Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 33 Oak Street, Springfield, MA 01109 Volume 22; Issue 9 Rev. Dr. Atu White, Pastor February 2021 WEEKLY SERVICES FOR MT. ZION TURNS 44! FEBRUARY In December 1976, a small group of Christians, mostly from We continue with virtual worship services this month, Faith Baptist Church in Springfield, decided the time and spirit no in-house services. All services will be livestreamed was right to form a new church. On February 6, 1977, the on our website, Facebook, or You-Tube, or accessible group was officially set aside as Mt. Zion Baptist Church of by phone. Here is how to access these virtual services: Greater Springfield. This month marks Mt. Zion's 44th Church Anniversary! Virtual Worship Service Let's take a look at our history--by the numbers... Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Livestreamed on Facebook.com; YouTube.com; or http://www.wearemtzion.com; or There were 42 original members. *Dial-in Number: 1-646-749-3117 Since its inception, Mt. Zion has had 4 Pastors: Access Code: 140-800-541 1. Rev. Willie Wilkerson-------1978 to 1990 If you desire special prayer or would like to join Mt. Zion, 2. Rev. Morris A. Goggins, Sr.—1991 to 1999 call the Church at 413-785-5664 3. Rev. James B. Williams-----2000 to 2008 following Sunday service until 12 noon. 4. Rev. Dr. Atu White----2010 to present ~~~~~ Prayer & Meditation Call The Church has had only 3 addresses: Wednesdays from 1. The basement of Gardner Memorial AME Church on 12 noon to 12:10 p.m. Carew Street (8 months) *Dial-in Number: 1-646-749-3117 2. 368 Bay Street (39 years) Access Code: 140-800-541 3. 33 Oak Street (our current location--over 4 years) ~~~~~ The Church has operated a Soup Kitchen for 22 years, where Virtual Bible Study over 30,000 meals have been prepared and served. Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Livestreamed on As of this month, we have published 261 issues of "THE MT. Facebook.com;YouTube.com; or ZION MESSENGER, THE GOOD NEWSletter." http://www.wearemtzion.com; We currently have approximately 450 members on the roll. We have 20 Ministries, and 5 Bible Study sessions for Men, SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORY Women, and Youth. For the month of February, the Newsletter salutes And finally, and most importantly… Black History Month. We worship the 1 and only true God! Inside this issue, look for a poem, a puzzle, several th quotations, & a couple of brief bios by, from, or Happy 44 Anniversary, Mt. Zion! about Black Americans. [More information about the Anniversary date & assessment is inside.] SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORY: A Poem by a Black Poet HAPPY FEBRUARY “Sympathy” BIRTHDAYS By Paul Laurence Dunbar February 1…………………Sis. Zyina Volkinski I know what the caged bird FEBRUARY 2021 feels, alas! February 2……………Sis. Frances Caldwell When the sun is bright on the UPCOMING MEETINGS upland slopes; The meetings listed below are February 2………………Sis. Patricia Grundy When the wind stirs soft scheduled for this month. Please read & govern yourself through the springing grass, February 2………..……Sis. Lavone Johnson accordingly: And the river flows like a Youth Bible Study February 3……Bro. Darrell Coppedge, Sr. stream of glass; When the first bird sings and Friday, February 12th February 3………………...Sis. Shana Lowery the first bud opes, at 6:00 p.m. And the faint perfume from its All YOUTH are invited to attend February 3………………....Sis. Naiya Torres chalice steals— via Zoom. I know what the caged bird Meeting ID: 893 5399 9325 February 5………….Sis. Shanice Coppedge feels! Passcode: 208710 February 11………….….Bro. Linwood Garner ~~~ I know why the caged bird beats Mancave his wing February 11……………Rev. Milton White, Jr. Till its blood is red on the cruel Friday, February 26th February 12……………...Sis. Priscilla White bars; at 6:00 p.m. For he must fly back to his perch All MEN are invited to attend. February 16……….….Sis. Narvis Handford and cling The dial-in number is: When he fain would be on the +1 (646) 749-3122 February 19………..…...Bro. Alfonso Shaver bough a-swing; Access Code: 223-542-437 And a pain still throbs in the old, Topic: “Living by God’s Design” February 21………..….Bro. Maxwell Maddox old scars Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26 And they pulse again with a ~~~ February 23……………..Sis. Desiree Sierra keener sting— She Shed I know why he beats his wing! th February 24…………....Sis. Adriean Gabriel Friday, February 26 I know why the caged bird All WOMEN are invited to attend February 25………….……Sis. Patricia Nulls sings, ah me, via Zoom. Meeting ID: 861 7008 0435 February 26…………………Sis. Delores Culp When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— Passcode: 173488 February 26……………………Min. Beth Irving When he beats his bars and he Or the dial-in number is: would be free; +1-301-715-8592 February 28………………..Sis. Faye Caldwell It is not a carol of joy or glee, Topic: “What do you see?” Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18 But a prayer that he sends from February 28………….….Sis. Patrice Caudle his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to JOINT BOARD MEETING HAPPY FEBRUARY Heaven he flings— This month’s virtual Joint Board I know why the caged bird Meeting will be held Tuesday, ANNIVERSARY sings! February 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar | Poetry Foundation All Joint Board members should February 9……….……….Sis. Phyllis Tolbert attend. & Bro. John Tolbert UBC CONGRESS OF GIVING STATEMENTS AVAILABLE Church Anniversary CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CANCELLED 2020 Giving Statements were mailed Celebration The annual session of the United to your homes the last week of Jan- Our 44th Church Anniversary is Baptist Convention (UBC) of MA, uary. If you made donations in 2020 scheduled to be celebrated on RI, & NH’s Congress of Christian and have NOT received a statement Sunday, April 25, 2021. All Education, normally held on the but would like one, please call the members are asked to give a third Saturday of March, is can- sacrificial offering of $244 celled for 2021. Church at (413) 785-5664 and leave your name and telephone number. above your normal tithes and Because of the directives from the Our Financial Secretary, Sis Phyllis offering to help mark this occa- Governor of Massachusetts and sion. You can begin paying on recommendations from medical Tolbert, will get back to you. this offering now. professionals, the UBC Board de- cided that it is in the best interest SOUP KITCHEN TURNS 22! The Church has several needs, one of which is the need for a of our members not to hold a Con- In February 1999, the Mt. Zion Baptist gress this year. The Board is hope- Church Soup Kitchen opened its doors new boiler on the historic side ful that a Congress of Christian Ed- for the first time to help feed those in our of the building. We are prayer- ucation session will be held in community who were hungry. This ful that some of the anniversary March 2022. month, the Soup Kitchen marks 22 funds will help us get one. Dea. Steve Powell serves as the years of service. Registrar for the Congress and is on Up until last year, the Soup Kitchen had CHECK OUT OUR the Board of Directors; Deaconess been opened on almost every Wednes- Wanda Powell is the UBC Con- day for over two (2) decades. The Staff NEW WEBSITE! gress Treasurer and also serves on had prepared more than 30,000 meals. the Board. Pastor Atu White is the Last year, 2020, was devastating to the If you have not already done so, 1st Vice President of the UBC Parent Ministry. Due to COVID-19 restrictions take a moment and browse our Body. and regulations, the Soup Kitchen had new, updated, website: to close its doors and was unable to op- wearemtzion.com. erate on a weekly basis. The Ministry This new website should be easier did, however, continue to provide food A New Member for you to navigate and find what Joining Mt. Zion in January was: for members’ funeral repasts. you are looking for. For instance, BRO. CHARLES WINSTON It is the prayers of the Soup Kitchen Min- on the ‘Watch Now’ page, you can istry as well as the Church at large that Date Joined: January 31, 2021 see both live and archived wor- this vital Ministry will be back in full op- Method: Restoration ship services and Bible study ses- eration again soon. Happy 22nd Anniversary, sions. The ‘About Us’ tab will allow Welcome Back, Bro. Winston! you to see names of our Leader- Soup Kitchen Ministry! ship Team, read our History, and MOBILE FOOD TRUCK view photos of various events in MLK PROGRAM the Photo Gallery. The ‘Give’ tab The Western Mass Food Bank reminds us of several ways to Mobile Food truck will be in the Last month, Mt. Zion hosted the Pas- Union Street parking lot on Friday, tor’s Council’s Annual Dr. Martin Lu- make monetary donations, while February 26th from 1:00 p.m. to ther King, Jr. Scholarship Program. the monthly Newsletter and other 2:00 p.m. The guest preacher for this virtual ser- events are on the tab labeled, vice was Dr. Kirk Byron Jones, Pastor Tell family & friends. The food dis- “News & Events.” And so-on… of Zion Baptist Church in Lynn, MA. tribution is free In short, if you want to know more and available Dr. Jones preached from the subject, to all, regard- “Living a Dream in a Nightmare about Mt.