Saturday, November 19, 2011
Congratulations Sister Queenie Wooten!
Grace's own Sister Queenie Wooten was honored as one of the grandparent awardees at the annual Grandparent Appreciation ceremony at the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem, NY. Family, friends and Grace members turned out for an evening of music, gourmet dishes and recognition. Congratulations Sister Wooten!
Grace gives thanks on Thanksgiving
Tender strips of mom’s oven roasted turkey piled on top of your plate, soaked and satiated with gravy; sweet potato pie baking in the oven with a scent that seeps through the foggy window cracks and intoxicates every bystander with a sweet tooth; pounds of stuffing that mesmerizes the spoon before it can even find its way to your mouth; buttermilk biscuits that’ll bake your heart with every inch your teeth sink into the center. Next Thursday is arguably every American’s favorite day of the year. No matter what walk of life, race or nationality you come from, there is something powerful about the traditions that Thanksgiving invites from all of us.
But Grace Baptist Church of Christ is making sure that the body remembers the most important part of the holidays: being thankful. On Wednesday, November 23, Grace will be having Her annual special Thanksgiving service. Members, family and friends are encouraged to show up and turnout for an evening of praise, food, fellowship and thankfulness.
Sis. Rachael Osbourne says that she will be celebrating the holidays with family traditions.
“Thanksgiving means the world to me because I am given the chance to celebrate it with wonderful people that God has blessed me with,” Osbourne said. “My family and I would have the wonderful tradition of attending the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC and, after a long day out there looking at the beautiful balloons, floats and performers at the parade, we would get back on the train to go home for a wonderfully prepared Thanksgiving meal by my Grandmother. These traditions I will never forget and plan to pass on to my children.”
Crystal Houser also expressed her joy for the holiday.
“Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays, much like Christmas and Easter. Thanksgiving should be celebrated just like it says…giving thanks,” Houser said. “Whether you’re spending Thanksgiving alone reach down (it shouldn’t be that far) and pull out one of those many things you should be grateful for and rejoice in that, even if it’s just for the moment. Then go out or pick up the phone and share that joy and thanks with someone else who’s finding it extremely difficult to appreciate why they’re still amongst the living.”
Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with you and your family and friends!
Words from Co-pastor Michael Rogers: Thanksliving. An attitude of gratitude
Instead of having a day of Thanksgiving, we should learn to live in “ ThanksLiving!” Every day should be a day that we show thankfulness to God. Thankfulness is to render gratitude, or express thanks for words spoken or actions taken on our behalf. In order to be thankful, however, we must be able to recognize the giver's favor, gifts or promises on our behalf. The Bible is filled with as many as 30,000 different promises from God to His children. Recognizing God's Blessings
We don't always recognize His goodness because it is contrary to our will. For example, when it rains on our family reunion, we don't appreciate His goodness. But when that same rain waters the ground causing food to grow, we are able to see His goodness when we eat the food.
Refusing To Be Satisfied
An ungrateful heart is one that refuses to be satisfied, thereby rejecting both the Giver and the gift. Proverbs warns us that ungratefulness is associated with wickedness and is the opposite of loving God. The Bible describes unappreciative people as lovers of themselves and their accomplishments. Such an attitude breeds pride, rebellion, conceit and a lack of self-control, ultimately causing separation from Christ.
Changing An Ungrateful Heart
Gratitude begins with a tender heart of repentance. To obtain a repentant heart, we need to ask ourselves how and if we have rejected God and His blessings. Have we said, ‘This is not enough,’ or ‘This is not what I asked for?’ In what areas of our lives have we challenged His goodness, disbelieved His promises and refused to give glory to Him? Begin to acknowledge who God is and what He has done even when you don't understand why. Our lack of understanding should never be an excuse not to give thanks. — "Give thanks in all things for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (I Thessalonians 5:18). An attitude of gratitude must be cultivated, and can be a sacrifice of time and effort.
It is significant that even Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content," (Philippians 4:11). It takes faith to thank God for circumstances that we do not understand. But is it not when we step out in faith that we are rewarded abundantly?
Though we struggle with giving unconditional thanks, God is able to change our stubborn hearts into grateful hearts through His unconditional love. Be thankful for everyday blessings.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Our Community Our Justice: Shield your child
When you pick up your children from school, what are the first thoughts that come to your mind? Perhaps you’ll ask them ‘how your day was’ or ‘what did you learn.’ Whatever the case, you should be able to pick them up without trepidation — school is supposed to be a safe haven. Unfortunately, this idealistic image of our local schools is hardly the case for inner-city communities where gang violence is rampant, jobs are scarce and police relations are taut. When Brownsville’s Zurana Horton, 34, went to pick up one of her twelve children from P.S. 298 on October 21, the last day of National Safe Schools’ Week, no one could have predicted that her life would end so suddenly in front of the Lucky Supermarket at the intersection of Pitkin Ave. and Watkins St. As shots ranged out from the top of a Brownsville warehouse from the unforgiving glock of 8-block gang member Andrew Lopez, Horton heroically shielded her child before taking a fatal shot to her chest.
The suddenness of last month’s events symbolizes the clash of several inner-city plights. When Horton lost her life in the line of senseless violence, it was more than gang violence and turf wars; it was youth violence, over 50 percent unemployment rates for young people of color, $500 million cuts in state funds for the Department of Education (which has lead to the demise of after school programs), lax gun laws below the Mason-Dixon that have enabled black market gun dealers to funnel the metal up north and cuts to anti-violence programs like the Police Athletic Leagues’ Boxing Program — a program that alleged shooter, Lopez, 18, his younger brother and suspect Kristian Lopez, 17, and third suspect Jonathan Carrasquillo, 22, were enrolled in two years ago before the NYPD entirely rid itself of the program because of budget constraints. Amidst all of the short comings of our legislature and state agencies, Horton reminded the community of its responsibility: to shield our children, even if it means putting our own lives on the line.
If we do not shield our children, then some of them may fall prey to the deceptive tools that gangs like 8-block used to attract a young and misguided Lopez. Of the estimated 1.14 million street gang members in the nation (159,158 in the northeast region), the vast majority of the members are teens that started gang banging as early as the age of 12. Gangs traditionally target youth because of their credulity and vulnerability to gang preached dogma of fast money, manliness and solidarity. Youth gang members are also thought to be able to avoid stricter sentencing; however, that has turned into more of a myth ever since the violent life of infamous South Bronx street king Willie Bosket lead the criminal justice system to try more youth offenders as adults.
Although east coast gang violence has dropped tremendously since the ’90s and remains significantly lower than the west coast and mid-western regions, it has demonstrated an upward trend between 2008 and 2011. What has happened between those three years? If you know of anyone who’s been laid off, or have a child who’s missing out on their favorite after school activity because their school saw after school programs as the first logical ‘expense’ to cut amidst budget constraints, then you should be able to put one and two together. The supposedly ended recession is leading to greater expenses in our community: violence. While adult gang members are more likely to engage in crimes like larceny theft, sex trafficking and counterfeiting, our youth wound up engaging in costly gun battles that have caused homicide to become the leading cause of death for blacks between the ages of 10 and 19.
Prevention will always be the first line of defense. Research continues to show that after school programs fill the void and improve the GPAs of the roughly 15 million ‘latchkey’ American youth (youth who come home to an empty apartment between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. and have limited contact with their guardian(s) throughout the week). By no coincidence, law enforcement refers to this 3 hour period as ‘danger zone.’ If we don’t shield our youth between those hours, then someone else will; make sure it is the right person or group.
Unfortunately, budget wars on Main Street has caused the Republican led House to cut back on federal funding for juvenile justice programs that traditionally provide alternative to violence programs in troubled schools. Thus, we can expect to see fewer programs like Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.), which is a gang and violence prevention program, built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. Less federal dollars also means less State discretionary funding. Hence, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s hands have been tied into making the tough and questionable decision of completely cutting the $4 million of state funding allocated for SNUG, a program that focuses on the five pillars of street-level outreach, public education, community mobilization and cooperation with local faith leaders and police to drive out street crimes from inner-city communities. SNUG, which just started with ten pilot programs throughout the state in 2010, has helped reduce the amount of New Yorkers shot by 29 percent since its launch.
Nothing will bring Horton back into the lives of her 12 children and the Brownsville community. However, her death will not go in vain. What happened last month was a both a wakeup call for community parenting and policing, as well as a collateral consequence of recession and poverty. But we shouldn’t take the easy way out of solely blaming politicians and funding for our plights; recession is also a truth serum for our own wallets of benefits. What are you willing to give up to shield your child? What is the village willing to sacrifice for each of its offspring? When money is tight, are you willing to lose a few benefits and accept a pay cut if can help save a life? Rest assured, Horton would have.
Black History: Gordone on Broadway
Broadway: the home of bright lights, high notes and emotions. Since 1750, the mecca of arts and performance has attracted billions of play enthusiasts to pack the theaters over the past centuries. Until more recently, people of color may have felt far removed from the hubbub surrounding the play industry. Indeed, acclaimed hits such as The Lion King, Memphis and more recently, the Mountaintop have attracted a stronger African American presence on Broadway.
However, all of our current Broadway successes pay homage to a man who was able to shatter barriers that date as far as November 26, 1970. It’s been over four decades since American playwright and activist Charles Gordone not only became the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his 1969 classic No place to be Somebody, but he was also the first playwright to win an award for an Off-Broadway play.
Gordone was born October 12, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in a predominately white neighborhood in Elkhart, Indiana. As a part French, Native American and African American teen, Gordon faced many inner-struggles when he tried to fit in with his a generally unwelcoming white locale and a skeptical black community that questioned his allegiance. Despite his social dilemmas, he was able to excel in the classroom. From receiving a degree in drama from California State University, studying at NYU and Columbia, and eventually serving for the U.S. Air Force, by 1952, he was ready to start his acting career.
But Gordone would go on to face a major hurdle that reminded him of his racial background — there were limited roles for African American actors in the mainstream. Hence, he built up his repertoire by performing in all black pieces such as an Off-Broadway African-American rendition of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and Jean Genet’s the Blacks, which included James Earl Jones and Maya Angelou in the all black casts.
Amidst his acting career, Gordone also served as a waiter at a Greenwich Village bar. His cash strapped struggle and big Broadway dreams would eventually lay the seeds for his big breakthrough, No Place to be Somebody. While serving at the bar, he decided to venture into playwriting, especially since acting roles came scarce for blacks. The first play he wrote was about a black southerner who moved up north in search of success, were he was only met by corruption and cut throat business from hardnosed white loan sharks and pimps who tried to milk entrepreneurs and run every business out of town. As Gordone described it in his last public appearance at the Museum of the American West in June 1995, it’s "about country folk who had migrated to the big city, seeking the urban myth of success, only to find disappointment, despair, and death."
The play was performed at Joe Papp's Public Theatre in South Manhattan on May 4, 1969, and was granted a 248-performance run at the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Public Theater. Gordone’s unique perspective on the black experience in a predominately white economic culture drew rave reviews from people of all walks of life — it was a true breakthrough for racial discourse on Broadway like no other. There were no qualms or surprises when Gordone finally received the recognition he deserved on November 26, 1970, as the first black Pulitzer Prize winner.
Following the success and ongoing national tour of his acclaimed play, he continued to be politically active as the chairman of the Committee for the Employment of Negro Performers, an instructor for the Cell Block Theater Program (an innovative initiative that sought to rehabilitate inmates through theater), Director in residence of American Stage (1982–1985) in Berkeley, California and finally as a tenured drama professor at Texas A&M. He died on November 16, 1995 from liver cancer. Unfortunately, he was never able to finish his mid-works of “Roan Brown and Cherry”” and “Ghost Riders.”
Gordone’s life and success opened the flood gates of opportunities for African American’s in Broadway. In spite of years of adversity and professional rejections, he was determined to make a statement, even towards the middle of his career when he wrote No Place to be Somebody. For some, success may come a little later; when it does, everyone will be there to applaud as you take your final bow and the curtains close.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Innovators and Pioneers: Inventions from Black innovators / Nov. 15 – Dec. 15
November 15, 188? – Lydia O. Newman patents the hair brush
November 20, 1923 – Garrett Morgan patents the traffic light
November 23, 1897 – J.L. Love patents the pencil sharpener
November 30, 1875 - A.P. Ashbourne patents the biscuit cutter
December 10, 1878 – O. Dorsey patents the door knob and door stop
Charise on your health: Getting your physical
If most people could compare who gets more frequent check-ups, their car or themselves, their car would probably win. Cars have a routine checklist and so should you.When (for some 'if') you go to your doctor for your annual physical exam do you know exactly what you should be screened for based on your age? The annual physical exam is a great opportunity to refocus your attention on prevention and screening.
The following is a list of suggested screenings for men and women that are performed in addition to a routine physical examination:
Height and Weight should be performed at every routine visit to monitor Body Mass Index or BMI and monitor for any distinct changes.
Blood pressure screening:
Have your blood pressure checked every 2 years unless it is 120-139/80-89 Hg or higher. Then have it checked every year.
Pelvic exam and Pap smear:
Women: screening should start within 3 years after first having vaginal intercourse or by age 21. Beginning at age 21, a pelvic exam and Pap smear should be performed every 2 years to check for cervical cancer. Women who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia infection.
Mammograms:
Women over age 40 should have a mammogram done every 1-2 years, depending on their risk factors, to check for breast cancer.
Osteoporosis screening:
All postmenopausal women with fractures should have a bone density test (DEXA scan). All men ages 50 to 70 with risk factors for osteoporosis should discuss screening with their doctor.
Cholesterol screening and heart disease prevention:
Women between age 20 and 45, you should be screened if you have a higher risk for heart disease. Men over age 34 should be checked every 5 years. If you have risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, start getting screened earlier, at age 20.
Diabetes screening:
If your blood pressure is above 135/80, your health care provider will test your blood sugar levels for diabetes.
Prostate cancer screening:
Most men age 50 or older should discuss screening for prostate cancer with their health care provider. African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should start screening at age 45. During screening, a PSA blood test is done.
Colon cancer screening:
People between ages 50 and 75 should be screened for colorectal cancer. African-Americans should consider starting screening at age 45.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening:
Men between ages 65 - 75 who have smoked should have an ultrasound done once to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Make the most out of your visit to the doctor. Keep a record of your medications, examinations and lab results with a personal diary to monitor your health. Be an active part of keeping yourself healthy. Your doctor can't help you unless you help yourself.