Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 30, 2004, edition 1 / Page 16
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God chooses the powerless to do marvelous things Lesson Scripture: Mark 1:14-28 Lesson aims: To recall Jesus' life after His consecra tion to recognize that He calls all to follow Him and to com mit to discipleship. Background: Last week's lesson ended with Baby Jesus being dedicated at the temple. He was 40 days old. Our les son today is about the begin ning of His ministry. He is about 30 years old. A lot hap pened during the years in between. The wise men bearing gifts finally visited the Christ child some months after His birth in a house in Bgthlehem (Matthew 2:11). Warned in a dream, they return home (in Persia) a different way. Joseph also had a dream informing him to move his family to Egypt until Herod dies, because the king plotted to kill the Baby. That very night Joseph obeyed God. Upon Herod's death, Joseph moved his family to Nazareth of Galilee. A glimpse of His childhood was given when the family went to Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 2:40-50). Mildred Peppers Sunday School Lesson From then until now the Scriptures were silent. John the Baptist (Jesus' cousin) began his ministry as "the forerunner of Christ around A.D. 29" (Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament). "He was the authentic word from God that Israel had waited for" (UM1 Direction). His message was one of repentance. Many changed their hearts and began to fol low him. On occasion, they would ask. "Is he the one?" John the Baptist never misled the people, informing them that "one mightier than I" would come soon (Mark 1:7 8). Eventually, John baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11 and Luke 3:21-22) in the Jordan River. His divine assignment now completed, he was arrested (Matthew 4:15) and later (Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29 and Luke 9:7-9) beheaded. Jesus was tested in the desert and is now ready to fulfill His destiny as Redeemer/Savior of the world. LesSon: Jesus returns to Cana of Galilee, preaching the Good News, and he also per forms His first miracle. He changes His residence from Nazareth to Capernaum. Occurring only in the Gospels, the term "disciple" simply means "follower." Al times. Scriptures refer to only "the Twelve," and on other occa sions it means anyone who follows Jesus. The initial call is one of repentance, meaning to change one's mind. Jesus' message is simple and direct. Don't put off any longer moving from disobedience to obedience. The process of transforming the world must begin within the individual. As He proclaims this mes sage, He gains many followers because John the Baptist had prepared the way. The second "call" of Jesus was to serve. Scripture points out that Simon and hisrt>rother. Andrew, along with James and John (sons of Zebedee) are the first disciples named (Matthew 4:18-22 and Luke 5:1-11). A motley (diverse or clashing) crew of fishermen and one tax collector (Matthew), they are not well educated, influential people. However, Jesus could see their potential. We must remember if one thinks he "knows." how much will he learn? A person's call ing is really one of prepara tion. Jesus knows that He can shape a person to turn the world upside down. Careful study revels that God chooses the least, the left out. the pow erless to do marvelous things in His name. Don't forget the shepherds! They accept the call and immediately follow the Christ. They walk with Him as He teaches with authority. When they enter the synagogue at Capernaum, they encounter a man with an unclean spirit. Immediately, that spirit acknowledges who Jesus is. Jesus rebukes him and casts him out of the man. The spirit tears itself out of the man and the people are aston ished. Thus we witness the third call, "victory over evil." Jesus doesn't play with evil! Evil will not last where Jesus is. Like His disciples. Jesus is teaching and modeling a victo rious life. Having witnessed this event Jesus' fame spreads throughout the region. Application: Jesus wants each of us to become one of His disciples. He preaches a transformation message that is designed to include all people - Jews and Gentiles alike! To make the world a better place. (he change must begin on the inside and expand to the out side. The individual's transfor mation is not always easy and quick. To bring about change, one's mind must buy into it first. That's repentance. Sec ond, the follower must be taught replacing the "old" (the Law) with the "new" (love). The evidence that supports faith is witnessing the change. That's the victory. Evil will not win. God promised it and He delivers! Jesus' ministry calls all men and women to repent and follow Him. The devil is always hang ing around to cause trouble. Believers must know "how" to defeat him. Jesus' lessons and actions "show" the way. By the aid of the Holy Spirit, the disciples are empowered to fight. To change the world the model and lessons have been given. Now what? As we leave the ddek of 2004 and we sail into 2005 with a clearer vision of God's will in our personal and corporate lives, we under stand that this world needs the Good News of Jesus Christ! May God strengthen and empower you for the days ahead. Sawyer elected president of Unity Board for the worldwide Moravian Church SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer was recently elected as president of the Unity Board for the worldwide Moravian Church. The two-year term will begin in January. Before his election Sawyer served for four years as vice president of the Unity Board. He succeeds outgoing presi dent the Rev. Angetile Musom ba, of Tanzania. The Unity Board consists of one member from each of the 16 member provinces and three affiliated provinces. These provinces are the Czech Province, the European Conti nental Province, the Eastern West Indies Province, the Suri name Province, the Southern Africa Province, the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America, the British Province, the Nicaraguan Province, the Alaskan Province, the Hon duran Province, and the South ern, Western. Southwestern, and Rukwa Tanzanian Provinces. The affiliated provinces are the Labrador Province, the Guyana Province, and the Costa Rica Province. Some of the responsibili ties of the board include: uphold ing and further ing the develop ment of the Unity in all parts of the world; deciding upon questions pre sented before it by the Unity Synod, the Regional Confer ences, the Provincial Boards, and the Moravian Church Founda About the work of the Unity Board and the church Rev. Sawyer said: "As a worldwide church with 19 richly diverse provinces, we Savryer have pledged ourselves, to a ministry of mutual guidance and accountabil ity. We need to continue to give attention to the spirit and the reality of that pledge. We also have a long his tory of minister ing in the diffi cult places where other churches have not gone. I hope tion; carrying out all tasks given to it by the Unity Synod, acting as the decision-making body on behalf of the Unitas Fratrum during the inter-Syn odal periods; and holding and administering the funds and property of the Unitas Fratrum. the Unity Board will continue to look fpr the places where human need is greatest." Sawyer, president of the Provincial Elders' Conference. South. Moravian Church in North America, graduated from Lehigh University, Beth lehem, Pa., in 1964, and Students update their college profile forms. Galilee from page B5 Livingstone, Columbia Col lege and Shaw University. While some students were from the Triad area, some in attendance were from Califor nia. Maryland. Washington. Ohio, Virginia. South Caroli na. Florida, from across North Carolina and as far away as Japan. Galilee provides an oppor tunity for college students to continue regular worship and participation in church activi ties. Several have joined Galilee under Watch Care. Committed to Christ Col lege Outreach Ministry, which involves all college students in the congregation, spear heads activities. Galilee is at 575 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Dr. Robert McGowens is the pas tor. Persons desiring addi tional information about the C2C College Ministry may contact the church office at 724-3867. Watch Night from ,X thfe only New Year's Eve event. Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service - made a bit more Afrocentric because that's what happens when ele ments of Christianity become linked with the black church. Still, it seemed that predomi nantly white Christian church es did not include Watch Night services on their calen dars but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs. In fact. there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations won dered aloud about the propri ety of linking religious servic es with a secular holiday such as New Year's Eve. However, there is a reason for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African-American congrega tions. The Watch Night servic es in black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings on Dec. 31, 1862. also known as "Freedom's Eve." On that night, blacks came together in churches and pri vate homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation actually had become law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was Jan. I, 1863. and all slaves in the Confederate states were declared legally free. When the news was received, there were prayers, shouts and songs of joy as people fell to their knees and thanked God. Black folks have gathered in churches annually on New Year's Eve ever since, praising God for bringing us safely through another year. It's been 142 years since that first Freedom's Eve. and many of us were never taught the African-American history of Watch Night. But tradition still brings us together at this time every year to celebrate "how we got over." Pass this information on so we can educate more our fam ilies and friends about our his tory. Floyd Taylor is the organ ist and photographer at Prov idence Baptist Church. 319 Nelson Street. Kernersville. Providence will have a Watch Night Service Dec. 31 at 10:30 p.m. Evangelist Ron Dortch will speak. Breakfast will he served. received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Mora vian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem. Pa., in 1967. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Master of Sacred Theology degree from New York Theological Seminary, New York. N.Y. He was ordained a deacon in 1967 and consecrated a presbyter in 1974. He has served congrega tions in New York, Pennsylva nia. Maryland and North Car olina. He and his wife. Jill, have two sons. Justin Brian and Scott Robert. Rev. Sawyer will maintain his duties as president of the Provincial Elders' Conference. South, in addition to his posi tion on the Unity Board. The Moravian Church was founded in Bohemia more than 500 years ago and at that time was officially called the Unitas Fratrum, or Unity of the Brethren, which remains the church's official name today. The Moravian Church is one of Police Boys and Girls Steelband will perform SIM ( I \l TO I HI CHRONW I E East of the River Police Boys and Girls Steelband of Washington. D!C., will be fea tured as guest performers with the Artistic Studio in "Tomor row's Stars on Stage Today" on Saturday, Jan. 8. at 7 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church. 905 File Street. The performance also will include Mount'Zion's praise dancers and singers and youth ensemble. Donations are $5. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Mount Zion and the Artistic Studio at 202 W. Fourth Street. For more infor mation contact Janice Price at 723-7473 or Gladys Bray at 723-5758. Proceeds will bene fit the summer arts camp. the oldest Protestant denomi nations. dating back to 1457. Moravians have a strong tradi tion of ecumenical work and are known for their missionary work and rich musical her itage. The Moravian Church in North America is made up of the Northern and Southern Provinces. The Northern Province has about 28.000 members in 102 congregations in 13 states in the United States and two Canadian provinces. Macedonia Holiness Church Of God Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc. Bishop R.L. Wise, Sr. D.D.; S.T.D, ? Pastor Sunday Services Sunday School . . Morning Worship . 9:45 a.m. 1 1:00 a.m. . 6:30 p.m. M.Y.P.U Wednesday Services Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m. 4111 Whitfield Drive Phone: 336-767-3700 Fax: 336-767-7006 Mount Carmel Missionary Ituptist Church, Inc. ?7'/ MI COSTM. iMilllllOt S / Wit Ml. ( \K\II I \ \l \\ WoKk T(M,I IHI R" Sunday Early Morning Service - 7:57 am Sunday Church School - 9:30 am Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 am Tuesday Evening Girl Scouts - 6:00 pm Wednesday Morning Bible Study - 1 1 :00 am Wednesday Evening Bible Study - 7:00 pm Thursday Evening Woman's Fellowship - 7:00 pm "Make This Your Sunday To Be Our Special Guest " Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. 3230 Heitman Drive * Winston-Salem, NC 27107 Church: 336-784-7802 'Facsimile: 336-771-0101 Web-site: www.mtcarmel-ws.org ?Email: dr.griffey@mtcarmel-ws.org Dr. A.T. Griffey, III Senior Pastor And 1st Lady Dee GrHTy Piney Grove Church of Winston-Salem, Inc. Early Sunday Morning Worship Service 8:00 a.m. Join us for a Blessed Time in the Lord. Piney Grove Baptist Church Dr. James F. Linville, Pastor 4715 Indiana Ave. ? Winston-Salem, NC 27106 ? (336} 767-4044 ? Early Morning Worship 8:00 a.m. ? Sunday School 9:30 a.m. ? Morning Worship 1 1 :00 a.m. ?> Evening Services 4:00 p.m. ? Bible Study Every Wednesday 10:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Mission Statement:"A Saving Station for Lost Souls and Enrichment Center for Christians'' Website; www.pinevgrovebcinc.org E-mail: j MOTIVATIONAL MOMENTS with Nigel Alston Make an appointment with Motivational Moments on WSNC-FM 90.5, sponsored by The Chronicle, The Choice for African American News and Information. It's inspirational, informative and motivational. Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 10:20 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 1 1 :30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 10:20 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. www.motivationalmomi'nts.coni
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 30, 2004, edition 1
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