The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns Addresses the Importance of Voting

The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church addresses the importance of voting in this historic election year. The ability to vote is our constitutional right which many persons fought, marched and died for over the decades. We encourage everyone to register to vote in a timely manner, participate in the electoral process and upcoming congressional, state and local elections, and to vote for a presidential candidate of your choice . Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008. It is more important than ever to get out and vote and to get others to vote. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2004 the voter turnout rate for African Americans was 60% and over 9 million eligible African American voters did not vote. Together we can make a difference by increasing awareness and participation in the voter registration process. We encourage our members to be engaged in voter registration efforts and education drives in our local churches around the United States, and getting people to the polls on Election Day. For additional information concerning voter registration for your state and/or the deadline to register, please visit www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves, is a 137-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to the four CME colleges is a seminary, Phillips School of Theology, which is an affiliate member of the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA). For additional information about the denomination, visit http://www.c-m-e.org/ .

For additional information, contact:
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.
Chairman, Commission of Social Justice and Human Concerns
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Telephone: 323-294-3830
E-mail: ninthhq@sbcglobal.net

PURPLE HURRICANE DAY AT THE CHAPEL

The public and all Purple Hurricane fans are welcomed to join The Chapel Family on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. for "Purple Hurricane Day." The service will be held at Holsey Chapel C.M.E. Church at 515 East Suwanee Street. We will be recognizing the accomplishments of our students whether they are athletic as a member of the team, band participants providing the outstanding music, the cheerleaders who keep us focused in knowing that "We are #1", or students and former graduates of Fitzgerald High School. In addition to the students, parents, coaches, teachers, staff, and administration are also invited to attend. Everyone is expected to be dressed in the celebration colors of "purple and gold."

SED Christian Training Institute (9/12-13/2008)

Concept

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, extends this gracious invitation to all:  "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me" (Matthew 11:29).  If we are serious followers of Jesus Christ, we are willing to do all we can to "learn" of Him.  It is in keeping with the Lord's invitation and the seriousness of our faith that the Christian Training Institutes of the Sixth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church have been developed.  In the most accessible manner possible, they intent to provide meaningful teaching and training experiences for all members of the church.  The concept is to provide a "school" for church members in a way that would bring the "school" to the members.  Ten geographical areas have been selected where the Institutes are to be conducted.  Those persons living in and around these areas are invited to attend the Institute nearest them.  The staff to conduct the school and the instructors to teach from across the Episcopal District have been selected.  Five Institutes will be held in the Fall of 2008 and five in the Spring of 2009.  The Institutes will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening and close at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  --excerpt from 2008/2009 CTI Guide (C.M.E. Sixth Episcopal District)

We attended the session on September 12-13, 2008 at Everette Temple C.M.E. Church, Tifton, Ga.  We appreciate the hospitality extended by Pastor Rev. James N. Greene, Jr. and the members of Everette Temple.  The plan was well executed by our local Dean Matthew Conyers and Assistant Dean Glendora P. Ryce.  Further, we appreciate the smooth operation led by local Registrar Betty Parson.  Our Presiding Prelate, Bishop Othal Hawthorne Lakey, left the Paine College Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies in Augusta, Ga. and journeyed through North, Middle, and South Georgia to meet us in Tifton thus showing his commitment to the programmatic effort and his personal support of our educational success.  We found his depth of scriptures and their Biblical and historical context fascinating and intriguing.  You probably already know that the Psalms are a Hymnbook of the Bible.  But did you know the five books of Psalms and that each closes with a doxology to God.  Attending this session, you will be amazed of his transliteration and translation of Hebrew.  We are blessed to have his leadership and more importantly his example of inspiration meeting preparation.  It was our welcomed experience to participate as an instructor for the Elective Course No. 10-107110, "Negro Spirituals:  The Stories They Told and the Faith They Declared."  We pray that He is pleased with our praise!  We congratulate those who attended and celebrate the graduates who were awarded a Diploma in Christian Training for having earned a total of fifteen credit hours over a three-year period.  Finally, we thank you Presiding Elders Robert L. Yarbrough (South Georgia Moultrie-McRae-Brunswick District) and Carlton Mahone (South Georgia Albany-Thomasville District) for your leading this Region of the Sixth Episcopal District in a spirit of TEAM.

HOPE--September 2008

Welcome to the September 2008 edition of HOPE -- Holsey Chapel CME's Monthly Newsletter. Click here for your copy and please share as we seek to be willing vessels for His service. If you know of others to be added to our email distribution list, please reply with the names to ministry@cmefitzgerald.org. Also, know that you can always find up-to-date information about our church at http://www.cmefitzgerald.org/. We look forward to online fellowship with you and yours. Articles included in this month's edition: "Women in White" Celebration; Tribute to Mrs. Otha L. Pettigew; Ministry Feature: Christian Education; Ecumenical Methodist Conference Year Kick-Off; Celebrating Our Faith: Bishop Lucius Holsey; "Family Night" at The Chapel; In The Connection--Missionary Society; 2008-2009 Official Church Board; Student Spotlight; Chapel Business - Attendance & Church Conference Highlights; Sunday School Update.