11/28/2015

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (11/28/15)


The Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder

Advent begins tomorrow, Sunday, November 29, 2015, and ends Thursday, December 24, 2015.


1. TCR EDITORIAL – AN UPDATE FOR OUR READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder

I will be retired at the upcoming General Conference that will be held in Philadelphia in July 2016 because have reached the mandatory retirement age. In anticipation of my upcoming retirement, we bought a home in Hampton, Virginia, using a VA Loan.  We thought it best to plan early for our retirement and with the interest rates being low, we decided “now” is the best time because there is talk about an increase of interest rates. We found a lovely home in Hampton and the Lord opened the doors for us to make the purchase.  We bought the home using a VA loan and when you use the VA to purchase a home, you have to use that as the primary residence. I will be a “commuter” between Hampton and Nashville.

During the transition, I had to move my computer and why I have been sending modified issues of TCR Online the last few weeks (I have been working on a MAC laptop, which for me was a challenge). I am happy to announce that I am “back in the saddle” and last evening I unpacked and re-hooked my computer and I am connected to the Internet. I will, (Deo Volente), put out one more issue of a “modifiedTCR Online because next week we attend CONVO XVII in Atlanta. Georgia. My wife, Charlotte and I plan to drive to Atlanta. Some of you might know that even though I jumped out of airplanes and helicopters 86 times as a U.S. Army Paratrooper, I am fearful of flying, and that was what I loved about Nashville, one could drive to almost everywhere in the eastern, southern and Midwest major cities. I had two close calls in the Army and don’t want to “push my luck.”  

We loved Nashville and had hoped that just one family member would have moved there, but no one did.  Our children thought it best for us to be near family when we retired and we didn’t think it wise to wait until the last minute.  

Our new home mailing address (updated from what is in The 2012 Doctrine and Discipline - AME Church:

3325 Chesapeake Avenue
Hampton, VA 23661

Email address remains the same: chsydnor@bellsouth.net

My telephone number will remain the same: (615) 714-0986

Thank all of you for your patience and a special thanks to Dr. Johnny Barbour (Especially Andre Wright and Micheal Russell) and his staff for helping me in this transition. I am “good to go” [we moved into our home on Tuesday] and look forward to serving as the 20th Editor until July 2016.


2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:

-- The AME Church CONVO XVII will be held December 3-5, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Westin Atlanta Airport, 4736 Best Road, Atlanta, GA  30337; telephone: (404) 762-7676



Emmanuel AME Church, where nine people were shot and killed in June, is set to donate $1.5 million to survivors of the attacks and the slain victims...



-- The Rt. Reverend McKinley Young, Presiding Bishop Third Episcopal District AME Church Announces Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC):

The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) will convene its 2015 National Consultation in Charleston, South Carolina. Please support with your prayers, presence and cooperation. Bishop John R. Bryant, our Senior Bishop, will be preaching for the Ecumenical Worship Celebration on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

Additional information forthcoming.

3. KINGDOMTIDE - AN IMPORTANT SEASON OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR:

*+Lawrence L. Reddick II

It occurred to me in October that I had failed to write about Kingdomtide, the last of the five Seasons of the Christian Year (Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, and Kingdomtide).  That was an omission not intended, due in part to August and September activities that were at points too busy.  But to omit to highlight Kingdomtide is to fail to mention the Season that highlights God reign in the world and in eternity – through Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and through the people who are God’s Church.

When the Scriptures speak of God’s righteousness, it is about more than God’s morality.  (For many of us, “righteousness” is a word that measures more or less one’s moral rightness or wrongness.)  For the Scriptures, God’s righteousness includes the message of God’s morality, but also means God’s faithfulness to the design of God’s creation, God’s persistence in seeing things through, and God’s insistence upon consistency in being just and yet merciful to all.  Kingdomtide celebrates God’s righteousness as a Triune God – as Creator, Savior, and Holy Spirit – but it adds to the celebration the call to God’s Church to participate with God in bringing justice and mercy into the world.

Kingdomtide means that we celebrate God’s living authority in the world … through our belief that the eternal God is our refuge and strength, through our belief that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself”; through our belief that the Holy Spirit is still active in the world, empowering God’s people and blessing God’s creation; and also through our own actions as persons living under God’s authority whose actions show that “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15, KJV). 

To celebrate Kingdomtide is to say, amidst a world of evil, terror, and often utter disbelief in God’s righteousness, that God indeed reigns in eternity and in the present.  Furthermore, though others may not see God active in the world because of evil or terrors of utter defiance, our actions reflect the words of the poet Longfellow, who says, “Things are not what they seem.”  We celebrate what we believe will be revealed into eternity.  We symbolically celebrate with stoles and other paraments of green, the color of life.

In an early quadrennial as a bishop, I remember the College of [CME] Bishops in one of its retreats discussing the Christian Year and the liturgical calendar.  It was a time when we realized some of the mainline denominations were moving away from the word “Kingdomtide” and simply celebrating the Season between Pentecost and Advent under the heading “Ordinary Time.”  The question was raised as to whether we should follow.  Your bishops concluded that the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church still wanted to use the word Kingdomtide as the Season between Pentecost and Advent. 

 - One thing I remember is that a part of the College’s decision focused upon our heritage as a denomination of African American people, whose life story has been a story of liberation … a liberation that has come because of God’s actions in history through men and women who fought for justice and mercy for all, and often at great costs.  It is a fitting memory because it calls upon us to be modern leaders of liberation – from spiritual and physical and emotional bondage and abuse.  The call of Kingdomtide is a call to the Church to act in the world for the God whose authority is in this world, beyond this world.

I write this on Christ the King Sunday – November 22nd – the last Sunday of Kingdomtide this year.  I write this with my mind on one of the texts for this morning, Revelation 1:6, which describes that Christ has “…made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” (NIV).  Let us go forward to express in our ministries and our worship the confidence that God is righteous and reigns forever.

*The Rt. Rev. Lawrence L. Reddick III is the senior Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church

4. VIOLENCE, COMPASSION AND THE CHURCH:

The Rev. Velma Grant

Violence is not just a word but also an everyday occurrence that affects individuals in almost every society. Violence stretches across socio-economic lines, status lines, country borderlines and even rears its ugly head within sacred spaces.   Violence or even the threat of violence is certainly not new to the people of African descent because many Africans and their descendants suffered death due to violence from others.  In fact, even the pages of our sacred canon are filled with violent acts and the means of our salvation as Christians occurred through violence (the crucifixion).

What then is the responsibility of the Church and members of the Church when the subject matter is violence, violence against individuals because of race, violence in the home, violence against the Church, violence against country or even violence against one’s choice of religion? The responsibility is to speak out, speak against violence, and not be silent even when the victims do not look like the person in the mirror or even when the perpetrators look like the person in the mirror.

Throughout the centuries, many dates have significant meaning because of violence; September 11 is a date that will forever be etched in the memories of Americans because of the violent death of thousands on, September 11, 2001, on American soil. June 17, 2015 will not be remembered as an ordinary day because on that fateful night evil boldly entered into our sacred space at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church. Nine died that night and became our martyrs, five survived the horrors of that night, and many are still devastated because of the violence produced by evil on that night.

 The AME Church through its Social Action Committee has shared publicly the stance of the Church in regards to the above and other incidences of violence, condoning such acts while seeking justice and change to the means that are vehicles to such violence. Along with seeking justice and change, the AME Church continues to preach the liberating love offered by Jesus Christ that gives individuals the strength to extend forgiveness despite experiencing the devastation of violence.

Whether or not forgiveness is offered immediately after an act of violence or the extension of forgiveness is offered much later, no one individual can offer a specific timetable as to when to forgive an act or acts of violence. What is tantamount to any victim, survivor, or family member that experiences violence is that there is an avenue (via prayer, counseling, or prayer coupled with therapy) to work through the pain and aftermath of violence.
The Church has a responsibility to speak out against violence, preach the love of Christ, offer resources to those that are in need, and be compassionate to those who might be innocent and displaced by violence. The A.M.E. Church is poised to be a leader in addressing, combating, and offering an alternative to the violence that is not only wrecking individual lives but also wrecking the core of some countries.

One violent act over 2,000 years ago was voluntary and selfless - it provided the salve to heal not only a sin/sick world but also an entire universe. Our sacred canon, the Holy Bible might be filled with acts of violence but it is also filled in that final book, Revelation, with hope and encouragement. Therefore, our hope lies not in the temporary achievements or growth of evil but in the Savior who is our balm in Gilead, our hope lies in the God of the universe who will bring about the permanent victory of good over evil. Let us continue to speak up, preach love, and be compassionate to those affected by or displaced by violence.

5. WESLEY WELCOMES THE 149TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE:

By Reverend Salatheia Bryant-Honors

Sister Hattie Jeff has been to her share of annual conferences and church meetings but she was amazed at what she saw at the YPD witness night during the 149th session of the Texas Annual Conference.

Jeff, an educator for 31 years and an affiliate member at South Wesley in Houston, was touched by the presentation of new bibles to young people of all ages who attended the Friday night service.

“This was the nicest thing that I have ever seen happen,” she said. “It was so heart-warming to see the bible give away for so many children. It is something that should be done.”

It touched the senior saint so much that after service she knelt down to talk with a pint-sized preschooler about the stories in the bible. He presented to her a big smile.

The Texas Annual Conference had many moments similar to this that left attendees in awe.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie presided over the 149th annual conference leading the participants in prayer, worship, ministry and business.

“For 149 years someone has gathered,” said Bishop McKenzie. “Is this not the Mother Conference? We are following in the tradition of our mothers and fathers. We have come to declare that we have fulfilled our call as well as our assignment. It’s been a good year. This is where you thank God for everything.”

The annual conference was held at Wesley where the Reverend Leo Griffin is the pastor. Worshippers were greeted warmly each day by the church’s hospitality committee. Each pastor and delegate was given a welcome souvenir. For those who needed a lift to their car a motorcade of golf carts stood at the ready to offer a ride.

Other highlights of the conference included a video presentation and skit that featured the theme “My Life Matters” and an outstanding performance by contemporary violinist Daniel D.

Nearly $10,000 was awarded through Tenth Future Inc. for theological scholarships and to assist individual churches with improvement projects. The conference also blessed the Bishop Sarah Frances Davis Foundation with a financial gift.

There were numerous out-of-conference guests to the conference including all the presiding elders who attended the opening night service.

Pastor Roderick Dawson (St. Paul-Greenspoint) preached the opening message – The Church that has Kingdom Authority - using Matthew 16:18-19 as the text. Dawson preached about the difference between Kingdom authority and church authority. He called on us to give greater emphasis to the Kingdom than the church.

“The kingdom is different from the church. In the kingdom the way up, is the way down. If you want to live, you have to die. If you want to wear a crown, you have to bear a cross. One can conclude that Matthew was persuaded and convinced that a King is coming.”

Dawson said the church has been called out and ordained to carry out the orders of the kingdom.

“You are not just a steward, you are a called steward. You are not just a trustee, you are a called trustee. This is what it means when you are called you; can’t sit or quit. You’ve been drafted. No solider turns their back or retreats,” preached Dawson.

The conference offered many opportunities for prayer and revival.

Bishop McKenzie also celebrated the work of churches and members.

Primm Chapel (Pastor Brenda Johnson) was recognized as the Church of the year for the South Houston District and St. Paul Greenspoint was named church of the year for the North Houston District. The lay person of the year was awarded to Beatrice Edison. Sister Ura Flores (Shiloh-Galveston) was honored as a Life member by the Women’s Missionary Society.

The morning institute teachers were the Reverends Kevin Bullock, Sr. and Hunt Harris Sr.; Sister Crystal Okoli preached the Lay night message; the Reverend David Madison preached the Wednesday mid-day revival while Presiding Elder Johnny Jennings was the preacher for the Thursday mid-day revival.

The anointing fell often – during the offering at the ordination service, during the retirement service, after the singing of the youth choir during closing worship.

The Reverend Dr. Harry Seawright preached the ordination service, giving the ordinands a charge and a challenge from Matthew 16:24-28 with a message titled The Cost of Being Chosen.

Seawright said he wanted to tell the candidates something that he wished someone would have told him.

“What does it mean to be chosen? I got so excited about God choosing me. I thought everyone would love me. I just knew everybody was excited about my preaching. I thought every bill would be paid, I thought everybody would accept my vision and ideas and let’s work together for the Kingdom; boy was I in for a surprise. It cost to be a child of Christ. He sets us apart and we become a direct attack for the enemy,” he said.

Those ordained were: Maxine Madison and Lisa Raggs Harris, itinerant deacons; Marie Smiley, local deacon; Emmit Lewis and Veronica Hayes, local elders; and Lernette Patterson, itinerant elder.

Retiring ministers were the Rev. Jessie Edison, the Rev. Louise Fordham, the Rev. R.D. Sanders and Presiding Elder Jennings. Each pastor formally made the request for retirement after reading their report on the floor of the conference. “I found out that Texas was a big state when I was moved from Austin to Wichita Falls. I found out it was even gibber when I moved from Wichita Falls to Beaumont. I’m happy for the journey and for retirement,” said Sanders. “There were some bumps on the road but through it all God has been good. There were times when I wanted to quit but I kept my hand in his hands. He’s strong and he won’t let you fall. He held me.”

Bishop McKenzie ended the conference preaching from Matthew 4:19 – Handle Your Business. Bishop McKenzie preached about her spiritual transformation from being in love with church culture to falling in love with Christ. There was such an agreement with the sermon that she didn’t get a chance to finish. Bishop McKenzie said in many cases we have become too comfortable with safe, predictable service. She asked lay persons who wanted to experience dangerous worship to come to the altar. Worshippers came forward. Then she called on the pastors and preachers to come.

“I was a church child because church offered what I wanted and what I wanted had nothing to do with God. I was in love with the church culture. I was not in the love with God,” said Bishop McKenzie. “Is there a possibility that we are more in love with a church than we are with Jesus Christ?  Are we more in love with the way we dress or our ability to dress than how important we feel when we take the gospel out of the church to those who cannot dress to impress.”

After the prayer, Elder Johnny Jennings made a motion to adjourn the 149th session of the Texas Annual Conference. The motion was seconded by the Reverend Leo Griffin.

6. THE GREAT EXODUS OF A.M.E. CHURCH MEMBERS CONTINUES:

By Wayman B. Shiver, Jr

After two hundred years of the “AME Way” there appears to be a dire need for a major tweaking of some AME practices before the denomination’s operations can be brought into the throes of the Twenty-First Century.  Drama, rigid rules, predictable and repetitive worship experiences fail to cause worshippers to be content with “The AME Way,” politics, Connectional Budgets and unquestioned loyalty to constituted authority.

The rejection of “The A.M.E. Way” could explain why the denomination seems to be losing members at an alarming rate. Many of our churches, once filled, have substantially smaller numbers of members attending regular services.  The exact numbers of lost members are difficult to establish since church rolls are probably inaccurate.  Many current rolls are based on the counts during the days when conference budgets were paid by the congregations’ estimated figures.  Thus, the numbers may not have been completely accurate from the start.

The old-line A.M.E. initially thought that the exodus was due to the millennium generation that had the greatest difficulty with the AME Church established hierarchy.   However, it seems that all generations have problems with the current “AME Way” but remain silent at the churches because of loyalty and respect.

So, what can be done to retain current members and attract new members?  A good start would be the eradication of the perception of greed and exploitation.  Feeding this perception is the constant practice of pandering the members, as well as pastors, for support of questionable causes.  Secondly, a thorough examination of church ministries might yield the fact that changes need to be made.  There appears to be a decreased emphasis on the vision of the milk and honey in the afterlife.  Instead, churchgoers favor people oriented services and ministries that offer promises of successful ways of living in the present world filled with technological and personal relationship challenges.  The here and now issues or living issues have priority.  Once such issues are considered, church members are better prepared to deal with possibilities of the afterlife.

Merging smaller A.M.E. churches with larger and stronger churches most likely will not curtail the steady exodus of our members mainly because of the perception about our churches’ inability to meet the present day personal needs of all age groups.  Contrary to popular notion, the current concern is not just living with the expectation of achieving a home in heaven after death, but the relative personal security and peace on earth.

Perhaps the “A.M.E. Way” has prevailed efficiently for 200 years and has kept the denomination viable, focused and in harmony.  However, times have changed.  There is a critical need in the Twenty-First Century to devise a new paradigm that openly focuses on the everyday spirituality rooted in doctrine, mission and purpose.  The new paradigm should call for tangible benefits for the AME churchgoers rather than the tendency to pander the members as well as pastors to support questionable goals and projects that have little relevance to the wellbeing of individual members.

7. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:

The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.’s column will return next week. .


8. GETTING TO ZERO:

*The Rev. Dr. Oveta Fuller’s will resume next week.


*The Rev. Oveta Fuller Caldwell, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan (U-M) Medical School, Associate Director of the U-M African Studies Center and an AMEC itinerant elder and former pastor. She lived in Zambia for most of 2013 to study HIV/AIDS prevention among networks of religious leaders.

9.  iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2015 - SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR - ACTS 18:1–11, 18–21:

*Brother Bill Dickens

Key Verse: One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.” Acts 18:9–10.

Introduction

November 29, 2015 is the first Sunday of Advent.  I have been a member of Toastmasters International since 2009.  I serve as President of the Toastmasters Club at my place of employment.  The purpose of Toastmasters is to empower members with the skills and tools to perfect their public speaking abilities and in the process become more effective leaders.  While I have never had a problem speaking in public I have found Toastmasters to be beneficial since I have speech evaluators who make constructive comments about my speech.  In short, Toastmasters is designed to help people overcome their fear of speaking in public. 
Sunday’s lesson in Acts 18: 1 -11, 18-21 helps us to overcome the fear of speaking about Jesus.  Paul is fearless in his defense of the Gospel.  Speaking without fear is an acquired trait.  The more we speak the less we need be concerned about fear.  Public speakers speak to be understood not to bring attention to him or herself. As veteran speakers are fond of saying: speak effectively, stand up to be seen, economize on your words and sit down to be appreciated.

Bible Lesson - Another Road Trip  

Friendship

Paul leaves Athens and sets sail for Corinth.  At Corinth, Paul meets a Jewish married couple, Aquila and Priscilla, with whom he has in common his trade of tent making (v 3).  It appears that before the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul plied his trade with Aquila and Priscilla, carrying on a ministry on each Sabbath in the synagogue (v 4).  Paul establishes a new ministry in the home of Titus Justus, a prominent Gentile. It is significant that in spite of the break with a majority of the Jews, their synagogue ruler, Crispus, with his entire household, believes.  Paul personally baptizes Crispus (v 8).

Fearlessness

Persecution on a scale exceeding anything that Paul has yet experienced is to break out.  The Lord encourages Paul in a vision to continue to speak without fear (v 9).  This Paul does for a year and a half.  Paul’s enemies renew their attack on him by bringing him to court (v 12). The new proconsul decides not to hear the complaints by the Jews since their dispute is a matter of religious interpretation of words and thus doesn’t rise to the level of a violation of Roman law (v 15).  Paul returns to Antioch accompanied by his new friends Priscilla and Aquila.  It is interesting to note that the names have now been changed with the wife preceding the husband’s name in order.  This may be attributed to the elevated importance of the wife in the ministry which would be a plus for gender equality in early Christianity.

Bible Application - Speech & Security

The First Amendment of the US Constitution grants US citizens with the “freedom of speech” from reprisals brought about by government or political leaders.  It is important to understand that the 1st Amendment does not apply to you making salacious remarks directed at your employer or co-worker.  The price of this type of “speech” will be libel.  Free speech is limited to only political commentaries.  Even when a person makes no speech, e.g., not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, this is a form of “free speech."  However, silence is not golden when the Gospel comes under attack.  God expressed this truth to Paul in a vision.  His explicit “marching orders” was to speak without fear.  Milquetoast preachers and lay members are not soldiers of God’s army.  God is looking for believers who can articulate his message with clarity, conviction and boldness.  Our responsibility is actually quite small in the big picture.  We are commanded to speak fearlessly.  God has assured us he will provide protection.  Contrary to what a wedding official may say: Speak now and do NOT hold your peace.  When you speak with confidence you gain the respect of your peers and the personal satisfaction about overcoming this problem.  Congratulations!  As we saw in Lesson One of this Quarter you are now BOLD – Believer Overcoming Laziness and Doubt!  QED

*Brother Bill Dickens is currently the Church School Teacher at Allen AME Church in Tacoma, Washington.  He is currently a member of the Fellowship of Church Educators for the African Methodist Episcopal Church

10. MEDITATION BASED ON PROVERBS 3:1-6:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

I’m writing this meditation after a business trip to my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina that included a delightful lunch at my all-time favorite soul food restaurant - “Bert’s.”  The original “Bert’s Grill” was a classically eclectic inner city diner in the heart of a black business district that eventually fell victim to urban development, but the restaurant has evolved over the years.

The original owner’s daughter and her husband opened their own place North of Columbia - “Bert’s II.”  They’ve since moved a few miles farther to the northeast as the suburbs moved farther out, renamed their restaurant “Bert’s Southern Cooking,” and  diversified their bill of fare to include “heart healthy” options and to appeal to a diverse clientele.  Their essential menu however is still classic southern soul food - so good that you can’t help but clean your plate, while feeling your arteries hardening with every bite!

Dining at Bert’s is still a culinary joy and a personal treat, when I can make the time to get there.  It’s farther away these days, but well worth the extra time and effort.

The blessing of a delightful meal at Bert’s mirrors the delightful blessings that God has in store for us when we’re willing to make the extra effort to claim them. We often miss out on potential blessings because they don’t just “fall into our laps” - because claiming them sometimes means breaking out of our routines and comfort zones, traversing unfamiliar ground and doing new things in new ways with unfamiliar people.

When we have what it takes, however, to trust in and follow the God who knows what we need before we think of asking for it - the God who Sent His Son into this world to go out of His Way to save us from our sin - we’ll find new direction, see new hope and new strength and be able to celebrate unexpected joy.

Trust in and follow the God of our salvation, even when doing so requires extra effort and leads you onto unfamiliar ground.  You’ll realize new blessings along life’s way and be glad that, regardless of the extra effort, you could live out the words of a familiar hymn that says, “Where He leads me, I w/ill follow; I’ll go with Him all the way.”

Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

11. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Daniel Emanuel, pastor of Edwards Chapel AMEC in Waco, Texas.
 
Homegoing Celebration for Rev. Daniel Emanuel:

Funeral Service:
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
Carver Park Baptist Church
1020 Herring Ave. Waco, TX 76704

The Rev. Gaylon Foreman, pastor

Telephone: (254) 799-2766

Eulogist - The Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie

Condolences may be sent to:

Mrs. Dorothy Emanuel
1909 King Cole Dr.
Waco, TX 76705

Telephone: (254) 799-4285

Other family members:

The Rev. Benjamin Emanuel, Pastor (Greater Handy Chapel, Angleton)
The Rev. Lawrence Emanuel, Presiding Elder (Austin Capital District)
Brother Sammie Emanuel, Member (Green Chapel, Houston)

12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We are saddened to announce passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Davis Huguely, the 100 year old mother of the Rev. Melvyn Huguely, pastor of St. Paul, AME Church, London, Ohio.

Homegoing services:

Saturday, November 28, 2015, 11:00 a.m.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church
502 Pontiac Street
Dayton, OH 45417

Telephone: (937) 223-7041

Services are entrusted to:

Roberts Funeral Home
38 South Gettysburg Avenue
Dayton, OH 45417

Telephone: (937) 268-6886; Fax: (937) 268-0012

Address for sending condolences:

The Rev. Melvyn Huguely
3453 Southdale Drive
Kettering, OH 45409

13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

Mrs. Charlotta Henderson of Kansas City, Missouri, sister of the Reverend Reginal W. (Linda) Alexander went to be with the Lord on the evening of Thursday November 19, 2015. The Rev. Alexander is the pastor of Mt. Pleasant AME Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

The services are entrusted to:

Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels
1800 E. Linwood Blvd
Kansas City Missouri 64109

Telephone number: (816) 921 1800

A Celebration of her life will be held on December 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church
2853 Cleveland Avenue
Kansas City Missouri 64128

Telephone number: (816) 924 8944

Visitation:

Thursday, December 3rd at 2:00 p.m. and viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 4th.

Condolences may be sent:

Waymon Lee Henderson and family
8613 East 50th Terrace
KC, MO 64129

The Rev. and Mrs. R. W. Alexander Sr.
3615 Nitawood Drive
Little Rock, AR 72206

14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

The Third Episcopal District regretfully announces the passing of Mr. Robert Thomas, grandfather of the Reverend Melvin Wilson, Jr., pastor of Payne Chapel AMEC, Duquesne, Pennsylvania.
The funeral service is scheduled as follows:

Viewing:  Monday, November 23, 2015, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cummings and Davis Funeral Home
13201 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH  44112
Telephone: (216) 541-1111

Homegoing Celebration:  Tuesday, November 24, 2015, 10:00 a.m.

Cummings and Davis Funeral Home
13201 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH  44112

The Reverend Melvin Wilson, Jr., Eulogist
 
Condolences may be sent:

The Reverend Melvin Wilson, Jr.
605 Priscilla Avenue
Duquesne, PA  15110

Telephone: (412) 466-6062

15. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:

Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net      
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/   
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751




16. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:

The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of The Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.

Did someone you know pass this copy of The Christian Recorder to you? Get your own copy HERE: http://www.the-christian-recorder.org/


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