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December 2014 Volume 7 Issue 12
Fellowship Presbyterian Church USA 3406 Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL 35811 Office 256.539.2418 Fax 256.539.2492 e-mail:[email protected]
The HAND of Fellowship
(Helpful and Nurturing Disciples)
Reverend Gregory J. Bentley, Pastor
Motto
The loving place that is
Reaching, Growing, and
Sending people with
Christ.
Vision
Fellowship is a Christian
ministry that glorifies God
and transforms humanity
by doing justice, living
mercy, and walking
humbly with God.
Mission
Fellowship is called to
make disciples by leading
people into a personal
relationship with God
through Jesus Christ and
equipping them for the
work of ministry in the
church, community, and
world.
During the 11:00 a.m. worship service on November 14, 2014,
the Ernest Dees and Pauline Bodiford families, who donated
significantly to purchasing shades for the sanctuary, formally
offered their gift to the church family. Donors to the Capital
Fund, which assisted in the purchase, were also thanked. The
Dees family presented their gift in memory of wife and mother
Dr. Constance Dees, and Mrs. Bodiford’s gift was made in
memory of husband Bob Bodiford. Both Constance and Bob
were active, beloved members of the Fellowship Presbyterian
Church family. The dedication concluded with a “Litany of
Dedication for Sanctuary Window Shades,” written especially for
the occasion by Joyce Pettis Temple.
New Sanctuary Shades Dedicated
L-R: Pauline Bodiford; Ernest Dees; Gregory Dees; Abigail, Jeffery, and
Agatha Dees
Photo credit: Christopher Evans
The HAND of Fellowship Page 2
STAFF
Reverend Gregory Jerome Bentley Pastor
Mrs. Brenda Davis Director of Music Ministry
Mrs. Antoinette “Toni” Franklin Inspirational Choir Director
Ms. Darlene Richardson Children’s/Youth Choir Director
Mr. Jason Sellers Pianist, Children’s/Youth Choir and
Director, Praise Team
Mr. Ryan Felton Percussionist
Mrs. Wanda Williams Secretary
Mr. Theodus Friend Sexton
DIRECTORY OF SERVICES Early Morning Service 8:00 a.m.
Sunday Breakfast 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsals
Inspirational (Tues.) 6:00 p.m.
Chancel (Tues.) 7:15 p.m.
Praise Team (Wed.) 6:00 p.m.
Adult Bible Study (Wed.) Noon
Prayer Service (Wed.) 5:30 p.m.
Youth and Children
Bible Study (Tues.) 5:45 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal (Tues.) 6:30 p.m.
Church Office Hours Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
256.539.2418
Newsletter Team Dr. Barbara Anthony
Mrs. Pauline Bodiford
Mrs. Gladys P. Bracy
Ms. Cheryl K. Johnson
Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell
Dr. Joyce Pettis Temple Mrs. Lois N. Thompson
Photographers
Dr. and Mrs. James (Gertrude) Hicks
DATES TO REMEMBER
December
1 - Worship Ministry Team meeting at noon
3 - Christian Education Ministry Team meeting at 5:30 p.m.
6 - Evangelism Ministry Team meeting at10:00 a.m.
7 - 2nd Sunday in Advent
8 - Property & Maintenance meeting at noon
10 - Witness and Service meeting at 6:00 p.m.
11 - Stated Session meeting at 6:00 p.m.
14 - Presbyterian Women Gathering
17 - Food Distribution at 1:00- 2:30 p.m.
18 - Stewardship & Finance meeting at 5:30 p.m.
20 - Presbyterian Men meeting at 8:00 a.m.
21 - 4th Sunday in Advent
21 - Annual Christmas program at 5:00 p.m.
21 - Christmas Joy Offering
24 - Christmas Eve
25 - Nativity of Jesus Christ/Christmas
The most valuable gift you can give
another is a good example.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
For I have given you an example, that ye should
do as I have done to you. John 13:15
Source: God’s Little Instruction Book: Inspirational
Wisdom on How to Live a Happy and Fulfilled Life.
The HAND of Fellowship Page 3
“Black Lives Matter” A high school classmate and clergy colleague of
mine, Reverend James Ross, argues that the African
American experience can be seen through the lens of
five ‘Ps’: property, problems, performers, purchasers,
and paranoia.
1. Property: For 250 years African Americans were
seen as chattel and worked from “can’t see to
can’t see” to enrich the slaveholding class in
particular and the nation in general. This is the
foundation, along with the genocide of the Native
people and the theft of their land, for the wealth of
America and its super power status today.
2. Problems: After Emancipation, what do we do
with these 4 million ex-slaves? Houston, we have
a problem so let’s enact Black Codes, Vagrancy
Laws, keep them in their place with terrorist
organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, and
return them to a form of neo-slavery called
sharecropping.
3. Performers: Well, they sure can sing and dance
and play ball. So let’s use them as entertainers for
our amusement.
4. Purchasers: Some of them have some money and
want badly to spend it with us, so let’s do away
with this pesky thing called segregation so that we
can have unfettered access to their pocketbooks.
5. Paranoia: Y’all see racism in everything. If you
learn how to follow the rules, work hard, and be
people of high character, you will make it in
America. Stop blaming everything on racism.
Y’all have had enough time to get your act
together.
These five ‘Ps’ still persist in our day and time and
are seen in the dynamics of the various responses to
the non-indictment of Darren Wilson in the shooting
death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. It
seems that the legacy of another legal case associated
with Missouri--the Dred Scott Decision, which
essentially concluded that no black person in America
had any rights which any white person had to
recognize--still haunts us to this very day.
So what is the good news in this Advent season in the
midst of the turbulence and turmoil of our times? Is
there a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole?
Is there a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul?
Yes there is! That balm is love and the application of
that balm begins with affirming that BLACK LIVES
MATTER!
Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as we love
ourselves. We cannot extend to others what we do not
have for ourselves. Loving ourselves is not wrong; it
is life affirming and healing and the only authentic
way that we can love others. What are some ways in
which we can apply the healing balm of love to
ourselves? Here are just a few suggestions:
Love ourselves by realizing that God is with us and
that we are made in God’s image; love ourselves by
forgiving ourselves and one another; love ourselves
by resisting any type of degradation or
dehumanization; love ourselves by building one
another up and not tearing one another down; love
ourselves by encouraging and not running one
another down; love ourselves by learning about our
rich heritage and our contributions to the elevation
and well-being of the human family; love ourselves
by attending to our emotional, spiritual, physical, and
economic health; love ourselves by moving from
consumerism to Christ . . . from materialism to the
Messiah; love ourselves by refusing to cooperate with
evil and standing for what is right even when it is
difficult to do so; love ourselves by working for
freedom, justice, and equality for all God’s children.
When we love ourselves—truly, unconditionally,
unreservedly, unabashedly, genuinely love
ourselves—we show the world, indeed, that BLACK
LIVES MATTER.
Reverend Gregory J. Bentley
The HAND of Fellowship Page 4
“The Gospel According to
The Color Purple!”
No, Reverend Billy Michael Honor did not
actually use Alice Walker’s novel The Color
Purple for his text. But his provocative title
primed everyone’s attention for a familiar scene
from the popular work. “It blew my mind,”
Reverend Honor exclaimed, when he had
initially read scenes that offered a theological
perspective, where characters Shug and Celie
know and feel the significance of God’s creation,
even in purple-colored flowers in the field. From
the Bible, the reverend read 1 Chronicles 12:32
as the text for his sermon, emphasizing human
understanding of ’the present time.’ Reverend
Honor provided an effective, moving, and timely
sermon to commemorate the fifty-four year
presence of Fellowship Presbyterian Church.
You’re Invited to Fellowship’s Annual Christmas Program
On third Sunday, December 21,
at 5:00 p.m., you’re invited to the
annual celebration of Christ’s
birth, organized by the Music
Ministry and directed by Brenda
Davis. Titled “Jesus, the Light of
the World,” the program will
retell and celebrate the story of
Christmas through music and a
narrative written by Linda Burruss and Joyce Pettis
Temple. All the choirs of Fellowship will
participate—Men’s Chorus, Youth and Children’s
Choir, Inspirational Choir, and Chancel Choir. Guest
groups—The Huntsville Spiritual Chorale and The
Singing Pearls of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc., Epsilon
Gamma Omega Chapter—will also be a part of the
program.
Come and enjoy the varied program of favorite hymns,
new Christmas music, solos, storytellers, and
costumed performers, all in the spirit of celebration for
the birthday of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Bring your
many friends!
Golden Charmers Exercise Class
Golden Charmers is offering an exercise class to
persons with "golden abilities.” This class, led by
Lucille Grayson, is especially designed for those with
arthritis. The exercises are designed for participants to
stand or sit. The following church members have taken
advantage of this opportunity: Thelma Canady, Bettye
Dixie, Norman Fletcher, George Grayson, Lucille
Grayson, Frances Harris, Gertrude Hicks, Carolyn
Jackson, Rosalie Lane, Mary Mitchell, Minnie Moore,
Evelyn Rich, and Arinzie Steele.
Lucille has always been concerned about the health of
the congregants. In the early 1980s, she led an aerobics
class using Jane Fonda tapes, and people from other
churches joined us. Now, in our “golden years,” here
we go again.
Page 5 Volume 7 Issue 12
What is the Presbyterian Giving Catalog? In the
words of Reverend Gregory J. Bentley, “Glad you
asked.” The catalog is a compilation of missions
supported by the PCUSA. The catalog brings real-
world pictures of how your resources help to provide
livestock, seeds, water, filtration systems, school
supplies, cleaning tools, or pots and pans. Each gift
pictured in the Presbyterian Giving Catalog
exemplifies the work prayerfully supported by the
four churchwide special offerings through the
Presbyterian Mission Agency to support ministries
of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Those special
offerings are One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost,
Peacemaking, and Christmas Joy. See the insert to
the newsletter and display in the narthex on how you
can contribute.
Community Service Award for
Carolyn Jackson
L-R: Guest speaker, Lakeside Pastor, Carolyn W. Jackson, and
Laura Clift Harvest Committee Chairman.
Carolyn Jackson has received several awards from
organizations and churches for her work with young
homeless pregnant women and young homeless
women with children. RiahRose Home for Children,
Inc., has been a 501(c)3 agency since 2009. The
State of Alabama Department of Human Resources
has licensed it as a group home. Laura Hall was
instrumental in moving the Department, finally, to
license the home.
The home has no public funding except for a utility
grant by the City of Huntsville. All of the staff are
volunteers. The home is fortunate to receive
donations from churches, fraternal organizations,
and individuals.
The latest recognition was the Community Service
Award by Lakeside United Methodist Church. This
designation was made during the church's inaugural
banquet as a part of i ts Harvest
Celebration. Lakeside is very familiar with the work
of RiahRose and has made substantial contributions
on a regular basis.
Congratulations to Carolyn and Nathaniel Jackson
for their dedication to helping the homeless.
PRESBYTERIAN MISSION
AGENCY
Source: 2014 Presbyterian Giving Catalog,
Presbyterian Mission Agency, PCUSAs
Volume 7 Issue 12
Magazine Donations
Thanks to Joyce Pettis Temple, Eddgra
Fallin, Cheryl Johnson, Evelyn Rich, and
Gladys Bracy for magazines donated to
Huntsville Hospital.
“God provides us a second chance . . .
God allows u-turns.”
Sermon: “Let’s Stop Killing our Children”
June 22, 2014
Reverend Bentley’s
Quips and Quotes
Ministry Support
Session approved receiving a special offering on
Sunday, December 21, 2014, for the Presbyterian
Home for Children. “Since 1868, when children in
Alabama were orphaned, neglected, and homeless,
the Presbyterian Home for Children has been there
to take care of them, Physically, Emotionally and
Spiritually.” The 2014 deficit for the Presbyterian
Home for Children is $323,000. The children in
Fellowship’s Children’s Church have accepted the
challenge to lead the effort to support the
Presbyterian Home for Children. “Please give
generously, as you have in the past, so the children
of Alabama will have the resources they need to
grow up to be the people God meant them to be.”
From the Newsletter Team
Page 6
Page 7 Volume 7 Issue 12
Innovation: JSU Blueprint
Mississippi entrepreneur award
winners announced by
Jackson State University (JSU)
The tally is in and the award for top project in the
JSU Social Entrepreneurship Business Plan
Challenge is …. drumroll please…. Mississippi
Urban Organics!
Sierra Jackson (right) and Javis Jones (left) are
congratulated by Dr. William McHenry, executive
director, Mississippi eCenter @ JSU for winning
the JSU Social Entrepreneurship Business Plan
Challenge on November 14, 2014. The three dozen
students — and half a dozen faculty advisors —
who competed waited two days for the winner of
the Challenge to be announced.
Mississippi Urban Organics includes:
Faculty advisor: Dr. Kenneth Russ
Business advisor: Mr. Steven Shelt, Garden-to-
Table, LLC
Sierra Jackson
Javis Jones
D’Angelo Mitchell
The team’s business plan includes addressing
urban blight, boosting employment, and promoting
health by farming on unused urban land owned by
the university. The urban organic farm, at least in
its initial stages, would grow tomatoes, say
Jackson and Jones.
Photo credit: Anissa Hidouk, JSU
Source: http://www.jsumsnews.com/
Fellowship Officers-Elect
Receive Preparation for
Service
Members elected to the offices of elder and
deacon assembled on Saturday, November
22, for the second of three preparation
classes taught by Reverend Gregory
Bentley. Some presently serving elders
joined them.
L-R: Elder Jane Ford, Loretta Moore and Bill
Davis, elder ordination and installation,
respectively, in January; Elder Clif Canady; Clerk
of Session Mary Mitchell
L-R: Elder Frances Harris; Diann Bentley,
deacon installation in January.
L-R: Bentley; Elder Tonya Gaines; Moses Ogbu and
Steve Anderson, installation as deacons in January;
Reverend G. Bentley.
Photo credit: Elder Joyce Pettis Temple
Page 8 Volume 7 Issue 12
As the first recognition of Advent, Fellowship members participated in the annual Hanging of the
Greens, adorning the sanctuary in poinsettias and evergreens. Steve Anderson narrated the event
held on Sunday, November 30, 2014.
Photo credit: James Hicks
First row (L-R): Clifton Canady,
Liturgist; Steve Anderson, narrator for
Hanging of the Greens; Theodore Dixie,
Jr. presented the sermon.
Second row (L-R): Men’s Chorus
directed by Brenda Davis.
Back row: Nathaniel Otey, Christopher
Gaines, Henry Muse
Front row: William Davis, Nathaniel
Jackson, Robert Wilson
Third row (L-R): Kyler Evans and
Leyanda Jones offered the Advent
Wreath.
Page 9 Volume 7 Issue 12
Left: Ernest Dees, James
Hicks, and Felix Battle
waiting to offer the
greens.
Right: Felix Battle
hangs the wreath.
Left: Women placing
Chrismons on the tree.
Right: Gloria Evans and
Gladys Bracy place their
Chrismon.
Left: Cerisa Rice and
Kaylin Houston hang
their Chrismon on the
tree while Lois Dade,
Lucille Grayson, and
Jannie Jones wait their
turn.
Right: Lula Jones hangs
her Chrismon.
Photo credit: James Hicks and Joyce Pettis Temple
Page 10 Volume 7 Issue 12
Golden Charmers on the Road to the
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Photo credit: Gertrude and James Hicks
Left: Bettye
Dixie
Right: Gladys
Bracy and Gloria
Evans
Left: Gertrude
Hicks
Right: James
Hicks
Page 11 Volume 7 Issue 12
4 Jannie Campbell Jones
5 Henry Muse
8 Valerie Jackson
9 Reginald Grayson
16 Lewis Singleton, III
17 Archie M. Johnson
18 Clifton Canady
18 Kimberley Evans
18 Mattie Ford
20 Michele Hicks
22 Jason A. Anthony
29 Gregory Dees
30 B. Janine Anthony
30 Vincent Brown
30 Denita Gardner- Walker
Checkout Fellowship on the web:
www.fpchuntsville.org
www.facebook.com/fpchuntsville
9 Loretta and Marvin Jackson
16 Kanika and Lewis Singleton, III
20 Lucille and George Grayson
22 Joyce and Enoch Temple
23 Mary and Horace Mitchell
Parents, please make sure your child is dressed
appropriately on their scheduled Sunday!
December 7
Gakari Horton Burks and Destiny Canady
Advent candle - Kyler Evans
December 14
Destine' Brown and Dana Bone
Advent candle - Dezmyn Coleman
December 21
Kyler Evans and Leyanda Jones
Advent candle - Ryan Gordon
December 28
Miriam Bentley and Parker Ford
Advent candle - Destine' Brown
**Please wear black pants or skirts/dress on your
scheduled Sunday**
Parents, if your child is not available on his/her scheduled
Sunday, please call or text me, Ollie Smith, at 256-527-
4147, so that I can find a replacement.
Altar Flowers
Poinsettias The Moses Ogbu Family
and Congregation
Page 12 Volume 7 Issue 12
Fellowship Member
Sick List
The Prayer of Faith James 5:13-16
“ 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray.
Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of
praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call
for the elders of the church and have them pray over
them, anointing them with oil in the name of the
Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and
the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has
committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess
your sins to one another, and pray for one another,
so that you may be healed. The prayer of the
righteous is powerful and effective.”
The Jackie Bennett Family (daughter Monica
Bennett and twin sons Stephen and Michael Bennett)
Clara Bryant
Richard Evans
Jonathan Ford
Antoinette “Toni” Franklin
Thelma Gardner
Brandie Hampton
Dana Smith
Geneva Wright
Sick List of
Family and Friends of
Fellowship Members
Fannie Brooks Adams
(Aunt of Martha Mullins)
Doris Bradford
(Sister of Haley Bone)
Robert “Larry” Cleveland
(Brother-in-law of Bettye Dixie and Carolyn Jackson)
Mary B. Dixie
(Mother of Theodore Dixie, Sr.)
Flossie Henderson
(Mother of Barbara Anthony)
Stokley Gardner
(Brother of Lloyd Gardner)
Shielda Yvonne Ross
(Sister of Thomas Ross)
Luther Scales
(brother of Geneva Scales Wright)
Fannie P. Thompson
(sister of Lois Dade and Eulasteen Muse)
Valerie Thompson
(Sister of Debra Evans)
Hattie Wall
(Sister of Charles Penn)
Roderick Wall
(Nephew of Charles Penn)
LaVon White
(Son of Thomas and Doretha Ross)
In Loving Memory
Fellowship’s Members
Martha B. Cooper – 1992
Judge Harris – 2001
Wilbert Cooper - 2013
Herbert Canady-1955
Curtis Jones -1969
S.T. Johnson – 1993
Elizabeth Herndon – 1993
S. Q Bryant -1996
Daisy Watson – 1997
C. S. Scales – 2000
Annie Loritts – 2003
Josephine Barden – 2004
Arthur Cunningham -2004
Silvester Doster – 2004
Mary Ruth Echols – 2006
Marshall Fallin – 2006
Vera Thompson - 2010
Family and Friends