Happy New Year 2010 to the CME Church

from

The Christian Index Online

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." --Isaiah 43:18-19

The Passing of Beloved Missionary and CME Leader Mrs. Katie Johnson

Mrs. Katie Mae Johnson, Past President of the South MS Region of the 4th Episcopal District Missionary Society, and a member of the Blackmon Temple C.M.E. Church in Carson, MS passed away this morning, December 30, 2009 at her home. Her body has been entrusted to:

J & M Combined Funeral Home

Director, Mr. Al Gray

732 Dixie Avenue

Mendenhall, MS 39114-3773

(601)847-2911

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Please keep the family in your prayers.

Submitted by Pene' Woods

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”- Luke 2:11-14

NY-Washington Ministers' Spouses' Cradle

Care Ministry

What mother has reconsidered attending Annual Conference because of childcare issues?

The Minister Spouses Department of the mighty 7th district of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church has taken a universal problem and endorsed

an innovative solution by offering Nursery Care services for children from birth to 5 years.

Four years ago, two minsters' spouses, Mrs. Lavett Ballard, director of the Cradle Care, and Mrs. Michelle Bonner, co-director, decided, after another exhausting year with babies and toddlers in hotel rooms, to explore other avenues to assist themselves and other parents with small children. Mrs. Ballard and Mrs. Bonner started a petition that was signed by parents interested in Cradle Care Services. They wrote a proposal and presented it to the Minsters' Spouses. First Lady Ocie Hoyt and the spouses agreed to offer the Cradle Care service. They made plans during the Winter Accounting meeting and Spring Convocation for the first Annual Conference Ministers Spouses Cradle Care in 2007.

The spouses have developed a safe, creative, nurturing and fun environment. By including an area for nursing mothers, a rest area with cots and cribs, a diaper changing area, crafts, snack area and many toys, the Cradle Care has been a haven for parents of young children. Pastors Anthony L. Ballard Sr. and Matthew W. Bonner, the Minister Spouses, and Young Adults have been helpful in staffing the Cradle with trustworthy workers to monitor the children.

In 2009, the Cradle Care was a glowing success at the Annual Conference. Rev. Aaron Donnelly pastor of St. Paul CME Church and Presiding Elder John L. Ghee (Philadelphia District) hosted the New York-Washington Region Annual Conference under the auspices of the Right Reverend Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. in Wilmington, DE, from Sunday July 9 through Friday July 24. The Ministers' Spouses unanimously agreed to finance the Cradle Care room, thus eliminating the need to require a registration fee from the parents.

Overjoyed, Mrs. Lavett Ballard stated, "Thank you, to you all, for this gift to our ministry.

"This gift will allow more parents in these hard times the opportunity to come to conference and not have to be concerned with childcare while they attend the services and meetings expected of them."

Mrs. Michelle Bonner was encouraged by saying, "I hope one day that each Episcopal district will look to our example, and set this ministry up as part of the services offered through the Minister's Spouses."

Loss of the Sister of Dr. Elnora P. Hamb

Dear CME family:

I write to inform you of the death of my sister Mrs. Laura E. Young of Brownsville, Tennessee. She died Sunday, December 6, 2009.

Mrs. Laura E. Young's Family
1016 Jefferson Street
Brownsville, TN. 38012
731-772-0150

Rawls Funeral Home
36 South Jackson Avenue
Brownsville, TN. 38012
Phone Number: 731-772-1472
Fax Number 731-772-5615

Visitation:
Friday, December 11, 2009 - Time 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Home Going Service:
St. Luke Baptist Church
Saturday, December 12, 2009
11:00 AM

Rejoice!

Words of Thanks from Dr. Judith E. Grant

Dear CME Family and Friends,

I thank God for his tender and healing mercies! I also thank God for you, your prayers and your concerns during my recent and unexpected illness.

I am home now, but taking it easy – As much as I would like to multi task, I realize that it will come a little later (smile).

I accept again your prayers, cards, flowers, and other expressions of love during this time.

Please pass the word that God is not finished with me yet!

Blessings

Judith E. Grant

Immediate Past President

Women's Missionary Council

Arrangements for Mrs. Lynn Lakey

(Daughter-in-Law of Bishop O.H. Lakey)

M.D. Walker Funeral Home

103 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30314

(404) 755-0079

Homegoing Services

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Viewing at the Funeral Home - 10 am -8 pm

Thursday, December 3, 2009 11 am

Westside Community CME Church

Pastor, Rev. Reginald G. Barnes

2114 M.L.K. Drive

Atlanta, Georgia 30310

(404) 696-5351

Fax: (404) 691-4099

Please be in prayer for the following:

(1) The sudden passing of the daughter-in-law of Bishop Othal H. Lakey, the wife of his son Brian Lakey. No further details are available at this time.

(2) The loss of the brother of Dr. Elnora P. Hamb (See arrangements elsewhere on this site).

(3) The loss of the father of Montgomery-Phenix City-Opelika District Presiding Elder Dr. Leo Douglass. Service at noon on Thursday, December 3, 2009, Union Hill CME Church, 2029 County Road 25, Opelika, AL.

(4) Immediate Past Missionary Council President Dr. Judith E. Grant, hospitalized in Philadelphia, PA.

(5) Bro. Henry Boyd, Sr. (brother of Editor Dr. Kenneth Jones) who is hospitalized in Oxford, MS.

(6) All others whose names were not called.

Services for Mr. Jimmy W. Palmer,

Brother of Dr. Elnora Palmer Hamb

November 27, 2009


To the College of Bishops, General Officers, Missionaries and Connectional
Members:

Funeral Services for Mr. Jimmy W. Palmer, Brother of Dr. Elnora Palmer Hamb

It is with deep regret to inform you that Mr. Jimmy W. Palmer, the brother of
Dr. Elnora Palmer Hamb, Women's Missionary Council President, has passed
away.

Funeral arrangements and services for Mr. Palmer are as follows:

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wait: 11:00 a.m.-Noon
Funeral services: Noon

House of Day Funeral Home
2550 Nebraska Avenue
Toledo, OH 43607
Telephone: 419-534-2550 Fax: 419-534-2570


Please keep Dr. Hamb and her family in your prayers. Cards and condolences
may be sent to Dr. Hamb at 11321 South Aberdeen, Chicago, IL 60643. You
may contact Dr. Hamb by telephone at 773-264-2273 or e-mail
.


In His Service,


Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III
Patron Bishop, Women's Missionary Council

Mrs. Princess Pegues
Vice President, Women's Missionary Council

Rainbow Push Honors Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. at 11th Annual Awards Dinner
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and Rainbow Push honored Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. at their 11th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Bishop Williamson was honored for his work as past president of Operation PUSH from 1991-1993, founder of One Church One School Community Partnership Program and Chairman of the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. Bishop Williamson is the Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District of the CME Church.

Bishop Williamson received the honor at the Awards Dinner celebrating the 68th birthday of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the founder and national president of Rainbow Push. Bishop Williamson and Rev. Jackson have worked together for more than 30 years to improve the quality of education, fight for racial and social justice, and to provide economic opportunities for minorities.

Bishop Williamson was honored along with legendary singer Sir Elton John; basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; creator and executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, Shonda Rhimes; recording industry pioneer, Al Bell; and the two journalists who were released from North Korea with the intervention of President Bill Clinton, Euna Lee and Laura Ling. The 25th anniversary of the 1984 Jesse Jackson presidential campaign was celebrated during the event.

Rainbow Push is a multi-racial, multi-issue, international membership organization, founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. working to move the nation and the world towards social, racial and economic justice.

Loss of Mother of Former DC Mayor Marion Berry
Washington DC—The following funeral arrangements have been made for Mrs.
Mattie Cummings, mother of Councilman Marion Barry.

Saturday, November 14, 2009
Viewing: 9am-11am
Service: 11 AM

Martin Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
65 South Parkway & Kansas Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38109

Guest speakers include:
Mr. Willie Harrington, former Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee
Johnnie B. Watson, President of LeMoyne-Owen College

Contributions should be made to:
Marion S. Barry Scholarship Fund
400 Orange Street, SE
Washington DC 20032

Trinity CME (LA) Back to School Picnic

Trinity CME Church located in Lafayette, LA, held its first "Back to School Community Picnic" on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at DeBallion Park from 10 AM to 2 PM. Pastor Leslie Dugas, Jr., along with the Board of Christian Education, Evangelism, and officers and members of Trinity CME Church, spear-headed this event. The theme for the picnic was "Striving for Success (By Doing Your Best). This picnic was another outreach ministry to demonstrate the love of Jesus and to bring His gospel to the community.

Flyers announcing the event were available for members to distribute to family and friends and the media. Pastor Dugas and some members also canvassed the neighborhoods near the park to invite and encourage those in the neighborhood to attend and tell others to attend.

The event opened with selections from Trinity's Praise and Worship Team, under the direction of Mr. James Gee. Then purpose of the event by Pastor Leslie Dugas, Jr.; prayer, Mrs. Kathalee Cooksey; and scripture reading by Cecil Wiltz II set the tone for the beginning of a great fellowship.

The two motivational speakers were Mrs. Theresa Singleton, church member and teacher here in Lafayette Parish, who shared Keys to Success for parents and students. Mr. Brandon Shelvin, the youngest Lafayette Parish Councilman from District III and an associate pastor at a local church in the city, told how he was able to reach his goals through strength he receives from Christ (Philippians 4:13).

Closing prayer and blessing followed the song "The Greatest Love" sung by Mrs. Theresa Singleton.

In the closing prayer by Pastor Dugas, persons present were given the opportunity to invite Jesus into their heart.

After the opening activities, participants enjoyed free hot dogs, chips, cookies and sodas.

Games (football, baseball, basketball and board games) were played for all to enjoy.

There was even a "Go-Cart," compliments of Mr. Cecil Wiltz, Jr. Our prayer is that this Community Picnic will be an annual event among many outreach ministries as we the members of Trinity CME Church support our pastor and his vision to make disciples of not only members but also many "Beyond the Four Walls" of the church.

Submitted by Trinity CME Church; Rev. Leslie Dugas, Jr., pastor; Board of Christian Education, Mrs. Theresa Singleton, president; Mrs. Joyous Landry, director of Christian Education.

Arrangements for Mr. James Jones Funeral services for Mr. James Jones, husband of Mrs. Nancy Thomas Jones, the Missionary President of the Arizona-New Mexico Region and a faithful member of Phillips Memorial CME Church in Phoenix, Arizona, will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m., at Phillips Memorial CME Church, 1401 East Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034. Telephone: 602 253-7156. Rev. Felix Jones is the Pastor. Please keep Mrs. Nancy Thomas Jones and family in prayer. Mrs. Jones address is 2509 West Minton Drive, Tempe, AZ 85232. In His Service, Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Dr. Elnora P. Hamb President, Women's Missionary Council Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Loss of Mr. Howard Henry
We regret to inform you of the death of Mr. Howard Henry, the brother of Mrs. Sarah Farris,
Life Membership Chairperson of the WMC. Please pray for the family.

Wake:

Monday October 19, 2009, 4-8pm
Place: Stamps Funeral Home
10834 South Michigan
Chicago, Illinois 60628
Phone Number 773-264-9390
Fax Number 773-785-2523

Funeral:
Tuesday, October 19, 2009 - 10:00 am
Third Baptist Church of Chicago
1551 W. 95th Street
Chicago, Illinois 606431329
Telephone Number 773-445-8500

Condolences can be sent to:

Mrs. Sarah Farris
P.O. Box 1302
Jasper AL 35502
205-221-3559 Phone Number

Special Appeal from

CYAM President Brian Magwood

(Click on image.)

The College of Bishops of the CME Church Congratulates President Barack Obama on Winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Dear Connectional Members and Friends,

The College of Bishops and the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church extend our congratulations to President Barack Obama for being selected the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize earlier today.

President Barack Obama joins a distinguished group of U.S. presidents to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the first president to receive the prize during his first year in office, the third to win it while in office and the fourth to win the prize. By the end of President Obama's term in office, we expect great changes that will benefit the entire world!

President Obama continues to be an inspiration and a sign of hope to persons in America and around the world. President Obama stands ready to forge a peaceful world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives President Obama both a greater opportunity and a challenge to continue encouraging the world to walk towards freedom and peace, healing both old and new wounds, to reconcile and learn to live together in harmony. We are proud that President Obama represents a new vision of what is possible when there is determination to overcome obstacles and to focus on hope.

At this historic moment, we send congratulations and best wishes to President Barack Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. May God continue to bless President Obama and his family.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves and its College of Bishops, is a 138-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .

Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., CEO

Bishop Othal H. Lakey

Bishop Edward Lynn Brown

Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.

Bishop L. L. Reddick, III, Secretary, College of Bishops

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Chairman of Social Justice & Human Concerns

Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., Chairman, College of Bishops

Bishop Kenneth W. Carter

Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey

The Life of Mr. Robert L. Shaw (Father of Mrs. Loretta Helton)
Funeral Services for Mr. Robert Lee Shaw, age 82, of 1705 Vale Street, Durham, NC will be held Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Russell Memorial CME Church, 703 South Alston Avenue, Durham, NC. Family hour will be from 1:00 to 2 p.m. Interment will follow in the Glenview Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Shaw departed this life on Tuesday, October 6, after sustaining a short illness, at the Pettigrew Rehabilitation Center. He was born June 17, 1927, in Kingstree, SC and relocated to Durham, NC in 1953.
Mr. Robert Lee Shaw has a long-time history as a general contractor in the Durham area. His employment includes work with L. A. Downey, Nello L. Teer and C. C. Woods. Several major projects that include his handiwork are the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building, the Governor’s Inn, and the Kennedy Building.
He is survived by his spouse of 61 years, Earnestine McClary Shaw of Durham, NC; three sons, Abraham Gilbert (Glendora), Frankie Lee, and Lorenzo all of Durham; two daughters, Judy Ronetta Shaw of Durham, and Loretta Helton (Dr. Ricky Helton, Israel Metropolitan CME) of Washington, DC; 16 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hanes Funeral Services, 460 South Driver Street, in Durham, NC.

Loss of Bro. Charles Henry Isabel, Sr.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Charles Henry Isabel, Sr. Mr. Isabel was the brother of Mrs. Jacqueline I. Scott, Division leader of Structure for the Women's Missionary Council, and Mrs. Montine Webb, president emeritus of the West Tennessee Region Missionaries. The homegoing service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, at Mt. Pisgah CME Church, Memphis, TN, at noon. Mrs. Scott's address is 7255 Richmond Rd., Memphis, TN 38125.

Submitted by Dr. Elnora P. Hamb, Women's Missionary Council President

The College of Bishops of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Calls for Health Care Reform with a Public Option
St. Louis, MO - The ability of every citizen of our nation to receive adequate and affordable Health Care is a moral imperative. As a matter of justice and fairness for all, we can no longer allow for big business and special interest to derail the process of meeting this critical need of the American people. Most of us know that something must be done soon to protect our children, our elders, our sick and all who need immediate attention for their health care needs. There are nearly 50 million Americans without health care insurance. We need a plan that would end discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and prevent insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most. The public option will provide the uninsured with a cost effective choice. This is why we support the Health Care Reform Bill with a public option as expressed by President Barack Obama.
The vast majority of people with existing health care services are underinsured with extraordinary deductibles. The increasingly transitional job market and the need to address general public wellness and disease prevention on an individual basis compound the problem. This translates into the rise of chronic disease among children as early as eight years old and causes their elderly grandparents to have to choose between food and medicine. This state of affairs in one of the wealthiest and most advanced nations in the world is immoral and unacceptable. As the United States is the only industrialized nation without a comprehensive health plan for every citizen, we know that we can and we must provide fair and affordable health care for every American.
For nearly a century, national leaders have called for an overhaul of the health care system. Yet, instead of significant change, we have received stagnation and compromise. We have expended billions of dollars to protect American interests abroad and corporate interests at home. We must now recognize the significant potential return on the investment in our health care system.
After one hundred years of trying, we are yet left saying like Jeremiah the prophet, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
We ask all CME’s and other concerned Americans to write and call their congressional representatives both in the House and the Senate to express support for a Health Care Reform Bill with a Public Option.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves and its College of Bishops, is a 138-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .

Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., CEO
Bishop Othal H. Lakey
Bishop Edward Lynn Brown
Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.
Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.
Bishop L. L. Reddick, III, Secretary, College of Bishops
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Chairman of Social Justice & Human Concerns
Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., Chairman, College of Bishops
Bishop Kenneth W. Carter
Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.
Bishop Marshall Gilmore
Bishop Nathaniel Linsey

The 2009-10 Liturgical Calendar

THE CHRISTMAS CYCLE (ADVENT AND CHRISTMASTIDE, THROUGH EPIPHANY)

2009

Advent

Nov 29, 1st Sunday of Advent, Jer. 33:14-16. Ps. 25:1-10. 1 Thes. 3:9-13. Luke 21:25-36. Purple

Dec 6, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Mal. 3:1-4. Luke 1:68-79. Phil. 1:3-11. Luke 3:1-6. Purple

Dec 13, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Zep. 3:14-20. Is. 12:2-6. Phil. 4:4-7. Luke 3:7-18. Purple

Dec 20, 4th Sunday of Advent, Mic. 5:2-5a. Ps. 80:1-7 or Luke 1:47-55. Heb 10:5-10. Luke 1:39-55. Purple

Christmastide

Dec 24, Nativity of our Lord (Eve I), Is. 9:2-7. Ps. 96. Titus 2:11-14. Luke 2:1-20. White

Dec 24, Nativity of our Lord (Eve II), Is. 62:6-12. Ps. 97. Titus 3:4-7. Luke 2:1-20. White

Dec 25, Nativity of our Lord (Day), Is 52:7-10. Ps. 98. Heb. 1:1-12. John 1:1-5,9-14,16-18. White

Dec 27, Sunday in Christmastide, 1 Sam. 2:18-20,26. Ps. 148. Col. 3:12-17. Luke 2:41-52. White

2010

Jan 3, Epiphany of our Lord (Observed), Is. 60:1-6. Ps. 72:1-7,10-14. Eph. 3:1-12. Matt. 2:1-12. White

(Epiphany ends the Christmas Cycle)

Sundays after Epiphany

Jan 10, Baptism of our Lord, 1st Sunday after Epiphany, Is 43:1-7. Ps. 29. Acts 8:14-17. Luke 3:15-22. White

Jan 17, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Is. 62:1-5. Ps. 36:5-10. 1 Cor. 12:1-11. John 2:1-11. Green

Jan 24, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Neh. 8:1-10. Ps. 19. 1 Cor. 12:12-31a. Luke 4:14-21. Green

Jan 31, 4th Sunday after Epiphany, Jer. 1:4-10. Ps. 71:1-6. 1 Cor 13:1-13. Luke 4:21-30. Green

Feb 7, 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Is. 6:1-13. Ps. 138. 1 Cor. 15:1-11. Luke 5:1-11. Green

Feb 14, Transfiguration of the Lord, Exod. 34:29-35. Ps. 99. 2 Cor. 3:12~4:2. Luke 9:28-43. White

THE EASTER CYCLE (LENT, HOLY WEEK, AND EASTERTIDE, THROUGH THE DAY OF PENTECOST)

Lent

Feb 17, Ash Wednesday, Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Is. 58:1-12. Ps. 51:1-17. 2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10. Matt. 6:1-6,16-21. Black

Feb 21, 1st Sunday in Lent, Dt. 26:1-11. Ps. 91:1-2,9-16. Rom. 10:8b-13. Luke 4:1-13. Purple

Feb 28, 2nd Sunday in Lent, Gen. 15:1-18. Ps. 27. Phil. 3:17~4:1. Luke 13:31-35. Purple

Mar 7, 3rd Sunday in Lent, Is. 55:1-9. Ps. 63:1-8. 1 Cor. 10:1-13. Luke 13:1-9. Purple

Mar 14, 4th Sunday in Lent, Josh. 5:9-12. Ps. 32. 2 Cor. 5:16-21. Luke 15:1-3,11b-32. Purple

Mar 21, 5th Sunday in Lent, Is. 43:16-21. Ps. 126. Phil. 3:4b-14. John 12:1-8. Purple

Holy Week (Passiontide)

Mar 28, Passion/Palm Sunday, [Luke 19:28-40. Ps. 118.] Is. 50:4-9a. Ps. 31:9-16. Phil. 2:5-11. Luke 22:14-23:56. Purple

Mar 29, Monday of Holy Week, Is. 42:1-9. Ps. 36:5-11. Heb. 9:11-15. John 12:1-11. Purple

Mar 30, Tuesday of Holy Week, Is. 49:1-7. Ps. 71:1-14. 1 Cor. 1:18-31. John 12:20-36. Purple

Mar 31, Wednesday of Holy Week, Is. 50:4-9a. Ps. 70. Heb. 12:1-3. John 13:21-32. Purple

Apr 1, Maundy (Holy) Thursday, Exod. 12:1-14. Ps. 116:1-2,12-19. 1 Cor. 11:23-26. John 13:1-17,31b-35. White/Purple

Apr 2, Good (Holy) Friday, Is. 52:13~53:12. Ps. 22. Heb. 10:16-25 or Heb. 4:14-16;5:7-9. John 18:1-19:42. Black/Purple

Apr 3, Holy Saturday, Job 14:1-14 or Lam. 3:1-9,19-24. Ps. 31:1-4,15-16. 1 Pet. 4:1-8. Matt. 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42. Black

Eastertide

Apr 4, Resurrection Day (I morning), Acts 10:34-43. Ps. 118:1-2,14-24. 1 Cor. 15:19-26. John 20:1-18. White

Apr 4, Resurrection Day (II morning), Is. 65:17-25. Ps. 118:1-2,14-24. Acts 10:34-43. Luke 24:1-12. White

Apr 4, Resurrection Day (evening), Is. 25:6-9. Ps. 114. 1 Cor. 5:6b-8. Luke 24:13-49. White

Apr 11, 2nd Sunday of Easter, Acts 5:27-32. Ps. 150 or Ps. 118:14-29. Rev. 1:4-8. John 20:19-31. White

Apr 18, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Acts 9:1-20. Ps. 30. Rev. 5:11-14. John 21:1-19. White

Apr 25, 4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday), Acts 9:36-43. Ps. 23. Rev. 7:9-17. John 10:22-30. White

May 2, 5th Sunday of Easter, Acts 11:1-18. Ps. 148. Rev. 21:1-6. John 13:31-35. White

May 9, 6th Sunday of Eas ter, Acts 16:9-15. Ps. 67. Rev. 21:22~22:5. John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9. White

May 13, (Thursday) Ascension of our Lord, Acts 1:1-11. Ps. 47 or 93. Eph. 1:15-23. Luke 24:44-53. White

May 16, 7th Sunday of Easter, Acts 16:16-34. Ps. 97. Rev. 22:12-21. John 17:20-26. White

May 23, The Day of Pentecost, Last Sunday of Easter, Acts 2:1-21. Ps. 104:24-34,35b. Rom. 8:14-17. John 14:8-17,25-27. Red (The Day of Pentecost ends the Easter Cycle)

Sundays After Pentecost

May 30, Trinity Sunday (1st Sunday after Pentecost), Prov. 8:1-4,22-31. Ps. 8. Rom. 5:1-5. John 16:12-15. Red

Jun 6, (2nd Sunday after Pentecost), 1 Kings 17:8-24. Ps. 146. Gal 1:11-24. Luke 7:11-17. Red

Jun 13, (3rd Sunday after Pentecost), 1 Kings 21:1-21a. Ps. 5:1-8. Gal. 2:15-21. Luke 7:36~8:3. Red

Jun 20, (4th Sunday after Pentecost), 1 Kings 19:1-15a. Ps. 42 and 43. Gal. 3:23-29. Luke 8:26-39. Red

Jun 27, (5th Sunday after Pentecost), 2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14. Ps. 77:1-2,11-20. Gal. 5:1,13-25. Luke 9:51-62. Red

Jul 4, (6th Sunday after Pentecost), 2 Kings 5:1-14. Ps. 30. Gal. 6:1-16. Luke 10:1-11,16-20. Red

Jul 11, (7th Sunday after Pentecost), Amos 7:7-17. Ps. 82. Col. 1:1-14. Luke 10:25-37. Red

Jul 18, (8th Sunday after Pentecost), Amos 8:1-12. Ps. 52. Col. 1:15-28. Luke 10:38-42. Red

Jul 25, (9th Sunday after Pentecost), Hos. 1:2-10. Ps. 85. Col. 2:6-19. Luke 11:1-13. Red

Aug 1, (10th Sunday after Pentecost), Hos 11:1-11. Ps. 107:1-9,43. Col. 3:1-11. Luke 12:13-21. Red

Aug 8, (11th Sunday after Pentecost), Is. 1:1,10-20. Ps. 50:1-8,22-23. Heb. 11:1-3,8-16. Luke 12:32-40. Red

Aug 15, (12th Sunday after Pentecost), Is 5:1-7. Ps. 80:1-2,8-19. Heb. 11:29~12:2. Luke 12:49-56. Red

Aug 22, (13th Sunday after Pentecost), Jer. 1:4-10. Ps. 71:1-6. Heb. 12:18-29. Luke 13:10-17. Red

Kingdomtide

Aug 29, (1st Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 2:4-13. Ps. 81:1,10-16. Heb. 13:1-8,15-16. Luke 14:1,7-14. Green

Sep 5, (2nd Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 18:1-11. Ps. 139:1-6,13-18. Philemon 1-21. Luke 14:25-33. Green

Sep 12, (3rd Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 4:11-12,22-28. Ps. 14. 1 Tim. 1:12-17. Luke 15:1-10. Green

Sep 19, (4th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 8:18~9:1. Ps. 79:1-9. 1 Tim. 2:1-7. Luke 16:1-13. Green

Sep 26, (5th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 32:1-3a,6-15. Ps. 91:1-6,14-16. 1 Tim. 6:6-19. Luke 16:19-31. Green

Oct 03, (6th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Lam. 1:1-6. Ps. 137 or Lam. 3:19-26. 2 Tim. 1:1-14. Luke 17:5-10. Green

Oct 10, (7th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 29:1,4-7. Ps. 66:1-12. 2 Tim. 2:8-15. Luke 17:11-19. Green

Oct 17, (8th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 31:27-34. Ps. 119:97-104. 2 Tim. 3:14~4:5. Luke 18:1-8. Green

Oct 24, (9th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Joel 2:23-32. Ps. 65. 2 Tim. 4:6-8,16-18. Luke 18:9-14. Green

Oct 31, (10th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Hab. 1:1-4; 2:1-4. Ps. 119:137-144. 2 Thess. 1:1-4,11-12. Luke 19:1-10. Green; (Oct 31 may be designated “Reformation Sunday.”)

Nov 1, (All Saints’ Day), Dan. 7:1-3,15-18. Ps. 149. Eph. 1:11-23. Luke 6:20-31. White/Green

Nov 7, (11th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Hag. 1:15b-2:9. Ps. 98 or 145:1-5,17-21. 2 Thess. 2:1-5,13-17. Luke 20:27-38. Green

Nov 14, (12th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Is. 65:17-25. Isaiah 12. 2 Thess. 3:6-13. Luke 21:5-19. Green

Nov 21, (13th Sunday of Kingdomtide), Jer. 23:1-6. Luke 1:68-79. Col. 1:11-20. Luke 23:33-43. Green

Nov 25, Thanksgiving Day, Deut. 26:1-11. Ps. 100. Phil. 4:4-9. John 6:25-35. White

'How Do I Find Grace?'

An Essay by Julian James Crump, Contest Winner, Mt. Zion #2 CME Church, Hamilton, AL

Seeking grace is easy once you understand what grace is and what it means. Grace is “unmerited favor” for God (Ephesians 2:8-9). In theology, grace may be described as “enabling power sufficient for progression.” Grace divine is a gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion, and without God’s grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, and faults that mankind cannot overcome.

As Christians, we believe it is important to increase in God’s grace for added perfection, completeness and flawlessness. More broadly divine grace refers to God’s gifts to all humankind, including life, creation, and salvation. More commonly, grace describes the means by which we are granted salvation (and to some, saved from original sin).

Grace is most important in the theology of Christianity, as well as one of the most important issues in Christian salvation. Grace is often different from mercy in that mercy is seen as not receiving punishment that one deserves to receive, whereas grace is the receipt of a positive benefit that one does not deserve to receive.

Divine grace also can be defined as God’s presence in our lives, enabling us to do and be what we were created for.

Finding spiritual growth and grace fit together. Some people do not understand grace and see it as the license to do what they want and still receive God’s favor. A true understanding of grace will lead to growth and stability.

God uses grace to carry out a process of growth in our lives, but it is not automatic. This is the reason why the number of years a person is a Christian has nothing to do with spiritual maturity. Real maturity comes by cooperating with God’s grace process. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The ultimate force in salvation is God’s grace. Not material things; not houses, not our money or not our friends. Grace is God’s calming hand over a stormy sea of our lives. The church song that states, “…if our God is for us, who can be against us…,” is a great inspiration about grace. God is for us, not maybe, not has been, not was, not sometimes, but God is always for us. If God had MySpace, my name would be on top of his friends list. If he had a calendar, my birthday would be circled. God is for us, and know that, no one can be against you.

We all need grace. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17 (NCV). Christ died so that I would have grace and mercy. Eternity is given by actions, but through grace the outcome may change, the grace God has blessed us with.

Grace is important because without it we would not allow Jesus to see us for all of our possibilities, rather than our shortcomings, affording us the possibility to live everlasting life in paradise without our Heavenly Father.

Photo: L-R: James Perkins, North Central Region director of Christian Education; Bishop L.L. Reddick, III, presiding bishop of the 5th Episcopal District; essay winner Julian J. Crump; Julian’s mother, Martha West-Crump; Presiding Elder of the Huntsville District Rev. Ollie Hatchett; Rev. Zethelyn Johnson, Rev. Charlie J. Johnson, Jr., pastor, Mt. Zion #2 CME, Hamilton, AL.

Happy Birthday to The Christian Index Online

Three years go by pretty quickly. But on August 28, 2006, The Christian Index Online was born. It was the result of continued requests from Index readers, and members and leaders of the CME Church, that our historic official publication have a presence on the WEB. It was at a time when not everyone was familiar with the concept of "blogging" as much as we are now. Yet, through the free service offered by Blogger.com, the Online Index has provided an important source of timely communication to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the world. Over the past three years, visitors to this site have increased tremendously. For example, since adding a visit counter in May of this year, the number of hits to the site has approached 8,000! That's roughly 75 hits on the site per day! So, again, Happy Birthday to The Christian Index Online. We invite everyone to continue to visit here as often as possible to receive the latest news and important information on the life of the CME Church.

Dr. Kenneth Elvis Jones, editor.

Carter Tabernacle, Orlando, FL, Invites All on Mission Trips

Carter Tabernacle CME will be spreading the Word of God and the love and peace of Jesus Christ with a series of mission trips in 2010. With trips scheduled to the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, availability will fill-up fast; don't miss out!All members of the CME Connection are invited to attend; please fill out the attached registration form and return to Carter's main office as soon as possible.

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Dr. V. Burns

We Can Help Ashante' Sloan Fight Aplastic Anemia

Ashante’ Sloan, the middle child of the late Dr. Albert J. H. Sloan II, former President of Miles College, and Mrs. Emma Lee Sloan of Birmingham, AL, was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in October 2008.

With Aplastic Anemia coursing through your bloodstream are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which all are important to your health. These blood components are produced in your bone marrow—the red, spongy core of many of your bones.

Anemia occurs when blood is low in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Without enough red blood cells, your body can't get all of the oxygen it needs and you feel fatigued.
In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow stops producing enough new blood cells. This means that you have not only a deficit of red blood cells but also a shortage of white blood cells to fight germs and platelets to help blood clot. You're at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Aplastic anemia is not a single disease, but a group of closely related disorders characterized by the failure of the bone marrow to produce all three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Aplastic anemia is rare, affecting fewer than 1,000 people each year in the United States. The exact cause of aplastic anemia is unknown, although it has been linked to exposure to chemicals such as benzene and radiation. It is also believed that some cases of aplastic anemia are inherited and that some cases are due to a viral infection.
The cause is a mistaken immune system response that destroys bone marrow. A condition known as secondary aplastic anemia can develop when bone marrow is damaged by cancer, chemotherapy, certain medications, pregnancy or exposure to toxic substances. Treatments may include observation for very mild cases, medications, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplantation. Once considered nearly always fatal, aplastic anemia has a much better prognosis today thanks to advances in treatment.
Ashante’ is in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant, and organized three marrow transplant drives in Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Birmingham, AL. Four potential donors have been identified on the Be The Match Registry, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Although none of the potential donors is a perfect match (they are all 9 out of 10), her specialist believes it is urgent that they move forward due to her condition.
Thanks be to God that one of the four potential donor’s matches and Ashante’ will receive the Bone Marrow Transplant on September 25, 2009.
The help of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is needed to continue this fight and to proceed with the transplant. The cost of this procedure is extremely expensive with bills mounting up daily. A foundation has been set up to assist Ashante’ with all remaining donations going to her fight against future aplastic anemia patients.
Your donation can be made payable to the Albert J.H. Sloan Transplant Fund, Account #2000049177688, at any Wachovia Bank. Please email her at ashantesloan@yahoo.com when you make your donation. We want to thank everyone personally.
Also, please save your receipts for your records and remember, A Life That You Save May Be Your Very Own.
Photo shows Ashante Sloan (center) with sisters Alescia (l) and Ashaki Sloan Means (r). Submitted by Carla L. Flakes, Ed.S, Miles Chapel CME Church, Fairfield, AL.

Commission on Women in Ministry Workshop

(Click on image.)

Carter Temple Finds Deterrent for Youth

Drug Use and Violence

By Kim Driscoll,

Carter Temple CME Church, Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL—In a city where more than 30 students were killed during the past school year and the top of nearly every news hour includes shocking reports on children being

gunned down in the midst of gang rivalries, it was astonishing to observe a dozen youth to walk down the aisle one-by-one and join church—all during the same Sunday service. For members of Carter Temple CME Church on Chicago’s Southside, however, the Lord was just doing His work by adding increase to an already flourishing youth and young adult ministry.
Under the guise of the Rev. Dr. Sylvester Williams Sr., Carter Temple’s youth are spreading the word about a place where they feel a part of such a sacred institution.
Among those joining church that day was Anthony Ward, 21, who is not a gang member but knows people who are, decided to visit Carter Temple after a friend told him about the many youth and young adult activities held at the church.
“I didn’t come [to church] to join and had been scared,” said Ward. “But when the pastor opened the doors of the church, I just got up—I guess it was the Holy Spirit.”
Tangelia Walters, 19, also heard about the many youth and young adult opportunities at Carter Temple and decided to become a member.
“I feel like the Lord pushed me to walk [to join the church] because I had visited before but really had not decided to join,” said Walters. “I’m glad I did because I’d heard about Carter’s good programs for young people.”
Carter Temple youth and young adult ministries include the Alpha and Omega Praise Step Team, Youth and Young Adult Choir, Wilbert E. Thomas Junior Steward Board, D.I. Isom Youth and Young Adult Usher Board, Moments of Grace Praise Dance Ministry, Mattie E. Coleman Missionaries, Righteous Living (singing/Rap group), New Generation Mentoring Program, and GphiG (Glorify God praise step team).
The 12- to17-year-olds who attend weekly Christian Youth Fellowship classes are exposed to Bible study, life application classes, current news discussions, and rap sessions with the pastor.
Justin Jackson, 14, and a member of Carter Temple for most of his life, says, “Sometimes the older people don’t feel what we feel. I’m glad to have a pastor who thinks about us when we go home.”
Reaching out to youth seems to be paramount for Pastor Williams as it is commonplace to find him accompanying young church members on various activities, including “hanging out” with the youth for pizza after an evening of bowling.
Pastor Williams stresses, “It is imperative that we involve the youth and young adults in the church. We must reach what has been characterized as a Hip Hop culture, even though we don’t always understand them.”
Carter Temple’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry is rising to a challenge extended during the CME Youth and Young Adult Conference—to do a new thing for the Lord—and recently held a Youth and Young Adult Revival at their church. Those packing the pews included members of the Northwestern Football Team and the weekend of singing, poetry, and gospel rapping was highlighted by a series of sermons from guest minister, Rev. Starsky D. Wilson, Pastor, St. John United Church of Christ in St. Louis, MO.
Rev. Wilson, during his contentious and at times disturbing message about the affect of Hip Hop on today’s youth and its impact on the church, suggested that the “church” has been reluctant to embrace the genre because Hip Hop was formed out of chaos.
“Because we cannot define it, it frightens us [but] we forget that chaos proceeds community….God reaches out in the midst of chaos to connect it into community,” said Rev. Wilson. And in order to attract today’s youth, the “rapping reverend” stressed it is imperative that the church finds a way to connect to youth.
Carter Temple’s First Lady, Carmen Williams, who personally escorts the youth to Children’s Church each Sunday, also recognizes the importance of reaching out to young people and was pleased with the success of the youth revival.
“I’m excited and thrilled to death that our youth and young adults are allowed to express themselves with such exuberance!” Mrs. Williams exclaimed.
Carter Temple continues to be in the forefront of positively impacting youth, as it is home to the national program, One Church One School, a partnership between neighboring churches and community schools working together to improve the academic achievement, social behavior and personal development of children.
Chicago gangs proved no match for God, however, when a dozen children joined church in a single day. The implications of so many youth choosing Carter Temple speaks volumes to the leadership of Pastor Sylvester Williams and the determination of Carter Temple’s members to win young souls for Christ.

"Preying on the Unsuspecting:"

CME Church Scam Persists

By Dr. Paul Brown, Miles Memorial CME, Washington, DC

Times are hard these days! Finances are dwindling and churches are clamoring to save and retrieve all the members they can. However, it is in that spirit that these unscrupulous individuals are using to prey on unsuspecting pastors and church leaders to scam them out of hard earned cash and often benevolence monies from churches.

The scam works as follows: An individual will call a pastor pretending to be a pastor of a large CME Church whose neice, daughter or member is moving into the area of the unsuspecting pastor. She will be traveling by car with her two, three or four children. The next day or a few days later, the young girl will call the pastor who has been contacted about her coming and she proceeds to tell the unsuspecting pastor that she has broken down and is at a repair shop and her car repairs will cost about $800 (or some other amount) and she is in desperate need and will repay the funds once she arrives in the city. They will always give some fictitious road, highway or street as to where they have broken down but they will put the so-called repair man on the phone to confirm that he has her car and cannot release it until the bill has been paid in full.

Here is where the scam takes on its nebulous nature. The repairman will tell the unsuspecting pastor to wire the money by Western Union or wire it to a local Wal-Mart and then the matter will be taken care of. The unsuspecting pastor, in their desire to help a so-called stranded CME potential member, will wire the monies to these individuals who then have no paper trail to connect them legally!!

As one whose name has been a part of this scam, I suggest one thing. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER SEND ANY MONEY OVER THE WIRE TO PERSONS YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF OR HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE, EVEN IF THEY COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PREACHER IN THE CME CHURCH OR A BISHOP!

While I realize the desire to help someone out of a compassionate spirit that most pastors possess, it is just plain good sense to contact the individuals whose names are being used first to authenticate any so-called story being told to you. On a side note, I find it difficult to believe that anyone leaving one church to go to another, will not first have a conversation with all parties involved, and then, to call a preacher and ask for money is not something I would readily recommend any member to do, much less a family member!

Please, should you get any such calls, get all the info, tell them you will get back to them, verify any and all information and then forward it to the local authorities so that we can finally catch these unscrupulous individuals once an for all!

Consecration Services for Metropolitan CME, Houston, TX
Houston, TX—Family and friends are invited to share with the pastor, officers, and members of the Metropolitan CME Church as Consecration Services are observed on Sunday, August 9, 2009. The sprawling campus is located at 8955 South Freeway (288) between Bellfort Blvd. and Reed Road. Included during the 3 PM, celebration will be tributes and special recognitions to those who made contributions toward the church’s rebuilding efforts. For more information, please contact Pastor Dr. W. Edward Lockett at 713-748-6242 or metrocme@aol.com. You can read more about Metropolitan’s restoration in an upcoming issue of The Christian Index.

Rev. Rodney Geyen Re-Elected to a 4th term to the Lake Charles City Council

City Councilman Rev. Rodney Geyen was re-elected on April 4, 2009, to a fourth term as City Councilman of District C in the city of Lake Charles, LA.
Rev. Geyen has served for 12 years on the Council and has served as President of the Council twice. Rev. Geyen served as mayor for a period of four and one half months, becoming the first African American to serve as mayor in the City of Lake Charles.
Rev. Geyen is responsible for securing over $25 million for the reconstruction of 34 streets, sidewalks, and drainages that greatly improved the district in which he serves. Several recreation centers have been built, with state-of-the-art exercise equipment and indoor/outdoor walk tracks. He is an advocate of having a safe community to live in and has worked hard to rid his district of various kinds of crime and drug activities.
Rev. Geyen has served the school system for 42-plus years as teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal. He also served as a deputy sheriff for 21 years.
Rev. Geyen is a graduate of W. O. Boston High School, Grambling St. University, McNeese State University and earned a Masters-plus-30 Degree in the field of Education.
Rev. Geyen is a member of Reeves Temple CME Church in Lake Charles, LA, under the guidance of Rev. Dr. H. Leon Williams, pastor.

St. James CME, LaGrange, GA, 

Gets Eagle Scout      

On Sunday March 29, 2009 Walter Solomon Whitfield became the first member of St James CME Church, LaGrange Georgia to earn the Eagle Scout Rank. His Court of Honor was conducted at the church and the St. James family congratulated Solomon on this outstanding achievement. The Eagle rank is the highest rank that a scout can earn. Solomon began his scouting career in 1998 as a Cub Scout in the church’s first Cub Scout Pack, founded by Miss Carol Lewis. The Charter Partner Representative was Mr. L.L. Banks and Mr. Joan Debnam served on the Pack Committee. Both have served the pack and troop faithfully ensuring that the scouting programs succeed. In 2001 Solomon received the Arrow of Light, the highest rank a Cub Scout receives. He then crossed over into the Boy Scout Troop and for the next 8 years earned more than 44 merit badges on the way to Eagle.
As a boy scout Solomon participated in many campouts and other scout events including the annual Freeze-O-Ree at Camp Gallant, Fall Family Campouts, Religious Encampments at both Andersonville and Tuskegee Institute and hiking the Little Grand Canyon in Lumpkin Georgia. He worked at the Camp Lumpkin Summer Camp for the past four years assisting other scouts in earning merit badges. The highlight of his camping experiences was his attendance at the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2005 at Fort AP Hill, Virginia. For twelve days, along with 80 other scouters from the Chattahoochee Council, he toured Washington DC and camped at Fort AP Hill with 40,000 other Boys Scouts and Scout Leaders. One of the most memorial moments of the Jamboree was the assembly which President George Bush addressed.
He graduated from LaGrange High School in June of 2009 and will attend Columbus State University in the fall. His plans are to become an accountant and continue to work within the Scouting program. 

Photo: Right to left - Rev. Jesse Everett, Presiding Elder, North Columbus-LaGrange District, West Georgia Region; Rev. LK Allen, pastor of St. James CME Church, LaGrange GA., Rev. Morrissey Whitfield, mother, pastor of Trinity in Durand, GA., father, Gary Whitfield, Scout Master Troop 305; new Eagle Scout Walter Solomon Whitfield, brother, Life Scout Christopher Isaiah Whitfield.

CYAM Appeal to Young Adults to Attend Region Conferences

"Ships that Sail...:" 23rd CME Convocation Schedule Announced

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr., Chair of the Annual CME Convocation Committee, Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., Chair of the Convocation Program Committee and Reverend Dr. Tyrone T. Davis, Annual Convocation Director have announced the tentative schedule of the 2009 Annual CME Convocation which will be hosted by the Third Episcopal District in Saint Louis, Missouri. The 2009 Convocation will meet Monday – Thursday, September 21st – 24th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (formerly Adams Mark) in downtown Saint Louis. The theme of the Convocation is “The Ships that Sail Us from Good to Great.”
Included in the schedule are planned meetings of selected General Conference Commissions and Committees on Monday, September 21st from 3 PM to 6:30 PM.
The Annual CME Convocation will meet in conjunction with the quadrennial meeting of the Connectional Lay Institute sponsored by the Department of Lay Ministry. The Connectional Lay Institute will meet Saturday – Monday (am), September 19th – 21st at the Millennium Hotel 2½ blocks south of the Hyatt Regency. Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. is the Chair of the Department of Lay Ministry and Dr. Victor Taylor is the General Secretary. Combined registration forms for either or both events are printed in The Christian Index. Forms can also be found on the CME Website (www.c-m-e.org).

Speakers and Preachers:
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.
[Keynote - Monday]
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.
[Communion - Tuesday]
Bishop William H. Graves, Sr.
[Commissioning and Covenanting - Thursday]
Reverend Dr. Clementine Mays
[Mid-day Worship - Wednesday]
Teachers:
Dr. Evelyn Parker
[Bible Study – Tuesday-Thursday]
Reverend Dollie Howell Pankey
[Plenary Presenter – Worship (Tuesday AM)]
Reverend Dr. Willie C. Champion
[Plenary Presenter – Membership (Tuesday AM)]
Dr. Leo Pinkett [Plenary Presenter – Mentorship (Tuesday PM)]
Reverend Dr. Charles Holbrook [Plenary Presenter – Leadership (Tuesday PM)]
Reverend Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield [Plenary Presenter – Discipleship (Wednesday AM)]
Bishop Kenneth W. Carter [Plenary Presenter – Stewardship (Wednesday AM)]
Dr. Allen F. Todd II [Concert Choir Director (Wednesday)]
Dr. Marie Jerigan [Wrap-up! (Thursday)]

Special Assignments:
Ms. Doris Herring
[Registrar – Monday-Wednesday]
Reverend Dr. Jerome E. McNeil, Jr.
[Prayer Coordinator – Monday-Thursday]

Monday, September 21, 2009:
10 am – 5 pm Registration
9 am – 2 pm Departmental Meetings
9 am – 3 pm Presiding Elders’ In-service Training
3 pm – 6:30 pm

Commissions and Committees
Board of Directors for Ministerial Assessment Center
Commission on Economic Development
Commission on Ecumenicity Commission on Faith and Order
Commission on Life and Witness
Commission on Ritual and Worship and Committee to Develop a New CME Hymnal
Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns
Commission on the Concerns of Women in Ministry
Committee on Resolutions

5 pm – 6:30 pm Orientation of Facilitators
Orientation of Security Access Monitors
7 pm – 9:30 pm Keynote Assembly
9:30 pm – Midnight Convocation Concert Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 (T-Shirt Day):
8 am – 5 pm Registration
8 am – 7 pm Exhibits
8 am – 8:50 am Bible Study
9 am – 10 am Plenary Session
[Worship ~ Membership]
10:15 am – 12:15 pm Break-out Sessions
12:30 pm – 2 pm Lunch Break
2 pm – 3 pm Plenary Session
[Mentorship ~ Leadership]
3:15 pm – 5:15 pm Break-out Sessions
5:15 pm – 6:45 pm Dinner Break
7 pm – 9:30 pm Communion Worship Service
9:30 pm – Midnight Convocation Concert Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, September 23, 2009:
7 am – 8:30 am Chaplains’ Breakfast
8 am – 7 pm Exhibits
9 am – Noon Registration
8 am – 8:50 am Bible Study
9 am – 10 am Plenary Session
[Discipleship ~ Stewardship]
10:15 am – 12:15 pm Break-out Sessions
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Mid-day Worship Service
1:30 pm – 3 pm Lunch Break
3 pm – 4:30 pm Workshops
3 pm – 6 pm Convocation Concert Choir Rehearsal
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Convocation Committee Meeting
7 pm – 9:30 pm Convocation Annual Concert

Thursday, September 24, 2009:
8 am – 8:50 am Bible Study
9 am – 9:30 am Wrap-Up!
9:30 am – 10:15 am Commissioning and Covenanting Service

Submitted to The Christian Index by Dr. Tyrone T. Davis

Funeral Arrangements for Presiding Elder Rev. Sebron Isom
Services for Rev. Sebron Isom, retired minister and former presiding elder of the Washington-Virginia District, New York Washington Region, 7th Episcopal District, will be at 11 AM, Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, at the Israel Metropolitan CME Church, 557 Randolph Street, NW, Washington, DC. Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., will officiate. 

Department of Lay Ministry Graham-Webb Scholarship 2009-10 General Information
The Department of Lay Ministry of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church believes that educating our young is a positive step in helping to provide role models for future generations. Thus, the Graham-Webb Scholarship named in honor of Dr. Willie L. Graham and Dr. Roscoe Webb, will provide assistance to deserving CME male students who plan to further their education after graduating from high school. The Department of Lay Ministry will, therefore, award nine (9) Graham-Webb Scholarships (one from each Episcopal District within the United States) in an amount no less than $700 and not exceeding $1000. An additional 5% of the award amount will be provided to young men who choose to attend a CME College. We believe that this scholarship is one small way of helping to make dreams come true.

 
Applicants for the scholarship must plan to enroll in a full-time program of study at an accredited institution of higher learning, vocational, or technical school. The recipients must provide proof of enrollment prior to receiving the award. After sufficient proof of enrollment is provided, one-half of the award shall be forwarded to the recipient for the first semester and the remaining one-half at the beginning of the second semester. When the learning institution’s classes are scheduled on a trimester basis, the student will receive the award in equal parts during each trimester. Scholarship awards are to be used to assist with the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board and/or supplies.  

Selection of the Scholarship recipients will be based on: membership in the CME Church, academic achievement, and financial need. Completed applications must be post marked no later than July 17, 2009. The Graham-Webb Scholarship application can be accessed online at c-m-e.org.

If there are questions, please contact:
Mr. Clifford L. Harris, Chair
Graham-Webb Scholarship Committee
918.304.1999 (home)
918.519.4233 (cell)
Email: mrcliffharris@yahoo.com

Funeral Arrangement for Mrs. Minnie Washington - Mother of Missionary Messenger Editor Rita Washington

Funeral Arrangements:
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Metropolitian Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
8955 South Freeway
Houston, Texas 77051
Phone Number :713-748-5947 Fax Number 713-748-2718

Visitation
9-11 AM - Saturday, June 13, 2009

Funeral Service

Metropolitian CME Church - Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 11 AM

Funeral Home
Grimes
3900 Holmes Road
Houston, Texas 77051
Phone Number - 713-733-3336 - Fax Number 713-733-1149

Rejoice,

Dr. Elnora P. Hamb
Women's Missionary Council President

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Loss of Mr. William Everett 

Dear Connectional Members and Friends,

It is with deep regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. William Everett, the father of Rev. Paul Everett, pastor of First CME Church (Anchorage, Alaska) in the Alaska-Pacific Region of the 9th Episcopal District. Mr. Everett passed away yesterday.

The funeral service for Mr. Everett will be held on Monday, June 15, 2009, 1 PM, at New Hope Friendship Baptist Church, 2205 Harrison Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113. Church telephone: 619-234-5506.

You may send condolences, cards, flowers, and other expressions of sympathy to the Everett family in care of New Hope Friendship Baptist Church. You may contact Rev. Everett via e-mail at reveverett@aol.com .

Please keep Rev. Paul Everett and his immediate family in prayer.

In His Service,

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.

3 Historically Black Churches Formally Launch HIV Testing Campaign with Balm In Gilead
(Richmond, VA) The senior bishops of the nation’s oldest Black church denominations are launching a national crusade to engage churches of all denominations to support The Balm In Gilead’s 9th Annual Our Church Lights the Way! HIV Testing Campaign. Each senior bishop: The Rt. Rev. John Bryant, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); The Rt. Rev. George W.C. Walker, Sr. of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion) and The Rt. Rev. William H. Graves, Sr. of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) has produced a public service announcement to be used by churches, community and civic organizations and individuals, as well as all media outlets to encourage African Americans to take the HIV test.
The 2009 Our Church Lights the Way Campaign also includes a public service announcement with the combined leadership of The Rt. Rev. Yvette Flunder, Senior Bishop of The Fellowship and Senior Pastor of The City of Refuge United Church of Christ; and Dr. Katie G. Cannon, Professor, Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA along with the senior bishops of the AME, AME Zion and CME denominations.

According to Pernessa C. Seele, Founder/CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Our Church Lights the Way HIV Testing Campaign is a Call to Action from pulpits across our nation to encourage and support individuals to take the HIV test and to seek immediate care and treatment if test results are positive and for everyone, with positive or negative results, to live responsibility regarding sexual and emotional behaviors.

In 2007-08, the campaign resulted in a 300% increase in the number of African American churches conducting HIV testing programs at their places of worship. Faith-based testing programs often report a 100% return rate of persons receiving HIV test results. “The significance of faith-based HIV testing programs cannot be under estimated”, states Ronald V. Dellums, Mayor of Oakland, CA and former US Congressman. “These institutions are respected cornerstones in the community and have a great role to play in the AIDS pandemic. The Balm In Gilead’s model for engaging faith institutions in addressing HIV/AIDS is a successful global model for community mobilization”.

Our churches must do far more to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our communities. We have been so misled and misinformed about this disease. It is time for all of us to be led by facts and unconditional love regarding HIV/AIDS, states, Bishop William H. Graves Sr.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 2% of the African American population is presently living with HIV/AIDS. It is believed that 20,000 to 30,000 African Americans become newly infected with the virus that causes AIDS every year. “Most people in our communities do not know they have the virus in their bodies. Our churches must begin to realize its role in getting people tested and caring for all persons who are HIV positive”, states Rev. Katie Cannon.

In 2005, The Balm In Gilead in partnership with the Women’s Missionary Societies of the AME, AME Zion and CME denominations launched its African American Denominational Leadership Health Initiative. Today, this partnership has resulted in the establishment of a strong network of health ministries that support the service delivery of disease prevention and health promotion activities to local communities across the US, Africa and the Caribbean.

For your free copy of the public service announcements and other materials on how your church and community can participate in Our Church Lights the Way HIV Testing Campaign visit www.balmingilead.org or 888-225-6243.

The 2009 Our Church Lights the Way HIV Testing Campaign is supported by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National HIV Testing Mobilization Campaign. 

Photo shows Senior Bishops Walker, Graves and Bryant of Three Historically Black Church Denominations, along with Pernessa Seele, Founder/CEO of the Balm In Gilead, Call on Churches to Support HIV Testing Month in June.

Statement of Commission on Social Justice - '09 General Board
To Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham, Chair of the College of Bishops, the College of Bishops, General Officers, Judicial Council, Heads of Connectional Institutions, and Members of the General Connectional Board.
The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns met on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 and made the following recommendations:
1. We are proud to salute the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. We recognize that this significant milestone is the result of the improvement in race relations in the United States of America as it gives us more hope for positive change as we move toward a more perfect union.
2. We continue to support a universal health care system for all Americans that would provide adequate health care resources to more than 45 million Americans. We support President Barack Obama's health care expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program and other health initiatives underway. We also support participation in the 50 Million Pound Initiative started by Dr. Ian Smith, awareness of issues regarding African-American men and prostate cancer, and removal of the stigma regarding issues of mental health. It is OK to ask for help.
We support President Obama's proposal yesterday to ask Congress for 63 billion dollars over six years to battle chronic global health crises, including AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
3. We must re-direct and re-focus our attention on major health issues facing African Americans: the HIV/AIDS crisis and proper drug and mental health treatment. Therefore, we recommend that our CME churches lift up and educate our black men and women about the HIV/AIDS crisis and other major health issues, and support, coach and mentor our black youth and young adults to ensure that they are spiritually, physically and mentally healthy! We salute the Balm in Gilead and the Women's Missionary Council for their efforts in this area and encourage participation in this endeavor.
4. We encourage every CME church to be engaged in voter registration efforts and partner with the NAACP to register members within the church and persons within the community.
5. We support the One Church One School community partnership program that encourages every church to partner with a public school to improve academic achievement, social behavior, and personal development of all students. We applaud the efforts of the College of Bishops supporting One Church One School by appointing Episcopal directors in each District, to coordinate and increase the number of church school partnerships across our nation.
The National One Church One School Conference will be held in Memphis, Tennessee, October 21-23, 2009.
6. We support the National Urban League's report, The State of Black America 2009: Message to the President, that examines the critical challenges -such as unemployment, home foreclosures, education and health care reform - that President Obama's new administration must address. The message encourages and inspires us to join in working to help President Obama fulfill the promise he made to us last summer "to build a nation worthy of our children's future."
7. We recognize that the greatest civil rights challenge facing black America in the 21st century is the economic line between Blacks and whites, rich and poor, the haves, have-nots, and have mores. We recommend that our connectional churches in our communities focus on our Black males, Rites of Passage programs, educational and economic opportunities, and developing ministries in the churches and communities to meet their needs.
8. We continue to call for prison reform, drug rehabilitation efforts, and the abolishment of the death penalty because it has been proven to be discriminatory against people of color and particularly our African American males.
9. We encourage and support Bread for the World 2009 Offering of letters to end hunger both in our nation and around the world.
10. We support all efforts to address and end domestic violence, and support for victims of domestic violence.
11. We must continue to , For the end of the Iraq war, and pray for the safety and security of our men and women who are serving in the Armed Forces to protect America!
12. We encourage all CME congregations to be proactive in learning all of the facts regarding the federal economic stimulus package and how it will impact and help our communities.
13. We want to remind every CME that 2010 in addition to being a General Conference year is also the year of the Census. It is important that we become involved in the process through education and participation individually as well as collectively. If we are not counted, we will not count!
14. We salute Rev. James T. Morris of the 3rd Episcopal District and a member of this Commission on his recent election to the Missouri State Legislature.
Finally, we salute Senior Bishop William H. Graves for being selected again as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans by Ebony magazine in its May 2009 issue.

Respectfully submitted,

The Commission on Social Justice and Human
Concerns

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Chair
Rev. Amariah McIntosh, Secretary
Rev. L.K. Allen
Rev. Larry Brown
Rev. Paul Freeman
Rev. James Morris
Rev. Brian Reese
Rev. Regina Reese-Young
Rev. Anthony Ware