Bethel A.M.E. Church
SPRING 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1
Serving the community for over 150 years! 111 N. Cherry Street, Lebanon, Ohio
Special Interest Articles: Page 2 Spotlight on Pastor Lewis
Page 3 Church Conference Highlights
Page 4 Missionary Society Update
Resurrection Sunday by Pastor Ricardo Lewis It is no coincidence the celebration of Easter coincides with the birth of Spring. Just like we see flowers peeking out from the dirt, or leaves springing forth from the trees, Easter brings an opportunity for new beginnings, new hope. It is an opportunity for us to bury the pains of our past, the flaws of our temperament and the hurts we have both endured and caused. Much like Jesus left His burial linens in the tomb, it is a time for us to shed those things that keep us down. Negativity, hatred, anger, jealousy, unforgiveness - it is likely each of us carries burdens
Lord is risen today. Hallelujah! Please join us on Good Friday, 6 April, at Allen Temple (Cincinnati) at noon, at 7:00 a.m. Resurrection Sunday for Sunrise Service at Bethany United Church of Christ and at Bethel at 11:00 a.m.
This is the time of year that we exercise our faith that Jesus sacrificed, died, and most importantly arose for our sins. The death demonstrated He was human, the resurrection proves that He was Divine. So, during this season walk in this faith. Walk in the assurance that Christ the
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Friday - 6 -Good Friday
Message from the Presiding Elder
from the past that creep into our mind and heart when we least expect it. Thoughts that keep us trapped in a tomb of the past, wrapped up in emotions that will not allow the peace of God to cradle our spirit to release us into the light of a new day.
Calendar of Events APRIL
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(513) 932-7919
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Saturday – 7 -Sunday School Rehearsal -Easter Egg Drop at LJHS
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Friday – 4
-1st Friday Family Feast th
Sunday – 13 -Mother’s Day
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Sunday – 8 -Sunrise Service at Bethany UCC -Resurrection Sunday th
Friday – 13 st -1 Friday Family Feast & Fun Night & Fun Night
JUNE
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Friday – 1 st -1 Friday Family Feast & Fun Night th
Sunday – 17 -Father’s Day
Bookmark designed By Emma, 6
Newsletter Title
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Spotlight on…Pastor Ricardo Lewis Pastor Ricardo L. Lewis was assigned to Bethel African Methodist Church during the South Ohio Annual Conference in 2010. While filling the pulpit, Pastor Lewis completed two Master’s degrees at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO), a Master’s of Divinity and Master’s of Arts in Counseling Ministry. Pastor Lewis is a certified Chaplin and a founding member of the Centerville Chapter of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. Additionally, he is licensed by the State of Ohio as a Chemical Dependency Counselor. This license permitted him to serve as a counselor at the Center for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (CADAS) where he worked with clients to steer them toward a life free of their dependency on substances such as alcohol and controlled chemical drugs (both illegal and prescription. A native of San Francisco, Pastor Lewis came to Ohio from Oakland, California. He is the son of Churchill (deceased) and Ruby Lewis. Raised Seventh Day Adventist, Pastor
Lewis felt called to the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) after he learned of the church’s rich history and stated mission. In 1994, he was ordained as a Deacon through Brookins AMEC, Oakland. It was the church’s dedication to education that led him to Wilberforce University where he earned Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Rehabilitation Mental Health. After graduation in 1999, Pastor Lewis was ordained an elder of the AME Church. Prior to coming to Bethel, he th transferred from the 5 Episcopal District and where he was assigned to Whitman Chapel AMEC, Belpre (Oh) and Shorter Chapel, Greenfield (Oh). In his spare time, Reverend Lewis enjoys playing bass guitar. He is the father of four, Lindsey (Hayward, CA); Ricquel (Atlanta, GA); Antonio (Sacramento, CA); and, Martinique (Washington, D.C.) and has two grandchildren. He is married to Vonya, who is an Associate Professor of History at Sinclair Community College.
Pastor Lewis’ favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This verse is significant to him because he came to realize that every day God blesses him to see, he will have challenges. The very act of living will put obstacles in his way whether with the people he encounters or situations that arise. Yet, he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that it has only been the peace of God that sustained him through life thus far and that will permit him to carry on.
Drop off aluminum cans, newspaper, cardboard and office paper to the church on the 2nd Saturday of each month! Thank you from the Sunday School
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Bethel A.M.E. Church - Lebanon
0 Church Conference Highlights At the 11 March Church meeting, new ministry opportunities, needed repairs to the church, and fundraising were the primary items on the agenda. Specifically: Three new opportunities to partner with existing ministries were presented to those in attendance. All were favorably received. More details on each will be forthcoming. Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) housing ministry in partnership with Lebanon United Methodist Church Feeding children and youth once a week during summer months in Pleasant Square Park in partnership with Lebanon United Methodist Church Fundraising Banquet for Greater Grace Orphanage, Isanlu, Nigeria Fundraising ideas were discussed which included: Country Applefest bake sale (September 29) Horse Drawn Carriage Parade bake sale (December 1) Dinners in the community in coordination with performances at The Lebanon Grand Opry Marketing of the Anniversary Recipe Books Black history month banquet, perhaps with proceeds split with Greater Grace Orphanage The physical church is in need of repair. Items discussed are listed below. The list will be placed in order of priority by the Pastor and the Trustee Board. Replacement energy efficient double-pane windows Refurbishing of pews and securing them to floor. Discussion of refurbishing one to have on display during Homecoming Celebration to ask for sponsors to donate funds and dedicate pew in memorial Removal of carpet in sanctuary under the pews and refinishing the floor Removal of tile in fellowship hall to repair and refinish the floor Trustees were authorized to secure a plumber to resolve/restore hot water in the restrooms Replace ceiling tile(s) in fellowship hall Purchase and replace toilets
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Additionally, 5 August was set as the date for Church Anniversary and Homecoming Celebration. Reimbursement procedures were discussed after the Treasurer’s report. Forms are available in the Church office. The next Church Conference is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., Monday April 9. At that meeting Pastor Dillon Staas will present details about IHN Housing Ministry partnership. Please plan to attend.
Upcoming Meeting Dates Church Conference Meetings
Stewards Meetings
Trustee Meetings
1st Monday of each month at 6 pm
1st Saturday of each month at 11 am
1st Saturday of each month at 12 noon
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April 9 th May 7 th June 4 th July 9 th August 6
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April 14 th May 5 nd June 2 th July 7 th August 4
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April 14 th May 5 nd June 2 th July 7 th August 4
Bookmark designed by Maia, 10
Newsletter Title
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Greetings from the Missionary Society From the desk of: Alyne L. Scott, President of The Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bethel, Lebanon “Put your hand into the hand of God. He gives the calmness and serenity of heart and soul.” - Charles E. Cowman Greetings Sisters and Brothers in Christ. I am happy to say that the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bethel, Lebanon is truly underway. We are asking all members of the church to participate in this organization. Every member of the church is a missionary. Our Mission Statement: We are called to strengthen our faith and sent to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ by service and witness in the world. Our Mission Purpose: As Christians called to strengthen discipleship, to grow in knowledge and experience of God through Jesus Christ, committed to support the mission of the church and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are challenged to help one another engage in ministry and action, and grow and respond in faith to God’s redemptive plan for the church, the society and the world. Under the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, there is an organization named the Young People’s and Children’s Division (YPD). I am happy to announce that Mrs. Alissa Osborne is the Director of that department. Congratulations to Alissa as she has served in this capacity for over a year and has been dedicated to serve the children of this church. We as family, friends and missionary are willing to help and assist in and whenever you need us. We will be hearing more about her plans and goals for the YPD in the near future. We at Bethel are very excited about this, and one of our goals is communication and treat each other as we would like to be treated. In our next newsletter, we will have our meeting dates and more information. Missionary Benediction: “In the Name of the Triune God, May the Spirit of Christian Missions enter every heart. This we ask in Jesus’ Name Amen.”
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The South Ohio Conference Women’s Missionary Society cordially invites you to our Fashion Show Luncheon
Saturday April 14th at 11 am Quinn Chapel AME Church 10998 Southland Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45240 Tickets are $20.00
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Bethel A.M.E. Church - Lebanon
From the Desk of the Presiding Elder The Give of Forgiveness by Lloyd D. Newell Life is a study in forgiveness. No one gets through life without needing to forgive. And no one escapes the need to be forgiven. Perhaps the central test of character, forgiveness brings out the best in us. It leads us beyond our own pain and suffering and helps us feel God’s love. Ironically, we help ourselves in the most profound way when we give the gift of forgiveness to others. Charlotte Brontë’s literary classic Jane Eyre addresses the theme of forgiveness so well. Young Jane, orphaned and sent to live with a spiteful aunt, endures years of neglect and cruelty as a child. When Jane is old enough, her aunt sends her away to a substandard boarding school, where she is again mistreated. But Jane learns a vital lesson from Helen, a dear friend there. Helen explains to Jane one of life’s great secrets: "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.”1 Helen teaches Jane to forgive: to forget wrongs, to love enemies, to "bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you . . . [and] despitefully use you.”2 Jane’s life is different ever after. It doesn’t necessarily become easier—Jane still has to endure injustices, hardships, and betrayals—but she is better prepared for all these things because she has learned not to hold on to grudges and ill feelings. She frees her soul from anger, bitterness, and revenge. In fact, Jane even returns to her malicious aunt and attends to her during her dying days. Ultimately, Jane finds true joy—and even true love— because she learned to forgive. And so can we. It may be the hardest work we ever do, but it is also the most rewarding. Resolve now to let an old grudge go. Decide in advance to forgive any future offense that may come. Determine never to let a mistake get in the way of a meaningful relationship. As the 18th-century British poet Alexander Pope wrote, "To err is human, to forgive, divine.” Submitted by: Rev. Dr. Wilton E. Blake, I, PGM, Presiding Elder, Cincinnati District *******************************************************************************************************************************
MLKCommunityCoaltionofLebanon.webs.com
BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH 111 N. Cherry St. Lebanon, OH 45036
Recipe Book is on sale now!
Tang Soo Do
PHONE: (513) 932-7919 E-MAIL: BethelLebanonAME@yahoo.com
Wednesdays, 6:30 pm Get your copy for just $15 –see Mrs. Vonya Lewis Or call (513) 932-7919.
SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:30am ADULT SCHOOL, 10am WORSHIP SERVICE, 11am BIBLE STUDY, Mondays 6pm
Instructor: Alissa Osborne
Bethel’s Wish List
New carpet New windows New coats of paint, inside and out 10 passenger van Window treatment for fellowship hall
We’re on the Web!
Bethel AMEC
About Bethel Lebanon… The mission of the African American Episcopal Church is to minister to: physical, emotional needs of all people, to administer to the needs of those in hospitals, nursing homes, asylums, and mental institutions, caring for the sick and the shut-ins, the mentally and socially disturbed.
BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH 111 N. CHERRY ST. LEBANON, OH 45036 (513) 932-7919