Newsletter

January 2015

F i r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h , L a u d e r d a l e 6 8 2 S . L a u d e r d a l e S t r e e t

M e m p h i s , T N 3 8 1 2 6 ( 9 0 1 ) 7 7 4 - 2 1 6 1 ( C h u r c h ) 5 2 3 - 0 5 0 1

( O f f i c e ) 5 2 3 - 0 5 7 6 ( F a x ) D r . N o e l G . L . H u t c h i n s o n , P a s t o r

We can pray, believe, and receive, or we can

pray, doubt, and do without.

From the Shepherd’s Pen 2

Club/Committees/

Auxiliaries/Other

3

Missionary Outreach

Activities

4

Birthdays/Anniversary

5

Health e News 6

Inspirational Reading 7

Inside this issue:

The celebration of the 150th Church Anniversary is a year-long program. The steering committee will meet on Sunday, January 11 immediately following the morning worship services; all members of the committee are asked to be pre-sent. More details will be forthcoming to keep all abreast of activities planned.

This year will be a year which calls for all our effort. The goals of the 150th Anni-versary year are possible, but demands our leadership among the congregation as well as the leadership of those assigned with specific responsibilities.

Please use your influence to encourage members to participate in the this grand celebration.

150th Year Celebration January 3, 2015

Annual Family Day—Homecoming Sunday, January 4, 2015

Rev. Ed Phillips, Pastor of Universal Outreach Ministries will be the guest speaker and will be

accompanied by his church.

Come fellowship and receive a blessing from the Lord.

“I know the plans I have for your,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to

harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” —Jeremiah 29:11

Thomas L. Freidman, in his December 23, 2008 New York Times article, “Time to Reboot America”, begins by comparing the bookends of a recent travel day. This day began in Hong Kong on a static free cell phone, rode on a true high-speed train while he surfed the Internet, and continued in a modern, state of the art air-port. Then he arrived in New York. Freidman says that, “landing at Kennedy Airport from Hong Kong was like going from the Jetsons to the Flintstones.” He walked through an antiquated, ugly, and cramped low-ceilinged arrival hall. Freidman then says, “The next day I went to Penn Station, where the escalators down to the tracks are so narrow that they seem to have been designed before suit-cases were invented. The disgusting track-side platforms apparently have not been cleaned since World War II. I took the Acela, America’s sorry excuse for a bullet train, from New York to Washington. Along the way, I tried to use my cell phone to conduct an interview and my conversation was interrupted by three dropped calls within one 15-minute span. All I could think to myself was: If we’re so smart, why are other people living so much better than us? What has become of our infrastruc-ture, which is so crucial to productivity?... That’s why we don’t just need a bailout. We need a reboot. We need a build out. We need a buildup. We need a national makeover.” As you read this, it means that you currently reside in 2015. A new year. A clean slate. A chance to ‘reboot.’ In Christian terms, the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 said it best:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

This is our spiritual reboot. It’s a reminder of what should be our focus, our life plan, and our roadmap. The cares of this temporal world many times seem more impor-tant than those things that last long after we’re gone. The beginning of a new year is a good time to reset our internal compass, remembering to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for our lives. We are to shake off the past, which we can’t change, and focus on a Christ filled future. This year, we walk into 150 years of continuous Christian witness. God has been good, and now as we celebrate our past, we must yet calibrate ourselves into our future. As a church, families, and individuals, let us reboot and refocus on what God has for you and me. After all, you can say that 2015, anchored in the Lord, is mine.

Peace and Blessings,

From the Shepherd’s Pen

PAGE 2 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

“If you can’t fly, then run,

If you can’t run, then walk,

If you can’t walk, then crawl,

But whatever you do,

You have to keep moving

forward.

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Men’s Day Organization All men of the church are asked to meet immediately following services on Sunday, January 4 to organize for Men’s Day. Desmond Jackson, Chair-man

Children & Youth Teachers / Workers

All teachers and workers are asked to meet at the church on Tuesday, Janu-ary 6, at 6 p.m. Business of importance regarding year-end closing and food administration. Dr. Shelley White-Means, Chairwoman

Official Family Meeting The meeting will take place on Satur-day, January 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the Mustard Seed, Inc. location

Children’s Choir Rehearsals Rehearsals are scheduled for Saturday, January 10 & 17 at 11:00 a.m. Parents, please have your children at the re-hearsals. Yvonne Cleveland-Holmes, MOM

150th Church Anniversary Steering Committee

The meeting will be held on Sunday, January 11 immediately following the worship service. All committee mem-bers are asked to be present. Jeraldine

F. Sanderlin, General Chairwoman

Children & Youth Bible Study The program will resume on Tuesday, January 13. Tutoring begins at 4:00 p.m. at Mustard Seed, Inc., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the church, and Bible study at 6:00 p.m. Volunteers are still needed. Dr. Shelley White-Means, Chairwoman

H. Clarke Nabrit

Nursing Home Project Saturday, January 17, 2 p.m.

Ashton Healthcare & Rehab. Facility. Please see Sis. Fredia Moore if you would like to volunteer or donate items.

Sunday School Teachers Meeting All teachers and workers are asked to

meet on Sunday, January 18 at 8:30 a.m. Supt. Isaac White, Jr.

Sr. Ushers’ Meeting

The auxiliary will meet on Sunday, January 18 immediately following the morning worship service.

Alfred Jackson, President

Baptist International Tea Benefit LOC

Theme: 57 years...A Journey of Hope and Love

The 57th Annual Baptist Interna-tional Tea will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Alma C. Hanson Student Center, LeMoyne-Owen College. The International Tea was founded over 50 years ago as a means to increase the faith community’s sup-port for LeMoyne-Owen College and higher education. This annual event is one that continues to be a highlight in our College’s history. The International Tea kicks off the faith community’s annual fundrais-ing season and raises much needed dollars to support our community’s only Historically Black College. Please see Mother Ellawee Jones with your contribution of $10 in support of this effort. Thank you.

Leadership Council Meeting

The meeting will be held on Thursday January 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Mustard Seed, Inc.

Adult Bible Study Study has resumed on Wednesday night January 28, beginning at 6:15 p.m., followed by prayer meeting at 7:15 p.m. All are invited to attend to study God’s word and pray together.

Conference Prayer Line

The First Baptist Prayer line is every Thursday at 7:00 a.m. To join this call, dial (712) 432-1212, and when prompted enter the meeting ID num-ber of 224-203-485, followed by the

pound (#) key. Those who cannot make the initial call may hear a repeat of our prayer time by dialling (712) 432-1219, and using the meeting ID number of 224-203-485.

In Our Thoughts and Prayers Sis. Eva Tillman

Sis. Cassandra Gaither Bro. Clyde Lake

Bro. Curtis Bridges Sis. Clara Bolton

Bro. Willie A. Brown Sis. Olivia Gaither

Sis. Freddie L. Black Sis. Sandra Barnett

*****

Clubs/Auxiliaries/Committees/Other Announcements

PAGE 3 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

How was your holiday? When Christmas is over and life gets back to its normal routine, people gather to-gether to talk about their experiences over the break.

If you participated in the December Outreach Projects, your holiday was enriched with the spirit of giv-ing. Perhaps, you helped to prepare thirty-five Goodie Bags for MIFA filled with lovely throws, crocheted hats, scarves, socks, and toiletries. Maybe, you donated gingerbread cookies, fruit, or other items to bring cheer to over one hundred residents of Ashton Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. If you brightened the holiday, by singing lovely carols to the Sick and Shut-Ins your visit will always be remembered. If time didn't permit you to physically help, but you donated your resources to some or all of the projects, including the Food Bank, your help was invaluable.

Maybe, you were led by the Holy Spirit to perform other acts of kindness. Whatever you did touched the lives of others. Each act was a special blessing!

How was your holiday? We hope the spirit of giving exemplified during this season will forever linger in your hearts and continue into the new year. Let us praise and glorify God for what He has done.

Gratefully yours,

Mother Ellawee Jones Fredia Moore (Excerpts - "Golden Text Illuminated" by Kimberly Rae Bible Expositor and Illuminator)

Children/Youth Bible Study group caroling to the Sick and Shut-ins

Seniors preparing MIFA Goodie Bags

Missionary Outreach

PAGE 4 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

PAGE 5 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

January 2015—Birthdays and Anniversaries

S M T W T F S

1

New Year’s Day

2

3 Dr. Noel G. L. Hutchinson,

Jr.

Roberta Jackson

4

5 Anniversary

Bobby & Donna Renfro

6

7

Jaleesa Collins

8

Willie A. Brown

9

10

James A. Bridges, Sr.

11 12 13

14

Courtney A. Houston-

Carter

15

16 David L.

Wrushen, Jr.

Harriet Gregory

17

Desmond Jackson

18 19

20 21

22

Rayna Holmes

23

Rev. Sandra Burns

24

25

Rashai Holmes

26

Lisa Lockard

27

Olivia Gaither

Kelisha Grant

28

Rev. Eric Richardson,

Sr.

29

Karen S. Champion

30 31

You should discuss your beliefs and wishes with your Healthcare Representative before signing any forms. When instructing your Healthcare Representative about your wishes in the event you become incapacitated, it is suggested you consider the following questions. You should answer these questions based on your own beliefs and convey those beliefs and wishes to your Healthcare Representative. Any other wishes or desires that you feel your Healthcare Repre-sentative should know should also be given to the Represen-tative so that they may carry out their responsibilities as you would wish. 1. Do you think you would want to have any of the follow-

ing medical treatments performed on you? Kidney Dialysis-used if your kidneys stop

working Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)-

used if your heart stops beating Respirator (Ventilator)- used if you are

unable to breathe on your own Artificial Nutrition—used if you are un-

able to eat Artificial Hydration—used if you are un-

able to drink. 2. Do you want to donate parts of your body

to someone else at the time of your death? (Organ and Tissue Donation)

3. How would you describe your current health status? If you currently have any medical problems, how would you describe them?

4. If you have any current medical problems, in what ways, if any, do they affect your ability to function?

5. How do you feel about your current health status? 6. If you have a doctor, do you like him or her? Why? 7. Do you think your doctor should make the final decision

about any medical treatments you might need? 8. If your physical and mental abilities were decreased,

how would that affect your attitude toward independ-ence and self-sufficiency?

9. Do you wish to make any general comments about the value of independence and control in your life?

10. Do you expect that your spouse, children, and/or signifi-cant others will support your decisions regarding medi-cal treatment you may need now or in the future?

11. What will be important to you when you are dying? (e.g. physical comfort, no pain, family members present, etc.).

12. Where will you prefer to die? 13. What is your attitude toward death? 14. How do you feel about the use of life-sustaining meas-

ures in the face of terminal illness?

15. How do you feel about the use of life-sustaining measures in the face of permanent coma?

16. How do you feel about the use of life-sustaining measures in the face of irreversible chronic illness? (e.g. Alzheimer’s).

17. Do you wish to make any general comments about your attitude toward illness, dying, and death?

18. How do your religious/spiritual beliefs affect your attitude toward serious or terminal illness?

19. Do you have any specific financial or legal concerns that could impact the care you wish to receive?

20. What else do you feel is important for your Health-care Representative to know?

If over time, your beliefs and atti-tudes in any area change, you should inform your Healthcare Rep-resentative. It is also wise to inform your Healthcare Representative of the status of your health when there are changes such as a new diagnosis. In the event you are informed of a terminal illness, this, as well as the ramifications of it, should be dis-cussed with your Healthcare Repre-sentative.

Five Things about visiting the Hospital for Non-Hospital People

1. Wash your hands before you go into the room, and

when you come back out of the room. 2. Knock gently on the door before you go in. You’re

entering what small bit of privacy the patient has left, and announcing your arrival is the least you can to.

3. Introduce yourself and tell why you are coming in their room.

4. Ask if this is a good time to visit. You may be able to tell from looking around the room that medical per-sonnel are busy doing a procedure, but even if no one else is there, it may not be a good time from the patient’s stand point.

5. Tell them you care, listen to what they have to say, don’t tell your stories about hospitals, and keep your visit short (unless they want to talk and have you listen).

Congregational Care & Visitation

Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare

Health e News

20 Suggested Topics to Discuss with your Healthcare Representative

PAGE 6 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

Inspirational Reading

PAGE 7 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

A Spiritual Check-Up

I went to the Lord’s Clinic to have my routine check-up and I confirmed I was ill.

When Jesus took my bold pressure, He saw I was low in tenderness.

When he read my temperature, the thermometer registered 40° of anxiety.

He ran an electrocardiogram and found that I needed several “love bypasses” since my arteries were blocked

with loneliness and could not provide for any empty heart.

I went to orthopedics, because I could not walk by my brother’s side and I could not hug my friends, since I

had fractured myself when tripping with envy.

He also found I was short-sighted, since I could not see beyond the shortcomings of my brothers and sisters.

When I complained about deafness, the diagnostic was that I had stopped listening to Jesus’ voice talking to

me on a daily basis.

For all of that, Jesus gave me a free consultation thanks to his mercifulness, so my pledge is to once I leave

this clinic, only take the natural remedies he prescribed through his words of truth:

Every morning, take a full glass of gratitude

When getting to work, take one spoon of peace.

Every hour, take one pill of patience, one cup of brotherhood and one glass of humility.

When getting home, take one dose of love.

When getting to bed, take two caplets of clear conscience.

Do not give in into sadness or desperation for what you are going through today. God knows

how you feel...God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to you in

your life at this precise moment.

God’s purpose for you is simply perfect. He want to show you things that only you can under-

stand by living what you are living, and by being in the place you are now.

May God give you… For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer. Food for thought: What I make happen for others, God will make happen for me.