Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Critical Pastoral Concerns from the 8th Episcopal District
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Office of the Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Ronald M. Cunningham

MEMO
To: Members and Friends of the Eighth Episcopal District
and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

From: The Office of Bishop R. M. Cunningham

Re: Recent Critical Pastoral Concerns

Date: April 14, 2009

For your information, this memo refers to three, reported, recent critical pastoral concerns which have had an impact on persons and families in the “Magnificent Excellent Eighth.”

Friday night, April 10, 2009, the nephew of Mrs. Clarice (Lady Clarice) Cunningham, William Flake, age 36, was killed in an automobile accident in Gibson County, Tennessee. Mr. Flake is the father of 4 young children. He is the grandson of Mr. James Flake and Mrs. Pandora Flake, members of Phillips Chapel CME Church, Milan, Tennessee. Mrs. Flake presently serves as president of the East Tennessee Region Stewardess Board. Mr. Flake’s funeral will be, Thursday, April 16th, 2:00 PM, at Phillips Chapel
CME Church, 4023 Cates Street, Milan, Tennessee 38358. Lady Clarice may be reached at 901-338-4978.

Funeral arrangements are in the hands of Baskerville Funeral Home, 802 N. 9th Avenue,
Humboldt, TN 38343, phone 731-784-9994.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, Rev. W. E. Lockett, long time pastor of Metropolitan CME Church, Houston, Texas, underwent major surgery. Rev. Lockett is physically and spiritually stable, and is recovering at his residence in Houston. His primary caregiver is Mrs. Lillie Lockett, his wife of more than 44 years.

Please know that on Sunday, April 5, 2009, one of Mrs. Lockett’s sisters died. Her name is Mrs. Willie Jean Jackson, of Pine Hill, New Jersey. The funeral will take place Saturday, April 18, at Bethel AME Church, Quitman, Georgia, Stevens McGhee Funeral Home, 301 E. Green Street, Quitman, Georgia, 31643. The Lockett’s may be reached at 713-524-9556; address: 2521 N. Macgregor Way, Houston, TX 77004.

Editor Jones' Note: Please, let us be in prayer for the families of Bishop Cunningham/Flake and Lockett/Jackson during their hours of bereavement and recovery.

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Homegoing of Mrs. Jarutha Thompson
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Jarutha Echols Thompson, Wife of Rev. V.T. Thompson,former Presiding Elder of the Gloster-Hattiesburg District, South MS Region, 4th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Homegoing service as follows:

Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 11 am
(Pre-viewing, 9 am-11 am)
Rose Hill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
15 Rose Hill Road
Columbia, Mississippi 39429
601-731-7666
Rev. Johnnie Porter, pastor

Body entrusted to:
Smith Funeral Home
519 Owens Street
Columbia, MS 39429
601-736-2257
Mr. David Smith, Director

Please keep Rev. Thompson and his family in your Prayers. Rev. Thompson can be reached at 601-943-5361.

Submitted by Pene' Long Woods

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Hallelujah! He has Risen from the Dead!
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you" (Matthew 28:5-7).

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Romans 5:6-8
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (NIV).