12 Hours in The Throne Room

Have you Prayed Today?

The 4th Episcopal District Leadership under the direction of Rev. C is asking all persons to participate in a Prayer Vigil. Each church is asked to consecrate 3 hours and every local, area and district officer 12 hours.

The schedule for the vigil is as follows:

6:00am - The Hour of Doxology: Believers in Praise

7:00am - The Hour of Repentance: Believers return to God; for personal sin, for sins of the church, for sins of the nation.

8:00am- Prayers for the Church: Local, denominational, the persecuted church, Bishops, Pastors, leaders.

9:00am - Hymns of Prayer: Led by Ministers of Music

10:00am - Teaching on Psalms of Prayer

11:00am - Teaching on the Lord's Prayer

Noon - Holy Communion: Presiding Elders

1:00pm - Alter Call for the Sick - Women in Ministry

2:00pm - Blessing of Children (birth to 17 years): Local Pastors

3:00pm - Teaching on Spiritual Warfare

4:00pm - Prayer for the Nations

5:00pm - 100 Men in Prayer

Tis The Season for Giving - Why not Give JESUS

Mount Zion Enid Evans WMS provided a fully cooked Thanksgiving meal with Turkey and all the sides for three families in the Battle Creek Area. The families who received the meals were very appreciative and were so grateful to receive the food.

The Enid Evans WMS also have other events planned for this holiday season including providing candy for all of the Calhoun County Jail inmates for their Christmas gift baskets. Handing out Christmas cards to all person who they visit over the holiday season in the assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Visiting all of the sick and shut-in and the churches care list and giving them poinsettias and Christmas cards for the holiday. Providing 6 families with Christmas dinner baskets which will include either a turkey or ham and all the trimmings and of course desert. And lastly, contacting the local jail to get Christmas wish list for children of parents who are incarcerated and providing a toy for them for the holiday.

Keep these missionaries in your prayers as they spread the love to all and GIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS this Christmas!

BREAVEMENT NOTICE

Sis, Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, President

Michigan Conference Branch W.M.S.

The Michigan Conference Branch WMS extends sincere condolences

to the family of Sis Cenobia Brantley,

Mother of Sister Pamela L. Osborne, 1st Lady of the South District

Missionaries, please remember this bereaved family and keep them in your prayers.

Services are:

Friday, December 5, 2008

Family Visitation - 10:ooam

Homegoing Service - 11:00am

Services Held at:

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church

5251 East Outer Drive - Detroit, Michigan 48234-3404

phone 313-372-1270

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to:

Swanson Funeral Home. Inc.

1451 W. McNichols Rd.

Detroit, Michigan 48235

Phone 313-272-9000 - Fax 313-272-4494

Expressions of love, cards or flowers can be sent to her daughter

Sis. Pamela L. Osborne

19512 Canterbury Rd. - Detroit, Michigan 48221-1881

NO FOOD PLEASE

Battle Creek Area Meeting UPDATE!!!

The location for the December 13th Battle Creek Area Meeting has been changed from Trinity AME Church in Lansing to Mt. Zion AME Church in Battle Creek. The meeting will still begin at 9:00am. Mt. Zion AME Church is located at 364 West Van Buren Street at the corner of West Van Buren and Cass street. The church phone number i s
269-962-8907 if you need any further information. Please spread the word regarding the change of location for the meeting.

Battle Creek Area Meeting Scheduled

Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 13, 2008 for the Battle Creek Area WMS Meeting. The meeting will be held at Trinty AME Church in Lansing, Michigan, 3500 W Holmes Rd Lansing, MI 48911 from 9:00am - Noon. Our newly appointed Area Chairperson, Ms. Rosa Moss-Hargrove will be overseeing our elections of area officers for the 2008-2009 conference year. Please come out and support our new leadership and also get valued information regarding upcoming conference and district initiatives.

4th District WMS Worship Director to Speak

Mrs Kathryn Blake, District Missionary President of the CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal)Church has extended an invitation to our very own 4th Episcopal District WMS Worship Director (Mrs. Mishca R. Smith) to be the keynote speaker at their 22nd Annual Christmas Celebration of the Mid Michigan District Women's Missionary Society.

The event will take place on Saturday,December 6, 2008 from 11:am - 2:00pm. The event will be held at the Burnham Brook Community Center (Main Dining Room) 200 West Michigan Ave. Battle Creek, Michigan 49015 (269)965-6000. Tickets are $25.00 per person (youth 10 and under $10.00). You can contact Mrs. Dara Evans (the local Missionary President of St. Mark CME Church in Battle Creek) at 269-965-1249 to purchase your ticket.

The theme for this year's celebration is "What Child is This", Luke 2:1-20. The CME District Missionary Society is asking all participants to bring personal items to the luncheon for their missionary outreach project.

Please come be a part of this event and support our District Worship Director as well as our fellow Sister Missionaries from the CME Church.

Battle Creek Area Chairperson Named

Please join me in welcoming Rosa Moss Hargrove as the new Battle Creek Area Chairperson.

The first Battle Creek Area Meeting will be held Dec. 13 from 9 AM to Noon at Trinity AME Church in Lansing, Mich.

Battle Creek Area members, please contact Sis. Rosa at 517.896.2867

Blessings,

Rosa Moss Hargrove, Battle Creek Area Chairperson

Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, Michigan Conference WMS President

Fall Executive Board Meeting Postponed

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The Michigan Conference Executive Board WMS Meeting has been Postponed for November 22, 2008 in Benton Harbor and rescheduled for February - date TBD per the President.

President Elect Barack Obama

November 4, 2008 @ 11:00pm est the United States of America elected the 44th president of our union. The peoples choice was former Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
This years election was of historic proportion because Senator Obama is the 1st Black President elected in the history of the United States. With the world watching, millions of people were hoping and praying that this great nation would get it right. When you look at the 200,000 + people assembled in Chicago's Grant Park and the thousands of people in the streets of Harlem, New York and on the campus of our Historic Black Colleges and Universities as well as the street of sunny California, one can say we got it right. The pictures of white, black and brown persons side by side with tears in their eyes hugging each other and celebrating was a sight to see. Looking at the crowds celebrating reminded me of how European countries celebrate their elections. The people are engaged, they understand the importance of getting the right political representation in office and they remain integrated in the process and the politics.
The United States, as a relatively young nation, is on the horizon of this paradigm change in how our citizens engage in the political process. No longer can we sit down and think that it is someone elses problem. We must get involved, stay involved, be engaged, mobilize, speak out, debate and hold accountable our elected officials for the direction of our country.
As an African American I am excited about what I witnessed on November the 4th beginning at 7:45am when I first arrived at my polling location. For the first time since I have been able to vote I had to wait in line. My wait was 1-1/2 hours but I did not mind. There was a sense of community and excitement that I had never experienced before. There was laughter and discussion from people from all walks of life. After the polls closed and the results began to come in the mustard seed of hope began to grow and at 11:00pm it blossomed into a wonderful beautiful mosaic.
So, Yes We Can and Yes We Did....now the true work begins.
In the days and months ahead, continue to keep President Elect Obama and his family in your prayers as well as our country. There is a lot of healing that needs to occur in our nation and there are many crisis's on the political front. We must remember that President Elect Obama is still just a man and there is only so much that he can do but with God all things are possible.
God Bless Everyone!!

Peace,
Mishca R. Smith

Congratulations to Our New District Officers from The Michigan Conference

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
We are rested from the planning meeting and excited about the work that God has put before us through our Holy Ghost anointed Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, our Episcopal Supervisor. We all returned exhausted from working so hard and needed last week to catch up.

At planning meeting, we were pleased to learn that Joyce Keys Garrison (joycekeys@att.net) was elevated from 1st VP of the Michigan Conference to President of the 4th District WMS. Sis. Garrison is the first lady of Vernon Chapel AME in Flint. She is gifted, and will be a blessing to Rev. C and the 4th District. In addition, Mishca Smith (mishcamr2@aol.com) , first lady of Mt. Zion AME Church in Battle Creek and Mich. Conf. Member-at-large was elevated to 4th District Worship Director. Sis. Smith blessed us with a powerful Bible Study lesson out of the book of John. Lastly Michael Cousin, Jr.(mr_ypdprez09@hotmail.com), formerly Mich. Conf. YPD President, was elevated to 4th District YPD President. Anyone who has ever met Michael know that he has a great calling on his life. He is a leader of people, a fine young man who is destined for great things. He is a member of St. Stephen AME Church in Detroit where his father is the Pastor.

Please join me congratulating all of or new District Officers. All I can say is "eyes have not seen nor ears heard that which the Lord will do." Let us keep them lifted in prayer and let us give them the full support of the Mighty Michigan Conference.

Please join me in welcoming Sis. Ruby Frazier (rubyknit@comcast.net), who so graciously agreed to serve as the 1st Vice President of the Michigan Conference. Sis. Frazier is a hardworking missionary extraordinaire out of Trinity AME Church in Lansing. We thank God for Sis. Ruby willingness to accept this assignment in a season of transition and change.

The early bird registration deadline is approaching for the Connectional Executive Board Meeting January 28-31 in Louisville, KY. The cost is $220.00 (early bird registration) if you register by Nov. 7; it goes up to $270 if you register between Nov. 8 and Jan. 4. You can save $50 if you register now. The hotel is $99.00. Below are links to the registration form and the agenda. You can access from the www.ame-church .com web site under news and events. Area Chairpersons, please spread the word and call each of your presidents or churches to make sure they have the information. Fax it, mail it, e-mail it or blog it, but get the word out so we can get the count up. We want to support Dr. Bella Parker, 2nd VP of the Connectional WMS and Michigan Conference member, who presides over the workshops. http://www.ame-church.com/news-and-events/wms_2008-exec-board_registration-form.pdfhttp://www.ame-church.com/news-and-events/wms_2008-executive-board_agenda.pdf

On Saturday, Nov. 1 the Ann Arbor Area was organized and seeds were planted to start a new WMS society at Campbell AME in Whittaker, as well as a YPD. We thank Area Chairperson Bonita Cowan Tucker for her enthusiasm and excitement for the work of Missions. Look for more news in the coming days.

Blessings,
Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, President
Michigan Conference Branch
Women's Missionary Society

Pray Without Ceasing for Sister Mary Hatter

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ:

Our beloved Mary Hatter and her family need our prayers in a mighty way. Sis. Mishca has just sent an e-mail that she is on a respirator and that she is not doing well.

Paul tells us to pray for one another and to pray without ceasing. As you go about your day today, when you take a moment to sip some water or a cup of coffee, lift up Mary Hatter. As you stand in line waiting to handle business, lift up Mary Hatter. As you prepare to pick up the phone to make a call, lift up Mary Hatter.

Instead of spending 30 minutes watching a television show, take that time and pray for Mary Hatter and the Hatter family. Call others and ask them to pray with you.

We know the prayers of the righteous availeth much. Pray in the Spirit....whatever your Spirit leads you to pray for Mary, Pastor Hatter, her children and grandchildren -- but pray without ceasing today for Sis. Hatter.Diana, Mischa and Karen -- please post on your blogs.Area Chairpersons, please spread the word.Ms. Dee -- when you have a moment, please send out through your database.

Blessings,
Jackie

Michigan Conference Branch WMS Officers 2008-2009

President

Jacqueline Robinson

michconfwmsprez@aol.com

313.255.1315 (home) 313.671.6620 (cell)
St. Matthew AMEC

Central Detroit Area

1st VP

Joyce Garrison

joycekeys@att.net

810.787.9376 (home)
Vernon Chapel AMEC

Flint Area

2nd VP

Joyce Johnson

joycefirstlady@aol.com

734.459.0218 (home)
Bethel AMEC

Central Detroit Area

3rd VP

Tywanna Johnson

Johnson_tywanna@yahoo.com

313.835.3664 (home)
Oak Grove AMEC

Central Detroit Area

YPD Director

Rosita Brockington

rcbrockington@aaamichigan.com

313.341.3430 (home)
St. Stephen AMEC

Central Detroit Area

YPD President

Michael Cousin, Jr.

mr_ypd_prez09@hotmail.com

734-676-6713 (home)
St. Stephen AMEC

Central Detroit Area

Niles Area Chairperson

Carolyn A. Graves

Cargo48@sbcglobal.net

269.925.6963
Union Memorial AMEC

Flint Area Chairperson

Karen Davis

Kadcad@msn.com

248.327.6922

Quinn Chapel AMEC

Ann Arbor Chairperson

Bonita Cowan-Tucker

bcowantucker@yahoo.com

734.604.0274

Bethel AMEC

Central Detroit Area Chairperson

Carol Griffin

loracgriffin@hotmail.com

313.273.6156
Ebenezer AMEC

Battle Creek Area Chairperson

TBD

Worship Director

Carla Hines

Philip Chapel, Muskegon

Battle Creek Area

Recording Secretary

Darlene Jackson

Ebenezer AMEC

Central Detroit Area

Corresponding Secretary

Delores Clements

Smith Chapel, Inkster

Ann Arbor Area

Treasurer

Orletta Caldwell

St. Stephen AMEC

Central Detroit Area

PME Director

Nikki Skipper

Trinty AMEC, Lansing

Battle Creek Area

Historiographer/Statistician

Audrea Hudson

Parks Memorial AMEC

Ann Arbor Area

Web Master

Diana Psalms

Quinn Chapel AMEC, Flint

Flint Area

Flint Area Member-At-Large

Geraldine Peterson

Betel AMEC, Saginaw

Ann Arbor Member-At-Large

TBD

Niles Member-At-Large

Georgia Boggs

Franklin AMEC

Battle Creek Member-At-Large

Mishca R. Smith

Mount Zion AMEC

Central Detroit Member-At-Large

Sharon Brumfield

Oak Grove AMEC

A MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF OUR WMS PRESIDENT

September 30, 2008

Dear Pastors, WMS and Michigan Conference Officers,

Greetings is the Mighty and Magnificent name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is with the Joy and the abundant Love of Jesus that we, the Women’s Missionary Society and Young People’s Division of the AME Church, send this communication of introduction.

On August 19, 2008, the Elections for the Michigan Conference WMS were held. Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Supervisor of the 4th Episcopal District, presided. Several new officers were elected on that day. The new President is Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, a long-time member of St. Matthew AME Church in Detroit where Rev. Gloria J. Clark is Pastor. Jackie has served in the WMS and YPD on the District, Conference, Area and local levels of the WMS and YPD. We thank Almighty God for the return of Rosita Brockington as YPD Director. As many of you know, she is a long-time member of St. Stephen AME in Detroit, where Rev. Michael Cousin is Pastor.

It is with joy that we introduce the new 1st Vice President, Joyce Keys Garrison, First Lady of Vernon Chapel AME in Flint. We are blessed to have Joyce Johnson, First Lady of Bethel AME in Detroit, return as 2nd Vice President. And the 3rd Vice President -- also new -- is Tywanna Johnson, who serves faithfully at Oak Grove AME in Detroit.

The Area Chairpersons appointed for the 2008-09 Conference Year are:
Carolyn Graves (Union Memorial AME) returning as Niles Area Chairperson, Karen Davis (Quinn Chapel AME)returning as Flint Area Chairperson, newly appointed Bonita Cowan-Tucker (Bethel AME), Ann Arbor Area Chairperson; and newly appointed Carol Griffin (Ebenezer AME), Central Detroit Area. The Battle Creek Area Chairperson will be in place on or before Oct. 1.

Our Area Chairpersons are excited and on fire for God! We invite you to check out the Flint Area Blog at http://flintwms.blogspot.com and Battle Creek Area Blog at http://battlecreekwms.blogspot.com, where you can receive current information on District, Conference and Area news.

For the first time ever, the Michigan Conference has an elected Web Master, Diana Psalms, who is a member of Quinn Chapel in Flint. She is overseeing a team that includes Shaunese Cable (Greater Quinn AME in Detroit); they will post the Michigan Conference WMS Blog next week and produce a Website shortly thereafter.

We are excited to serve as the Michigan Conference Branch WMS officers for 2008-09. We ask for your prayers as we seek to serve Almighty God, and to serve Him, and only Him, in a More Excellent Way! We know that God can do all things and that if we submit to His will and His power, we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us.

A more complete and detailed Roster will be sent to you shortly but we have included contact information for the officers.

To God Be the Glory for the things He has done and for the great things He will do!

In His Service,

Jackie Robinson
President, Michigan Conference Branch WMS

Mount Zion AME Church - Enid Evans Missionaries Plant Trees

Members of the Enid Evans WMS and Mount Zion YPDers (along with two very helpful able bodied men) planted three trees at the Battle Creek Lelia Arboretum. One evergreen tree, one crab apple tree and one silver/blue spruce were planted on Saturday September 27th. Saturday was a beautiful day to be outside and revel in God's glory. All who participated had a wonderful time playing in the dirt while helping to beautify our plant. We all learned a great deal from the resident master gardener (horticulture specialist) Stacy who is employed by the Arboretum. Please enjoy the above pictures that really tell the whole story.

PLANT A TREE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The National Public Lands Day is September 27, 2008. Checkout publiclandsday.org to see the 11 sites identified for the state of Michigan. Join forces with the National Environmental Education Foundation to help beautify our surroundings. The Battle CreekArea WMS is in luck because our site is the Leila Arboretum located at 928 W. Michigan Ave. Join Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church Missionaries from the Enid Evans Women's Missionary Society as we join forces with the National Environmental Education Foundation and the 2008 Tree Planting Initiative to make the National Public Lands Day a success. Plant a tree, make a difference.

Don't Listen to Kermit...It is Easy Being Green

What is Your Carbon Footprint? Are you killing the earth with that plastic water bottle you purchase everyday? When is the last time you planted something back in the earth other than to beautify your own house? These and many more questions should be asked of ourselves on a daily basis. Our planet needs our help and we need to listen to what it is saying to us. Think about the waste that comes from just your household and what affect it has on the earth. Are there items that we purchase or habits that we have that could be changed to give our Eco-system a break? Here are a few suggestions and some related articles to get you thinking about how easy it is to BE GREEN.

• Change the light bulbs in your house to Compact Fluorescent


• By the New Eco-Friendly Grocery Bags and stop using the paper or plastic options


• Don't buy that high price water in a Plastic bottle. Your tap water is better for you. Cleaner and safer also.


• Car-pool to reduce carbon emissions (especially on hot summer days)


• Plant a tree. It gives you something beautiful to look at, provides shade, gives the birds and squirrels a new home to live in, helps to change carbon monoxide to oxygen and a host of other earth-friendly benefits.


• Ride your bike or walk more often.


• Build a compost and produce some of the most fertile soil for your garden.


• Plant a garden.


• Buy recycled products. Look for items that are produced using Green technology and made from Green material.


• Make sure all of your major appliances are energy efficient and have the ENERGY STAR logo on them.

Check out the following Green living sites to get some other great ideas.

Recycling & Reducing Waste

Composting 101

Going Green in Your Bathroom

Easy Ways to go GREEN

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Green Living Glossary

4th District WMS - Required Reading 2008-2009

Read, Research, Reflect, Respond!

The nine books on the list help us to begin to inform ourselves as we pray to become effective Missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Create reading Clusters/Circles of 5 persons with whom you can dialogue and gain fresh perspective. Discuss specific writings at each local/area/conference/district meeting.

Make Missions meaningful through enlightenment. Enjoy The Journey.

Let the Holy Spirit Guide you. You will know where you should begin. Some may read together. Others a chapter at a time. And then others will have to read and come back what you previously read. You say you DON'T HAVE TIME? Turn off the TELEVISION, YOUR CELL PHONE and REMOVE YOURSELF FROM UNNECCESSARY CHATTER. 15 minutes here and ther will lead to hours of inspiration. "Trust the Process." Rev.C

Haiti

The country of Haiti has been in the news lately because of the devestation that hurricane Gustov caused for its citizens. As I am typing this post another Hurricane (Ike) is in the Carribean and headed for Haiti. Reports coming in from Gonaivies, Haiti state that all the roads in this city have been washed away and this is making relief efforts difficult. Please read the following news article to further educate yourself with what is needed to assist with relief efforts...
related articles

Study to Show Thyself Approved

The 4th Episcopal District WMS is doing a new thing. Under the anointed leadership of Supervisor, Rev. Dr. Cecilia Williams-Bryant, we will study to show ourselves approved. All Missionaries are asked to study and memorize the following bible versus by the October 2008 Planning Meeting scheduled to convene in Rosemont, Illinois.

We are Fierce, Faithful, Fabulous, Favored

We are equipped for SUCCESS by being:

• Patient: Hebrews 12:1 & Romans 15:5
• Understanding: Philippians 4:7
• Truthful: Proverbs 12:19
• Compassionate: Matthew 9:36
• Cohesive: Psalms 133:1
• Loyal: Ruth 1:16-18
• Sincere: 1 Peter 2:1-2
• Commitment: Psalm 37:5
• Focus: Psalm 119:37
• Open-minded: Galatians 3:28
• Prayerful: I Thessalonians, James 5:15 & Ephesians 3:14-16
• Self-Care: Romans 12:1 & Ephesians 6:11
• Resourceful: Phillipians 4:19
• Love: I Corinthians 13:1

In addition we will focus on a year long study of the Gospel of John.

We are excited about reading the word of God and look forward to having the word of God read us.