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1 Dr. E. J. Ward, Pastor Newsletter Date Missionary Baptist Church 5800 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, CA Newsletter, Volume 5 September 2012 Featuring in this issue: Greetings from Pastor Ward.2 Remembering Sep 11, Birthday Wishes Church News Men s Annual Day Labor Day Reflections 5 What s Going On?...5 Pre-Annual Day Musical.5 HIREvents...5 Spotlight on Health 6 Words of Wisdom...7 From the Editor A Powerful Weapon.. 7 Please submit info for newsletter to: Pastor Earl Ward -orveronicacorprew@aol.com Veronica Corprew, B.S., Editor It s more than a building or a place to go for a couple of hours on the weekend. The heart of a church is the people who gather there to follow Christ together. And, it is what happens along the way that is truly inspiring. The Lord has blessed our church with great favor and a unique purpose in the Body of Christ. It is through this favor and purpose that we have been able to bless God s people and serve as a place of refuge for those who are seeking a greater relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether it is preaching and teaching God s Word, spirit-filled choir singing, mission or community work, the pastor and members of the congregation continuously seek new opportunities to transmit the Word of God. Sunday School classes are held for all ages, at 9:00 a.m., followed by Worship Services at 11:00 a.m., each Sunday. If you are looking for a church with a strong desire to love God and serve others, LOOK NO MORE!

2 2 As the Pastor of Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, I greet you, once again, with open arms in the name of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.. Today, I would like to discuss the issues surrounding... Have you ever seen a child in trouble? It s quite likely that the child s immediate reaction is to cover his or her face out of shame, or to hide. Those gestures reflect the responses of children and adults alike throughout the ages. Adam and Eve displayed this same type of behavior in the Garden of Eden: After eating the fruit and seeing their nakedness, Adam and Eve sought to cover themselves with fig leaves and hide as they heard God approaching. Their sin was displayed both in the act of disobediently eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and in revealing the sinful nature, that is, moral and spiritual brokenness that would be inherited by every human. We all hide at times. But when we hide, we step further and further away from God and experience brokenness that could last for a long period of time. Negative patterns of thinking and behaving become habits that leave us hiding or covering our faces in more shame. Sin separates us from God. When we remain in sin, we disconnect ourselves from the very source of grace, peace, and every good and perfect gift. Life becomes meaningless and hopeless when we are estranged from God, the One without whom nothing is possible. But when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9, KJV). Thus, forgiveness restores us to right relationship with God. In order to ensure our right relationship with God, we need to be in regular fellowship with trusted godly people who can hold us accountable. Sunday School classes, Bible study groups, and other small gatherings can help us learn how to live a daily life that both pleases God and grants us sweet fellowship with Him. We offer all of this at Star Bethel and we welcome you to fellowship with us! Please remember, the first time you come to Star Bethel you are a visitor. The next time you come you are just coming home. Enjoy the Word of the Lord. Dr. Earl Ward

3 3 A mericans experienced the first large nondomestic terrorist attack on our own soil on September 11, On this day, we joined a reality that is far too much a present and a continuing reality in other parts of the world. Many people died senselessly on, what I refer to as 9-11, and many still grieve their loss. All Americans live with the aftermath less trust of strangers, security procedures for travelers that are intrusive and often offensive, and a sense that the world is a far more dangerous place than it was before that day. Our own nation has gone to war in two distant places as a result of those events. The dying continues, and the world does not seem to have become a significantly safer place. The greatest memorial to those who died ten years ago will be a world more inclined toward peace. Dear Lord, Creator of us all, we remember with great sadness those whose lives were taken on September 11, We hold up to you the victims families that they may know, despite their pain, that they can find solace in your loving presence. Help them bring their hurting hearts to you, realizing that your everlasting arms can bear them up and that they cannot be separated from your abiding love. Please assure us that even though we cannot understand such horrible deeds, you can bring good out of evil, justice out of injustice and righteousness out of unrighteousness. Therefore, confessing our human weaknesses, our grief and our struggles to make sense out of this world, we cry out with the psalmist: Rise up, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed (Psalm 10:12, NRSV). Strengthen our hearts, this day and every day. Amen. To Everyone Born in the Month of September! From Pastor Ward

4 California United Baptist State Convention at Star Bethel Hundreds gathered during the week of August 12 August 16, 2012 to attend the California United Baptist State Convention, hosted by Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The opening session. Women in Red was held on Sunday, August 12th and marked the beginning of an event filled with opportunities to engage in worship, study, fellowship and evangelism. The convention featured nationally recognized speakers, teachers, choirs, and soloists, as well as activities for all ages. The theme for this year s convention was taken from Ephesians 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. You can still purchase CDs & DVDs. Opening Night Women in Red Deacon Jones awarded Certificate for Outstanding Participation and Leadership in the Brotherhood; presented by Deacon Threats, of the California United Baptist Baptist State Convention, at our Men s Annual Day Program. Deacon Jones Birthday Celebration in Star Bethel s Newly Remodeled Dining Hall.

5 5 Labor Day brings to mind picnics, cookouts and family gatherings. Falling on the first Monday in September, it marks the unofficial end of summer. But the holiday was created in 1882 to honor the social and economic contributions of American workers. In a strong economy, it s easy to take for granted the ability to work and be paid well. But times have changed during the past few years, with many people still struggling with unemployment and underemployment. During our holiday celebrations this year, let s give thanks for the jobs we have, pray for those who aren t as fortunate and offer words of encouragement or help to someone who needs it. 3:00 p.m. Join us for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as we celebrate our Sanctuary Choir s Annual Day, Sunday, September 15, 3:00 p.m! Invited Guests: Rev. Jesse Davis & the Shiloh Baptist Church. Saturday, September 14, :00 p.m. Featuring the Friends & Family Mass Choir Sponsored by ABC7 KGO & The Job Journal (Under the direction of Bro. Jesse McDaniel) San Francisco Star Bethel s Youth Praise Dancers; Johnny Evans & the ChoWednesday, September 12, 2012 sen Voices; The Stars of Glory of Richmond, California; the 12-4:00 p.m. Gospel Voices of Oakland, California Hotel Whitcomb 1231 Market Street, San Francisco John (Mr. Bass) Brown, Sylvester Burks, Ezell Ealey, (a list of jobs will be available online Michell Jensen, Thurman Murphy, Maestro James Pugh, for this event after September 8) Emeryville October 12, 2012 Hilton Garden Inn 8100 Powell Street, Emeryville, CA Time: TBA For more info on both events, go to: Lenora Jones Stovall, Donnell Thomas, Marcus Walker Pastor Charles L. Hopkins, (Grace Baptist Church), Pastor Michael Robinson (Lily of the Valley Baptist Church), Sis. Claudette Lumzy Smith & Many other invited guests

6 6 Some find it difficult to comprehend If you have a low image of yourself, you will be in- that the way we feel about ourselves clined to back away from relationships and chal- should not depend solely on our ap- lenges. If you are sure you will fail, then you proba- pearance or our abilities. bly will. In most cases, our opinion of ourselves depends largely on how we have learned to think about ourselves from the important people in our lives. Having low self-esteem is like a self- fulfilling prophecy. Good self-esteem is a blessing. Those who believe they have something to offer are more likely to make a positive difference in other people s lives. If those that have been influential in People who have a healthy sense of self-respect are our lives, such as our parents, grand- more likely to pursue relationships and challenges. parents, teachers, etc., have helped us to feel im- Those who think well of themselves are more likely portant and loved, we will be inclined to have a to fulfill their own expectations. healthy opinion of ourselves. If they have given us reason to fell inadequate and unneeded, we are apt to find ourselves thinking: A person who has a relationship with Christ has an enormous basis for good self-esteem. That person can say, As I walk with Christ and surrender to There s something wrong with me. I don t belong here. I don t like myself. I don t have what it takes. I don t measure up. I can t do it. I want to hide. Him, I can by His Spirit be anything He wants me to be, do anything He wants me to do, say anything He wants me to say. As I depend on Him for my life, I can overcome any obstacle. I can resist temptation and avoid pitfalls. If you feel as if you have nothing to offer, you ll act as if you have noting to offer. If you think For I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Romans 8:28 Words of Wisdom When you are down, it doesn t do you any good to talk about it with someone who has never been down. If you talk to someone who has been down before, they can tell you how to get back up! The Late Rev. Will Hardeman

7 7 Not because a sermon is preached, though it can be helpful; Not because good music is provided, though I obtain much benefit from the musical part of the service; Not because other people go, though following the crowd is all right when the crowd is going the right way; Not because I have the habit, though I consider the custom of church attendance valuable; Not because I am afraid God will punish me if I am absent, though neglect of church attendance brings moral and spiritual poverty; Not because at church I wear my best clothes, though, like most people, I enjoy being well-dressed; Not because there I am in the best society, though the company of Christian people is very attractive to me; Not because I agree with all the religious ideas and lifestyles of everyone who goes. I don't; it's impossible. I go because Jesus went even when he could not agree with the scribes and Pharisees, nor the congregation. I go because God is my Creator and friend, the source of all that is worthwhile in my life and in my world. I go because Christ went all the way ALL THE WAY TO CALVARY. Satan dreads nothing but prayer. September By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. Helen Hunt Jackson His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.

8 6 11:00 a.m..daytime Prayer Service 12:00 (1st & 3rd) Joanna Circle Meeting 6:00 p.m. Tutoring (before 4th Sunday) 7:00 p.m. Prayer & Bible Study 6:30 p.m Choir Rehearsal 11:00a.m Men s Ministry 10:00 a.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal (Saturday before the 1st and 2nd Sunday) 10:00 a.m. Ushers & Candy Stripers, Youth Meetings/bible Class (Saturday before the 4th Sunday) 10:00 a.m Deborah Circle #2 (2nd Saturday) 10:00 a.m Ruth Circle (3rd Saturday) Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 5800 San Pablo Avenue Oakland, CA FOR OUR NEIGHBORS NEAR AND FAR 9:00 a.m. Church School 11:00 a.m Morning Worship CD s & DVD s of Sunday Worship Services available for a small donation of $5.00.