Mmillllllllllill
7B
RELIGIONAE^e Cl^atlone
Thursday, December 28, 2006
‘Blue Christmas’ services attract those who feel depressed
Continued from page SB
cept serves an important
function for tliose who have
lost loved ones, O’Dwyer
Randall said. “The biggest
sigh of relief for people who
are grieving comes when you
name it. When you say, ‘Hey
you’re probably having a
hard year.’ When you say the
pei-son’s name,” she said.
Christine MoU, a mental
health counselor in Buffalo,
N.Y., who has helped two
churches develop holiday
programs for depressed
parishioners, said that aU
the holiday cheer can Tnaks
people dealing with death,
divorce or family dysfunction
feel more out of place, and
.more miserable.
“All the glitz, the tinsel,
and what have you, the dec
orations, conjure up that we
all need to be having some
sort of Norman Rockwell
experience,” she said.
The Rev. Emily Richards,
pastor of St. Stephen’s Epis
copal Church in Ridgefield,
Conn., said there has been a
huge response to her
church’s first Blue Christ
mas service.
‘We have to have the per
fect Christmas and we have
to be happy this time of year
—when the reality is that
we’re not,” she said. “This is
an opportunity for people to
come and be in the presence
of God and acknowledge
their grief and despair and
loneliness and give it to
God.”
Some churches refer to
such programs ^ “Longest
Night” services and hold
them on the shortest day—
and therefore, the longest
night—of the year. This year,
that falls on Thursday
‘T find in my ministry that
there’s quite a bit of pastoral
work to be done in Decem
ber. It just seems that what
ever griefs or pain people
have increase in this time,”
said Rev. Cynthia Maybeck,
pastor of the Trinity Church
of Northborough, Mass.,
which has been offering such
services for more than a
decade. “Everything on the
commercials is ‘Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas, such a
season of tidings and great
joy’—and there’s a lot of peo
ple whose hearts are break
ing.”
Introduction unresloved guilt
Continued from page 5B
ers may have been former pagans who were
being lured back into the worship of idols (see
1 John 5:21).Still others were being tempted
by an early foim of the attractive heresy we
call gnosticism For this reason John empha
sized his pa^onal contact with the human,
Jesus, including seeing and touching (1 John
1:1).John deals with both ^ctremes on the
issue of sin: legalism and license. On the one
hand, John confix)nts a legalism that refuses
to recognize the sufficiency of Jesus to deal
with sin.
On the other hand, John will not stand for
those who think that they have a license to
sin becaijse they believe that personal right
eousness and lifestyle are unimportant
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The Prophet’s Column, Inc.
6183 NC 109 South
Wadesboro NC 28170-9327
November / December, 2006 Newsletter - Part Vlll (Last Part)
J.M. Little, Teacher
The Hope of the early church was the Second Coming of Christ Yes, tfiey looked for His Coming
in their day. My Hope is the Second Coming of Christ, as I said to some in the family yesterday.
What is your hope? What is your hope for eternity? It is so sad to my heart to see these elderly
family members coming down to the grave and they have no hope for eternity. I would hate to go
out into eternity on viriiat you church fo^ have. I would not walk across the room with what you
have. I asked an elderly family nYimber a few years ago; 'What is your hope for eternity?* She
replied: "Sarah..,.” I asked again the second time: “But what is your hope for eternity?” She replied:
"Louise. ..” The third time I asked: "But what is your hope for eternity?” She was mad and snapped
at me: “What is your hope for eternity?!!’ I quietly replied: “Christ and His Blood.” Yes, my Hope is
Christ and His Blood! That’s all! need. You are coming down to the end of life with no hope for
eternity. That is why my heart bleeds night and day. You don’t see the danger you are in and you
refuse to talk to me about Christ. There is no other Salvation but Christ, i would you knew Him. I
know that but for Uie grace of God, I'd be in your shoes. It is only by the grace of God I’m saved!
Yes, His distinguishing grace. Praise the Lord. I've poured out my heart to you family members
over the years with tears in my heart and in my eyes. May my Lord awaken some poor lost soul in
this family. I know there are no hard cases wi^ my Lord. But I know Urat unless God awakens
you, you will go down to a Devil’s Hell. May that not happen to you. Will you turn to Christ? Will
you? Ask the Lord to turn you to Christ and live.
Your Gospel Editor and Teacher,
JM Little ■
Editor's Note: If you correspond with us, please write to us at the address on this Newsletter and
not the prior address in Charlotte. tVe are always glad to hear from you, no matter what your state
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Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
232 Skyland Ave. • Charlotte, NC 28205
704-332-4951 • Website: www.antiochfamily.org
Rev. Donnie R. Garris, Pastor
You’re Invited To .loin Us;
Sunday Worship 8 & 11a.m.
Sunday School 9:45a.m.
Wed Prayer, Praise & Study...12 Noon & 7p,m.
Weeping Willow AME Zion Church
“Moving From Salroiion To Dlsc^esHp’’
222£tMfflDn Rd, • Chirtote Nwtfi CiWlas JSilS
f Momin* WorsWp: S:»AM
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Sui«hvSc6mii:»!3»AM
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(greeubille jHemorial Hioii CljurtI)
“A Teaching Nimsiry Making Spiritual Disciples”
Sunday Worship; 10:00 a.m. Sunday School: 9;00 a.m.
Bible Study: Tuesday 7 p.m. and Wednesday 12 Noon
‘‘Empowering Healthy Christian Disciples for the
Challenges of the 21st Century"
6116 Montieth Drive • Charlotte, N.C. 28213
(Ph) 704-5964742 (FAX) 704-597-8317
“A Word of Hope” Television Ministry
Mondays @ 5p.m- Channel 21 (Public Access TV)"
Rev. Sheldon R. Shipman, Senior Pastor
Jfirst Jilt. Bon paptifit Cljitrtl)
1515 Remount Rd. • (Tel.)332-8335 (Fax)372-7548
28208
Sunday Morning Worship Services... 8:30-9:30- ILOOain
Sunday School 9:45 - 10:45am
Singles Ministries (Mon.) 6:30-7:30pm
Senior Citizens (Mon.) 10:30-4:00pm
Dr. C.V. Owens
Office Houns; Mon. - Fri. 9:00am - 4:00pm
You are cordially invited to worship with us!
Greater Gethsemane A.M.E. Zion Church
'The Church with the Community at Heart"
531 Campus Street • Charlotte, NC 28216
gmws-sm ■ Fax 372-0614
Worship Service 11:00AM
Sunday School: 9:30AM
Bible Study: Wed. 10:30AM 7PM
Daycare ^ Afterschool Available
E-mail: gamez53WbeHsouth.net
The Reverend Dr. Calvin L Miller ■ Pastor
Reverend Dr. Karen Roberts Miller ■ Spouse
SIMPSON-GILLESPIE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
‘Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
-Join Us For Service ■
Sunday-School, 9:30am • Sunday Worship, Ram
Wednesday: Bible Study, 7pm
1st & 3rd Saturday; "Contemporary Worship," 6pm...’'Jeans Allowed"
I
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Rev. Walter Pegues, Pastor
3545BeattiesFdRd.Char.,NC 28216 •704-399-2717 • VatiMinislty
‘We Can Do All Things Through Christ W'&o Strengthens Us"
Macedonia Baptist Church
of CHARLOTTE, INC.
"A MinistiyofLove and ExceUeace"
Dr, John H. Walker, Pastor Sc
■ Minister, Rosie Walker
“Family First Worship"
“As Far Me and My House
Wi Shall Waisbip TheLctrd”
SUNDAY
' One Hour of Spirituil Power’ 8 a.m.
“ Chrisiian Education Hour. 9 a.m.
* “Family First Wbrsiiip’’ 10 a.m.
XVBDNESDAY
"Hour of Power" .Midday Worship 12 Noon
W.O.W.' Word On Wednesday Bible Study. 7:00pjn.
704-392-8496 •1300 Hacceras Ave.,* wwwjiiacedoniaofcliaflotte.org
Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church
“A Church Pulling Love Into Action ”
■ 700 SUGAR CREEK ROAD, WEST
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28213
Sunday Church School 9:30a.m.
Worship Service ILOOa.m, and 6:00p.m.
Baptist Training Union 5:00p.m.
Prayer Meeting & Bible Study Wedne^ays 7:30pm
Office (704)596-7935 • Fax (704)596-1204
Residence (704)597-1249
Greater Myers Chapel ;
PENTECOSTAL FFXLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
- You're Invited to Worship With Us -
Intercessory Prayer. 8:30am
Victory in The Word 9:15ain
Worship l():30am
Sunday Evening Total Praise 7:fl0pm
Hour of Power/Hitoriai avai!.Wed....7:00pni
Vi.sit our WebSite: www.grealerniyerschapel.org
600 Jordan Place, Charlotte, NC 28205
"WAR Fellowship Ministry Covenant Partner”
For Van Ministry
704-377-1799
I fis last
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MissicARY our first
assfenment
BAPTIST CHURCH
wwA’.s^kembcorg
Mbsionahy Baptist Church
Sunday Worstiip • lliOOani •tkSOpm
goBdjiySefewd-.
Ev«ukBg: Wor«h.t{i
J itoidy-,
.?s00pra
Rev. Clifford Maitkewe, Jr.., Paalor • S7S-$6^
1600Ni>rri»AvB. • ChsHottc^NC 28206 • FAX; 375-8397
PARKWOOD INSTITUTIONAL
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
802 Tom Hunter Road • Chimlotte. NC 28213
704-9214915 (Ph) • 704-9214917 (Fax)
Wedsite; www.parkwQodcme.com
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 11:00 AM
Sunday School 9:30 AM
Bible Study
Wednesday 12 Noon 'Thursday 6:30 PM
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
Roderick D. Lewis. Sr.
Pa-stor
To advertise your
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call 704 376 0496
St. Paul Baptist Church
Our Purpose: “To convince the unconvinced
to be convinced and make disciples”
Sunday Worship at 7:30 A.M, and 10:30 A.M.
Sunday Morning Breakfa.st 8:45 A.M.
Sunday School at 9:25 A.M. - 10:25 A.M.
Radio Broadcast Sunday 11:00 A.M. (1370 A.M. Dial)
Bible Study Wed. 12 Noon - 6:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Youth Church 2nd & 3rd Sunday i0:30 A.M.
k J
1401 North Allen Street, Charlotte, NC 28205
Office: 704-334-5309
Gitgoiy K Moss Sr.
Pastor