Novemer's Pen

11/02/2012

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November is a time of Thanksgiving. We are thankful for God’s mighty hand guiding us through another year. The journey has been full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, losses and gains.  We are still here because of God’s amazing grace. To God, we give thanks. We will have our annual joint Thanksgiving Day service on Thanksgiving Day with the St Paul AME Church at 14th
and Emerson Streets, N.W. at 10:00 A.M. 

We are thankful to God for anther year in the life and history of First Baptist Church. We will celebrate the 149th year of First Baptist and the 37th year of its Pastor on the third and fourth Sundays in November. Your presence and personal sharing in fellowship will be the highlight of the celebration.  I pray that each member will make every effort to be in church on each Sunday of the celebration.

The Election of the President of the United States of America takes place on November 6, 2012.  This election will determine the nature of our country for years to come.  It will set the tone for who will get a fair shot at economic security.  The new president will determine the nature of the Supreme Court in the future, which will impact the social and moral foundation of the nation. The courts will rule on many issues that affect the status of women, minorities, and seniors. The outcome of the election will also influence how our nation will deal with health care for all Americans and how our youth are educated.  In other words, it is a mandate that each of us make
voting a priority.     

As we come to the close of another year, we are compelled to assess our stewardship of giving.  We are falling short on the fulfillment of our church budget.  We need everyone to do his/her best to catch up on our giving. Let me thank each of you for your sacrificial gifts, thus far.  To those of us who have not given the tithe, let me appeal to you and encourage you to hear, then heed the Word of God that is found in Malachi 3:10: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of Host, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."


Lastly, we must remember, "we can’t beat God giving, no matter how hard we try." Let us embrace the gift of His Son, who gave his life a ransom for our sins. Our duty is to continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

On November 8, 2012, I will be leaving for a seven day mission trip to the African country of Liberia.  Please pray for safe travels. 

Rejoice in the bountiful blessings of this Thanksgiving Season!
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October's Pen

10/01/2012

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I don’t think you can be alive in America and not know that we are engaged in a major political campaign.  This year’s election has the destiny of the nation and the course of life, as we know it, hanging on the outcome.  As a result, it is imperative that each of us take our responsibility to vote seriously.   Not only that, but we must encourage others to register and vote.  There is absolutely no reason for people of color not to vote.  Our fore parents prayed, suffered and died so we would have the privilege to vote.  We must not allow any one thing to cause us to curse our legacy.

 We must become equally excited about our mission to fulfill our responsibility for Christian service. We are required to engage in those activities which will strengthen our witness for Christ and promote His purpose.  I hope you will be enthusiastic about promoting and supporting the
programs of our church.

Our Homecoming Celebration on the First Sunday in October is a special time for the First Baptist Family to join together in fellowship and praise. The Circle ministry is counting on your participation in all of the services of celebration. We are especially expecting your presence in the special prayer meeting service on Wednesday, October 3, 2012.  We will have  a dinner fellowship after the 10:50 AM Worship Service on Sunday, October 7, 2012. The Afternoon Service will be held promptly at 3:00 PM.

 The Men’s Day Committee is making plans for our Men’s Day on Sunday, October 21, 2012. Men are encouraged to participate in the activities of this event including the special breakfast on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 9:00 A.M.

Our Quarterly Church meeting will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 9:00 AM.  We will present our plans for our 150th Anniversary Celebration in 2013 at this meeting.

On Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 7:30 P.M., we are the guest of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church.  The Reverend Rodney Young is the pastor. The church is located at 5203 Wheeler Road, Oxen Hill, Maryland.  This service is on the occasion of their 30th Anniversary Celebration. Please
join us in this season of celebration with our sister church.


Finally, let me encourage each of us to maintain our level giving, that we can continue to support the ongoing ministries and operations of First Baptist
Church.  The slow economic season has impacted our capacity to carry out our
ministry, as effectively as we should.   Your tithe and offerings are extremely
important to the health of our ministry.  I am sure we can count on you to do
your best to foster the Kingdom’s work. God’s grace and mercy demands that we be
faithful. 

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September's Pen

09/01/2012

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The vacation season is rapidly coming to a close. Schools are opening, while laborers are celebrating the contributions they are making for the health of our community. That sounds like September, a time when First Baptist begins to refocus its energy on the activities that conclude our year-end programs.

 Many of our church family will be attending our Church-Wide Retreat in Myrtle Beach.  This will be a special time for us to explore the art and skill of listening, hearing, obeying, and watching God in his glorious and imminent ways of working.  It is important that each of us draw nearer to God as we intentionally seek to "Grow in Grace and Knowledge."  

On the fifth Sunday in September, we will host the Chesterfield Missionary Baptist Church of Longs, S.C.  This is the church that will host us while we are attending our Church-Wide Retreat.  Let us make sure that the members of Chesterfield Church are blessed while they are here in Washington.  

We want to salute the new incoming college students, as well as the continuing students who are off to another year of study.  We are in constant prayer for their protection and development as they pursue their life’s ambitions.  We seek God’s favor on them as they meet the challenges of their journey.

 We are looking forward to a great Homecoming Celebration on the First Sunday in October 2012.  The Circle Ministry is making ready to mobilize all of us, that we can be present and apart of this glorious time of renewal and fellowship.  I hope we can count on you to bring family and friends to share with us on Homecoming Day. The Homecoming Committee is expecting our full participation.

 It is not too early to get involved in the most  important election since World War II, which is the period of President Franklin  D. Roosevelt.  At present we are coming out of two wars and a crash of the stock market.  The question now is who will make the decision about who pays for the health and wellbeing of people seeking economic growth?  Will the cost for recovery be on the backs of the worker or shared by a fair tax rate on those who generate income through wealth?  The decision should be made by all citizens.   Our collective responsibility is to make sure all   people vote.  We need to do
several things to encourage full participation of all eligible voters:
 
Encourage all eligible persons to register;  Assist persons you know to get all necessary documents for voting; and contact people in other states and encourage them to get ready to vote.

 Finally, we need to get informed about the issues and select the person who will best represent your interest.

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