TEMPLE NEWS SOLOMON S TEMPLE

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1 TEMPLE NEWS SOLOMON S TEMPLE FEBRUARY 2011 ISSUE 2 VOLUME 3 STEADFAST LOVE Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 107:1). This is the recurrent theme of Psalm 107. The psalmist speaks of the steadfast love of God. In Hebrew, the word means an eager and ardent desire and refers to the fact that God's love never gives up. We sing about it in the hymn, O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. The thing that finally gets to us, breaks the back of our rebellion, and sets us free from our emotional hang-ups is the unqualified love of God, which never lets us go. We might use a term that is more easily understood in our day. Instead of steadfast love, read unqualified acceptance. That is what God's love does. It accepts us without reserve. Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD (Psalm 107:43). That means you are to think about all this! Ask yourself how this relates to you. Many people are going through a difficult situation. Many are wandering, restless, hostile, or bitter. They are held prisoner by some attitude, outlook, or habit. Or they are sick, neurotic, emotionally upset. Perhaps some are fearful, troubled by a crisis into which they have come. This maybe your situation. Stop and think about how God accepts you, how He loves you, how He is deeply concerned about you and will meet you right where you are and take you just as you are. His love does not change a bit whether you are a failure or a success. It does not make any difference to Him how you appear in the eyes of others. God loves you; He is concerned about you and has already received you, already given you all that he can give in Jesus Christ. Begin to rejoice in that fact. You will find that love will set you free so that you can act upon the power and liberty God gives. PASTOR K.D. SHIVER S AND LEADING LADY EDITH SHIVERS When you think about your relationship to others, give heed to these things. Have you ever tried unqualified acceptance with your boss? Or your mother-in-law? Or the kid next door who is so mean and difficult? Have you ever tried unqualified acceptance with your children when they are giving you so much trouble, your teenagers who make you mad every time you come in the door? Have you ever tried unqualified acceptance with your parents, who are always on your back and never seem to give you a break? Have you ever tried unqualified acceptance with those who are difficult or demanding of you? Father, how wonderful to see that Your unqualified love is designed for every situation in which I might find myself. I ask You to set me free by love that I might sing this wonderful song of deliverance. Life Application: Everyone longs for enduring love. Where can we go to experience this unqualified acceptance? How can we ourselves freely give it? In Christ we can! Solomon s Temple Courthouse Highway, Smithfield, Virginia phone fax

2 February Kingdom Schedule Scripture and Welcome 02/06 Jessica Greene (Psalms 89:1-8) Melissa Turner (welcome) 02/13 Imani Gray (Romans 12:9-10) Courtland Shivers (welcome) Altar Prayer 02/01 Sis. Wendy Green 02/08 SIT Evelyn Moton 02/15 Sis. Jackie Ruffin 02/22 SIT Lucy Watkins 02/20 Barry Nichols (I Corinthians 13:3-5) Rhonda Ralph (welcome) 02/27 Patricia Payne (I Corinthians 13:6-8) Michael Green (welcome) Worship Leader Schedule 02/06 Elder Wayne Hatton 02/13 Courtland Shivers 02/20 Minister Edith Shivers 02/27 MIT William Robinson February Door Opener Bro. Michael Green Children Fellowship Sis. Nasheena Robinson Hour of Power February 25 th - Sis. Margaret Jones February Teacher s Schedule February Teacher s Schedule (The date in parenthesis is the Sunday date of the lessons to be taught on Tuesday) Adult Teachers Elder Sarah Hatton (02-06) Elder Wayne Hatton (02-13) Elder Wayne Hatton (02-20) Elder Margaret Thomas (02-27) Teen Teacher Sis. Cynthia Edwards Intermediate Teachers Sis. Wanda Clarke, Sis Ebony Clarke & Sis Ebony Butler Primary and Beginners Teacher Bro. Earl Moton & Sis. Evelyn Moton New To Solomon s Temple? First of all, WECOME! We are so pleased that you have come to visit our church. Whether you are just inquiring about our church, a new visitor, or simply want to see if Solomon s Temple is the right fit for you and your family, we are grateful to have you among us. We hope you will find your spiritual home here. Here at Solomon s Temple, we offer many exciting ministries to assist in your daily walk. Solomon s Temple holds New Disciple orientation Sessions that can provide information about our church, what we offer and what to expect from your church family. If you have any questions please contact Brother Michael Green or Sister Turekia White.?

3 What is Love? 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. For whoever does not love, does not know God because God is Love. Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not. Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained Love is unselfishly choosing for another's highest good - C.S. Lewis Robert White Thur., 02/03 Mary Diggs Sat., 02/05 James Green Sr. Sat., 02/05 Barry Nichols Sat., 02/05 Joydan Taylor Mon., 02/07 Valerie Gray Mon., 02/14 Elaine Nicohols Tues., 02/15 Jacqueline Ruffin Wed., 02/16 Joyce Hagins Sat., 02/19 Jani Megan Jones Mon., 02/21 Lequisha Turner Tues., 02/22 Wilma Ralph Fri., 02/25 Rhonda Ralph Sun., 02/27 February Birthdays If your birthday is missing from the list or incorrect, let the office know. Newsletter Submissions Do you know someone who is doing great things in the community, school, or church? Nominate them to be the Outstanding Disciple of the Month. This person can be a youth or an adult. Don t forget to recognize those celebrating an anniversary, graduation (from high school, college, or any other), or special occasion. We also want to know about those who have made the honor roll. Let s not forget baby announcements, bible humor, or recipes. If you have a story or idea that you would like to incorporate into the newsletter, forward the story to stsecretary@verizon.net or leave the idea on the secretary s desk.

4 MEETING LIFE S DEMANDS TAKE TIME EVERYDAY TO SEEK GOD S FACE Read the Scripture: Mark 1:16-39 (reading on February 23) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed - Mark 1:35 After this full day and what a full day it was, what a heavy ministry our Lord had that day with all the healing He did in the evening! Mark records that early in the morning, before it was daylight, Jesus went out on the mountainside, and there, by Himself, He prayed. But even there He was not safe. His disciples interrupted this communion, told Him that everyone was looking for Him. And Jesus reveals the heart and substance of His prayer in what He says in reply: Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so I can preach there also. This is what He was praying about that God would lead Him, doors would be opened, and hearts prepared in the cities to which He would go next. Why did Jesus seek the Father's face like this, in these hours of pressure? The only answer we can come to is that He wants to make clear that the authority He had was not coming from Him. This is what our Lord is trying to get across to us so continually in the Scriptures that it was not His authority by which He acted; He had to receive it from the Father. I do not know any more confusing doctrine in Christendom today one that has robbed the Scriptures of their authority and power in the minds and hearts of countless people than the idea that Jesus acted by virtue of the fact that He was the Son of God, that the authority and power He demonstrated were due to His own deity. Yet He Himself takes great pains to tell us this is not the case. The Son can do nothing by himself (John 5:19). Why do we ignore His explanation and insist that it is He, acting as the Son of God? He tells us that it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work(john 14:10). And all the power that Jesus manifested had to come to Him constantly from the one who dwelt within Him. Jesus stresses this because this is what He wants us to learn. We are to operate on the same basis. Our response to the normal, ordinary demands of life and the power to cope with those demands must come from our reliance upon Him at work within us. This is the secret: All power to live the Christian life comes not from us, doing our deadlevel best to serve God, but from Him, granted to us moment by moment as the demand is made upon us. Power is given to those who follow, who obey. The Father is at work in the Son; the Son is at work in us. As we learn this, then we are given power to meet the demands and the needs that are waiting for us in the ministry yet to come. Thank You, Father, that the same power is available to me today, making me ready so be your instrument in any and every situation in which demand is laid upon me. Life Application: What is the source of authority and power we need to respond to the ordinary and extraordinary demands of life? Shall we try to wing it, or expectantly pray for this gift? Start out praying everyday for 5 minutes and eventually add on more time. Make this a top priority in your life. JESUS PRAYING BEFORE DAWN TAKE TIME NOT ONLY AS INDIVIDUALS TO PRAY BUT INCLUDE YOUR FAMILY AS WELL Solomon s Temple Courthouse Highway, Smithfield, Virginia phone fax

5 Yearly Reading Plan and Daily Devotion Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:2) Starting in January, we began a one year bible reading plan. This plan is designed to help us not only read through the new Testament in a year, but to help us apply Ods word to our everyday life and grow have a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Since this plan includes only the New Testament, each segment can be read in 5-8 minutes, and will allow you the opportunity to actually study the portion of Scripture you are reading, instead of reading only If you choose to dig deeper, (and hopefully you will!), a minute/day study can increase your knowledge of the Bible as well as your love for the Lord. The goal should not be quantity (how much you read), but quality in what you read, learn and apply. The reading plan is divided into 52 weeks, with readings for each day. Follow these steps in Bible study: Pray - confess sins before you begin; ask for the Holy Spirit's illumination of God's Word Observe - read the text over & over (repetition); take notes, ask questions Study - underline key words and/or phrases. Ask, "What is the passage saying?" Evaluate - cross-reference the text with other portions of Scripture. Find what others have said about the text (commentaries, Bible dictionaries) Meditate - what principle or command can be applied? Is there a promise or basic doctrinal truth to lay hold of? Remember, DO what you have learned. Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Saturday February 5 Matthew 22:1-22 February 12 Matt. 25:1-13 February 19 Matt. 27:11-32 February 26 Mark 3:13-35 Sunday February 6 Matthew 22:23-46 February 13 Matt. 25:14-30 February 20 Matt. 27:33-56 February 27 Mark 4:1-20 Monday February 7 Matthew 23: 1-12 February 14 Matt. 25:31-26:5 February 21 Matt. 27:57-28:10 February 28 Mark 4:21-41 Tuesday February 8 Matthew 23:13-33 February 15 Matt. 26:6-25 February 22 Matt. 28:11-Mark 1:13 March 1 Mark 5:1-20 Wednesday February 9 Matthew 23:34 24:3 February 16 Matt. 26:26-46 February 23 Mark 1:14-39 March 2 Mark 5:21-43 Thursday February 10 Matthew 24:4-31 February 17 Matt. 26:47-68 February 24 Mark 1:40-2:17 March 3 Mark 6:1-29 Friday February 11 Matthew 24:32-51 February 18 Matt. 26:69-27:10 February 25 Mark 2:18-3:12 March 4 Mark 6:30-56

6 Kid s Corner Saint Valentine s Story St. Valentine, for whom this holiday is of course named, was an actual historical figure. He was a Roman physician who was also a Christian priest during the days of the ealy church. This was at a time when Christians saw tremendous persecution and many practiced in secret. There are actually a couple versions of the Valentine s Day story. One version, has it that Valentine was so loved by the children of the town that they would constantly write him notes speaking of their affection--hence the origin of exchanging valentines. In the other version of the story, Valentine is working to heal a blind boy and is arrested by Roman soldiers for his work as an undercover priest. Valentine is shortly thereafter sentenced to die. And yet before he is taken off to be executed, he takes the time to write to the little blind boy a note explaining to him Jesus' love, enclosing a small treat. According to this story, when the boy eats the treat his eyesight is miraculously restored, and he is able to see well enough to read Valentine's note--which is, of course, at the exact same moment that Valentine is executed. Heart Stereogram A stereogram is an optical illusion of depth created from flat, two-dimensional image or images. I this brain teaser, try to find the hidden heart in this puzzle. Searching for the hidden heart in this stereogram can be frustrating but fun as well. Spend some time enhancing your keen eye in solving this optical illusion.

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8 RECIPE OF THE MONTH THE BIG GAME BASH FEBRUARY 2011 Directions Combine hot sauce, and Cajun spice, pepper and garlic powder. Mix well and cover wings. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep sided pot to 350 degrees F. Remove wings from marinade and drain off excess moisture. Add wings carefully and in batches to hot oil, it splatters. Cook until crispy about 10 minutes. Ingredients: HOT BUFFALO WINGS 3 pounds chicken wings 1 1/2 cups hot Sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun spice 1/2 tablespoons cayenne pepper 3/4 tablespoon garlic powder Buffalo Sauce, recipe follows Thai Dipping Sauce, recipe follows Drain chicken on paper towel and toss in the buffalo sauce for an extra kick of hotness. Serve with dipping sauces. Buffalo sauce: 8 tablespoons softened butter 8 tablespoons hot sauce Combine butter and hot sauce. Whisk until blended. Thai Dipping Sauce: 1 cup Sweet Chili Sauce (available at Asian Markets or in Asian aisle of supermarket) 1 tablespoon soy sauce Mix chili and soy sauce until well blended. Solomon s Temple Courthouse Highway, Smithfield, Virginia phone fax

9 February Schedule of Events 02/01 CID Session 02/03 (6pm) Praise Team; Mass Choir Rehearsal (7pm) 02/08 CID Session 02/10 Sons of Solomon Rehearsal (7pm) 02/11 Outreach Ministry will meet (5pm) 02/12 Pastor Shivers will speak at Shiloh Baptist Church 02/13 Holly Grove AME (1pm) 02/15 CID Session 02/17 Youth Choir will Rehearse 02/19 Pastor and Church Anniversary service here at chapel at 5pm 02/22 CID Session 02/24 We will help celebrate Gethsemane Baptist Church 27 th anniversary in Newport News 02/25 Hour of Power 02/26 Youth Basketball Game at VCU 02/27 Pastor and church anniversary Committee will meet directly after morning service at McDonalds Ministry Day Committee will meet directly after morning service at McDonalds Choir Rehearsal Schedule for the month: Thursday before 1 Sunday st Praise Team (6:00pm) and Mass Choir (7:00pm) Thursday before 2 Sunday nd Youth Choir Rehearsal (7:00pm) Thursday before 3 Sunday rd Sons of Solomon Rehearsal (7pm) Thursday before 4 Sunday th Joyful voices Saturday before 5 Sunday th Young Adult Choir

10 FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES - In 1897, African-American inventor Alfred Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use, even today - Lonnie G. Johnson, an engineer who performed spacecraft system design for NASA, invented the Super Soaker water gun the number one selling toy in America in History has credited Thomas Edison with the invention of the light bulb, but fewer people know about Lewis Latimer's innovations toward its development. Until Latimer's process formaking carbon filament, Edison's light bulbs would only burn for a few minutes. Latimer'sfilament burned for several hours - Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented the Shoe Lasting machine, which connected the upper part of the shoe to the sole, a painstaking process that was usually done by hand. This invention revolutionized the shoe making industry - Sarah E. Goode invented a bed that folded up into a cabinet in Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first African- American woman to receive a patent, but the second - George T. Sampson invented a clothes dryer that used heat from a stove in 1892 BLACK HISTORY PRAYER Black History Month every February is a time to honor the lives and sacrifices of the men and women of African American descent who helped to shape the United States. The following blessing for Black History Month is an opportunity to seek God's healing and wisdom in all the divisions of this world: "Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you in the name of Jesus thanking You for a society that honors the achievements and sacrifices of all people. This February, bless all who, in honor of Black History Month, seek to bring Your world together, rather than to tear it apart. Thank you especially for [insert specific heroes associated with Black History Month and/or beloved friends or family members of African American descent] and for all the lives they have touched. Bless all Your beloved children, Loving Father, and teach us to live together in peace, now and always. In Jesus name, Amen."

11 Holly Grove AME Winsor (1pm) 20. Sunday 27 Pastor and Church Anniversary and Ministry Day committee will meet Rhonda Ralph Monday 7. Joydan Taylor 14. Valerie Gray 21 Jani Megan Jones 28. S.I.T. meeting a2 6:30pm February C.I.D. Session 8. C.I.D. Session 15. C.I.D. Session Elaine Nichols 22. C.I.D. Session Lequisha Turner Notes: Tuesday Jacqueline Ruffin 23. Wednesday Thursday 3. Praise Team (6pm) Mass Choir (7pm) Robert White 10. Sons of Solomon rehearsal 17. Youth Choir Rehearsal th Church Anniversary at Gethsemane in Newport News Friday 11. Outreach Ministry will meet 25. Hour of Power Wilma Ralph Saturday 5. Mary Diggs, James Green Sr., Barry Nichols Pastor will speak at Shiloh 12. Pastor & Church Pre-Anniversary Service at 5pm 19. Joyce Hagins 26. Dorthy and Stanley s Wedding Day!!! Youth B-ball game at VCU