february/march 2016 beacon of light
TRANSCRIPT
Beacon of Light Volume 6, Issue 2
“I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Reminder: Sunday School Sunday Service 9:30 am 11:00 am Prayer Service Every Thurs. Night – 6:30 p.m.
Contact Us 4912 Whitfield Chapel Rd. Lanham, MD 20706 (301) 577-0770 [email protected]
Pastor’s Corner Pg.1
Monthly Sermons Pg. 2
Birthdays & Anniver-
Rev. Mark D. Venson
“ A Journey with Christ to the Cross:” Part 1 I remember well the day, a little over a year ago, I checked myself into the Bowie Emergency Health Center. I am not a superstitious person, but Friday, March 13, 2015 will always remain in memory as a very difficult day. It was, as I recall, a beautiful spring-like day on the outside. But, it was also the day I officially embarked on a very demanding spiritual, emotional, and physical journey. On March 12
th , the previous day, I had already begun to prepare my-
self for the possibility of having to admit myself to a hospital for dizzi- ness and a sudden loss of balance. These two symptoms, that were so conspicuously evident on that Thursday, were preceded by a headache and an unusual sense of fatigue on Wednesday. Thinking these were, perhaps, early symptoms of the flu or possibly the result of food poisoning, I hoped for the best-- thinking that with time and a good night’s rest, these symptoms would soon disappear.
Pastor’s Corner continued
April 30, 2016
Witness/Visitation Community Walk
However, when I found myself stumbling into the walls on my way up the stairs that Thursday evening, I
knew I would have to take action if I did not wake up the next morning feeling better.
The decision to admit myself became unmistakably clear when I woke up the next day seeing double.
So I fixed myself a good breakfast, packed an overnight bag, and then attempted to muster some extra
energy by laying back down for a mid-morning nap.
Once I arose later that morning, immediately after finishing off a cup of coffee and a glass of cranberry juice, I totally lost my ability to swallow. Little did I know then that these would be the last food items I would swallow for the next 46 days.
When I arrived at the Bowie Emergency Health Center early Friday afternoon, I knew immediately that the Holy Spirit had led me to make the right choice. Amazingly, I was the only patient present at that time and was able to get checked in without much waiting. All of my vital signs were good, which was surprising to me given what felt like a major attack on my sensory systems. I laughed when the attend- ing physician, seeing me expectorate repeatedly into a tall portable coffee mug I had brought with me from home, asked me why I was “still chewing tobacco”. I explained that I had only hours earlier, lost my
ability to swallow.
In addition to having the full attention of the medical personnel that afternoon, I was doubly blessed in that they were able to schedule me for my first MRI only minutes before the Diagnostic Center closed for the weekend. When the first results came back and began to reveal the true significance of my medical issues, I knew then that even before this became a physical matter, this was first a spiritual test.
Stay tuned for “A Journey with Christ to the Cross: Part II” in the next edition of the newsletter
February Sermon Topics/Scriptures
Feb. 7th "Removing the Veil" 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3; Exodus 34:29-35 Feb. 14th "The Blessings of Temptation" Luke 4:1-13 Feb. 21st "Do You Fully Trust God with
Your Life?" Genesis 15:1-12; 17-18
March Sermon Topics/ Scriptures March 6th Where is your pig pen? Luke 15:1-3;16-32 March 13th Do you know what time it is? John 12:1-8 March 27th (Sunrise service) “I have
resurrection power” (Bro. Angelo Brown)
March 27th (Easter) “From darkness to
light “ John 20:1-18
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations
delight my soul." Psalm 94:19
Anxious thoughts can flood your mind so fast you feel like three white river rapids are converging in your
head. The thoughts seem to compete with each other for top billing. Before one is out the next is
screaming, "no, no, this is much more awful than that silly thought. Now here's a worst case scenario for
you…"
Soon your muscles are tense, your blood pressure is rising, your mouth is set in a grim line, and your
eyes are flashing about darkly. Whoa be to anyone who happens upon you in this state, especially a
child who spills a glass of milk or a driver who hesitates as a light turns green. Anxious thoughts; they
multiply faster than little bunnies.
God has an antidote for anxious thoughts. He wants to replace the anxious thoughts with his consola-
tions which will delight your soul instead of terrorize it. The first time this scripture really grabbed me I
was in a real stew and I could see that here God was offering a solution to me but I couldn't quite grasp
what it was. What consolations was he talking about? I began to think and pray about it and ask him to
reveal his consolations.
God's Word is his consolation for anxiety.
We can read any line of scripture and know it isn't just another opinion but it is the absolute bottom line
truth. So when it says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) we can take
that right to the bank. Or when we read, "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans
for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11) we can face an
uncertain future with real hope. And what about "Let not your heart be troubled"? (John 14:1) We can
know it is possible to put away the troubles of the heart; we don't have to accept a destiny of worry or
anxiety.
God's character is his consolation
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present and all-loving. What does he lack? NOTHING. Who wouldn't
want to be best friends with him? Talk about an inside track. Thinking about the bigness of God causes
us to see the smallness of our own troubles.
God's sacrifice is his consolation If we have any doubt about God's love for us in light of whatever our current troubles are, we can dispel
Bible Insights continued
that with thoughts about his incredible sacrifice on the cross in order to secure the most abundant life for
us. "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Something that costly
must have purchased a mighty big prize. We are his prize. Anxious thoughts should disintegrate as we
meditate on that nugget.
Knowing that God has an antidote for anxiety is the first step to our soul's delight and knowing what some
of his consolations are is the second step. The third step is ACTUALLY PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE. I
have that in caps because you need to shake yourself a little right now and re-read that line. If you have
never tried to discipline your mind before you are in for a real battle. It is a battle you can win. If anxious
thoughts have been riding roughshod over your mind for months or years or a whole lifetime you will need
to build a new road. Imagine a one lane dirt highway with deep ruts where a car has been traveling back
and forth for twenty years.
Now you are told to ride that road and not hit those ruts. You are building new habits, developing new
thought patterns. You are saying "NO" to some thoughts which try to enter your mind. You are placing a
permission gate at the entrance of your mind which rejects anxiety and accepts God's consolations.
Don't ask God to take away the anxious thoughts or pray that you won't have them anymore. YOU
control it. That is not to say that you should not call upon the Lord to help you and to fill you with his pres-
ence which will dispel the darkness. Cry out to him and tell him of all of your struggles and ask for his
strength which he will freely give. You are actually the one though, who has final authority over what
thoughts you allow and disallow.
As the weeks and months go by, you will see progress on your new road to stress and anxiety relief. I en-
courage you to keep trying. Fill your mind so full of truth and of your relationship with the Lord that there is
not any room for anything else. Keep meditating on his consolations and post a "Keep Out" sign for any-
thing else.
www.Bible insights.com
It is joy to answer the call as the editor of the Newsletter
Ministry. Becoming the “Beacon of Light’s” newest editor will
be an honor and most humbling experience. I am looking for-
ward to creating a newsletter that is inspirational, informative and uplifting. I am excit-
ed to share my talents with this ministry. My ultimate goal is to communicate truth for
God’s glory and to expand God’s glory by spreading the good news of the gospel. This
newsletter is a tremendous forum to plant seeds of hope and goodness for all of God’s
people. Together we can stimulate perspectives for all to grow. You may notice that
some of the format has changed; such as the newsletter will be published bi-monthly
instead of monthly; however, the reverent integrity established by Victoria Jones will
be upheld as I take the role of the editor of the “Beacon of Light” newsletter. God in-
spires us in many ways and uses many vehicles to connect us to His kingdom. I was
once told that “faith makes things possible….not easy.” So in faith and love we will
continue to make the “Beacon of Light” newsletter one of God’s inspirational tools.
Thank you! Joyce R. Smith, Editor
Reminder:
[email protected] by the 9th of
each month.
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY
WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY!
AND THEN IT IS WINTER
You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way,
it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimps- es of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
But, here it is... the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was
so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now
those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life
goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...just wait! It will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So,
do what you can today, nine or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life....so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all
the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY Re- member "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2016!
(Continue on next page)
~Going out is good. Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep.”
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.
~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
Submitted by: Gloria Picket
THOUGHT PROVOKING CONTINUED
Daily Scriptures: Romans 8:28-31 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God fore- knew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV Submitted by Joyce Smith
Congratulation!! Taylor Ware gradates on Saturday, May 7 th from Penn State University. Her par-
ents along with her Ebenezer family are so proud of her. Taylor was inducted into the National History
Honor Society of “Phi Alpha Theta”
Can you believe its been four years already?
Below is a photo of the Middle and High School Youth group. They visited the Angels Alert III Nursing
Home in Elkridge, Maryland in March. The youth enjoyed their first visit with the residents. They sang
songs and listened to residents share their stories. The youth also shared their own stories. Angie
Brown and Imani West performed a liturgical dance. In addition, Alex Porter sang a solo that was a
favorite of his grandfather. The Youth Ministry Coordinators would like to thank Imani and her mother
Jennifer, for helping to coordinate this activity.
Articles submitted by Gloria Picket
The SINGLE'S MINISTRY of Ebenezer United Meth-
odist Church celebrated BLACK HISTORY MONTH
with a visit to Publick Playhouse on February 24,
2016 to see “Inauguration of Barack Obama”. Fol-
lowing the program they enjoyed a hearty lunch.
FYI APPLY FOR SENATE SCHOLARSHIPS! Do you know a high school senior or a college student from our community that is enrolled full time in a Maryland institute of higher education? Let them know they may be eligible for a Maryland State Sen- atorial Scholarship. The student must be a District 47 resident and attend or expect to attend a college or university in Mary- land in the fall of 2016. Scholarships can be used for either undergraduate or grad- uate study. Access the application and instructions here. The application and all supporting docu- ments are due on April 28, 2016. So lets get those applications completed! Good luck!
New video details Black College Fund
In a 2014 survey of 2,000 United Methodist church pas- tors and leaders, more than half had little or no knowledge about the Black College Fund (BCF). Answering this need for information, a new video, produced by The Black Col- lege Fund Office at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, details the fund’s vitality and its continued need for support. Local congregations are invited to share the video in worship services, gatherings and social media posts so that all United Methodists can appreciate the fund’s mission and history.
Since 1972, The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund has offered support to eleven United Methodist- related black colleges and universities, allowing the schools to nurture deep traditions and rise to new opportunities in today’s competitive, tech-savvy collegiate landscape. (Continued Next page)
Black History
The Black College Fund is a precious gift and I am thankful for the Church’s continued investment and commitment to empowerment, leadership, service and transformation,” said Cynthia Bond Hopson, Ph.D., Assistant General Secretary of The Black College Fund.
The apportionments paid by local United Methodist Churches help to fund these institutions, where many of the 16,000 students struggle with the financial challenges that secondary education can bring. The students in the BCF-supported schools represent a wide-variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, and they are training to be the next generation of leaders, both inside and outside of the church.
“Without the church we would not have existed. We have had 138 plus years of being connected to the church. Our service is making sure that we focus on the underserved. Without the church it would be very difficult to succeed in our mission,” said Dr. A. Dexter Samuels, executive director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College.
Media Contact: Laura Buchanan [email protected] 615-742-5413
To find out more, click on UMC.org.
Legacy of Faith and Service Cont.inued
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an Afri-
can-American writer of the late
19th and early 20th centuries who
wrote verse and short stories,
many of which were written in
black dialect despite the fact that
he felt the marketability of dialect
poetry was demeaning. He was
one of the first black writers to at-
tempt to make a living from his
writing, and certainly one of the
first to gain national prominence. Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar
WE wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over- wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream oth- erwise, We wear the mask!
Submitted by Pearl P. Smith-Jones
Women’s Day 2016
11:00am Exciting Guest Speaker
Saturday April 23, 2016
Sponsored by the Women of Ebenezer United Methodist
Church
The United Methodist Men of Ebenezer will
sponsor a free concert featuring the Sensa-
tional Nightingales, Friday April 22, 2016.
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Concert begins at
7:00pm. No tickets required. A free will of-
fering will be collected. For additional infor-
mation, please contact UMM Activities
Chairperson, Brother David King.
walk/visit - we would like for as many
members of our church family to come out
and spend some quality time with us visit-
ing our neighbors. The area to be visited
is Saint Josephs Drive, located in Bowie,
MD. At this time, we will be inviting our
neighbors to come out to our church ser-
vices, and Sunday School. We will meet at
the church at 10:30 am. and we will depart
from the church at 11:00 am. If you
should have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the Planning Team
Committee Members. Peace and Blessings -- Sisters: Shirley J. Hopkins, Victoria Jones and Brother Donald Jackson
Happy Birthday to All For the month of February
1 Eric B.
19 Jobie B.
24 Carol S.
27 Angela B.
28 Pearl J.
3 Linda P.
4 John G.
Aaron W. Jr.
6 Caprice B.
10 Eddimae T.
11 Suella W.
13 William B.
28 Shirley H.
Aaron W., Sr.
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day be filled with joy, love, and peace.
Celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary on February 14th
The Pittmons
The Watkins
Celebrating their 42nd wedding Anniversary on March 30th The Jacksons
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day be filled with joy, love, and peace.
EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4912 Whitfield Chapel Road Lanham, MD 20706 Phone: 301-577-0770 Email: [email protected]
Come see us on the web!
www.ebenezerunited.org
Instagram and Facebook @eumc4912.
“I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Reminder: Sunday School Sunday Service 9:30 am 11:00 am Prayer Service Every Thurs. Night – 6:30 p.m.
Contact Us 4912 Whitfield Chapel Rd. Lanham, MD 20706 (301) 577-0770 [email protected]
Pastor’s Corner Pg.1
Monthly Sermons Pg. 2
Birthdays & Anniver-
Rev. Mark D. Venson
“ A Journey with Christ to the Cross:” Part 1 I remember well the day, a little over a year ago, I checked myself into the Bowie Emergency Health Center. I am not a superstitious person, but Friday, March 13, 2015 will always remain in memory as a very difficult day. It was, as I recall, a beautiful spring-like day on the outside. But, it was also the day I officially embarked on a very demanding spiritual, emotional, and physical journey. On March 12
th , the previous day, I had already begun to prepare my-
self for the possibility of having to admit myself to a hospital for dizzi- ness and a sudden loss of balance. These two symptoms, that were so conspicuously evident on that Thursday, were preceded by a headache and an unusual sense of fatigue on Wednesday. Thinking these were, perhaps, early symptoms of the flu or possibly the result of food poisoning, I hoped for the best-- thinking that with time and a good night’s rest, these symptoms would soon disappear.
Pastor’s Corner continued
April 30, 2016
Witness/Visitation Community Walk
However, when I found myself stumbling into the walls on my way up the stairs that Thursday evening, I
knew I would have to take action if I did not wake up the next morning feeling better.
The decision to admit myself became unmistakably clear when I woke up the next day seeing double.
So I fixed myself a good breakfast, packed an overnight bag, and then attempted to muster some extra
energy by laying back down for a mid-morning nap.
Once I arose later that morning, immediately after finishing off a cup of coffee and a glass of cranberry juice, I totally lost my ability to swallow. Little did I know then that these would be the last food items I would swallow for the next 46 days.
When I arrived at the Bowie Emergency Health Center early Friday afternoon, I knew immediately that the Holy Spirit had led me to make the right choice. Amazingly, I was the only patient present at that time and was able to get checked in without much waiting. All of my vital signs were good, which was surprising to me given what felt like a major attack on my sensory systems. I laughed when the attend- ing physician, seeing me expectorate repeatedly into a tall portable coffee mug I had brought with me from home, asked me why I was “still chewing tobacco”. I explained that I had only hours earlier, lost my
ability to swallow.
In addition to having the full attention of the medical personnel that afternoon, I was doubly blessed in that they were able to schedule me for my first MRI only minutes before the Diagnostic Center closed for the weekend. When the first results came back and began to reveal the true significance of my medical issues, I knew then that even before this became a physical matter, this was first a spiritual test.
Stay tuned for “A Journey with Christ to the Cross: Part II” in the next edition of the newsletter
February Sermon Topics/Scriptures
Feb. 7th "Removing the Veil" 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3; Exodus 34:29-35 Feb. 14th "The Blessings of Temptation" Luke 4:1-13 Feb. 21st "Do You Fully Trust God with
Your Life?" Genesis 15:1-12; 17-18
March Sermon Topics/ Scriptures March 6th Where is your pig pen? Luke 15:1-3;16-32 March 13th Do you know what time it is? John 12:1-8 March 27th (Sunrise service) “I have
resurrection power” (Bro. Angelo Brown)
March 27th (Easter) “From darkness to
light “ John 20:1-18
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations
delight my soul." Psalm 94:19
Anxious thoughts can flood your mind so fast you feel like three white river rapids are converging in your
head. The thoughts seem to compete with each other for top billing. Before one is out the next is
screaming, "no, no, this is much more awful than that silly thought. Now here's a worst case scenario for
you…"
Soon your muscles are tense, your blood pressure is rising, your mouth is set in a grim line, and your
eyes are flashing about darkly. Whoa be to anyone who happens upon you in this state, especially a
child who spills a glass of milk or a driver who hesitates as a light turns green. Anxious thoughts; they
multiply faster than little bunnies.
God has an antidote for anxious thoughts. He wants to replace the anxious thoughts with his consola-
tions which will delight your soul instead of terrorize it. The first time this scripture really grabbed me I
was in a real stew and I could see that here God was offering a solution to me but I couldn't quite grasp
what it was. What consolations was he talking about? I began to think and pray about it and ask him to
reveal his consolations.
God's Word is his consolation for anxiety.
We can read any line of scripture and know it isn't just another opinion but it is the absolute bottom line
truth. So when it says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) we can take
that right to the bank. Or when we read, "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans
for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11) we can face an
uncertain future with real hope. And what about "Let not your heart be troubled"? (John 14:1) We can
know it is possible to put away the troubles of the heart; we don't have to accept a destiny of worry or
anxiety.
God's character is his consolation
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present and all-loving. What does he lack? NOTHING. Who wouldn't
want to be best friends with him? Talk about an inside track. Thinking about the bigness of God causes
us to see the smallness of our own troubles.
God's sacrifice is his consolation If we have any doubt about God's love for us in light of whatever our current troubles are, we can dispel
Bible Insights continued
that with thoughts about his incredible sacrifice on the cross in order to secure the most abundant life for
us. "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Something that costly
must have purchased a mighty big prize. We are his prize. Anxious thoughts should disintegrate as we
meditate on that nugget.
Knowing that God has an antidote for anxiety is the first step to our soul's delight and knowing what some
of his consolations are is the second step. The third step is ACTUALLY PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE. I
have that in caps because you need to shake yourself a little right now and re-read that line. If you have
never tried to discipline your mind before you are in for a real battle. It is a battle you can win. If anxious
thoughts have been riding roughshod over your mind for months or years or a whole lifetime you will need
to build a new road. Imagine a one lane dirt highway with deep ruts where a car has been traveling back
and forth for twenty years.
Now you are told to ride that road and not hit those ruts. You are building new habits, developing new
thought patterns. You are saying "NO" to some thoughts which try to enter your mind. You are placing a
permission gate at the entrance of your mind which rejects anxiety and accepts God's consolations.
Don't ask God to take away the anxious thoughts or pray that you won't have them anymore. YOU
control it. That is not to say that you should not call upon the Lord to help you and to fill you with his pres-
ence which will dispel the darkness. Cry out to him and tell him of all of your struggles and ask for his
strength which he will freely give. You are actually the one though, who has final authority over what
thoughts you allow and disallow.
As the weeks and months go by, you will see progress on your new road to stress and anxiety relief. I en-
courage you to keep trying. Fill your mind so full of truth and of your relationship with the Lord that there is
not any room for anything else. Keep meditating on his consolations and post a "Keep Out" sign for any-
thing else.
www.Bible insights.com
It is joy to answer the call as the editor of the Newsletter
Ministry. Becoming the “Beacon of Light’s” newest editor will
be an honor and most humbling experience. I am looking for-
ward to creating a newsletter that is inspirational, informative and uplifting. I am excit-
ed to share my talents with this ministry. My ultimate goal is to communicate truth for
God’s glory and to expand God’s glory by spreading the good news of the gospel. This
newsletter is a tremendous forum to plant seeds of hope and goodness for all of God’s
people. Together we can stimulate perspectives for all to grow. You may notice that
some of the format has changed; such as the newsletter will be published bi-monthly
instead of monthly; however, the reverent integrity established by Victoria Jones will
be upheld as I take the role of the editor of the “Beacon of Light” newsletter. God in-
spires us in many ways and uses many vehicles to connect us to His kingdom. I was
once told that “faith makes things possible….not easy.” So in faith and love we will
continue to make the “Beacon of Light” newsletter one of God’s inspirational tools.
Thank you! Joyce R. Smith, Editor
Reminder:
[email protected] by the 9th of
each month.
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY
WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY!
AND THEN IT IS WINTER
You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way,
it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimps- es of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
But, here it is... the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was
so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now
those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life
goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...just wait! It will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So,
do what you can today, nine or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life....so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all
the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY Re- member "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2016!
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~Going out is good. Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep.”
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.
~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
Submitted by: Gloria Picket
THOUGHT PROVOKING CONTINUED
Daily Scriptures: Romans 8:28-31 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God fore- knew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV Submitted by Joyce Smith
Congratulation!! Taylor Ware gradates on Saturday, May 7 th from Penn State University. Her par-
ents along with her Ebenezer family are so proud of her. Taylor was inducted into the National History
Honor Society of “Phi Alpha Theta”
Can you believe its been four years already?
Below is a photo of the Middle and High School Youth group. They visited the Angels Alert III Nursing
Home in Elkridge, Maryland in March. The youth enjoyed their first visit with the residents. They sang
songs and listened to residents share their stories. The youth also shared their own stories. Angie
Brown and Imani West performed a liturgical dance. In addition, Alex Porter sang a solo that was a
favorite of his grandfather. The Youth Ministry Coordinators would like to thank Imani and her mother
Jennifer, for helping to coordinate this activity.
Articles submitted by Gloria Picket
The SINGLE'S MINISTRY of Ebenezer United Meth-
odist Church celebrated BLACK HISTORY MONTH
with a visit to Publick Playhouse on February 24,
2016 to see “Inauguration of Barack Obama”. Fol-
lowing the program they enjoyed a hearty lunch.
FYI APPLY FOR SENATE SCHOLARSHIPS! Do you know a high school senior or a college student from our community that is enrolled full time in a Maryland institute of higher education? Let them know they may be eligible for a Maryland State Sen- atorial Scholarship. The student must be a District 47 resident and attend or expect to attend a college or university in Mary- land in the fall of 2016. Scholarships can be used for either undergraduate or grad- uate study. Access the application and instructions here. The application and all supporting docu- ments are due on April 28, 2016. So lets get those applications completed! Good luck!
New video details Black College Fund
In a 2014 survey of 2,000 United Methodist church pas- tors and leaders, more than half had little or no knowledge about the Black College Fund (BCF). Answering this need for information, a new video, produced by The Black Col- lege Fund Office at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, details the fund’s vitality and its continued need for support. Local congregations are invited to share the video in worship services, gatherings and social media posts so that all United Methodists can appreciate the fund’s mission and history.
Since 1972, The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund has offered support to eleven United Methodist- related black colleges and universities, allowing the schools to nurture deep traditions and rise to new opportunities in today’s competitive, tech-savvy collegiate landscape. (Continued Next page)
Black History
The Black College Fund is a precious gift and I am thankful for the Church’s continued investment and commitment to empowerment, leadership, service and transformation,” said Cynthia Bond Hopson, Ph.D., Assistant General Secretary of The Black College Fund.
The apportionments paid by local United Methodist Churches help to fund these institutions, where many of the 16,000 students struggle with the financial challenges that secondary education can bring. The students in the BCF-supported schools represent a wide-variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, and they are training to be the next generation of leaders, both inside and outside of the church.
“Without the church we would not have existed. We have had 138 plus years of being connected to the church. Our service is making sure that we focus on the underserved. Without the church it would be very difficult to succeed in our mission,” said Dr. A. Dexter Samuels, executive director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College.
Media Contact: Laura Buchanan [email protected] 615-742-5413
To find out more, click on UMC.org.
Legacy of Faith and Service Cont.inued
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an Afri-
can-American writer of the late
19th and early 20th centuries who
wrote verse and short stories,
many of which were written in
black dialect despite the fact that
he felt the marketability of dialect
poetry was demeaning. He was
one of the first black writers to at-
tempt to make a living from his
writing, and certainly one of the
first to gain national prominence. Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar
WE wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over- wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream oth- erwise, We wear the mask!
Submitted by Pearl P. Smith-Jones
Women’s Day 2016
11:00am Exciting Guest Speaker
Saturday April 23, 2016
Sponsored by the Women of Ebenezer United Methodist
Church
The United Methodist Men of Ebenezer will
sponsor a free concert featuring the Sensa-
tional Nightingales, Friday April 22, 2016.
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Concert begins at
7:00pm. No tickets required. A free will of-
fering will be collected. For additional infor-
mation, please contact UMM Activities
Chairperson, Brother David King.
walk/visit - we would like for as many
members of our church family to come out
and spend some quality time with us visit-
ing our neighbors. The area to be visited
is Saint Josephs Drive, located in Bowie,
MD. At this time, we will be inviting our
neighbors to come out to our church ser-
vices, and Sunday School. We will meet at
the church at 10:30 am. and we will depart
from the church at 11:00 am. If you
should have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the Planning Team
Committee Members. Peace and Blessings -- Sisters: Shirley J. Hopkins, Victoria Jones and Brother Donald Jackson
Happy Birthday to All For the month of February
1 Eric B.
19 Jobie B.
24 Carol S.
27 Angela B.
28 Pearl J.
3 Linda P.
4 John G.
Aaron W. Jr.
6 Caprice B.
10 Eddimae T.
11 Suella W.
13 William B.
28 Shirley H.
Aaron W., Sr.
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day be filled with joy, love, and peace.
Celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary on February 14th
The Pittmons
The Watkins
Celebrating their 42nd wedding Anniversary on March 30th The Jacksons
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day be filled with joy, love, and peace.
EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4912 Whitfield Chapel Road Lanham, MD 20706 Phone: 301-577-0770 Email: [email protected]
Come see us on the web!
www.ebenezerunited.org
Instagram and Facebook @eumc4912.