Good News Newsletter. A Message from Pastor Bradley. New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. December 2011 First Edition Volume 1

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1 New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Good News Newsletter December 2011 First Edition Volume 1 Upcoming Events 12/16 Christmas Concert, Fellowship & Pot Blessing 12/25 Christmas Worship 12/31 Watch Night Service 1/01 New Year s Service 1/21 Rethinking Christian Education 2/3 Baptist Congress Christian Education Fellowship and Award Banquet A Message from Pastor Bradley Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and Jesus Christ Our Lord. I want to begin this brief message by first praying to our Lord that you have a wonderful and blessed Holiday Season. This is the time we give Thanksgiving and praise to our Lord for his many blessings and acts of kindness shown to us. This is also a season to celebrate the spirit and birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that you and your family will certainly pause to reflect upon the many blessings you have received throughout this wonderful year. We also praise our Lord for the marvelous blessings that are manifesting in our church. I ve observed with a great spirit of joy more persons being actively involved in this ministry here at NPGMBC. The Bible says, for we are laborers together with God. You are God s husbandry and you are God s building. The Holy Spirit is certainly gearing up in the midst of this church and the people of God. And for that reason we praise God. We are moving forward in a great way. I look forward to our leadership meeting in December. I plan to hold this meeting on an annual Continued on page 2...

2 A Message from Pastor Bradley Continued basis to communicate and gain information from our very fine leaders. I thank each disciple of NPGMBC for your prayers, support and service in the Lord. We praise the Lord for those who have recently joined or rededicated themselves back to our church. We are certainly looking forward to our Lord adding to this church such as who should be saved. I do want to share with you that our Official Board, Deacons, and Trustees have been working very hard these last two years to structure and organize vital elements in the church. For this, I salute them. I also want to strongly encourage each of our disciples to attend one of our bible study sessions for your Christian and biblical edification. Jesus said learn of me. We have for your convenience three bible study sessions: Wednesday noontime, Wednesday evening prayer meeting and bible study and Sunday School. Please make a commitment to grow in Christ Jesus. We thank God for our new Deacons and Deaconesses: Deacon General Scott and Deaconess Mary Scott, Deacon Roland Bouyer and Deaconess Charlene Bouyer. May the Lord bless them as they serve in this Branch of Zion. As I close, we also want to recognize our two honorees for the United Baptist College Seminary Eighth Gala Event: Deacon Joseph Stallworth and Deaconess Kathleen Stallworth. To God Be the Glory! A Prayer Psalm 71 You are my hope, O Lord; my trust, from my youth, on you I depend from birth; from my mother s womb you are my strength; constant has been my hope in you. Cast me not off in my old age; as my strength fails, forsake me not. O God, be not far from me; My God make haste to help me; O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds and now that I am old and gray O God, forsake me not till I proclaim your strength to every generation that is to come. Though you have made me feel many bitter afflictions, you will again revive me; from the depths of the earth you will once more raise me. Deaconess Mary E Scott Jewels for Jesus, President Thank you in love!.. An Invitation Welcome, welcome, welcome God s Anointees Dance Ministry would like to extend an invitation as we welcome new members to join us in ministry as we praise our Lord and Savior through liturgical dance. The starting age is 5 years old. However, there is no age cap. If you are interested in liturgical dance and joining this ministry, please see Sister Tanya Keene or Sister Latresa Johnson. Sister Tanya Keene God s Anointees Dance Ministry, President She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Luke 2:7 2

3 Watch those Trans Fats What exactly is trans fat, where is it found and should you worry about consuming it? Fat is a major source of energy for the body and aids in the absorption of vitamins A,D,E, and K and carotenoids. We need fat in our diets to supply fatty acids essential for growth and development. There are four kinds of fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated and trans fats (also known as trans fatty acids). Unsaturated fats (mono and poly) found in foods like peanut butter, avocadoes and olive oil are healthy fats because they can improve blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fat, found in whole-fat dairy, poultry skin and meat products has the opposite effect on cholesterol levels and should therefore be consumed minimally. Trans fats, created by the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils to provide longer shelf-life in baked goods and longer fry-life for cooking oils, should be avoided as much as possible. Like saturated fat, trans fat raises low density lipoprotein (LDL or bad ) cholesterol. Unlike saturated fat, trans fat lower high density lipoprotein (HDL or good ) cholesterol. This leads to health problems, including a reduced ability of arteries to dilate making them more rigid and causing them to clog. Trans fats can be found in foods like: Cookies, crackers, cakes Hard margarine Fried foods (french fries, fried chicken including chicken nuggets) Snack foods (potato chips, corn & tortilla chips and microware popcorn) Tips to lower saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in the diet: Keep fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories with most fat coming from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated Choose lean meat like poultry (without skin, not fried) Choose fish more often at lunch or dinner such as trout, herring, and salmon Resource: nsfatfactsheet.pdf The Healthcare Ministry.. Smackum Salmon Cakes 2 cans of Pink Salmon 1 small onion ½ medium green pepper 2 eggs 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon mustard 8 crushed unsalted saltine crackers 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning Directions: Drain salmon and remove bones and place in large bowl. Chop onion, green pepper, add eggs and remaining ingredients. Mix well and shape into cakes. Fry, serve and enjoy! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS Great is thy Faithfulness, O God my Father morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed, Thy hands hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness unto me! O Lord the gift of salvation, eternal life loving family, children, grandchildren and a blessed church family. For this I say, thank you Lord. Sister Jean Bennett Good Health, thankfulness of shelter, job, church family and relatives, good friends and a special breath taken pastor and first lady Sister Rhue Blessed to see another Christmas and that God have been good to me. Sister Hairston God is my strength and my salvation. Sister Clowney This is the first Christmas in five years to have all my children here to celebrate Christmas with me. Sister Matthews When you get presents. Little Miss Mya Watkins When you have time for your family and buy things for them. Little Miss Hardy Taking heed to the voice of God and continue to follow in his way. Minister Mitz 3

4 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Christmas Traditions Welcome NPGMBC New & Renewed Members In this hectic life we live in, Christmas is a wonderful time to spend with our families and celebrate with cherished traditions that create lifelong memories. Here are just a few: Jan 9 th Jan 30 th March 6 th Sister Arnetta Johnson (renewed membership) Brother Arthur Johnson (renewed membership) Sister Kinara Moody (new member) Our Christmas tradition is to spend Christmas with family, eat, and praise God. The most important tradition in our family is that we always adopt a family and make sure that they have food and gifts. Sister Tanya Keene On Christmas Eve, we bake cookies. The children are allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, the family has a big breakfast and later eats dinner together. Sister Tracy Brownson In my family we get together and bake homemade cookies and eat Christmas breakfast together every year. Sister Catherine Moore After attending church service, my family and I go and enjoy a good movie. Deaconess Yvonne Briscoe Each year my family comes together to look at photo albums and reminisce about the past. Each family member tells stories and express what they are thankful for. While eating Christmas dinner, oldies but goodies Christmas music plays in the background. Sister Lorraine Johnson As a family we put up our Christmas tree and decorations after Thanksgiving. While decorating the tree, the sounds of the Temptations (Silent Night) and Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) plays in the background. We also purchase 2 new ornaments every year for the tree. Lastly, we drink Egg Nog with whip cream on top. Deaconess Charlene Bouyer April 24 th August 7 th October 16 th November 13 th November 20 th November 27 th Brother Dwayne L. Lawrence (new member) Sister Latarsha Pierce (new member) Brother Milton Coleman (new member) Sister Danielle Simmons (renewed membership) and Children Sister Djebria Elliott (new member) Brother Anthony Parker (new member) Mary s Praise and Expressions of the Magnificent And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. St.Luke 1:46-50 Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year! Leading Lady, Tobi Davis-Bradley Vice President and Editor of the Newsletter Ministry 4

5 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 3300 Elmora Avenue Baltimore, Maryland Reverend Haywood Bradley, Jr., Pastor Mission Statement Building Disciples for the Kingdom of God through Preaching, Teaching, Training, Witnessing and Worshipping according to the Word of God to the Glory of God. Church Theme Moving forward by the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12 It is not a holiday; it is a HOLIDAY! Christmas is a wonderful time of reflecting on our Savior Jesus The Christ as we gather with our families and friends. Share Christ this Christmas and be expanded in your walk with Him. Deaconess Cofield Families will come together to worship and praise God and give thanks to God for the many blessings you received in the year Sister Watkins Life, health, and strength God has blessed me with children who are doing well, and I love my church family. Sister Green To be around a lot of love and positive things Sister Cookie Johnson Blessed to have a loving and caring family, church family and friends Deaconess Smackum 5