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SECOND’S GAZETTE STAFF Nadine O. Harris, MBA, Founder/Publisher Ferrari Y. Green, Production and Design
Editors: Sharon Durall, Jaylyn Harris, Kathy Jackson Sherry Joiner, Operations and Distribution
Contributors Peggy LaBon, Lois Gaston, Jessie Anderson, Vanessa Jenkins, Vera Reeves, Betty Thomas, Felicia Dickson, Keith D. Holmes, Judy McCulloch, Donna Burke, LaTricia Brown
Photographers: Adele Davis, Jerel McLendon
Children’s Church Consultant: Avian Westby
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e need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature — trees, flowers, grass — grow in silence; see the stars, the moon, the sun, how they move in silence. … The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us. All our words will be useless unless they come from within — words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness. —Mother Teresa
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Pastor C on the Scene
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The Laughing Pew
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HEALTH—The Variant
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Supporters Church Happenings
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SBC Bookstore
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Baby Corner
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NEED PRAYER, call the church office and obtain the telephone number of the Deacon according to the first letter of your last name (See below). If your name starts 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/F 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
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The Laughing Pew TM
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Is it time for a “Second Act”? What is a “Second Act” anyway? A second act is something a person does after retiring or quitting a long-term career, job or their original occupation. Sometimes people do a second act. Some go through a mid-life crisis, and some just keep living. What’s the difference, you ask? Well, one is working, and one is spending. One of the Biblical “Second Acts” was when Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). I don’t believe Paul was expecting to have a change in his career. He really enjoyed persecuting Christians. But when Jesus calls your name, things change! This happened also to Hezekiah when he prayed; God sent word by Isaiah to tell Hezekiah his life had been extended fifteen 15 more years (2 Kings 20). That’s a nice second act. I know he was happy. “Many of us have had to pivot what we do and how we did it since this enemy they called a ‘Pandemic’ entered our lives. But by the grace of God, He has made things work that we could not imagine over two ago.” (Seniors on Zoom) Then there’s this mid-life crisis. I know people in their 50’s that purchase motorcycles, quads, boats, or just want to do something they never have done before. Some bungie jump, scale mountain sides, sky dive and other stuff for a feeling of exhilaration, excitement, a thrill, a natural high/intoxication, and as long as you are being safe and are insured, have fun! Last week I pulled four cucumbers from my garden, and that was very exciting to me (I don’t get out much lately) because I still enjoy life’s special moments. You may be like me and enjoy simple stuff, (although I have parasailed before and I understand the thrill of that), but I have found that meeting up with Jesus, wherever I am is the thrill of the moment, whatever I’m doing at that time. If your “Second Act” consists of work in the ministry or a new motorcycle, pray and ask the Lord for direction, and listen to your heart and loved ones about your decisions.
Enjoy! Peggy LaBon
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ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE LIFE CARE PLANNING YOUR CHOICES FOR YOUR CARE
A unable to speak for yourself.
n advance directive is a legal way to ensure that your family and your doctors are aware of your end of life wishes. This document will be used if you are
There are two types of advance directives. They can be changed at any time. LIVING WILL A living will inform your family and doctors of your wishes about life support and other types of treatment also called a declaration. MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY This is also called a durable power of attorney for health care. This form allows you to name a person to make treatment decisions for you when you cannot speak for yourself. If you do not have an advance directive, then it is left up to your family member, doctor or a judge who doesn’t know you or your wishes/beliefs to make decisions for you. The document will help your family be instrumental in guiding your care towards your wishes.
WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE IN AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE? Here are some things to include in your advance directive. Use the questions below to help you get started. . Who do you want to make decisions about your medical care if you are not able to? . What life-support measures do you want if you have a serious illness that gets worse over time or can’t be cured? . What are you most afraid of that might happen? (Maybe you’re afraid of having pain, losing your independence, or being kept alive by machines.) . Where would you prefer to die? (Your home? A hospital? A nursing home?) . Do you want to donate your organs when you die? . Do you want certain religious practices performed before you die? Be sure to contact your doctor if you have more questions. Live Life Healthy, Latricia A Brown LVN. Kp.org/lifecareplan http://advancedirective.info http://www.aarp.org>financial-legal
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How does AmazonSmile work?
When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/95-6121777
Second Baptist Church of Monrovia is an eligible organization.
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WELCOMES DONATIONS OF ANY SIZE Please make checks payable to
Second Baptist Church Second Baptist Church Diakona Nadine Harris John P. Harris, Sr.
Lady Betty G. Dillard Mother Deloris Bridges Sherry Joiner Marcus & Ferrari Green Elder Robert Craig Dr. John & Apryl Harris Diakona Larry & Debra Hayes
Ophelia M. Harris Diakona Carrie Walker Mother Mary Bourne Pastor James & Brenda Walker Mother Melva Hill
Donations can be dropped off at the SBC Bookstore.
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Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Matthew 25:34:-36
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The God of Second Chances “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”
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1 Timothy 1:14
ave you ever known someone whose life took a turn for the better? They removed themselves from a bad situation, over came homelessness, finally got a job after being unemployed. They conquered depression, cancer, or just decided to become a better human being? God loves us when were unlovable and understands us when were understandable and when others would deem us unworthy. Isn’t it good to know that God wipes our slate clean. Our mistakes are a thing of the past. God looks at the heart not judging us solely on our acts. We as Christians should treat others accordingly with the same mercy, understanding and compassion. Stop making excuses, stand up and walk in the new life that Jesus has waiting for you.
God Bless, Buttafly Burke
Laboring for the Lord
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or many people, the pandemic redefined work, with more employees logging hours from a home office — or kitchen table. Boundaries between job and personal life blurred, as did any sense of being “off duty.”
Most of us prefer clear divisions between our tasks and time. While such separations may help with scheduling, they are artificial human constructs. “Whatever your task,” says Colossians 3:23 (NRSV, emphasis added) — whether in public or private, family or job, spiritual or worldly activities — “put yourselves into it as done for the Lord.” Verse 17 tells us to “do everything” in Jesus’ name, “giving thanks to God the Father through him.” That means even work and worship interlock. As Rick Warren writes, “Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence.”
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Be Still
Running Toward the Goal
(and Silent)
“Disciplined runners consistently clear their heads and focus fully on the journey ahead because their passion and We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restzeal for the goal [supersede] the strain,” lessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature — trees, writes Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer. “The flowers, grass — grow in silence; see the stars, the moon, the sun, goal beckons them onward. Passion how they move in silence. … The more we receive in silent prayer, doesn’t negate weariness; it just resolves the more we can give in our active life. We need silence to be to press beyond it.” able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us. All our words will be useless unless they come from within — words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness. —Mother Teresa
Power in Weakness
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n the late 1970s, Henry Smith was struggling to find work after finishing his education. He also lived with a degenerative disease that caused him to become legally blind. But one day he heard a pastor explain that Jesus became poor so we might become rich through him. This idea inspired Smith to craft a song of thanks for God’s gift of Jesus. Though Smith wrote more than 300 songs, only this one became widely known (sometimes labeled “author unknown” or misattributed, but finally rightfully credited to him). “Give thanks with a grateful heart,” the song begins exuberantly. One of its most poignant lines urges, “Let the weak say, I am strong … because of what the Lord has done for us.” Across two millennia, Smith’s words and faith echo the apostle Paul: “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NRSV).
ARK OF THE COVENANT—For the Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant was at the center of worship. It contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna and Aaron’s rod. In the Old Testament, the ark was a visible representation of God’s throne, or presence, on earth, where he communed with Moses and the high priests. It also represents our earthly bodies, where the Holy Spirit dwells.
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Promises on Hand
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udrey Penn’s book The Kissing Hand features a young raccoon who’s nervous about the first day of school. Mom consoles him by kissing his palm, signifying her presence with him. The youngster can simply put his hand to his face anytime he needs a kiss from her. If that isn’t tear-jerking enough, as the raccoon scampers to school, he returns to kiss Mom’s hand so she’ll have a Kissing Hand too. That story reminds me of Matthew 28:20, when Jesus promises to be with us always, and of Psalm 23:4, which says, “I will fear no evil; for thou art with me” (KJV). God gives us a Kissing Hand through baptism, sealing us forever with the Holy Spirit and the mark of the cross of Christ. Just as the raccoons cherish their kissing hands, may we cherish the promise of our Father’s eternal presence. Thanks be to God, whose “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). —Julie Lee
Learn from Leaves
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s you’re enjoying the fall colors and sipping apple cider, ponder this saying: “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” When leaves stop producing chlorophyll, they turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. This yearly spectacle makes way for the leaves to let go and fall. It also serves as a good reminder of things we may need to drop: clutter around the home, a desire for control, commitments that no longer bring joy, personal expectations that cause added stress, a need to always be right and so on. Just as the Israelites had to let go of their past as slaves in Egypt and Saul-turned-Paul had to abandon his persecuting ways, we, too, can let go of what weighs us down and gets in the way of God’s best for our lives. Embrace fall as a season of change and see just how beautiful it is to let things go! —Janna Firestone
Michael and All Angels
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any Christian denominations celebrate the festival of Michael and All Angels on September 29. While Gabriel is probably the best-known angel for announcing to Mary that she would bear the Son of God, “the archangel Michael” is named in Jude 9; in Daniel 12:1 he is called “Michael, the great prince, the protector of [the] people”; and in Revelation 12:7 we read of “Michael and his angels.” In each case, Michael is involved in a cosmic battle revealed to someone in a vision as a message from God. In fact, whenever angels appear in Scripture, the Hebrew word is “messenger,” which in Greek is angelos — thus, the English “angel.” The Bible doesn’t say much about what angels looked like, but surely they weren’t the cute cherubs of modern pop art. Given their most common greeting, “Do not be afraid,” it must have been startling to see one. Why celebrate Michael and All Angels? First, it reminds us there is more to God’s realm than we humans can see or comprehend. No matter the exact structure or appearance of angels, God sometimes uses them to communicate with us. Second, by broadening our understanding we can serve as angels.
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SBCCM ACTS OF FAITH (AOF) BIBLE COMPETITION starts this month… ALL CHILDREN are welcome to participate on 3rd Sundays
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Bibles, All Occasion Cards, Gifts, Children’s Books, Big Bible Cover Selection, Large Print and Extra Large Print Bibles, Life Application and Study Bibles, Children’s Bibles, Candles, Jewelry, Devotionals. Purse and Credit Card Holders Special Orders and beautiful imprinting, Gift Wrapping 2BC T-shirts, Customized Tees Wheel Chair Accessible
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Send your child’s funny pictures or stories to be in next month’s edition of Baby Corner!