Saturday, December 24, 2011
Grace Celebrates Jesus' Birthday on Christmas 2011
It is finally here! Today is the day that Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Whether or not we have the exact date is beside the point; what truly matters is that we have the exact spirit of the reason for the season.
Fortunately for the members of Grace Baptist Church of Christ and the over 2.1 billion Christians in the world, we have the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ birthday in his very own house this Sunday: the Church. As Co-Pastor Michael Rogers said during last Sunday’s 10:30 a.m. family service, it only makes sense that you visit someone’s house when you’re wishing them and celebrating their birthday.
Also adding to the eventful end of the year festivities is our Watch Night service next Saturday at 8 p.m. But just to make sure that Grace members are well rested and ready for worship on Sunday, January 1, 2012, the Watch Night service will wrap up just after midnight as opposed to the annual tradition of communion, song and breakfast through 3 a.m. This means, “Go home and come back!” Co-Pastor Rogers said last week. Communion will be administered on January 1, 2012 at 5 p.m. as opposed to the wee hours of early Sunday morning. Make sure to attend all of the events that you can. In order to leave 2011 smiling and usher 2012 into the Church doors with a wholesome hug and grin.
In the meantime, enjoy your Christmas, enjoy service, enjoy friends and family, enjoy traditions and enjoy Jesus.
Whether your traditions include black-eyed peas, collard green, sweet potato pie or Fruit Cake — well, probably not fruit cake — it is time to embrace what makes your family unique to your last name.
Some Grace members saw this as another opportunity to give back. Sis. Queenie Wooten and Russell took the time to put together several fruit baskets to distribute to Grace’s sick-and-shut-in and senior members. I had the pleasure to design the fruit baskets with the creative expertise of Sis. Russell of the floral ministry. This is just one of many heartfelt gestures that Sis. Russell engages in with the floral ministry. Sis. Wooten and Russell are always thinking of Grace’s senior members, as they demonstrated so when they distributed Thanksgiving turkeys to some of the senior members on the week before Thanksgiving.
But every member has their own traditions. For myself, I always go for a cold Christmas morning run around Gerswin Park’s track. Unfortunately, there’s no snow to add to the scenery.
Whatever your traditions are, enjoy them to the fullest. Most of all make sure that you prioritize Jesus.
Until 2012!
Words from Co-pastor Rogers: "Keeping Christ in Christmas"
Merry Christmas everyone! Today is a day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have read, been taught, and heard the story of the birth of our Lord from Matthew and Luke’s Gospel. The sad and amazing part of this story is that Jesus is born in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn! Wow, the Savior of the world was born in a stable! As T.D. Jakes stated, “
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Santa Claus- As the Father of a three-year-old, I was overjoyed and convicted at the same time when my daughter became excited about the myth of Santa Claus! Santa Claus represents part of the magic that is found in the holiday season. He reminds us of our childhood and the anticipation and excitement that are found on Christmas Eve. Many people become depressed when that “magic” is lost because love ones are no longer here for the holidays. However, Jesus does not need any help from St. Nicolas! The Christmas story is amazing and supernatural by itself. John 1:14 sums it up perfectly, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” God becoming us, in order to save us from sin, is far more amazing than a man in a red suit delivering gifts!
My friends, I challenge you to remember to keep Christ in your Christmas. Don’t allow Culture, Commercialism, or Santa Claus to distract you from the real reason and message of this season! That is Jesus Christ!
Scripture to Think About: Christmas
Micah 5:2: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 2:9 - 11: After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Our Community, Our Justice: Celebrate Christmas by Giving
Christmas is a time to count our blessings and celebrate the love and charity that life brings with our family, friends and neighbors — perhaps with a little bit of Nat King Cole playing in the background as we exchange gifts and take the roast beef out of the oven. Despite mainstream America’s attempts to desacralize the season by dropping Christ from the masses, it is mainly established as the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. When we celebrate someone’s birthday, we often reminisce about their greatest moments and qualities. If it is the birthday of someone we admire that is no longer with us, we will often reflect and aspire to follow in their footsteps. As we celebrate Christmas 2011, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I would like to encourage you to think of a moment and/or characteristic of Christ’s ministry and to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).”
When I think of Jesus’ life, one of the greatest moments that come to my mind is from his final Passover on earth. In John 13, Jesus rises from supper to do something that not even the most humble of us, let alone a Forbes 500 CEO, would partake in: he washed the feet of his disciples — twelve everyday men with, for those who did work, simple jobs. And for what reason would the King, the Lamb of God, our Good Shepherd, give for performing such a lowly and humble act? In John 13:12-14, He puts it like this: “Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.” While some people may gloss over this scripture, I always have to slowdown and look at my own life. If Jesus were willing to do the task of a slave for common men, even though He was the Son of God and the Son of Man, then how can I even come remotely close to reaching the mark?
Though none of us are capable of fully attaining Jesus’ virtues, we should reflect on the core message of his foot washing and celebrate his birthday by following his example. The message is simple: “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).”
Service was a central piece of Jesus’ ministry. As we look at our good ‘ol City, there is certainly no sort of shortage of people or places that can use extra hands and hearts. Consider the 17.2 million American households that suffered from food insecurity last year, with 3.9 million of those households including children; or think about the 45% of food insecure households that did not register or failed to participate in SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program), WIC (Women, Infants and Children) or School lunch programs; consider the 500,000 New York City children who live in homes that are food insecure; think about the food pantries that are overwhelmed with an unprecedented 12% demand rise this year alone; think about the 3.6% increase in the cost of food over the course of 2011; ponder the 100,000 New Yorkers, 90% of which are Black or Latino, who face homelessness throughout the year; or, simply picture that family with a naked tree in their living room, just yearning for someone to drop a toy as plain as a yo-yo and a Teddy Bear at the base.
The numbers are real and the reality is sobering. But that is exactly why we must “press towards the mark” on Jesus’ birthday. Sure, play the Temptations and Jackson 5 Christmas albums as the children scurry over to the Christmas tree and grandma makes the final touches to her trademark baked goods — these are Christmas essentials that we should all hold near and dear and preserve with our own unique family traditions. But it is time to go the extra mile and wash the feet of those who are less fortunate than you. So long as we have a roof over our head and a little something in our refrigerator, it shouldn’t be hard to find someone who is in greater need.
Here are some ways you can get into the spirit of service for Jesus’ birthday bash:
(1) (1) Stop by your nearest soup kitchen (the largest in Brooklyn is CHIPS, or Christians Helping in Park Slope) to volunteer.
(2) (2) Participate in the YMCA’s and/or Salvation Army’s annual community Christmas service at any of their participating sites.
(3) (3) Visit and spend time with people who are sick and shut-in.
(4) (4) Make room in your closets by dropping off your clothes, as well as your friends’, family and neighbors’, at a nearby shelter or clothing drop off location.
(5) (5) Donate toys to the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots at any of its drop off locations at Toys R’ Us or Babies R’ Us.
(6) (6) Invite someone who is less fortunate than you over for a Christmas meal.
(7) Contact a shelter, orphanage, senior or community center and arrange for you and your family/friends to carol, donate gifts and pray with people in the facility.But those are only suggestions. You may look at Jesus’ life and think of an entire different virtue to celebrate on his birthday. Whatever the case may be, make sure that you “press towards the mark” in what you do, and that it reminds people of the goodness of Christ on Christmas 2011.
International Homecoming Mixes Flavors
Have a thing for Caribbean cuisine, an obsession over southern styled classics, or a craving for Spanish dishes? Then you should have been at Grace Baptist Church of Christ’s annual International Homecoming last month. Grace members, family and friends participated in a memorable affair. On November 27, the Youth and Young Adults celebrated various nationalities and regional traditions within the confines of Grace Baptist Church of Christ. “Each One, Reach One: We Are One” was the theme for the elegant affair, which was celebrated in conjunction with the 10:30 a.m. family worship service. The celebration began with the choir processional holding various flags representing countries from the Caribbean and different state flags from the United States. For the duration of the festivities, Sis. Rachael Osbourne did a fine job of carrying the program and engaging the audience.
The program was brought to new heights by Bro. Keith Walls who interviewed members from within the church. We learned new information about our members, including their favorite foods and what it was like to grow up in their country or state. Many were surprised by what was revealed by their co-congregants. Finally, everything was wrapped up with a riveting and timely song “Celebrate Jesus”!
At the end of service, the congregation was treated to first class service by the Youth and Young Adults’ ministries. Each table was named a different country or state and the lower church was beautifully complimented by the colors red, black and silver. Members were served individually from appetizers to entrees and surprised by sparkling apple cider served in champagne glasses.
We are eagerly waiting for what’s in store for next year!
Charise on your Health: AIDS/HIV Awareness
December 1, 2011 was World AIDS day. Yes, HIV/AIDS still exist. While many people are scared of cancer, which for many are unexpected, HIV/AIDS remains as a very real danger in our community. In 2009 (the most recent year that data are available), there were an estimated 48,100 new HIV infections. Most (61%) of these new infections occurred in gay and bisexual men. Black/African American men and women were also strongly affected and were estimated to have an HIV incidence rate than was seven times as high as the incidence rate among whites. A majority of diagnoses in 2009 occurred in persons 20-24 years old and is also high in persons 55-59 years old. 21,652 of African Americans were diagnosed with HIV in 2009, the highest of ALL ethnic groups.
HIV/AIDS, unlike some cancers, is preventable. So that leads one to believe that a choice can be made in your health. HIV can be spread through unprotected sex with a person infected with HIV. Having multiple sex partners or the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can increase the risk of infection during sex. Other risks are sharing needles and children being born to an infected mother. AIDS is the final stage of HIV when an infected person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers.
The best way to prevent HIV is to be smart and think smart. Be considerate of your health and others and know your status. Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. Although more persons with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. are living longer with the disease, this preventable disease is a global epidemic affecting people all around the world.