The LIU – September 2020

Sep 2020

A newsletter of Zion Hill Baptist Church

THE LIU (pronounced LEE-UU)

“Six-feet Out of Love” —Scenes from a Virtual Anniversary

When Thank-You Is Not Enough

REAP ROLL CALL New Members August 2020

A

s most of you know, the third oldest of my five sisters, Katye Martha Parker Stewart, passed from this life to life eternal on August 8, 2020 in Carmichael, California.

Since then my family and me have been the humbled recipients of a massive outpouring of care, concern, compassion and condolences extended primarily by our beloved Zion Hill Family. The cards and personal notes that have come, and continue to come, in our home mail, to the church, or delivered by hand – all of which I personally open and read – have brought an indescribable joy to our hearts. The warm phone calls, emails, texts, and posts reminded me all over again that contemporary technology can be used, even

Sister April Hill Brother Clifton Robertson

by angels. The sundry gifts that you have sent added another level of cheer and helped to relieve some of the heaviness of this bereavement season that began with the transition of my brother just four months ago. Most crucially, the power and sincerity of your intercessory prayers have been felt deeply and profoundly, for you know, as I know, that ultimately our help comes from the Chief Provider who made heaven and earth. Because you allowed God to minister to us through you, we have been able to continue in what we believe our Creator calls us in this challenging, sometimes daunting, and unprecedented time. The strength of your faith has indeed strengthened our faith, even as it has been attacked by sorrow and mourning. Truly this is one of those exceptional moments, one of those extraordinary situations when “thank-you” is not enough. So, please, accept our heartfelt, soul-deep, spirit-sent gratitude, despite the inadequacy of words to express it.

n

May God bless and keep each of you in that astonishing and enfolding peace that surpasses all understanding.

—Pastor Aaron L. Parker and Family

Is Christ Lord and Savior of your life?

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NRSV) Admit your need for Him. “...since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 NRSV) Recognize His love for you. “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8 NRSV) Place your faith in Jesus and invite Him into your life. “...because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NRSV) Pray a prayer of repentance and faith. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

(Romans 10:13 NRSV)

2

| THE LIU

Changing Seasons, Unchanging God

R

emembrance is sacred and empowering. The prophet Jeremiah declared, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). As we paused to take in the immensity of the season we are in, we cannot help but celebrate the fact that God has been steadfast.

God’s mercies have not expired. God’s faithfulness has never taken a day off. The celebration of Zion Hill’s 148 years of Christian ministry is but a small testament to our amazing Creator, Sustainer, and Miracle Worker.

Our anniversary weekend commenced with a virtual testimony service. In the midst of constant bad news, it was time for us to celebrate the good news! Through the lyrics of the songs, and the words of

experiences touched by God, we relished in knowing that even though our seasons have drastically changed, God Almighty has not stopped being God Almighty.

The next day, we did something a little different. Our celebration went outdoors for the Zion Hill parade. Members decorated their vehicles in purple, white, and gold. Horns were blazing, smiles adorned faces, and a big surprise awaited participants at the end of the route. All in all, Covid-19 did not keep us from highlighting God’s faithfulness; and it did not keep us from seeing each other—albeit from a distance.

The culmination of our 148th Church Anniversary was filled with jubilant praise, sacred reflection, and expectant faith—virtually! The Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler

School of Theology at Emory University, preached “Anxious Tears, Anticipatory Hope, Astounding God,” rooted in Lamentations 3. Her thorough exegesis of the text, relevant connections to our modern-day situations, Spirit-filled inflections and oratory, challenged our minds and encouraged our souls.

We could not help but to praise God for the wondrous acts He has performed throughout Zion Hill’s existence. Just meditating on His promise keeping made us look towards the future with a greater sense of hope. As we continue to celebrate our long journey, we remember the One who remembers us, and honors us with His presence every step of the way.

—Minister Jairus Hallums 148th Church Anniversary Chairperson

ZHBC@zionhill.org |

3

Anniversary Parade Winners

First place winners: Sis. Camille Zeigler and Sis. Gayla Smith – 50” Smart TV; Second place winner: Rev. Dr. Sherry Austin – Amazon Fire Tablet; Third place winners: Bro. Joshua Mosley, Bro. Jared Williams, Sis. Tammie Mosley, and Sis. Janay Mosley – five $10 gift cards to Chick Fil A

4

| THE LIU

SCHOOL OF LOVE, LEARNING AND SERVICE (SOLLAS) BLAST COMING SOON

G

reetings in the name of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!​ Zion Hill Baptist Church, in keeping with our church motto: “Living to Love and Loving to Serve” is proud to announce that we will host our first SOLLAS BLAST ​September 21, 2020 through September 25, 2020​.​Our SOLLAS BLAST will offer a variety of exciting V ​ IRTUAL learning and fellowshipping sessions that are designed to be age specific. There will be specific sessions for all age groups from children 5 years old all the way up to adults 31 and beyond. All sessions will be held in the evenings beginning at 7pm and ending at 8pm with the exception

VIRTUAL

of the 5 and Under session which will end at 7:30pm.

The theme of all sessions will be in keeping with our church’s theme this year which is: Seasonal Change​. Our focus scripture is ​ (Exodus 15:22a) ​ It is our steadfast desire that our church family ​ STAY CONNECTED​despite the confines that COVID 19 has placed on our lives and our activities. To that end, we strongly encourage and invite your participation in order for this event, which is the vision of our beloved pastor (Dr. Aaron L. Parker), will be an unqualified success. Pastor Parker plans to incorporate input gathered from the various SOLLAS BLAST sessions into the Wednesday night virtual Bible for Life Class on September 23, 2020. You will not want to miss that!

REGISTRATION The online registration for this landmark event in the life of Zion Hill Baptist Church will commence during the week of S ​ eptember 6, 2020​. Registration will be open to non-members EXCEPT for the sessions offered for our youth. Y ​ outh and below registration will be limited to Zion Hill Baptist Church members ONLY. Please help support this initiative and make it successful by participating. Our goal is to stay connected, learn and grow with our Zion Hill Baptist Church family and community regardless of any obstacles along the way. Thank You in advance for your kindest attention to our appeal!!

— Bro. Michael Bazemore SOLLAS MINISTRY

Parenting During the Pandemic

I

feel like every parent in the world right now wants to take a baseball bat to a pinata due to frustrations dealing with kids returning to school and having to make difficult decisions for you and your family. In this article, I will be focusing on providing parents with practical tips on managing stressful issues as the school year begins. These tips are not just helpful for you but are to assist you in modeling flexibility during this time of transition.

So, let us dive right in.

Tip # 1: Create a Morning and Evening Routine

Routine is particularly important as it influences your quality of rest. Having a sleep schedule and bedtime habits af-

6

| THE LIU

fect your mental sharpness, emotional well-being, performance and energy level.

Perhaps, taking a 20-minute walk in the morning or journaling before going to bed can help you decompress from your day.

Tip # 2: Limit Television Time

Whether you tune in to channel 2, 5, or 11 every day you are greeted with the world’s sorrows, discriminations and deaths that are so heavy. It is important to stay informed but remember to take breaks, so you do not become overwhelmed with the world’s issues.

Tip # 3: Seek Support

Please “DO NOT” try to do this alone.

Family and friends can be helpful; how-

ever, this may be a great opportunity for you to gain additional tools by involving a therapist or counselor.

Tip # 4: Cultivate Thankfulness

This simply means being grateful for what GOD has done because it is easy to complain about what is going on in the world.

Taking the time to share with friends and family the things that you are grateful for can help you stay focused on the Lord instead of your circumstances.

Remember that this is a new experience for everyone, so do not forget to be kind to yourself and be kind to others. ~BE BLESSED~ —Sis. Tamara Pinkard Mental Health Therapist

On a scale of 1 to 10, how risky is...

Please assume that participants in these activities are following currently recommended safety protocols when possible.

2

Pumping gasoline

2

Playing tennis

2

Going camping

3

Grocery shopping

3

Going for a walk, run, or bike ride with others

3

Playing golf

4

Staying at a hotel for two nights

4

Sitting in a doctor’s waiting room

4

Going to a library or museum

4

Eating in a restaurant (outside)

4

Walking in a busy downtown

4

Spending an hour at a playground

5

Having dinner at someone else’s house

5

Attending a backyard barbecue

5

Going to a beach

5

Shopping at a mall

6

Sending kids to school, camp, or day care

6

Working a week in an office building

6

Swimming in a public pool

6

Visiting an elderly relative or friend in their home

7

Going to a hair salon or barbershop

7

Eating in a restaurant (inside)

7

Attending a wedding or funeral

7

Traveling by plane

7

Playing basketball

7

Playing football

7

Hugging or shaking hands when greeting a friend

8

Eating at a buffet

8

Working out at a gym

8

Going to an amusement park

8

Going to a movie theater

9

Attending a large music concert

9

Going to a sports stadium

9

Attending a religious service with 500+ worshipers

9

Going to a bar

HIGH RISK

Getting restaurant takeout

MODERATE-HIGH

2

MODERATE RISK

Ranked by physicians from the TMA COVID-19 Task Force and the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Opening the mail

LOW-MODERATE

Know Your Risk During COVID-19

LOW RISK

BE INFORMED:

1

Texas Medical Association | 401 W. 15th St. | Austin, TX 78701-1680 www.texmed.org

@texmed

@wearetma

ZHBC@zionhill.org |

7

Bethel United Methodist Church BLOOD DRIVE Rev. Dr. Jacqui Rose-Tucker, Senior Pastor 1215 New Hope Road, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30331 Office: 404. 699. 0468 E-Mail: bethelumc1@gmail.com Website: http://www.bethelumcatlanta.org

Saturday, September 12, 2020 10a – 2pm Sanctuary Sign up for an appointment to donate at www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code SickleCell in the top right corner of the page under “Find a Blood Drive”. Save time and use RapidPass. Visit www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass for more info.

Tips for a successful donation: (1) Eat a good breakfast or lunch before donating blood, (2) Drink extra water before donating blood, (3) Eat foods rich in iron (red meat, fish, poultry, prunes, raisins, green leafy veggies, beans, etc).

**Please remember to bring your photo ID!** Appointment Only – No Walk-ins

We want YOU to contribute!

If your ministry has a virtual activity or news that you want mentioned, you can send an email to zhbc@zionhill.org. We welcome all ministry contributions: writing, story ideas, suggestions, digital photographs, artwork, letters, responses to our columns, reviews, etc. and look forward to hearing from you.

All material is subject to approval and editing.

ALL contributions must be submitted by the second Wednesday of each month. The LIU will be distributed once a month. If you do not see your contribution in the current issue, it will appear in upcoming issues.

CORRECTIONS We attempt to be accurate and balanced. We apologize for any errors that occur and when notified we will print appropriate corrections.

BIBLE for LIFE Join Pastor Parker on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm streaming live on Facebook, YouTube, and at http://zionhillbaptistchurch.yourstreamlive.com/

Series Title:

“Seasonal Change”

The LIU is a publication of

6175 Campbellton Road, South Fulton/Atlanta, GA 30331 Rev. Aaron L. Parker, PhD, Pastor 404-691-8025 • www.zionhill.org

8

| THE LIU

Available after streaming as recordings.