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The 33rd Annual Black History Celebration at Altadena Baptist Church. Special guest speaker: Reverend Tyrone Skinner, Metropolitan Baptist Church. Special music. Scholarship fundraising raffle. Dinner served downstairs afterwards. Come! Sunday, February 19, 2017, at 5:00 p.m.
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This morning I went through the program for this Sunday evening's Black History Celebration just to prepare myself for my part and to get a feel for how the program will flow. I was familiar with most of the songs, readings and other elements. There was one song listed I wasn't familiar with, so I decided to check it out. It's entitled, "Can't Give Up Now," and here are some of the lyrics:
There will be mountains that I will have to climb,
And there will be battles that I will have to fight.
Victory or defeat, it's up to me to decide;
But how can I expect to win If I never try?
I just can't give up now;
I've come too far from where I started from.
Nobody told me the road would be easy,
And I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me.
I went online (I'm getting pretty good at this!) and found that this song was written by a man named Curtis Burrell. I discovered another song written by him, entitled, "I Don't Feel No Ways Tired." Here are some of the words:
I don't feel no ways tired,
I've come too far from where I started from.
Nobody told me that the road would be easy,
I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.
Wait a minute, those are basically the same lyrics. There are two different lead lines, "I Don't Feel No Ways Tired." and "I Just Can't Give Up Now." The first version was popularized in the 1960s by Rev. James Cleveland, the father of modern gospel choir music, and the second seems to have evolved from it over time. Actually, both versions are commonly attributed to James Cleveland, with Curtis Burrell sinking into obscurity.
So, I got to thinking about a feature these two lead lines have in common. You say you're "no ways tired" because, in fact,
you're feeling really tired, weary of it all. And you say you "can't give up now" because something deep within you
desperately wants to give up. You're encouraging yourself to go on against the current. You're giving yourself a pep talk.
I thought of some real life situations where this attitude is essential. First I thought of myself (of course) and of how I had to keep pushing myself during last week's move out of our home of 45 years. Every box seemed heavier than the last, but I kept saying, "I don't feel no ways tired." And, in fact, my energy was renewed by my "no ways tired" affirmation.
The second example that came to my mind was a young mother, just home from the hospital after the birth of her first baby. Her body, her mind, her emotions are all worn out. She tries to get some much-needed sleep, but it's feeding time again. The baby's cry renews her determination, and she tells herself, "I just can't stop now." And she keeps going.
The third picture that came me was from the distant past, when the roots of gospel music took shape in the cotton fields of the South. An old slave, feeling he can't go on, calls out his troubles and trials in a mournful chant. What's that he hears? A response from the next field over, his friend encouraging him to keep moving, keep working. Strengthened by the knowledge that his friend is alright, the old man urges himself on, "I don't feel no ways tired; I just can't stop now."
-- Pastor George Van Alstine
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A Look at Chelsea J
Our 33rd annual Black History Celebration will happen this Sunday, beginning at 5 pm. We're happy to welcome Rev. Tyrone Skinner, Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena, as our keynote speaker. The program will be full of our own gifted and talented people, including Allisonne Crawford, Robert and Alena DeVaughn, Miles and Preston Kealing. But one of our featured soloists, Chelsea J, is someone from the community, but not ABC. I decided I'd like to get to know a little more about her in preparation for the Celebration.
Chelsea was born in Chicago and grew up in Dallas. She became part of The Potter's House, under its pastor, Bishop T. D. Jakes, and it was there that she learned to love great gospel music. She has sung and written music since she was a little girl, and she has been able to perform in TV shows and commercials. Now she lives in our area and is seriously pursuing a career in the recording industry.
During her high school years, she was honored with an ACT-SO award by the Altadena NAACP. Currently, she attends Azusa Pacific University and is a member of Fellowship Monrovia Church, where she sings in the gospel choir. Chelsea recently partnered with Dena Magazine and the Pasadena Journal to help promote her P.R.E.T.T.Y. Campaign, through a monthly newsletter designed to help young girls grow in their self-esteem and their personal ambitions.
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Black History Parade
On Saturday, February 18, 2017, we need volunteers to hand out balloons and flyers along the parade route (on Fair Oaks from Charles White Park to Jackie Robinson Park). Parade starts at 10:00 a.m.; speak with Pastor Connie.
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Stephen Ministries Introductory Workshop
Saturday, February 25, 2017 @ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos
Please contact Pastor Connie if you are interested so we can pay a group rate.
This is a good opportunity to learn more about Stephen Ministries and get a sample of their training.
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For Prayer and Praise
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World Focus for this week: Please pray for Steve and Amie Parlato in SE Asia. Please pray for extended family in the U.S. who are going through difficult times. And pray: "Lord of the harvest, send out thousands of Isaan laborers into the Isaan harvest until there is a reproducing church in every subdistrict and the gospel has been presented to every Isaan family."
- Joe Viola is having surgery on Thursday. Please pray for him.
- Please pray for April Callum as she struggles with health issues.
- Please pray for Shaniesha Hendrix's manager, the Senegal family. The 90-year old father-in-law had a massive stroke and is in a coma.
- Please pray for Jennifer, who stopped by the church and asked for prayer as she mourns the loss of her husband.
- Michele Blackwood Trejo's friend Wayne's back surgery went well and he's up and moving slowly with a lot of pain. Please continue to pray for his recovery.
- Pray for Jessie Carrasco, friend of Pastor Connie, who is on a respirator.
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Continue to pray for those who are grieving, including Joe and Sherry Cavallo, Eva Dailey, Tomi Horn, Liz Jones, Anita LaMotte, Dale McCall, Dorothy McElrath, and Nancy Tillman.
- Remember these in prayer: Gladys Harris, Troy Martin, Bill and Jill Zobrist, Virginia Burton, Paul DeVaughn, Sarah Oberholtzer, Cavallo Family, Liz Jones,Paula DeVaughn, Dick Young, Marcus Wilder, James Lee, Jim Harris, Matthew Oberholtzer, Audrey Powers, Jo Wilson, Pat Losie, Mark Losie, Mary Muse, Antonio Bobo, Albert Lebsch, Dale McCall, Billy Lebsch, Frank Diegmann, Milo Crago, Diane and Bob Lee.
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Church Calendar
Wednesday, February 15
6:30 PM Xpressions Bible Study
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, February 16
7:00 PM Finance Dept. Mtg.
Sunday, February 19
9:30 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship
12:30 PM Membership Care Dept. Mtg.
5:00 PM Black History Celebration
Wednesday, February 22
6:30 PM Xpressions Bible Study
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, February 23
6:00 PM Meeting of Deacon Board
Friday, February 24
6:30 PM Youth Group
Saturday, February 25
10:00 AM ABC Staffs Community Food Bank
Sunday. February 26
9:30 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship
6:00 PM ABC Staffs Bad Weather Shelter
SAVE THE DATE!
July 31-August 4
Altadena Baptist's VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
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Women's Prayer Brunch
Saturday, March 11, 10:00 AM
ABC Barinaga Hall (downstairs)
626-797-8970
Guest Speaker: Stephanie Dodrill
4 E's of the Women's Prayer Brunch:
Eat together
Encourage one another
Enjoy God's Word together
Enter into His presence
All women welcome. Please bring feminine hygiene products to donate to the Altadena Community Food Bank.
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Stewardship Report
Report Date February 12, 2017
Number of Sundays 46
Actual Received This Week $3,256.00
Budget Goal for This Week $4,467.00
Actual Received Year-to-Date $192,218.55
Budget Goal for Year-to-Date $206,015.00
Ahead/(Behind) Year-to-Date ($13,796.45)
Faith Promise $10,823.40
Faith Promise Goal Year-to-date $12,777
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