Loss of Dr. Vivian U. Robinson

Dear CME Family:

I regret to inform you of the passing of Dr. Vivian U. Robinson, Past Region President of Georgia Women’s Missionary Society and Department Secretary of the Women’s Missionary Council on Friday, February 13, 2009.

Home Going Services are as follows:

Family Hour and Viewing:
Friday, February 20, 2009 – 5  PM– 8 PM

Williams Funeral Home – Mrs. Mildred Williams Contact Person
1765 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Phone Number: 706-722-5551
Fax Number: 706-722-8999

Funeral Service:

Saturday, February 21, 2009
Viewing: 1- 2 PM

Funeral Service: 2 PM
Paine College – Dr. George C. Bradley, President
1235 15th Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Phone Number: 706-821-8200

Condolences can be sent to her daughter, Mrs. Gwendolyn Durnell
703 Low Meadow Drive
Evans, Georgia 30809
Phone Number 706-951-0773

Or 1256 Hernlen Street
Augusta Georgia 30901
Phone Number: 706-722-8593

Submitted by Dr. Elnora P. Hamb, Missionary Council President

Lenten Books Available

Dear CME's

The Lent “Liberation and Unity books are available. This is a joint effort of the departments of Christian Education from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Cost is 2.00 each for orders of less than 50 books; for orders of 50 or more books the cost is $1.80 each and plus shipping cost.

Please provide a valid shipping address for your order. We need responses by Monday February 16, 2009.

Thanks

Loss of Matthew Bouknight
The Reverend Joseph Bouknight, a retired pastor in the Michigan-Indiana Region and father of Attorney Barbara Bouknight and Miss Jeanette Bouknight, recently lost his brother and nephew.
The funeral arrangements for Matthew Bouknight, brother of Rev. Joseph Bouknight, and Matthew's son, Richard Bouknight, are as follows:
Funeral:
Thursday, February 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 635 E. Main Street, Wytheville, Virginia.
Arrangements entrusted to Barnett Funeral Home, 325 Church Street, Wytheville, VA 24382 (276) 228-3121.
Condolences may be sent to Rev. & Mrs. Joseph (Dorothy) Bouknight at 18103 Schaefer Hwy, Detroit, MI 48235. Their phone number is (313) 861-1274.

Please keep the Bouknight family in prayer.

Home-going Services for Mrs. Willie Arlene Williams
The funeral services for the late Mrs. Willie Arlene Williams, the mother of Presiding Elder H. Leon Williams and Presiding Elder Wayne A. Williams, will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 10 AM at:
Greenwood CME Church
3311 Kimball Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 744-7531 (Office)
(901) 744-7664 (Fax)

Her body is entrusted to:

Henderson Funeral Home
2746 South Panola Street
Hernando, Ms 38632
Office: (662) 429-9443
Fax: (662) 429-2434
Email Address: cedricburnett@hedersonfuneralhome.org
Contact Person: Mr. Cedric Burnett

If you are going to send condolences, resolutions or flowers (live flowers please), send them to the Henderson Funeral Home.

The Family Hour will be held on Friday, January 30, 2009, from 6 to 8 PM at:
St. Paul CME Church
7420 West Goodman Road
Walls, MS 38680

Rev. Dr. H. Leon Williams, Sr. (337) 842-8856 (Cell)
(337) 439-8622 (Home)

Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Williams (318) 469-8269

CME Reflections

On the Historic Inauguration

Of President Barack Obama

Dear CME Members and Friends,

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ!

This week, we will witness the historical inauguration of President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and first African-American elected to the office. A blog (Web journal) has been established on the official CME Web site for you to share your personal account, stories and experiences of this historical event.

Perhaps you attended the inauguration ceremony, celebration balls, and special events held in Washington, DC. Perhaps you hosted or attended celebration events in your hometown or watched the inaugural events on television. Share your story with our connectional members.
You may submit your reflections on the blog located at: www.c-m-e.org/cmereflections.htm
The journal submissions may be forwarded for publication in The Christian Index.
Note: You may send an article about the inauguration and photographs for inclusion in The Christian Index to: Dr. Kenneth Jones, Editor of The Christian Index, PO Box 16035, Fairfield, AL 35064. (The Editor's office number is 205-929-1410). Please include a $20 fee per photo. All checks should be made payable to the Department of Publication.
A limited number of photographs from inaugural events will be posted on the blog. If you would like for your photograph(s) to be considered for inclusion on the blog, please do the following.
Please send an e-mail message to stating that you are the creator of the image or photograph, and provide permission to publish the photograph on the CME Web site.
You can attach the photograph with the e-mail that you send. For each image, please provide a short description.
How to submit your stories or comments on the blog:

Visit the blog at www.c-m-e.org/cmereflections.htm
Click on Comments. A appears
Write your comments in the box
To submit your comments, click on Submit Comments

Many of our CME members and friends will look forward to reading the stories from this historic event! Thank you for your support of this effort.


Your Servant in Christ,

Dr. Kenneth E. Jones
Editor, The Christian Index
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

St. Paul Academy (Ga.) 

football team wins 2008 City Championship
Savannah, GA (Nov. 6, 2008)—The Saint Paul Academy Middle School football team recently was crowned champions of the Savannah Private Schools Football League. The Saints finished the season with a perfect 8-0 record and completely dismantled St. Peter's in the championship game by a score of 24-14. Although they got off to a slow start and led 16-14 at halftime, St. Paul coaches made the proper corrections and adjustments at halftime to break the game open.
The margin of victory could have been much greater if three of St. Paul's touchdowns were not called back due to questionable penalties. St. Peter's coaches decided that they did not want St. Paul to completely destroy them so they quit with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter, a poor example of sportsmanship. St. Paul's coaches and team accepted the trophy with little fanfare and returned to the school campus for a private celebration. We used this game as a learning tool for our children showing them that no matter how hard something looks, never quit. Persevere and see it through.
St. Paul has competed in middle school football for seven seasons. They were in the championship game their first two seasons, losing the game both years. The team has always been competitive and has produced star athletes that went on to other high schools to become star student athletes.
St. Paul Academy for Boys was founded in 1993 by Rev. Dr. Henry R. Delaney, Jr., in Savannah, GA. It is housed at 315 West 38th Street, which was a former Savannah-Chatham County school. The St. Paul Academy for Girls was founded in 2002 by Dr. Delaney, Jr. Now both academies are combined into St. Paul Academy and the school's chancellor is Rev. Keith E. Ellison. The football team's head coaches are Mr. D'Angelo Holsey and Mr. Eddie Brown.

Rejoice, for the Savior is Born!
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”- Luke 2:16-20

Loss of Rev. B.R. Udosen 
We are saddened to announce the passing of Rev. B. R. Udosen, Missions Supervisor for the Nigerian Regions of the 10th Episcopal District. He transitioned to his eternal resting place on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 4:40 PM Nigerian Time.

We ask your prayers for his family and the 6 regions of Nigeria.

Submitted by Rev. Alfred L. Harrison
Executive Assistant to Bishop Kenneth W. Carter
Presiding Prelate, 10th Episcopal District
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Life of Rev. R.C. George, Jr.
Rev. R.C. George, Jr., passed away December 12, 2008 at Methodist University Hospital. He was born in Carrolton, MS on September 10, 1934, the first of four children born to the late Rev. Richmond C. Sr. and Mrs. Irene George.
During his 43 year tenure as a pastor in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, he was one of the founding Directors of the CME Church, First Episcopal District housing for the Elderly, Exum Towers, Memphis, TN and Smith Keys Garden, Texarkana and Eldorado, AR. He was considered a preacher’s architect and was instrumental in the rebuilding, upgrading, and construction of many churches in Tennessee under the leadership of Bishop B. Julian Smith, Bishop J. Madison Exum and Sr. Bishop William H. Graves. Some of the Tennessee churches he served as pastor were Mt. Tipton, Grady Chapel, Bartlett Chapel, New Hope, Pillow Street, Watkins Chapel, Smothers Chapel, Winrow Chapel (now Winrow CME), St. Paul, and Zion Hill. In Mississippi, he served as pastor of Bates Chapel, Bethlehem and Cooper Chapel. Other cities and churches where he served as pastor were Parrish Temple in St. Louis, MO; St. James in Flint, MI; and St. Vestal (now Hashaway Community) in Long Beach, CA.
In 1972, Rev. George began his tenure as the presiding elder of the Memphis District, West Tennessee Conference, where he held this position for a decade.
Rev. George leaves four daughters, Mary Jean George, Irene Woods (Glen), and Yvette George of Memphis, and Adrianne Guice (Robert) of Houston; two brothers, Rev. William E. George and Tanner George and one sister, Robbie George-Greer, all of Memphis. His immediate family also includes seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one aunt, Inez Cooper,, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The visitation for Rev. R.C. George, Jr. will be Friday, December 19th at M.J. Edwards Funeral Home, 1165 Airways Blvd., 6-8 PM. The home-going services will be Saturday, December 20th, 2008, Greenwood CME Church, 3311 Kimball Avenue, Memphis, TN, Rev. Dr. Travis Robinson, pastor. Visitation, 10-10:50 AM, funeral at 11 AM. Interment, Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Popular Ave., Memphis, TN.
In lieu of flowers, the George Family is requesting that you please send memorials to the Collegiate Scholarship Fund, Winrow St. Paul CME Church, 5865 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38115. Arrangements: M.J. Edwards Funeral Home: 901-327-6390.

Loss of Rev. R.C. George, Jr.
The brother of CME Publisher Dr. William E. George, Rev. R.C. George, Jr. are as follows:
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Greenwood CME Church
(901) 743-1188
3311 Kimble Avenue
Memphis, TN 38114
Rev. Dr. Travis C. Robinson, pastor

Visitation — 10 AM
Celebration of Life — 11

Contact Reverend Dr. William E. George, 525 Harwood Cove, Memphis, TN 38120 at
(901) 683-7883 (home)

Loss of Mrs. C. Voncile Travis
Arrangements for Mrs. C. Voncile Travis, the aunt of General Secretary of Personnel Services Dr. Tyrone T. Davis are as follows:

Thursday, December 18, 2008
Phillips Memorial CME Church
(513) 281-2059
839 West North Bend Road
Cincinnati, OH 45224
Rev. Kai Cole, pastor
(513) 545-5062

Visitation — 11 AM
Celebration of Life — Noon

Saturday, December 20, 2008
New Purchase CME Church – (251) 789-2226
Beatrice, AL 36425
Reverend Dr. Dixie L. West, Pastor – (251) 244-0044

Arrangements for 

Rev. Dr. Eugene McLemore
Homegoing Services 
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 11 AM
Blacks Chapel Church
3425 Robinson Road
Jackson, MS 39209

Family Hour
Friday, December 19, 2008 6-7 PM

Blacks Chapel

Jackson, MS

Loss of Rev. Dr. Eugene McLemore
We are very sad to advise of the passing of Dr. Eugene McLemore, 66, current Pastor of Little Bethel CME Church, Terry , MS, former Pastor of Lynch Street CME Church, Jackson, MS ,former Hinds County Administrator and top Mississippi Development Authority official, who died today at home. Dr. McLemore grew up in the small north Mississippi town of Walls. Like his older brother, City Councilman Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore, his career revolved around public service and community leadership.
Please keep Mrs. McLemore and the rest of the family in your prayers. Further arrangements will follow.

Pene' Woods

A Time of Great Anticipation

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5, New International Version).

Merry Christmas

From The Christian Index Online

Services for Mrs. Joanna Small. It is with regret that I inform you of the death of Mrs. Joanna Small the mother of Mrs. Evelyn Gosey, the Chair of the Women's Missionary Council Compilation and Statistics Committee.

Please keep Evelyn and her family lifted up in prayer.

The Homegoing Services are as follows:
Funeral Home
Good Samaritan Funeral Home
2200 Laurel Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71103
Phone Number: 318-221-7361
Fax Number: 318-221-8697

Family Vistation Hour
Friday Night, December 5, 2008 - 7-8 PM

Funeral Service

Saturday, December 6, 2008 - 12:00 Noon
Bracks Chapel CME Church
Rev. Larry G. Williams, Pastor

Please send condolence to: Mrs. Evelyn Gosey
3212 Darien Street
Shreveport, LA 71109
Phone Number: (318)635-4471
Fax Number: 318-631-2705


Rejoice,

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

Happy Thanksgiving

from

The Christian Index Online

Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Editor

Passing of Shreveport District Lay Leader Thomas. Our prayers go out to the family of Bro. Robert Thomas, Shreveport District Lay Leader, who will be funeralized on Saturday at St. Luke CME Church, 2110 Martin Luther King Drive, Shreveport Louisiana at 11 AM. The remains can be viewed Friday, November 28, 2008 at JS Williams Funeral Home, 1104 Pierre Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana, 3–7 PM. On December 1, 2008 at 11 AM, Bro. Thomas will be laid to rest at the Louisiana Veteran Cemetery in Keithville, LA, with full military honor (the public is invited.)
Submitted Paula L. Wiley-Boutté

Evangelism and Missions Double "W" at Knoxville Convocation
There are so many ways to get involved in our church by volunteering. Our church survives because of the dedication of all our volunteers.
It is such a good way to get to know others in our church family. During the 22nd CME Convocation in Knoxville, Tennessee the Department of Evangelism and Mission called for members who would be in attendance to volunteer for Project Double "W."
Project Double "W" involved two areas of ministry, Work and Witness. General Secretary Rev. Dr. W. C. Champion lead CME's attending the 22nd Convocation on Project Double "W" focusing on two areas within the Knoxville community which moved CME's from the confines of the Knoxville Center engaging them in outreach ministries. Fifteen members, (Maudeania Screen-Moore, William Brook and Khadijah Screen 1st District; Wesley Massey and Odies Powers 4th District; Presiding Elder Ore L. Spragin 5th District; Teresa Brooks and Dr. Leo Pinkett 6th District; Rev. Sandra Gripper 7th District; Sella M. Ray, Jackie Redwine, Rev. Leroy Redwine, Tonie Johnson, and Vemon Johnson 8th District Presiding Elder Lummie Hearn 9th District) from various CME churches across the Connection volunteered for ministry of work at Mattie E. Coleman CME Church from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. This involved painting seven rooms at the church in an effort to upgrade the cosmetics of the class rooms and fellowship hall.
Members who participated in Project Double "W" were joined by two members from Mattie E. Coleman CME Church, Thurman Kinnebrew and Jasper Pride These two gentlemen prepared a wonderful lunch for the participants who were involved in "Work" ministry.
Presiding Elder Wilma Walden of the Southeast District, East Tennessee Region, is pastor of Mattie E. Coleman CME. The Mattie E. Coleman project represented the "work" of Double "W."
The "witness" of Double "W" took place in the Knoxville community at the Taylor Housing Projects where five members (Rose Locksey and Rev. Sheaneter 4th District; Cheryl 7th District; and Rev. Robert J. Thomas and Rev. Eloise Knox 9th District) from across the CME Connection were involved in door-to-door evangelism from 2 to 4 PM. The goal of the "witness" ministry was to men, women, and young people to Christ. Thurman Kinnebrew accompanied the five members involved in "Witness" ministry. The members involved were excited as they reported that over twenty-five individuals confessed and accepted Christ as their personal Savior.
This was the first time the Department of Evangelism and Mission has involved members attending the Convocation in Mission ministry involving repair and fix-up manual labor. This is the tenth year the Department has taken to the streets to witness. The Department of Evangelism and Mission feels it is very important that wherever the CME Convocation convenes, it is vital that the CME Church have a presence in the city where we meet. This is what Evan-
gelism and Mission is all about.
Praise God. Get ready for St. Louis, MO in 2009.

Pray for Chelsey Gladney

Family, Friends, Colleagues:
       I write to you this evening to request the prayers and financial assistance for a wonderful young lady, Chelsey Gladney, who is 19 years old, a second year student at Jackson State University, and a member of Lynch Street Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Jackson, MS, where the Rev. Dr. Charles Holbrook is Pastor.
       On Sunday morning, October 5th, Chelsey was on a way to church when she sollided with an 18 wheeler on Interstate 20. The car went underneath the truck and was on fire when the firefighters arrived on the scene. Chelsey was flown to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia where she is now. Chelsey sustained third degree burns over 40% of her body and on last week both of her fee

t were amputated. On yesterday, Oct. 22nd, one of her legs was amputated. She currently has a serious infection that threatens her life.
       A number of blood drives have been conducted in the city. There are a number of ways that you can assist Chelsey and her family. First and foremost, she needs your prayers and due to the mounting medical bills, the family is going to need financial assistance. A fund has been set up for Chelsey at Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, MS. Trustmark has a number of banks in the region. There are branches in every major town in the state of Mississippi and there are branches in Florida(Destin,Lakeland, and Panama City); Tennessee(Arlington, Barlett, Collierville,Cordova, Germantown); Texas (Beaumont, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, and Katy). If you are in the Augusta, Georgia area you certainly can go by the Burn Center and pray with the family. You can also send donations to the Lynch Street CME Church, 2175 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39209. For more information you can contact Mrs. Gloria Scott at 601-352-8886 or Pastor, Dr. Charles Holbrook at 601-954-7499.
Chelsey was active in the Youth Choir and Christian Youth Fellowship. Missionaries, Youth Groups, Churches - this is a time that we can help the Gladney Family during this tough time. Thank you so very much and may God Bless you.

In His Name,

Pene' Woods

The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns
Declares a Day of Prayer, a Time to Help, and Emergency Relief Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is asking all CME churches to declare Sunday, November 2, 2008 a day of fasting and prayer for our nation and world. We need to pray because of the following reasons:

• a historic Presidential Election
  
• the need to help our brothers and sisters who were impacted by Hurricane Ike
  
• the economic down turn in our nation
  
• the educational system’s failure to meet the needs of our children
  
• the foreclosure crisis
  
• clergy and lay leadership development in the church
  
• the health care crisis in our nation.
  

We believe that this is a time to cry out to the God of our Salvation to protect us, direct us, provide for us, and to prosper us in difficult times. II Chronicles 7:14 really tells us the position that the church must take in these perilous times “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This scripture should be our Altar Call on Sunday, November 2, 2008 as we share in Holy Communion.

On Sunday, November 2, 2008, we would like to have every CME Church to take up a special offering for the Emergency Relief Fund of our church to address the needs of CMEs and others impacted by Hurricane Ike. A good number of our churches and their properties were lost, damaged or destroyed. In Haiti, more than 1,000 lives were lost. Many of our CME Churches in Texas in the path of Hurricane Ike were severely damaged.

Please make all checks payable to the Department of Finance CME Church and send them to your Presiding Bishop’s office. I truly believe that God will continue to bless and direct our nation if we pray and seek His Divine Will for our world.

Let’s all remind our congregations and community to Get Out and Vote on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

Reinstatement of Bishop Kenneth W. Carter 

(Expansion Corrected. Click on Image.)