FAITH MATTERS for Feb. 29, 2020 - Savannah Morning News
FAITH MATTERS for Feb. 29, 2020 - Savannah Morning News |
- FAITH MATTERS for Feb. 29, 2020 - Savannah Morning News
- Holy Cross Baptist Church: Feeding the people spiritually and physically - The Philadelphia Tribune
- CHURCH NEWS - The Times and Democrat
- 'God will see you through:' Funeral held for slain Fort Valley State student Anitra Gunn - 13WMAZ.com
- Catching Up with Drew Williams - Greenwich Sentinel
| FAITH MATTERS for Feb. 29, 2020 - Savannah Morning News Posted: 28 Feb 2020 03:05 PM PST Submit your event at savannahnow.com/calendar. Events printed in chronological order as space allows. Info at 912-652-0365. Christianity and LGBTQ+ community: 11:15 a.m. worship service March 1 at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, 1008 E. Henry St.; 12:30 p.m. March 2 in room 157, University Hall, 11935 Abercorn St., Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus. Speaker and author J.J. Warren will present his discussion followed by signing copies of his book "Reclaiming Church - A Call to Action for Religious Rejects." Lenten services: Wednesdays March 4-April 1; First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave.; buffet dinner $6, $2 child under 12. Following 6 p.m. dinner in Stewart Hall, a 40-minute service will begin at 6:45 p.m. in the sanctuary led by First members reflecting on "Wonderful Words of Life." All are invited. Chorus concert series: 7 p.m. Thursdays through March 19; Isles of Hope United Methodist Church, 412 Parkersburg Road; $100 for all for concerts at the church office or online at bit.ly/2SuTHGb. Proceeds to choir to participate with other choirs at Carnegie Hall in November. March 5, Isle of Hope Chamber Players, Terry Moore, Sarah Schenkman, Kevin Vogelsang; March 12, Vocal performer Kim Polote; March 19, Vocal performer Roger Moss. Interfaith Worship: 5 p.m. March 8; Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, 820 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. A program of the MLK Observance Day Association Inc., mlkingsavannah.com. Eternal Vision and David Livingston concert: 6 p.m. March 8; Whitemarsh Island Baptist Church, 59 Johnny Mercer Blvd.; free, refreshments served, love offering; Jim Bulluck at 912-695-6510. Celtic Cross Mass: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 8; Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 222 E Harris St.; savannahsaintpatricksday.com. A Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee event. Celtic Cross Procession and Ceremony: 1 p.m. March 8; Emmet Park; savannahsaintpatricksday.com. A Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee event. Passover Seder: 5:30 p.m. March 14; Trinity Lutheran Church, 12391 Mercer Blvd.; Pastor Jeff Webb at 912-925-4839. Guest speaker Steve Cohen at 8:30 and 11 a.m. March 15 services, 9:50 a.m. Bible study. Free will offering received for The Apple of His Eye Mission Society. Christian Women's Connection: noon March 25; Carey Hilliard's Banquet Room, 11111 Abercorn St.; RSVP by March 23 to Betty, 912-925-3789, Diane, 912-25872587 or email Savannahstonecroft@yahoo.com. Speaker is Corbina Ike of Rincon, a former business owner and Savannah tour guide, on "An All New Adventure." How to fight the good fight: 7 p.m. March 28; Saint James Parish, 8412 Whitefield Ave.; free and open to the public; stjamessav.com. "With Jesus in the Wilderness - Resisting the Tempter's Power" presented by award-winning journalist and best-selling author Paul Thigpen. ONGOING St. Elizabeth of Hungary Episcopal Church: 16491 Hwy. 144, Richmond Hill; 912-429-7264. Daily office morning prayer using Book of Common Prayer at 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Contemplative Prayer Class at 6 p.m. Thursdays. Evening Mass in the Celtic tradition: 6:30 p.m. Sundays; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1802 Abercorn St.; 912-232-0274. Young Mothers' Bible Study: 9 a.m. Tuesdays; Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 429 Abercorn St.; free; RSVP at 912-234-9245 or tbordeaux@prodigy.net. Nursery provided for infants and Bible Buddies course with Bible story and art project for preschool children. Feed His people: 9 a.m.-noon third Saturdays; Brown bags given out at Beulah Baptist Church, 619 E. Anderson St.; 912-234-8575. Family night activities: 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays, lecture series or Biblestudy to follow dinner; 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays, bible lecture series Kids Club for ages 7-17; Port Wentworth United Methodist Church, 201 Turnberry St.; $4, $2 for children, maximum of $10 per family, first supper free; Info/RSVP 912-964-4210. Nursery provided. Maritime Bethel: 6 p.m. worship, fellowship, dinner on first Thursday; Maritime Bethel at Savannah, 193 Main St., Garden City; 912-826-0206. Monthly giveaways of food, clothing, household items: 9 a.m.-noon second Saturday; Growing In Grace Ministries: 1517 Staley Ave.; the Rev. Bertha Edwards at 912-695-2044. New church office/worship service items needed: St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 30 Saint Paul AME St., Cobbtown; Brenda Edenfield at 912-314-9958. Computer with current software, 4-in-1 'printer,' drum set, musical keyboard. Contemplative prayer group: 10 a.m. Fridays; Library of First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave; 912-354-7615. All are welcome. Awana, Youth Bible Study and Fellowship, Adult Bible Study Family: Wednesdays, 6 p.m. meal, 6:30 p.m. Awana, youth, 7 p.m. adult; $4 individual or $9 family for meal; nursery for 2 and younger for parents in Bible study; North Salem Baptist Church, 955 Hwy. 30, Port Wentworth; 912-777-9382. Summer worship: 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday with Holy Communion, at Lutheran Church of the Ascension, 120 Bull St., and 5:30 p.m. 912-232-4151 or stephanie@ascensionsavannah.org. Nursery on Sundays for ages 4 and under. Guyton Gospel Jam: 6-8 p.m. Sundays; Guyton Christian Church, 301 Pine St., Guyton. Musicians of any skill level invited to play along with simple, familiar Gospel music. Bring any instrument. Singers, listeners encouraged, as well. Bring the family and snacks to share. Orthodox Christians: Sundays 9 a.m. Orthos, 10 a.m. Devine Liturgy, 11:05 a.m. Sunday school (during school year); Fellowship Hour (times vary; Hellenic Center); St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church, 1400 Bull St. West; stpaulsgreekorthodox.org or 912-236-8256. English, Korean services: Korean services: 10 a.m. Bible Study and 11:15 a.m. worship service. English services at 10 a.m. worship service and 11:15 a.m. Bible Study; contact Rev. Stuart Fletcher, 912-598-1851; Savannah Korean Presbyterian Church, 6501 Waters Ave.; contact Rev. Yoon Sang Nam, 912-356-3555. Connor's Temple feeding the homeless: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday; Connor's Temple Baptist Church, 509 W. Gwinnett St. Manna House Food Pantry & Thrift Store fall/winter hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, second Saturday of the month; 1210 Patriot Drive, Rincon; 912-826-2037. Thrift store open to public, pantry assists Effingham County residents with food, clothing, household needs. Donations accepted Monday- Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Youth student ministry: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; The Sanctuary of Savannah, gym, 8912 Whitefield Ave; Students grades 6-12 welcome to attend youth group student ministry; 912-691-1148 or thesanctuarysav.org. Savannah Deanery Latin Mass: 1 p.m. Sundays; Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 222 E. Harris St.; 912-233-4709 or savannahcathedral.org. Free Bibles: Life ministries is offering free Bibles to people who allow them to make a 10-minute presentation in their church. For more information, call 912-695-6510. Donations needed for low-income families: Life Bridge Inner City Ministries in Savannah seeks funds and food items for families living below poverty level and the homeless. Seeking donations, such as non-perishable items, can goods, toiletries, turkeys, hams, blankets, and more. Contact Pastor Jonathan Brown at 912-856-0663. L.I.F.E. Ministries Bible study: 7 p.m. first and third Tuesdays; L.I.F.E. Ministries, 114 Wynngate Road, Wilmington Island; Jim Bulluck, 912-695-6510. 12-Step Recovery Eucharist/Holy Communion: 9 a.m. fourth Saturdays; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1802 Abercorn St.; Rev. Charles Todd at 912-232-0274. Gregorian Chant sung by candlelight: 9 p.m. Sundays by the Service of Compline (night prayer) Choir; Christ Church Anglican, 2020 Bull St.; 912-355-7730. Prayer Faith & Deliverance Ministry Savannah Mission Project: 207 Elm St., Bloomingdale; Collecting nonperishable food, water, soaps, hand sanitizers, blankets, clothes for the lost, hurt and homeless in Savannah. LaQuanda Middleton-Diabene at 912-631-8864.  |
| Holy Cross Baptist Church: Feeding the people spiritually and physically - The Philadelphia Tribune Posted: 29 Feb 2020 09:00 PM PST  Looking for a socially conscious church with Christ at its center? You'll find it on the corner of 1900 N. 63rd Street at Holy Cross Baptist Church where the Rev. Vincent E. Stokes Sr. is the pastor. Stokes has led the ministry at Holy Cross for 18 years and describes it as "a small faith community that has a genuine passion for those who are oppressed and affected by the systemic ills of society." The members of Holy Cross not only worship together but they have formed a close-knit community of believers whose worship neither starts nor ends at the entrance of the church. They are dedicated to taking their worship with them as they exit as well. "We try to meet people right where they are," Stokes said. "There are no prerequisites or presuppositions on how you are supposed to dress or act in church. We love the churched and the unchurched." In fact, not only are there a lot of ministries and activities inside the church but the activities of the church doesn't limit itself to confines of its four walls. "I think we are doing a work that God would be pleased with in the faith community. There are a number of outreach ministries in place right now," Stokes said. Holy Cross operates a food pantry for those in need of assistance as well as distributing clothing free to the community on a monthly basis, Stokes said. The church helps the community in other ways. "We have an evangelism ministry and a prison ministry that reaches outside of the walls so even though we nurture those inside the faith community, it is also important for us to reach those outside the walls of the church," he said. Stokes said that the community outside of Holy Cross is changing as is true with many neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The external changes necessitate internal changes. "It requires, especially living in the times and the culture that we are living today, it always require reprogramming or rethinking ministry," Stokes said. "Changing the way, we think about ministry, changing the way we actually do ministry and if its an intentional ministry then you have to actually change with the changing demographics." The community outside Holy Christ is changing but Stokes says gentrification hasn't yet really impacted the church. "If you look across Philadelphia, I'm sure it's coming 'to a theater near us' soon. I don't think we can stop it but possibly slow it down where those coming into the community can reinvest in that community. It's a challenge, it really is a challenge," he said. Minister Michael Keene visited Holy Cross with his family seven years ago. He's still there. "We first came because they had an early morning service and we needed to bring our kids to church and we came more and more," he said. "I think what kept us here was just the people, the attitudes of the people and the love that they shared even though they didn't know you they still wanted to talk to you and get to know you. "Holy Cross is a Bible teaching, preaching church that loves people and love teaching people about the Lord. We don't sugar coat or mince our words; we give it to people the way that God would give it to us." Keene said that people appreciate "the straight talk" as opposed to what he calls "dancing around" different subjects and it is this directness, this honest, straight forward talk that attracts people to the church. "Black is Black and white is white. There is no gray in-between," he said. It was a co-worker at her former place of employment that invited Minister Lisa Askew to Holy Cross. She accepted the invitation and, well… "The first Sunday that I came, I joined and ever since I've been here its been awesome," Askew said. "Holy Cross sends over so much love and if you can't receive it, something has got to be wrong with you and that's what I felt when I first came here, just so much love." Askew said she is a product of a large family and Holy Cross fits that description. "Holy Cross is like a family to me because we fellowship together and there's lots of laughter, a bunch of love, a bunch of praying for one another and concern for one another so that's what I feel about Holy Cross," she said. Like a family, Holy Cross members not only pray together, they eat together. Wednesday night's Bible study at Holy Cross is an example of life at the church. "What I love about it is that at 6 p.m. we feed our children here who attend Holy Cross, not only our children but people bring their children here as well and we all fellowship together, so it's not just Holy Cross children but children from all around the neighborhood and I love that," Askew said. "They get fed physically and they get fed spiritually. The Rev. Joseph Beatty Jr. is the son of Holy Cross' founder, the late 00Rev. Joseph H. Beatty Sr.. He said he was raised in the church. "I would say Holy Cross is friendly and welcoming," Beatty Jr. said. "Most of all, it's craving for people who are lost as all of us were. "When people come in, we do all that we can to show the greatness of what God can do in a person's life and we feel that the preached word is most important because we feel that people come to get fed spiritually."  |
| CHURCH NEWS - The Times and Democrat Posted: 27 Feb 2020 09:00 PM PST   Please submit your church news items as soon as possible; they must be in the office by noon on Tuesdays. Announcements received after the deadline will appear online at TheTandD.com. ×  You have run out of free articles. You can support our newsroom by joining at our lowest rate! Loading&hellp;
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Soup kitchens, food banks
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| Posted: 29 Feb 2020 11:06 AM PST  OPELIKA, Ala. — Family and friends gathered at Greater Peace Baptist Church in Opelika, Alabama to remember the life of slain Fort Valley State student Anitra Gunn on Saturday. During the afternoon funeral service, Anitra's loved ones spoke and remembered the 22-year-old college student. "Anitra would give you her last if you would ask. She was always there if I needed her," Gunn's friend India King said. King called Gunn a leader and a nurturer. "We decided that we would make our friendship forever. She's gone now, but that's not forever for me," she said. RELATED: Vigil held for Fort Valley State student Anitra Gunn Fort Valley Mayor Barbara Williams presented a proclamation formally expressing condolences to Gunn's family and friends on behalf of the city. "I also stand before you as a wife who has lost husband, as a mother who has lost a son, and a grandmother who has lost a grandson," Williams said. She expressed her sympathy with Gunn's family. "God will see you through," Williams said. Williams said she frequented the restaurant where Gunn worked. She remembered Gunn as a young lady with a bright smile. "I could hear that voice saying, 'Welcome Mayor Williams'," she said. RELATED: 'Praying for strength': Eighteen 36 restaurant remembers Anitra Gunn Gunn sang in the choir at New Canaan Baptist Church in Camp Hill, Alabama, Reverend Justin Freeman said during the eulogy. "She could make the hair stand up on your head," Freeman said. "If you know anything about her you know she has an amazing voice." Freeman said Gunn was "obviously gifted." "She is going to be missed," he said. Freeman provided words of comfort to the crowd. "The choir she sings with now is a little different," he said. Gunn will be laid to rest at New Caanan Baptist Hall Fellowship Church Cemetery in Camp Hill, Alabama. MORE HEADLINES Warrants: Demarcus Little's friend lied to GBI agent, drove Little after he abandoned Gunn's car Demarcus Little strangled girlfriend Anitra Gunn, warrant says Timeline: Everything that's happened in the case of Fort Valley State student Anitra Gunn STAY ALERT | Download our FREE app now to receive breaking news and weather alerts. You can find the app on the Apple Store and Google Play. STAY UPDATED | Click here to subscribe to our Midday Minute newsletter and receive the latest headlines and information in your inbox every day. Have a news tip? Email news@13wmaz.com, or visit our Facebook page.  |
| Catching Up with Drew Williams - Greenwich Sentinel Posted: 29 Feb 2020 08:52 AM PST February 29, 2020  By Beth Barhydt & Anne W. Semmes The Sunday in 2019 that Drew Williams, senior pastor of Trinity Church Greenwich, announced his call to be Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New England (ADNE) before what must have been 1,000 congregants in the Hyatt Regency ballroom, he spoke about serving as a beacon, a desire to be a blessing in the wider community, to reach out and grow the church. When Drew was consecrated as Bishop on March 19 last year, it was in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the headquarters of his new diocese. He now presides over some 63 congregations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. With an area to cover of 72,000 square miles, Drew predicted he would be "like a guy on a horse, except it will be in a car." His most recent blog post is a testament to his ability to put his words into action having traveled to Hartford, Connecticut to visit the congregation there. Catching up with Drew Williams, here is what he has been up to in his own words: One of the Largest & Most Vibrant Churches in Our Diocese The Anglican Diocese of New England remains full of extraordinary God-centric surprises! Canon Brian Bethke and I drove 130 miles yesterday to visit a church that meets on Saturdays. With a congregation of over 200 people, this is one of our larger ADNE church families. It was so good to be with them. They worshipped with all of their hearts. They shared bread and wine together, praying the liturgy with real conviction. They read the word together and the word was preached with passion. The entire congregation leaned in and audibly sounded their agreement. They took up an offering. They prayed for their city. They prayed for each other. And at the close of the service, they had lunch together – some really good soup and fresh bread. I have to add that their coffee was spectacular. I learned later that a local supplier had sourced and provided the best coffee in the city. I am a something of an expert on church coffee and let me tell you, this really was exceptionally good!
Sharing Holy Communion with our church family in Hartford that morning was deeply moving. Bruised and cold hands, shaped by the harshness of the elements, reached out for the sacrament. Prayer pervaded every moment of their time together. At one point in the service church members were encouraged to huddle up in groups of three, laying hands upon each other and praying with power and compassion. Prayers of this nature broke out all of the time; in the coffee line, standing together with soup or in the line for clean clothing.
As the service drew to a close, spontaneous worship broke out as a young man called Eric (whose father had died that week) sang, "You are here, touching every heart, I worship you, I worship you. You are here, healing every heart. I worship you, I worship you. You are here turning lives around, I worship you, I worship you. You are here Mending every heart. I worship you, I worship you."
This one man, with one fold-out table, and a broken heart for the forgotten and the marginalized also had faith that, if we came together, in the power of God, we could really can make a difference. The problem is when the Bible says, "you" we have a tendency to take it as "me" when we should take it as "we." In God's power and leading, we are supposed to work in this together. This is now gloriously evidenced by the large number of volunteers, including students and older children, who now come each Saturday to worship and serve as part of this church family.
If Hartford were not quite such a drive, do you think you might be persuaded to be a part of one of the largest churches in the Diocese? And yet, maybe we don't need to drive 130 miles to be part of a church like this? What if we let the Spirit take the lead and asked him where to set up His table? What miracles is He longing to perform through His presence in us – if we had the courage to step out in faith? How many more might know His life, through His prayer, poured out upon our hearts and lips? Is it possible that God is calling us to build church family for the outcast, the prisoner and the homeless up and down New England? Can any of us think of a city or town in New England where this kind of vibrant street church is not desperately needed? Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." As I was headed back to the welcome warmth of my car (my feet so cold, I could no longer feel them), I noticed three Street Church members sat on a low wall. A young man with an older man and woman. The older lady asked me if I would pray for her arthritic knee and so we stopped. After we had prayed, she asked me if I had anything to eat. I said we had given everything away but before I could say another word, the young man (also homeless) reached into his back-pack and reassured her, "Don't worry you can have my sandwich. I was saving it for later, but here, you take it." Here is the church of Jesus Christ, alive and serving on the streets of Hartford. Jesus is where He always said He would be. The only question is, are we willing to join Him? If you would like to sign up to receive Drew's daily devotional email and his blog, visit https://mailchi.mp/35030a791411/watchwords-2702237 or you can contact Bishop Andrew and the Anglican Diocese in New England by emailing ad-ne@ad-ne.org or calling the diocesan office at (978) 388-0650, or visit www.ad-ne.org or go to Watchwords blog at https://watchwordsonline.com// Catching Up with Drew Williams About Author:  |
In many ways, I am sure that our own Sunday experience is not entirely dissimilar. Except this church has no roof, no walls, no pews or chairs. Instead, they meet on the steps of City Hall in Hartford every Saturday morning come rain, freezing rain, snow blizzard, hail, or blistering heat and the large majority of its members are homeless.
At one point, they invited me into the middle and prayed for me as their Bishop. The man who prayed for me had recently given his life to the Lord. My intercessor was homeless and had given his life to the Lord in prison. The presence of the Holy Spirit was profound. There was a particular quality of glorious silence that fell, as we celebrated communion, that spoke to me of the inbreaking of heaven.
The entire operation was seamless. I met two members of the leadership at a U-haul storage facility, just a few miles outside the city. A U-haul truck was packed to perfection with open-sided tents, tables, coffee, food, and clothing. As we arrived in the van, the volunteer set-up team had already assembled in front of County Hall in readiness. We stood in a circle, introductions were made, and we prayed together. Many of the set-up team were themselves home-less. Within fifteen minutes the contents of the truck were unloaded, and the church rose up out of the cold, concrete sidewalk. A sound system was assembled together with a fold-out communion table complete with chalice and patent that was set before a small iron cross. Tables were unpacked, unfolded and positioned under the open tents to keep coffee, soup, and sandwiches dry.
And in this simple but extraordinarily thoughtful process, the Lord established a place where his Spirit began the work of recovering the beauty and nobility of the image of God, in each person. This included the simple grace of holding out the dignity of choice. What kind of sandwich would you like? Would you like cream and sugar with your coffee? I was helping distribute new underwear to the guys. They got to choose – boxers or briefs? The simple task of asking someone who feels forgotten and has lost sight of themselves, what they would prefer, was a simple but beautiful act of recovering God's image buried within them.
One lady told me that she had felt God's call to join this church fellowship for some time and yet Saturday was always crowded with other demands. At the same time, she asked the Lord, "But if I came, what could I possibly do? She prayerfully sensed the Lord encourage her, "My prayer, poured out upon your heart and lips – is the prayer that keeps them alive until you pray for them again the following week." She is now there every week and men and women wait patiently in the cold to have her pray with them. She knows them by name and by heart.| You are subscribed to email updates from "words of life fellowship church" - Google News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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