G'Life Educational Ministry

Tis the season to be jolly and also the season to overspend and overindulge. We here at G'Life are trying to wrestle with our impulses and keep our consumption down this year. We do not want to go into debt trying to impress people we do not even like.
However, why are those impulses so strong? Why the admonition from Jesus that you cannot serve both God and Mammon (spirit of money...I know another teaching for another time)? Maybe our first G'Life Educational Ministry teaching will help. It is a documentary on Edward Bernays--the Father of Spin and nephew to Sigmund Freud. Bernays was one of the first to take Freud findings and use them in a practical way and from this we have what we now call Public Relations, Crisis Management, and the way we interpret advertising. We suggest that you take a look at this four part series and see where your struggle for "stuff" comes from.
Check it out here

A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Poverty in America

Do you really understand the economic crisis in America? This webcast by Andrew Sears, TechMission's Executive Director, provides a beginner's guide to understanding poverty in America and what can be done about it. Please forward this to friends who might want to learn about poverty and social justice.
Read the rest here

The God Who Would Be Friend – Theresa Froehlich

The following post was submitted by Theresa Froehlich for the series Jesus is Coming What Do We Expect? which should begin tomorrow with the beginning of Advent. However it seemed a very appropriate forerunner to the season so I thought that I would begin a little early with the journey.

The advent candle holder is on our dining table, ready for the special advent candles that represent Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

The candle holder is a round one with five Angels looking outward. After we carefully insert the Advent candles into their individual cavities, we light the candles and we read from the Advent devotional book. The devotional readings remind us that Christ has come, that he is Immanuel, God with us, and that he will come again. This simple ceremony is a powerful and profound experience as we look on the flames of the flickering candle giving light in darkness, savoring the real presence of Jesus Christ.

Advent is a season of waiting, hoping, reflecting and anticipating. The whole world is reflecting on their life during the first eleven months of the year and wondering what they could expect in the New Year.

Read the rest here

The Season of Advent: Anticipation and Hope

Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.

The Colors of Advent

Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King.  Purple is still used in some traditions (for example Roman Catholic).  The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week.  This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus’ life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection. To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent.

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Pastor Johnson to Preach at Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Andre Johnson, pastor of Gifts of Life Ministries will be the guest preacher at Mt Moriah East Baptist Church, led by Rev. Dr. Melvin Charles Smith. In addition to Dr. Johnson preaching, the G'Life choir will also render music for the service. The worship event is December 11 and starts at 9:00am. For more information, call 901-272-7337.

G'Life Chior Presents a Pre-Christmas Concert Celebration

On December 4, the Gifts of Life Ministries Choir, lead by Min. Shirley Patterson, will produce a Pre-Christmas Concert and Celebration at the church located at 1542 Jackson. Min. Patterson said that the attendees will be in for something special as the choir will partner up with longtime friends, The Roxie Gunther Singers and guest soloist, Janet Meadows. The start time for the event is 3:30pm and the event is free and open to the public.

Black Church & The Violence of Education

by Min. Larry T. Crudup

Welcome to the life of many students in the urban educational system. This is a system, that is the target for prison planning and growth, drug trafficking and gang violence, domestic abuse, racial profiling, rape, advancement of the military as the only means of getting out, and violence to the Imago Dei. This is a system that not only feeds violence but is the center of violence for the beloved community. And the beloved community continues to send it’s children into a system that is a slow, painful killer. Kirk-Duggan says that violence is, “any oppression, anything that violates and separates us from the truth and sacred within ourselves, our relationship with Spirit, and community.”i Urban education is a violence that denies the dignity of the individual. This system builds schools named Hoodlum Elementary, Left Behind Middle School, and Drop Out High School. There are no resources, there is no safety, and everyone is falling behind, both teacher and student.

Read the rest here

Black Friday How Did We Get Here?!?!

by Ann Brock

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving which official kick-off the holiday shopping season. Today's the day when the big retail stores have HUGE sales on most cheap stuff. Personal I don't get the black friday thing. There's no way I'm going to be trampled to death while trying to get into a store. Nor stand in line for hours before a store open in the cold so I can buy Christmas. Not happening! I wonder how we as a country got sucker and pulled into such craziness? Are you part of the Black Friday madness why/why not?

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Pulpit Pop: The Perception of Religion in Modern Music

A realization came to me a few days ago while listening to an old mixtape I threw together in 8th grade. Amidst the odd collection of “Work It”-era Missy, “Ass Like That”-era Eminem, and seven chapters of R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet, — before he jumped the shark with that weird through-story about the cheating housewife, a black leprechaun, and Omar from the wire (in a stunning career turn) — there lay Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks”.

If any reminder is necessary, “Jesus” Walks” was a straight-up-and-down hit. That song drilled the screws into Kanye’s pedestal. What’s more, as a “single”, it was a direct reference to an established religious figure. That spells mass-appeal suicide in most PR offices. But, there it is, nestled in between what my 13 year old sensibility had been programmed to deem “pop”.

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Attn. Mega Church Pastors: “The Jig is UP”

Super sized mega churches operatate across America attracting thousands of members, developing popular television ministries and economic development programs.
Pastors of Mega churches are charismatic and push dramatic, music-filled ministries that help retain members. Mega Churches, among other things, are big businesses and their pastor operates as a CEO as often as a Pastor. One of the primary jobs of a CEO is to build relationships that ensures the organization’s growth. That, perhaps, is how Eddie Long was operating when he developed a relationship with investment salesmen (non Licensed), Ephren Taylor, that caused ten members of New Birth to file suit against Bishop Long and the Church. I am sure this news story is of great interest to Mega Church Pastors and should send a strong signal that ‘THE JIG is UP!

Read the rest here

Voter Suppression: What Pastors Need To Do To Inspire Political Action

It’s estimated that 5 million registered voters will be disenfranchised in the 2012 election by laws passed in some states and proposed in others that make it harder to vote, mainly by requiring government-issued I.D. cards, as well as limiting early voting days. Since the Republican-led attacks on voter rights primarily target African-Americans, other minorities, poor folks, students and the elderly, it only makes sense for the foundation of the Black community to get involved. That’s the Black Church.

Recently Roland Martin spoke with AME Bishop Vashti McKenzie and Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, of Dallas, Texas, about what pastors need to do to inspire political action.

Read more here

Is the black church the answer to liberal prayers?

As the American left continues to seek a coherent way to articulate its moral priorities in these days of political stalemates and widening income gaps, it might look to the most unlikely of places — the academy — for guidance and inspiration.

At elite universities and seminaries thrives a constituency of African American intellectuals who fiercely contend that the American conversation needs to stay focused on justice — specifically, for those whom the Bible calls “the least of these.”

Read more here

Soup and Sandwich Ministry-Thanksgiving Dinner-11-23-11

Soup and Sandwich Ministry-Thanksgiving Dinner-11-23-11 from andre johnson on Vimeo.

THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR NOVEMBER 6, 2011 - NOVEMBER 12, 2011

**ANNOUNCEMENTS must be submitted to Min. Bernestine Sanders no later than Wednesday evening at 10:00 p.m. @ bernsanders@att.net or 730-0155.

Please contact the church office to select dates for any ministry activity. YOU MUST BE ON THE CALENDAR TO HAVE AN EVENT.  Please schedule your event during the times in which the building is open.

If you are in need of a van ride to church on Sunday mornings, please call CaSandra Bradshaw at 859-5922 by Thursday night at 9:00 p.m.

The Young Masters are looking for a few good adults who are interested in seeing young people succeed to join the BPC "BOOSTERS & PARENTS CLUB" The BPC will be committed to providing support to the Young Masters as well as all young people within their reach.  Please call Rev. Glenn Carter-Ministry Leader 272-7337 or Alonzo Gwynn & Alphonzo Gwynn-Coaches.  The Young Masters is a ministry designed to teach young people about the word of God through basketball and caring.  Sports and athletics teach kids about the discipline and control needed in everyday life as well as when they are in friendly competition.

Election 2012 is approaching quickly.  TN law now requires you to have State/Federal issued ID in order to cast your vote.  If you don't have ID, please begin the process now...If you have any questions, please see First Lady Lisa Jones Johnson.

Annie's Girls would like to thank you for your support in the purchasing of the dinners on yesterday.  Because of you we were very successful.

The G'Life Outreach Christmas Basket Project will be taking applications for consideration of Christmas baskets Sunday, October 23, 2011, after morning worship in the Fellowship Hall.  For more information please call Quincey Morris (734-6953) or Sheila Hurt (484-3147).

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CONTEST UPDATE:

JoAnn White 27 pts.
Leslie Brown Montegue 24 pts.
Donna Wilson 7 pts.
Delores Beckley 7 pts.
Rodnekia Hurt 6 pts.
CaSandra Bradshaw 5 pts.
Carl Gunter 5 pts.
Diane Carter 3 pts.
Chuncey Seldon 3 pts.
Dr. JoAnne Nickelberry 2 pts.
Georgia Littlejohn 2 pts.

(11) Members 1 pts. 

*Sorry, Leslie......Ms. JoAnn came from behind and took your lead; WHAT U GONNA DO!!!! LOL

Gifts of Life Ministries Upcoming Events

ANNIE'S GIRLS....................


Hope that you will allow them to provide you with your Saturday meal of FISH OR CHICKEN, SPAGHETTI, SLAW, DESSERT AND BEVERAGE for a donation of $7.  See Bernestine or Korey Sanders for more information.  


and 


CLOTHES CLOSET YARD SALE.........


EVERYTHING MUST GO!!! 
COSTS: SUITS   $1.00 AND EVERYTHING ELSE $ .50


TIME:   11 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M.
DATE:   NOVEMBER 5, 2011
PLACE:  GIFTS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
                1542 JACKSON AVENUE
                MEMPHIS, TN.  38107
PHONE #: 901-272-7337