us. We pass them on the streets, in
the malls and the halls at work. Most we can't see because we don't
know what a good man really looks like. He usually isn't flashy enough or rich
enough to turn our heads. He might not wear a suit or push a
Lex.
He might not have a "body like Tyson with a Denzel face." But,
as you mature, you realize it's better to find someone who's got your back than
someone who turns your head.
A good man doesn't agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. He
doesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He
doesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring or sincere, he is (he won't have to
because it shows). He has his own opinions, and yours may clash,
but he doesn't have to degrade you to prove he's right. He even admits
at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.
A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human
with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful,
strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. He needs to feel
that you don't live to "catch" him doing something wrong so you can
declare, "Aha! I knew you were a dog!!"
A good man isn't insecure about his women having great achievements. In
fact, he is her number one supporter and becomes disappointed with her when she
begins to lose herself, for the sake of "not hurting his feelings, or I
just want to make him happy." His happiness comes with seeing her
excel in her dreams and accomplishing her goals. For as she excels and is
exalted, a good woman will bring her good man right along with her.
A good man doesn't necessarily give you a huge birthday or Valentine's
gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him.
Don't judge him by TV standards. No one is really living a fairy tale.
You'll miss out on your own fairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are
no good. It's just not true.
Black Men, we salute you, and thank you for who you are and all you've done.
“ATTITUDE”
Submitted by Patricia A. Johnson
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.
I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room .... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged.. it's how I arrange my mind.
I already decided to love it ... "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ... just for this time in my life."Old age is like a bank account ... you withdraw from what you've put in .. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories." Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
The St. John
Messenger is a published by the St. John AME Church
Lay Organization, Rev. Charles A. Jones, Pastor. Articles and
information about church events, and awards or recognition for church members
are welcomed and should be submitted
by the last Sunday of each month. Publication is scheduled for the first
Sunday of each month. For more information
contact Paula
Holmes 
,
see Michael Evans, or place the information in the newsletter mail slot in the
Conference Room of the church.
| Editor: | Paula Y.
Holmes, President, St. John AME Lay Organization  |
| Writers: | |
| Production: |
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