Inside Issue. Pastor s Corner

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1 Pastor s Corner The Certified Lay Minister (Part I) The Certified Lay Minister (CLM) is a relatively new form of leadership in the United Methodist Church (UMC) for lay persons experiencing a call to a deeper and, perhaps, more specialized form of service in the Church. Our United Methodist (UM) Book of Discipline (BOD), which is the official book of governance for our denomination, describes the general duties of a CLM as follows: The certified lay minister shall preach the Word, provide a care ministry to the congregation, assist in program leadership, and be a witness in the community for the growth, missional and connectional thrust of the United Methodist Church as part of a ministry team with the supervision and support of a clergyperson. (2012 BOD, para ) As you can see from this description, the CLM may be involved in a leadership role supportive of the work of the Pastor in a local congregation, as well as in the general work of the connectional UMC. Within the UM connection, this supportive leadership role may extend to ministries on the District and/or Conference level. CLMs must first undergo extensive training on the Conference level and then be approved by the District Committee on Ordained Ministry, before being officially sanctioned for service in the Church. The local church where the CLM has his or April 2018 Volume 1 Issue 1 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life." John 8:12 Page 1 her membership is, of course, the first entity to recommend a candidate for this unique office. Stay tuned for Part II in this series where you will read about Ebenezer s first CLM candidate, Brother Joshua Chinagorom, and the work he will be involved in at Ebenezer. Inside Issue Rev. Mark D. Venson Pastor s Corner Page 1 Inspirational Thoughts Page 2 Ebenezer News Page 4 Black History Month Page 7 EUMC Women s Day Page 10 Birthdays and Anniversaries Page 11 Bible Trivia Page 13 From the Newsletter Coordinator Page 16

2 Inspirational Thoughts to Uplift and Encourage A Christian s Job Description: Go and Tell Source: Daily Devotion by Rick Warren Go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them (Luke 14:23b-24 TLB). Jesus told a story to explain the party that God has invited you to: A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it and asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another had just been married, and for that reason couldn t come. The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind. But even then, there was still room. Well, then, said his master, go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them (Luke 14:16b-24 TLB). God has prepared a generous banquet for all of us. It s a party in Heaven that s going to go on for eternity! God planned this party because He s gracious and because He is generous. And He wants a full house! In the story, the servant is sent out to get all the guests. If you are a servant of God, your job is to bring in the guests. I want you to notice some phrases in this passage: Notify the guests, Go quickly, Invite, Go out into the country lanes, and Urge anyone you find to come. This is how God wants you to do your job: Go quickly into every part of the world, tell people about God s invitation to salvation, invite them into the family of God, and do it with urgency. If you re in the family of God, that s your job description for the rest of your life while you re here on earth. Go invite the guests. And go in faith! Page 2

3 During these times of digital communication, we often receive text and messages from our friends and acquaintances. Here s one that I received that deeply touched my spirit, and I wanted to share it with you. The Train of Life Author Unknown At birth we boarded the train and met our parents and we believed they would always travel by our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on the journey alone. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children and even the love of our life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go, so unnoticed that we don t realize they have vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery to everyone is, we don t know at which station we, ourselves, will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories to those who will continue to travel on the train of life. I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, let s remember to thank God for giving us life to participate in this journey. Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train. Submitted by Lillie Clark Grace for the Mess From God Is With You Every Day by Max Lucado The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: grace! Grace. We know the word. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Grace shares the church parsonage with its cousins: forgiveness, faith, and fellowship. But do we really understand it? We ve settled for wimpy grace. It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn and fits nicely on a church sign. Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Softened by grace? God s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. Grace comes after you! From insecure to God-secure. From afraid-to-die to ready-to-fly. Grace is the word that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off! Submitted by Sis. Ina Fells Page 3

4 Ebenezer News Christmas Play, The Star On Sunday, December 17, 2017, Ebenezer s sanctuary was transformed into a beautiful, spirit-filled stage depicting the birth of JESUS. The Sunday School Department planned and administered this service. Logan Dearing, Shamario Scott, and Breanna Pickerel recited magnificent Christmas recitations. In addition, a surprise performance by the saxophonist, Alexander(Alex) Porter, was performed brilliantly. He played his rendition of The Christmas Song. He was accompanied by his mother, Linda Porter. Comments such as GREAT, FANTASTIC, and PHENOMENAL were heard throughout the performance. God has given Alex a wonderful gift which he shares during Sunday services. The liturgist, Elijah Davis, set the tone for the play with his expressive prayer reminding us the true reason for the season, Jesus birth. The Chancel Choir directed by the Minister of Music, Sister Linda Porter, sang majestic religious Christmas songs. Sisters Pershail Young and Terri Ware led the children s choir in singing a delightful and entertaining song, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The narrators of the play, The Star, Sisters Terri and Taylor Ware read dramatically the story of Jesus Birth as the children performed the play. The children wore religious costumes indicative of that time: Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Kings, Shepherds, King Herod and His Court, Scribes, Gabriel, and the adorable Angels. Appreciation Ebenezer s family was extremely proud of the children s efforts. A special expression of gratitude is extended to our pastor, Rev. Mark Venson, for his prayers, guidance, and willingness to diverge and consent to a change in the regular service. Thanks to United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women for monetary support and their prayers. Thanks to Brothers Curtis Bell, Aaron Ware, Jr., Ronald Dearing, and Sister Victoria Jones for audiovisual support. Appreciation is extended to parents, grandparents, and others for their cooperation, and participation. Following service, the congregation enjoyed the delicious food served during the reception. On behalf of the Sunday School, we look forward to sharing additional activities with the congregation involving the children and youth in the year Proverbs 22:6 states: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Submitted by Sis. Peggy Dearing Page 4

5 Honoring Our Octogenarians On Sunday, February 18, Ebenezer honored 31 members of our congregation who are Octogenarians. Special recognition was given to Sis. Helen Plater. Sis Plater has been a member of Ebenezer for more than 70 years. You are truly inspiring examples for the entire congregation. Your lives reflect your commitment to God and your service to His people. We truly celebrate all your success. 1. Ella Mae Atkinson 17. Edna Pittmon 2. Jobie Bell 18. Lynn Pittmon, Sr. 3. Lloyd C. Bell 19. Helen Plater 4. Flossie Branch 20. Boyd Poole 5. Leontyne Brown 21. Pearl Stemley 6. Marie Fuller 22. James Stemley 7. John Grantham 23. James Trent 8. Olive Graves 24. Ellen Watkins 9. Helen Jackson 25. Wesley Watkins 10. Charles Jones 26. Shirley White 11. Pearl Jones 27. Juanita Williams 12. Harry Laury 28. Mary Wilson 13. Rev. Evelyn Manson 29. Harold Woodard 14. Curtis Mitchell 30. Suella Woodard 15. Dorothy Mitchell 31. Edith Wright 16. Sally Parks Sis. Helen Plater Page 5

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7 February 22, 2018 By: Judy Sarasohn, HHS (Public Affairs) Black History Month Alexa Canady: Black History in the Making Summary: In 1984, Alexa Canady became the first African-American woman certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. As a writer within HHS, it is my job to interview and profile amazing people doing great work to improve the health and well-being of all Americans. In honor of Black History Month, I was excited to find that my latest subject was also a familiar face: Alexa Canady, a college friend and college-newspaper colleague of mine. As she later told me, when we re-connected, it never occurred to her that she would be making history. After our undergrad days (many days ago), Alexa became the first African-American woman neurosurgeon in the United States. When I asked her how it felt being a part of African- American history, she said, I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. I had no idea that I would be making history. Alexa did eventually realize there weren t that many women neurosurgeons in front of me. But, she said, For me it didn t mean as much at the time as it did for other people, for young girls. Even if they re not going to be surgeons, or even be in medicine, they can see there s a world open to them. It was also important that white male residents now wanted to enter my world, she said. I didn t realize the significance at the time, that it was important to other people to see that. Alexa Canady, M.D. during surgery Hugh Grannum/Detroit Free Press/ZUMA Alexa grew up in an upper middle class Michigan family. Her father was a dentist. She went to the University of Michigan (where we worked together on the campus newspaper, the Michigan Daily), and became interested in the medical field during a summer program for minority students. Page 7

8 Alexa later decided she had a good fit with pediatric neurosurgery. I liked the honesty of it. I liked fixing things, she said. She also liked watching her patients and their families grow over the years. Alexa told the National Women s Law Center: The children taught me so much about living in the moment with tremendous courage and grace despite serious and often terminal illnesses. I took care of some children for 15 to 20 years. I watched them grow up. I got up in the middle of the night to care for them. I cared for every single one of them as if they were my own. Her choice of neurosurgery drew only a tepid response from her parents, which surprised her because they had always been strongly supportive of her decisions. She thinks they worried about her getting hurt by people who didn t have faith in a black woman making it in such a demanding field. And there were obstacles. When she was attending to patients at the University of Minnesota, one of the senior administrators said, Oh, you must be our new equal-opportunity package. She also had to work hard to convince her neurosurgery department chairman that she was not a risk to drop out or be fired. That would have been a disaster in a program where there are only one or two residents per year. I was the first African-American woman in the department, she told NIH s National Library of Medicine in its "Changing the Face of Medicine" report. But such obstacles didn t stop her. Alexa got her medical degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan in After graduating from medical school, she became a surgical intern at Yale-New Haven and then trained at the University of Minnesota, where she was the first African-American woman neurosurgery resident in the U.S. She became a pediatric neurosurgery fellow at the Children s Hospital of Philadelphia and, in 1984, became the first African-American woman certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. At the age of 36, she became chief of neurosurgery at Children s Hospital of Michigan, where she specialized in congenital spinal abnormalities, hydrocephalus, trauma and brain tumors. Alexa retired in 2001 sort of. When she moved to Florida, she was persuaded to practice parttime at Pensacola s Sacred Heart Hospital because there was no pediatric neurosurgeon locally. She s fully retired now. Making her way in medicine wasn t always easy. Despite the outward self confidence that others saw in her, Alexa said she feared that as a black woman, her opportunities to practice would be limited. But she found that by focusing on her patients and their families, the practice growth was exponential. And though it didn t occur to her at the time, or perhaps simply did not seem very important to her then, Alexa secured her place in black history. Posted In: Holidays and Observances Submitted by Sis. Barnaby Page 8

9 Ebenezer Observes Black History Month Both the Chancel Choir and the Gospel Choir observed Black History month in their various song selections. I will sing of the LORD s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1 NIV Members of the Gospel Choir in their African attire Page 9

10 EUMC Women s Day Sunday, May 20, 2018 Theme: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Do You See Christ In Me At All? Chairs Sis. Daphne Fuller, Sis. Denise Lynch, Sis. Linda Jones Committee Members Marie Fuller, Pershail Young, Jobie Bell, Eddimae Tisdale, Gloria Pickett This year s color is White with accessories to match the color associated with your birth month. Pledge January, February and March Yellow accessories April, May and June Purple accessories July, August and September Blue accessories October, November and December Red accessories Pledge amount this year is $ Beginning April 8, 2018, your pledge may be paid in increments. Checks should be made payable to Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Women s Day envelopes are available in the narthex. Pledges may be turned in to Sis. Christine Freeman. Women s Day Prayer Breakfast The Women s Day Prayer Breakfast was held April 21, 2018 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at The Camelot of Upper Marlboro, Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD The guest speaker was Minister Daphne C. Jones of The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square. Rev. Jones delivered a very inspiring message much in keeping with our theme. Other Activity On May 6, 2018, 4:00 pm, the Jubilee Majestic Concert Choir will perform at Ebenezer. Admission is free. A free-will-offering will be collected. Page 10

11 BIRTHDAYS January Marie Fuller 5 Shauna Douglas 6 Avis Jenkins 9 Lynn McGill 12 Bernadette Miller 18 Charles Jones 19 Clayton Butler 19 Monique White 24 Harold (Randy) Smith 28 Angelei Gibson 29 Deborah Branch 29 Joelle Smith 30 Sidney A. Brown 25 Daphne Fuller 25 March Linda Porter 3 John Grantham 4 Aaron Ware, Jr. 4 Caprice Brown 6 Eddimae Tisdale 10 Suella Woodard 11 Carolyn Winbush 11 William Butler 13 Nakita Smith 13 Melissa B. Riley 13 Cordelia Maycole 14 Jacqueline Bell 16 Sonya Robinson 17 Darrell Jackson 17 Stephanie Hazell 17 Alabama Brumskine 18 Diane Stinson 19 Kendra Freeman 21 Bernadette Bailey 21 Andre Bailey 22 Jackie Tyler-Hope 24 Shirley Hopkins 28 Aaron Ware, Sr. 28 Vernon Bell 29 Brianna Miles 30 February Eric Bell 1 Alice Jackson 1 Danielle Branch 1 Malcolm Maycole 2 William Murdock 3 Jaime Winbush 3 Jocelyn Smith 4 Joyce Smith 4 Joanne Barber 5 Joilyn Smith 6 Edith Wright 9 Derick Davis 9 Doug Jackson 10 Jennifer West 10 Naomi Kamara 11 Janet Sledge 12 Pastor Venson 13 Dorothy King 14 Betty Bradford 18 Jobie Bell 19 Joshua Chinagorom 23 Angela Brown 27 Pearl Smith Jones 28 April Ella Mae Atkinson 1 Maudie Goodrum 2 Madison Walker 2 Gabrielle Patrick 10 Stella Oluokun 12 Patricia Boone 13 Joyce Kamara 17 Christine Freeman 17 William Butler, III 18 Flossie Branch 20 Denise Lynch 22 Michelle Finney 24 Kenneth E. Bowman 25 Shavaughn Scott 28 We pray that God s many blessings be poured upon you and the years that follow. Page 11

12 ANNIVERSARIES May God continue to bless you with His precious gifts Love, Friendship, Family, and Happiness. As you commit each day into His hands, may you know His inner peace, love and grace much more. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. Proverbs 5:18-19 (KJV) Page 12

13 BIBLE TRIVIA So you think you know your Bible? Let s see! 1. In which city Jesus was born? a. Nazareth b. Damascus c. Bethlehem What is the last word in the Bible? a. Amen b. Christ c. Jesus 3. The phrase, God never gives you more than you can handle, shows up where in the Scriptures? a. Psalms b. Proverbs c. Nowhere 4. What s the oldest book written in the Bible? a. Genesis b. Isaiah c. Job 5. How many books are there in the Bible? a. 66 b. 71 c How many times do the phrases fear not or do not fear appear in the Bible. a. 300 b. 365 c How many books are there in the Old Testament? a. 27 b. 37 c Manasseh was the longest reigning King in the Bible. How long did he reign? a. 55 years b. 40 years c. 25 years 9. The New Testament was originally written in which language? a. Greek b. Hebrew c. Latin 10. What is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the word God a. Song of Solomon b. Ruth c. Esther 11. Who cut Samson s hair? a. Delilah b. Samson c. A servant 12. What is the shortest book in the Bible? a. Titus b. Philemon c. 2 John 13. How many brothers did Jesus have? a. 2 b. 4 c How old was Jesus when the 3 wise men visited him? a. 2 years b. A baby c. 1 year 15. Which woman is mentioned most in the Scriptures? a. Mary b. Rachel c. Sarah 16. Who was the first Christian Martyr? a. Abel b. Stephen c. Peter 17. There were 2 men in the Bible who never died. Elijah was one; who is the other? a. Enoch b. Moses c. Elisha 18. God gave Manna to the Israelites while they were in the desert after crossing the Red Sea. What does the word Manna mean? a. Angel Bread b. God Provides c. What Is It? 19. Samson used a donkey s jawbone to kill how many men? a. 100 b. 500 c The oldest man on record, Methuselah lived to be how old? a. 900 years b. 969 years c. 826 years Page 13

14 Answers to Bible Trivia 1. (c) Matthew 2:1 tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 2. (a) Revelation 22:21, the last chapter and last verse ends with the word Amen. 3. (c) While this phrase sounds similar to 1 Corinthians 10:13 (...[God] will not let you be tempted beyond your ability... ), it isn t actually found in the Bible. 4. (c) Although Genesis is the first book in the Bible, most Bible scholars believe that the Book of Job was written first in the 6th century BC. It was written in collaboration with Moses. 5. (a) Beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation there are 66 books in the Bible. 6. (b) Variations of the phrase Fear not appear 365 times in the Bible. 7. (c) Beginning with Genesis and ending with Malachi, there are 39 books in the Old Testament. 8. (a) Manasseh was the longest reigning King of the Kingdom of Judah. In 2 Kings 21:1 he began his reign at 12 years old. He reigned from BC. 9. (a) The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. 10. (c) Esther is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the word God. 11. (a) The story of Samson and Delilah is found in Judges, Chapter 16. Even though it was Delilah s idea to cut Samson s hair, she had a male servant shave Samson s head. 12. (c) 2 John is the shortest book in the Bible by verse count with only 13 verses. 13. (b) Jesus had 4 brothers: James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. 14. (a) While most nativity scenes show the wise men with baby Jesus in the manger, Bible scholars believe that the journey to Jesus took them 2 years. That s why Herod wanted to kill all males 2 years old in an attempt to kill Jesus. 15. (c) Sarah is mentioned 59 times, while Rachel is 2nd at 47 times. 16. (b) Stephen was stoned to death for his belief in Christ. Read Acts, Chapter (a) Hebrews 11:5 tells us that Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. 18. (c) The Greek word manna literally means What Is It. This is what the Israelites asked about the bread in Exodus 16: (c) In Judges, Chapter 15 we are told that Samson found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and put out his hand and took it, with it he struck 1,000 men. 20. (b) Methuselah is mentioned in Genesis, Chapter 5, in the genealogical record linking Adam to Noah, as having lived 969 years. Source: Old and New Testament Bible Trivia Quiz compiled by youth groups from Pentecostal Inc. Page 14

15 Guess Who? Can you name the children in this picture? Answers will appear in the next Issue. Submitted by Sis. Gloria Pickett Page 15

16 From the Newsletter Coordinator When Pastor Venson asked me to prepare the newsletter, I was somewhat hesitant; but after considering and reconsidering his invitation, I pondered a few things in my heart and was persuaded to accept the invitation. Growing up as a little child my parents would always tell me and my siblings that the gifts and talents from God were not to be kept hidden, but to be given back to Him to benefit others. I grew up in a Christian family. My father was a minister of the gospel and my mother a nurse midwife. I came to know Christ at an early age. However, I lost my way for a few years. I eventually renewed my relationship with my Lord and Savior. For me, knowing and serving the Lord has been an experience of unspeakable joy, freedom of spirit, and complete peace within. As I continue on this journey, I keep this song in my heart O Master, let me walk with thee in lowly paths of service free; tell me thy secret; help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care. Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear, winning word of love; teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the homeward way. Teach me thy patience; still with thee in closer, dearer company, in work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong; In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future's broadening way, in peace that only thou canst give, with thee, O Master, let me live. I look forward to working together to make this newsletter a success. God has given talents and gifts to every believer. When we use those gifts in His service, we can make a powerful impact on the world. 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of the gifts and the purpose of the gifts. So, let us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:14. God Bless. Sis. Ellalene Barnaby Page 16

17 Live Love Laugh The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front seat was a man and in the back seat, a man and a woman. The teacher was at a loss to understand how this illustrated the lesson of Adam and Eve. Little Bobby was prompt with his explanation. Why, this is God driving Adam and Eve out of the garden! A married couple were arguing who is making the coffee, the wife said that in the Bible it says that men should make the coffee and the husband asked her where it said that. The wife opened the Bible and said: Right here in HEBREWS! A Woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards. What Denomination? Asked the clerk. Oh, my goodness! Have we come to this? said the woman. Well give me 50 Baptist and 50 Catholic! Father O'Malley answers the phone. Hello, is this Father O'Malley? It is. This is the IRS. Can you help us? I can." Do you know a Ted Houlihan? I do. Is he a member of your congregation? He is. Did he donate $10,000 to the church? He will. A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! As she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again. As she ran she once again began to pray, Dear Lord, please don't let me be late... But please don't shove me either! Page 17

18 Ebenezer United Methodist Church 4912 Whitefield Chapel Road Lanham, MD Phone: [Mailing Address] Holy Hotlines Lines are Open 24/7 Worry Hotline... 1 Peter 5:7 Fear Hotline... Isaiah 41:10 Sickness Hotline... Isaiah 53:5 Depression Hotline... Psalm 34:18 Loneliness Hotline... Deuteronomy 31:8 Temptation Hotline... 1 Corinthians 10:13 Doubt Hotline... Romans 10:17