Believing In by Second's Gazette

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 NIV

SECOND’S GAZETTE STAFF Nadine O. Harris, MBA, Founder/Publisher Ferrari Y. Green, Production and Design

Editors: Sharon Durall, Jaylyn Harris, Kathy Jackson Sherry Joiner, Operations and Distribution

Contributors Peggy LaBon, Lois Gaston, Jessie Anderson, Vanessa Jenkins, Vera Reeves, Betty Thomas, Felicia Dickson, Keith D. Holmes, Judy McCulloch, Donna Burke

Photographers: Adele Davis, Jerel McLendon

Children’s Church Consultant: Avian Westby

Believing In

ometimes we get caught up in thinking we need to understand God in order to have faith. But faith is more about trust than knowledge; it’s more about believing in someone than believing information. A child, for instance, doesn’t have to know the precise roads to Grandma’s house; he only needs to believe in his parents and their ability and desire to get him there safely. Similarly, we need not understand all the intricacies of how God works; we can take a cue from the disciples and let belief in the risen Christ transform and empower us. In the words of Madeleine L’Engle (The Rock That Is Higher): “The disciples did not bother to try to understand the resurrection body. They doubted, and then they believed. They believed something so wonderful that it changed this broken, fragmented, beaten-down little group of men and women in a moment from depression to enthusiasm, from despair to new life, vibrant and unafraid.”

Second’s Gazette Issue 142

Communion Element Distribution

n Saturday Feb 27, 2021 from 12-2, The Diakonos Team (A. Hurst, V. Burwell, D. Craig, J. Craig, A G Harrison, R. Anderson, J. Anderson, L. Stokes, J. Stokes) distributed 124 elements in preparation for 1st Sunday Communion. Also on campus working in various capacities included J. Harvey, V. & R. Hawkins, D. Burwell, C. Walker, T. Williams, N. Harris, S. Robinson, C. Williams, E. Clark, M. Dickson and Pastor Chris. M. Manning, L. Husband, Pastor Eric and G&T Lewis stopped by. It was so good to see and fellowship with all. Thank you all for your heart of service and prayers because we know you pray for this ministry. Thank each of you for all that you do for Christ.

Pastor C on the Scene

BEFORE THE CROSS

HEALTH—CORONAVIRUS

12-13

FOOTPRINTS

Isolated But, Connected

BLACK HISTORY PRESENTATION Week 4 SBCCM

22-25

5 NEED PRAYER, call the church office and obtain the telephone number of the Deacon according to the first letter of your last name (See below). If your name starts with ...

A Call Robert & Jessie Anderson B Dennis & JoAnne Craig, or Betty Brown or Rodney Bough C A.G. Harrison, or Shirley Robinson, or Larry & Deborah Hayes D James Harvey or Venda Hawkins E/F Ron & La Lavonne Husband or Adrienne Hurst G Minnie Mannings or Valeria Burwell or Ellen Clark H George & Tamara Lewis or Thelma Jones I/J Ellis & Thelma Johnson or Eva McLaurin or Walter McDonald K/L/N/O/T Terrence Williams or Lonnie & Josephine Stokes M Chuck Williams or Melva Hill P/Q Carrie Walker or Nadine Harris R/S Larry Willis or Oscar Woodard U/V/W/X/Y/Z Robert Hamilton or Ron Demps or Michael Dickson

The Laughing Pew

SUNDAY SERVICE: “. . . sing with me . . . Jesus is on the Zoom Line, tell HIM what you want . . .”

You are Chosen to Make a Difference, Join The Zoom MEETING: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83464895984? pwd=Z0xNTUJVNGp2ZGE2bWovUTZXaFBUZz09 ID: 834 6489 5984 PASSWORD: 350497

SBC, The teens are full speed ahead preparing to host their first Teen Summit and each one of you are vital to helping make their Summit a success. The Save-TheDate Flyer, is being circulated thru the Media Ministry for airing during announcements. Please share the flyer with as many teens as you know. You will notice the RSVP should be completed via SBCTeensummit@gmail.com. Sister Kathy Jackson and Sister Jaylyn Harris will be monitoring the emails, creating a registration list for the Teen Summit. I pray the teens continue get excited and gain momentum in planning their upcoming Teen Summit. Best, Dr. Harris

Being an Effective Communicator Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

ommunication, what a word. Lack of communication can ruin almost anything. Poor communication has caused many relationships to go bad. Some people believe in the silent treatment, but the fact is nothing can be resolved without communicating with one another. Have you ever noticed that there are some people in your life whom it’s easier to communicate with than others? No one wants to be told you lack in the communication department. When it comes to communication the better you are at it, the happier and smoother your relationships and life will become. Take the challenge to practice listening without interrupting. As you work on being an effective communicator always let your response come from a good place.

Buttafly Burke

BEFORE THE CROSS “And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.” – Luke 21:37-38 Jesus continues teaching daily in the temple. It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” – Mark 14:1-2 The chief priests were in a sense of urgency because of the Passover approaching in regards to seeking out a plot to arrest and kill Jesus. And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. – Mark 14:12-16 Jesus gives instructions to the disciples to find the guest room where they will prepare for the Passover and the Lord’s Supper. Ref: retrieved from www.beforethe cross.com (2021. March 5) .

After hearing the prophecy of Hebrew deliverer, Pharaoh Rameses I of Egypt orders the death of all newborn Hebrew males. Yochabel saves her infant son by setting him adrift in a basket on the Nile. Bithiah, the Pharaoh Rameses' recently widowed daughter (and sister of the future Pharaoh Seti I), finds the basket and decides to adopt the boy even though her servant, Memnet, recognizes the child is Hebrew. Bithiah names the baby Moses. An elderly Moses later leads the Hebrews towards Canaan. However, he cannot enter the Promised land due to a mentioned previous disobedience to the Lord. He instead names Joshua as leader, and bids farewell to the Hebrews at Mount Nebo.

She who walks in INTEGRITY walks CONFIDENTLY

~Proverbs 10:9

The last word of the Bible is Amen.

t’s Spring!! During Spring in the Northern Hemisphere the earth begins to tilt more toward the sun, resulting in increased daylight hours and warming temperatures. Spring also brings about nature’s renewal—daffodils are poking up their heads, birds are migrating, and pollens are in the new budding trees. This is the season when you can hear more coughs, sniffles and sneezes; however with our new awareness or concern about coronavirus (COVID-19), could these symptoms just be a cold, the flu or seasonal allergies, so how do you know the difference? Spring’s biggest outdoor allergy trigger is tree pollen, a very fine powdery substance that’s usually yellow in color. Since pollen is small, dry and lightweight, it can easily become airborne and be spread over long distances by wind. It’s often hard to tell the difference between a cold and allergies. Both can cause similar symptoms, such as a runny and/or stuffy nose, sneezing, fatigue and a sore throat. For many people, allergy symptoms come on quickly when your immune system overacts to normally harmless substances called allergens. Allergies are not contagious and the symptoms you experience are your immune system’s reactions to allergens such as pollen. When you have a cold, the symptoms are generally mild compared to symptoms of the flu. Seasonal influenza (flu) is active and generally comes on fast and furious, usually affecting your nose, throat and lungs. Often symptoms can last from 5-7 days. Influenza flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Because some of the symptoms of COVID-19 and seasonal allergies are similar, it may be difficult to tell the difference between them, and you may need to get a test to confirm your diagnosis. This is not a complete list of all possible symptoms of COVID-19 or seasonal allergies. Symptoms vary from person to person and range from mild to severe. You can have symptoms of both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies at the same time. Because some of the symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Review the chart from Intermountain Healthcare for a quick reference of symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, influenza, cold and seasonal allergies.

Live Life Healthy Jessie M Anderson, RN BSN

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2020/03/whats-the-differencebetween-a-cold-the-flu-and-coronavirus/

aving good spiritual mentors is the best thing a young person or a senior person could have today. There is so much misguided information misleading so many people today, it makes my heart hurt!

We all know that you can find anything you’re looking for on the internet. If it’s a conspiracy theory or a loving word of encouragement, you can find it on the internet. It amazes me to see how many people can be deceived by what’s on the internet without any substantiation! On the one hand, the internet can provide a wealth of knowledge and information that’s good and applicable to our lives. We can visit any church in any location. We can get a different translation of the bible at our fingertips, not to mention all the zoom platforms which are available for everything you want to be a part of on any day of the week. This brings me to my point of knowing or discerning what you are a participant in. Proverbs 1: 1-7 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to [a]perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will [b] attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NKJV) This is why we need mentors of all ages as all information is not good; we need discernment. No matter how isolated and socially distant we are, we can still talk to people we know that are wise and knowledgeable, to help keep us grounded and on the path of righteousness. Enjoy the internet for all the good it has. When other suggestions are sent to you, stay on your course, which will take you where you want to go.

In Christ Peggy LaBon

How does AmazonSmile work? When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-6121777 Second Baptist Church of Monrovia is an eligible organization.

ecades ago, as English actress Gertrude Lawrence waited behind the curtain for a play to begin, the queen upstaged her by arriving at the royal box to much applause. “What an entrance,” Lawrence remarked, to which her friend, playwright Noel Coward, replied, “What a part!” Jesus certainly made a grand entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, entering to adoring shouts of “Hosanna!” But worldly glory and fame weren’t his intent. Instead, our Lord knew that his Father had prepared a sacrificial role for him. Jesus handled the adulation with dignity and poise. The humble yet courageous Son of God knew that danger, despair and death awaited — but that he must endure it all to fulfill prophecy for humanity’s sake. The pageantry of Palm Sunday is a stark contrast to the role of Suffering Servant that Jesus faced a few short days later. Yet each event during Holy Week represents victory — for Jesus as well as for his beloved children. Palm Sunday is a glorious day, so let us wave palms and shout, “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The Savior has come. What an entrance! What a

Special Dates     

World Day of Prayer, March 5, 2021 Daylight-Saving Time begins, March 14, 2021 First day of spring, March 20, 2021 Holy Week, March 28 – April 4, 2021 Palm/Passion Sunday, March 28, 2021

A BOUNTIFUL LIFE “Life is given to you like a flat piece of land,” said actress Jeanne Moreau. “I hope that when I'm finished, my piece of land will be a beautiful garden.” God, who put the first human in a garden to care for creation, blesses us with talents and resources to wisely manage. In gardening terms, God gives us the plot of ground, the seed, the wisdom and strength to bring forth beauty and abundance. Yet we do the work, with God’s help, to make it a reality. Like Adam, we till, but God gives the increase. God’s provisions and our labor bring the garden — and our lives of stewardship — to fulfillment. As stewards, we ponder: When God calls us home, what will our garden be like, and what will it have produced?

Let laughter ‘Spring’ Forth! “Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.” (Doug Larson) “Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket.” (Evan Esar) “Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” (Charles Dickens) “The world is mud-luscious and puddle wonderful.” (e.e. cummings) “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” (Margaret Atwood)

God in My Hands

hen I was ready to give up on the Church, it was the sacraments that pulled me back.

When my faith had become little more than an abstraction, a set of propositions to be affirmed or denied, the tangible, tactile nature of the sacraments invited me to touch, smell, taste, hear, and see God in the stuff of everyday life again. They got God out of my head and into my hands. They reminded me that Christianity isn’t meant to simply be believed; it’s meant to be lived, shared, eaten, spoken, and enacted in the presence of other people. They reminded me that, try as I may, I can’t be a Christian on my own. —Rachel Held Evans

Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021) An American actress and fashion model. In a career which spanned more than seven decades, she became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women.Tyson received three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Black Reel Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, one Tony Award, an honorary Academy Award, and a Peabody Award. Having appeared in minor film and television roles early in her career, Tyson garnered widespread attention and critical acclaim for her performance as Rebecca Morgan in Sounder (1972); she was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her work in the film. Tyson's portrayal of the title role in the 1974 television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, based on the book by Ernest J. Gaines, won her further praise; among other accolades, the role won her two Emmy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Tyson continued to act on film and television in the 21st century. In 2011, she played the role of Constantine Jefferson in the award-winning film The Help. She also played the recurring role of Ophelia Harkness in the legal drama TV series How to Get Away With Murder since the show's inception in 2014, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series five times. In addition to her screen career, Tyson appeared in various theater productions. She received a Vernon Rice Award in 1962 for her Off-Broadway performance in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl. Tyson also starred as Carrie Watts in the Broadway play The Trip to Bountiful, winning the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Award, and the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Play in 2013. Tyson was named a Kennedy Center honoree in 2015. In November 2016, Tyson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States. In 2020, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org.wiki>Cicely_Tyson

Isolated By COVID, But, Connected to Christ

t Second Baptist, we live by faith, knowing the Lord will make a way. Over the past year COVID-19 has ran rampant over the nation. We have been constantly bombarded with sickness and death in news reports. Despite all the rhetoric we have maintained our faith in God. Sunday Service has been and continues to be informative, and above all inspirational as we watch from our homes on YouTube. The Pandemic has challenged us to adapt to a new way of fellowship, inspiring Wednesdays in the Word with our Pastor and invited guests. Praise and Worship has stood the test of time and our annual ministry programs are marching on as usual. So, stay tuned for the Founder’s Day Program coming up later this month as it will inform you even more about our past year and how God has guided and provided for “our church” and visitors, because we are Connected to Christ. Author Diakona Nadine Harris

MARCH 2021

1st 3rd 8th 18th 19th 21st 22nd 27th

30th 31st

Glenda Cross Ivan Bailey Pastor Jason Jenkins Marcus Green Diakona Adrienne Hurst Bishop Wm. LaRue Dillard Michele Davis Reginal Funchess, Sr. Felicia Markham Dickson Ashley Johnson Adrienne Walters Regina Bradford Rochelle Bradford Diakona Valeria Burwell Lacelle Waller Pastor James Walker Sherry Joiner Lorna Baker John P. Harris, Sr.

Members of Second Baptist Church Sick& Shut-ins Altadena

Father Sam Fisher

Duarte

Sister Grace Johnson Sister Mildred Baber Sister Brenda Lee

Fontana

Diakona Ron Demps

Monrovia

Mother Eloise Hughes Mother Thelma Adams Sister Lucile Mc Lendon

Pasadena

Vera Reeves Mother Deloris Bridges

San Dimas

Diakona Mother Melva Hill

A prayer for your recovery: May God’s arms enfold you, His peace surround you, His loving hands heal you. You are one of a kind, so rejoice and celebrate your special day. Happy Birthday

I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do no fear: I will help you Isaiah 41:13

Bibles, All Occasion Cards, Gifts, Children’s Books, Big Bible Cover Selection, Large Print and Extra Large Print Bibles, Candles, Jewelry, Purse and Credit Card Holders

Second Baptist Church Children’s Ministry (SBCCM) 2021 BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM Moderators of 2021 SBCCM Black History Program: King Darren Rogers & Queen Brianna Smith Link to see the Program on Youtube - https:youtu.be/C3QbSjG-BiA

Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Speech: ‘How Long Not Long’ (Jaden Bradford) Song: I Have A Dream (SBCCM Choir) Kamala Harris Rosa Parks (Keileigh Holmes) (Royelle Johnson) Hank Aaron John Lewis (Enoch Simpson) (Makeo Green) Nicolas Brothers Dorothy Dandridge (Justin & Drew Wands) (Cayleigh Haynes) Cecily Tyson Kobe Bryant (Neveah Jones) Christopher Bourne Jr.)

Song: Lift Every Voice & Sing (SBCCM Choir)

Praise Dancers: Brianna Smith, Jaylynn Marshall JayCee Marshall

SBC NURSERY: Carl Stokes (Jason Marshall) Carol Mosely Braun (Keirah Holmes) Bianca Smith (Keair Wall) Victor Glover (Boaz Simpson) SBC NURSERY SONG: Every Praise is to our God (Hezekiah Walker) FINALE SONG: America The Beautiful (SBCCM Choir)

SBCCM Ministry Director: Dr. John P. Harris, Jr. Diakona Ron Husband Diakona Larry Willis Avian Westby Music Director: Kathleen Dantzler Praise Dance Choreographer: Tameia Westsby Program Filming: Raymond Johnson Victoria Johnson Apryl Harris Devon McGee Nursery Director: Kathy Jackson Marie Hadley Stacey Thomas

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SBCCM PARENTS our continued support and involvement in your child’s Christian walk are appreciated. Proverbs 22:6 commands us to ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’.

THANK YOU PASTOR CHRIS For your leadership & vision to move forward with SBCCM during this pandemic, its truly been a blessing to see the minister grow. THANK YOU SBCCM TEACHERS For your continued support and giving of your talents and treasures. Together we are ministering to Gods children and I am blessed to have such a dedicated team.

Best, Dr. John P. Harris, Jr. SBCCM Ministry Director

A Fitting Tribute When Christ entered into Jerusalem, the people spread garments in the way. When he enters into our hearts, we pull off our own righteousness, and not only lay it under Christ’s feet but even trample upon it ourselves. —Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)