Newspaper Page Text
October 26, 2022
Page 6B
lEeporter
Spotlight on Local Churches
PASTOR S CORNER by Rev. Angela Johnson
Afflictions make us trust God
14 Early the next morning Abraham took
some food and a skin of water and gave
them to Hagar. He set them on her shoul
ders and then sent her off with the boy.
She went on her way and wandered in the
Desert ofBeersheba.
15 When the water in
the skin was gone, she put
the boy under one of the
bushes. 16 Then she went off
and sat down about a bow
shot away, for she thought,
“I cannot watch the boy
die.” And as she sat there,
she[b] began to sob.
17 God heard the boy
crying, and the angel of
God called to Hagar from
heaven and said to her,
“What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be
afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he
lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him
by the hand, for I will make him into a
great nation.”
- Genesis 21:14-18
W hat do you do in a time of
affliction? What should
you do in a time of afflic
tion? These are questions
that came up as I was reading the story of
Hagar and Ishmael. Gen. 16,21:8-20, and
Gal. 4:21-5:1,1 read this in the expanded
version of the Bible. The first thing I
observed was Sarai putting her husband
and Hagar in bondage trying to make the
promise of God happen in her timing and
her way. (doubt) How many times have I
done that? Too many to mention.
This brought about a result Sarai did
not like—contempt from Hagar when she
conceives and pride comes in her bond
age. So much so the affliction she received
was more than Hagar could bear so she
rims away.
However, in this escape attempt the
"What should you do?" comes from two
questions and a conversation with God as
to how and what she should do in a time
of affliction.
What do you do in times of affliction?
In this case, Hagar ran, hid, and blamed.
To which God asked: Where have you
been? Where are you going? Two hard
questions, because afflictions
often come to make us trust
God to bring us out. But not
in our time as no affliction
feels good, but the learned
thing is always the victory of
bearing much fruit.
What should you do in a
time of affliction? In this case,
God sent Hagar back to this
test and trial to cause her to
rid herself of pride and for
her son to learn leadership
from his father. As she was told to go back
he told her she would have a son, Ishmael
(God who hears), and her relationship
with the God of her master now became
her God as she now knows Him as the
God who sees.
What could these two simple questions
do for you if you asked them before the
attempted hiding and blaming comes to
hide this knowledge: It’s not what you’ve
done, but who you’re becoming!
Where have you been? In slavery?
Where are you going? To victory in Jesus.
In Hagar’s case, she was going from bond-
servant to a mother of of many. Read it
for yourself and look for more than what
seems obvious.
Angela Johnson is founder and director
of Reconciliation House, Inc., a ministry
for women transitioning from incarcera
tion back into the community and for their
families. Visit reconciliationhouse.orgfor
more information. The Pastors Corner is
sponsored by the Monroe County Ministe
rial Association. The Ministerial Associa
tion will meet on Thursdays Oct. 20 and
Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. at Christ UMC, 417N.
Frontage Road, Forsyth.
Angela Johnson
CHURCH CALENDAR
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news@mymcr.net by Monday
at 1 0 a.m. Church information is published free of charge as space permits.
Oct. 29
Bethany Baptist Fall
Festival
Bethany Baptist Church, 365
Pea Ridge Road, Bolingbroke
will have a Fall Festival on
Saturday, Oct. 29 from 5-7
p.m. There will be a bounce-
house, snow cones, cupcake
walks, live-action board
games, candy and food at no
charge. All are invited.
St. Peter’s Rock Mis
sionary Baptist has Fall
Festival Trunk or Treat
St. Peter's Rock Missionary
Baptist Church family, 10496
GA Hwy. 87, Juliette invites
everyone to Fall Festival Trunk
or Treat on Saturday, Oct.
29 at 5 p.m. There will be fun,
games and candy for all. Rev.
Tremaine Johnson is pastor.
For more information contact
Ruth Middlebrook at 478-
986-5269
Oct. 30
Family fun at First Bap
tist of High Falls
First Baptist Church of High
Falls, 4408 High Falls Road,
will have an evening of family
fun on Sunday, Oct. 30 from
4-6 p.m. Bring treat bags,
wear costumes, grab some
popcorn and stroll around for
games, fellowship and lots of
sweet treats.
St. Peter’s Rock Mission
ary Baptist celebrates
Youth Explosion Choir
St. Peter's Rock Missionary
Baptist Church, 10496 GA
Hwy. 87, Juliette will cel
ebrate Youth Explosion Choir
Anniversary on Sunday, Oct.
30 at 3 p.m. Worship Leader
will be Kenyon King; Miming
4 Christ will perform; special
Guest is Ike Rhythm. For more
info contact Ruth Middlebrook
at 478-986-5269.
Oct. 31
First Baptist has Fall
Festival
First Baptist Church of
Forsyth, 95 W. Morse Street
presents Community Fall
Fun on Monday, Oct. 31
from 5:30-7:30 p.m. with
inflatables, a hay ride, food,
candy and fun, all free to
the community. Everyone is
invited.
Trunk or Treat at Paran
Baptist Church
Paran Baptist Church, 5691
Ga Highway 42 N, Forsyth
will hold a Trunk or Treat
event for the community on
Monday, Oct. 31 from 5:30-
8 p.m. Stop by for candy and
grab a hotdog. The Paran
Baptist family would love
to meet you and see those
costumes.
Nov. 6
Karen Peck & New
River will be in concert
at Bethany Baptist
Bethany Baptist Church, 365
Pea Ridge Road, Bolingbroke
will present Karen Peck &
New River in concert on
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 1 a.m.
worship and at 6 p.m.
Nov. 9
Food Distribution at
Christ UMC
The Circle of Care Mobile
Food Distribution at Christ
United Methodist Church, 417
N. Frontage Road, Forsyth will
be on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 10
am-1 2 noon.
Nov. 22
St. James Baptist hosts
Food Distribution
St. James Baptist Church, 1 10
James Street, Forsyth will host
a Mobile Food Distribution on
Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m.
Dec.l
Monroe Co. Ministerial
Association
The Monroe County Ministe
rial Association meets monthly
at Christ United Methodist
Church, 417 N. Frontage
Road, Forsyth. The Ministe
rial Association will meet at
9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1
(combining the November and
December meetings). Ministers
at all churches in the Monroe
County area are welcome.
The Ministerial Association
meetings are an opportunity
for ministers to share informa
tion about opportunities in
the community and to work
together on projects that ben
efit the community, like aiding
travelers who need assistance,
sponsoring the Mary Persons
baccalaureate, organizing
the annual National Day of
Prayer program, contribut
ing weekly articles to the
Reporter’s Pastor’s Corner and
working with Kingdom Builders
to assist with home repairs.
Ongoing
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 Hall
every 1st & 3rd Thursday. All
ages are welcome. Pastor Dr.
Hambric Brooks will lead Bible
Study. Gather for coffee and
fellowship at 1 1:30 a.m. Bible
study and lunch will begin
at 1 2 noon. Participants are
encouraged to bring a sack
unch. It will be an interac
tive study where dialogue is
encouraged, and discussion
and questions are welcomed.
Bring your Bible.
CALENDAR
Oct. 15-Nov. 13
30 for 30 Walk-a-Weigh
Monroe County Extension
invites everyone to participate
in 30 for 30 Walk-a-Weigh:
Walk 30 minutes per day for
30 straight days from Oct. 15-
Nov. 1 3. Find encouragement
from daily social media posts
created by Cooperative Exten
sion professionals across the
country and weekly Facebook
Live Walk-a-Weigh classes
from Monroe County Extension
agent Amanda Harner. 478-
994-7014 or Amanda.Harner® 1
uga.edu
Oct. 24
Mercer Basketball Tip-Off
event
Before basketball season
begins, the Mercer men's and
women's basketball teams will
host a Tip Off Event at Mercer
Village on Monday, Oct. 24
from 6-8 p.m. Players from
each team will be introduced to
the fans. Coaches and players
will visit with fans, sign auto
graphs, offer team giveaways
and participate in three-point
contests and other games with
the fans.
Oct. 25-27
Gordon College presents
'Frankenstein Lives'
Gordon State College Humani
ties & Fine & Performing Arts
opens their season with a
3-day performance of Play
wright Douglas Jones' “Fran
kenstein Lives" on Oct. 25-27
at 6:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts
Theatre in , Barnesville. Fol
lowing Wednesday’s, Oct. 26,
performance will be a Gala
Community Night where Jones
will join GSC professor Dr. Erik
McCarthy for a discussion ses
sion. Tickets are $10 adults, $7
seniors, $5 children 12 & under.
Oct. 28
Last Forsyth Farmers
Market of the season
Forsyth Farmers Market will
close for the 2022 season
after Friday, Oct. 28 (9 a.m.-5
p.m. at 9 North Jackson Street,
the lot behind Persons Bank
ing Company). Vendors offer
locally grown produce and
homemade goods. For informa
tion, call 478-994-7747 or
email mcordy@cityofforsyth.com
Oct. 29
Save-A-Pet Yard Sale
Save-A-Pet will hold a yard
sale on Saturday, Oct. 29 from
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at its shelter at
430 Maynard Church Road,
Forsyth. Donations are appreci
ated. For more information, cal
478-994-5223.
Oct. 30
Trunk or Treat at the
Sheriff's Office
The Monroe County Sheriffs
Office will host a free and safe
Trunk-or-Treat for the whole
family on Sunday, Oct. 30 from
2-4 p.m. Wear costumes, bring
trick-or-treat bags and collect
goodies from decorated trunks.
Those who would like to partici
pate in giving out treats should
contact 478-957-3795.
Oct. 31
Trick or Treat on the
Square
Forsyth Main Street will sponsor
Trick-or-Treat on the Square on
Monday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 1
Heating Assistance
Middle Ga. Community Action
Agency will begin accepting
appointments for heating assis
tance in Monroe and the other
10 counties it serves for house
holds where all members are
65 or older or homebound on
Tuesday, Nov 1. Other income
eligible households may contact
the scheduling system for an
appointment beginning Dec.
1. To schedule an appoint
ment call 1-844-588-1552
or go online to https:mgcaa.
appointment.works/ea/home.
To be eligible households must
document income, identities and
utility bills.
Nov. 3
Federated Garden Clubs
of Macon hosts luncheon &
virtual Garden Tour
Federated Garden Clubs of
Macon, Inc. is hosting the “Sa
voring the South” luncheon and
"A Grand Tour: Great Gardens
of Europe," a virtual tour with
Carleton Wood, executive di
rector of Hills & Dales Estate in
Lagrange on Thursday, Nov. 3
from 1 1 a.m.-l p.m. at Highland
Hills Baptist Church in Macon.
Tickets are $45. There will be
Baked Goods- Raffle Baskets-
Bulb Sale. For more information,
call (478)719-3340.
Nov. 4
Citizen's Firearms Course
Monroe County Sheriff s Office
will host a Citizen’s Firearms
Course on Saturday, Nov.
12 starting at 8 a.m. It will
cover firearm use, proficiency
and safety. There is no cost,
but participants must provide
their own legal handgun, belt,
holster, eye & ear safety equip
ment and at least 100-150
rounds of ammunition. The
course is limited to 30 partici
pants, age 21 and older, who
live or work in Monroe County.
Applications are available at
Monroe County Sheriff s Office;
the deadline is Nov. 4. Ap
plicants must provide two forms
of identification and submit to
a background check. For more
information, contact Sgt. Kevin
Williams at 478-994-7048.
Nov. 5
3rd Annual Celebration of
Angels on Earth recog
nizes caregivers
Wings and Words of Hope will
recognize caregivers at its 3rd
Annual Celebration of Angels
on Earth on Saturday, Nov. 5
at The Pond Restaurant, 2407
Moody Road, Warner Robins.
Nominations for caregivers to
be recognized are now being
accepted by the Joseph A.
Finney Sr. Foundation, which
is based in Monroe County.
For more information, contact
Cheryl Finney at 478-394-
3831.
Nov. 12
1st Annual Fall Back Folk
Festival
The 1st Annual Fall Back Folk
Festival will be Saturday, Nov.
1 2 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 5047
High Falls State Park Rd. In
High Falls. There will be folk
art, food and friends.
Until Nov. 18
4-H Poinsettia Fundraiser
The Annual Monroe County
4-H Poinsettia Fundraiser will
be Oct. 3-Nov. 18. Poinsettias
come in red, pink and white.
Large are $20 and medium are
$15. Order through a 4-H’er or
through the M.C. Extension/4-H
office, 484 Hwy 83 S, Forsyth.
All orders are due by Nov. 18.
Pick-up is first week of Decem
ber at the office. All proceeds
go to support the 4-H program.
Nov. 20
Seasonal Show at 1823
Artisan Guild
The 1823 Artisan Guild will
have its first show at its new
location (30 East Main St.,
Forsyth—across from City Hall)
on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 2-5
p.m. There will be Artisan cre
ations with an emphasis on gift
giving and decorating, Artisan
demonstrations, hot apple cider
and other holiday goodies.
Dec. 3
Rotary sponsors Commu
nity Clean Up Day
Forsyth Monroe County Rotary
Club will sponsor a community
clean up day on Saturday, Dec.
3 from 9-1 1 a.m. The public is
invited to join in keeping For
syth beautiful. Rotary Club will
furnish pick up sticks, trash bags
and gloves.
Dec. 11
Wings & Words of Hope
holds benefit dinner
Wings and Words of Hope
will have a benefit dinner on
Sunday, Dec. 1 1 from 5-9 p.m.
at the Harriet Tubman Museum
in Macon to raise money to
help caregivers and their loved
ones. The benefit will also honor
the founder, the late Joseph
A. Finney Sr of Juliette. There
will be resources to help other
foundations continue their work
in blessing others.
The formal event will feature a
live band, stand-up comedian
and a catered meal. All pro
ceeds benefit the foundation.
Tickets are available on-line.
For information, contact Cheryl
Finney at 478-394-3831.
Nov. 1-Feb. 28
DNR will lower
High Falls Lake
Georgia Department of Natu
ral Resources (DNR) will lower
the level of High Falls Lake ap
proximately 2-3 feet between
Nov. 1 and Fell 28 to let
residents perform dock repairs.
Residents should make arrange
ments for boats while the lake
is lowered and should plan for
necessary repairs to maintain
compliance with requirements
of dock permits. Repairs must
be within DNR specifica
tions. Any new construction or
changes to a current permitted
dock that require more than a
50 percent rebuild will required
a new permit. Get applications
at the park office. For more
information, contact High Falls
resource manager Taylor Geo-
nis at 478-993-3053.
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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
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