Newspaper Page Text
September 7, 2022
tReporter
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PASTOR S CORNER by Rev. MarilynTucker-Marek
Spotlight on Local Churches
Fasting creates space
for purposeful prayer
I recently heard a friend extoll the
health benefits of intermittent fast
ing. This type of fasting has become a
popular dietary technique for losing
weight, and my friend has had great suc
cess with it.
Yet I noticed one very important health
benefit of fasting she did not include: the
benefit of fasting for ones spiri
tual health.
The Bible contains many
examples of, and reasons
for, keeping a fast. Scripture
describes fasting as a practice
of: repentance and forgiveness,
intercessory prayer, a part of
the regular rhythms of wor
ship; and as preparation for
leading Gods people.
In a culture constantly urg
ing us to accumulate more
and consume more, fasting offers us a
concrete way to practice turning away
from the rhythms, patterns and priorities
of the world, and turning toward God.
Fasting necessarily creates space in our
lives (and in our bellies), and Christians fill
that space with purposeful prayer.
Many Christian communities around
the world, Protestant, Roman Catholic and
Orthodox, fast during specific seasons or
as a community in times of discernment
and need. Though some members of the
community may not be able, due to health
or age, to fast from food, they will choose
to fast from something else, such as watch
ing television or engaging with social me
dia. In these communities the participants
experience great solidarity and fellowship
by practicing a fast together. Fasting be
comes a communal spiritual discipline, or
faith practice.
Jesus said, “And whenever you fast, do
not look somber, like the hypocrites, for
they mark their faces to show others that
they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward. But when you fast,
put oil on your head and wash your face,
so that your fasting may be seen not by
others but by your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will
reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
In this passage Jesus criticizes neither the
practice of fasting itself, nor the practice
of fasting as a community. Instead,
Jesus teaches us that fasting must
have a secondary purpose. It pleases
God when we fast for a time of
purposeful prayer and intentional
connection with God, not when we
fast for show.
In the book "Joy Together" Lynne
M. Baab defines Christian fasting as,
“the voluntary denial of something
for a specific time, for a spiritual
purpose, by an individual, family,
community, or nation.”
How might God be calling you, your
family, our community, or even our nation,
to a practice of fasting? What prayer need
or practice might benefit from the addition
of fasting?
If you are interested in beginning a spiri
tual practice of fasting, start slow. Choose
a day and try fasting from just one meal,
from a specific type of food, or from a spe
cific type of technological engagement. See
what space the fast you choose creates. Try
fasting with a small community of people
who commit to a fast together so you can
support one another.
And remember to set a clear intention
for your fast: purposeful prayer, drawing
closer to God.
Rev. Marilyn Tucker-Marek is pastor of
Forsyth Presbyterian Church, 63 N. Jackson
Street. The Pastors Corner is sponsored by
the Monroe County Ministerial Association,
which meets on the second Thursday of each
month at 9 a.m. at Christ United Methodist
Church, 417 N. Frontage Road, Forsyth.
Rev. Marilyn
Tucker-Marek
(HUIKH CALENDAR
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news^mymcr.net by Mon
day at 1 0 a.m. Church information is published free of charge as space
permits.
Beginning Sept. 1
First Baptist Forsyth
has Lunch & Learn
First Baptist Forsyth, 95 West
Morse Street will begin a
Lunch & Learn program on
Thursday, Sept, 1 that will
meet in the Fellowship Hal
every 1st & 3rd Thursday.
All ages are welcome. Pastor
Dr. Hambric Brooks will lead
Bible Study. Gather for cof
fee and fellowship at 1 1:30
a.m. Bible study and lunch
will begin at 12 noon. Par
ticipants are encouraged to
bring a sack lunch. It will be
an interactive study where
dialogue is encouraged, and
discussion and questions are
welcomed. Bring your Bible.
Sept. 4
St. Peter's Rock
celebrates Pastor's An
niversary
St Peters Rock Mission
ary Baptist Church, 10496
Highway 87, Juliette will
celebrate Rev. Tremaine
Johnson Sr.’s 1st Pastor’s
Anniversary on Sunday, Sept.
4 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Craig
E. Moore of New Salem
Missionary Baptist Church in
Baconton as guest speaker.
For more information, contact
Ruth Middlebrook at 478-
986-5269.
Rocky Creek Baptist
restarts Sunday School
Program
Rocky Creek Baptist Church,
225 Rocky Creek Rd, Forsyth
will restart its Sunday School
program on Sept. 4 at 9:45
a.m.
Sept. 11, Sept. 12-14
Kynette UMC has
Homecoming & Revival
Services
Kynette United Methodist
Church, 266 Martin Luther
King Jr. Drive, Forsyth and
Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Throw
er, Jr. invite everyone to
celebrate Homecoming and
Revival Services. Homecom
ing service will be Sunday,
Sept. 11 at 1 1 a.m.; Rev.
Clarence E. Thrower, Jr. will
deliver the message. Revival
Services begin on Monday,
Sept. 1 2- Wednesday,
Sept. 1 4 starting at 7 p.m.
nightly. Revivalists Monday-
Wednesday:
Monday: Minister Juanita D.
Hogan, Greater Friendship
Baptist Church. Tuesday:
Rev. Cleveland Jarrell,
Greater Friendship Baptist
Church. Wednesday: Rev.
Carlos Young, St. Luke AME
Church. All are welcome.
Sept. 14
Food Distribution at
Christ UMC
The Circle of Care Mobile
Food Distribution at Christ
United Methodist Church,
417 N. Frontage Road, For
syth will be on Wednesday,
Sept. 1 4, 10 am-1 2 noon.
Sept. 18
First Baptist of High
Falls has Back to
Church Sunday
First Baptist Church of High
Falls, 4408 High Falls Road,
welcomes everyone to come
back to church on Back to
Church Sunday on Sept. 18
starting at 9:45 a.m. for Sun
day Bible Study and 1 1 a.m.
for Worship Celebration.
Sept. 27
St. James Baptist hosts
Food Distribution
St. James Baptist Church,
1 10 James Street, Forsyth
will again be hosting a
Mobile Food Distribution on
the fourth Tuesday of each
month beginning on Tuesday,
Sept. 27 at 10 a.m.
Until Sept. 28
Bethany Bapt. hosts
Women's Bible Study
Bethany Baptist Church, 365
Pea Ridge Road, Juliette will
host a 7-session Women’s
Bible Study entitled “Elijah:
Faith and Fire’ by Priscilla
Shirer on Wednesday nights
from 6:30-7:30 p.m. begin
ning Aug. 17. The study will
be led by Karen Wilson and
is for young adult to senior
women. There will be a nurs
ery and childrens ministries
available. Cost of the study
guide is $17.
Ongoing
Bread & Blessings
food pantry is open at
Bethany Baptist
The Bread & Blessing food
pantry is open at the fellow
ship hall of Bethany Baptist
Church, 365 Pea Ridge
Road, Bolingbroke every
Monday from 10 a.m.-12
noon. There are a variety of
shelf stable items available
for families who need them.
For more information, call
478-974-0002.
Rocky Creek Bapt.
Church Motorcycle
Ministry Community
Breakfast
The Rocky Creek Motor
cycle Ministry hosts a Men's
breakfast every 2nd Satur
day of the month, and all are
invited to attend. The next
breakfast is Saturday, Sept.
10th, at 9 a.m. at Rocky
Creek Baptist Church 225
Rocky Creek Rd., Forsyth.
Rock Springs Clinic
The Rock Springs Church
Health Clinic in Forsyth is
open every Wednesday from
8:30 a.m.-noon. New patient
consultations are available at
1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of each month.
The clinic is near Monroe
County Hospital at 100 MLK
Jr. Drive; the phone number
is 478-992-9581
GUEST COLUMN by Amanda Harner
Ten signs of dementia for World Alzheimer's Month
D id you know Sep
tember is World
Alzheimer’s
Month? Alzheim
er’s Disease is the most
common form of dementia.
Dementia is a word used to
describe a group of symp
toms related to memory,
thinking, behavior, and
emotion caused by disorders
affecting the brain.
Why is it important
to learn about demen
tia and Alzheimer’s
Disease? Dementias
get worse over time.
For the person living
with dementia it is an
overwhelming and
frightening experience.
However, it is also an
overwhelming and
frightening experience
for family members, friends,
and care givers of loved ones
suffering from dementia.
About 50 million people
around the world have de
mentia. Over 5.8 million of
those people live in the U.S.
Usually dementia affects
elderly individuals, however
there are cases of younger-
onset Alzheimer’s which af
fects people under the age of
65. The most common form
of Alzheimer’s is sporadic
Alzheimer’s Disease, which
is not passed on genetically
from parents.
There are several impor
tant things you should know
about dementia: what the
symptoms
are, how you
can you keep
your brain
healthy, and
when should
you seek
help.
There are
10 early
signs and
symptoms of
dementia:
1. Memory loss. It is
normal to sometimes forget
appointments, important
events, or names, espe
cially when under a lot of
stress. The key is whether
or not the memory loss is
a disruption to daily life. If
the individual is remember
ing things later it is likely
normal.
2. Changes in problem
solving and planning. Is the
individual having a hard
time doing something fa
miliar like following a recipe
they have frequently made
in the past?
3. Difficulty completing
daily or familiar tasks such
as going to the grocery store.
4. Confusion about the
passing of time or places.
Did the individual forget
how they got to a location?
5. Trouble understand
ing visual images and space
such as judging distance or
color.
6. New struggles with
conversations or writing.
7. Not being able to retrace
steps if something is lost.
8. Change in decision
making. Does the person
keep themselves groomed
and clean like before?
9. Stopping social activities
and hobbies, especially with
familiar people in familiar
settings.
10. Changes in mood and
personality.
Keeping your brain
healthy includes a balanced,
nutritious, diet. Eat plenty of
fruits and vegetables, reduce
your intake of added sugars,
and be cautious about how
much salt you eat. Stay away
from behaviors that put
your health at risk, such as
smoking and binge drink
ing. Engage in activities
that keep your mind active,
such as reading, puzzles
and learning new skills.
Spend time in healthy social
activities, such as clubs,
bible studies or connecting
with friends. Your brain
health also benefits from
regular physical activity like
walking, riding a bike, or
gardening.
You should seek help for
yourself or a family mem
ber if you are experiencing
or witnessing concerning
symptoms. You can share
your concerns with your
primary doctor. Georgia
Chapter of the Alzheimer’s
Association provides great
guidance as well.
There is no cure for
dementia, but making wise
decisions throughout your
life that encourage a healthy
brain can reduce your risk of
having a dementia disorder.
References
Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's Association. 2022.
29 August 2022. https://www.
alz.org/.
Alzheimer's Association . Geor
gia Chapter. 2022. 29 August
2022. www.alz.org/georgia.
Alzheimer's Disease Interna
tional. World Alheimer’s Month.
2022. 29 August 2022. https://
www.alzint.org/get-involved/
world-alzheimers-month/.
Mayo Clinic. Alzheimer's
Disease. 19 February 2022. 29
August 2022. https://www.mayo-
clinic.org/diseases-conditions/
alzheimers-disease/symptoms-
causes/syc-20350447.
Amanda Hamer is the
Family & Consumer Sci
ences County Agent at
Monroe County Extension.
Amanda.Harner@uga.edu
or 478-994-7014
St. James
Baptist hosts
Pop-Up Flea
Market
Sept. 17
St. James Baptist Church,
110 James St., Forsyth will
host a Pop-Up Flea Market
in its parking lot on Satur
day, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m.-5
p.m. with something for
everyone. Proceeds from
the event will benefit the
mobile food distribution
at the church, which is the
fourth Tuesday of each
month.
The Pop-Up Flea Market
will have cakes, cookies,
BBQ and lemonade. There
will be jewelry, apparel
and Falcons merchan
dise. Shoppers will find
shea butter, blankets and
monograms as well as
nails, lashes and more.
There will be yard sale
items with bargains and
hidden treasures. All are
welcome to shop, socialize,
contribute to the fundrais
er and enjoy the Fall day.
Amanda Harner
CHURCH PAGE MADE POSSIBLE BY:
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A name that can be trusted for funeral and burial arrangements
26 Brentwood Place • Forsyth
994-6483 • 994-6576
“Servicing Each Family With Equal Respect”
Lee’s Haircutting
Lee Smith
994-1666
Mon - Fri 10 to 7
...Unless Playing Golf
WBIB-FM 89.1
Forsyth-based Christian Radio
Believers in Broadcasting
478-957-9164
www.wbibfm.com
We are here to serve the
local church and community.
Sunday morning local sermon schedule:
9 a.m. Dayspring Presbyterian Church
10 a.m. Rock Springs Church
11 a.m. New Providence Baptist Church
facebook.com/believersinbroadcasting
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Ready to Meet
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• Boarding • Bathing
• Medical Management
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• After Hrs. & Emergency
60 S. Jackson St, * Forsyth, GA ♦ 478-994-4986
Voted 2014 Best Veterinarian by readers of the Reporter
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jerraff@bellsouth.net 478-256-0253
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