Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 2005 — Page 8

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2005

Friendship Baptist Church fall revival

Union District Missionary Baptist Church Association Inc. Choir helps celebrate the fall revival at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

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Together forever

Rodney Martin and Angela Harrington declare their vows during a special marriage ceremony in the Gathertorium of Martin University. The couple receives a final blessing from Father Boniface Hardin, founding president of Martin University. (Photo/J. Hurst)

Left to right: Rev. Ronald Covington, senior pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Curtis Vance, pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church; and Rev. R.L. Hines, pastor of New Garfield Missionary Baptist Church came out to support the revival. (Photos/C. Guynn)

National gospel celebration during Black History Month

WASHINGTON (BlackNews.com) — It’s going to be a power-packed weekend as gospel luminaries converge in the Washington metro area, Feb. 15-17,2006, to celebrate the nation’s largest and most prestigious gospel music celebration during Black History Month. Already, there is excitement in the air regarding the keynote speakers and artists slated to take part in Heritage ‘06. Opening the conference will be Israel Houghton, who has soared as one of the most dynamic praise and worship artists in the country. Houghton’s rise in the industry has been further catapulted by his recent Integrity Records hit single, “Friend of God and Breakthrough.” That opening night, churches across the country will fill the sanctuary of the Reid Temple A.M.E. Church as Bishop Paul Morton comes to the Gospel Heritage conference for the first time as a keynote speaker. Bishop Morton is the founder and presider of the International Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, an organiza-

tion of over 2,000 churches worldwide. Kicking off the second morning of the conference, Rev. Richard Smallwood will address GHF delegates. Smallwood is one of gospel’s most accomplished artists (Verity Records). Later that evening, history will again be made with the annual live recording. This time, a first - Rev. Jamal Bryant from Empowerment Temple in Baltimore will be the keynote speaker bringing a powerful word of exhortation. Bryant pastors one of the fastest-growing churches in the country. The final Friday of the conference promises to be one of the conference’s most inspirational. The morning will begin with Pastor Donnie McClurkin ofNewYork, serving as keynote speaker. As a gospel artist, McClurkin tops the charts, as a pastor - he is even more amazing. The action packed conference will roll on with a Friday midday youth and college choir competition. This is called one of the most exciting and innovative presentations of the entire conference.

Israel Houghton Youth and college choirs from across the country will engage in a friendly battle vying for cash scholarships totaling $10,000. The closing Friday evening will feature the annual 2006 Gospel Heritage Awards that salute and celebrate gospel

greats and pioneers. The 2006 honorees will include: Tramaine Hawkins, Rev. Clay Evans, the Barrett Sisters and the Winans Brothers. For more information on Heritage ’06, go to: www. ghf06.com or call 1-866-864-5611.

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Vesper Candlelight Services On December 11, 2005 at 5:00 PM come to our Advent Celebration featuring sacred music of the season presented by musical insturments and vocals. The Candlelight Service concludes with a candlelight observation and benediction. It is a celebration the whole familywill enjoy. Come one. Come All and please bring a friend.

Christmas Dinner and Play On December 17, 2005 at 5:30 PM you are invited to our Annual Christmas Dinner and Play. Please come out and enjoy dinner, holiday festivities and a play. We look forward to seeing you and your family.

Rev. Henry L. Peterson, Pastor

DAY ► Continued from B1 ness. Third, we have a commitment to the God of vindication. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth” (5:5). Undoubtedly the phrase inherit the Earth has both a present and future relevance. To walk humbly before God, whatever the cost in terms of shame and suffering now, will ensure divine vindication in this life and that which is to come. This is the basic meaning of those words we tend to quote so glibly. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is because we are joint heirs with Christ and, therefore, inheritors of the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 5:1). This then, is the blessedness of the meek. Fourth, a commitment to the God of satisfaction: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (5:6). The fullness of God has been made available to us in Christ, for we read, “For in him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and (we) are complete in him.” (Colossians

2:9-10). Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is another way of expressing a deeper and fuller commitment to God and, consequently, a deeper and fuller satisfaction in God. A person who holds back from such a commitment virtually denies his desire for (and hope of) a life of blessedness. I encourage you today to think about the Blessedness of God and what it entails. Fifth, acommitmenttothe Godofbenediction: “Blessed arethemerciful,fortheyshall obtain mercy.” (5:7). Writing to Timothy, Paul says “Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2). Mercy is not only an attribute of God himself but it is a required quality. And what does the Lord require of you but “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). No one can exhibit this spirit of forgiveness and mercy who is not committed utterly to the God ofbenediction. The only blessed life is that of showing mercy and forgiveness to all. Rev. Stephen Clay is pastor of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church.

JESUS ► Continued from B1 “For many years the high court has ruled that there are certain limits on free speech,” Golf stated. “You’re not allowed, for example, to get up and yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater. Also, the court constantly rules about free speech in regard to communications and what can be said over television and radio.” Wilma Bailey, associate professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture at Christian Theological Seminary, believes it is inappropriate for a government official to give instructions as to how anyone should pray, saying it violates “free exercise” of religion and the First Amendment because it establishes a religion by establishing a type of prayer. “Everyone should be free to pray according to their own traditions,” said Bailey. “However, when asked to pray in a public place, people should have the common sense to pray in such a way as to be inclusive. We are all children of God, therefore we ought to be able to pray in such a way as to recognize that core belief.” Many observers have also wondered: How would Jesus himself react to such a ruling? “Well, everyone tends to read into Jesus their own views,” said Golf. “For instance, the people who created the concept of separation of church and state quoted Jesus, thinking that this was the route he would have wanted in the first place when he in said in Matthew 22:21, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’ and give to God which is God’s.’”

Bailey said Jesus never intended to pray publicly, and in Matthew 6:5-14 instructed his followers to beware of those who pray publicly, encouraging them to pray privately using the phrase “Our Father.” She noted that the prayer Jesus prayed before people who were not all disciples or people following him (specifically, Roman soldiers) was “My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?” “The more generic ‘My God’ rather than the more personal ‘Our Father’ is used,” said Bailey. “This more general prayer caused a centurion to come to faith, saying: ‘Truly, this man was God’s son! Tn Luke, a further statement of prayer is made by Jesus using ‘Father’ but not ‘Our’ (“Father into your hands, I commend my spirit.”) From these examples, I think that Jesus would have used a more generic prayer in public if he were asked to pray in public.” Last week’s ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed in May by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union after some House members and several other individuals walked out of the House chamber in protest during a prayer with the statement “Thank you Jesus for dying for me,” which was followed by the song “Just a Little Talk with Jesus.” The ICLU filed the suit on behalf of a retired Methodist minister, a lobbyist for a statewide Quaker group, and two Roman Catholic citizens, who agreed that the prayers sent “a powerful message of exclusion” to those who are not of the Christian faith.

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