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St. James A.M.E. Church

2018 VISION: This is our YEAR OF HARVEST: Supernatural Provision, Supernatural Increase, Supernatural Release! EXPECT IT!

Reverend Shirley Williams-Hayes, Pastor November 2018

Why Vote? With a leader in the White House spewing out divisive rhetoric, all in the name of political expediency, which drips out dail y

in a steady stream like “trickle – down economics. We have an unproductive GOP controlled congress which has been in grid-

lock most of the time. They came out of gridlock to try and reverse the Affordable Care Act and give a huge tax cut to the

rich who said they did not want it. We’re still waiting on commonsense gun laws, the eradication of “Stand Your Ground,” immigra-

tion reform, a raise in the federal minimum wage, extension of unemployment insurance for those still affected by a sluggish economy,

real action on climate change, among a host of other challenges that confront our country and that require urgent attention. If these

things do not qualify or give credence as to why we must vote, I don’t know what will.

Yet, in spite of these factual challenges, the welfare, health and prosperity of our communities are not determined solely by

Washington. It does not matter what state we live in…every eligible and registered African American and Latino must turn

out this time and every time in order for our communities to be taken seriously, respected and represented. Why vote?

We vote because:

Every election matters

The choices you make will matter

Voting in primaries for local and state leaders matters – these persons will have a serious and direct impact on our daily lives and that

of our communities

When we choose not to vote in our local, state and national governments, we receive a government that does not respect or represent us …

remember the senseless killing of the unarmed 17 year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, returning home from the 7-eleven

with a bag of skittles and an Arizona ice tea, shot by George Zimmerman a neighborhood watch volunteer who was arrested and

released on bail, and remember Ferguson, Missouri in the tragic shooting of the unarmed 18 year-old Michael Brown by Ferguson

police officer Darren Wilson, justice has not been served in spite of the community’s uproar of complaints that their city government has

failed them. There is a good reason why Ferguson’s mayor, City Council, and police department aren’t responding to the needs of the

community … the majority of the community didn’t vote to represent their needs. A board member of the Missouri NAACP said,

“We warned people about these kinds of things.” Who hires the police officers? It is he police chief. Who hires the police chief? It is the

Mayor. Who hires the mayor, and who elects the council folks?” The answer is clear… the voters.

Voting for state, local and national officials has very real consequences. It can mean the difference between

whether or not you can afford life-saving health care. It can mean whether our children and grandchildren can

afford to attend college and pursue their dreams. It can mean that those who have served their time and paid res-

titution for crimes will have their civil rights restored. It can determine whether justice is served whenever in-

justice raises its ugly head.

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ST. JAMES A.M.E. CHURCH

Tuesday, November 6—Steward Board Meeting—6:30p

Wednesday, November 7—6:30p Corporate Prayer -

Tuesday, November 13—Trustee Board Meeting—6:30p

Wednesday—Friday, November 14—16, 11th District Planning Meeting—Rosen Center Hotel—Orlando

Sunday, November 18—Trustee Board Election—after Worship

Tuesday, November 20—Official Board Meeting—6:30p

See Calendar for other events.

St. James November 2018

WORSHIP TIMES

Worship Service—Sunday—10:00 a.m. Church School—Sunday—8:45 a.m.

Children’s Church—Sunday—10:00 a.m. “BET” Believers Empowerment Tool Bible

Study—Wednesday—7:00 p.m. Intercessory Prayer—Wednesday

6:30 p.m. Online Intercessory Prayer

Wednesday—6:00 a.m. & Friday—7:00a

Here’s How:

Dial 1-218-339-9135

Enter the PASSCODE: 91603# MUTE your phones while on line.

11th EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

Planning Meeting—Nov 12-16 Rosen Center Hotel—Orlando

LIVELY LAKELAND DISTRICT District SOA Meeting—10:00 a

PEACE

PEACE Steering Committee, November 5—6:00 p—St James

PEACE Clergy Caucus—2:30 p—Strong Tower Church, Lakeland

PLAN to meet your obligation. Good stewardship is a planned activity.

We are beginning a NEW Conference Year this month. Obligations are given by the Conference Year, except Stewardship Legacy which is ongoing until we meet our

goal: enough to pay for the project without having to borrow money. Use this outline as a GUIDE to help you manage your resources to meet your obligation this conference year: 2018—2019.

First Half of Budget—$50.00

Family/Friends Day—$50.00

Unity Day— $200.00

Church Anniver-sary—$127.00

2nd Half of Budget—$50.00

February 2019 January 13, 2019

May 2019 September 2019 October 2019

ANTI-BULLYING WEEK

NOVEMBER 12—16, 2018

It’s time to

Stomp Out Bullying.

Spend some time and talk to youth and adults about the harmful effects bullying

(verbal, physical, cyber, etc) have on those who are victims of bullying. No one de-

serves the right to be bullied.

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St. James November 2018

This section is dedicated to the ministries here at St. James. This conference year, we will include information about the various activities sponsored by each of the ministries. A rep-resentative from each ministry should submit a small entry for the newsletter to Carolyn Williams by the 4th Sunday of each month.

The Christian Education Department will be sponsoring the non-perishable food drive again this year in support of the Bar-tow Church Service Center. Beginning the 2nd Sunday in November, please bring ‘new’ canned-food and non-perishable food items to church with you. There will be boxes in the lower unit avail-able for storing the items until the drive is over, and the items are picked up by a representative from the Church Service Center. Thank you for helping others!

More KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS Key #2: Have you ever wondered why your prayers are not an-swered? I have. I have said to myself: “ Will God ever answer my prayers? I’ve got to have His help. What is the reason He hasn’t answered? Perhaps my approach to Him is wrong. He is a good God. His Word tells me different ways to approach or come to Him; to receive things form Him. The Bible says that He rewards those

who seek Him diligently and sincerely (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus said also…”Out of the abun-dance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Key #3: Many of us won’t go to God for help until the bottom drops from under us or our hearts are broken. We try to figure out everything our self. We must early seek His help and wisdom with open hearts ready to receive. He’ll come into our lives and do what He wants and what is best for us with goodies from Heaven. See our prayer times on Page 2 of this newsletter.

- - - Intercessory Prayer Ministry Doris Fletcher, Director

This year, the focus of the Wednesday Activities time is tutoring for children in grades K-5. We are seeking members to join us for one hour each Wednesday. If we have enough volunteers, we can work with children one-on-one. The children we have worked with so far need one-on-one assistance. Many of them have sev-eral pages of homework that need to be completed. Your help is needed to help these children be successful. Please con-sider giving one hour of your time on Wednesdays from 4:30—5:30 to help a child read a book or complete several sheets of language arts or math home-work. Thanks in advance for your sup-port. A snack is provided for the children who attend the tutoring sessions.

WOMEN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY Visits the Rohr Home

As one of their mission projects, mem-bers of the Agnes E. Stephens Women’s Missionary Society spent time with the residents of the Rohr Home. During their visits, the WMS served a sweet snack and played ‘BINGO’ with the resi-dents. Each resident was given a gift, and they all seemed to have had a great time. The WMS will continue to serve the community in a variety of ways. If you have a heart for mission work, please join the Agnes E Stephens Women’s Mis-sionary Society. See Sister Phyllis Forest

for more information.

“God will not forget your work and the love you have shown

Him

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St. James November 2018

John Ammons III Daniel Williams Juanita Sanders Franchetta Fields Tylonda Sanders Carolyn Crawley Edwin Bennett Garnell Carter Soul Man Willie Carter, Sr. Addie Mikell Arthur Edmond Mary Richardson Delores Corbett Sister Marshall’s Margaret Larkins Phyllis Forest Son

Let’s continue to pray for the bereaved families in our congregation and in our community.

November 1—Rashanna Harvey November 2—Johnny Ferguson November 3—Phyllis Forest November 3 - Jill Holland November 4—Arthur Edmond November 5—Dailyn Williams November 5—Robert Gonzalez November 5—I’Zyawn Leverette November 8—Daphne Williams November 13—Alexis Walker November 13—Amaria Frazier November 13—Herbie Dungee November 15—Deron Williams November 17—Tiara Merricks November 17—Aletha Dexter November 17—Zyterria Rogers November 18—Tracy Sanders November 18—Carlos Northern November 18—Jasmine Pittman November 19—Cotyron Owens November 19—Jamison Byerley November 20—Alfred Sanders November 20—Jashell Monroe November 21—Dylan Myers November 25—Delorise Northern November 25—Jordan Corbett November 27—Larry Newton November 28—Sarah Mitchell November In Loving Memory: November 5—Delorise Donaldson November 22—Ella Mae Carter

“We Love You, We Do”!

Health & Wellness: (Information from Internet)

World Diabetes Day — celebrated every year on November 14 — was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation. Diabetes is a chronic disease where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. It can also lead to other chronic conditions like kidney failure and heart attacks, hence the push to draw attention to an illness with increasing numbers world-wide. Curious as to why we celebrate this important day on November 14 specifically? This date was picked because it’s the birthday of Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin in 1922.

Symptoms of diabetes can include but aren’t limited to excessive excretion of urine, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. In addition, being overweight or obese greatly increases the chances of having type II diabetes. It’s estimated 1 in 2 adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. Use World Diabetes Day as reminder to get tested if you have any risk factors or symptoms.

World Diabetes Day serves as a reminder to live our lives more healthfully. Type II diabetes can be limited through a healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a normal weight. Tobacco

Little word, big difference God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks for everything. You don’t need to give thanks for that bad day. Or for that bad relationship. Or be-ing passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is — you are not to give thanks for the difficulties but rather in the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks in everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that

he can use them, if you approach him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and his glory. —Tony Evans

More than skin deep Gratitude, said Martin Luther, is “the basic Christian attitude.” Yet gratitude is much more than a state of mind. Often it’s a decision, and it becomes an act of humility when we recognize our depravity — and our need for a Savior. The 10 disgraced lepers who beg Jesus for mercy (see Luke 17:11-19) are described as allogenes, Greek for “outcast.” (All humans, sick with sin, fit

that description!) The leper who returned to give thanks received more than just physical heal-ing, according to Scripture. When Jesus says, “Your faith has made you well,” he uses the Greek that means “Your faith has saved you.” The grateful leper, recognizing his depravity, humbly decides to return and give thanks, knowing — through faith — that his skin and his soul have been healed.