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
-- Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016
-- Good Friday – March 25, 2016
-- Easter - Sunday, March 27, 2016
-- Pentecost - Sunday, May 15, 2016
-- Daniel Payne - February 24, 1811
-- Massacre of Emanuel 9, June 17
--
Daylight Saving Time (USA) 2016 begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016
1. TCR EDITORIAL – TWO WISHES:
The 20th
Editor of The Christian Recorder
This will be a
short editorial.
On one or two
occasions, I have sent my adult children and grandchildren pre-birthday and
pre-Christmas messages from me
telling them that they do not need to give me birthday or Christmas
presents. My rationale for sending them
messages is based upon the fact that I have everything I need. I have colognes that I haven’t used, a
zillion ties, which I hate to wear, shirts, pants, socks, six guitars, two
ukuleles, four harmonicas, a keyboard, iPhone, iPad, an iPod that I don’t use,
books, a Kindle that I don’t use, shaving items, Bibles (three bookshelves),
and all kinds of gadgets. I don’t need
any more cologne, ties, after shave lotions, shirts or anything else that I can
think of!
I don’t need a new
car, I am absolutely happy driving my eleven year old, 2005 purple Mini Cooper.
The only things I
can think of that I need from my children and grandchildren would be for them
to love Jesus, hold on to Christ,
safeguard their health, and stay out of trouble. At this point in
my life, I don’t need
much of anything.
I don’t need any
gifts from them, but there are a couple of gifts I would like to receive before
I retire as the 20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder.
Two
gifts I would love to receive
I would like to see two things accomplished before I retire.
My first wish does not incur any financial obligation of the AME
Church. I would like to see the posthumous ordination of Jarena Lee. It is time to correct the injustice of
denying her an ordination because she was a woman. We understand the culture of that day, but
that was then, this is now. A posthumous ordination would be the right thing to
do.
My second wish incurs some financial culpability. I would like for all
honorably retired Itinerant Elders / pastors to receive lifetime complimentary
issues of The Christian
Recorder.
We have voted on it at every General Board Meeting since 2006 and I
believe a complimentary subscription to The Christian Recorder is the
least that we could do for those who gave so much of their lives for our Zion.
A retired pastor should not have to pay for a subscription to The
Christian Recorder. I frankly believe that retired pastors should received
complimentary subscriptions of all of the AME periodicals, but I am speaking
only for The Christian Recorder.
Post Script
-- Pastors take care of themselves and their families – Medical and
dental care and leisure time with themselves and their families.
-- Churches and pastors embrace technology - Technology is a way of
life.
-- Episcopal District, Presiding Elder, and local church websites be
maintained and kept up to date.
-- A long term wish – Medical Insurance for fulltime pastors.
-- A long, long term wish – Disability Insurance for all fulltime
pastors!
2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--
Bensalem AME Church to honor founder Richard Allen...
From a meeting last
year, a wellspring of goodwill has emerged to help the members of the Bensalem
AME Church on Bridgewater Road refurbish...
--
Congressional delegation to visit Emanuel AME Church in pursuit of lessons on
racial healing
The Rev. DePayne
Middleton Doctor's four daughters and other family members released nine doves
from Emanuel AME Church following her funeral
3. BISHOP MCKINLEY
YOUNG, THE DYNAMIC GUEST PREACHER AT THE FOUNDER’S DAY:
*Ms. Shelly Brown is the Administrative Assistant for the Allegheny-Scranton
District of the 3rd Episcopal District
Bishop McKinley Young, the 109th Elected and Consecrated Bishop,
Resident Bishop, Third -Episcopal District, accompanied by Dr. Dorothy Jackson
Young, Episcopal Supervisor, was the dynamic guest preacher at the Allegheny-Scranton
and Pittsburgh District’s (Third Episcopal District) Founder’s Day celebration
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Founder’s Day was celebrated on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at St. James
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The host pastor
was the Reverend Rodrecus Johnson, Jr.
As clergy and laity assembled to celebrate the 256th birthday of The Right
Reverend Richard Allen, the worship leader was the Reverend Dr. James H.
McLemore, Presiding Elder of the Pittsburgh District. The ministry of music was
provided by various choirs of both Districts; Bethel, Tarentum, Pennsylvania;
Bethel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New Ebenezer, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; and
the host church choir St. James, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Holy Spirit was
present as feet were tapping and hands were clapping!
The Reverend Dr. Eric L. Brown, Presiding Elder of the Allegheny-Scranton
District introduced Bishop McKinley Young.
Bishop McKinley Young preached with power and conviction from the subject,
"What kind of man was Richard Allen?” taken from Matthew 8:23-27. This
well-known verse everybody knows depicts Jesus comes on the boat and went to
sleep. A furious storm came and the disciples became scared and woke
Jesus up. Jesus spoke and the winds and the waves obeyed him. The
disciples were amazed and asked “What kind of man is this? Even the winds
and the waves obey him!”
As we celebrate 256 years of the birth of the Right Reverend Richard Allen,
the Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who was born a slave and
brought his and his brother’s freedom by cutting wood, we can also ask “What
kind of man is this?” God knew before he was born that he was born for
such a time as this. Richard Allen was a praying man; a religious man;
and a converted man. We celebrate the vision, energy, strength, sacrifice, and
leadership of Richard Allen today!
*Ms. Shelly Brown is the Administrative Assistant for the
Allegheny-Scranton District of the 3rd Episcopal District
4. REFLECTIONS ON
BISHOP RICHARD ALLEN:
The Rev. Dr. Anne Henning Byfield
“We had not been long upon our knees before I heard considerable scuffling
and loud talking. I raised my head up and saw one of the trustees having hold
of the Rev. Absalom Jones, pulling him off his knees, and saying, 'You must get
up, you must not kneel here.' Mr. Jones replied, 'Wait until prayer is over,
and I will get up and trouble you no more.' With that he beckoned to one of the
trustees to come to his assistance. He came and went to William White to pull
him up. By this time prayer was over, and we all went out of the church in a
body, and they were no more plagued by us in the church."
From the autobiography of Richard Allen, first Consecrated Bishop of the
AME Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is not a happenstance or simple
reaction to injustice; rather it is evolution of what God planned from the
beginning of time. Bishop Richard Allen is a person that exhibited so many
gifts, strong leadership, extraordinary service, deep spirituality that make
his existence beyond comparison. Actually it reflects the genius of God.
His establishment of African Methodism must be celebrated as a Holy Spirit
invasion that has lasted beyond any human’s imagination. In the words of
Gamaliel "If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only
find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38-39.
African Methodism has won the fight of the test of time and the test of
relevance because it was of God. We are strong. We must assure, however, that
we continue to make our Strong Zion Stronger. It is my hope for the church that
we will do so by spiritual fidelity, vitality in ministry, church and
community, fiscal accountability, and mutuality in leadership; and we will
continue to confront injustice everywhere.
My hope for the church
is that
we will once again
love beyond our anger,
live beyond our viewed
limitations,
expect the unexpected,
recognize we are one,
and
not destroy ourselves,
strengthen our weak
resignations, and
recapture the spirit
of our ancestors,
who built cathedrals
and schools,
initiated great Human
Rights reform,
leading people to
salvation,
restoring broken
communities,
leaving an authentic
legacy,
because they knew God
is
powerful
awesome
and can do anything
more than we can ask
or think
according to the power
of God working in us
to make our strong
Zion stronger.
The Rev. Anne Henning Byfield, D.Min is the Presiding Elder, North District
5. THE FREE AFRICAN
SOCIETY AND THE WALKOUT FROM ST. GEORGE’S M. E. CHURCH:
Some years ago I was asked to teach young ministers the history of the AME
Church which I did to the best of my ability.
While researching this subject, I found that contrary to what I had been
told, the founding of the Free African Society occurred before the Walkout from
St. George’s M.E. Church, not the other way around.
In Charles H. Wesley’s definitive biography, Richard Allen, he notes that
the Free African Society was organized on April 12, 1787 (p. 60.) He dates the Walkout from St. George’s as
November, 1787 (p. 52.) Part of the
confusion could be because he discusses the Walkout before the Free African
Society, but the historical order of the events is clear from their dates.
In the Autobiography of Richard Allen our founder does not mention the
organization of the Free African Society.
After the paragraph that ends with “raised a Society on 1786 of
forty-two members:” there is a long paragraph about his efforts to establish a
congregation to meet the unique needs of people of color, but was rebuffed by
both his African American brothers and European American Methodist clergy. Directly after this comes the story of the
Walkout from St. George’s which however is not dated.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church dates its beginning as it should
with the founding of the Free African Society in April 1787. This was the first step taken by Richard
Allen with the support of Absalom Jones in “erecting a place of worship for the
colored people,” as he stated in his Autobiography.
Richard Allen was a real prophet. He
saw the deep needs of his people. He
wrote, “We saw the forlorn state of our colored brethren, saw they were in need
of a place of worship. They were
considered as a nuisance.” Unlike so-called prophets, he acted to meet those
needs by organizing the Free African Society.
He did not have to wait until a crisis to respond. He did not allow the majority community to
dictate his actions.
Meanwhile events within St. George’s developed until they came to a head
with the Walkout. Again Allen and Jones
were at the forefront of the movement.
This time their plans were already in progress, but instead of one
church coming out of the Free African Society, two churches emerged in 1791,
Mother Bethel, pastored by Bishop Richard Allen, and St. Thomas Episcopal
Church, pastored by Rev. Absalom Jones.
The primary difference was St. Thomas was part of a predominately
European American denomination, while Mother Bethel was the first independent
African American Church.
In 1816 led by Pastor Richard Allen, Mother Bethel with other black
independent churches became part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the
first denomination founded by people of color.
Lic. Richard Allen acted to organize the Free African Society in
1787. Rev. Richard Allen acted to create
Mother Bethel in 1791. Pastor Richard
Allen acted to organize the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816. Bishop Richard Allen acted to convene the
first African American national convention in 1830.
Submitted by the Rev. Roger A. Sawtelle, New England Conference, First
Episcopal District
6. MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CONNECTIONAL LAY ORGANIZATION:
Let me thank each of you for the prayers, expressions of love and the many
calls during my recent illness and hospitalization.
I am back in the office and during well as well as following the directions
of my physician and my wife, Karen. In
fact I was told I could resume my regular schedule including travel.
It is my intention to attend the Global Development Council (GDC) Executive
meeting in Trinidad.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers and know that God is in control.
Willie C. Glover, Ph.D., President
Connectional Lay Organization
African Methodist Episcopal Church
7. CLO BOARD DONATES
$5,000 TO ASSIST FLINT, MICHIGAN WATER CRISES:
*Mr. William "Bill" Ayers and Mrs. Cheryl Hammond Hopewell
The CLO Breakfast Committee is doing everything to ensure a successful
breakfast and that our ticket sales are targeted the delegates, the general
body of the AME Church, and family and friends as we approach the General
Conference. The CLO Breakfast will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at 7:00
a.m. in the Philadelphia Convention Center.
We have engaged social media in our arsenal of tools at these locations: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The social media sites have been populated with information about the CLO
Breakfast including the news release, the flyer and other pertinent material
that can be sent to mailing lists or posted on episcopal district, conference
and local church websites. People will be able to go online to purchase
tickets. We are asking Lay Organization
leaders on every level to distribute information related to the breakfast to
your district members as soon as possible.
This Breakfast is being held to support the Connectional Lay Organization
Scholarship and Disaster Relief Funds.
The CLO Board voted to donate $5,000 out of the Disaster Relief Fund toward
the Flint, Michigan water crises. The good news is that we could afford to do
so because we had funds available in the Disaster Relief Fund. With a successful
CLO Breakfast, we will continue to support crises situations around the globe
as we have done in the past.
When we started talking about using the CLO Breakfast for raising funds to
support the Scholarship and Disaster Relief Funds as we did in 2012, we
indicated that we needed to start selling tickets early. The reason was because
of the number of ticketed events at this historic General Conference.
In our recent Committee teleconference, the AME Church Event Planner
indicated that we expect upward of 10,000 people at this General Conference.
Our goal is to reach 1,500 of those attendees. Hopefully you have successfully
started that process of ticket sales. The Committee looks forward to hearing
your partial report at our April Executive Board Meeting. By that time, we will
have sent you another flyer along with a Breakfast “YouTube” video for distribution.
If you need technical support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have
several Committee members who can assist you. Likewise, if you need additional
tickets, please contact Ms. Anna Johnson.
We again thank you for your encouragement and positive feedback.
*Mr. William "Bill" Ayers and Mrs. Cheryl Hammond Hopewell are
the Co-Chairs of the Connectional Lay Organization Breakfast
8. THE ABSOLUTE FINAL
FIRM DEADLINE FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS OR EXTENSIONS)
Highlight your piece of AME history in the AME Church Bicentennial Commemorative Journal. Whether your reflection is about your local
church, presiding elder, connectional leadership, general officers, local
businesses or even your own family, make sure your story is included in this
historical journal. If you need assistance creating your reflection, our
committee is prepared to help you!
Connect with the Commemorative Journal Committee at www.2016generalconference.org/journal
For fees, guidelines and any other questions -
We look forward to receiving your piece of history.
9.
VENDOR SPACES STILL AVAILABLE AT THE 50TH QUADRENNIAL SESSION OF THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE:
You
still have time to become a Vendor in the Bicentennial Mall at the 50th
Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, July 6-13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To become a
vendor, please go to www.2016generalconference.org. Once you are on the site, please
click on "Become a Vendor." From there you can fill out your
application online and pay for your booth. Please don't wait, act immediately;
vendor booths are going very fast.
Bishop
Gregory Ingram, Presiding Bishop
The
Rev. Dr. Jessica Ingram, Episcopal Supervisor
The
Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, Vendor Committee Chair
The
Rev. Dr. J. Stanley Justice, Vendor Committee Chair
10. AND WE THOUGHT
FLINT, MICHIGAN COULDN‘T GET WORSE:
-- Flint Paid Highest Water Rate in U.S.
A report released Tuesday found Flint, Michigan residents paid the highest
residential water rates in the United States last year, despite its highly
corrosive source. The Food and Water Watch study examined the 500 largest water
systems in the country and found, on average, Flint residents paid around $864
per year for water service, which is nearly double the national average. Lawyer
Valdemar L. Washington has sued twice to reduce the rates, and last year a
judge ordered the city to reduce the charges by 35 percent. The city charges
residents for the water they use and a connection fee for the water system.
Washington claims the ruling was supposed to apply to both, but has only
reduced the water charge. His lawsuit is on hold while the Michigan Court of Appeals
considers it. The study was calculated before the judge’s ruling in January
2015.
11. QUINN CHAPEL AND
VERNON CHAPEL A.M.E. CHURCHES IN FLINT HOST A COMMUNITY WATER FORUM IN FLINT,
MICHIGAN:
-- It could happen to
you
Flint, a predominately African American city that is populated with
approximately 100,000 people within 34 square miles, with the motto “Strong,
Proud,” was taken over by the State of Michigan through a revolving door of
Governor appointed Emergency Financial Managers since 2011 due its financial
problems caused by the downturn in the economy, lost employment from General
Motors plants leaving, and a lack of revenue sharing by the State. In less than a year later, another Emergency
Manager was appointed.
During the winter of 2012 two options were studied by the State Treasury
Department, either staying with Detroit as its source of water, or switching to
a new line, the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA), which would not be finished
for several years. In March 2013, with
no authority in the Flint City Council, they voted to join the KWA line. The Emergency Manager in April 2013 signed
agreement to move to new water source, as Flint was informed that Detroit would
be ending their contract in one year. In
June 2013 engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newman was hired to
determine how to equip the Flint Treatment Plant for treatment of Flint River
water. A few days later the Emergency Manager announced his resignation. The KWA broke ground near Lake Huron east of
Flint.
In July 2013 another Emergency Manager was appointed; he resigns only after
three months. In October 2013 Flint gets
yet again another Emergency Manager. He
notifies Detroit that Flint will no longer need to purchase their water. The State environmental regulators approve
permits that allowed the switch to the Flint River. April 2014, water traveling from Detroit
ended, and the city began receiving its water exclusively from the Flint River.
In June 2014 Flint residents begin to complain about the smell, taste and
discoloration of the water. Flint River
water tested positive for e-coli and citizens were advised to boil their water
for two days. This advisory continued on
and off until September. And In October
2014, the General Motors Engine Plant still in Flint announced, that it would
stop using Flint River water due to corrosion it causing to its machines. At this point additional chlorine was added
to the water. At this point the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality found unacceptable levels of total trihalomethanes
(TTHM) in the water, which was found to cause an increased risk of cancer and
other health problems. However the Mayor
of the city stated that the water was safe to drink during a news conference.
The University of Michigan-Flint discovered high level of lead in water
samples on campus, and researchers thought that this was just on isolated
problem. At this point, under
receivership, the city council members asked that Flint to stop using Flint
River water and to switch back to Detroit water. The city would now hire water treatment
consultants in an attempt to fix the water problems.
The city was informed January 2015 another Emergency Manager would be
coming in. The EPA asked questions about
Flint’s water treatment process. The
State’s Department of Environmental Quality responds that the water was being
treated correctly and water treatment plants are to have an “optimized
corrosion control plan.” It was later revealed that Flint was not treating its
water for corrosion, resulting in lead in the pipes leaching out into the water
system.
Flint City Council, still with no governing power, voted to do everything
possible to reconnect with the Detroit water system. In April 2015 Flint’s financial emergency is
declared over and a Receivership Transition Advisory Board was put in place to
oversee the city council and mayor decisions in Flint. By now a Flint mother discovers her child has
lead poisoning and service is disconnected by officials.
In June 2015 a judge rejects an injunction to force the switch back to
Detroit water. The Coalition for Clean
Water filed a lawsuit in response. A
leaked memo reveals an EPA expert’s concern about lead in Flint’s water stating
there is a major concern from a public health standpoint of the absence of
corrosion control treatment in the City for mitigating lead and copper levels
in the drinking water. In July 2015 the
State tells people to “relax.”
After the State revised a city report, by invalidating two high level
samples, Virginia Tech University researchers finish 300 samples of homes and
found high levels of lead in the water across the city. Dr. Hanna-Attisha, a local pediatrician,
noted the increased of the lead levels in the blood samples of children she
examined, which could possibly cause neurotoxin that effect children in a life
altering way.
In September 2015 the governor states that “mistakes were made” in the
switch to Flint River water. Finally, in
October 2015 the County declares a public health advisory. Over 24,000 water filters were dispersed in
the city. Then the governor announces
that Flint will switch back to Detroit’s waster system. It took approximately three weeks for the
Detroit water to fully replace the Flint River water in the water system, but
this did not end the lead contamination.
A class action lawsuit was filed against the city of Flint government
employees, and in November, with a city electing a new mayor, Dr. Karen Weaver,
a state of emergency in Flint was declared.
In an attempt to save money, approximately $12 million a year, the State of
Michigan has created a $1.5 billion problem that could have been averted for
approximately $36,000 per year to stay on Detroit water in first place. To save even further, it would have cost only
$100 per day to treat the river with chemicals that would have prevented the
pipes from corroding. Now as a result,
the water has irreversibly damage the entire infrastructure of city’s pipes
causing toxic levels of lead and other contaminants to leach into the water
supply sickening its 100,000 residents and potentially permanently damaging the
minds and bodies of over 30,000 children.
News of the water crisis in Flint has brought in many celebrates who are
giving to assist in amazing ways. On
Saturday January 30, 2016 Judge Greg Mathis, a popular television personality,
held a public forum hosted by Quinn Chapel AME Church and Vernon Chapel AME
Church in Flint. Judge Mathis felt that
the citizens of Flint needed to have their voices heard. He was joined by Attorney Willie Gray and
other attorneys to provide the residents with an opportunity to learn about
their legal rights as far as this water crisis is concern.
Judge Mathis stated that the crisis in Flint is a man-made disaster. “In his own words he failed the citizens” as
was stated by the governor in his State of the State message. Mathis said “I think as they so often tell
other groups of people – he should be held personally accountable. There’s this personal responsibility remark that’s
thrown around. I think he should exercise personal responsibility and resign,
because he’s failed the citizens by his own admission.”
As Judge Mathis read through the many questions that day, he really began
to understand what the citizens of the city were really faced with. There are still many questions, and for those
that he was not able to answer, he provided access to the Mathis Community
Center in Detroit for any Flint resident to receive further information. Mathis does not want anyone in the community
to get exploited. He was told residents
of the city are expected to pay their monthly water bill despite the water
being contaminated, which are unable to cook with, bathe with or have any
hygienic use for. In the interim, there
are city fire stations, and many churches throughout Flint that are hand out
cases of water for its residents. Water
bills that are not paid could impact a family’s credit worthiness. Judge Mathis pledged to help get a moratorium
on paying the water bills for water that cannot be used. Several of the attorneys and two the members
of the Flint City Council were also on hand to answer questions. Judge Mathis plans to return to the Flint community
for another public forum in the near future.
People in the city of Flint are humbled by the out pouring of help from
far and near. Flint, Michigan, it could
happen to you.
- The Rev. Gerald Cardwell is the pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church in
Flint, Michigan
- The Rev. Robert Blake is the pastor of Vernon Chapel AME Church in Flint,
Michigan
12. SECURING OUR CHURCHES:
*Ms. Wenda Brown
In June 2015, the
massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina changed the
course of all of our lives. Not only did it rob us of one of our AME leaders,
the Rev. Clementa Pinckney; but also, it robbed us of the Rev. Pinckney's
political vision as well as the lives of his faithful congregants who were
leaders in their own fields and equally courageous on that fateful day.
When the Rev.
Pinckney and his members were gunned down by 21-year-old, Dylann Roof, we were
all stripped of the safety and security we feel behind the closed doors of our
churches. We must now adjust our behavior and enhance our Safety and Security
Ministries. The Rev. Pinckney's vision led him to have a camera monitoring
system already installed at his church. Ironically, it did not serve to save
his life. However, he pioneered once again and allowed his life to be
the example for change.
While many churches
have invested in other material things inside and outside of church doors,
security systems have in some instances taken a second seat. We must move their
significance to a higher priority. Security comes in many forms. It includes
parking-lot guards, entrance and exit guards during worship, door bells and
back-door buzzers; side-entrance peep- holes. We must join our community's
neighborhood watch programs and make friends with our community police forces.
We must also improve our sanctuary security routines. This will call for more
secure collection plates and watchman to secure our Sunday school and child
care areas.
No, we will not
become prisoners in our churches; but, we will be taking proactive approaches
to dismantle the unsettling times in which we live.
*Ms. Wenda Brown is a member of St. Paul AME Church in Newport
News, Virginia
13. NEWLY APPOINTED PRESIDING ELDER
PRAISED THE LORD AT MT. PLEASANT AME CHURCH QUARTERLY CONFERENCE:
By Barbara Boyce, Quarterly Conference Reporter
On January 10, 2016, newly appointed Presiding Elder, the
Rev. Johnny Kelly and Mrs. Carrie Kelly joined the Rev. R. W. & Mrs. Linda
Alexander and the Mt. Pleasant Church Family in their first Quarterly
Conference for the year in the Pine Bluff-Helen Conference of the East Arkansas
Conference of the 12th Episcopal District.
Presiding Elder Kelly shared with the church family the
spoken words on "Fresh Start –Starting Over" taken from Isaiah 43:18,
19. He stated that in order for a person to start over in a fresh beginning,
one must stop making excuses, take a self inventory and have faith. He also
stated that one must not blame other people for the problems in his/her life
and people must stop thinking they are victims and take charge of their lives.
He said, "No one can destroy a person's life unless that person gives them
permission. A person must evaluate his/her life and learn from the experiences.
Those experiences are personal, vocational, educational, and as well as one's
spiritual life." He emphasized,
"One must also deal with the experiences that have created
pain." He preached a dynamic
sermon! He said, "We all can start over. It is up to the individual person
where to start over and stop thinking and living as a victim, but begin living
the life that God has promised each of us. Stand on your Faith, there is a new
beginning for you."
14. THE DANGER
IN BEING CLUELESS:
*The Rev. Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M.
The 2016 Oscar Awards presentation will noticeably be
without any African-American winners, primarily because African-American actors
were not nominated in any major category by the Academy’s governing board
members. The absence or exclusion once again this year of actors deemed to be
worthy of at least an Academy nomination resulted in an Internet firestorm
prompting outcries that criticized the all too often snub to African-American
actors
A few individuals even publicly stated their frustration
about the exclusion, shared their opinions about boycotting the awards show to
display their disagreement with the blatant disregard of the skills of
African-Americans. Then there were others, like Ms. Stacy Dash who disagreed with a public boycott of the
Academy Awards and do not believe that the Academy was erroneous in not
including any actors of color in the major movie categories.
The actor Stacey Dash shared on Fox & Friends (a Fox
network television show), her views about the BET Channel, award shows
celebrating the achievements of African Americans and people of color, Dash even commented on the relevance of the
month of February designated as Black History Month. The African American
actor, who became famous in the movie Clueless, remains clueless as to how
dangerous her personal, ill-informed comments are, not only to African Americans
but also to the entire American society.
In opining about the possible boycott of the Academy Awards,
Dash has expressed her opinion that Black History Month and any other outlet
that recognizes and celebrates the lives and achievements of African Americans
is counterproductive and unnecessary. She believes that these mediums promote
segregation and should be discontinued in order to promote racial equality in
the United States of America.
Somehow, Ms. Dash seemingly forgot or ignores the reality
that in the eras prior to the BET Channel, the NAACP Image Awards, and Black
History Month, that racial equality or racial harmony was nonexistent and the
absence of these mediums was not a barrier to dismantling racism and
segregation. The danger in spewing such clueless opinions is that instead of
focusing on the root causes of racism, discrimination and the lack of diversity
in certain arenas of life, and finding viable solutions to eliminate the above,
Ms. Dash’s now public opinions only gives encouragement to those who deny that
America is racially divided even in the year 2016.
Those who deny that racism and discrimination are issues
that fray the fabric of American society are unwilling to contribute any
solutions that would repair the damage, because in their minds, there is no
problem or the problem lies not in their frayed consciousness but in others.
While Ms. Dash might not have experienced life changing racist encounters with
others, her experience does not mean that others have not been wounded by racist
encounters and her experience is not the qualifier for the elimination of Black
History Month or any other avenue that celebrates the success of
African-Americans. Deep seated issues such as racism spill over into all areas
of life and cause wounds that cannot be healed or resolved unless there is an
acknowledgment that there is a problem and also a willingness to solve the
problem or make things right.
Reflecting on Ms. Dash’s comments results in wondering how
clueless opinions of Christians dangerously affect the lives of others within
the Christian community. In denying that there are issues in the Christian
community particularly within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, are
Church members clueless or in denial those issues exist. Is the Church clueless
about the effects of sexism that denies equitable treatment to some because of
their gender? Is the Church clueless about the rapidly declining membership
that not only affects the financial status of the Church but also affects the
physical buildings resulting in deteriorating and dilapidated structures. Is
the Church clueless or in denial that new and innovative ways of preaching and
teaching should be utilized to reach the masses in order that Jesus Christ’s
message remains relevant to a 21st century demographic congregation and their
offspring.
It is dangerous to be clueless and to share publicly,
information that highlights one’s clueless way of thinking because one never
knows whose life will be affected by clueless opinions. One thing that is certain
is that despite the absence of African-Americans from the major nominating
categories in this year’s Academy Awards and the clueless opinions of
celebrities and others, the Church stands as a beacon of light ready to
represent Jesus Christ. Despite the clueless opinions or denial of issues of
some that adversely affect the Church, the A.M.E Church still remains one that
has weathered the storms of centurial change and is poised to remain relevant
to future generations. Some might be clueless in regards to certain matters or
issues but our intentions should not be to remain clueless on all matters that
affect the Church and the lives of God’s people now and for future generations.
*The Rev. Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. is the Associate Minister
First Saint Paul AME, Lithonia, Georgia
15. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Reverend Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical
Text: Exodus 33: 13 a, b: Now therefore,
I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I
may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight. KJV
Lord, if you are
pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find
favor with you. In other words, if it is true that you look favorably on me,
let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy
your favor. God, if this is really so, please guide me clearly along the way
you want me to travel so that I will understand you and walk acceptably before
you.
For many of us, at one
time or another we have felt like God just wasn’t listening to us. There may
have been a time or two when we have felt like our bond with God had been
broken. God doesn’t seem to hear our prayer. Doesn’t appear that God is paying
attention to our situation? We feel like we have to make it all by ourselves.
The preacher in me is compelled to ask, “anybody been there?”
It may very well be
that we started feeling like that when we were caught up in something we shouldn’t
have been. It could have been we felt like God wasn’t watching because we had
strayed away too far or the things we were doing were too bad.
Family didn’t want
anything to do with us. So called friends stopped coming around. Nobody down at
the Church house would even speak to us. All that made us think that surely God
had just turned away from us. “Am I preaching to anybody here today?”
Maybe there was a time
when we thought God had turned away from us because we had turned our back on
Him or had neglected our relationship with Him. Could have been a time we
forgot about God as we spent more time worshipping the world. We stopped
worshipping God, stopped praying to God, and stopped caring about God.
But then one day the
pain of separation set in. One day the desperation that comes with being
separated from God set in. It doesn’t matter how or why we got separated.
Whatever the reason, separation from God is a painful experience. Our text
gives a wonderful example of how when we go to God in prayer, prayer changes
things.
All through the Bible
we can find times when something or somebody broke the bond that existed
between God and His people. For the people of Israel, it was the golden calf
that broke the bond.
It really doesn’t take
long for something or somebody to get us off track. That’s why there is a
church on every corner. When folk don’t like what they hear at one church they
simply get their family together and go to another church.
The truth of the
matter is you can find a church where folk are preaching about how to pick a
lucky number, how to find your soul mate or how to get rich. Lamentably, you
can find a church where somebody is preaching about how you can keep living
like you are living because God ain’t really watching. If you are living in sin
and look long enough, you can find a church that makes you feel like how you
living ain’t that bad.
But we must realize
God is still on the Throne, still sitting high and looking low. God still hates
sin. The wages of sin are still death but thank God for His gift of eternal
life.
We know that about
sin. We know that about God but sometimes if something else sounds better or
sounds like more fun we gravitate to that. Sometimes if something else looks
better or looks like more fun that’s what we want to be a part of. That state
of mind unfortunately represents a lack of conscience and a lack of faith. But you got to know the Devil is a liar.
The only way to fix a
lack of conscience and a lack of faith is to somehow cause a change to take place
in our hearts. We have wake up. We need to understand that God is not happy
with us living in sin. God is not happy with us doing things we know are wrong.
The truth of the matter is it is not alright to say the things we say, or go
the places you go.
In our text we find
that Moses knew like we know, we can’t do it by ourselves. We cannot do it
without the help of the Lord.
When we find ourselves
in a tough situation and don’t know which direction to take we need to call on
the Lord. When we don’t know if we can make it, when we need an answer in the
midst of our circumstance we need to call on the Lord. When the way looks hard
and when the road gets rough, get on your knees and pray. When the going gets
tough, get on your knees and pray. Prayer changes things.
*The Reverend Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, South Carolina
16. GETTING TO ZERO -
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
*The
Rev. Dr. Fuller is currently on Sabbatical leave from the University of
Michigan and will submit her column as her schedule permits.
17. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016 - DAY OF
ATONEMENT - LEVITICUS 16:11-19:
*Brother
Bill Dickens
Key Verse: Thus he
shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the
people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so
he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of
their uncleannesses. Leviticus 16:16
(NRSV)
Introduction
February
21, 2016 is the second Sunday of Lent.
Attention
to detail is extremely important. The small print buried in legal documents
like bank loans, home mortgages, copyright status and child custody
arrangements test our understanding about the duties and responsibilities for
each party. Failure to carry out the details can result in loss of money,
prestige and property. Detailed instructions are provided in order that we know
what we are supposed to do and avoid the consequences of failing to follow
instructions.
The
Adult AME lesson for February 21, 2016 examines the importance of following
detailed instructions during the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.
Yom
Kippur is arguably the most revered and sacred feast/memorial of the ancient
Jewish calendar. Given its symbolic importance, it was critical that the
memorial be carried out according to precise instructions. Nonconformist and ad hoc behavioral changes were not
tolerated or permitted. Why? Glad you asked. Let’s see the reasons below.
Bible Lesson - Preparation & Execution of Plan
The Day
of Atonement is sacrosanct because it represents the annual atoning or
forgiving of sin the Israelite community. Since sin is repulsive to Yahweh it
is important to have a complete expungement of all forms of individual and
communal transgressions. This is the first great memorial that required fasting
to be a part of the ritual as well as prayer, sign of humility and a cessation
from all work. Since sin represents humankind’s estrangement from their Creator,
an act of reconciliation was needed. In order to complete the expungement
certain steps were needed.
First,
a special day (10th day of the 7th month) was set to
begin the ceremonial ritual. Second, the
high priest is required to conduct a ceremonial bathing or ritual cleansing and
redressing of the appropriate attire to conduct the cleansing. Third, several
important animals, namely bullocks and goats were needed. Finally, access and boundaries to certain
areas inside the tent where Yahweh dwelt were clearly defined.
With
these conditions set the ceremony could now commence. The animal sacrifice of
the bullock was specifically targeted for the sin of the high priest and his
family (verse 11). This is significant because in a prior chapter of Leviticus
(10: 1-2) we find the tragic story of the death of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and
Abihu, caused by their inappropriate
incense offered to God .
This
was a painful reminder about why attention to detail is so important. In this
case it cost Aaron’s sons their lives. Only the high priest had access to a
special area known as the “holiest of holies” (v 17). This is the area where God was present. The priest sprinkled the blood of the first
sacrificed goat seven times in front of the mercy seat and seven times on the
mercy seat. The other goat was symbolically used to carry the burden of the
community sin out to the wilderness. This goat was not sacrificed, but instead
was identified as the “scapegoat” (v 22).
At the conclusion of the atonement ceremony all clothing worn and animal
carcasses had to be completely burned. This act symbolized that remnants
associated with sin was removed and destroyed.
Bible Application
If I
conducted a poll asking participants to rank their most important
holiday/observance the responses would likely vary. Many no doubt will choose
Christmas as the top holiday. Some may rank Thanksgiving at the top. A few will
likely rank July 4th or New Year’s Day. It is highly unlikely that
Easter would get a lot of first place votes, even among Christians! Easter is probably not in the top three
holiday observances due to the perception about suffering, sin, death and
rebirth associated with this observance / memorial.
Most of
us do not like to acknowledge sin and transgressions either in our home,
school, communities or even churches. We succumb to the incorrect criticism
that discussions about sin mean we are being judgmental about a person’s
character. Fearful of this criticism we abruptly end the conversation. As a
result of this indifference sin permeates our individual and communal
lifestyles.
The
intended and unintended consequences of a “silence about sin” mean we prolong
our Godly estrangement and fail to reach our creative potential. We all need to
be reconciled. We all need to be thankful that the mercy seat has been replaced
with Jesus. We need to be mature and honest about our current status like the
ancient Jews in Leviticus during the Day of Atonement.
Putting
our head in the sand like an ostrich will not improve or change the sinful
outcome. 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
18. MEDITATION BASED ON HEBREWS 13:1-9:
*The Rev. Dr.
Joseph A. Darby
I had the pleasure this past Sunday of sharing
in the Beaufort District’s celebration of Founders’ Day in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. AME
Founders’ Day - which is always on the Second Sunday in February - celebrates
the February 14, 1760 birthday of our founder, Bishop Richard Allen, and is a
time to remember the notable and unsung heroes and heroines who laid the
foundation of what is now a viable and vibrant part of the worldwide Body of
Christ.
I enjoyed the worship celebration, but I also
considered the ironic reality that some AME Churches no longer celebrate
Founders’ Day, because February 14 is also Valentine’s Day. In some AME Churches, the day is devoted to
cards, candy, flowers and words about “love,” without a thought about how God’s
love led former slaves to affirm their faith, humanity and dignity by
establishing the world’s oldest predominately African-American denomination.
Those churches that no longer celebrate
Founders’ Day often de-emphasize their denominational ties in an effort to be
“trendy” and to appeal to those who shy away from denominational allegiances in
a “post-modern” world. In doing so, they
fail to take note of how “where we’ve been” can be inspirational in the present
day.
Their focus on the “here and now” reflects an
aspect of human nature. It’s easy for
all of us to focus on and to seek well-being and achievement in the “here and
now,” while failing to see and celebrate where the Lord has brought us
from.
Too many good people are consumed with and
confounded and hindered by the challenges of the present day, because we fail
to remember and celebrate the God Who, through the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ,
is the same yesterday, today and forever and Who never fails to bless us in
amazing and immeasurable ways.
When we take the time to look beyond where we
are and remember where the Lord has brought us from, our memory of past
blessings will lead and inspire us to claim new wholeness, new peace of mind,
new confidence and new victory. When can
then remember and celebrate how we got over, rejoice for “who we are, Whose we
are and Who brought us over,” find confidence in where we’re headed, and face
life with faith - saying as did my ancestors in the faith, “I’ve come this far,
I find no fault, I feel like going on.
*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
19.
CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT
--
Mrs. Beryl Grace Pillay Celebrated 60th Birthday
Sincerest
Congratulations to Mrs. Beryl Grace Pillay, spouse of the Reverend Clive J.
Pillay, pastor of Trinity Chapel AME Church, Grassy Park, Cape Conference, 15th
Episcopal District, who celebrated her 60th birthday on 17th February 2016.
Through it all,
He's been with me. "So I thank God for the valleys and I thank God for the
mountains, 1 Samuel 7:12,” thus far the Lord has helped us
Belated
felicitations can be emailed to:
20.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with
heartfelt sympathy that we announce the passing of the Reverend Cato Leamon
Mott, Sr., pastor of Saint Mary AME Church in Osteen, FL.
The Reverend Mott
is survived by a loving and devoted wife, Mrs. Marylon Mott; two daughters, two
sons; his mother; four sisters; two brothers, and a host of other relatives and
friends.
The arrangements
are as follows:
Friday, February
12, 2016
Viewing: 5:00 p.m.
– 8:00 p.m.
St. Paul AME Church
1012 S. Park Avenue
Apopka, FL 32703
Telephone:
407-889-4464
Saturday, February
13, 2016
Funeral Service:
1:30 p.m.
St. Paul AME Church
1012 S. Park Avenue
Apopka, FL 32703
Telephone: (407)
889-4464
The Rev. Gerard A.
Moss, pastor
The Rt. Rev. Adam
J. Richardson, Jr, eulogist
Condolences may be
sent to:
Mrs. Marylon Mott
2329 Home Again
Road
Apopka, FL 32712
Telephone: (407)
230-8028
Arrangements have
been entrusted to:
Marvin C. Zanders
Funeral Home
232 W. Michael
Gladden Blvd.
Apopka, FL 32703
Telephone: (407)
886-3388
21.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We sadly regret to
inform you of the passing of Mr. Willie Thomas Allen, Educator, Civil Rights
and Community Activist and the father of the Revered Marcia Allen Owens Ph.D.,
associate pastor of Arnett Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Quincy,
FL. Dr. Owens serves as the 11th Episcopal District’s 2nd Vice President WIM;
and a member of the Connectional Research & Scholar Committee.
Service
Arrangements:
Visitation:
Monday, February
15, 2016, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Pearl Street
African Methodist Episcopal Church
2519 Robinson
Street
Jackson, MS 39209
Telephone: (601)
352-6087
Funeral Services:
Monday, February
15, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
Pearl Street
African Methodist Episcopal Church
2519 Robinson
Street
Jackson, MS 39209
Telephone: (601)
352-6087
The Rev. Dr. Samuel
H. Boyd Sr., pastor
Services are
entrusted to:
Westhaven Memorial
Funeral Home
3580 Robinson Road
Jackson, MS 39209
Telephone: (601)
922-3666 (Phone)
Interment:
Garden Memorial
Park
Expressions of sympathy
may be emailed to:
22.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with
heartfelt sympathy that we announce the passing of and the funeral services for
Mrs. Alberta A. Hilton, the widow of Presiding Elder Jacob William Hilton, Sr.,
presiding elder of the Brookhaven District, of the old Mississippi Annual
Conference. She was the mother of the Reverend Jacob William Hilton, Jr.,
presiding elder of the Central New Orleans-Bogalusa District of the Louisiana
Annual Conference of the Eighth Episcopal District and the mother-in-law of
Mrs. Vivian Hilton, the Central New Orleans-Bogalusa District Consultant.
Mrs. Alberta A.
Hilton was a member of Bonner-Institutional AME Church, Jackson, Mississippi,
where she was very active with the Women's Missionary Society and the Lay
Organization.
The following
information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Visitation and
Celebration of Life Service: Thursday, February 18, 2016
Pearl Street AME
Church
2519 Robinson
Street
Jackson, MS 39209
The Reverend Samuel
H. Boyd, Sr., Pastor
Visitation: 10:00
a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
Celebration of Life
Service: 11:00 a.m.
The Reverend
Caroline Claiborne
Eulogist and
Pastor, Bonner-Institutional AME Church
Interment:
William Chapel
United Methodist Church Cemetery
Vossburg,
Mississippi
Arrangements have
been entrusted to:
Westhaven Memorial
Funeral Home
3580 Robinson Road
Jackson, MS 39209
Condolences and
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend Jacob
W. and Mrs. Mrs. Vivian Hilton
5520 Dolphin Drive
Jackson, Drive
39209
Telephone: (601)
922-9722
23.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with
heartfelt sympathy that we announce the passing of Mr. Robert L. Leeper, the
father of the Reverend Karen Bennett, the pastor of Paradise AME Church in
Jefferson, Georgia, Athens-Vidalia District of the Augusta Georgia Annual
Conference; the Reverend Catherine Mathis, Presiding Elder.
Funeral service
arrangements for Mr. Robert L. Leeper Jr. are as follows:
Funeral Services:
Saturday, February
20, 2016
12:00 PM
First Baptist
Church
1501 Decatur Street
Richmond, Virginia
23224
Acknowledgements
may be sent to:
The Robert Leeper
Family c/o
Carlton T. Brooks
Funeral Home
2200 Hull Street
Richmond, Virginia
23224
Telephone: (804) 233-8027
Fax: (804) 232-6085
And
Condolences may be
sent to:
Karen Bennett or
Gracie A. Leeper
2705 Terminal
Avenue
Richmond, Virginia
23234
24.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the heavenly transition of Mrs. Emma Ray Arrington, the mother of Rev.
Charlene Arrington-Moore (J.C. Moore), pastor of Bethel AME Church, Michigan
City, Indiana. Mrs. Arrington was 92 years of age and a faithful member of
Union Memorial AME Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan for 65 years. She served
in numerous organizations and died on February 10, 2016 after a lengthy
illness.
The Funeral
arrangements are as follows:
Family Visitation:
Wednesday, February
17, 2016, 9:30 a.m.
Funeral Services,
February 17, 2106, 10:30 a.m.
Both the visitation
and Homegoing services will be held at:
Union Memorial
A.M.E. Church
911 South Crystal
Avenue
Benton Harbor, MI
49022
The Rev. Minnie
Autry, Pastor
Telephone:
269-927-2219
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Rev. Charlene
Arrington-Moore
25.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the passing of Mr. Robert Burton, brother of the Reverend John Burton,
pastor of St John’s AME Church in Norfolk, VA.
Celebration of Life
Service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 at 1 p.m.:
Union Baptist
Church
904 N. Roxboro, St.
Durham, NC
Telephone: (919)
688-1304
The Rev. Kenneth
Hammond is the pastor.
Visitation will be
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on February 18, 2016 at the church.
Services are
entrusted to:
Ellis D. Jones and
Sons Funeral Home
419 Dowd St.
Durham, NC
Telephone: (919)
688-1323
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Reverend John
and the Rev. Myra Burton
690 Red Mill Road
Norfolk, VA 23502
(757) 286-6409
26.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the passing of Sister Gwendolyn Scott, the mother of the Reverend
Darrell Scott, pastor of New Tyler AME Church, Memphis, TN.
Service
Arrangements:
Visitation:
Sunday, February
14, 2016, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
New Tyler AME
Church
3300 Summer Avenue
Memphis, TN 38122
Telephone: (901)
323-9371
Funeral Services:
Thursday, February
18, 2016 – 12:00 Noon
New Zion Community
Church
955 Oliver Avenue
Indianapolis, IN
46221
The Rev. Robert E.
Harvey, Pastor
Services are
entrusted to:
R.S. Lewis & Sons
Funeral Home
374 Vance Avenue
Memphis, TN 38126
Telephone: (901)
526-3264
Fax: 901-526-3265
Condolences and
expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend
Darrell Scott
1420 Island Town
Memphis, TN 38103
27.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the passing of the sister of Mrs. Gloria Epperson and sister-in-law of
the Reverend Jerry Epperson, pastor of St. Mark AME Church in Parson,
Tennessee.
Funeral Services:
Saturday, February
13, 2016
St. Mark AME Church
566 Tennessee
Avenue S,
Parsons, TN 38363
Telephone: (731)
847-2056
Expressions of
sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend and
Mrs. Jerry Epperson
25 Alexis Cove
Jackson, TN
38305-1638
28.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with
heartfelt sympathy that we announce the passing of the Reverend Carl Brinkley,
retired pastor in the Central Conference of the 11th Episcopal District of the
African Methodist Episcopal District.
The Reverend
Brinkley is survived by: a loving and devoted wife, Mrs. Emma Brinkley and a
host of other relatives and friends.
The arrangements
are as follows:
Visitation: Friday,
February 12, 2016, 5 - 7 p.m. at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, 449 S. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Saturday, February 13, 2016, 7:30 - 9 a.m. at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church,
580 George W. Engram Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida..
Funeral Service:
Saturday, February 13, 2016, 9 a.m. at Allen Chapel AME Church, 580 George W.
Engram Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida. The Reverend Nathan M. Mugala is the
pastor and Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr, Eulogist.
Arrangements have
been entrusted to:
R. J. Gainous
Funeral Home
804 Dr. Mary McLeod
Bethune Blvd
Daytona Beach,
Florida 32114
Telephone: (386)
253-7686
Condolences may be
sent to:
Mrs. Emma Brinkley
188 Big Ben Drive
Daytona Beach, FL
32117
Telephone: (386)
255-4585
Interment:
Greenwood Cemetery
29.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to
announce the passing of Robert Lee Freeman, the father of the Reverend Roger
Wilmer, pastor of St. James AME Church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
The following
information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Saturday, February
13, 2016
Viewing: 10:00 a.m.
– 11:00 a.m.
Funeral
Service: 12:00 noon
William F. Savin
Funeral Home
802 N. 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA
19123
Phone: 215-765-7065
Fax: 215-684-2424
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Reverend Roger
Wilmer and Family
7812 Spout Spring
Road
Frederick, Maryland
21702
30.
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
31. 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.
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