Religion ?
Elder I
Richard Wayne
Wood
Sunday
School Lesson ?ill
The Everlasting
Covenant
Lesson Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11
By the end of this lesson, we will
?Understand some features of the everlasting
covenant God will make with Israel
"Trust God to fulfill His promises
?Know that we can rely on the promises of God for
aid in any present struggle
Background: Isaiah writes this about 700-695 B.C.
in Jerusalem and it is called a part of "the grand finale
of God's restoration." This message was intended to
give hope to God's people at that time.
Lesson: Scholars agree that Isaiah is not speaking
of himself in this first verse, but of Jesus and speaks as
the three personalities - Lord, God and Spirit - of the
Godhead. This is verified as true 700 years later as
Jesus speaks in the New Testament, saying, "This day is
this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). Read
also verses 16-20. This verse also goes on to foretell of
Jesus' proclaiming good news where appropriate to do
so. The favorable year of the Lord (verse 2) is a refer
ence to Christ's second coming and the vengeance Cf.
Rev 6-19 this is a part of Christ's deliverance of Israel.
Verse 3 points out the blessings the Lord will bestow
upon Israel during His millennial rule and they will all
be prepared for celebrations and gladness. God will
plant in His people seeds of righteousness and will be
glorified through His consolation of mourners.
The rebuilding of Israel's cities has always been a
part of God's plan and is referred to as the ascendancy
promise to Israel (verses 5-7); read this and ponder.
The lesson now skips to the Lord's declaration of an
everlasting covenant. This ties the Davidic covenant to
the promise now of Christ resurrection being the begin
ning of the everlasting life promise. God's faithfulness
to His promises has directed Israel's history and our
willingness to believe in His word. See Isaiah 55:3,
59:20, 21 (MacArthur Study Bible) notes. In verse 9,
Isaiah tells of a time when Israel will be acknowledged
as a people blessed by God. Everybody will recognize
them as such. Could that be the "peculiar people" of the
New Testament?
Let's regard the person speaking in verse 10 as one
of the redeemed. He is joyful because not only has God
made him a recipient of salvation, he is also in right
standing with God. The joy is compared with that of a
bride or groom on their wedding day dressed in then
finest attire. The final verse speaks to me of fertility and
growth. God has planted seeds of righteousness in us or
in the verse in Israel, and is now watching that seed
come to life and spew praises before all the nations of
the world. God is showing off His handiwork: His peo
ple. Isaiah is indeed a major prophet, speaking the
Good News before the Gospel was bom or written.
For Your Consideration: How does the hope that
Isaiah potentially gave to Israel 2,700 years ago affect
our hope today? Does acknowledging the three person
alities of God help in knowing His faithfulness toward
us?
Life's Application: Reading the Old Testament and
comparing it in many cases to the New Testament can
^sbe truly enlightening and inspiring. With the climate of
the political atmosphere and the simmering of racial
tensions in our nation, the comfort that God's word pro
vides is needed. Isaiah spoke to a disobedient people of
punishment and reward. The punishment is still in
effect in many cases and the ultimate reward may be
imminent or in the very distant future. Which you are a
recipient of, however, is an everyday event in the mak
ing.
Forsyth County
Sunday School
Union installs
2017 officers
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Forsyth County Sunday School Union (FCSSU)
held its installation of officer's program recently. The
event was held at Union Chapel Baptist Church, where the
Rev. Konnie G. Robinson is the pastor and officiated the
ceremony.
The current president is Rev. Velma McCloud, associ
ate minister at Piney Grove Baptist Church. The newly
inducted officers for 2017 are: Nehemiah Bryant, assistant
treasurer; Wanda Davis, financial secretary; Rodney
McCormick, treasurer; Catherine Crawford, 2017 presi
dent; Velma McCloud, current president and executive
board chairman; Vanessa Walls, second vice president; and
Dr. James M. Lewis Jr., Christian education director.
The Forsyth County Sunday School Union, which
See Officer* on B6
v ? '? r
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
Fellowship Church
Pastor Tony Jones,
affectionately
called Pastor Tony,
sings during the
Winston Worships
service on Sunday.
Local church worships with
community, helps the less fortunate
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY
THE CHRONICLE
The Feffowship Church
worshiped"with the com- :
munity and helped out
those in need during its
second installment of its
Winston Worships service.
The first installment was
held in the spring of 2016.
Pastor Tony Jones said the
response was so great they
decided to do it again.
The church was joined
by gospel recording artist
Casey J, who sang a num
ber of songs. Along with
Casey < Kendall
McDowell & Raw per
formed for the audience as
well as singing backup for
Casey J during her set.
McDowell said he and his
group were honored to per
form during the service.
"I think it's very impor
tant as Christians that we
always remember our place
in the kingdom and that's
to be a blessing to others,
so that's why we came,"
said McDowell.
Fellowship Church also
partnered with Suols 4
Soles, who provides shoes
for the underprivileged and
people in Third World
countries. Instead of
charging a monetary
admission for the service,
people were asked to bring
a pair of shoes to donate.
According to Jones,
with the donations from the
service combined with
what his congregation has
donated, the total number
of pairs has risen to over
500 and counting.
"It's a worship series
that we do and this is a
show of unity. It was an
institution that we started
See Church on B6
Men's Day
turns into
reunion at
St. Paul
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY
THE CHRONICLE
St. Paul United Methodist Church celebrated its Men's
Day on Sunday, Sept 18. The JJL. Roberts Men's Chorus
from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta,
Georgia, helped them celebrate. The men's choir from St.
Paul joined Ebenezer last year and now they are returning
the favor.
Amid all the celebration was a
mini reunion.
Stephen Michael, a member of
the J.L. Roberts Men's Chorus, was
joined at St. Paul by his two sons,
Justin and Langston. Langston is a
sophomore at Wake Forest
University and plays the saxophone.
Justin is a high school student and
plays the drums. Langston, who
joined the Wake Forest Gospel
Choir as their saxophonist, met his
family at St. Paul.
Both young men played their respective instruments
with the J.L. Roberts Chorus during the celebration.
The Michaels' sons are part of a band in Atlanta
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
Langston Michael plays saxophone during St. Paul
Vnited.Methodist Church's' Men's Day Celebration.
I
named Anonymous DaBand and have opened for some of
the top artists in the country.
The Michaels men have been performing for years but
say they enjoy when they are all able to perform on the
same stage.
"It was great first to all to be able to come to St. Paul
with my church family Ebenezer Baptist Church and the
men's choir there is just phenomenal. Of course to be able
to perform with my sons was a great experience. Just see
ing them up there taking on new opportunities to play for
the glory of God was just fantastic," Steven Michael said.
Langston added, "I'm glad I was able to link up with
my family, I'm at Wake Forest right now so it was good
they were able to come to See Men's Day on B6
Rev. Dr. Vance P. Ross
Calendar
Today, Sept. 22, through
Sept. 25
Holy Convocation *
The 2016 Holy Convocation I
will continue at the Greater Higher I
Ground Ministries Worldwide Inc., I
4175 Moat Drive. Services begin at I
7 p.m. nightly and 5 p.m. on
Sunday. Classes will be held
Thursday through Saturday at noon
and 1 p.m. This year's theme is "A
Sure Foundation: Back to the
Basics," Isaiah 46:(), Psalms 143:9
The guest speakers during the con
ference are as follows: Thursday,
Sept 22, Bishop Tejado Hanchell.
Winston-Salem; Friday, Sept. 23.
Bishop Kevin Williams,
Greensboro; Conference Teachers
Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22-23 at
12 noon, Apostle Andna Weeks
West End, and Saturday, Sept. 24 at
1 p.m., Bishop Derrick Kelly.
Lexington During the convocation
we will continu eto celebrate the life
Establishmentarian, Apostle John
H. Heath. For more information,
call our administrative office at 336
725-1125. Senior pastor is JaniceO.
Heath.
Today, Sept. 22, through
Sept. 25
Women's Conference
Greater Tabernacle Worship
Center, 1410 Attucks St., will con
tinue the 2016 Women's Conference
Sept. 22-25. Registration is $60.
Apostle Brenda J. McCloud is pas
tor.
Today, Sept. 22
Lecture on Religious
extremism
Interfaith Winston-Salem,
Carlton T. Mitchell Interfaith Series
Lecture, will present
"Understanding Religious
Extremism Among the Children of
Abraham" today. Sept. 22,7 pjn., at
Brendle Recital Hall on the campus
of Wake Forest University. Dr.
Charles Kimball, Presidential
Professor, Oklahoma University, an
internationally known analyst on the
Middle East, Islam, Jewish
Christian-Muslim relations, and the
'intersection of religion and politics
in the U.S., will be the presenter.
The lecture is free and open to the
public.
Sept. 24
Women's Event
Goler Memorial AME Zion
Church, 630 N. Patterson Avenue,
presents the 4th annual Women's
Ministry Chit Chat & All That
Sistahs Breakfast & Table Talk,
Saturday, Sept. 24, at 9 a m. in the
Goler Family
Enrichment Center.
The Chit Chat, an
interactive Bible
study, is designed to
provide women with
motivation, spiritual
enrichment, and
empowerment, mis
year's theme, "Sistahs On A
Mission," will address goals that
women strive to obtain while
embracing their spirituality in a
complex world. The guest speaker
will be the Rev. Hanna Broome,
Pastor of Catawba Chapel AME
Zion Church, Catawba. S.C. This
event is free and open to all women
in the community. Breakfast and
door prizes will be provided.
Reverend George Banks is the pas
See Ret. Cat. on M
Rev.Broome