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MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE OF NORTH AMITYVILLE
Just in Time For Easter: Pontius “The Enforcer” Pilate Is Hollywood Helping or Hurting the Church?
Seven T hings I Wish I Could Do Over As A Pastor
Is Spring Finally Here? A MIRACLE WALKING Remembering Dr. John Williams
Music in the Church
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Table of Contents Just in Time For Easter: Pontius “The Enforcer” Pilate
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Is Hollywood Helping or Hurting the Church?
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Remembering Dr. John Williams
8
Music in the Church
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New Life Worship Center, 7 Sidney Court, Lindenhurst, NY11757
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Seven Things I Wish I Could Do Over As A Pastor
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Saying Farewell to President A. Elizabeth Hill
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St. Joseph’s College Hires New President
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Jesus Must Be Lifted Up
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A MIRACLE WALKING
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Rev. Twila Rucker Caines
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Is Spring Finally Here?
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From the Office of the President As I ascend to the Office of President, I solicit your prayers and support as I endeavor to unite the various denominations within the Manna Family. There is an old adage of which I can’t attest to that says: Together We StandDivided We Fall. United we can bridge gaps and forge new relationships as we lift high the Royal Banner for Christ. God has bless me with a wonderful Manna Executive Staff, and together we will write a “new chapter”, build a new legacy, present information designed to create a healthy environment to grow healthy families, mentoring the future generation of young men and women, and caring for our elderly. Let us never forget that we are our brother’s keepers and our brothers come in all colors. I extend my best wishes to you and your family during this Lenten Season. Rev. Dr. David Robinson
The MANNA
NEWSPAPER Ministerial Alliance of North Amityville NEWSPAPER STAFF
Dr. David Robinson President
Pastor Keith Hayward Executive Editor
Bishop Andy C. Lewter Managing Editor
Pastor Roy Kirton Consultant ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Vernell Duncan Sharon Jackson Nadine Johnson
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Just in Time For Easter:
Pontius “The Enforcer” Pilate Staff Writer
With Easter just around the corner, Bishop Andy C. Lewter has just released his much awaited newest online course entitled “Pontius Pilate the Enforcer” on the Udemy teaching platform. The online course, which is available at http://www.udemy. com/pilate, takes an in-depth and critical look at one of the most fascinating personalities of the New Testament. The course gathers material from a number of ancient sources including the Bible, the writings of Flavius Josephus, the Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus and the Hellenist historian from Alexandria, Philo. Most people recognize Pilate as the man who sentenced Jesus to death. However, this course traces the career of Pilate from his humble Italian countryside beginnings to his marriage to Procula, the granddaughter of Emperor Augustus Caesar, to his appointment as “Prefect” of Judea, following the ten year tenure of Valerius Gratus. The course also examines the four major clashes that Pilate had with the Jewish community that ended with his massacre
of religious pilgrims from Galilee, that he slaughtered on the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. The course explores why the decisions that he made regarding Jesus were inconsistent with his own beliefs concerning Jesus’ guilt and his best efforts to avoid having to put Jesus to death. This course is perfect for Christian Educators, pastors, members of the clergy and anyone else who has a heart and appetite for knowing more about the people in the Bible that have a major impact upon the story of salvation. The udemy teaching platform has emerged as the premier teaching platform on the internet today. The platform is easy to navigate and the course is driven by a series of video lectures that combines a powerpoint presentation with a classroom lecture. The course also includes a series of questions that allows the student to measure their retention of the material. If you are interested in having a good grasp and understanding of the man central to the crucifixion of Jesus, then the online course is what you want to have.
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Is Hollywood Helping or Hurting the Church? By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.
During this past month of March, two Hollywood blockbusters have made their way into theaters all across America with the obvious hope that Bible-centered movies would be a boost to the church in general and individual Christians in particular. The first of the two movies was Son of God, while the second was Noah, released the last week in March. On the surface, movies based upon the Bible seem to be
a natural ally to the church, especially leading up to the most important holiday on the church’s calendar, Easter. However, when one drills down and examines the content of the movies it becomes clear that maybe assuming that the movies are an asset rather than a liability is premature. The Son of God, based upon the Gospels and produced by the same company that produced the television series, the “Bible�, was endorsed by a number of
denominational leaders from around the country and as a result has made a significant amount of money and has attracted an impressive number of viewers during its first wave of availability. Now the movie moves into its season of DVD sales with apparent momentum. However, as pointed out by Jennifer Morse, a journalist for the Christian Post Newspaper, the movie has several subtle problems that challenges some of the basic points of the Biblical narrative itself.
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go off and start preaching and teaching nations about Jesus. The problem is that such a treatment of the narrative as such ignores the return of the disciples to the upper room, the selection of Matthias to replace Judas and most importantly the descent of the Holy Ghost all as a pre-cursor to the disciples feeling emboldened enough to evangelize in the name of Jesus. In the movie, Jesus persuades Peter to follow him after being on a boat alone with him and delivering a miracle of catching fish. The Biblical record reports that Jesus’ conversion of Peter took place on land and in the company of Andrew his brother along with James and John. The Bible also suggests that Peter was not called Peter until after his confession of who He, Jesus, really was and not upon their first meeting. The movie also suggested that following the ascension, the disciples
The movie “Noah” is perhaps more problematic as it relates to reflecting the narrative found in the book of Genesis. Most glaring is the suggestion by the movie that the initial industrial growth of humanity was the result of involvement of alien creatures called the “Watchers”, who are explained as “fallen angels” but are not identified as the demonic creatures who followed Satan and was ousted from heaven. These “Watcher” are not found in Genesis, but are mentioned in
the lost book of Enoch, which is not included in the Jewish or Christian canon of the Old Testament. Also problematic is the disposition of Noah who at one point in the movie believes that it is his assignment that only the animals should survive the flood and not mankind. His failure to kill his granddaughters which causes him to get drunk and abandon his family is not supported by anything that is found in the Genesis story. I will not go on to list that the movie has men eating meeting before the flood and that the actual wives of Noah’s sons are not aboard the ark. It should also be noted that the movie suggests premarital sex on the part of Shem, the birth of illegitimate children who are not blessed until the end of the movie and the suggestion that Tubal-Cain, while listed in the Bible but there is no Biblical suggestion that he ever came in contact with Noah. Finally, according to the Bible, was Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah still alive during the time of Noah and was he killed in the flood as the movie suggests. In the end, the problem of both movies is that its inconsistencies are easily pointed out by Bible informed Christians who are familiar with the Biblical texts. However the reality is that most Christians are not Biblical scholars and will substitute the movie for what the Bible really says. For those who really want to know Noah and the Son of God, the Bible is still the best source of information and not Hollywood movie makers.
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Remembering Dr. John Williams By Rev. Keith Hayward
Amityville schools Superintendent John R. Williams, whose leadership helped take the district’s schools off the state’s “needs improvement” lists, died Tuesday, the district announced Wednesday on its website.
“We had a very high rate of low socioeconomic status, a high rate of special education students, and a burgeoning rate of English-language learners that had more than doubled in the last few years,” she said.
The cause was pancreatic cancer, said Kathleen Gulbin, who was the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction until last month, when she retired. In an interview last year, Williams, 68, said he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and would retire at the end of this school year.
The district, with a $60 million budget and 2,790 students, draws students from Amityville Village as well as North Amityville and East Massapequa.
His death adds urgency to a search for new leadership that was already underway. Mary T. Kelly, former assistant superintendent for data and technology, has been serving as the district’s interim leader since mid-January and will continue until the end of the school year, Gulbin said. Williams, of Long Beach, took over a troubled Amityville district in 2007, having spent much of his 47-year career in his hometown of Scranton, Pa., and in the Sewanhaka school district in Nassau County. He helped guide all of Amityville’s schools off the state’s “needs improvement” lists. Two of the district’s schools, Northwest Elementary and Miles Middle School, are currently listed by the state Department of Education as “local assistance plan” schools. That category is new for 201314 and functions as a watch list. The accomplishment was more of a feat than many people realized, Gulbin said.
In the 2011-12 school year, almost twothirds of students received free or reduced-price lunches, records show, and 14 percent of students were judged to have limited English proficiency. In the interview last year, Williams said that poverty made his job harder, but that he had never viewed it as an excuse. “We kind of vowed when I came here that we were going to keep expectations high,” he said. In a letter posted on the district’s website, Lisa Johnson, board of education president, credited him with focusing on character education and new instructional technology. “Dr. Williams left our District having built a solid foundation for all,” she wrote. Dr. John Williams was a very personable individual. He was well liked by the students at Amityville Memorial High and wellknown in the community. Dr. Williams enjoyed connecting with the community events throughout the town, such as the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations, Teen Challenge Events, Multi-Cultural events taking place and appeared as a guest at many of the schools and community functions. In addition, many of the students would invite him to personal functions and he would attend as many as possible. Even though Dr. Williams was battling pancreatic cancer, he did not allow it to slow him down from his passion for is students, schools and community affairs. Dr. Williams had an inspiring drive and spirit that was unlike any other Superintendent of Schools. He was a unique role model. When Dr. Williams had any troubling or different concerns that might upset the District, he would address the issue immediately to look for every possible solutions. It was important to Dr. Williams for the lines of communication to remain open to promote growth and advancement with all the stakeholders in the community. Dr. Williams was a great encouragement to anyone he encountered. He spoke eloquently with the Pastors, Doctors, Lawyers, Community Leaders, the School Board and most of all his students. He will be missed for the loving spirit and care he showed to everyone.
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Music in the Church By Rev. Dr. David I. Robinson
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 2nd Kings 3: 15 Elisha requested a musician because he saw the need for music. We too need some music in the church. Music can change attitudes and emotions within us. Music has the ability to mold and shape thoughts. The musicians of the temple of the Lord played musical instruments until the enemy of Israel became confused and started killing one another. Anointed music will drive out demons, trouble, and sickness. If you want your body to be healed, get some music that speaks healing into your body. Elisha said, “Get me somebody who will play me a song,” The Bible says that when the minstrel began to play, The Word of the Lord began to flow out of Elisha’s mouth. Don’t you allow anyone to take your song from your lips. David said, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands” (Psalm 66:1). Paul and Silas sang their way out of jail. Donald Lawrence said in his song, there are times when you have to encourage yourself through your song. You may lose friends, but don’t lose your song. You may not be the lead soloist in the choir, but keep your song. You might not ever record a #1 Gospel selling album, but don’t lose your song. Learn how to praise God through your song. Music is as close to Worship, as Breathing is to Life. O Come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
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New Life Worship Center, 7 Sidney Court, Lindenhurst, NY11757 Invites you to their 7th anniversary celebration on May 4, 2014, 11:10 AM & 6:00 PM and to their Anniversary Banquet May 9th, 2014 at 6: 00pm. For more information please call 631-532-5551, or 631-897-9099.
New Life Worship Center Weekly services
1. Sunday Morning : Sunday School 10 AM - 11 AM 2. Divine Worship : 11:10 AM - 1:30 PM 3. Tuesdays : 7 PM - 8 PM (Bible Study)
4. Thursday : Youth Choir practice 5. Friday : Youth Fellowship 7 PM - 9 PM 6. Saturday Prayer Meeting 8 AM - 9 AM
Pastor : Bishop Raymond L.Rose
First Lady : Rev Barbara J. Rose
Seven Things I Wish I Could Do Over As A Pastor by Thom Rainer
I recently asked several pastors to be honest with me and share what they would do over in their ministry if they had the chance. I think that you will find their answers helpful and illuminating. Here are the seven most common I heard, with a representative comment from a pastor. 1. Said or wrote something out of anger. “I wish I could have waited a few hours before I responded. I think everyone needs to put a heated email in the draft folder and wait 24 hours before choosing to respond or not to respond.” 2. Obsessed with one or a few critics. “I spent way too much time worrying about and responding to just a few negative people in my church. I now realize that my ministry lost its focus, and I neglected the healthier members of the church.” 3. Failed to admit a mistake. “All I needed to do was to say I made a mistake and apologize. Instead, I dug in and let my pride take control. My ministry at that church
never recovered. It was the primary reason I left less than a year later.” 4. Neglected a family member for a church need. “It seems like I was always able to justify neglecting my children or wife by saying that the church members’ needs were God’s work. But the Bible is clear that I am to take care of my family first; they are God’s work too. I failed too many times.” 5. Pushed an initiative rather than getting buy-in. “The building program became about me rather than God’s work at the church. The members voted for it because they love me. But they never owned it for themselves. As a result, we have no momentum to move forward.”
6. Left a church too soon. “I am guilty of the ‘grass-is-greener’ syndrome. I now live in regret about leaving my former church. I wish I could stop asking ‘what if?’” 7. Focused on/obsessed over another church in the community. “For over two years I stayed mad about a new church starting near us and a megachurch taking families from us. I know I was not the leader I should have been. My obsessions often caused me to have bad attitudes about my own church members.” The purpose of recollecting these mistakes and desires for do-overs is not to heap guilt or to dwell on past failures. Rather, the purpose is to hear from the wisdom of others so that we may not make the same mistakes they did.
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Saying Farewell to President A. Elizabeth Hill One of the region’s most influential women, S. Elizabeth A. Hill, C.S.J., J.D. has been president of St. Joseph’s College since 1997. A magna cum laude alumna of St. Joseph’s, S. Elizabeth is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. She received her M.A. in History from Columbia University and studied theology and scripture in Rome under the auspices of Gregorian University. S. Elizabeth also received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, where she was a Thomas More Scholarship student and president of the Criminal Law Institute. After receiving her J.D., S. Elizabeth spent time as a staff attorney in the Catholic Migration Office in Brooklyn. Prior to being named president, S. Elizabeth served as executive assistant to St. Joseph’s previous president, S. George Aquin O’Connor from 1980-1997. Since her inauguration, S. Elizabeth has overseen the expansion of two campuses, most notably the construction of a state-of-the-art Business and Technology Center and 24.8-acre premiere outdoor sports facility on the Long
Island Campus as well as launching a comprehensive, capital Master Plan for the Brooklyn Campus that included a 44,000-square-foot athletic complex. Under her leadership, the College’s enrollment and range of academic offerings have continuously increased while tuition has remained consistently among the lowest in the New York metropolitan area. During her tenure as president, S. Elizabeth secured several large grants from the federal government, including the largest in the College’s history. She was also responsible for securing successful major and estate gifts, including a bequest of $4 million to endow scholarships for students in need. S. Elizabeth has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for her leadership and lifelong dedication to the field of education. Among some of her many accomplishments, she was named a “Woman Sustaining the American Spirit” by NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery and a “Woman of Distinction” by the late NYS Senator Caesar Trunzo. She is a three-time recipient of Long
Island Business News’ Top 50 Women award for her consistent record as one of the region’s most important and influential women, making her a Hall of Fame Honoree, and was also named to that publication’s “Who’s Who in Education” list. S. Elizabeth was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from St. Francis College for her numerous charitable works and contributions as a leader in higher education and in the Brooklyn and Long Island communities. Most recently, she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of Higher Education by The Advancement for Commerce, Industry and Technology. S. Elizabeth is on the Steering Committee of the Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education (LIRACHE) and sits on the Board of ERASE Racism. She is on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Fort Greene Strategic Neighborhood Action Partnership (SNAP). She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of The Mary Louis Academy and the Board of Advisors for Saint Saviour High School.
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St. Joseph’s College Hires New President After a nationwide search process, the St. Joseph’s College (SJC) Board of Trustees announced today that Jack P. Calareso, Ph.D., will become the next president of the College, effective July 1, 2014. Dr. Calareso will be the first nonreligious leader of the College since its founding in 1916. “Dr. Calareso comes to St. Joseph’s College highly recommended by many of his colleagues across the country,” said Chris Drewes, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. “He is a strong leader with a stellar academic background, and is well positioned to lead the College into the future from a position of strength.” Dr. Calareso brings a wealth of successful experience in higher education to this role. Currently, he is the president of Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass., a position he has held since 2007. Prior to
that, he served as the president of Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, and Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. Dr. Calareso has earned a national reputation for his knowledge in liberal arts education, teaching and administration. He is also a renowned speaker at international, national, regional and local conferences and workshops, as well as the author of numerous books and articles. A strong fundraiser, Dr. Calareso has successfully planned and led a number of major fundraising campaigns resulting in significant capital improvements, growth of endowments, scholarship programs, endowed chairs and special projects. “I have a strong belief in and commitment to quality higher education in the tradition of private, independent colleges,” said Dr. Calareso. “It is clear that St. Joseph’s values and promotes academic excellence, intellectual inquiry, a respect
for all people, the search for truth and a commitment to an educational experience that balances liberal education and career preparation.” Dr. Calareso received a Ph.D. from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. He earned a master’s degree from St. Bernard’s School of Theology in Rochester, N.Y., and an undergraduate degree from Boston College. Dr. Calareso and his wife, Rose, have three grown children and four grandchildren. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees regarding the transition of leadership, Mr. Drewes said, “We wish to thank S. Elizabeth Hill for her dedication, her vision and her many significant accomplishments during her years at the helm. Her presidency will have a lasting impact on St. Joseph’s College, and we are excited by the prospect of working with Dr. Calareso to build on that success.”
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Jesus Must Be Lifted Up By Pastor Claude T. Stauffer
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” - John 3:14 Jesus once met with a very religious man named Nicodemus. He was a representative sent by a group identified as the most religious of the day. This religious man was wealthy and influential. There’s evidence his life was changed as a result of his meeting with Jesus. Nicodemus went beyond his religion to a relationship with God in Christ. Jesus told Nicodemus he “must be born again” (John 3:5-7). Nicodemus heeded Jesus’ words and experienced the second birth of spiritual life. But in order for Nicodemus and anyone else to experience spiritual life there was something Jesus must do. Our salvation is freely offered to us as a gift of God’s grace. Salvation is free, but it’s not cheap. It cost the Triune God: Father God, His only Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit something of immensely eternal value. Jesus must do something if the must of being born again is to be made available to us. After Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again He turned to an Old Testament event that illustrated a truth
about His mission. Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness” (John 3:14a). In Numbers 21 the children of Israel complained against the Lord resulting in a plague of pain-producing biting serpents. The people were dying. They cried out to the Lord. The Lord told Moses to make a bronze serpent, put it on a pole and lift it up before the people. Then if they looked at the bronze serpent on the pole they would be healed and live. Jesus referred to this Old Testament incident because it was a prophetic picture of what He must do. The Old Testament is filled with what are called shadows; eternal truths from historical accounting but that transcend and speak to greater application and revelation. These shadow revelations are mentioned in the New Testament. The Feasts and Old Testament worship system “are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Col. 2:17). In Hebrews it states the Law and sacrificial system are a “copy and shadow of heavenly things” (Heb. 8:5). The Law had a “shadow of the good things
to come” (Heb. 10:1). Whenever and wherever we study the Old or New Testament, we should always be asking the basic question, “What does this tell me about Jesus?” These shadows point to truths about Jesus. In Hebrews it states the volume of the Old Testament speaks of Jesus in this way – “Behold, I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God” (Psalm 40:6-8; Heb. 10:7). The Old Testament system of sacrifice speaks to us about Jesus’ substitutionary atonement. The fulfillment of this system is found in Christ. We need only look to Jesus in faith and receive His substitutionary sacrifice for our sin in order to be saved from our sins and have eternal life. Sin incurs a just death penalty. Jesus died on the cross for our sin. When we turn from our sin and trust Jesus and His atoning death on the cross as our substitute, our sacrifice Lamb, God applies the just transfer of our sin to Jesus and Jesus’ righteousness to us. When we do that Jesus becomes, “THE LORD OUR
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RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16). This is the gospel. Jesus went on to say, “even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14b). The snake of Numbers 21 was a type or shadowy symbol of sin. It was cast in bronze because bronze is a metal that speaks of judgment. When the people looked in faith at the lifted up serpent, they were healed. What did this correspond to in the New Testament? To the cross. Jesus became a snake of sin for us so that our sin could be judged and put away and we could be healed. Sin has painful venom. There is always a painful consequence to sin; death. Jesus is the antidote for those snake-bitten by sin. Look to Jesus in faith and live! The Son of Man Jesus must be lifted up. This is the gospel of salvation as depicted by Jesus from an Old Testament type, Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. A bronze likeness of a serpent was made by Moses, put on a pole, and lifted up before God’s people to see. The people had strayed once again from the Lord. The consequence was a plague of serpents from the Lord that bit the people with a painful venomous bite. To bring relief to God’s people from a painful poisonous
bite of the serpent all the people were told to do was look at the serpent that had been lifted up by Moses. Jesus went on to make connection between the Old Testament shadow and the purpose it illustrated crystal clear saying, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). These are words packed with meaning. Here Jesus speaks to the availability, avenue of appropriation, Agent, antidote, and aim of the Gospel. The gospel is available to all; “whoever.” The avenue through which we appropriate salvation is faith; “believes.” The Agent who performs the work of the gospel upon who we need to believe is Jesus; “in Him.” Jesus is the antidote to the sin problem and penalty of perishing eternally; “should not perish.” And the aim of the gospel; the desired purpose and outcome is to avoid perishing and instead find “eternal life.” Jesus fulfilled the must of going to the cross so that all people might have the chance
to be saved from their sin. To be saved from our sin we must be born again. We must receive by faith His offer of eternal life. To be born again we must turn from our sin. We must ask God’s forgiveness for our sin trusting Jesus as our Savior and the just basis for God to forgive our sins. Now that you know what He must do, do what you know you must do. You must come to Jesus.
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A MIRACLE WALKING By: Rev. Dr. David I. Robinson
We are all like children when we think of death, or face the thought of dying. But as children are comforted by loving parents, so we gain promise of eternity that was given to us by God. Pastor Roy, as he is affectionately known, has been to death’s door and back. According to his doctor Ralph Barbato, Roy was drifting toward exchanging time for eternity. His hospital experience included a Trak, Stomach Feeding Tube, Bed Sores, Hoya Lifts, Multiple Transfusions, Suctioned 5 times a day for Mucus, Wheelchairs, Walkers, and Canes. He entered the hospital weighing 400 lbs, Waist 66 inches, Neck size 221/2, and Ward-robe 5X. Look at the Miracle,Weight now 287 lbs and losing, Waist now 51 inches, Neck size now 18. To God be the Glory for the great things He has done. Roy declares with joy and jubilation that I’m free, No more chains holding me, Every chain has been broken. He is living proof of Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. I’m Free, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, I’m Free.
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Rev. Twila Rucker Caines is Glory in my Story" taken from 2nd Peter 1: 12-19. She leaves to cherish her memory her Husband George A. Caines, Jr., her Mother, Mrs. Aileen Rucker, 6 Sisters, 1 Brother-in-law, 2 Uncles, 1 Aunt, 1 Grandmother-in-law, Her Loving Church Family, and a host of Nieces, Nephews, Grandnephews, Cousins, and many close Friends.
Born March 18, 1960 in Welch West Virginia to Aileen and the late Raymond l. Rucker Sr., she transitioned from these earthly shores on Saturday March 22, 2014. Her family relocated to New York during her formative years where she received her education. She received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Westchester Community College, and a Bachelor of Science from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry New York. In March 1995, she accepted the call to ministry, and preached her trial sermon in May 1995; under the Pastoral leadership of the Rev. Dr. W. Darin Moore (now Bishop Moore). In 2002, she was ordained an Elder and appointed the first female Pastor of the Historic A.M.E. Zion Church of Newburgh New York, by Bishop W.C. Walker, Sr. Bishop Moore encouraged the family and congregation with a powerful eulogy entitled "There
The New York Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church will remember the legacy that Rev.
Bishop W. C. Walker
Bishop Darin Moore
Twila Rucker Caines has left for us. To quote Rev. Caines as she would often say; "To God be the Glory". Sleep on Servant of God and take your Rest.
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Is Spring Finally Here? By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, Managing Editor
It has been a long and severe winter and it looks like we finally might be getting some relief from the cold and the snow that has kept many of us out of work and our children out of school for several days over the last few months. At the time of this writing it is nearly 60 degrees, the sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the sky. Many of us are exhaling with a sigh of relief and desperately hoping that we have seen the last of winter for this season. I would also say that we are anxious to get back to normal” and resume a life that is not filled with snow removal, remedies for colds and last minute arrangements to accommodate our families for the emergencies caused by the worst winter that we have seen in recent years. With that said however, my question is “What is Normal”. A good friend of mine, Bishop Rudolph McKissick of Jacksonville, Florida argues that normal is the “intermission between crisis and calamity”. For the most part I agree with him. I tend to put it in sporting terms. Before losing to the University of Connecticut, the University of Kentucky ended their last three games leading up to the final championship game the same way. Behind on points, the coach called a timeout, after which, the team returned to the floor and three times the shooting guard, number 2, by the name of Harrison, stepped out-
side of the three point line and buried a jumbo shot that lifted his team from defeat to victory. As I watched all three games, I was convinced that what really secured victory for the University of Kentucky was not the play of the players on the floor, but the critical decision to take a “time out” when the coach decided to do so. You see, the time out accomplished two things. First, the coach realized that with less than a minute to go all of his players would need to summons their inner strength so that they could provide their best in the last seconds of the game. The time out allowed the players to breathe, gather their strength and return to the floor more refreshed than they were when the exited the floor only seconds before. Secondly, the time out gave the coach an opportunity to draw up one final play and give each of his players their final instructions, roles and functions for that final play. In the semi-final game, the defender against Harrison squared up his defense, took note of how far Harrison was from the basket and made an assumption
that Harrison could not possibly hit that shot from that far away. By the time he realized that he was allowing Harrison to take the shot “un-contested”, it was too late. The shot went in and the game was over. In like fashion, what we call normal is the space of time that God allows up to have between our storms of life. Our normal is the time out between us moving from one moment of chaos to another moment of chaos. And like the University of Kentucky, our time-out allows us to gather and refresh ourselves so that we can be at our best when we face our next test. I encourage you to return to the court of your life, refreshed and with God’s instructions for you clear in your mind. And just when the devil thinks that he has you and assumes that you can not connect with God from as far away from him as you seem to be, it will be too late for him to recover and keep from you all of the rewards and blessings that God has for you. This coming Sunday, don’t just go to church, BE THE CHURCH
Bethel A.M.E. Church (Oldest Black Church on long island-founded 1815) 20 Simmons Street (20 Bethel Lane), Copiague, NY 11726 Church Office (631) 842-8463 Fax (631) 841-3408 Website: www.bethelamecopiague.net
Rev. Keith Hayward, Pastor SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE Prayer-8:00 a.m. Sunday School-9:00 a.m. Youth Church-10:00 a.m. Morning Worship-10:00 a.m.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE Monday’s GED Program-6:00 p.m. Tuesday’s GED Program-6:00 p.m. Wednesday’s Senior Bible Study-10:30 a.m. Adult & Youth Bible Study7:00 p.m.
NA/AA Meetings-6:30 p.m. Thursday’s Fatherhood Initiative-1:00 p.m. GED Program-6:00 p.m. Friday’s Prayer Line-6:45 a.m. Dial in (804) 665-0005 Participant Code 1008330# Youth Night-6:30 p.m.
“Building Believers to be Kingdom Minded”