Photo by Timothy Ramsey
St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church not only purchased the food but also prepared the meals to be given
away.
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
The church was full with family and friends to celebrate with Bishop Oscar Davis LeGrant.
Pastor
from page B5
LeGrant was born on
Dec. 10, 1924 in
Bennettsville, S.C. He was
called to the ministry in
1954 at Christ Temple
Holiness Church as an
associate minister under
Bishop Eli Daniels. In
1967 after the passing of
Bishop Joseph Cotton, the
Pentecostal Church of God
in Christ sent Bishop
LeGrant to Progressive,
and he was installed as pas
tor in August 1967.
The service was heart
warming as many friends
and family were able to get
up and speak to the signifi
cance Bishop LeGrant has
played in their lives. There
were gifts given from a
select few as well as a spe
cial tribute given to Bishop
LeGrant's late wife, Dessie
Mae.
The choir sang, and the
closing remarks from
Bishop LeGrant were full
of appreciation and thanks.
"It's a blessing to be
able to be in the ministry
for this long," said Bishop
LeGrant. "It was beautiful
to see everyone come out
and celebrate 49 years of
pastoring with me."
At the soon to be age of
92, he was asked will he
ever stop pastoring or
preaching. ? His simple
answer was "No." He said
he was placed on this earth
to preach and pastor and
will do so as long as his
mind and body will allow
him to do so.
Elsworth Leon LeGrant
Jr., Bishop LeGrant's
grandson, said "It was a
success, from the dinner on
Saturday, which was held
at the Ivory Arms, the facil
ity of the local Winston
Salem Alpha Kappa Alpha
chapter, to all the churches
that participated. All of the
local associated churches
that came and represented
down to all the members at
Progressive made this all
Photos by Timothy Ramsey
The organizers of the Thanksgiving event were able to feed over 500 students and family members at the
school.
Feed
from page B5
ting together the dinner.
"I'm fighting back tears because it does my heart well
to see all these people enjoying a meal," Tribby said. "I'm
thankful that I have partners to help me meet the needs of
families. Our kids can't learn until their basic needs are
met."
The volunteers for the event were from St. Paul's, the
staff of Hall Woodward and a few varsity football players
from Carver High school. Carver varsity head coach
Germane Crowell says they caught wind of the event from
one of his coaching staff members who also works at Hall
Woodward, and he thought it would be a great chance to
help someone in need.
"I just thought it was a great opportunity to put others
before us," Crowell said. "The spirit of Thanksgiving is
all about serving and with me being a head coach as well
as a pastor, I just fell right in line with this."
St. Paul's Senior Pastor Oscar Pilson says he initially
? r
became aware of having Thanksgiving dinners for the less
fortunate while he was in Atlanta, Geotgia. He says on I
Thanksgiving, members from the church were feeding n
people in multiple locations, such as the Bethesda Center, ['
and taking orders at the church from the sick and shit in.
The church also delivered meals to some of the local fire
stations in Kemersville.
Pilson went on to say that much of the funding for this
event came from a grant provided by the United Methodist
Church. He says church members along with people in
the community donated to the cause as well. He wanted
to give a special thanks, to K&W Cafeteria for working
with them on a reasonable price for all of the meals along
with Sam's Club and Publix.
"Being both a pastor and a strong believer in Jesus
Christ, I remember the words He explained to His disci
ples that He did not come to the earth to be serve; He came
to the earth to served, Pilson stated.
"Wanting to be more like Jesus is the platform that I
am working from. My joy and excitement comes from
duplicating the work that he did," he said.
Thanksgiving _____
from page B5
group homes, nursing homes and members who are sick
and shut in. They in turn would make the plates for those
individuals and deliver them to their homes free of charge.
There were three ladies who initiated the
Thanksgiving dinner some 19 years ago: Pearl Cook,
Minnie Harris and Mattie Bailey. They said they went to
the pastor and asked if they could make the dinner instead
of handing out pre-made boxed dinners. Now the church
averages close to 250 meals made to help those in need.
"God has been good to me, and I have had my share of
sickness, but He brought me up from the sick bed," said
Pearl Cook, one of the organizers of the dinner. "So I fig
ured when our church wanted to do something to help
somebody else and relieve them of the trouble of not hav
ing anything to eat on Thanksgiving, we definitely wanted
to do something."
Minnie Harris said most of the food was donated from
the members in the church, which they in mm give to the
ladies and they prepare the meals to go out. She says she
really enjoys helping others, especially those who cannot
get out of bed to make their own meals.
St. Mark First Lady Hattie Fulwood added, "The
biggest pleasure I get out of this is seeing that everyone is
getting fed. I don't like to see anyone being hungry. And
if St. Mark can help the sick, shut in and the homeless, it's
a blessing for me."
Lesson
from page B5
and it is the "greatest honor among women." (verse 28).
Mary is not feeling particularly honored, but fhghtened
until Gabriel explains further that God's favor is an act
of kindness toward her (verses 29-30). Gabriel goes on
to say that she would conceive a son and she "shall"
name him Jesus. He also explains that He would be
called the "Son of the Highest." In his conversation or
instructions to Mary, Gabriel also confirms a promise
that God made to David (2 Samuel 7:16). Gabriel speaks
of Jesus reigning over all Israel and for eternity (which
speaks past death and resurrection) (verses 32-33).
Mary's response is ... so how will all this happen ...
since I'm a virgin? Gabriel's response is... by way of the
Holy Ghost and God's power from on high, you will bare
God's son (verses 34-35). Oh Mary, and by the way,
your cousin Elizabeth, who is old, is six months pregnant
also by God's power (verses 36-37). This information is
a way of also convincing Mary that there is no reason for
her to doubt what she has been told. Now fully con
vinced, Mary gladly submits to being the vessel of God
and a part of God's divine plan of salvation. Mission
accomplished ... Gabriel leaves (verse 38). (UMI
Annual Commentary 2016-2017)
For Your Consideration: Have you noticed that
God either names or re-names those He uses? What then
is the significance of or in a name? Do you live up to
yours? Covenants and promises, what's the difference?
Life's Application: People make promises all the
time with no intention of keeping them. However, God
points out to us that He does not lie (Titus 1:2). So we
can depend on promises such as, "I will never leave thee
nor forsake thee" (Heb.l3:5) and "We know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are called according to His purpose" (Rom.
I Hall Woodward Elementary Principal Celena Tribby
poses with some of her students during the
Thanksgiving dinner at the school.
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