Greetings, 

"Jesus Wept" is the shortest verse in the Bible, yet it's nestled within a profound narrative that teaches us many lessons, particularly in the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus' resurrection is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death. In this account, Martha and Mary express their faith in Jesus, but their understanding of His true power is put to the test.

The themes of God’s timing, grief, and hope resonate throughout these scriptures. A pivotal moment in the text is Jesus’ decision to delay His arrival after Lazarus falls ill. By the time He reaches them, Lazarus is already dead.

How many of us find ourselves waiting for an answer from God? What do we do when the response we receive isn't what we had hoped for? At that moment, does the story come to a close?

While I won't have the opportunity to delve deeply into each verse of John 11:1-44 this Sunday, I encourage you to read it beforehand. Let’s come together to reflect on this profound story and consider what Jesus may be doing while we’re in our own periods of waiting.

See you on Sunday,

Rev. Dr. Jaye Lynn Peabody Smith

Executive Pastor



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Youth Break Out

2nd & 3rd Sundays

Every 2nd Sunday @ 2:30 PM

Contact Rev. Cassandra Crawford for additional information.

sandracrawford61@yahoo.com

Reigniting the Legacy:

Advocating for African American History in Our Communities

Roots & Branches: Your Weekly Black History Spotlight

Benjamin Banneker: Astronomer, Mathematician, Inventor, Abolitionist

Today, December 12, we celebrate the anniversary of Benjamin Banneker’s invention of the clock in 1754. Benjamin Banneker’s life unfolds like a luminous thread woven through the early fabric of America—a story of brilliance, resilience, and unyielding curiosity that defied the limits imposed by an era of bondage and exclusion. Born free in 1731 yet surrounded by a nation struggling to reconcile its ideals with its injustices, Banneker taught himself to read the stars, build complex mechanisms, and challenge the intellectual boundaries of his time. His journey from a young, inquisitive farmer to a celebrated astronomer, mathematician, inventor, and abolitionist is not just a chronicle of individual genius; it is a testament to the extraordinary heights a determined mind can reach even in the harshest of conditions. Banneker’s legacy invites us to look upward with wonder—and to recognize how one man’s quiet pursuit of knowledge helped illuminate a path for generations to come.

Click to read more about Benjamin Banneker HERE

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And as promised….a QUIZ!!



Here is your opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of black history (or your ability to search on Google!). The first person to submit a quiz with all correct responses will win a special prize during Sunday’s service – and you must be present to win!!

TAKE THE QUIZ!

Bishop’s Picks—Volume II

Here is the next installment of reading materials that are both diverse and instructive in the ways of the Spirit. These books are what can be labeled “Extra-Biblical,” in that they share the Social Gospel of Jesus Christ in various ways. Enjoy.

1. Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang
2. Carry On by John Lewis
3. The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
4. A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer
5. The Centering Moment by Howard Thurman
6. Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
7. The Ways of the Spirit by Evelyn Underhill
8. Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer
9. The Mind of Jesus by William Barclay
10. The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee
11. The Black Church by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
12. White Poverty by Bishop William J Barber II
13. The Battle for the Black Mind by Karida L. Brown
14. Black AF History by Michael Harriot
15. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibrant

Beatrice Lamb

Marsha Perry

Min. Hazel Calderon

Timmie Hayes

Deacon Karen Thomas & Family

Vivian Bell

Rose Murray

Dana Maddox

Lakisha Rose

Sam Graddy

Alice Moten Wilson

Paul Hundley

Michael Carter

Jois Dorsey & Family

Ruth Herndon & Family

PRAYER MINISTRY

Join the Prayer Ministry on the 1st Saturday of every month for corporate prayer in the sanctuary at 8:00 am.   All are invited! Come let us unite in prayer as a congregation. Bring your prayer request!!! 

If you need prayer, we would like to include your name in LifeBlast so that your RLCF family can pray for you, please call the Church office at 770-922-1234 or email your name and information to: info@rlcfatl.com.