GRACE NOTES January, 2016

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ST. ALBANS NEWSLETTER

GRACE NOTES ISSUE XII Rev. Alpher Sylvester, Pastor January 2016

2016

Inside this issue: DATES TO REMEMBER

Word From Pastor 2

Poem—The List 3 February is Black History Month **************************************************************************** 4 First Annual Gracie Awards *Women’s Day Luncheon* on May 7th at Anton's >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AN INVITATION TO ASK 5 QUESTIONS OF YOURSELF Women’s Day Sunday Service on May 15th

WHEN LIFE BECOMES 6 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< A “CUL DE SAC” Eddy Farm Spiritual Retreat: May 19th—May 21st

8 ****************************************************** GUIDELINES FOR UNDERGRADU- ATE SCHOLARSHIPS The Audio/Visual Team needs committed members to Pat’s Corner 10 work on media equipment, contact Donna Perez

GRACE NOTES January, 2016

WORD FROM PASTOR Rev. Alpher Sylvester

SUGGESTIONS TO COMBAT CHURCH BULLIES:

Fight bullying with the power of prayer. The most common targets of church bullies are the pastor and church staff. I encourage everyone in vocational ministry to ask humbly for people to pray for them daily. In two of the churches where I served as pastor, I had as many as 100 or more people committed to pray for me daily. They typically prayed for me for only two or three minutes each day at noon. Their intercessory prayers for me were brief, but they were powerful!

Seek to have an Acts 6 group in the church. I am specifically referring to the manner in which the Jerusalem church dealt with murmuring and complaining. They appointed a group to take care of the widows who were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The seven who were appointed to the task were thus not only to do that ministry, but they were also to preserve the unity of the church. Churches need either informal or formal groups that see their ministry as dealing with conflict, complaints, and dissension so that unity is preserved.

Have a high expectation church. I have addressed the issues of high expectation churches and low expectation churches many times on this blog. Higher expectation churches tend to be more unified, more Great Commission focused, more biblically defined, and more servant oriented. Stated simply, high expectation churches don’t offer an environment conducive to bullying.

Encourage members to speak and stand up to church bullies. Bullying thrives in a church where the majority remains in silent fear of church bullies. Bullies tend to back down when confronted by strong people in the church. We just need more strong people in the church.

Make certain the polity of the church does not become a useful instrument to church bullies. Many churches have ambiguous structures and lines of accountability. Polity is weak and ill-defined. Bullies take advantage of the ambiguity and interpret things according to their nefarious needs.

Be willing to exercise church discipline. Church discipline is a forgotten essential of many churches. Bullies need to know there are consequences for their actions, and church discipline may be one of them.

Have a healthy process to put the best-qualified persons in positions of leadership in the church. Bullies often are able to push around less qualified people who have found themselves in positions of leadership. There should be a spiritually and strategically de- signed process to choose and recruit people for key leadership positions.

Have a healthy process to hire church staff. For example, an egregious mistake would be the church’s hiring of a senior staff member without the enthusiastic support of the pastor. If the pastor and new staff member do not have good chemistry, a church bully can quickly pit one against the other. A unified church staff is a major roadblock for a church bully.

Encourage a celebratory environment in the church. Joyous churches deter bullies. They like somber and divided churches. Church bullying is more widespread than we often like to admit. I hope these nine suggestions can help keep the bullies out of your church. Let me hear from you.

2 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

The List

(Sometimes two are easier than one) In January, people make resolutions anew And list the things they need to do.

In February, the list is put aside With the intentions of getting to it by and by.

In March, the list is in the back of the mind, Because of important papers people have to find.

April has come and spring cleaning has to be done, And summer vacations have to be planned for family fun.

Now where is that list on the first of May? It can’t be found and it was going to be started that day.

June and priorities arrive at the same time, But the list is not forgotten, it’s in the back of the mind.

July is here and half of the year has passed. Maybe the list can be started at last.

Then something comes up and August is at the door; And so are other things, they are coming in galore.

September has come and school has started again; And doing that list requires the help of a friend.

October has come and no help is to be found, And the hopes of doing that list are going down.

November is the beginning of the holiday cheer; And maybe the list will be done by the end of the year.

December brings in celebrations and fancy tasty food, So the list and a new list will be done in January when People are in a good mood.

Composed by Kathern Jones-Huggins-8/21/08 (Kathy Huggins)

To God be the glory!

3 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

THE FIRST ANNUAL GRACIE AWARDS The First Annual Gracie Awards (formal black-tie affair) was held at Grace UMC from 2pm-5pm, December 19, 2015.

The very elegant event commenced in the lower narthex where guests and recipients were engaged in cheerful conversa- tion while sipping non-alcoholic “champagne” and enjoying the extensive array of delicious ‘finger goodies’ served by our very own elegant, smiling youths. Older guests were seated in the library where they too were served.

The youths serving so graciously and admirably were: Maya Blagrove, Kaitlyn Davis, Samiira Hamilton, Tamia McRae and Ariel Neysmith.

After spending some time in the lower narthex, award recipients and guests walked the red carpet. They were greeted by Patricia Yarber who encouraged each person to speak a few words while they were being videotaped by Mr. James Sims. The red carpet was placed at the foot of the stairs leading to the upper narthex and the sanctuary where the presentations took place.

The program began with the opening prayer by Junior Dixon and welcoming by Donna Perez, the Mistress of Ceremony. Reverend and Mrs. Alpher K. Sylvester were seen on video also welcoming guests and recipients.

Between presentations of awards we were favored with musical selections by Mark Prentice and our own Brett Payne.

Chris Perez was the chief cameraman who pre- videotaped several persons and groups that were displayed on the big screens during the award ceremony. The video displayed individuals and group tributes to Grace Davis, Louise Coates and Dr. Melvin Hall. Most of the honorees learned they were recipients only when their names were called. The big screens showed the astounding surprise on their faces. The following honorees and presenters of the awards were: Honorees Awards Presenters Cynthia Reid Esther Courage Award Loretta Anderson Arnold Parker Honorable Trustee Award Alfred Branch Brenda Bolling Ahitophel Award Joyce Jack Grace Davis Tell it like it is Award Maureen Gill Louise Coates Tell it like it is Award Sarah Sweetwine Cynthia Reid Tell it like it is Award Tyrone Johnson Hazel McIntosh Mariam Service Award Margaret Hall Faith Williams Faithful Award Joan Thompson Antoinette Martin Dorcas Good Works Award Wylinda Byrd Melvin Hall Paul Leadership Award Barbara Payos Tonai Perez Dr. Melvin Hall Extraordinary Youth Award Melvin Hall Aquila & Priscilla Herbert & Norma Watkins Horace & Seneca Lovelace

Committee Awards were also presented by Tasha Stout, and the Staff Awards by Darryl Phills.

The very handsome young gentleman, who with ginger aplomb, escorted each recipient for their award was Isaiah War- ren.

Members that were recognized and thanked for their term of service in various committees were: Margalie Ataby, Victo- ria Bigby, Rosemarie Dunn, Evelyn Gabriel, Margaret Hall, Tyrone Johnson, Jacqueline Lane, Antoinette Martin, Si- mon McSween, Andre Morgan, Shalyn Perez, Tonai Perez, Renee Phills, Barbara Piquant, Dezlin Pitt, Lucille Pitt, Cynthia Reid, Claude Sayi, James Thomas, Sharon-Saunders-Thompson, Joylin Walker, Kevona Walker, Faith Wil- liams and Lorraine Willis.

Recipients and guests are still talking about how much they enjoyed the gallant afternoon of good cheer with many sur- prises. For the most part the recipients had no clue that they would be recognized and awarded.

Thanks to our Pastor, Rev. Alpher K. Sylvester and the awards committee that planned and executed the elegant, wonderful, and extremely enjoyable affair. The committee chaired by Shalyn Perez included the following team persons: Travis Blair, Kamiel Davis, Karen Kelly, Krystal Morris, Christopher Perez, Donna Perez, Claudia Phill, Tasha Stout and Paula Williams.

To God be the glory! 4 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

AN INVITATION TO ASK QUESTIONS OF YOURSELF, IF NEVER ASKED BEFORE by Hyacinth E. Bailey

To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science. Einstein.

There is a variety of philosophies and theories regarding how to face life's challenges, whether financial, social, relational, physical or otherwise, but there are key answers still being sought after each of those ideas and disciplines are scrutinized. These ideas did not just arise yesterday. They date back to the He- brews, the Greeks, the Romans as well as the Aztecs and Mayans and other civilizations. Questions and queries have taken many forms and directions, as different cultures come to power and different phases of human development take place. Even when we are trying to focus on God and find spiritual direction today, Christians find themselves left with troubling questions and incomplete answers. We would do well asking ourselves some more specific questions to address each of our personal needs and concerns and find in our spirit what is true for us. The idea that I want to present is that the answers are not in someone else but in ourselves, if only we would ask and listen. None of these questions will be of interest to you, unless you are a seeker - not an arguer. The first question, however, is: do we listen with our heads or our spirit. Do we think with our brain or with our heart? Today, both or- gans are being considered as having their own memory, and power to direct our decision-making and emotional approach to life.

"You are where your heart is" is a thought to consider. We have often said: My heart is not in it, and we see the result when that is the case. No commitment, no joy, no productivity. So, let's ask some heart questions. Do we? Are we? Am I? Do I? Do you?

I will only offer a few of the many questions which we could ask without getting too deep. Below I am presenting questions under different areas of life and I trust that they will trigger not just your interest but your thoughts, your clearer and wider understanding and your higher focus. I am sure that you will agree that a whole life is one which balances the health of body, mind and spirit. That is why questions will always arise and answers have always to be sought. We won't debate here. We will only question. You may double-check what the Word of God says and satisfy yourself that you are not having misleading thoughts.

Education Is my education just a certificate from a particular institution or am I acquiring skills and knowledge that will add to my earning and creative ability? Are the skills which I acquire the real skills that I need to keep moving to another level throughout my career? What are the real skills that I need to be successful in my chosen field of work? e.g. the gift of gab ver- sus critical thinking skills. If I conclude that the skills in which I am being trained are not the set that I need, how can I pursue the development of other skills rather than hope that these will work?

Relationship What is the spiritual purpose of relationships, between siblings, parents and children, spouses? Do relationships at work serve any spiritual and developmental purpose? Should you deliberately seek out relationships with people of other cultures and ethnicity, for the good of your own personal development?

Love Is love something that God orchestrates on our behalf so that 'we find the real one'? Is the experience of love a necessary experience for all human beings? How is my love experience a reflection of the love and mercy of the creator? Am I expecting out of love, what I am not prepared to give?

Continued on page 7

5 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

WHEN LIFE BECOMES A “CUL DE SAC”

“...walk worthy of God Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

Thessalonians 2:12

Cul de sac is usually referred to as a dead end street. The only way out is to make a “U” turn or back out. Using this as a metaphor of our life, if we want to change, we have to make a conscious effort which means that we have to be intentional about our decision.

We have been blessed to live to see this New Year 2016, and while making resolutions to change, it will be benefi- cial to us to determine what has enhanced our life and what has caused us too many hardships and heartaches. The question is do we want to continue doing what we are doing that has caused us grief, angst and unhappiness?

Although a resolution (according to Webster’s dictionary) is (1) a process of resolving and (2) firmness of purpose, many resolutions seem to die before February or put off until the “tomorrow” that never comes. We then find ourselves back on the same cul de sac day after day and year after year.

This year 2016, rather than make a “weak” resolution why not just stop doing what has proven disastrous and begin doing what can be spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially rewarding?

You may wonder how this can be accomplished. Well, it begins with Thessalonians 2:12 you have just read. Hopefully, that will make you curious of what other Scriptures have to say about enhancing your life and helping you to seek the peace you have always consciously or unconsciously desired.

If you truly desire to make a change in your life, you have to do better than just make resolutions that have not worked for you. So now that you have once again been blessed by being granted an introduction to 2016, what are you going to do about it?

Simple suggestions are (1) inquire with others to see if they have the same “problems,” (2) check if they would be interested in being a part of a group that addresses the problems, and (3) explore with them the Scriptures that will help the group to stay focused and determined. The ripples of positive energy generated by the togetherness will probably astound you!

As each of you accomplish your aim find creative ways to celebrate them with recognition and some sort of reward. Your strong support system will make this work.

Perhaps you can meet once a month and discuss any difficulties happening that are interfering with what the members desire to accomplish. Does this make sense to you?

Often we find that others have the same “problems” we have, and when we work together we can resolves the problems and be very supportive to each other.

Life becomes a cul de sac for many people, and they don’t know how to effect change. Some try to get out of the situation they are in on their own, but do not feel competent or capable. When like persons share with others their feelings, they may find a kind of kin- ship that helps them feel that they are not alone. It is perfectly normal to find oneself in a cul de sac –situation, and when we connect with others like us, we can help each other.

No one can possibly Imagination how powerful believers can be - working together for a common cause. And the proof of that is God says “When two or more are gathered in my name I am in the midst of them.” And there is another wonderful piece of infor- mation, and that is, if God is in the picture everything will work satisfactorily. Wow!

While this writer is wishing you a very Happy New Year, you need to know this year can bring all that you want it to be. What the year brings is up to you. There should be no “dead end” for you.

It is hoped that you will follow the “WIN - WIN" suggestions mentioned in this essay. If you do, I will be pleased to hear the good news of your delightful New Year. Please let me hear from you by calling me at 718-978-4708 or emailing me at [email protected]/

Happy New Year!

To God be the glory!

Dr. Hall’s book of inspiring, encouraging and motivating essays for readers of all ages is available by simply emailing him: [email protected]/ every home should have an autographed copy of his book.

6 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

Continued from page 5. Finances What is money? Is it something I earn, or something I create? Is money only connected to a job, or is it an energy vibration to which I connect? Apart from meeting the personal needs of myself and my family, what else is money intended for? God promises us prosperity, and we desire the same, so what is the block when we experience lack?

Personal Goals Are my goals my own or those inherited from my parents or my social environment? What generates my goals each day, each month, each year? Are they enhancing my life? Do I even set any goals? How can I connect with God to ensure that my goals are in line with God's purpose? God promises to bless the work of our hands, so what work are we doing for him to bless?

Health Could my health be affected by my everyday thoughts or obsessions? Can I forgive myself and others and find healing as a result? Should I be praying for healing or should I being praying for health (the original wholeness in which I was created)? How do I make sure that what I consume, how much I move my body, and how I think combine to keep me healthy?

Choices Are the things that I am considering as choices really worthy of me? Do I understand that whether I choose or I don't, I am still making a choice? Regardless of how painful, do I realize that my present is as a result of many of my choices?

Career Are you still thinking that a career has a starting point in a job and an ending point in retirement from that job? Are you amenable to changing careers several times in your life, or at least filling different func- tions? Do you choose yourself before an interview, ahead of being chosen by the potential employer? Have you spent any time figuring out a career path or studying career trends, before jumping in?

Management How much do you realize that you are a leader in one respect or another and that leadership is not only in the hands of a manager? Do you think that developing your leadership skills is important to you, even if you never supervise other people? If you have never been trained in leadership and people management, do you think you should be directing others?

Present Is the present really all there is? Do you understand that the present is the future of your yesterday's thoughts? In other words, what kind of future are you planning for yourself? Is your past still an albatross around your neck, messing up your present?

Past Do you know that your vision cannot affect your past only your future? Are you wasting your imagi- native capacity looking back? Is all of the past a stepping stone to the present, or could it all be a waste? What aspects of the past could you use to make a difference in the present? Future Is the future a done deal or can we affect it? How? What major move can I make today to make a difference in my future? Are my present activities aligned with what I want my future to be like? What kind of power can I exert to create a new future, different from my present? Continued on page 8

7 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

Continued from page 7.

Spirituality Is spirituality just believing that there is a God? How far does my spiritual life allow me to live supernaturally? Are we afraid to fully live from Spirit and fully connect with God?

There are other questions which you yourself may come up with and may be smart enough to answer, if you are keen enough to listen. Ask yourself at least one critical question each day and listen for the answer. The cues are there.

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GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GUIDELINES FOR UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Purpose: 1.. To show GUMC’s commitment to and interest in the continued growth and development of Its youth. 2. To motivate and encourage students at GUMC from High School Graduation through four years of undergraduate studies and/or vocational school. 3. To provide financial aid for students of GUMC as they begin studies at an undergraduate School of higher learning and/or vocational school.

Eligibility for those entering First Year of College: The student must currently be an active member of GUMC for a minimum of one year. As a member of this congregation the student must have faithfully participated in the ministries of the Church through their prayers, presence and service. Ministries include Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), Usher Board, Choir, Church School, Acolytes, Scouting, Sacred Dancers, Audio/Visual Team, Scripture Reading, or other___.

The student must show clear evidence of acceptance by an accredited post-secondary institution. The student must provide two letters of recommendation which must be included with the scholarship appli- cation. One letter must be from the Guidance Counselor or a Teacher, the second letter from a GUMC Min- istry Leader.

The student must also provide documentation ( from the school’s registrar or bursar) verifying that he /she is enrolled in the student’s college or vocational school.

Submitted by Fleur Greene, Chairperson of College Fund Ministry

8 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

This is too cool not to share:

Do you know who this is a photo of? Chances are you don’t, but don’t feel bad because probably not one American in one million does, and that is a National tragedy. His name is Eugene Jacques Bullard, and he is the first African -American fighter pilot in history. But he is also much more then that: He’s also a national hero, and his story is so incredible that I bet if you wrote a movie script based on it Hollywood would reject it as being too far-fetched.

Bullard was an expat living in France, and when World War 1 broke out he joined the French Infantry. He was se- riously wounded, and France awarded him the Croix de Guerre and Medaille Militaire. In 1916 he joined the French air service and he first trained as a gunner but later he trained as a pilot. When American pilots volun- teered to help France and formed the famous Lafayette Escadrille, he asked to join but by the time he became a qualified pilot they were no longer accepting new recruits, so he joined the Lafayette Flying Corps instead. He served with French flying units and he completed 20 combat missions.

When the United States finally joined the war, Bullard was the only member of the Escadrille or the French Flying Corps who was NOT invited to join the US Air Service. The reason? At that time the Air Service only accepted white men.

Now here is the part that almost sounds like a sequel to ‘Casablanca’: After WWI Bullard became a jazz musician in Paris and he eventually owned a nightclub called ‘L’Escadrille’. When the Germans invaded France and con- quered it in WW II his Club, and Bullard, became hugely popular with German officers, but what they DIDN’T know was that Bullard, who spoke fluent German, was actually working for the Free French as a spy. He eventually joined a French infantry unit, but he was badly wounded and had to leave the service.

By the end of the war, Bullard had become a national hero in France, but he later moved back to the U.S. where he was of course completely unknown. Practically no one in the United States was aware of it when, in 1959, the French government named him a national Chevalier, or Knight.

In 1960, the President of France, Charles DeGaulle, paid a state visit to the United States and when he arrived he said that one of the first things he wanted to do was to meet Bullard. That sent the White House staff scrambling because most of them, of course, had never even heard of him. They finally located him in New York City, and DeGaulle traveled there to meet him personally. At the time, Eugene Bullard was working as an elevator operator.

Not long after Eugene Bullard met with the President of France, he passed away, and today very, very few Ameri- cans, and especially African-Americans, even know who he is. But, now YOU do, don’t you? And I hope you’ll be able to find opportunities to tell other people about this great American hero that probably only 1 American in 1 Million has ever heard of. Terry Dunn August 28

9 GRACE NOTES January, 2016 PAT’S CORNER

Hello everyone,

Hope you’re all feeling blessed for the New Year. As you all know, February is black history month and I thought it would be nice to write about some of our black heroes that don't get much, if any, recognition.

George Crum was born in 1822 in Saratoga Lake, New York. In 1853 he became head chef at Cary Moon restaurant. One evening he was preparing french fries. The guests complained that the fries were too thick. Annoyed by their complaints, he prepared it extremely thin. He deep fried and added salt to the thinly cut potatoes. The guests loved it. It got so popular, he named it potato chips.

In 1860, George decided to open his own restaurant on Malta Avenue in Saratoga Lake, NY. He served potato chips as appetizers on each table. The restaurant was a success for 30 years. Unfortunately, he never patented the potato chip. A few years after he retired, potato chips were mass produced and became a six billion dollar business. George Crum invented the greatest snack food of all times. He lived to be 92 years old.

______

Hiram Rhodes Revels 1827-1901, lead a full life. He was born a free man in North Carolina. He was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). He was a Republican politician. He was elected as the first African American to serve in the United States Senate and was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress. He represented Mississippi during the Reconstruction era. During the American Civil War, he helped organize two regiments of Colored Troops and served as the chaplain. After serving in the Senate, Hiram Revels was appointed as the first president of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. It’s now called Alcorn State Universi- ty. ______

Patricia Era Bath born 1942. In 1964 Patricia Bath attended Howard University medical school. She discovered that Blacks were twice as likely to suffer from blindness as a result of glaucoma as whites. She felt the reason for this was lack of access to ophthalmic care for blacks or poor people. She promoted outreach programs for glaucoma screening. This helped to provide treatment for cataract patients especially the vision of the elderly people and provided glasses that would help children in school. She is best known for developing an apparatus for ablating and removing cataract lenses. A Laser treatment she called the “Laserphaco Probe”. Patricia Bath later retired from UCLA in 1993 and continues to advocate vision care outreach.

I hope you enjoyed this black history moment. Till next time and as always, Grace and Peace.

10 GRACE NOTES January, 2016

UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION 2016 class of Youth Ambassadors for Mission (YAMs)

The New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is preparing for its twelfth YAM’s annual mission trip. This year the trip is to Cochabamba, Bolivia, South America from February 12 to 22, 2016. Every year Grace United Methodist selects two youngsters, ages 15 to 17, who are active in Methodist Youth Foundation Ministry, to be a part of YAM. This year Shaneil Roberts and Sharne’ Roberts were selected to join a group of young people from the New York Annual Conference to participate in mission work in Bolivia. Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, Conference Mission Coordinator, is responsible for organizing the trips. The assignments in Bolivia will include construction of “Rios de Agua” church building, vacation bible school with children, and youth ministry. The youngsters were encouraged to read a passage of scripture, John 15:1-12 (Love each other as I have loved you), in preparation for the mission.

A total of sixteen youngster plus chaperones will travel to Bolivia, ,South America.

Shaneil and Sharne’ excited about mission trip

11 GRACE NOTES January, 2016 Grace United Methodist Church of St. Albans 200-08 Murdock Avenue, St. Albans, New York 11412 Church Office: 718-465-5621 Email: [email protected] Website: www.graceumcstalbans.org Visit us on facebook - GraceUnitedMethodistChurch Twitter - GRACEUMCStAlbans Youtube— GUMCstalbans

OUR MISSION

We, at Grace United Methodist Church of St. Albans, are a body of Disciples, committed to building relationships in Christ for the transformation of our community and beyond.

Worship Hours

Sunday School: 8:30 am to 9:30 am

Church Worship Services: 9:45 am

Friendship Circle (Seniors) Bible Study on Wednesdays at 10:00 am

Discipleship Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm

One hour of prayer every Friday at 7:30 pm

Early morning Community Bible Study with Rev. Alpher Sylvester; Monday thru Friday 6:00 am— 7:00 am.. Mid-day Prayer from 12:00—12:15pm.Dial (641) 715-3277 enter access code 549072#. If you wish to only listen, please place your phone on mute.

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