June 2022
A newsletter of Zion Hill Baptist Church
THE LIU (pronounced LEE-UU)
Zion Hill Celebrates the Blessing of Mothers Pastor Parker Imagines what Ishmael would say to his mother in a letter.
I
s your Godly mother in heaven, or is she still on this side? If she’s still here, or if she isn’t, you’re blessed. Pastor Aaron L. Parker wished a Happy Mother’s Day to the sisters and brothers in the congregation. Why did he wish the brothers a Happy Mother’s Day? He reminded us that some men serve as mothers to their children just as some mothers serve as fathers to their children. Following Pastor Parker’s greeting, The Reverend K. LaMarr Jones began the salute to mothers with “That’s Mama.” You may recognize your beloved mama in some of the many descriptive statements that he used in honoring mothers. Here are just a few of those praise statements. n
S he’s attentive with an ample supply of sound advice.
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S he’s dedicated, devoted, and disciplines in love.
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S he’s firm and full of faith.
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S he’s kindhearted and a woman of character.
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S he’s unselfish and unassuming, but not to be underestimated.
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S he’s patient and protective and a prayer warrior too.
Reverend Jones closed his message with this exhortation, “If mama, mom, mommy, mother, my dear grandma has already folded up her tent and left her earthly tabernacle to be with the Lord, you can still praise God because you are blessed to have had her in your life.”
As Pastor Parker began his message in honor of mothers, he used Genesis 21: 9-21 as a framework for using an “imaginary” story of Hagar’s son Ishmael writing a letter to honor his loving, Godly, and courageous mother. Pastor Parker provided a brief introduction to the reasons for the letter. Abraham’s wife, Sarah gave her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abraham as a second wife to bear a child for them. At the time, Sarah was unable to bear children. As he explained the lesson text, Pastor Parker told us that not long after Hagar conceived, Sarah became angry with her and treated her harshly. Hagar ran away, but God’s angel directed her to return “probably so she would survive her pregnancy and benefit
from the promise of God that her child would be the ancestor of a great nation.” Continuing to explain the text, Pastor Parker told us that as time passed, God kept his promise to Abraham, and in her old age, Sarah conceived Isaac. They all lived together as a family for awhile until one day Sarah watched her son interacting with Ishmael and she became concerned for Isaac’s future. She did not want Ishmael to share in her son’s inheritance. She told her husband to send Hagar and her son away. Abraham followed Sarah’s wishes, and early one morning, he provided Hagar with bread and water, and told her to leave. After running out of food and water in the desert, Hagar did not want to watch (continued on page 3)