Clothed For The New Year

Contributed by Ed Wood

Ephesians 6:10-17INTRO: Many of us got some

new clothes for Christmas. We will begin the New Year well dressed. But what about our spiritual dress? How well dressed are we in this vital area as we begin the new year? Paul said “Put on the full armor of God...” Clothe yourself with strength. Put on means envelope in, hide in. The main idea is that we need every piece of armor. Do not leave off a single piece.

I. THE BELT OF TRUTH. The first in the list of articles for

the soldier is the girdle. He might be furnished with every other article, yet lacking this, the other articles would not be firmly

attached. The belt was not for adornment—it secured everything.

Paul said that truth is the element in the Christian life that holds everything together.

The Hebrew word for truth is spelled with three letters: אמת They are the first, the middle, and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The truth of God is thus the beginning, the middle, and the end of life.

II. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

It was worn over the heart to protect against disabling wounds—made of leather and covered with copper or tin. Paul said a righteous life will protect from the fiery darts of Satan.

III. THE SANDALS OF READINESS.

The sandals were hob-nailed shoes to provide for solid footing in

battle. The soldier was prepared for hand to hand combat.

Preparedness, a mental alertness which will enable us at any moment to serve the Lord is necessary for an effective Christian life.

As the deliverance of the Hebrew children from Egypt drew near, God gave them instructions to eat with their clothes onto go. They were not to delay their obedience to God while they got things together for the trip. (Exodus 12:11).

IV. THE SHIELD OF FAITH. The shield was used to block

the arrows of the enemy. The arrows were set afire.

When Satan sends his most deadly weapons toward us, we can ward them off with faith.

There are two kinds of faith.

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The Grace Beacon Vol. MMXIX Issue 1 - January 2019

Published by Grace Baptist Church of Germantown 25 West Johnson Street Philadelphia, PA 19144

Rev. Dr. James H. Buck, Jr., Senior Pastor Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, Chair, Diaconate

“A Community of Baptized Believers Committed to the Faithfulness of God, Building Families of Fellowship in the Spirit of God, and Blessings the Fallen

Through the Forgiveness of God”

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” Isaiah 43:19

IF—if all goes well, if life is hopeful, prosperous and happy, then I will believe in, and trust God. THOUGH—though the forces of evil triumph, though everything goes wrong and Gethsemane comes and the cross looms, nevertheless, I will believe in, and trust God.

V. THE HELMET OF SALVATION.

The soldier complained about the weight of the armor, and sometimes left the Helmut off. This caused him to be vulnerable to attacks.

God’s continuing work of salvation in our lives is like a Helmut to protect us.

VI. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

The only offensive weapon. Our sword is the Word of God. It is second to none. Warren Wiersbe gives a threefold suggestion on using it. 1.Appreciate it. 2. Appropriate it. 3. Apply it.

CONC: John Bisagno points out that “faith is the heart of life. You go to a doctor whose name you cannot pronounce. He gives you a prescription you cannot read. You take it to a pharmacist you have never seen. He gives you medicine you do not understand and you take it. All in trusting, sincere faith.” Why not use that same faith with

God this coming year? Happy New Year!!!!!!! Happy New Year!!!!!!! Happy New

Year!!!!!!!!

I pray that you have entered into this new year looking forward to what God has planned for your life. It is my esteem pleasure to welcome us all into a dimension of praise and purpose in the year of our Lord, that we have never seen nor experienced before. God is such an awesome God and the works of His Mercy and Grace have enveloped us through the year of 2018.

My family and I are extremely grateful for the many cards and gifts that you extended to us during this holiday season. Some of you even extended this grace to my Dad in Mississippi. He was so overjoyed to have received gifts and phone calls from some of you who just wanted to hear his voice. He was equally grateful because he also heard some of your voices. Thank you all so much fo r you r warm and encouraging words and calls.

We have certainly been through some things in the past two years, however, we are not here to dwell on the past. We now stand in the presence of God to receive what God has for us. During these next few weeks I will be isolating myself into a place of quietness to listen to what the Spirit is saying. God is using the Mission Possible Plan of Growth to build God’s own church. I count it a privilege that God uses us and will continue to add to the body of Christ and to the construction of His Kingdom Building. We have done several teachings on Membership and Stewardship and we are not done yet. I invite you to attend the meetings on teachings of Jesus Christ so that we can all be on one accord. It will be totally difficult to follow where the Lord is leading if we are not committed to studying the

Word and following of our Pastor and Leadership. For the scriptures declare “Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the hearts of men the things God has prepared for those who love him”.

I pause for a moment to remember our saints who have transitioned from labor to reward…We have certainly been touched by the work and the will of these saints.

It is our spirit to live in the fact that all of God’s people are important and that they are a part of the body of Christ. Everybody is somebody at the Grace Church and we plan to continue this kind of fellowship for years to come.

Yes, we are in transition and it w i l l r equ i r e commi tmen t , compassion and Christ-willed attitudes for us to accomplish what God has prepared for us. So in this new season that the Lord Christ has planned for us, let us do more praying and less complaining. Let us be more committed rather than complacent. Let us be united in the spirit of unity that God may use us all. May the Lord bless you and keep you all is my fervent prayer. Let the celebration begin.

Rev. J. Henry Buck, Jr.

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Reverend Dr. James H. Buck, Jr.,

Senior Pastor

On Thursday, December 20th, volunteers from the American Baptist Women of Grace Ministry put on their aprons and sneakers and served Christmas Dinner to over a hundred and twenty-five teenagers at the Covenant House on East Armat Street. This dinner is provided by the Covenant House for all of their clients who are most often homeless, neglected in some other form or teenagers rescued from the horrible human trafficking problem we are facing today. The volunteers of ABWOG have been faithful for over five years in donating their time to

wrap gifts, donate the baby clothing the members of Grace donate for the teen mothers that come through the program at Convenant House during the year. The American Baptist Women of Grace also donated $200 in gift cards to be used by the teen mothers.

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GRACE’S HOLIDAY OUTREACH …ABWOG

…NORMAN J. McCOWN

MINISTRY TO THE HOMELESS

On Sunday, December 30th, members of the Norman J. McCown Minis t ry to the H o m e l e s s s h o w e d t h e congregation the results of their labor and the congregation’s generosity. The mats were dedicated at the 10:15 a.m. service. The plastic bags which were donated were made into hand crocheted sleeping mats. The 3x5 woven mats helped protect the recipients from the e l e m e n t s s i n c e m a n y underserved residents chose not to go into area shelters and opt to stay on the streets.

The ministry extends its thanks to the congregation for their assistance with their project. What a great way to start the

New Year, Grace! Let us continue to reach out to those who need our help. The Ministry to the Homeless always has room for more hands to help in their outreach.

“What did he say?” “I didn’t really hear that.” Are these comments that you have or have

heard as you sit in the Sanctuary at Grace on Sunday morning? Even though our sound system is constantly being worked on, there are several “dead spots” in certain areas…and there’s always the hearing problems that come as we human beings grow older!

The Paige Family grew aware of the problems that several people were experiencing and donated $3,652.00 to install a new hearing and assistance system at Grace.

We look forward to its installation and dedication to better serve those for whom hearing the service has become a problem.

Thank you, Paige Family!

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Beacon Staff Managing Editor Sandi Johnson

Associate Editor Karol Mason

Computer Specialist William L. Lucas

Advertising Debra L. S. Wake

Circulation Manager Cheryl Johnson

Reporters Doris Collins-Terrell

Jeanine Watson Staffers

Marcia Bass Courtney Carter

Priscilla E. Custis Leedrester Jackson

Jackie Johnson Grace McCollum Lavida Royster Ellen Williams

Jonathan H. Williams

The Paige Family Wants Everyone To Hear What’s Going

On!

Left to right: Kathy Paige, Mrs. Nannie Paige, Okella Paige Trice, Deacon Clifford Stanley

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

Kwanzaa Celebration at Grace Nia Purpose

The djembe and the shakara sounded an inviting beat as Grace members, members of the Educa to r s t o Af r i ca , and m e m b e r s o f t h e l a r g e r community gathered to celebrate Nia (Purpose) the fifth night of Kwanzaa. The social hall was transformed by colorful African prints on the walls and the tables. Inez Henry was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Warren Cooper, Host of Ovations, on WRTI, was the Master of Ceremonies.

Inez Henry chaired the event. Sharida Gillison was Co-Chair.

The event was a joint effort of the African American Heritage Ministry and the Educators to A f r i c a , a n i n d e p e n d e n t organization chaired by Dr. Oscar Hankinson.

The program featured the Kwanzaa ritual: the Call to Teach, Learn and Share; the Candle Lighting and Principle Reflections and the Community Cup.

O u r P a s t o r Rev. Dr. James H. Buck flipped the script and instead of Kwanzaa from C h r i s t i a n Perspective gave a t h o u g h t p r o v o k i n g r e f l e c t i o n o n Christianity from a K w a n z a a perspective.

Warren Cooper remarked on Kwanzaa’s past in a poetic

manner.

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B r o t h e r Nashid Ali was our Drummer f o r t h e afternoon.

T h e Celestial Choir performed an African song.

T h e a u d i e n c e participated as Eloise Jones l e d a n i n n o v a t i v e m u s i c a l n u m b e r s h e created entitled “Jambo”.

B r e n d a N o r m a n organized and l e d a c r a f t corner, which kept children focused and busy.

Ted Erwin led the entire audience in the t r a d i t i o n a l H a r a m b e e cheer which means “We all pull together” in Swahili.)

G u e s t p e r f o r m e r s i n c l u d e d spoken word artist Suhiba Neill; dancers from the Beautifully Educated African Unified Dance Ensemble o f the Harambee Char t e r School,with founder and teacher Fante Mishindi.

Our sincere thanks to all who participated.

Marlene G. Patterson, Chair, African American Heritage Ministry

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Spiritual Armor “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm119:105

“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah

40:31

H a p p y N e w Y e a r !

2019, Wow!!! Where has the time gone? Was it just 19 years ago that we were looking forward to a new century? Where has the time gone? Here’s something to think about. If you could hold the “hands of time” and make it stand still, would you?

I was looking at a pictorial directory from the early 2000’s… I think it was 2003, and as I looked at old familiar faces, I thought about the difference between fleeting time and fleeting saints of God. At least we know where they have gone…all 118 of them!

So much for looking at the past. It’s time to look forward, with expectation! 2019 is going to be a great year for Grace. I just feel it in my heart. God’s about to do a new thing with us. Are we ready?

As I pulled that old directory from my bookcase, another book fell out. (I admit it. My bookcase is stuffed to overflow.) The title is so intriguing that I’m passing it along. The book is by Todd Phillips and it’s called Get Uncomfortable. I think it might have been one of our Church-Wide Study books. If so, revisiting it might be timely in 2019. The subtitle is Serve the Poor. Stop Injustice. Change the World…In Jesus Name. The major question on the back book cover and some of the following commentary gave me pause. “If Jesus walked the earth today, where would you find Him?” “In

a church culture of big buildings and bigger budgets, perhaps Jesus would more likely be found among the poor and suffering than in a worship service. Unfortunately, the modern church has farmed out the call of Christ to change the social condition of the world to non-prof i t s , governments , and Hollywood.…Todd Phillips urges followers of Jesus to reclaim their mission as God’s arm in the world. Through an examination of the character of God, the real state of the world and the historical Christian response to suffering, Phillips will challenge you to re-read Scripture with a fresh perspective and to take active steps toward making a significant difference in the world. Get Uncomfortable provides the bibl ical l ink between evangelism and social action and puts into clear perspective the call of Christ toward both. There is more to Christianity than going to church…”

This book is on my re-reading list for January. I am hoping that I can order the accompanying audio program to take full advantage. And I think I may share this in a Board of Christian Education workshop this year.

We often end our Grace with the words “Lord, bless this food to our bodies and us to your service, in Jesus name.” Are we truly fit and ready for service? Do you see some place you can serve this year, though you haven’t in the past? Reach out and get involved. Is the ministry you want to be involved in not

present at Grace? Start it! Just sitting in the pews comfortably won’t do it! We may have to “Get Uncomfortable.” God is about to do a new thing with us.

We wish you all a very happy, spiritual 2019!

Peace, SJ

“Bible Prophecy:Future Events”

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; Declaring the end from the b e g i n n i n g , A n d f r o m ancient times things which have not been done, Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass …” Isaiah 46:9-11 (NASB) As this new year of 2019 begins, we go back to God’s Word. To Bible prophecy specifically as we study the Scriptures to know what lies ahead. The chaos and tu rmoi l unde r t he Trump Presidency notwithstanding, people are wondering what the future holds, not only in America but worldwide. Well, the Bible has much to say about the future and the Lord Jesus Himself gives answers to similar questions in His longest recorded message about the end of the age, the Olivet Discourse (Matthew Chapter 24). Jesus spoke of future events and the end times in

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From the Pen Of The Editor

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response to the disciples’ questions shortly after they had walked through the magnificent Temple complex in Jerusalem. Calling His attention to the beautiful buildings of the compound, the largest and greatest of the ancient world, the disciples were shocked at Jesus’ comment when He said: “Verily I say unto you, here shall not be left one stone upon another, that s h a l l n o t b e t o r n down” (Matthew 24:2). The disciples then followed Him out of the Temple complex, across the Kidron Valley and onto the slopes of the Mount of Olives. It w a s t h e r e o n t h e M o u n t overlooking Jerusalem that Jesus answered the questions they asked: “When will these things be?” What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” (vs. 3). Jesus spoke of conditions and events that would lead up to His second coming; of what to expect in the future. God’s Prophetic Timeline Today, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ also needs to know God’s purposes and plans for the future. The study of Bible prophecy tells us just that. It also confirms the authority of God’s Word and gives Christians the assurance and comfort that God is in complete control of the world. Bible prophecy lets us know God has a master plan for mankind and that blueprint is laid out in the Scriptures. It is a prophetic timeline which reveals the entire course of human history from beginning to end. From the time sin entered the human race through to the birth of Christ, many Old Testament

prophesies were fulfilled with 100% accuracy. In the New Testament Age, the prophecies of C h r i s t ’ s C r u c i f i x i o n , Resurrection, and Ascension were also fulfilled with 100% accuracy, as well as those concerning the beginning of the Church Age at Pentecost with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the destruction of Jerusalem, up to the return of the Jewish people to Israel in recent history. All of those prophecies have come to fulfillment as predicted and it’s important to understand that all of them were predicted long before the events actually occurred. Not long before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, He delivered that major prophecy of end-time events recorded in Matthew 24 (also found in Mark 13 and Luke 21) which reveals that the end of the age will be marked by a series of spectacular events. Thus, it is within that context that this commentary will focus briefly on specific events prophesied to occur in the future according to God’s Word. The Church Age Fifty days after the crucifixion of Christ, the Dispensation of Grace (this present ‘Church Age’) began at Pentecost (Acts- Chapter 2) with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 believers at Jerusalem. It was that small assembly who awaited the promise that they would be filled with the Holy Ghost, equipping them with spiritual power to accomplish the ‘Great Commission’ of witnessing to the ends of the earth. This was the birth of the Christian Church, known also as the Apostolic

Period, which chronicles the history of the early Church ‘fathers’ who were so-named for the i r l earn ing , p ie ty, and orthodoxy. Immediate disciples of the apostles who lived at the end of the first and beginning of the second centuries, their teachings and writings gave them special importance as early w i t n e s s e s w h o c o n t i n u e d steadfastly in the doctrine and fellowship of the apostles. By the third century, however, erroneous interpretation of Scripture saw the influence of apostasy creep into the church coupled with the unholy union of Church and State under the Roman Emperor Constantine. Thus, the church in those early centuries was at its lowest ebb as ecclesiastical tradition and corruption brought further decline, a period appropriately known as the ‘Dark Ages.’ The turning point came with the Reformation of the 16th Century, a time of spiritual revival and the b e g i n n i n g o f t h e g r e a t evangelical movement. An Overview of Future Events This current era in history known as the Church Age (also called the Dispensation of Grace) will culminate with the ‘Rapture of t h e C h u r c h ’ w h e n C h r i s t descends from Heaven, “For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we (believers) who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the

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clouds to meet the Lord in the air, …” (I Thess. 4:16-17). Once the ‘Bride of Christ’ (the Church) is removed from the earth, that m a l e v o l e n t p e r s o n a g e i n Scripture called the Antichrist will take center stage ushering in a seven-year period known as the ‘Tribulation.’ (II Thess. 2:4). The first three and one-half years begin with the signing of a covenant with the Jewish people, who believe he is their long-awaited Messiah. Although an act of great deception on the part of Antichrist, the Covenant guarantees protection to Israel and allows for rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and re-establishment of Jewish worship. After three and one-half years, however, the Antichrist will break the covenant which begins the period known as ‘the Great Tribulation’ (Matt. 24:21). It will be a horrific time, unlike anything the world has ever known as those ‘left behind’ after the Rapture will experience indescr ibable tyranny and lawlessness under the diabolical rule of the Antichrist. For the Jews, in particular, it will be a t i m e o f u n p r e c e d e n t e d persecution known as ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble’ (Jeremiah 30:7) as the Antichrist indwelled and empowered by Satan sets himself up in the Temple and demands that all the world worship him. Then, in Ezekiel (chapters 38 & 39) we see a vivid description of a coalition of nations (led by a great northern power believed to be Russia) who come against Israel in an act of defiance but also one of fu t i l i ty because of God’s

intervention on Israel’s behalf. This horrendous period will come to an end when God allows the deceptive influence of A n t i c h r i s t t o g a t h e r a confederation of nations to a place of judgment, the Valley of Jezreel, “to the battle of that great day of God Almighty …. Armageddon!” (Revelat ion 16:14, 16; 19:17-21). It is there that Antichrist will command the “kings of the earth and their armies” to make war against Israel’s God! And it is there at His Second Coming that Christ i n r i g h t e o u s r e t r i b u t i o n annih i la tes the a rmies o f Antichrist and cast him and the False Prophet into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20). Satan is then bound for a thousand years as Christ’s reign of the Millennial Kingdom begins, a thousand-year period of universal peace and righteousness. During this time, Israel (the Jewish people) will be restored and converted to her long-rejected Messiah as they finally realize that He is “the O n e w h o m t h e y pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). Matthew 25:31-46 teaches that it is during this time also that the Gentile nations of the world will be judged on the basis of their treatment of Israel and those n a t i o n s w h o s u r v i v e t h e judgment will be blessed with entrance into the Millennial Kingdom. The Millennial Kingdom L a s t l y, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Scriptures, once the reign of Christ is underway in the Millennial Kingdom, the Earth will be restored to its Edenic beauty, the swords of the nations

shall be beaten into plowshares and there shall be war no more. At the end of the thousand years, Satan, by God’s permissive will, is loosed and enjoins those who profess Christ (but have rejected Him in their hearts) to wage one final rebellion to overthrow Christ as he and his minions gather around the ci ty of Jerusalem in an attempt to take it by force. Immediately, God brings the revolt to an end with “fire from heaven” (Rev. 20:9). Satan’s armies are destroyed and he is sent to everlasting doom in the Lake of Fire. Then comes the final judgment of God, the Great White Throne Judgment, when the “lost” (unsaved) of all time s t a n d b e f o r e G o d ( R e v. 20:11-15). This is the company of unbelievers whose names were not found written in the Book of L i f e a n d w h o s e e t e r n a l punishment is also the Lake of Fire. Finally, as the Book of Revelation concludes, we see the spectacular dest iny of a l l b e l i e v e r s … i n t h e N e w Jerusalem, where they will reign and rule with God Himself in the presence of the Lamb! And, as promised, God’s plan “to make all things new” will then be f u l f i l l e d ( R e v. 2 1 : 1 - 5 ) . Doris Collins-Terrell H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !

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Yearly Income 2% 5% 10%

$10.000.00 $200.00 $500.00 $1,000.00

$15,000.00 $300.00 $750.00 $1,500.00

$20,000.00 $400.00 $1,000.00 $2,000.00

$25,000.00 $500.00 $1,250.00 $2,500.00

$30,000.00 $600.00 $1,500.00 $3,000.00

$40,000.00 $800.00 $2,000.00 $4,000.00

$50,000.00 $1,000.00 $2,500.00 $5,000.00

$60,000.00 $1,200.00 $3,000.00 $6,000.00

$70,000.00 $1,400.00 $3,500.00 $7,000.00

$80,000.00 $1,600.00 $4,000.00 $8,000.00

$90,000.00 $1,800.00 $4,500.00 $9,000.00

$100,000.00 $2,000.00 $5,000.00 $10,000.00

$110,000.00 $2,200.00 $5,500.00 $11,000.00

$120,000.00 $2,400.00 $6,000.00 $12,000.00

$150,000.00 $3,000.00 $7,500.00 $15,000.00

$175,000.00 $3,500.00 $8,750.00 $17,500.00

$200,000.00 $4,000.00 $10,000.00 $20,000.00

Tithes & Offerings Worship the Lord in giving

A CHART TO ASSIST US WITH OUR FAITHFUL GIVING Holy Scripture commends a minimum tithe (10%) of our earnings

Where are you on your spiritual journey?

Annual Faithful Giving

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KIDS’ PAGEsMemory Verse

Psalm 119:105 ‒ “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Clipart Library http://clipart-library.com/winter-cliparts.htmlDj Inkers Winter Clipart

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http://clipart-library.com/winter-cliparts.html

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SPECIAL EVENTS IN JANUARY DATE DAY TIME EVENT 1 Tuesday New Year’s Day

6 Sunday 7:30 am Early MorningWorship

Epiphany Service

10:15 am Worship Service

11 Friday 1:00p.m. ABWOG Sew and Chat

12 Saturday 10:00 am Church Leaders Meeting

13 Sunday 7:30 am Early MorningWorship

Service/ Holy Communion

10:15 am Worship Service/Holy

Communion

20 Sunday 7:30 am Early Morning Worship

Service

10:15 am Worship Service

21 Monday Dr. Martin Luther King Day

22 Tuesday 7:00 pm Joint Board Meeting

26 Saturday 10:00 am Church Gathering

27 Sunday 7:30 am Early MorningWorship

Service

10:15 am Worship Service