THE EPISTLE Newsletter of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men…” 2 Corinthians 3:2

Volume 35 No. 1 March 2012

Special Worship Service and Plaza Unveiling Planned for Pastor Emeritus Moore

The first phase of the Jerry A. Moore Commem-orative Committee’s activities was to name the Jerry A. Moore, Jr. Ministerial and Administrative Suites. These suites include the pastor’s and assis-tant pastor’s offices, church offices and the new board room. Plaques with the new names are now in place. The commemorative committee is also planning a prayer garden, which will incorporate the Moore Library and Archives, in tribute to Rev. Moore’s many contributions.

Rev. Derrick Harkins serves as the honorary chair of the commemorative committee. Deacon Reginald Elliott is chair of the committee.

On Sunday, April 15, Nineteenth Street will hold a very special commemorative worship service and unveiling ceremony to honor Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr. for his more than fifty years of work and service to our church, our city and the world.

Last year the DC Council passed legislation which ceremonially renamed the four streets surrounding the church “Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr. Commem-orative Plaza.” The April 15 ceremony will offi-cially celebrate the naming of the new plaza and unveil new signs on the corners of 16th and Crit-tenden Streets and 16th and Buchanan Streets. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow the unveiling ceremony.

Pastor Derrick Harkins and deacons of Nineteenth Street pray during the Service of Ordination for Brother Larry D. Holland, Sister Louise Walls Rich-ardson and Brother Howard Scott Smith on Sunday, March 11. Congratulations to our new deacons!

Dr. Ettyce Hill-Moore and Pastor Derrick Harkins in front of the new board room plaque honoring her husband, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr.

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The Pastor’s Corner

What Are You Adding for Lent?By Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins

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While Baptist churches, as a general rule, are not very “liturgical,” here at Nineteenth Street we have observed the Lenten season for a number of years. Remembering the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness at the beginning of his earthly ministry allows us to consider ways in which we can live that are more focused upon humility and selflessness. When we give something up for Lent it hopefully helps us to “make space” in our hearts for God’s renewing presence.

But while we are sometimes overly focused on the ritual of self-denial (be it from chocolate or reality TV), we should remember that the real lesson of Jesus’ wilderness sojourn is that He came away with more than at the start. He was empowered by his Father and possessed a deep sense of focus on the work set before Him.

So, the question may well be, “What are you adding for Lent?” A deeper commitment to caring for others? A renewed thirst for God’s Word? A fuller joy in your daily walk with Christ?

If we are going to observe this Lenten Season, like Jesus, let’s come away with more than when we started.

By Deaconess Gloria Tisdale

When one of our church members was admitted to Morningside House Nursing and Rehab Center in Ellicott City, Maryland years ago, Rev. James Crosson, a preacher known for his ministry to the sick and shut-in, began to visit her. His visits were the beginning of a new type of ministry there.

Now, Rev. Crosson, along with Deacon Leon Pierce and Deaconess Dena Bowen, visit Morningside twice a month to hold worship services for the patients in the Alzheimer’s Unit. They sing, pray, give a message to the patients and, on special occasions like Christmas, give them gift bags.

All of us may not be able to visit or minister our sick and shut-ins in this way, but we can all do something. Whether we send cards or gifts, or simply say a prayer, we know that God rewards those who serve in His name.

Wednesday, March 21 Noon Worship Service and Lunch

Dr. Joseph Norman Evans, preachingMount Carmel Baptist Church

Wednesday, March 28Noon Worship Service and LunchRev. Eric D. Barksdale, preaching

St. Charles Baptist Church

Sunday, April 1Palm Sunday Worship Service

10:00 AM

Thursday, April 5Maundy Thursday Upper Room Meal,

Communion and Foot Washing Service7:00 PM

Sunday, April 8Easter Worship Service

10:00 AM

Ministry at Morningside House

Rev. James Crosson, Assistant Pastor

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Justice for Juniors: Baptist Chaplaincy at GWBy Chaplain J. Siafa Johnson

Rev. Harkins and members of Nineteenth Street joined St. Mary’s Baptist Church and George Wash-ington University students on February 8 to cele-brate GW’s Founder’s Day. Founder’s Day marked the 191st anniversary of the founding of Colum-bian College. In 1821 DC Baptists, with more faith than financial resources, embarked upon a dream to establish a college in the nation’s capital. That college has grown into GW University, the largest university in the Washington area.

This spring about 35 GW students are “Justice for Junior Volunteers” who mentor and tutor detained juveniles at the juvenile jail, the Youth Services Center. Twice a week the Justice for Junior Volun-teers meet in the cell blocks or classrooms at the juvenile jail to read and discuss articles and then glean ethical lessons from the articles. The volunteers meet on Sundays to prepare and select articles from hip hop magazines, develop lesson

plans to engage the juveniles in critical thinking and reflect upon the previous week’s presenta-tions. Nineteenth Street’s Rev. Reginald and Mrs. Townsend along with Minister Cheryl Hall visit the GW campus monthly to meet these student volunteers and to accompany them on the juvenile jail visits.

Through the Justice for Junior Ministry, the Baptist Chaplaincy at GW is attracting students who are passionate about changing the world, making a difference one life at a time but who, nevertheless, had only read “living epistles” and, in one case, had never read the Bible. Approximately 2,000 self-identified Christian GW students remain uncon-nected to local churches or campus ministries throughout their undergraduate life. The Found-er’s Day celebration marked a small beginning for Baptist Churches in DC. They began to visit GW for the purpose of ministry. It’s the first step.

Nineteenth Street celebrated Jubilee Day on February 26 with the sounds of drummers, a beautifully draped sanctuary, and a reception featuring exotic African dishes and unusual wares sold by local vendors, coordinated by Lee Hairston. The sanctuary dressings were provided by Mr. Rufus Tief-ing Stevenson, curator of Jah Kente International, Inc., who has brought a portion of Africa to Nineteenth Street for the past fifteen years. This year’s theme was “Voices of Africa from Pre-Biblical Times to the Present.” The hanging fabrics included textiles woven in the Arab Republic of Egypt, representing pre-biblical times, to fabrics woven in the Republic of Mali, West Africa representing the 21st Century African Union (AU).

S A V E T H E D A T E !

Monday, June 25, 2012

16th ANNUAL JOHN H. BRINKLEY

MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENTEnterprise Golf Course2802 Enterprise Road Mitchellville, MD 20721

This tournament continues to celebrate Bro. Brinkley’s years of dedicated service. It also supports various church ministries including our church school, youth ministry

and homeless ministry.

Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

4 March 2012 The Epistle

Annual Ushers Day Celebrates Church DoorkeepersBy Deacon Larry Holland

On January 8, 2012, the Usher Board of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church celebrated their 42nd Annual Ushers Day, a celebration of the doorkeepers of the church as they rededicated themselves to service. Howard Smith stepped up for the second year to guide the event. The much anticipated Usher’s March, choreographed by the “master of march” John Jackson, was again a crowd pleaser and one of the highlights of the day.

Sisters Yvonne Gowdy and Debora Lewis and Brother Robert McNair received awards this year for their distinguished service to the Usher Board and the church.

Ushers serve as doorkeepers and representatives of the church. They ensure that all who enter the house of God are greeted warmly and treated with kindness, tact, and courtesy. The ushers are also responsible for ensuring that perfect order is kept in and around the church at all times during worship services. The Usher Board’s mission is to make everyone’s visit a blessed and pleasant expe-rience.

Interested in becoming a junior or senior usher? Contact John Jackson, 2012 President of the Usher Board.

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Buildings & Blessings Campaign Benefit ConcertA Resounding Success and Taps into New Church Energy

By Donza M. Poole and Virginia Lee, Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign Committee

January 28, 2012, surely will go down in the record books. Not since President Obama and the First Family worshipped with us three years ago have so many people been at Nineteenth Street. But this time, we weren’t making history with the nation’s first African-American president. This time, we were making our own history with a concert, the likes of which the church has not seen in decades, if ever. Even if you weren’t at church that evening, you’ve probably heard NSBC was filled to capacity for the benefit concert featuring David Griffiths and the Praise

and Worship Experience. You’ve also probably heard that the concert exceeded nearly every-one’s expectations. Sponsored by the Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign, under the leadership of Trustee Charles E. Hall, the benefit concert was the first major special event produced in support of the church’s two-year capital campaign. By all accounts, it was a resounding success.

But it wasn’t just the sheer number of tickets sold that made this event a success. There was an unmistakable spirit of change in the air when the doors to the sanctuary opened

on January 28. As attendees approached their seats, a cele-bratory feeling engulfed the 800-seat sanctuary. Under the direction of our Minister of Music David Griffiths, the sound of music rang from the rafters and the blessings flowed. The strength and clarity of the soloists, the swell of the over 50-voice mass choir, the sounds of the keyboards, drums and rhythm section, as well as the unexpected sounds of strings and horns from the orches-tral ensemble, the lighting and staging—it was all truly awe-inspiring. You could have been

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at the Kennedy Center or The Music Center at Strathmore!

“Not only was it a blessing to everyone who attended and participated, but it was also a great example of how the church can come together and commu-nicate its plan to the commu-nity,” said a church member who had never seen the church filled to capacity since joining Nineteenth Street nine years ago. “In the past, we weren’t as successful at getting the word out … this communication plan was awesome.”

A collaborative experienceMany parts came together to make the concert a success. We are blessed as a church to have a multi-talented minister of music in David Griffiths that allowed us to present a concert of this magnitude. An accom-plished musician, composer and baritone, the concert marked the release of volume one of Brother Griffiths’ songbook of original compositions. Griffiths said many great musicians have influenced him and he wanted to honor these greats with the praise and worship concert.

Brother Griffiths presented a repertoire of songs that featured classical arrange-ments, contemporary gospel and the Negro spiritual, inter-spersed with hints of jazz, a little hip hop, and a tribute to his father’s Cuban roots. His arrangement of Andrae Crouch’s “My Tribute” and his original composition “Holy The Lord,” dedicated to Richard Smallwood, pay homage to these gifted musicians. A family affair, Griffiths was joined on stage by his wife, the incom-parable soloist and Instru-ments of Praise (IOP) choir director, Monique Griffiths, who brought the house down with Griffiths’ arrangement of “My Tribute.” He was also joined by their young son, David, Jr., who played the African djembe drum on Griffiths’ “I Trust in You.” Griffiths’ mother, Barbara Philpotts-Kerr, even sang in the BBCC Mass Choir. While Griffiths’ songs have been performed by a large choir before, including a 100-voice community choir at the Kennedy Center, he said the BBCC’s January 28 benefit concert

marked the first time his compositions have been performed with a mass choir, band, and orchestra together.

Part of what made the January 28 concert expe-rience so special was the collaborative effort it represented. Special guest artist Duawne Starling, an accomplished classically trained vocalist, shared the stage with Griffiths. Other music profes-sionals from several area churches and colleges

also performed. They included Patrick McCoy, Minister of Music at Takoma Park Baptist Church, who served as a choir director, and Glenn Caldwell, professor of music at McDaniel College and Richard Odom, Associate Minister of Music at Reid Temple A.M.E., who took turns conducting. Odom, who is also on the music faculty at the University of the District of Columbia, was a featured soloist at the concert. Edmond Charles, NSBC’s accomplished organist, also took a turn at the conductor’s podium, raising the baton to conduct the orchestral ensemble for Brother Griffiths’ original composition, “In Your Name,” a selection Charles also scored for the ensemble.

There were also unexpected Nineteenth Street family connec-tions. The orchestral ensemble included trombone player, Dupor Georges, son of NSBC member Verlena Gilliam. Sister Gilliam, who also sang in the BBCC Mass Choir, is a member

Featured soloist Duawne Starling

Soloist Deaconess Kathryn Brooks

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of the Senior and Gospel choirs. Another family connec-tion was featured soloist Dana Holness, who performed with Brother Griffiths on “Where You Are.” She’s the niece of Rev. Dr. Talbert O. Shaw, a former assistant under Rev. Dr. Jerry Moore, Jr. Other participants included Larry Holland who, with the assistance of Ronald Williams, provided the sound and lighting engineering exper-tise. Marcellus Crews performed with the RefleXions acappella group that evening and also served as stage manager for the concert, assisted by Deacon Cheryl Hall and Cecelia Johnson.

The BBCC Mass Choir was comprised of members from Nineteenth Street’s adult choirs as well as members of other area church choirs. The diverse group included Dr. Lester Green, Minister of Music at Metropol-itan A.M.E., and Nineteenth Street’s own Deaconess Kathryn

Brooks, whose performance of the Negro spiritual “Deep River” was met with thun-derous applause and a standing ovation. The choir included other talented singers who have sung with Brother Griffiths

before and people new to Nine-teenth Street who responded to Griffiths’ eblast and newspaper ads calling for singers for the BBCC Mass Choir. They came from near and far to participate, including a woman who traveled from Annapolis for rehearsals and the concert.

Like so much else with this concert, it wasn’t just about the music. The concert brought people of different cultures and denominations together. And Griffiths encouraged members of the multi-cultural group to get to know each other on a personal level, taking time out during several rehearsals to engage the choir in icebreakers, ensuring members extended their circle beyond the people they already knew. He even invited the choir to join with him and the Praise and Worship Experience at an unplugged recording of the instructional DVD for the songbook, adding yet another

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The Praise and Worship Experience Ensemble

Minister of Music Griffith with featured soloist Dana Holness

8 March 2012 The Epistle

dimension to the mass choir experience. That session took place at a professional recording studio in Kensington, Maryland.

But Griffiths said his greatest joy came after the concert, when he received a message from a BBCC Mass Choir member, someone who had sung at many such events, telling him that this particular concert experience,

“made me want to get closer to God.” Others have expressed similar sentiments to Griffiths. That was the goal, said Griffiths. He said you always want excel-lence on the performance side.

“But at the end of the day, the concert was a spiritual event to draw people to Christ,” said Griffiths.

The making of a sell-outRecognition for the concert’s box office success is due to the support of the church’s ministries and auxiliaries. Ann Saunders, BBCC Special Events Subcommittee Chair, invited auxiliaries to help with ticket sales. They were a key reason

the concert was a

sold-out performance. Auxiliary members also gladly answered the BBCC’s call to take the lead on other tasks, including ushering, security, and hospi-tality. Their energy and commit-ment to the concert’s success reminded Nineteenth Street of just how much we can accom-plish as a church when we work together. “The experience itself was worth more than the money made,” said one longtime church member, “not just for those who came, but also for those who participated.”

Deaconess Brenda Lightening-Tolbert, BBCC Marketing and Communications Subcommittee Chair, oversaw the promotion of the concert and helped plan and coordinate concert-day logis-tics, making for smooth opera-tions that day. Many people, too numerous to name here, contrib-uted to the overall success of the concert and the execution of the concert vision. When inter-viewed for this article, Brother Griffiths wanted to express his gratitude saying, “Thank you to all the people who worked

tirelessly to bring this event together.”

If you missed the concert or want to relive the experience, you can see it on DVD. Concert DVDs and CDs are being pre-ordered and will be available in the coming weeks. In addition, Brother Griffiths’ songbook is available for sale.

Members of the Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign Committee. Trustee Charles Hall, inset, is the Chair of the Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign.

Amanda Collins played the beautiful French Horn.

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Youth Church

Church School Ski Trip

Lenten volunteers Louis Ford, Deacon Gerald Young, Richard Jones, Deacon Lucius Morris and Marion Gale

Servers Gwen Harris- Gale, Deaconess Bertha Lewis and Deborah Heard

Deaconess Cathy Nunn and family

Rev. Jerry Cheatham, Rev. Reginald Townsend and Rev. James Crosson

Chefs Deaconess Irish Stovall and Thurmon Stovall

Volunteers at a Lenten LunchPhotos by Gloria Tisdale

2011 Annual Family DinnerPhotos by Gloria Tisdale

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Welcome New MembersDecember 2011 – March 2012

John BrownMargaret Brown

James Edward ColesRobert J. Hines

Eric Keith Jackson, Jr.Jadyn Wilenski

Michael D. Woodard

Recycling Made EasyBy Shirley France

You might be asking yourself the same question I did a year ago: Why spend time to recycle? Well, after teaching a unit on recycling as a substitute teacher, I finally gave in. I needed to practice what I was teaching. And what I found out was that it really did not require a lot of “extra” time to do it.

Why is recycling a good thing to do? Recycling is good because it saves our environment and keeps our landfills from becoming overcrowded. It also saves money because items made from recycled material can be less expensive when they re-make another one. It is also good because we can extend the useful life of things long after we are done with them.

Recycling paper, plastic, glass and metal cans is easier now with the co-mingling of items in containers. Different paper products can be put in the same container; and plastic, glass and metal containers can be put in the same container. The recycling centers are set up to separate these items so you don’t have to.

Recycle your old cloths, furnishings, appliances. There is a website called Freecycle.org. It’s a grass-roots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. It’s really great. After cleaning out my attic, basement and garage, I had a lot of things that were still usable but I didn’t need them anymore. I heard about this website, offered all the things that I needed moved out and within three days, all of the items had been picked up. My job was done.

With today’s economy, here’s an eco-friendly way to receive or donate needed furnishings, appli-ances and clothing directly to persons who want to give them a new and purposeful use. (Note that items acquired on this network can not be sold.)

So recycling is now as easy as 1) a trash can for general trash; 2) a can for plastics, glass and metals; and 3) a container for paper products. I couldn’t believe how easy the process was and how many less trash bags I was setting out each week. Join me and help reduce the overcrowding of the landfills.

Congratuations…to Church Officers elected at the January 20, 2012 Business Meeting:

Trustee Allen BlountTrustee Thomas Montague

Trustee Carlton TerryTrustee Yettekov Wilson

Church School Superintendent Margie ThomasChurch Clerk Sageta Jackson

Assistant Church Clerk Sharon MillerTreasurer Janet Hinton

Disbursing Officer Mildeen Worrell

…to Health Ministry Member Evelyn Sellers who was featured as a volunteer with the Senior Medicare Patrol in USA TODAY on September 20, 2011. Senior Medicare Patrol programs (SMPs) help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries prevent, detect and report health care fraud. They protect older persons and also help preserve the integ-rity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Mrs. Sellers has been an active Senior Medicare Patrol volunteer and advocate in the District of Columbia.

…to Lauren Harkins, daughter of Rev. Derrick and Juli Harkins, on starring in the National Cathe-dral School’s production of “Anything Goes” over the February 24 and March 2 weekends. Lauren displayed her many talents playing the lead char-acter role of Reno Sweeney.

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THE EPISTLEis an official publication of the

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church.

Phone: 202-829-2773Fax: 202-291-6877

Email: office@nsbcdc.orgWebsite: www.everyblessing.org

PastorReverend Dr. Derrick Harkins

EditorKaren E. Williamson

Assistant EditorReverend Dr. I. Benni Singleton

Epistle StaffSharon Anderson

Deacon Cheryl Coleman HallGwen Harris-Gale

Deaconess Sageta JacksonCecelia Johnson

Deborah Crain KempVirginia Lee

Deacon Fred Leftrict Jaleya Leonard

Lillian Secundy LynchRosemary Massey

Odessa PhillipsDonza Poole Gloria Spann

Deaconess Gloria Tisdale Deaconess Brenda L. Tolbert

The Epistle is seeking new volunteers to help with writing, editing, photography, and distribution. If you are interested in helping with The Epistle, contact Karen Williamson at Epistle@kew-consulting.net.

Sponsors & AdvertisementsThe Epistle is seeking sponsors who are willing to make a donation to support the newsletter and/or advertisers who wish to promote their businesses or services to the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church family. Reasonable rates.

Full Page $ 200 Half Page $100 Quarter Page $ 50 Business Card $ 30

The next issue of The Epistle will be published in July 2012.

Please submit articles, announcements and photographs at anytime to the

Church Office or email to Epistle@kew-consulting.net.

For more information, contact Karen Williamson at 202-829-5973.

A color version of this issue of The Epistle is available on the church website.

Visit www.everyblessing.org today!

Church Business MeetingFriday, April 207:00 PM

“Music Man”Arena Stage Fichandler TheaterFriday, May 118:00 PMSponsored by the Progressive Adults to benefit the Love Pal Program

5th Annual Fancy Hat TeaSaturday, May 192:00 PMSponsored by the Usher Board

Church School Promotions ProgramSunday, June 38:30 AM

Father’s Day LuncheonSaturday, June 1611:30 AM-2:00 PM

“Real Men Love to Cook”Sunday, June 17NoonSponsored by the Men’s Ministry

BBCC Concert Featuring Michael Bowie, Fredrico Pena, Marshall Keys and Tami HayesSaturday, June 23, 7:00 PM

Vacation Bible SchoolMonday–Friday, June 25–July 69:00 AM-12:30 PM

Church Annual Community Block Party Saturday, July 1410:00 AM-5:00 PM

Church Business MeetingFriday, July 207:00 PM

The Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign Needs You!Nearly $166,000 has been raised for the Buildings and Blessings Capital Campaign through February, including over $10,000 cleared by the BBCC Concert. We’re on our way toward our goal of $650,000 but only 36 percent of the congrega-tion has pledged or contributed to the campaign thus far. Let’s face it, that figure is far short of the 100% goal that we would like to see. We know we can do better.

One of the projects to benefit from the BBCC is the repair of the Jones

Handy House at 1604 Crittenden Street NW. This once beautiful house was a generous gift to the church by Gladys Jones Handy. Unfor-tunately its current dilapidated condition prevents it from being used. The cost of restoring the house to good condition has been estimated at $100,000. After it is repaired, the Trustee Board will determine the best future use of this church asset.

Over a month after the benefit concert and enthusiasm has barely waned. People are still talking about how amazing and spiritually uplifting it was. And that’s a good thing. We need this sustained level of energy and enthusiasm to achieve our goals of $650,000 and 100% participation by June 2013. The benefit concert showed us that, together, we can achieve great things at Nineteenth Street. Please make your contribu-tion today.

$166,000

$650,000

S P R I N G C a l e N da R

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