Second’s Gazette Second’s Gazette 80th Issue * Version 8 November, 2015
Mission Statement
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Second’s Gazette serves as a monthly newsletter to inform the congregants of valuable information happening on the campus of Second Baptist Church and in the community, as well as spotlight individuals and events that edify our parish church, but most importantly; glorifies the name of Jesus Christ.
Second Baptist Church, Inc. Evangelical Orthodox Communion Bishop Wm. La Rue Dillard, PhD 925 So. Shamrock Monrovia, CA 91016
The Beginning of Advent
God comes to us in many and various ways. He speaks to us through the prophets and saints. He comes and speaks to us when we are listening. He comes in the beauty and mysteries of nature. Most of all, God comes in the person of Christ, speaking to his listeners face to face.
Nadine O. Harris, Founder/Chief Editor Tinisha McDonald, Administrative Mgr. Precious Flemings, Writing Editor Ferrari Y. Green, Production & Design Sherry Joiner, Operations & Distribution Contributing Consultants: Eric Johnson Jessie Anderson Mercedese Hervey Peggy LaBon Renee Willis Photographers: Robert Anderson Robert Hamilton Rasheedah Ruffin Gerald McLendon Adele Davis Children’s Church Staff: Jaylyn A. Harris MyReeanna Wade
Second’s Gazette is published
and distributed monthly, every First Sunday, to provide parishioners with information about our Church, the Community, and the World. Contact us at: Secondsnewsletter@gmail.com
Second’s Gazette
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ovember is the month of Thanksgiving, but it often also includes the beginning of a new church year. This year, November 29 is the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent is about Jesus, the Word, “coming.” It’s about anticipating and preparing for Christ’s arrival.
Pastor Edmund Steimle put it this way: “The Christian story is a story of God coming into the middle of life, of our lives, opening the dialogue with us.” That’s what Advent is really all about: God visiting the earth in person to speak with anyone and everyone who is ready to do so.
CONTENTS 2 3
Cover Story Bishop’s Epistle
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Prayer / Blast from the Past / Footprints
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Community Events
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Black History Announcement / In Memory
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Music 101/Movies/Community News
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Church Celebration
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Health / Church Outing
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Church Events
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TIP News
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Birthdays/ Puzzles
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Kid’s Pages / Children
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Worship Services
God Is First At Second Baptist Church
Discover Jesus, Read the Bible!
Christian Men Ablaze Are Invincible, Irresistible, Spontaneous!
Sons and Daughters of My Parish: Grace to You! I love all of you and appreciate your demonstrated love for Christ, His Under-Shepherd, and His Parish Church! “CHRISTIAN MEN, THE FAMILY KEEPERS!”
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ongratulations for another year of growth in spiritual leadership to your family, and the Parish Church. I declare that holy men of God are unashamed to shout the praises of God at home, and especially in church worship assembly. Is that your testimony too?
If so, the biblical reason for your shout of praise should be because you are faithfully following the path of the brethren in the early church whose indomitable enthusiasm was the result of the Sunday morning Pentecost power when the Church was born in the spring of A.D. 30. Authentic enthusiasm is a spiritual gift. It is not the result of human effort. Thus, we should not be surprised. John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus the Christ, predicted it. It happened then and continues to happen today in the lives of Spirit Baptized souls. The Lord’s words through John predict a spiritual happening:
Authentic
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He is who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Then John goes on to clarify initial and essential results of this Spirit-Infused fire. It will mean purification when it happens to an individual. “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).
enthusiasm is a spiritual gift.
I am convinced that the fire of the Holy Spirit burns out the chaff of pride, self-will, and fear. The winnowing fan drives off the chaff from the wheat in us and burns it with an unquenchable fire so that we will be ablaze in praise and worship. The Greek word for enthusiasm is enthusiasmos, meaning “in God,” “inspired by God.” When we are Spirit baptized saints controlled by Him, the fire burns out anything which would keep us cold, cautious, or constricted. I would delight to see holy men ablaze in worship with excitement. Why not let this years’ “Christian Men Family Keepers’ Conference” change your actions in worship and praise? Let your family, friends, and the whole parish know, through your shout of praise in His Word and Song with an attitude of gratitude, the evidence of your changed life and excitement in the Lord. Realize the truth of my subject: “Christian Men Ablaze Are Invincible, Irresistible, and Spontaneous!”God guide you throughout this weekend’s conference. Amen. Until He Comes, I Am Serving Christ Joyfully,
Bishop Dr. Wm. LaRue Dillard Parish Under-Shepherd
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Membership Assignment
For Information and Visitation for the Diakonos Ministry of Second Baptist Church The Diakonos Ministry of Second Baptist Church is available to parishioners to help Bishop Dillard with members concerns and needs. Feel free to contact your representative below. The Diakonos are assigned alphabetically by last name. We are available to “Pray with You”, “Consult with You”, and “Assist You” in any way we can to help you in your Christian walk. A—Robert and Jessie Anderson B—Dennis and JoAnne Craig Betty Brown Arlethia Craig C—AG Harrison Shirley Robinson D—James and James Ella Harvey E-F—Ron and LaVonne Husband Adrienne Hurst G—Earl and Minnie Manning Valeria Burwell H— Thelma Jones Tamara Collins I-J—Ellis and Thelma Johnson K-L-N-O-T—Lonnie and Josephine Stokes Terrence Williams M—Chuck and Martha Williams Melva Hill P-Q—Carrie Walker R-S—Larry and Renee Willis UVWXYZ—Robert Hamilton Ron Demps
Second’s Gazette
Storytelling Quilts Made By Harriet Powers
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arriet Powers, an African-American slave, a folk artist, and a quilt maker. She was born on October 29, 1837 in Athens, Georgia. For most of her life she lived in Sandy Creek. At age 18, she had her first child, and would later have eight more children with her husband, Armstead Powers. It is believed that Powers was part of a plantation owned by John and Nancy Lester. Back then, slave women learned needlework either from their mistress, or older women slaves. Powers used traditional techniques in her quilts to record local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events on the quilts she made. One of the panels on Powers’ quilts illustrates the “Dark Day” of May 19, 1780 (which is now known as a dense smoke over North America caused by Canadian wildfires) and November 13, 1833 as the “Night of Falling Stars” that convinced many terrified Americans that Judgment Day had come, but was later identified as the Leonid meteor storm. Two of her quilts are on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC; Bible Quilt of 1886 and Pictorial Quilt of 1898. Powers began showing her quilts in 1886. She put her first quilt on display at a cotton fair in Athens and never had intentions of parting with the quilt. But due to financial difficulties, she sold the quilt for 5 dollars. The woman who purchased the quilt recorded the meaning of each picture, and added some personal notes of her own. The quilt was later put on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Information about the second quilt is still unclear. One account suggests that it was commissioned by the wives of faculty members at Atlanta University who had seen the first quilt at the Cotton States Exhibition in Atlanta in 1895. But no one knows for sure. Powers quilts were hand and machine stitched with applique and piecework. They told stories and had religious meaning. Years later, after Powers learned to read and write, she sent a letter to Keokut, a prominent woman in Iowa. The letter shared information about Power’s life as a slave, and talked about another quilt called the Lord’s Supper Quilt. Powers dies in 1911 and it is not known, even today, if that quilt ever resurfaced or exists. In 2009, Powers was inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame. In October 2010, there were a series of events in Athens, Georgia, around the theme “Hands That Can Do,” A Centennial Celebration of Harriet Powers. Just as God blessed Harriet Powers with the gift to use her hands to make beautiful quilts that told stories and pictured His celestial works through by the stars and the moon, He can do the same for anyone of us. If you have not yet discovered your “Spiritual Gift” ask God to help you discover that one gift He has given to every believer as promised in I Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
Dr. Precious
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ministry that I am involved with is visiting a convalescent home in Lancaster with members of my church on Third Sundays. I didn’t know when I started that it would be so rewarding to me. What I see in the eyes of some of the sick and elderly is the joy of being in a version of a church service, and they love it! They clap when we sing hymns; they smile when we greet them; they light up in our presence. What a joy it is to me!
I am realizing that the most rewarding jobs in the kingdom of God are not the ones that always put you up front, but the ones that are simply serving another human being with humility like Jesus did, which brings us to the season of Thanksgiving! I know many churches and community organizations will be extending help those who are the less fortunate. But I wonder why churches and organizations are not like this throughout the year. Jesus said that there will always be the poor among us. He also said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving; God bless you, and I pray you will always be on the GIVING end! Love You, Peggy LaBon
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Thanksgiving Beatitudes Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference. —Author unknown
The Power of Gratitude Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, b rings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
—Melody Beattie
Oh give Thanks “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, make known among the nations what He has done”
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1 Chronicles 16:8 ames Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was an early civil rights activist and a leader of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). He was one of the first AfricanAmerican professors at New York University and later a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University.
His Thanksgiving poem is a social commentary plus a statement of optimism and gratitude. Here is an excerpt: “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won” The poem was set to music by Johnson’s brother John in 1900 and in 1919 the NAACP name it “The Negro National Anthem November 5, 20 10 Ref:Mother Nature Network MNN. com> Lifestyle> Arts &Culture Thanksgiving Poem by Steve Pollak, November 5, 2010 Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia Mercedese Hervey
Second’s Gazette
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Presents The first Annual Distinguished Shepherds’ Award Celebration
Bishop Wm. LaRue Dillard will be one of the Distinguished Shepherd's Awarded at this Celebration!!!!
SAVE THE DATE Saturday, November 21, 2015 Carson Community Center—801 East Carson Street - Carson, California 90745 11am—3 pm / Tickets $65 per person Come out and support our Bishop, he is a Miracle!
We extend our sympathy to Minnie Manning And the family of Diakona Earl E. Manning, a longtime member. For health reasons Deacon Manning was unable to attend church over the past few years, but he will remain a presence here. As Jesus said, “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26, NRSV).
We extend our deepest sympathy to the Bartlett Family, we also rejoice in the witness of a life redeemed. “This is life eternal,” says our Lord, “that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3, KJV).
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lumb, aka Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, first emerged as a singer in the late 90’s and immediately won critical acclaim for her influential lyrics and haunting vocals. In her book, Need You Now - A Story of Hope, Plumb shares some of her feelings on songwriting: "I tend to write from extremes, be it my own experiences or from experiences of people that I love or met for a moment. Some of my songs have an aspect of darkness to them , and they talk about the heartache that we encounter in this life. I try to craft some of my songs into little pieces of light that reflect the goodness and joy I've experienced ... both types of songs are pictures of hope set to music."
Two lawyers are mentioned in the Bible named Gamaliel and Zenas
A dozen different souls—all moving in different directions, all longing for something more. As their lives unexpectedly intersect, they each are about to discover there is power in the Cross of Christ … even if they don't believe it. Yet.
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ith simple text and colorful photos, you can teach your 3- to 6-yearolds about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Your little ones are encouraged be thankful for the same things that the Pilgrims were thankful for, such as freedom, schools, and friends. A delightful book that will become a family favorite every November!
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Second’s Gazette Welcomes donations of any size. Please make checks payable to
Second Baptist Church
SUPPORTERS Second Baptist Church Nadine O. Harris Tinisha McDonald Eleanor Harrison Mother Berdie Pulliam Mother Deloris K. Bridges Ferrari Green Dr. Precious Flemings Lady Betty G. Dillard Mother Mae Lean Buckley Melva Hill Emelbra LeBlanc Redd Barbara Jean Grant Shirley Towler –Hayes Mother Hortense Anderson Elder Robert Craig Cameron & J.P. Dixon Dr. J.P. & Apryl Harris Geneva Ward-Douglas Larry & Debra Hayes Christine Mathis Marva E. Hogan Ophelia M. Harris Barbara M. Harris
There is room for you too, Donate! Today! Second’s Gazette
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Open / Enrollment 2015
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overnment Health Plans are those created and mandated by the “Affordable Care Act”. You cannot be denied for coverage, even if of have preexisting conditions, medical conditions. You also cannot be dropped from coverage if you have a major illness and become too costly to insure.
Affordable Care Act was designed to make healthcare accessible to all. If you meet certain income and household thresholds, you could qualify for a government subsidy, which can substantially reduce the amount you pay. The Open /enrollment Period for 2016 begins on November 1, 2015 and ends on January 31, 2016. In order for your coverage to begin on January 1, 2016, you must enroll by December 15, 2015. Important: If you have a 2015 Government Plan, for 2016 you have to renew your existing plan or enroll in a new one. You will not be automatically enrolled. To minimize your chances of not having insurance, it is highly recommended that you do not miss the Open Enrollment Period. All Americans must have health insurance or face a fine.
Consumers can use 4 ways to enroll: http://obamacarefacs.com/private-health-plans-outside-the-marketplace/ http://obamacarefacts.com/state-health-insurance-exchange https://www.healthcare.gov/ https://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-subsidies/ https://www.obamacarefacts.com/change-plans-obamacare/ http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-sign-up/
California: http://obamacarefacts.com/insurance-exchange/california-health-insurance-exchange/ Enroll over the telephone: ObamacareUSA.org 1 -800-963-3448 Health Insurance Marketplace 1-800-318-2596 GovernmentHealthInsurance.com 1-888-805-0753 Health Insurance Marketplace in person locations (LocalHelp.Healthcare.Gov) and paper Application (bit.ly/PaperApplication) The Affordable Care Act was designed to ensure that all Americans have insurance. To make sure no one is uninsured, health care has to be truly attainable and affordable.
Betty Thomas, RN
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Pastor Roderick Walker
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November 2015 SUN 1
MON 2
TUE 3
WED 4
Jason Jenkins
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FRI 6 John Thompson
Adele Davis
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Amos Price
. Reggie Funchess Jr.
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SAT 7 B Barbara Harris
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John E. Hervey III
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John P. Harris III
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Janet Robinson Elder Robert Exum
Larry Willis
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Insight for Life: “Rejoice ! Your God is a helping King !
MEMBERS OF SECOND BAPTIST SICK AND SHUT IN Arcadia
Bernice Holefield
Arizona
Frankie Platt
Altadena
Louise Davis Laurin Hayes
Claremont
Michael Seals
Duarte
Grace Jordan Mother Berdie Pulliam
Fontana
John Harris
Monrovia
Mother Dorothy Ricks Geneva Spicer
Las Vegas NV
Mother Maelean Buckley
Events for the Month of November 2015 Nov. 1st 4:45 PM Lords Supper Celebration Nov. 3rd & 17th Usher Board Mtg. 7PM Nov 8th Welcome, Hospitality & Friends Day Nov. 13th-15th 16th Annual Women’s Conference Nov. 19th Board of Trustees meeting 7:30PM Nov. 26th 10:00 am Thanksgiving Service Pray Meeting every Wednesday 10:45 am & 6:30 PM Choir Rehearsals Dates Voices of Unity: Every Thursday 7:30 PM Anointed Voices: Every Tuesday 7:30 PM Gideon’s Army : The Saturday 10:00AM before every 5th Sunday
BEYOND THE CAMPUS AND SANCTUARY WALLS Los Angeles
Gregory White
Rialto
Ursula Martin Matter Simpson
Ministries unto the Lord God by His People[ [The Bishop needs your help and involvement] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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Second’s Gazette
Join the team! Contact Church office for Elder Robert Craig Sick and Bereavement Commission-Prayer Request Commission on Political Action Commission on Public Relation Commission on Social Concerns Media Ministry Project Africa Diakona Carrie Walker To coordinate visits to the sick and shut in and to report illnesses, hospitals and deaths
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October Issue
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Second’s Gazette
Children’s Church Director’s pictured with Paije: Diakona Larry Willis , Dr. John P. Harris, Jr.
The plaque will be updated annually for this event, and hang in the GG Bailey Hall.
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Sundays LIVE at 10:45 AM
Call 626-358-2136 or 359-7188 Fax 626-357-2477 –Email: secondsnewsletter@gmail.com / sbcmon@aol.com / Visit us at: www.Secondbaptistmonrovia.org
Second’s Gazette