Beacon of Light Volume 6, Issue 2
“I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Reminder: Sunday School Sunday Service 9:30 am 11:00 am Prayer
Service Every Thurs. Night – 6:30 p.m.
Contact Us 4912 Whitfield Chapel Rd. Lanham, MD 20706 (301)
577-0770
[email protected]
Pastor’s Corner Pg.1
Monthly Sermons Pg. 2
Birthdays & Anniver-
Rev. Mark D. Venson
“ A Journey with Christ to the Cross:” Part 1 I remember well the
day, a little over a year ago, I checked myself into the Bowie
Emergency Health Center. I am not a superstitious person, but
Friday, March 13, 2015 will always remain in memory as a very
difficult day. It was, as I recall, a beautiful spring-like day on
the outside. But, it was also the day I officially embarked on a
very demanding spiritual, emotional, and physical journey. On March
12
th , the previous day, I had already begun to prepare my-
self for the possibility of having to admit myself to a hospital
for dizzi- ness and a sudden loss of balance. These two symptoms,
that were so conspicuously evident on that Thursday, were preceded
by a headache and an unusual sense of fatigue on Wednesday.
Thinking these were, perhaps, early symptoms of the flu or possibly
the result of food poisoning, I hoped for the best-- thinking that
with time and a good night’s rest, these symptoms would soon
disappear.
Pastor’s Corner continued
April 30, 2016
Witness/Visitation Community Walk
However, when I found myself stumbling into the walls on my way up
the stairs that Thursday evening, I
knew I would have to take action if I did not wake up the next
morning feeling better.
The decision to admit myself became unmistakably clear when I woke
up the next day seeing double.
So I fixed myself a good breakfast, packed an overnight bag, and
then attempted to muster some extra
energy by laying back down for a mid-morning nap.
Once I arose later that morning, immediately after finishing off a
cup of coffee and a glass of cranberry juice, I totally lost my
ability to swallow. Little did I know then that these would be the
last food items I would swallow for the next 46 days.
When I arrived at the Bowie Emergency Health Center early Friday
afternoon, I knew immediately that the Holy Spirit had led me to
make the right choice. Amazingly, I was the only patient present at
that time and was able to get checked in without much waiting. All
of my vital signs were good, which was surprising to me given what
felt like a major attack on my sensory systems. I laughed when the
attend- ing physician, seeing me expectorate repeatedly into a tall
portable coffee mug I had brought with me from home, asked me why I
was “still chewing tobacco”. I explained that I had only hours
earlier, lost my
ability to swallow.
In addition to having the full attention of the medical personnel
that afternoon, I was doubly blessed in that they were able to
schedule me for my first MRI only minutes before the Diagnostic
Center closed for the weekend. When the first results came back and
began to reveal the true significance of my medical issues, I knew
then that even before this became a physical matter, this was first
a spiritual test.
Stay tuned for “A Journey with Christ to the Cross: Part II” in the
next edition of the newsletter
February Sermon Topics/Scriptures
Feb. 7th "Removing the Veil" 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:3; Exodus
34:29-35 Feb. 14th "The Blessings of Temptation" Luke 4:1-13 Feb.
21st "Do You Fully Trust God with
Your Life?" Genesis 15:1-12; 17-18
March Sermon Topics/ Scriptures March 6th Where is your pig pen?
Luke 15:1-3;16-32 March 13th Do you know what time it is? John
12:1-8 March 27th (Sunrise service) “I have
resurrection power” (Bro. Angelo Brown)
March 27th (Easter) “From darkness to
light “ John 20:1-18
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy
consolations
delight my soul." Psalm 94:19
Anxious thoughts can flood your mind so fast you feel like three
white river rapids are converging in your
head. The thoughts seem to compete with each other for top billing.
Before one is out the next is
screaming, "no, no, this is much more awful than that silly
thought. Now here's a worst case scenario for
you…"
Soon your muscles are tense, your blood pressure is rising, your
mouth is set in a grim line, and your
eyes are flashing about darkly. Whoa be to anyone who happens upon
you in this state, especially a
child who spills a glass of milk or a driver who hesitates as a
light turns green. Anxious thoughts; they
multiply faster than little bunnies.
God has an antidote for anxious thoughts. He wants to replace the
anxious thoughts with his consola-
tions which will delight your soul instead of terrorize it. The
first time this scripture really grabbed me I
was in a real stew and I could see that here God was offering a
solution to me but I couldn't quite grasp
what it was. What consolations was he talking about? I began to
think and pray about it and ask him to
reveal his consolations.
God's Word is his consolation for anxiety.
We can read any line of scripture and know it isn't just another
opinion but it is the absolute bottom line
truth. So when it says, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever
forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) we can take
that right to the bank. Or when we read, "I know the plans that I
have for you, declares the Lord, plans
for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope"
(Jeremiah 29:11) we can face an
uncertain future with real hope. And what about "Let not your heart
be troubled"? (John 14:1) We can
know it is possible to put away the troubles of the heart; we don't
have to accept a destiny of worry or
anxiety.
God's character is his consolation
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present and all-loving. What
does he lack? NOTHING. Who wouldn't
want to be best friends with him? Talk about an inside track.
Thinking about the bigness of God causes
us to see the smallness of our own troubles.
God's sacrifice is his consolation If we have any doubt about God's
love for us in light of whatever our current troubles are, we can
dispel
Bible Insights continued
that with thoughts about his incredible sacrifice on the cross in
order to secure the most abundant life for
us. "I came that they might have life, and might have it
abundantly." (John 10:10) Something that costly
must have purchased a mighty big prize. We are his prize. Anxious
thoughts should disintegrate as we
meditate on that nugget.
Knowing that God has an antidote for anxiety is the first step to
our soul's delight and knowing what some
of his consolations are is the second step. The third step is
ACTUALLY PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE. I
have that in caps because you need to shake yourself a little right
now and re-read that line. If you have
never tried to discipline your mind before you are in for a real
battle. It is a battle you can win. If anxious
thoughts have been riding roughshod over your mind for months or
years or a whole lifetime you will need
to build a new road. Imagine a one lane dirt highway with deep ruts
where a car has been traveling back
and forth for twenty years.
Now you are told to ride that road and not hit those ruts. You are
building new habits, developing new
thought patterns. You are saying "NO" to some thoughts which try to
enter your mind. You are placing a
permission gate at the entrance of your mind which rejects anxiety
and accepts God's consolations.
Don't ask God to take away the anxious thoughts or pray that you
won't have them anymore. YOU
control it. That is not to say that you should not call upon the
Lord to help you and to fill you with his pres-
ence which will dispel the darkness. Cry out to him and tell him of
all of your struggles and ask for his
strength which he will freely give. You are actually the one
though, who has final authority over what
thoughts you allow and disallow.
As the weeks and months go by, you will see progress on your new
road to stress and anxiety relief. I en-
courage you to keep trying. Fill your mind so full of truth and of
your relationship with the Lord that there is
not any room for anything else. Keep meditating on his consolations
and post a "Keep Out" sign for any-
thing else.
www.Bible insights.com
It is joy to answer the call as the editor of the Newsletter
Ministry. Becoming the “Beacon of Light’s” newest editor will
be an honor and most humbling experience. I am looking for-
ward to creating a newsletter that is inspirational, informative
and uplifting. I am excit-
ed to share my talents with this ministry. My ultimate goal is to
communicate truth for
God’s glory and to expand God’s glory by spreading the good news of
the gospel. This
newsletter is a tremendous forum to plant seeds of hope and
goodness for all of God’s
people. Together we can stimulate perspectives for all to grow. You
may notice that
some of the format has changed; such as the newsletter will be
published bi-monthly
instead of monthly; however, the reverent integrity established by
Victoria Jones will
be upheld as I take the role of the editor of the “Beacon of Light”
newsletter. God in-
spires us in many ways and uses many vehicles to connect us to His
kingdom. I was
once told that “faith makes things possible….not easy.” So in faith
and love we will
continue to make the “Beacon of Light” newsletter one of God’s
inspirational tools.
Thank you! Joyce R. Smith, Editor
Reminder:
[email protected] by the 9th of
each month.
I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I
REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING
SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY
WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND
THINK. READ SLOWLY!
AND THEN IT IS WINTER
You know ... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you
unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was
young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet
in a way,
it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I
know that I lived them all. I have glimps- es of how it was back
then and of all my hopes and dreams.
But, here it is... the back nine of my life and it catches me by
surprise...How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and I remember well seeing older people
through the years and thinking that those older people were years
away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back
nine was
so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it
would be like.
But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they
move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and
some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like
the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me,
their age is beginning to show and we are now
those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd
become.
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...let me remind you, that it
will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to
accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off
too long!! Life
goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target
for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's
mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall
asleep where I sit!
So, if you're not on the back nine yet...just wait! It will be here
faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in
your life do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes
by quickly. So,
do what you can today, nine or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your
life....so, live for today and say all the things that you want
your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and
love you for all
the things that you have done for them in all the years
past!!
"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to
those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY
TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY Re- member "It
is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
LIVE HAPPY IN 2016!
(Continue on next page)
~Going out is good. Coming home is better!
~You forget names.... But it's OK because some people forgot they
even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like
golf.
~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV 'ON' than in bed.
It's called "pre-sleep.”
~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and
"OFF" switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"...
???
~You notice everything they sell in stores is
"sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your
closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.
~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best
of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and
let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What
You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
Submitted by: Gloria Picket
THOUGHT PROVOKING CONTINUED
Daily Scriptures: Romans 8:28-31 And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. For those God fore- knew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 12:2 - And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV Submitted by Joyce
Smith
Congratulation!! Taylor Ware gradates on Saturday, May 7 th from
Penn State University. Her par-
ents along with her Ebenezer family are so proud of her. Taylor was
inducted into the National History
Honor Society of “Phi Alpha Theta”
Can you believe its been four years already?
Below is a photo of the Middle and High School Youth group. They
visited the Angels Alert III Nursing
Home in Elkridge, Maryland in March. The youth enjoyed their first
visit with the residents. They sang
songs and listened to residents share their stories. The youth also
shared their own stories. Angie
Brown and Imani West performed a liturgical dance. In addition,
Alex Porter sang a solo that was a
favorite of his grandfather. The Youth Ministry Coordinators would
like to thank Imani and her mother
Jennifer, for helping to coordinate this activity.
Articles submitted by Gloria Picket
The SINGLE'S MINISTRY of Ebenezer United Meth-
odist Church celebrated BLACK HISTORY MONTH
with a visit to Publick Playhouse on February 24,
2016 to see “Inauguration of Barack Obama”. Fol-
lowing the program they enjoyed a hearty lunch.
FYI APPLY FOR SENATE SCHOLARSHIPS! Do you know a high school senior
or a college student from our community that is enrolled full time
in a Maryland institute of higher education? Let them know they may
be eligible for a Maryland State Sen- atorial Scholarship. The
student must be a District 47 resident and attend or expect to
attend a college or university in Mary- land in the fall of 2016.
Scholarships can be used for either undergraduate or grad- uate
study. Access the application and instructions here. The
application and all supporting docu- ments are due on April 28,
2016. So lets get those applications completed! Good luck!
New video details Black College Fund
In a 2014 survey of 2,000 United Methodist church pas- tors and
leaders, more than half had little or no knowledge about the Black
College Fund (BCF). Answering this need for information, a new
video, produced by The Black Col- lege Fund Office at the General
Board of Higher Education and Ministry, details the fund’s vitality
and its continued need for support. Local congregations are invited
to share the video in worship services, gatherings and social media
posts so that all United Methodists can appreciate the fund’s
mission and history.
Since 1972, The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund has
offered support to eleven United Methodist- related black colleges
and universities, allowing the schools to nurture deep traditions
and rise to new opportunities in today’s competitive, tech-savvy
collegiate landscape. (Continued Next page)
Black History
The Black College Fund is a precious gift and I am thankful for the
Church’s continued investment and commitment to empowerment,
leadership, service and transformation,” said Cynthia Bond Hopson,
Ph.D., Assistant General Secretary of The Black College Fund.
The apportionments paid by local United Methodist Churches help to
fund these institutions, where many of the 16,000 students struggle
with the financial challenges that secondary education can bring.
The students in the BCF-supported schools represent a wide-variety
of racial and ethnic backgrounds, and they are training to be the
next generation of leaders, both inside and outside of the
church.
“Without the church we would not have existed. We have had 138 plus
years of being connected to the church. Our service is making sure
that we focus on the underserved. Without the church it would be
very difficult to succeed in our mission,” said Dr. A. Dexter
Samuels, executive director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Center for Health Policy at Meharry Medical College.
Media Contact: Laura Buchanan
[email protected]
615-742-5413
To find out more, click on UMC.org.
Legacy of Faith and Service Cont.inued
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an Afri-
can-American writer of the late
19th and early 20th centuries who
wrote verse and short stories,
many of which were written in
black dialect despite the fact that
he felt the marketability of dialect
poetry was demeaning. He was
one of the first black writers to at-
tempt to make a living from his
writing, and certainly one of the
first to gain national prominence. Paul Laurence Dunbar
(1872-1906)
We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar
WE wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and
shades our eyes,— This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and
bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why
should the world be over- wise, In counting all our tears and
sighs? Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask. We smile,
but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls
arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the
mile; But let the world dream oth- erwise, We wear the mask!
Submitted by Pearl P. Smith-Jones
Women’s Day 2016
11:00am Exciting Guest Speaker
Saturday April 23, 2016
Sponsored by the Women of Ebenezer United Methodist
Church
The United Methodist Men of Ebenezer will
sponsor a free concert featuring the Sensa-
tional Nightingales, Friday April 22, 2016.
Doors open at 6:00 pm. Concert begins at
7:00pm. No tickets required. A free will of-
fering will be collected. For additional infor-
mation, please contact UMM Activities
Chairperson, Brother David King.
walk/visit - we would like for as many
members of our church family to come out
and spend some quality time with us visit-
ing our neighbors. The area to be visited
is Saint Josephs Drive, located in Bowie,
MD. At this time, we will be inviting our
neighbors to come out to our church ser-
vices, and Sunday School. We will meet at
the church at 10:30 am. and we will depart
from the church at 11:00 am. If you
should have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the Planning Team
Committee Members. Peace and Blessings -- Sisters: Shirley J.
Hopkins, Victoria Jones and Brother Donald Jackson
Happy Birthday to All For the month of February
1 Eric B.
19 Jobie B.
24 Carol S.
27 Angela B.
28 Pearl J.
3 Linda P.
4 John G.
Aaron W. Jr.
6 Caprice B.
10 Eddimae T.
11 Suella W.
13 William B.
28 Shirley H.
Aaron W., Sr.
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day
be filled with joy, love, and peace.
Celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary on February 14th
The Pittmons
The Watkins
Celebrating their 42nd wedding Anniversary on March 30th The
Jacksons
May God continue to bless you on your special day and may your day
be filled with joy, love, and peace.
EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4912 Whitfield Chapel Road Lanham,
MD 20706 Phone: 301-577-0770 Email:
[email protected]
Come see us on the web!
www.ebenezerunited.org
Instagram and Facebook @eumc4912.