March 11, 2018 Bulletin

Calendar of Ministry Events March Today

11

Church Outing St. Reed Baptist Church, Los Angeles @ 3:30 p.m.

Our Bishop will bring the gospel message. Ushers to serve our choir to render A and B selections. Address-656 E. 79th St. – I-210 East to 605 South to 60 West to 110 Frwy South - exit Florence Ave – turn left go to Avalon Blvd – turn right and turn left on E. 79th St

Sunday

18

Monday Saturday Thursda y Friday

19 24 29

Ushers 76th Anniversary and Welcome & Hospitalities 40th Anniversary @ 10:45 a.m.

Bishop Dillard’s 82nd Birthday Prayer Vigil: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Board of Trustees Meeting: 7:30 p.m.

30

Good Friday Service: Noon – 3 p.m.

Church mailing address: P.O. Box 479, Monrovia, CA. 91017 Email: sbcmon925@gmail.com

Bishop Wm. LaRue Dillard, Ph. D. Parish-Shepherd/Soul-Watcher

March 11, 2018 April

Sunday Saturday

1 7

Sunday Saturday Sunday Sunday

8 14 15 22

Thursda y

26

Resurrection Service: 5 a.m. - Breakfast 7 a.m.

Providence District Fashion Show @ SBC: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Donation $25 – see Diakona Val Burwell The Lord’s Supper Celebration: 4:45 p.m.

2nd Quarter Teacher’s Meeting: 10 a.m. Fannie Goodwin Bldg.

Ministry to Children Concert: 3 p.m.

16th Annual High Attendance & Bible Jeopardy: 9:45 a.m.

Citizens of Zion Missionary Church Outing: 4 p.m.

Board of Trustees Meeting: 7 :30 p.m.

May Saturday Sunday Sunday Sunday

Thursda y Monday

5 6 13 20

24

BLL Breakfast: 8-10 a.m.

The Lord’s Supper Celebration: 4:45 p.m.

Mother’s Day 44th Jubilee Service 10:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Guest Churches: Citizens of Zion Missionary and St. Reed Baptist Church Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30 p.m.

28

Memorial Day

HIS GLORY IS OUR STORY! (John 1:1-14) “Troubles Break the Syndrome of Independence and Willfulness and Bring Us Back to the Lord!”

Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard www.secondbaptistmonrovia.org

Bishop’s Epistle

March 11, 2018

THE CURSE OF A FIG TREE FOR ITS DECEPTIVE APPEARANCE! (Mark 11:12-14) Sons and Daughters of My Parish Flock, God’s Grace to You!

M

y love Epistle is designed to help us see the importance of being real in appearance as well as in actions in the Christian Faith. Jesus’ curse of a fig tree was because it had beautiful leaves but no figs. “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again” (Verse 14).

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus used such stories to drive home eternal truth in unforgettable language. The Parable of the fig tree is an enacted parable. It is by far one of the most difficult one to interpret if we look at the circumstances without asking what Jesus was trying to communicate to His disciples.

We saints are His disciples too and it will help us to understand the kind of life-style we should demonstrate publicly. It was the Passover season, early in the spring. Figs could bear leaves as early as March, but they did not bear fruit until late May or June.

How could Jesus expect the tree to achieve something contrary to its nature? Why was He disturbed and condemnatory? Clearly the tree was parabolic of the Israelites. Like the tree, the Israelites gave outward signs of producing fruit of faithfulness to God. God had cultivated and cared for the Israelites through hundreds of years of history. In each crisis Israel had called on God for help and He was always just and faithful to respond beyond their expectations. But Israel did not learn. God’s miracles, victories, and material blessings were soon forgotten and the people lost true fellowship with Him in the formalism of rites and rituals.

Outwardly, Israel looked like God’s people, but there was no fruit of trust and obedience.

But God blessed His people so that they would share His love and power with the world.

Instead, Israel became inverted, separatist, and selfish.

How about you today, saint of God? Are you like the fig tree? How about your parish church? To what extent have you shared the resources of God’s precious love with others? Do you just look the part of a saint but your actions are far from it? Let this parable speak to you about your life in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until He Comes, I Am Serving Christ Joyfully

Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard Parish Under-shepherd

MY MIND AND HEART HAVE EARS TO LISTEN TO THE LORD! The Call to Worship........................................Lyceum Council of Elders Hymn of Rejoicing...................................................Gathered Assembly (“Give of Your Best to the Master” #471) Chosen Vessels Leading the Worship Worship Leader..........................................................Lucy Hernandez Responsive Scripture Reading...................................Rakiyah Wilson (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8) Fervent Prayer for God’s Anointing...........................Myreeana Wade Let’s Just Praise the Lord Together.........................Gathered Assembly Jubilee Commission Financial Stewardship of Worship..............................Christa Moreland (Paying Tithes and Giving Offerings) Choral Selection............................................Anointed Voices of Praise Ministry to Children: Diakona Larry Willis, Director Selection: Christian Cadets Children’s Choir..............Kathleen Dantzler Recognition of Birthday and Wedding Anniversaries Welcome..........................................................................Paije Jenkins Intercessory Prayer Choral Selection............................................Anointed Voices of Praise SERMONIC GOSPEL MESSAGE Guest Clergyman Minister Jamal Simpson, Preaching Associate at St. Andrews Baptist Church, Los Angeles A Christian Appeal, Your Requests and Decisions for Christ to be born again, restore your faith, and/or join this parish church Announcements.................................................................Velma Pratt The Doxology (Reverently Chanted) “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!”

The Blessing of the Benediction and Recessional Chant “Let the Church Say Amen”