Diana Hamilton with President Barack Obama after meeting with him in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 15, 2009. She is the sister of Frankie Evans and a member of New Hope CME Church in DeRidder, LA
Greetings Crowley District Family,
Ephesians 5:20 (NJKV)"Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
God did it again!!! God delivered us to victory 100% reporting in this Bishop's Council.
Thank you God-Thank you "Pastors, Ministers and Laity." Thank you for your leadership and cooperation.
In The Matchless Name of Jesus
Elder Dr. H. Leon Williams Sr.
Please keep the following families in your prayers.
It is with deep regret to inform you that Mrs. Laura E. Young, the sister of Dr. Elnora Palmer Hamb, President of the Women's Missionary Council, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2009.
Funeral arrangements and services for Mrs. Young are as follows:
Rawls Funeral Home
36 South Jackson Avenue
Brownsville, TN. 38012
Telephone: 731-772-1472 Fax: 731-772-5615
Visitation:
Friday, December 11, 2009, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Home Going Service:
St. Luke Baptist Church
Saturday, December 12, 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Mrs. Laura E. Young's family information:
1016 Jefferson Street
Brownsville, TN 38012
Telephone: 731-772-0150
Please keep Dr. Hamb and her family in your prayers. Cards and condolences may be sent to Dr. Hamb at 11321 South Aberdeen, Chicago, IL 60643. You may contact Dr. Hamb by telephone at 773-264-2273 or e-mail <hamb@sbcglobal.net> .
We write to inform you of funeral services for Mrs. Mamie Adams Morris, a member of Moore Chapel CME Church in Jasper, TX, and the sister of Mrs. Bettye Faye Nichols, Immediate Past President of Presidents of the Women's Missionary Council and a faithful member of the Ninth Episcopal District and Curry Temple CME Church in Compton, California.
Please keep Mrs. Betty Faye Nichols and her family in prayer. Cards and condolences may be sent to Mrs. Nichols at 4511 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Telephone: 323-296-6667.
Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have probably heard of "Watch Night Services," the gathering of the faithful in churches on New Year's Eve. But are you aware of its history? The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. To 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year.
Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year's Eve event. Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night Service was a fairly standard Christian religious service -- made a bit more Afro-Centric because that's what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the Black Church. Still, it was obvious that predominately White Christian churches did not include Watch Night Service on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs... In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of African Americans linking a religious service to a secular holiday like New Year's Eve.
However, there is a reason for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African American congregations. The Watch Night Services in Black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings across the South on December 31, 1862, known at that time as, "Freedom's Eve."On that night, Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation, anxiouslyawaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had actually become law.
Then, at the stroke of midnight, it became January 1, 1863, and all slaves in the Confederate States were declared legally free. When the news was received, there were prayers, shouts and songs of joy throughout the South as people fell to their knees and thanked God.
Ever since, Black folks have traditionally gathered in churches annually on New Year's Eve, praising God for bringing us safely through another year, but many do not realize the historic value.
It's been 145 years since that first Freedom's Eve and many of us were never taught the African American history of the Watch Night Service, but tradition still brings us together at this time every year to celebrate "how we got over."
Greetings in the Matchless Name of Jesus the Christ!
It is with great joy that the Connectional Young Adult Ministry of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church announce the upcoming 2010 FOCUS Retreat!
The Retreat will be held May 27-30, 2010 in the world renowned city of New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Presiding Prelate is Bishop Thomas Brown. The host site for the Retreat will be The Westin New Orleans Canal Place.
Please view the attached documents for additional details regarding this blessed event!
Attached you will find the following documents:
- Official Retreat Announcement Letter
- Tentative Schedule of Activities (which includes the Day of Service!)
- Souvenir Journal Advertisement Letter/Form
- Official 2010 FOCUS Retreat Registration Form and Cancellation/Refund Policy
- Day of Service Volunteer Release Form (Submit with Registration)
Please distribute these documents throughout your esteemed churches, districts, in your community, and among your friends! Help us spread the Good News as the Young Adults prepare to 'Serve the Present Age through Service and Christian Nurture!'
Be blessed and bright,
Ms. Jenether "Netta" Stampley,
Connectional Young Adult Ministry Secretary
Thank you for supporting the Crowley District Website in 2009-2010!!
Diana Hamilton with President Barack Obama after meeting with him in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 15, 2009. She is the sister of Frankie Evans and a member of New Hope CME Church in DeRidder, LA
It is with deep regret to inform you that Mrs. Laura E. Young, the sister of Dr. Elnora Palmer Hamb, President of the Women's Missionary Council, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2009. 
Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have probably heard of "Watch Night Services," the gathering of the faithful in churches on New Year's Eve. But are you aware of its history? The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. To 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year. 
It's been 145 years since that first Freedom's Eve and many of us were never taught the African American history of the Watch Night Service, but tradition still brings us together at this time every year to celebrate "how we got over."
