GABBING
ABOUT TOWN
BY ANNIE H. THORPE
TELEPHONE: 832 3229
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday greeting* are extended
at this time to Ms. Irma Jones
Church Street, who celebrated an
other birthday on Sunday, July 5.
May you continue to enjoy this one
and many, many more. Please
have a happy birthday.
MISSIONARY MASS MEETING
The third mass meeting of the
Missionaries of the Raleigh Dis
trict will be held Saturday at Allen
Metropolitan AME Zion Church,
Frank linton, beginning at 10 a.m.
A1 missionaries are invited to be
present, and others are invited to
attend. The presiding elder, Dr.
LA. Miller, is expected to be there.
MEN’S DAY
The Men’s Day program will be
presented at Rush Metropolitan
AME Zion Church on Sunday at
the 11 a.m. service. The guest
speaker will be Mickey Michaux of
Durham. The public is invited to
attend.
CHECK-UP MEETING
The Children’s Day Check-Up
Meeting will be held at Rush Met
ropolitan AME Zion Church July
18, beginning at 10 a.m. The Right
Rev. John H. Miller, Sr. will pre
side. The public is invited.
FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP DAY
Family and Friendship Day wall
be observed at Rush Metropolitan
AME Zion Church on Sunday, July
19, beginning at 11 a.m. The pub
lic is invited to attend.
NOTE:
We are still looking, listening
and waiting for your calls, so
thank you in advance.
THERE’S SUNSHINE IN A
SMILE
Life is a mixture of sunshine and
Rain,
Laughter and pleasure,
Teardrops and pain.
All days can’t be bright,
But it’s certainly true,
There’s never a cloud
The sun didn’t shine through—
So just keep on smiling
Whatever betide you,
Secure in the knowledge
God is always beside you
And you’ll find when you smile
Your day will be brighter
And all of your burdens
Will seem so much lighter—
For each time you smile
You will find it is true
Somebody, somewhere,
Will smile back at you,
And nothing on Earth
Can make life more worthwhile
Than the sunshine and warmth
Of a beautiful smile.
—Helen Steiner Rice
• «.«J • • m •'
• * • •
N
BKO. JAMES THOMAS’
GOSPEL (
WORLD 1
Women’s Day will be observed
Sunday at 11 a.m. at Eagle Rock
United Church of Christ. Rev. Lil
lie P. Jones will be the speaker.
Youth Revival is now in progress
nightly at 7 p.m. at Wake Chapel.
Baptist Church. Rev. Walton Mack
of Winston-Salem will be the
speaker. Youth Day service will be
observed Sunday at 11 a.m. at the
same location.
A sports forum will be held Sat
urday at 3 p.m. at the Garner
Road YMCA. Admission is free.
For information, call 833-1266.
Rand Street United Church of
Christ, 213 Haywood St., Garner,
is now holding its annual revival
nightly at 7:30 p.m. Rand Street
Gospel Choir will celebrate its
30th singing anniversary Sunday
at 2:30 p.m. at the same location.
The ushers of St. Joseph Free
will Baptist Church of Willow
Springs will celebrate their ninth
anniversary Sunday at 6 p.m. Rev.
Hubert Sneed will be the speaker.
Joy Night services will be held
Friday at 8 p.m. at Gateway to
Heaven Holiness Church. Rev.
Roberta Brown will be the
speaker, with her choir and con
gregation. Worship services will be
held Sunday at 11 a.m. The pas
tor, Elder Lillie Mae Alston of
Apex, will be the speaker, at the
same location.
Gateway Holiness Church will
be at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Sunday at 3 p.m. on an apprecia
tion program. The church is lo
cated at 616 West South St. Rev.
B.V. Alston is pastor.
Bro. Ed Hall and the Sensa
tional Evening Five will be pre
sented in concert Sunday at 4 p.m.
at St. Matthew AME Church, 1629
Bennett St., and Sunday at 7 p.m.
at Open Door Baptist Church,
9801 Durant Road.
The annual Holy Convocation of
the Greater Ebenezer Holiness
Church, Cleveland Road in Clay
ton, is now in progress nightly at
7:45 p.m. through Sunday, with
different speakers nightly. Over
seer W.R. Turner will be the
speaker Sunday morning at the
same location.
Women's Day will be observed
Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Mary
Church, South Salem and Lynch
streets, Apex. Ms. Barbara Bar
bour will be the speaker.
Pre-registration and workshop
for the James P. Wertz Oratorical
Contest will take place Saturday
at 9:30 a.m. at Elevation Baptist
Church, sponsored by the Wake
County Baptist Training Union.
St. James Church of Christ (Dis
ciples of Christ), 1404 Acadia St.
in Durham, will celebrate their
pastor’s seventh anniversary Sun
day at 11 a.m. Rev. Alvin H. Hy
man, associate pastor of Wake
Chapel Baptist Church, will be the
speaker. The Male Chorus of Wake
Chapel will render music.
A building fund program will be
held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Cedar
Rock Baptist Church near New
Hill, with the Gospel Souls of
Raleigh, the Womack Singers of
Sanford, Bro. Harvey Jones and
the Triangle Starlites, and others.
A Family Day service will be
held Sunday at 11 a.m. at Benson
Chapel Church in Benson.
The Cunningham-Ingram Sing
ers of First Congregational
Church, 2410 Creech Road, will
host a Friday Night Live praise
and worship service. Rev. Linwood
Nesbitt of New Covenant Holiness
Church and choir from Wilming
ton will render the service.
Revival is now in progress
nightly at 7 p.m. at New Light
Baptist Church in Wake Forest.
Rev. Carpenter is the speaker for
the week.
The fourth annual Gospel Music
Workshop will be held at South
main Street Baptist Church in
Louisburg Friday through Sunday.
Carol Antiom of Philadelphia, Pa.
will conduct the worship.
Pastor Pearl Thompson will ren
der service Saturday at 8 p.m. at
the New Covenant Faith Ministers
Church.
Sunday School will be held at 10
a.m. with worship service at 10;30
a.m. at Pastor Thompson’s home,
1209 Savannah Drive.
A musical program will be pre
sented Sunday at the Raleigh
Safety Club. Doors open at 6 p.m.
and the program begins at 7 p.m.
Evangelist Michael A. McAllis
ter of Gateway to Heaven Holiness
Church will sponsor a yard sale
Saturday at 8 a.m. a* his home,
1110 Coleman St., Apt. A.
A bus trip to Atlantic City, N.J.
will be held Friday. The bus will
leave at midnight from Brendle’s
parking lot, 401 S. For informa
tion, call 834-4808 or 821-3016.
Elder Robert Murphy, pastor of
Harnett Chapel Freewill Baptist
Church, Dunn, and Holiness
Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in
Godwin, will render sendee Sun
day at 4 p.m. at Refuge Tabernacle
of Deliverance in Lillington.
Vacation Bible School is now in
progress each evening from 6:30 to
8:30 p.m. at Cary First United
Qhurch of Christ, 1109 Evans
Road.
Sunday School will be held each
week at 10 a.m., with Sunday
£sS8Stito$8£&
UNDENOMINATIONAL
DELIVERANCE MISSION OF
HOLINESS
The church is located at 820 E.
Hargett St., in the Sisters of Mercy
and Brothers of Hope building.
The pastor is the Rev. Margaret
Hoyt. Services begin every Sunday
with Sunday School at 10 a.m.
The lesson for July 5 was
“Trying to Comprehend God’s
Ways.” The golden text was “Be
hold, his soul which is lifted up is
not upright in him: but the just
shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk
2:4). The students did a very good
job reading and answering the
questions.
Morning worship service began
at 11 a.m. Pastor Hoyt brings the
message every first and second
Sunday. The morning message
last week was taken from Isaiah
6:1-8. It encouraged the congrega
tion to examine themselves and to
keep their eyes on God (not man)
so that they can do His will.
The public is invited to join the
church in song and praise every
week.
OAK CITY BAPTIST
Superintendent Michael Doug
las opened Sunday School with
prayer. Classes devoted time to
the discussion of the lesson, “Wait
ing on God.”
Rev. Wilbur Johnson began the
11 a m. service with the call to
worship. Music was rendered by
the Mass Choir, with Ms. Gillian
Fields at the piano.
Responsive reading was led by
Deacon Hubert Fitts. Larry Lock
hart, Sr. conducted the children’s
hour. Announcements and recogni
tion of visitors were done by
Sharon Newkirk. Offertory prayer
was led by Trustee James McFad
den, and morning prayer was of
fered by Rev. Johnson.
Scripture was read by Rev.
morning worship service at 11:30
a.m. at True-Way Church of God
in Christ Jesus, 323 Lynch St.,
Apex.
Pastor and Prophet Hinnant is
now in revival nightly at 7:30 p.m.
at Congregational Holiness
Church, 1113 S. State St.
Johnson. Rev. Wilbur Johnson de
livered the morning sermon, “One
for All and All for One,” using
scripture taken from Philippians.
announcements
The Everready Gospel Choir will
celebrate its 20th anniversary on
Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. The
pre-anniversary service will be
held on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Women's Day will be observed
on July 26 at 11 a.m. during the
morning worship service.
Church reporter is Linnetta Wil
liams.
united church for all
PEOPLE
Sunday School opened at 10
a.m., with Rev. Carter teaching
the lesson. At 11 a.m., Rev. Carter
opened the morning service. Hie
first hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,”
was followed by prayer by Rev.
Carter. The second hymn was
“Blessed Assurance.”
Scripture was read from Mat
thew 6:6-16, followed by the
Apostles’ Creed, recognition of visi
tors and announcements by
Aljerry SauKders. The missionary
and general offering was lifted, fol
lowed by prayer time led by Wil
liam Perry.
A special selection was rendered
by Ann Campbell, “When I Done
My Best.”
The morning sermon was
brought by Rev. Wilbur Carter
from Matthew 612 on the subject,
“Forgiveness.” No man can undo
his sin, but he can give it to God,
and He will forgive you. Jesus paid
a price for us all when He died on
the cross. We will never be able to
pay God for the things He does for
us and the many times He forgives
us. We should say "Thank You,
God, for the blessings You have
bestowed on me.”
The invitational hymn was “Just
As I Am.” Holy Communion was
served. The fellowship hymn was
“God is Real.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy 69th wedding anniver
sary to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert
“Pete” Wilder.
Choir rehearsal will be held at 1
p.m. Saturday.
On the sick list are Rosa Doves,
Sadie and Clinton Copeland, Alex
Hughes, Cora McAliley, and Chris
i ii ■■■■' iiiii.il.. ■ ■■■
Voice Of I
Liberation
BY KEV. (i. WESEEY RANEY
TEXT: “He was still a long way from home when hie father law him; hie
heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw hie arms around hie eon,
and kissed him.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son begins, There was once a man who
had two sons.” At once, we are introduced to three characters. The
younger son who left home and wasted hie resources in the “far country*
represented the outcasts and sinners in the time of Jesus. 'Oie elder eon
who remained at home, and grumbles when his brother returned home,
represented the self-righteous pharisees and scribes. The father in the
story represented God.
Jesus told this story to present a picture of God to the religious
leaders of His day. Their picture of God was incomplete. They believed
that God loved some folk and despised others. It outraged the pharisees
and scribes to know that Jesus entered into the lives of persons that they
considered to be sinners. In a sense, they were religious “snobs,* and
they were convinced that God felt the same as they did. It was on one
occasion when Jesus was talking to these “outcasts" that the pharisees
and the scribes complained against Him. As stated earlier, the father in
this parable represents God. Let’s take a good look at this father and see
what lessons we can learn about God.
First, we note that this father was a very wealthy man. He had
many servants working for him. Poor folk don’t have any servants. He
was, no doubt, a prosperous land owner and rancher. God is rich in
houses and land. He holds the wealth of the world in His hands. The
24th Psalm declares: The earth is the Lord’s, and the ftillness thereof.*
Not only was the father rich, but he was also very understanding.
He complied with his younger son’s desire to have his share of the prop
erty. He yielded to his son’s impetuous urgency. Perhaps the father
reasoned that his son would only learn the hard way. We, like this young
man in the parable, sometimes come to God with foolish request. There
are times when God permits us to have our way, even when it is not the
best thing for us. The result for us is often the same as it was for this
young man. We find ourselves in the middle of a “pig pen.
Another thing about the father in the story is that he was willing to
forgive his wayward son when he returned home. The young man re
turned worn out by life, beaten, shoulders drooping over, tattered, dirty,
covered with pig stench, barefooted, and broken down. The father didnt
say, “I told you so!* Jesus said, “he was still a long way from home when
his father saw him. He ran up to his son, and smothered him with
kisses. He ordered his servants to bring the best robe and put it on him.
He put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. The robe stood for
honor. The ring stood for authority. The shoes represented freedom. The
father was so happy to have his younger son back home that he spared
no expense to welcome him.
In the same way, our Heavenly Father welcomes the sinner who
returns to Him God’s arms are stretched out wide to the sinner, and He
is saying, “Come unto me.’ We have all been out in that “far country* of
sin and disobedience. Yes, we have had our share of “pig pens." But God
welcomes our return, and He will pour out His love for us just as the
prodigal’s father lavished love upon him
Whitaker.
Church reporter is Hallowees
Saunders.
BRIGHT HOPE DIVINE HOLY
CHURCH OP GOD, INC.
Sunday School began at 10 a.m.
with the superintendent, R. La
Sane, in charge of devotion. The
subject of the lesson was “A ques
tion and An Answer,” taken from
Habakkuk 1:1-7,2:1-4.
The morning worship service
began with Evangelist JoAnn
Fryar and Sister Ethel Davis in
charge of devotion. Music was fur
nished by the MSB Gospel Choir.
The preaider for the morning serv
ice was Bishop Verna Peterkin.
Scripture for the sermon was
taken from Revelation 3:7-13. The
theme was “The Opened Door.”
The love of God will be revealed
in our daily life when we a]low*the
Holy Spirit to dwell on the inside.
We have the right to praise God
because the door to salvation is
open. Walk with Christ at all
times and pray for your sisters and
brothers. Remember, you can’t
judge all saints by one who has
hate in his heart. God’s nature is
holy. Since the door is open, we’re
free to enter and live in peace.
Intermission ended the service.
Sister Rosetta Smith was the 4
p.m. speaker. Sister Smith is a
member of Bright Hope Divine
Holy Church. The message was
from Jonah 1:2 and its title was “If
You’re Down Now, You Can Come
Up.”
Many souls were blessed during
altar call.
Benediction ended the afternoon
service.
Church reporter is R. LaSane.
FIRST CHURCH OP GOD
Early morning prayer service
was led by Sister Fayger White,
starting at 6 a.m. Superintendent
Olivia Bynum opened Sunday
School at 9:30 a.m.
Brother Luther Perry presided
over the morning service. Music
was provided by the choir, under
the direction of Sister Cheryl
Caldwell at the organ and Sister
Anne Lott at the piano. Scripture
was read from I Corinthians
11:18-34 by Chwionne Conrad.
Responsive reading was “Oui
Best.” Sister Laura Rogers led the
congregation in prayer.
Acknowledgement of visitors
smd announcements were made by
Sister Nicole White. Tithes and of
ferings were collected.
Interim Pastor James W. Lewis’
proclamation of the Word was
titled, “Shall the Lord Accept Your
Offering?" Text for the sermon was
taken from Malachi 1:6-14,3:1-4.
•Malachi means “my messen
ger.
•In Judea the people were going
to the temple and going through
the ritual, but offering God pol
luted sacrifices. They offered God
what they wouldn’t offer to each
other.
•We tend to give God our worst
because He is so merciful, loving
and kind, and we know He’ll
understand.
•God has never reneged on us.
•God has never given us less
than His best.
•The kind of sacrifice we bring
to God indicates the nature of our
relationship with Him.
•God challenges us to look into
our own lives. We must ask our
selves, “Are we willing to give the
best of our energy, the best of our
talent to God and not the left
overs?"
•Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.
•God is trying to show us there
is something that needs to be re
moved from our lives—impurities.
God takes us to the fire to purify
us.
•He will cleanse us from all un
righteousness.
A call to the altar, prayer and
Communion preceded the benedic
tion.
announcements
Wednesday at 7 p.m., prayer
and Bible study will be held.
Choir rehearsal will take place
Thursday at 7 p.m.
Church reporter is Ella Watson
Goodson.
RUSH METROPOLITAN AME
ZION
Church School opened at 9:30
a.m., with the superintendent,
Jesse Degraffenreidt, in charge
and conducting the devotional.
Opening song was "Guide Me, O
Thou Great Jehovah." The devo
tional reading was taken from
Psalms 68. Scripture lesson was
read from Habakkuk 1:1-7, 2:1-4.
Classes were then told to retire to
their places for lesson discussion.
After a 30-minute lesaon study pe
riod, they returned to the sanctu
ary where they listened to a re
view of the lesson and the reading
of the minutes. Banner for atten
dance went to the Men’s Bible
Class and the offering banner
went to, the Young Ladies’ Adult
Class, dosing remarks were made
by the superintendent. With the
singing of “Blest Be the Tie That
Binds” and the repeating of the
Church School mizpah, this phase
of worship ended.
At 10:66 a.m., the preludes were
sounded, which let it be known
that it was time for the morning
service to begin. The processional
of the Senior Choir and Spiritual
Chorus featured the singing of
“Holy, Holy, Holy,” which is cus
tomary for them on the first Sun
day, Communion Day. As they
paused around the altar, the pas
tor, the Rev. Claude E. Willie, HI,
gave the call to warship and scrip
ture, followed by the song of
praise, invocation and choral re
sponse of “Hear Our Prayer, O
Lord.”
The first hymn of preparation
was “Jesus, Keep Me Near the
Cross.” The responsive reading for
the 28th Sunday morning fol
lowed. Scripture lesson was then
read by Rev. Van McClean from
Luke 8. Rev. Lee Wyatt Kang gave
the prayer.
Many songs of an uplifting na
ture were sung throughout the
service, such as “I'll Be Some
where Listening,” “Heaven is a
Beautiful Place,” “Courage, My
Soul” and “Let Us Journey On,”
along with many others.
The pastor then delivered the
morning sermon, having chosen
his discourse from Ephesians
4:1-16 on the subject, “Will You
Believe That Report?” We need to
have more love. Part of the report
is to stay on the Lord’s side. We
can’t leave God out Confess your
sins and the Holy Ghost will re
ceive and welcome you into the
kingdom.
As tl|e invitation to Christian
discipleship was extended, the
chairs sang. The ministry at kind
ness, altar call, announcements
and recognition of visitors ended
the service.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bible study is h4ld every Wed
nesday night The public is invited
to attend. The public is also en
couraged to attend services each
Sunday and week night.
Church reporter is Ms. Annie H.
Thorpe.
Preservation Group
Members Sought
The Wake County Board of
Commieaionera ie looking for citi
zens interested in historic preser
vation who have education or ex
perience in architecture, architec
tural history, archaeology, history
or planning to serve on a historic
preservation commission.
The seven-member commission
to be appointed by the board will
be Wake's first county-wide his
toric preservation commission.
Each member will reside in and
represent one of eeven districts
which correspond to the seven
commissioner districts. Members
will serve two-year staggered
terms with the exception of four
initial members who will serve
one-year terms.
If you would like more informa
tion on the commission or require
ments for membership, please con
tact the Wake County Planning
Department at 866-6310. Citisens
who would like to eerve on the
commission should submit a brief
letter of interest and a resume to
Vernon Malone, chairman, Wake
County Board of Commiesioners,
Wake County Office Building,
Suite 1100, P.O. Box 550, Raleigh
27602.
True-Way Sets
Special Service
Sunday will mark a special serv
ice at the True-Way Holiness
Church off the Old Stag* Road.
Bishop Bailey will be bringing the
morning message. The time will be
10 a.m.
Sunday School will be followed
by 11:45 morning worship. The
public is invited to attend.