Newspaper Page Text
November 2, 2022
■ Reporter
Page 3B
CHURCH CALENDAR
Spotlight on Local Churches
PASTOR S CORNER by Rev. Hambric Brooks
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news'®mymcr.net by Monday
at 10 a.m. Church information is published free of charge as space permits.
Nov. 2-3
Pre-anniversary services
for Rev. Whatley at
New Macedonia Mis
sionary Baptist
New Macedonia Missionary
Baptist Church of Culloden
will have Pre-anniversary
services for Pastor Rufus J
Whatley on Nov. 2 & 3 at
7 p.m. On Wednesday night
the special guest will be
Dr Clarence Thrower and
Hopewell UMC. Pastor Timo
thy Starks of McDonough will
be the speaker on Thursday.
Everyone is invited.
Nov. 5
New Macedonia Mis
sionary Baptist hosts
Whatley Day Hallelu-
jahfest
New Macedonia Missionary
Baptist Church of Culloden
he will celebrate its 2nd
Annual Whatley Day Hal-
lelujahfest on Saturday, Nov.
5 at Ellis Field in Culloden.
This day has been set aside
to celebrate the pastora
anniversary of Rev. Rufus J
Whatley. It will feature food
vendors, arts and crafts,
games, facepainting and
hayrides for the kids. No
admission. Gates open at 11
a.m. There are still vendor
spots available. For covered
spaces the fee is $30 and
for uncovered it is $25. To
secure a spot or for more
information, contact Iris Ruth
erford at 706-741 -9926.
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 11 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-12 noon.
Nov. 20
New Providence Baptist
hosts Laugh All Night
Comedy Tour
New Providence Baptist
Church, 2560 U S. Highway 41
S, Forsyth will host the Laugh
All Night Comedy Tour with
John Felts on Sunday, Nov.
20 at 5:15 p.m. This is clean
comedy for all ages. An offer
ing will be received to benefit
New Missions Helping Families
Flourish. For more information,
visit NPBCSMARR.org/laughall-
night or call 478-994-2545.
Nov. 22
St. James Baptist hosts
Food Distribution
St. James Baptist Church, 110
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, contributing weekly
articles to the Reporter’s Pas
tor’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 fellow
ship at 11:30 a.m. Bible study
and lunch will begin at 12
noon. Participants are encour
aged to bring a sack lunch.
It will be an interactive study
where dialogue is encouraged,
and discussion and guestions
are welcomed. Bring your
Bible.
Bread & Blessings food
pantry is open at Betha
ny Baptist
The Bread & Blessing food
pantry is open at the fellowship
hall of Bethany Baptist Church,
365 Pea Ridge Road, Boling
broke 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, cal
478-974-0002.
Rocky Creek Bapt.
Church Motorcycle
Ministry Community
Breakfast
The Rocky Creek Motorcycle
Ministry hosts a community
breakfast every 2nd Satur
day of the month, and all are
invited to attend. 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.
All Souls Day: Reflect on
death to live life more fully
T oday, Nov. 2, is known as All
Souls Day It is a day that many
Christian denominations remem
ber their deceased friends and
family members in special ways. This may
be a day of prayer, intercession,
or even visits to the cemetery
where loved ones are laid to rest.
It is a time to reflect on the
past and the influence of lives
that touched our souls while
they were alive. In my line of
work, I am reminded of death
often and must spend time in
cemeteries more than I would
like.
I don’t find myself visiting
the burial site of my loved ones
often after the initial burial. I
probably have gone to my brother's grave
two times in the last 30 years. I think of
him often but have never felt the need to
go to his graveside.
I guess this is because I know he is no
longer there. His bones are located there
in the ground, but his soul is with Jesus
in Heaven. As I have become older, I do
reflect on death at times. It isn’t because
of the fear of dying, I don’t fear death
because I know the promises of scripture.
Here a couple of them: John 5:24
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever
hears my word and believes him who
sent me has eternal life and will not be
judged but has crossed over from death
to life. (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want
you to be uninformed about those who
sleep in death, so that you do not grieve
like the rest of mankind, who have no
hope. For we believe that Jesus died and
rose again, and so we believe that God
will bring with Jesus those who have
fallen asleep in him.” IThessalonians
4:13-14. (NIV)
There are many more promises in
scripture about eternity and the hope we
have in Christ. I believe the reason I find
myself reflecting on death more often is
because I know how fragile this life can
be.
Reflecting on death and the loss of loved
ones helps us to appreciate the present. It
causes us to savor the moments and even
the interruptions in life. It helps us to
realize what is important. Many times, we
get our priorities off kilter because while
we are striving to achieve more and more
materialistically we miss
out on the moments of
life that leave us breath
less.
How many of us take
the time to enjoy a sunset,
or sunrise? When was
the last time you slowed
down enough to sit with a
friend over a cup of coffee
and good meaningful
conversation? When we
take to the time to reflect
on death, it helps us to live
more fully in life.
Thinking about death helps us to
remember what is important and this
reflection helps us to live intentionally. In
stead of worrying about taking the perfect
picture or settle for social media, or in
stead of worrying about making enough
income to “keep up with the Jones,” who
you don’t even like, you may be intention
al about spending time with the people
who matter most to you in your life.
You may want to do things that bring
you joy or think about the legacy you are
leaving for your loved ones. When you re
flect on death it helps to align our values
with our desires.
On this All Soul’s Day approach the
topic of death with reverence. Remember
ing those from your past who influenced
your present and future in glorious ways.
Reflect on your own mortality, deciding
what is priority in your life. Make the
steps needed to experience a more mean
ingful and mindful life.
Rev. Hambric Brooks is pastor of First
Baptist Church Forsyth, 95 West Morse
Street. The Pastors Corner is sponsored by
the Monroe County Ministerial Associa
tion. The Ministerial Association will meet
on Thursdays Oct. 20 and Dec. 1 at 9 a.m.
at Christ UMC, 417 N. Frontage Road,
Forsyth.
Rev. Hambric Brooks
by Rev. Shirley Watkins
God changes those who come to
A ren't you glad that God
loves you right where
you are? I am. I'm glad
he loved me right where
I was. But the greatest thing is he
loves us enough to
not leave us where
we are. He loves us
Enough to bring us
closer to him.
We maybe in the
valley, we may be in
a hard trial, we may
be addicted to drugs
or other things that
have us bound. Yet
the God we serve
will not leave us in
those places. He will draw us out
of the mire. He will put our feet on
the rock.
Yes, we can come to Jesus just as
we are, but he won't leave us that
way. He will pick us up and change
us into something totally different
than what we've ever been.
Look at Saul. He was a very
righteous and knowledgeable
Pharisee. He thought he was do
ing God's will. He was
dragging people out of
their houses and killing
them and putting them
in jail because they called
themselves Christians.
He was zealous about
what he was doing.
Yet one day as he was
on the road to Damascus
a great light shined down
on him. This light was
so great it blinded Saul.
What is so amazing to me is the
first thing he said was, "Who are
you, Lord?" He was wise enough to
know that a power greater than he
had ever known had just fallen on
him and he wanted to know who it
was that was dealing with him.
God spoke to him and told him
there was a change coming for
him. God loved him enough he did
not leave him as a righteous Phari
see, but he changed him to become
Christ-like, a true Christian. He
changed him so much that he even
gave him a new name. He would
now be called Paul.
Isn't it good to know that no
matter what we think we are, God
loves us enough to change us into
what we need to be?
Jesus spoke to the people and said
come unto me all you that labor
and are heavy laden and I will give
you rest Take my yoke upon
you for my yoke is easy and my
burden is light. Wow!
We may think it is hard to serve
the Lord. But as long as we desire
to please him, he makes the way,
even when there seems to be no
way.
Come means approach. He is
saying approach me and I will give
you rest. I will allow you to relax
and be calm in me. Jesus desires for
us to be changed and to become
like him.
Are you heavy ladened today? Is
your burden too heavy to carry?
Then it is time to take it to Jesus.
He is willing and ready to help
those that call upon Him. He
reminds me many times that he
will hear all that call upon him. So,
take the time to call, and he will
hear and answer. May God richly
bless you.
Rev. Shirley Watkins is pastor of
Lighthouse of Prayer Church, 2287
Highway 41, Forsyth.
Rev. Shirley Watkins
Him
APP
DOWNLOAD
EXPLORE
SHARE
CHURCH PAGE MADE POSSIBLE BY:
AVOID BACK SURGERY
•iinisc
V* CENTERS Of AMERICA
• FORSYTH
DR. GARY BIGGS
Voted Best of Monroe County 2022 Best Chiropractor by readers of the Reporter
255 Tift College Drive • Forsyth • 478-994-1562
www.ForsythDiscCenter.com
IN PAIN?
BE SEEN TODAY!
WecatertoPRE-SURGICAL
Back Pain Patients
that are considering spinal
injections OR back surgery.
Freeman Funeral home
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
r ANIMAL^
MEDICAL
CLINIC
> i
Dr. Brandon Pinson
Ready to Meet
Your Pet Needs
• Boarding • Bathing
• Medical Management
• Wellness & Preventive
• After Hrs. & Emergency
60 S. Jackson St, * Forsyth, GA ♦ 478-994-4986
Voted 2014 Best Veterinarian by readers of the Reporter
RAFF, INC.
Better Built By Raff
Jerry Raff contractors
jerraff@bellsouth.net 478-256-0253
www.facebook.com/raffinc