Bettye Henderson Holston A Celebration

A Celebration Of Sister Bettye Henderson Holston

Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 3:00 PM Sunday, November 12th, 2023

Order Of Worship Sunday, November 12th, 2023 A Celebration Of Bettye Henderson Holston The Twenty-fourth Sunday After Pentecost Doxology Call To Worship Opening Song This Little Light Of Mine The Invocation The Invocation Response This Little Light Of Mine Song Of Praise Announcements – Pastor’s Aid Ministry Worship In Giving Worship In Prayer The Lord’s Prayer The Apostles’ Creed Song Of Praise Bettye Henderson Holston Celebration Presentations

Song Of Praise Scripture – Acts 4:11 Song Of Preparation Message The Cornerstone (Acts 4:11) Invitation To Discipleship #68 How Great Thou Benediction And Grace Reception In The Fellowship Hall

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The Cornerstone A Call To Worship Inspired By Acts 4:11 and Bettye Henderson Holston

Leader: Today we gather in the name of the risen Lord.

People: Christ the rejected stone.

Leader: Today we gather as sisters and brothers of the resurrected one.

Christ the cornerstone to thank God for Bettye Henderson Holston.

People: A stone that was rejected at Alps Road Elementary School.

Leader: But today we gather to proclaim the good news of the risen Lord.

People: For today the stone that was rejected at Alps Road Elementary in 1966 is now the cornerstone of The Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School.

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This Little Light Of Mine 1. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.

2. Ev'rywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.

Ev'rywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.

Ev'rywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.

3 Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine.

Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine.

Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.

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The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life 5 everlasting. Amen.

#68 How Great Thou Art Stuart K. Hine

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed, Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

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Acts 4:11 New Revised Standard Version

11This Jesse is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.

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The Cornerstone

A Celebration To The Lord For Bettye Henderson Holston Sermon Notes From Pastor Marben Bland Key Passage: Acts 4:11 Supporting Scripture: Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 21:42, Luke 18:34

“...with all deliberate speed."

On May 17, 1954, the U.S Supreme Court in a unanimous ruling said that the segregation of the public schools was unconstitutional and that states should begin desegregation plans "with all deliberate speed."

The deliberate speed of the Brown v. Board of Education slowed to a trickle as states and local school board fought the decision with court appeals and other acts of defiance.

The first African American teacher at Alps Road Elementary School.

Nearly a decade later on September 6, 1966, the deliberate speed of Brown swiftly became the responsibility of Bettye Henderson Holston as she became the first African American teacher at Alps Road Elementary School.

The White House Classroom The responsibility that was swiftly thrusted on Mrs. Holston was not easy. By the time she arrived at Aps Road, to teach 3rd grade, Mrs. Holston, a graduate of The Fort Valley State University, was a veteran teacher with experience in the public schools of Walton, Barrow and Newton Counties.

However, her credentials and experience were for not, her colleagues treated her coldly. Her assigned classroom was the recently cleaned out janitor’s storage room. Detached from the main school building her classroom was known as the “white house”.

“If I have to go there by myself, I will go.”

Despite the distance, despite the isolation, despite the rudeness Mrs. Holston remained determined. Speaking of the time five decades later she said, “If I have to go there by myself, I will go.”

However, her greatest joy was her third-grade students. Mrs. Holston filled the white house with a bevy of learning materials, she took her students on field trips, and maintained excellent relationships with the parents. www.GBAAthens.org Watch The Bettye Henderson Holston Video

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The Cornerstone Scan The QR Code To Watch The Sermon

Key Passage: Acts 4:11 Supporting Scripture: Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 21:42, Luke 18:34

The Rejected Stone Jesus speaking to the chief priests and the Pharisees who plotted against his every move and schemed to kill him said in Matthew 21:42 ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Jesus’ rejection, humiliation, and crucifixion is an apparent tragedy, but God used it for a greater purpose. In Luke 18:34 Jesus told his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to fulfill what was written by the prophets. He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spit on, flogged, and killed, and on the third day rise again.

The Cornerstone Think of how the disciples felt the day Jesus died, they thought it was all over but then on the third day…… The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

The Cornerstone: Bettye Henderson Holston On November 3rd 2023, Mrs. Holston joined students, faculty and staff gathered at Alps Road Elementary for a ceremony. The school was being renamed: Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School. ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

When Jesus told the disciples about what would happen in Jerusalem its meaning was hidden from them. So much of Mrs. Holton’s 1966 experience was hidden. But God has a plan, a plan to turn it all around, a plan to deliver you, me, Mrs. Holston, and the disciples from the distant, the dismissive, and the disagreeable.

Because now: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

www.GBAAthens.org Watch The Bettye Henderson Holston Viedo

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The Cornerstone Scan The QR Code To Watch The Sermon

Key Passage: Acts 4:11 Supporting Scripture: Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 21:42, Luke 18:34

Your Notes

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ONLINE

We are a “Great Commission” church, committed to the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Greater Bethel has a robust suite of online ministry options designed to give you 24/7 access to the Gospel.

marbenbland.com

www.GBAAthens.org

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BETHEL Thanksgiving - Giving

Events

GREATER

It’s not too late to give your Thanksgiving giving basket contribution. Basket will be presented to Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School Families on Friday, November 17th, 2023. See Sister Rosalind Parks or Pastor Marben

Malachi - An Original Bible Study Monday, November 13th, 7:00 PM On Zoom

Official Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 14, 7:00 PM On Zoom

District Zoom Meeting Thursday, November 16th, 7:00 P.M. Zoom ID: 713 778 6738 Dial In # 301-715-8592

Christmas Party Saturday, December 9th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Christmas Program Sunday, December 17th, 11:00 AM

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www.GBAAthens.org www.zoom.us Meeting ID: 903 988 1805 Passcode: 982846 Call 301 715 8592 ID :903 988 1805 Passcode: 982846