Friends & Family

We want to take a moment to celebrate our Mission Outreach Ministry for their beautiful vision and execution of Friends and Family Day this past Sunday. It was a powerful day of worship, fellowship, family, and faith—just like the sermon ordered! A special congratulations to the Jamison family, Sister Jayme Montgomery, Sister Delnita Harps, and Sister Renee Williams for bringing the largest number of friends and family with them.

Congratulations to the entire congregation—we had 145 souls in attendance! We also give a warm welcome to our newest members, Rodney Anderson and Rebecca L. Gehrt-Darwin, who come to us as candidates for baptism. Praise God!

Lent and Fasting

We are still in the heart of our Lenten fasting season. Fasting handbooks were distributed this past Sunday and are also available in the church lobby for anyone who did not receive one.

Tuesday and Wednesday 

Tonight, don’t forget to join Women’s Bible Study from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. They’re finishing up Luke chapters 10 and 11. (Zoom Link)

Tomorrow, we will have our Midweek Message at Noon via Zoom and YouTube, and our Lenten service in partnership with the Seven Sister Churches will be held at 7:00 PM at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Please come out and fellowship with us.

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Sermon Summary

Title: The Power of Faith, Friends, Family, and Fellowship

Subtitle: While Tried by the Fire

Scripture: John 12:1–11 (with reference to John 11:45–57)

Occasion: Friends and Family Day | Lent Season

In this Lenten message, we explored how Jesus, facing imminent betrayal and death, chose to recline with those he loved. In John 12, just days before the cross, Jesus is not preaching to crowds or confronting systems—he is reclining at a table with Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and the disciples.

This isn’t an escape. It’s an act of faith. A declaration that even in the midst of chaos, conflict, and conspiracy, there is power in fellowship. Power in family. Power in friends. Power in faith.

We traced the tension surrounding this moment:

• In John 11, the chief priests plotted to kill Jesus.

• In John 12:11, they add Lazarus to the kill list—just for being a living testimony.

• In the middle, Judas pretends to care about the poor, but really wants to steal money—a reminder that deceit and darkness can sit at the table too.

And yet, Jesus reclines anyway. 

He’s aware of the threats. He knows about Judas. He senses the danger. But he chooses to take comfort in the presence of those who love him.

Key Message:

Even while tried by the fire—when enemies are scheming, when darkness is close, when trials are near—we must still make room for joy, for community, for love. We must recline anyway.

Because like Lazarus, your very existence may be drawing people to Christ. And like Jesus, your willingness to rest and rejoice in the presence of trusted community can be a revolutionary act of resistance and restoration.

Takeaway:

• Don’t let the fire steal your fellowship.
• Don’t let the darkness steal your dinner table.
• Don’t let the chaos cancel your community.

Like Jesus—recline anyway.

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And finally, as mentioned Sunday, I referenced the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) and their recent webinar. You can watch the recording here: [YouTube Link]

With love, faith, and service,