Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church |
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This Week's Latest News!
Greetings Pleasant Green Family,
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" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." Luke 2:13 - 14 NLT
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3,388 New COVID-19 Cases & 27 Deaths Reported in Kentucky on Saturday, December 19, 2020
(151 New Cases in Fayette County)
Even with the beginning availability of the long awaited COVID-19 vaccines, it is still important and necessary to continue to practice the CDC and Kentucky Governor's Guidance and Mandates. The distribution and administration of the vaccines to millions of people is a monumental task and will take time. Meanwhile we must stay steadfast, vigilant and disciplined in the adherence of safe practices as provided by the CDC and the Kentucky Governor's Health advice in light of the continued spread of the virus. Click CDC VACCINE INFORMATION for some information from the CDC on the COVID-19 vaccines.
- Get a flu vaccination as soon as possible but getting it any time in the flu season is beneficial. VaccineFinderexternal icon to find out where to get vaccinated near you.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick, maintain at least 6 feet from others who are not from your household,
- Wear face masks when in public (Mandatory in Kentucky and is being extended on a 30 day basis until the spread is under control),
- Wash your hands frequently,
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and leave home only when absolutely necessary.
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December at a Glance
December 27 Virtual Worship Service
December 31 New Year's Watch Zoom Service (11:00 pm)
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Special Thanks and Appreciation
Our Christmas Celebration has been brightened by the labors of love of many HPGMBC Family members.
Thank you to Brother Marion Shockley, our organist, for arranging and presenting this year's Christmas Cantata. The musical selections and performance were joyous and heart warming. Thank you to Sister Delma Peoples for her beautiful narration, to Brother Brian Jackson for sharing the warm Christmas photographs from 2018 and 2019, and to Brother Cornell Canada for his faithfulness in the video recording.
Also, thank you to Sisters Dawn Martin, Bonita Brown, and Vanessa Jones for decorating the sanctuary and the front of Our Grand Old Church, Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church.
Thank you to the Missionaries and Layman for working together and adjusting their normal methods and procedures for providing Christmas remembrances to many during this Christmas Season.
Additionally, thank you to everyone, who made donations for the Missionary Pew Service and Layman Harvest In Gathering joint fundraiser on Sundays, December 6 and 13 which aided in the Christmas gifts distributed this past week.
Thank you to the entire HPGMBC staff members and church officers who are continually working behind the scenes for kingdom building. Thank you to the Sons of Pleasant Green who have faithfully delivered Messages each Sunday for our Virtual Worship Services.
This Season of Giving is enriched by our giving gifts to others which is just a reflection of the Greatest Giver of All, the One and Only True Living God, who gave to us Our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ Who afforded to us the opportunity to receive the Greatest Gift of All, Eternal Life! Thank You! Lord! ... Thank You, Lord!
"[May] The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. [during this Christmas Season]" Numbers 6:26 KJV
To God Be the Glory for the Great Things that He has done!
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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
- Radio broadcasts Saturdays 9:00 am and 3:00 pm as well as Sundays at 7:30 am on WJMM FM 99.1
(This Sunday’s Lesson:
"A Regal Response to Holy Light," Matthew 2:7-15; Next Sunday's Lesson: "Call to Prepare the Way," Matthew 3:1-12)
- Virtual Worship Service on Sundays at 10:00 am on the Church Facebook Page, YouTube, and Zoom. It can also be viewed on demand on the church website, http://www.hpgmbc.com/
- "Children's Sunday Worship" 12:00 noon. See Children's Ministry Facebook Page to Signup
- Thank you for giving Tithes and Offerings by mail or the Givelify App. Our address is:
Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church PO Box 11845 Lexington, KY 40578
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Today's Bible Study
"A Regal Response to Holy Light"
Aim: Understand how the wise men exemplify the universiality of Jesus’ mission, Recognize the God’s involvement of the events of mankind, and Join with people of every ethnicity and culture to worship Jesus, the King of all nations.
Background: Matthew 2:7-15
Bible Lesson: Matthew 2:7-15
Highlights:
- Wise men from the East journeyed to Jerusalem following a star which appeared at the birth of Jesus, the King of kings, Lord of lords, seeking the “King of the Jews.” The star represented a divine announcement and provided guidance to the location of the Messiah’s entrance into the world in human form. Because of the three gifts presented to Jesus, the number of wise men has been depicited as three; however, there must have been a caravan with the supplies needed for such a journey from the East and not just three wise men bearing three gifts.
- The arrival of the wise men caused quite a stir in the city and raised much excitement over the possibility of the coming of the promised Messiah.
- The reigning King Herod, consulted with his own wise men regarding information describing the coming of the Messiah. The prophesy revealed that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
(Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6)
- Herod anxiously invited the wise men of the East and inquired of them when the star first appeared to establish the time of the birth of this “King of the Jews.”
- Herod directed the wise men to go to Bethlehem to find the “King of the Jews” and report back to him so that he also could come and worship Him. Of course, this was deception, Herod really sought the opportunity to eliminate one whom he thought was his “rival.”
- When the wise men departed from Herod, the star reappeared and they followed it to Bethlehem to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were residing. It is believed that Jesus was about two years old when the wise men came to see and to worship Him.
- The wise men bowed down and worshipped the child Jesus and presented to Him gifts, Gold respresenting His role as King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15); Frankincense which was used to prepare incense respresenting His role as a priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:5-6); and finally, Myrrh, a valuable spice used for embalming the dead, which foretold His death on the cross for the sins of those who would accept Him as Savior. (John 19:39-40, 1 Corinthians 15:3).
- Before the wise men prepared to leave for home, God directed them in a dream to not return to Herod and they obediently departed for home another way without reporting to Herod.
- After the wise men had departed, God dispatched an angel with a message to Joseph, in a dream, to quickly arise, Flee to Egypt with his family and remain there until God instructed him to return because “Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Joseph was obedient and departed for Egypt with his family that very night. They stayed in Egypt until Herod’s death, which fulfilled the prophesy “I called my Son out of Egypt.” (Hosea 11:1)
- It is not included in our study; however, when Herod recognized that the wise men did not return as he had asked, he commanded a slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem who were two years old and younger based upon the time the star first appeared according to the wise men. Again, this slaughter was prophesized. (Jeremiah 3:15)
Some Take Aways:
- Our God, the Only True and Living God, continues to be in control of His Creation with a Divine Plan.
- Obedience to God’s directions are imperative and can mean the difference between life and death.
- We need to continually and prayerfully seek God’s Will for our lives.
- We must walk by Faith in God and not by our limited human eye sight.
Bible Verses for Consideration:
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 NIV
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms 119:105 NIV
“But Samuel replied: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 NIV
"But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV -
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Bible Study Questions
We thank Rev. Ron Jones for continuing to faithfully teach and record the Bible Study Lesson following our Virtual Prayer Services each Tuesday evening. The Bible Study Lesson is broadcast on WJMM 99.1 on Saturdays (9:00 AM and 3:00 PM) and Sundays (7:30 AM). During the month of December, Rev. Jones is taking a respite from Bible Study Lesson teaching. When he resumes in January, 2021, Rev. Jones will entertain Bible Study Lesson questions that can be discussed following Bible Study. Questions should be emailed in advance to Rev. Jones at rwilljones@gmail.com
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COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS
- The Mayor’s Mobile Neighborhood Testing Program provides public testing at no cost to the individual. Testing is available without an appointment, with both walk-up and drive-up options. As of December 9, the Lexington Fayette County Health Department reported a total of 19,464 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lexington, and 137 local deaths have been attributed to the virus.
- Free drive-thru testing also continues, through Bluewater, at Southland Christian Church, 2349 Richmond Road. Testing is available 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary.
- Bluewater, which also administers testing at Mayor’s Mobile Neighborhood Testing Program locations, is offering tests at no cost to the patient. Health insurance information may be requested, but is not required, to receive testing. Tests are available to anyone. Results are generally available in 48-72 hours.
- Additionally, through a partnership with the University of Kentucky, UK HealthCare and Wild Health, testing is available to the public at 1505 College Way and 1350 Bull Lea Road. These sites are not intended for UK student testing. Free drive-thru testing is available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., seven days a week. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting lexington.wildhealth.com.
- Drive-thru testing is also available seven days a week at the Walgreen’s testing location at 2296 Executive Drive (the corner of Winchester Road and Executive Drive). Tests will continue while test kits are available. Online registration is required at walgreens.com/coronavirus.
Finally, most private healthcare providers are offering testing options for their patients. Urgent Care Centers are also offering COVID-19 testing.
For information on more testing sites go to: lexingtonky.gov/COVID-19.
Bluewater Diagnostic Laboratory has been recognized by the state of Kentucky for expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Based in Mount Washington, KY, they are committed to be an industry leader in cutting-edge instrumentation and testing methodologies.
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IN-PERSON WORSHIP STATUS
The HPGMBC Joint Board met as scheduled on Saturday, October 24, to assess the safety of resuming In-Person Worship Services. With prayerful consideration of the current COVID-19 Virus infection rate and the composition of our membership, it was decided to not resume In-Person Worship Services for the remainder of this year. The Joint Board will reassess the situation in January, 2021.
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Prayer Requests
- Family of Sister Nancy Bond (Cincinnati, OH), who went home to be with the Lord last week (Sister Shirley Jones' cousin)
- Family of Sister Benita Peoples, who went home to be with the Lord on Saturday ( Rev. Samuel Peoples' wife)
- Sister Nannie Caise (Home) (Sister Norma Johnson's mother)
- Sister Gwen Johnson (Home)
- Rev. Jonathan Morehead (Home)
- Brother Sam Prather (Northpoint Healthcare) (Sister Tassa Wigginton's brother)
- Chris Sykes (VA Hospital - Cooper Drive)
- Sister Gloria Tompkins (Homestead Rehabilitation Unit)
- Sister Eleanor Beatty (Home)
- Benjamin Brown, Jr. (Home) ( Sister Bonita Brown and Ben Brown's son)
- Paul Coffey (Home)
- Sister Dorothy Offutt (Home)
- Sister Delores Spencer (Home)
- Brother Jack Sterling ( Home) (Sister Alyce Emerson's brother)
- Brother Larry Leath and family (Recovering from Surgery, FL)
- Sister Thelma Wright (Home) (Brother Carl Wright's wife)
- Residence of Homestead, Pine Meadow and other Nursing Homes
- Each person listed on our Sick List
- COVID-19 Victims around the world
- Healthcare workers, First respondents, etc.
- The Entire Pleasant Green Church Family
- HPGMBC Pulpit Committee
- Our Nation and our Government Officials
Heaven Father, Thank you for giving us Salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ! In His Name. Amen
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YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
- If you have not completed the HPGMBC In-Person Re-Opening Survey, please click SURVEY and complete it. In preparation for in-person worship services, the Re-Opening Committee would like each member to complete the survey.
- In an attempt to expand the options for communicating information to HPGMBC Family Members, if you have a cell phone, please complete the Cell Phone Information Form for yourself and encourage others to do the same.
- Volunteers are needed to assist in the HPGMBC Online/Virtual Communications Ministry. Some of the needed knowledge and skills are Facebook and/or YouTube live streaming, video recording, video editing, general computer use, etc. If you are willing to assist, please click and complete this Contact Form. Thank you in advance for your willing spirit to help in Outreach and Kingdom Building.
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