Skip to main content

Better Together

Page 1

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:4


S

Mission Statement econd’s Gazette serves as a monthly newsletter to inform the congregants of valuable information happening on the campus of Second Baptist Church and in the community, as well as spotlight individuals and events that edify our par-

ish church, but most importantly; glorifies the name of Jesus Christ.

Nadine O. Harris, MBA /Founder/Chief Editor Ferrari Y. Green, Production & Design Dr. Precious Flemings, Writing Editor Sherry Joiner, Operations & Distribution

Contributors: Peggy LaBon / Jessie Anderson / Vanessa Jenkins / Vera Reeves / Betty Thomas / Felicia Dickson /

R

acial reconciliation is a hot topic among Christians these days. In Sikeston, Missouri, which has a history of segregation, two church bodies recently decided to live out the gospel’s message of unity by merging.

Keith D. Holmes / Photographers: Adele Davis, Jerel McLendon Children’s Church Consultant Jaylyn A. Harris Second’s Gazette is published and distributed monthly, every First Sunday, to provide parishioners with information about our church, the community, and the world. 130th Edition, Version 3

Kenny King, pastor of the mostly black Smith Chapel, and William Marshall, pastor of the mostly white Trinity Baptist, had become friends. They realized both churches, while healthy, were undergoing transitions, so they joined forces. The new congregation’s name, Grace Bible Fellowship, represents God’s grace and the grace we extend to others — no matter their skin color. “We want to … give people the benefit of the doubt instead of letting these issues divide us,” King says. “The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to keep us together and not keep us separated.”

We welcome your comments. Contact us at: Secondsnewsletter@gmail.com


5

Call the church office for the telephone number, If your last name begins with A– Call Robert & Jessie Anderson B—Dennis & JoAnne Craig, or Betty Brown or Rodney Bough C—A.G. Harrison, or Shirley Robinson, or Larry & Deborah Hayes D—James Harvey or Venda Hawkins E/—Ron & LaVonne Husband or Adrienne Hurst G–Minnie Mannings or Valeria Burwell or Ellen Clark H–George & Tamara Lewis or Thelma Jones I/J–Ellis & Thelma Johnson or Eva McLaurin or Walter McDonald K/L/N/O/T—Terrence Williams or Lonnie & Josephine Stokes M–Chuck Williams or Melva Hill P/Q—Carrie Walker or Nadine Harris R/S—Larry Willis or Oscar Woodard U/V/W/X/Y/Z—Robert Hamilton or Ron Demps or Michael Dickson


6


79

Frederick Douglass, original name Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, (born February? 1818, Tuckahoe, Maryland, U.S.—died February 20, 1895, Washington, D.C.), African American who was one of the most eminent human rights leaders of the 19th century. His oratorical and literary brilliance thrust him into the forefront of the U.S. abolition movement, and he became the first black citizen to hold high rank in the U.S. government.

T

o counter skeptics who doubted that such an articulate spokesman could ever have been a slave, Douglass felt impelled to write his autobiography in 1845; revised and completed in 1882 as Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Douglass’s account became a classic in American literature as well as a primary source about slavery from the bondman’s viewpoint. To avoid recapture by his former owner, whose name and location he had given in the narrative, Douglass left on a twoyear speaking tour of Great Britain and Ireland. Abroad, Douglass helped to win many new friends for the abolition movement and to cement the bonds of humanitarian reform between the continents. Douglass returned with funds to purchase his freedom and also to start his own antislavery newspaper, the North Star (later Frederick Douglass’s Paper), which he published from 1847 to 1860 in Rochester, New York. The abolition leader William Lloyd Garrison disagreed with the need for a separate black-oriented press, and the two men broke over this issue as well as over Douglass’s support of political action to supplement moral suasion. Thus, after 1851 Douglass allied himself with the faction of the movement led by James G. Birney. He did not countenance violence, however, and specifically counseled against the raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (October 1859). During the Civil War (1861–65) Douglass became a consultant to Pres. Abraham Lincoln, advocating that former slaves be armed for the North and that the war be made a direct confrontation against slavery. Throughout Reconstruction (1865–77), he fought for full civil rights for freedmen and vigorously supported the women’s rights movement. After Reconstruction, Douglass served as assistant secretary of the Santo Domingo Commission (1871), and in the District of Columbia he was marshal (1877–81) and recorder of deeds (1881–86). Finally, he was appointed U.S. minister and consul general to Haiti (1889–91).


8

The Man Behind Black History Month Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) dedicated his life to educating African Americans about the achievements and contributions of their ancestors. SARAH PRUITT

I

n 1915, Carter G. Woodson traveled to

Chicago from his home in Washington, D.C. to take part in a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation. He had earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Chicago, and still had many friends there. As he joined the thousands of black Americans overflowing from the Coliseum, which housed exhibits highlighting the achievements of their people since the abolition of slavery, Woodson was inspired to do more in the spirit of celebrating black history and heritage. Before he left Chicago, he helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). A year later, Woodson singlehandedly launched the Journal of Negro History, in which he and other researchers brought attention to the achievements of black Americans.

Born in 1875 in New Canton, Virginia, Woodson had worked as a sharecropper, miner and various other jobs during his childhood to help support his large family. Though he entered high school late, he made up for lost time, graduating in less than two years. After attending Berea College in Kentucky, Woodson worked in the Philippines as an education superintendent for the U.S. government. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago before entering Harvard. In 1912, three years before founding the ASNLH, he became only the second African American (after W.E.B. DuBois) to earn a doctorate from that institution.


In 1870, Henrietta Wood Sued for Reparations—and Won The $2,500 verdict, the largest ever of its kind, offers evidence of the generational impact such awards can have On April 17, 1878, twelve white jurors entered a federal courtroom in Cincinnati, Ohio, to deliver the verdict in a now-forgotten lawsuit about American slavery. The plaintiff was Henrietta Wood, described by a reporter at the time as “a spectacled negro woman, apparently sixty years old.” The defendant was Zebulon Ward, a white man who had enslaved Wood 25 years before. She was suing him for $20,000 in reparations. Two days earlier, the jury had watched as Wood took the stand; her son, Arthur, who lived in Chicago, was in the courtroom. Born into bondage in Kentucky, Wood testified, she had been granted her freedom in Cincinnati in 1848, but five years later she was kidnapped by Ward, who sold her, and she ended up enslaved on a Texas plantation until after the Civil War. She finally returned to Cincinnati in 1869, a free woman. She had not forgotten Ward and sued him the following year. The trial began only after eight years of litigation, leaving Wood to wonder if she would ever get justice. Now, she watched nervously as the 12 jurors returned to their seats. Finally, they announced a verdict that few expected: “We, the Jury in the above entitled cause, do find for the plaintiff and assess her damages in the premises at Two thousand five hundred dollars.” Though a fraction of what Wood had asked for, the amount would be worth nearly $65,000 today. It remains the largest known sum ever granted by a U.S. court in restitution for slavery. Ref. The Smithsonian Magazine, 2019.

Brandon Hall, where Wood toiled as a slave in the 1850’s as it looked in 1836. (Library of Congress)

No image of Henrietta Wood survives today, but her story is recorded in court filings, including the verdict slip above.

9


10

E

go Michael is a Nigerian born UKbased Gospel Artist, who releases the audio and video of her latest single tagged ‘New Dimension‘.

Ego Michael said; “New Dimension came to me in the times I was waiting in the Lord for a particular miracle last year; I had a great conviction that this miracle would only happen if I connected with the Holy Spirit on a different level…It came in the midst of praise”. This beautiful tune titled "New Dimension" was produced by Wole Oni and the visual was directed by Bface. Ex-Nollywood actress, Ego Michael launched her first single in 2012 and later released five singles in 2018. Reference: dib.com.ng


11

Join us for a day of Coding! Check in at the Wallis Annenberg Building will begin at 9:45 a.m. A light breakfast will be provided. Free parking with RSVP. For questions please contact:

The Digital Teaching and Learning 2020 Conference is a one-day professional development and networking opportunity that will showcase innovative educational strategies and technologies in teaching and learning. This conference will engage participants and equip them with real-world skills and techniques that they can apply to their classrooms. We invite all to join us and contribute to our vibrant community as we share effective practices and approaches.

Reginald Williams at rwilliams@cscmail.org, or by calling 213744-7444.

For more details and a schedule of sessions, refer to the conference website: bit.ly/DTL2020

Sat, February 8, 2020

Sessions include: 

About the Series CINEMA TUESDAYS

These FREE Tuesday afternoon screenings showcase diverse human stories from around the world. Schedule: Eve’s Bayou (February 4)

Creating Awesome Videos using Canvas Studio • TCS Instructional Design, at Your Service • PowerPoint Tips and Tricks • Building Rubrics into Canvas • Synchronous Student Engagement: Online and Ground “Course Buddies” • Digital Accessibility • An Equation for Effective Online Discussions: Technology + Pedagogy + Innovation = Community + Engagement + Learning • Graphic Design for eLearning - the 4 Basics • Embedding Content in Canvas • Making Canvas Work for You • Closing Keynote: Exploring the Evolution of Technology in the Classroom: Where Have we Been and Where are we Going?

Thu, February 13, 2020


12


13

Contributed by Diakona Thelma Jones

“I’m Fine….How Are You?” There’s nothing the matter with me, I’m just as healthy as can be I have arthritis in both knees. And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze. My pulse is weak, my blood is thin, But, I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in. All my teeth have had to come out, And my diet I hate to think about, I’m overweight and I can’t get thin, But, I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in. Arch support I need for my feet, or I Wouldn’t be able to go out in the street. Sleep is denied me night after night, My Memory’s failing, and head’s in a spin, But, I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in. The moral of this as the table unfolds. Is that for you and me, who are growing old It’s better to say, “I’m fine” with a grin, Than to let people know the shape we are in.

I’m Fine….How Are You?


14

Better Together Racial reconciliation is a hot topic among Christians these days. In Sikeston, Missouri, which has a history of segregation, two church bodies recently decided to live out the gospel’s message of unity by merging. Kenny King, pastor of the mostly black Smith Chapel, and William Marshall, pastor of the mostly white Trinity Baptist, had become friends. They realized both churches, while healthy, were undergoing transitions, so they joined forces. The new congregation’s name, Grace Bible Fellowship, represents God’s grace and the grace we extend to others — no matter their skin color. “We want to … give people the benefit of the doubt instead of letting these issues divide us,” King says. “The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to keep us together and not keep us separated.”

Bible Quiz The precise number varies depending on the Bible version, but roughly how many times does the word “love” occur in the Old and New Testaments combined? A. 200-300 Answer: C

B. 400-500 C. 600-700 D. 800-900


Special Dates

15

• African-American History Month • Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020 • Presidents Day, February 17, 2020 • Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 23, 2020 • Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020 • Leap Day, February 29, 2020

Awaiting The Call The question we must ask our heart is, “Am I comfortable under the eye of God? Or is God getting too close?” We are strange and lovely creatures. We can ache for God tremendously yet find ourselves getting nervous if God gets too close. After all, the closer God gets, the more we hear the call to be divinized. It is both exciting and frightening to hear that call.

The Best Valentine Love-ly Superlatives

To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek him the greatest adventure, to find him the greatest human achievement.

—St. Augustine

Almost everyone — at least of the female persuasion — knows the romantic meaning of the phrase “hearts and flowers.” Valentine’s Day is coming! What will I get from my boyfriend … my husband … my best friend? I’m hoping for some sort of bouquet, a card full of loving words and red hearts, candy or at least a sweet balloon. Human beings may disappoint. That special someone may forget to check the calendar for February 14. But even if he doesn’t come through exactly as I hope, I can still be amazed and happy with the valentine I am sure to receive every day from my heavenly Father and his Son: words of delight and joy and caring — always surrounding me with love and more love. These are the best “hearts and flowers” I could ever have, and which I do have, on Valentine’s Day and throughout eternity.


16

O

n February 25, 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania became the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The University was established through the bequest of Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who bequeathed $10,000 (one-tenth of his estate), to design and establish a school to educate people of African descent to prepare them as teachers. First known as the African Institute, the school was soon renamed the Institute for Colored Youth. In the early years, it provided training in trade and agriculture; the predominant skills needed for general economy. In 1902, the Institute was relocated to George Cheyney’s farm, a 275-acre property, 25 miles west of Philadelphia. The name “Cheyney” became associated with the school in 1913, though the school’s official name changed several times during the 20th century. Cheyney University became its official. As a charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Cheyney State College became Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1983, making it the oldest of the fourteen member institutions and the only HBCU in the state system. While Cheyney University has a rich heritage as the first institution of higher learning for African Americans, the campus today welcomes students from a variety of races, cultures, and nationalities, all of whom receive educational instruction far beyond the vision of Richard Humphreys. Cheyney still graduates teachers, but alumni also have careers ranging from journalism, medicine, business, science/ technology, law, communications, and government service. The University offers baccalaureate degrees in an array of disciplines, and many graduates go on to secure advanced degrees in a variety of fields. Cheyney University boasts more than 30,000 graduates. Well-known alumni include the late Ed Bradley, a correspondent for the CBS program “60 Minutes;” Pedro Rivera, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education; Robert W. Bogle, publisher and CEO of the Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest newspaper continuously owned and operated by an African American; Dr. Audrey F. Bronson, a member of the PA State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, ordained minister and retired educator; Dr. Gladys Styles Johnston, former Chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney; Thaddeus Kirkland, State Representative and Mayor of Chester, PA; and the late Bayard Rustin, a prominent civil rights activist.“Remembering Our Past, Celebrating Our Presenting, Anticipating Our Future. Historical Black Universities! Reference: https://cheyney.edu/who-we-are/the-first-hbcu

Dr. Precious


17


18

The Laughing Pew TM

The Preacher's Dream 'how many want to hear this sermon again?"


19


18 20


19 21

Diakona James L. Harvey Diakona Harvey was the key speaker at the City of Duarte’s Martin Luther King , Jr. Celebration Saturday January 18, 2020 at Royal Oaks Park. James was born and raised in Memphis; a teenager who gave eye witness reflections on what it was like the day Dr. King was assassinated. Attendees of the Community Remembrance Celebration marched on the newly named Donald and Bernice Watson Trail located adjacent to Royal Oaks Drive. Walkers started at Buena Vista, heard MLK speeches as they walked to the park; received free MLK t-shirts, and healthy snacks.

J

James L Harvey

ames Harvey graduated from Douglass High School in Memphis, TN in 1968 and then received his undergraduate degree from Christian Brothers College. After a 24-year career with Metropolitan Transit Authority, Mr. Harvey started a new position as an educator for Los Angeles County. He earned his Masters Degree in Special Education from Azusa Pacific College. Mr. Harvey resides in Diamond Bar, CA. and has two adult sons. James serves as a deacon at Monrovia’s 117 year old, historic Second Baptist Church where he has been a member for the last 27 years. He and his recently deceased wife, James Ella, to whom he was married for 48 years, were both born in Memphis and were teenagers there the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel.


Movie Pick of the Month

22

Second’s Gazette Welcomes donations of any size. Please make checks payable to

Second Baptist Church SUPPORTERS

“The Inkwell,” debuted April 22, 1994, tells the story

Second Baptist Church Diakona Nadine O. Harris John P. Harris, Sr. Lady Betty G. Dillard Mother Deloris K. Bridges Sherry Joiner Marcus & Ferrari Green Barbara Jean Grant

of a 16-year-old kid whose family spends a couple of weeks on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1976, at his uncle and aunt vacation home, who are wealthy Republicans, with a portrait of Richard M. Nixon on the living room wall. The movie is a coming-of-age comedy with a “Summer of 42” twist at the end, and all of the obligatory stops in between: The bonfire on the beach, the Fourth of July parade, the first kiss with fireworks exploding in the air, the parents fighting and the kids exchanging great and solemn truths beneath the moon. Millennials may not have ever heard of this movie. But it is a movie with an all-Black cast of actors, from beginners to oldtimers such as Glynn Turman and Suzzanne Douglas. For Millennials who don’t know how the upper-class lived back in the day, watch the Inkwell and you will see history in the making to be remembered and celebrated. Roger and Ebert gave this movie a three thumbs up when they reviewed it. You can watch the “Inkwell” on Amazon Prime.

Shirley Towler – Hayes Elder Robert Craig Dr. John & Apryl Harris Diakona Larry & Debra Hayes

Schedule of Worship Services

Christine Mathis

Sunday Church School, Baptism and New Member’s Orientation Classes

Marva E. Hogan

From 9:45AM – 10:30AM

Ophelia M. Harris

Sunday Morning Services 10:45AM

Barbara M. Harris Diakona Carrie Walker Mother Mary Bourne

Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper Celebration is served every FIRST SUNDAY after the 10:45AM Worship Service

Geneva Douglas

Mid-Week Bible Study and Prayer Services

Laura Bullock

Bible Study, Prayer, Praise, and Testimonies at 10:45AM and 7:00PM on Wednesdays, except Holidays

Mother Melva Hill


23

Meets every Wednesday Evening at 6:30 P.M. In the Home of Elder Robert Craig For more information , Contact the Church Office. 626-358-2136


24

A

Clinical Trials clinical trial involves research using human volunteers. Participating in a clinical trial contributes to medical knowledge. The results of these studies can make a difference in the care of future patients by providing information about the benefits and risk of therapeutic, preventative, or diagnostic products or interventions.

In a clinical trial, participants receive specific interventions according to the research plan or protocol created by the investigators. These interventions may be medical products, such as drugs or devices; procedures; or changes to participants' behavior, such as diet. Clinical trials may compare new medical approach to standards that are already available, such as a placebo that contains no active ingredients, or to no intervention. Some clinical trials compare interventions that are already available to each other. When a new product or approach is being studied, it is not usually known whether it will be helpful, harmful or no different than available alternatives. Investigators try to determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention by measuring certain outcomes in the participants. Every clinical trial is led by a principal investigator, who is often a medical doctor. Clinical trials also have a research team that may include doctors, nurses, social workers and other health care professionals. Clinical trials can be sponsored or funded, by pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers, voluntary groups and other organizations, in addition to Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Doctors and other health care providers can also sponsor clinical research. Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve a clinical trial to begin, scientists perform laboratory test and studies in animals to test a potential therapy's safety and efficacy. If these studies show favorable results, the FDA gives approval for the intervention to be tested in humans. Clinical studies can take place in many locations, including hospitals, universities, doctors' office, and community clinics. The location depends on who is conducting the study. The length of a clinical trial varies, depending on what is being studied. Participants are told how long the study will last before they enroll. It is important for clinical trials to have participants of different ages, sexes, races and ethnicities. When clinical trials include diverse participants, the study results may have a much wider applicability. Clinical trials have standards outlining who can participate. These standards are called eligibility criteria and are listed in the protocol. Some research studies seek participants who have the illnesses or conditions that will be studied, other studies are looking for healthy participants and some studies are limited to a predetermined group of people who are asked by researchers to enroll.


25

Informed consent is a process used by researchers to provide potential and enrolled participants with information about a clinical trial. This information helps people decide whether they want to enroll or continue to participate in the study. The informed consent process is intended to protect participants and should provide enough information for a person to understand the risks, potential benefits, and alternatives to the study. Signing the document and providing consent is not a contract. Participants may withdraw from a study at any time, even if the study is not over. There are many ways you can get help to find a clinical trial. You can talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider. Or, you can search Clinicaltrials.gov. You can sign up for a registry or matching service to connect you with trials in your area. Supports groups and websites that focus on a particular condition sometimes have lists of clinical studies. Also, you may see ads for trials in the newspaper, or on TV. Let your doctor know that you are thinking about joining a clinical trial. He or she may want to talk to the research team about your health to make sure the study is safe for you and coordinate your care while you are in the study. Anyone interested in participating in a clinical trial should know as much as possible about the trial and feel comfortable asking the research team questions about the trial, the related procedures and any expenses. Be informed, healthy, and safe!!!

Betty Thomas, RN


24 26


25 27


28


29


30


31

G & M EXPRESS Tax Service Preparing your own Federal Income tax return can be a complicated and a confusing process. G & M Express provides full service, individual federal income tax and state income tax preparation   

Reasonable E-file FREE No out-pocket expense for tax prep if receiving refund (taken out of refund) Send me your friends & family and I will send you $20.00 referral fee.

Contact: Geneva Ward-Douglas, MBA Owner P O Box 853 Monrovia, CA 91017 Phone (909) 239-1382 Fax (909) 606-8781 geneva888@aol.com


32

65’ T.V for the GA

Valentine’s Gits The kids clothes


33


34

Director: Dr. John P. Harris, Jr.

HIGH ATTENDANCE KATHERINE THOMAS, ROYELLE JOHNSON AND ROXANNE JOHNSON, (3-WAY TIE)

DISCIPLESHIP AWARD DARYL ‘DJ’ JONES—STARIEANNA WOODS

ROLE MODEL AWARD ROYELLE JOHNSON-JADEN BRADFORD


35


“Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Better Together by Second's Gazette Staff - Issuu