Vision
Vision
Russell
Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Volume
III
Published Monthly
September 2004
Number 32
As
we conclude our planning for the New Conference
year, 2004-2005, both our Projected Budget and Calendar of Events are documents
of faith. WE have thoughtfully and
prayerfully planned in faith. WE
know not what the New Conference
Year holds for us, but we do know who hold the New Year.
Russell Memorial is God’s Church.
Her ministries and finances are His.
All He needs from us, is for us to trust Him and follow His leading.
We are people of God. “We
walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Hebrews 11 is considered “Faith Hall of
Fame”. In it, we see not
only what “faith is”, but how important “faith is”.
We are studying in our Mid-Week Bible Study a series entitled “A Faith
Worth Having: The Apostles’
Creed”, where we are studying summaries of faith as contained in the
Apostles’ Creed.
In our introductory study, we learned that a “Faith Worth Having” is:
I.
A Worshipping Faith (Hebrews 11:4)
II.
A Walking Faith (Hebrews 11:5)
III.
A Willing Faith (Hebrews 11:6)
IV.
A Working Faith (Hebrews 11:7)
It is my prayer that our faith in this New Conference Year, 2004-2005
will also lead us to “wherefore seeing that we are also surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience the race that is set before
us, looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews
12:1-2).
Youth
& Young Adult Conference 2004
Session:
Disciples for the Discipline
Speaker:
Mr. Steven Hoyt
July 6, 2004
Our purpose is to become a more mature Christian.
What is spirituality? Being
Christ-like always-we need to discipline ourselves in order to do so.
What is spiritual discipline? Taking
the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.
If you are spiritually mature, then
you can bring others to Christ.
Understanding Discipleship:
1.
Mature believers are called disciples.
2.
One can’t be a disciple without being disciplined.
3.
The more disciplined one becomes, the more God can use one.
4.
The mark of a disciple is cross bearing.
Luke 14:27 says, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me
cannot be My disciple.”
5.
To become a disciple, one must develop the habits of a disciple.
A habit is a continual, often subconscious inclination to do something.
Colossians 3:9-10 says, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken
off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is
being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
We need to get into the habit of spending Daily Quiet Time (DQT) with
God’s Word. DQT is time set aside
to be alone with God through reading the Bible and prayer.
This was Jesus’ source of strength.
Every person effective in service for God developed this habit-Moses,
David, Daniel, et. al. Scripture
reference: John 8:31-32 says, “To
the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you
are really My disciples. Then you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
The purpose of Daily Quiet Time is to give devotion to, get direction
from, and to gain delight in God.
Other scriptures used in this class were:
Romans
8:29 says, “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the
likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Hebrews
5:12, 13 says, “In fact, though by this time, you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you the elementary truth of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still as an infant, is not acquainted
with the teaching about righteousness.”
Proverbs
8:5 says, “You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain
understanding.”
This was an excellent class, and I have learned that I need to do
whatever it takes to become a disciple for Christ.
Submitted
by Sis. Michelle Mack
Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church
Seventh Episcopal
District
136 New
York/Washington 132 Carolina Joint Annual Conference
August 1-6, 2004
Quadrennial Theme:
“Refocusing from Survival to Revival and Renewal of the Church”
Conference Theme:
“Celebrating: Our Faith, Our Hope
and Our Heritage”
On Sunday, August
2, 2004 the Conference convened for its business session at 10:00 a.m.
Bishop Charles L. Helton, presided.
The roll was called for Pastors, Conference Officers and Lay Delegates
for both New York Washington and Carolina Region Conferences.
Bishop Helton then proceeded with the organization of the conference
which included setting of the Conference Bar and other items of business.
The 12:00 o’clock Noon Day Worship Service was held and was centered
around the Conference theme: “Celebrating Our Faith, Our Hope and Our
Heritage. Reverend James B. Walker,
Pastor of Phillips Metropolitan C.M.E. Church, Hartford, Connecticut delivered
the message.
At 2:30 p.m. an Evangelism and Missions session which included a
stimulating panel discussion. The
convenor was Reverend Dr. Paul
L.
Brown, Pastor of Miles Memorial C.M.E. Church, Washington, DC.
Topics for the panelist were “Are We Relating To Our Ecumenical and
Missions Work?”; “Impacting Our
Church in Evangelism and Missions”; Witnessing
Through Mission”; and “Our
Faith, Our Hope and Our Heritage: How
Are We Growing the Church?”
The panelist were Rev. Bobby Best, Pastor, St. John C.M.E. Church,
Winston-Salem, NC, Rev. Wendell Oldham, Jr., Pastor, Israel Metropolitan C.M.E.
Church, Washington, Rev. Welborn Preston, Jr., Pastor New Life C.M.E. Church,
Hampton, VA, Rev. Gloria Fleming, Pastor, Mt. Olive C.M.E. Church, Easley, SC.
We were given an informative Evangelism and Missions Workshop Handbook.
Following the panel discussion the conference attendees participated in
breakout sessions on Evangelism and Missions.
On Monday night at 7:00 p.m. the Ecumenical Worship Service and Welcome
was held. The stimulating sermon
was delivered by Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Presiding Bishop of the Fourth Episcopal
District.
Submitted by Sis. Faydene
Hatch
Community
Outreach/Back-to-School Give-A-Way Day
The Community Outreach and School Supplies Give-A-Way Day was held on
Saturday, august 7, 2004 at Russell Memorial Church Parking Lot from 10:00 a.m.
– 2:00 p.m. a day of fund and fellowship with out immediate neighbors.
The theme was “Reaching Out in Love to our School Children in the
Community.” There were free food,
clothes and household items. The
ministry tables included Voters Registration, Sunday School and Evangelism
discipleship materials.
Back to school supplies were shared with students grades Kindergarten
through College. The students and
parents appreciated the school supplies.
Thanks to the Outreach Ministry for its dedication and hard work and to
God be the Glory for the success of this day.
Submitted
by Sis. Fannie T. Lee
The Senior
Citizens Ministry will meet Wednesday, September 8th at 1:15 p.m.,
following Noon Day Bible Study, in the Multipurpose Room.
Mrs. Gisele Bounsell Bell, former member of Russell Memorial C.M.E.
Church, will be our guest speaker. She
will share information on Diabetes and its affects on your health.
Mrs. Bell is a Social Worker at the Durham Dialysis Center, Inc.
She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Bounsell.
A cordial invitation is extended to our Senior Citizens to attend.
Submitted
by Sis. Mamie Alston
FAMILY
NIGHT AT
DBAP(Durham
Athletic Ball Park) 2004
Family Night at the DBAP was a success.
Those who brave the on again off again showers, were treated to a Good
Game and an entertaining outgoing. The
Bulls led early in the game on a 1st inning homer against the
Charlotte Knights. The Knights tied
the score in the 7th inning, and scored three more unanswered runs to
defeat the Bulls, 4-1. This was the
first defeat in three years. Since Russell Memorial have been attending family
night at the DBAP. In spite
of the final score, a good time was had by all.
In between innings we were entertained by baby stroller races, Sumo
Wrestling and yes, Woolly Bull. The
Men’s Ministry would like to thank all who contributed to making this function
possible. To God be the glory!.
Men’s Ministry meeting dates are the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m.
Submitted
by Bro. Donald Bailey, President
Men’s
Ministry
The
Men’s Ministry sends greetings to all on this new conference year.
The Men’s Ministry is excited about this new conference year, and ask
that you pray for us in our endeavours this year, as we uplift Jesus. We are excited about our Special Days which are:
(1) Veteran’s Day Recognition in November (Contact Bro. Clent Davis);
(2) Souper Bowl Mixer in February 2005 (Contact Bro. Donald Bailey); and (3)
Men’s Conference in March 2005 (Contact Bro. Wilmon Rogers, Jr.).
Dates for the Special Days will be announced. All Special Days will have various committees.
See contact person for more information.
Let’s get busy men! Lifting
up the name of Jesus!
Submitted
by Bro. Donald Bailey, President
Men’s
Ministry
National Grandparents Observance
September 12, 2004
“We have not,
because we ask not”….
James 4:2d
The Praise Dancers have expressed an interest in having uniforms.
However, as we ALL know, deciding upon a uniform involves more than just
selecting. Finances play a much
greater role in the process; and this is where you come in.
We are soliciting your help in t his endeavour.
You may sponsor a praise dancer or give a donation towards the total cost
of the uniforms. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact Masharell Smith 957-0477.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Toney Smith, Sr.
September 1
Mother
Dora McCoy
September 3
Roger
Burroughs
September 4
Lisa
Corbett
September 10
Samuel
Jordan
September 10
JoAnn Yarborough
September 11
Darryl Farrell
September 14
Michelle Harrell
September 16
Patricia Smith
September 22
Faydene Hatch
September 23
Howard
Fowler
September 23
Daisy
Wall
September 24
Michelle
Harris September
26
Kenyetta
Williams
September 27
Katrina
Johnson
September 29
Minister
Nicole Hamm September 30
James & Michelle Harrell September 1
Keith & Elizabeth Gilchrist September 3
John & Ethel S. Bounsell September 20
Murray & Linda McDonald September 25
Calendar of Events
September 11, 2004 - Missionary Planning Meeting, Royal Plaza, Gastonia, NC at 9:30 a.m.
September 12, 2004 - Grandparents Day Observance at 10:00 a.m.
September 18, 2004 - District Planning Meeting, Parkwood Institutional CME Church, Charlotte, NC at 10:00 a.m.
September 26, 2004 - Annual General Funds Day, Rev. Lawrence Turner and the Holland Chapel AMEZ Church Congregation at 4:00 p.m.
September 28, 2004 - October 1, 2004 - 18th
Annual CME Convocation, Birmingham, AL
October 2, 2004 - 100 Men In Black (Church Anniversary Event) at 6:00 p.m.
October 4, 2004 - Quarterly Conference at
6:30 p.m.
October 9, 2004 - Jr. Ushers Car Wash from
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
October 10, 2004 - Lay Day Observance at
10:00 a.m.
October 17, 2004 - Deadline for Church Anniversary Ads
October 17, 2004 - F. Howard Alston Scholarship Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
October 20-21, 2004 - Fall Revival nightly at 7:00 p.m.
October 24, 2004 - Meet the Candidates Day at 10:00 a.m.
October 29, 2004 - Hallelujah Festival at
6:30 p.m.
October 30, 2004 - Officers Workshop, St. Joseph CME Church at 10:00 a.m.
October 30, 2004 - Church Anniversary Shopping Spree, Potomac Mills at 6:00 a.m.
October 31, 2004 - Status of Women (Missionary) at 10:00 am.
