The Community Lenten Caravan (CLC) continues to convene hybrid worship services in greater Los Angeles on each Wednesday, at 7 p.m., leading up to Resurrection Sunday, April 9.
Scripture John 5:1-9 When Jackie and I went to Alabama for my brother’s memorial service in August she notice the furnishing; lounge and rocking chairs, and tables on some of the front porches in the neighborhoods. She asked did people still sit on their front porches and socialize with their neighbors? I said yes they still do. Interestingly enough for us because rarely in California do we even know our neighbors. A man went over to his neighbor’s house to visit with him. While he was there he noticed the man’s dog lying on a board with a nail in
Believers can praise and worship the Lord because they know the Lord and they knew what the Lord had done. They knew of the goodness of the Lord.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6 One of the great lessons of the Covid-19 Pandemic has been discovering what really matters in life. During this pandemic, we have come to realize what we thought really mattered in life, does not matter as much as we thought. Attending sporting events; Rams and Chargers football games, Lakers and Clippers basketball games, Dodgers and Angels baseball games, Galaxy soccer games, and the Kings hockey games really don’t matter as much as we thought. Attending concerts, entertainment venues, restaurants, shopping, being in a crowd and being part of the crowd really don’t matter as much as we
Many L.A. ministries closed their church buildings in the middle of 2020 and just recently, either have opened, or plan to resume worship in the edifice. Bethel AME Church in South Los Angeles is among those holding in person service in the near future. Fellowshipping in person, like has been done for centuries, holds lots of appeal. Yet, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic is still here, the Rev. Dr. Kelvin T. Calloway, Sr., aims to implement a range of measures to ensure the health and safety of the parishioners when the service is held at Bethel on Sunday, August 1.
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4 When I was about 12-years-old, I went to my father and told him that I wanted to play organized football in the local park league. He contacted a friend of his, who coached a team and told him of my desire. His friend contacted a friend of his, who had a team that practiced closer to our house and told him that I was interested in playing. Coach Merriweather allowed me to play on his team and we won the league championship. My initial opportunity to play organized football was due in part to my father’s favor.
Scripture: Acts 10:34-43 In the tenth chapter of Acts, Luke introduces his audience to a man by the name of Cornelius. Cornelius was an Italian centurion. Verse 2 of this chapter tells his audience that Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, always prayed to God and was generous to people. Cornelius has a vision one day where an angel of the Lord says to him that God has taken notice of his prayers and his almsgiving . God notices our prayers and our deeds. No prayer to God goes unnoticed. Prayer is not just some spiritual discipline only
Scripture: Matthew 28:11-20 In the “post-truth” age in which we now find ourselves, the relevance of “fake news” has increased. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines fake news as “false stories that appear to be news usually created to influence political views.” According to Wikipedia, fake news is “journalism or propaganda that consist of deliberate misinformation with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency, entity, or person.” Fake news has become so prevalent in our society today that news outlets now have a segment devoted to “fact checking” and “keeping honest” who traffic in its dissemination. As
This season, sisters and brothers, is not just one of fun, food and fellowship. It is not just one of parties, gifts, and toys. This season is the season of great joy. This was the prophetic pronouncement made by the angel of the Lord that ancient night to the shepherds; “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” It was a pronouncement worth singing, shouting and dancing about. This joy by which the shepherds were apprehended that night wasn’t just for them, this pronouncement of great joy was for all people. The joy of this season is for everybody.
Scripture: John 5:1-13 We live in an age characterized by the prefix “post.” We live in a post-modern, post-racial, and the most recent, post-truth age where the truth no longer matters and alternative facts have taken its place. The prefix “post” invaded our culture and our faith. We live in a post-religious age – post-Christian, post-evangelical, post-denominational and post-religious. All of these phrases describe a culture, according to the Barna Group (the evangelical Christian polling firm) that appears to be moving away from conventional Christianity. The culture seems to say that “Christianity and church no
Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church held an appreciation service for Pastor Mary S. Minor on Oct. 16. Participating in the celebration were (left photo, from left) Enchantee Minor, who sang a stirring rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer;” Pastor Minor and Pastor Kelvin T. Calloway, Sr., of Bethel AME Church-L.A., who delivered the sermon. The officers of Brookins, who sponsored the program, are (from left, 1st row) Joetta Webster, Michelle Thompson, Katie Johnson, Charlotte Roberts, (2nd row) Dolores Bolton, Ollie Lawrence, Cynthia Mayes, Cora Fossett, Pastor Minor, (back) Vanzil Burke, Davis Moss, Reggie Williams, Greg Robinson and Travis Roberts.
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 The world was shocked on April 21, when news that the iconic artist known as Prince had died. Some thought that it was another social media hoax until it was confirmed by the national news outlets. It was reported that Prince Roger Nelson was found dead in his Minneapolis from complications of pneumonia and a severe flu. His death sparked a wave of purple tributes around the world. The 57-year-old artist sold more than 100 million records, won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
Scripture: Revelation 11:1-19 In chapter 11 of John’s revelation, he is given a ruler or a reed like a rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those that worship therein (v.1). His measuring of the temple, according to New Testament scholar Christopher Rowland, gives visionary imagination to a possible blueprint for a New Jerusalem and a New Temple of God. The Lord reveals to John that in the end times, He will send two witnesses clothed in sackcloth to prophesy for a specific time and He will give these two witnesses power (v. 3). These witnesses, according