Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church |
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This Week's Latest News!
Greetings Pleasant Green Family,
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"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV
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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: "Stephen’s Martyrdom" Acts 7:51–8:1A)
(Next Sunday's Lesson: "Simon Wants to Buy Power" Acts 8:9–24)
- Join our Virtual Bible Study Class on Saturday at 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Zoom - Computer/Smart Cell Phone Meeting ID: 685 433 0718 Phone: 253-215-8782
- In- Person Worship Service on Sundays at 10:30 am and Streaming on the Church Facebook Page,
YouTube, and Zoom. It can also be viewed on demand on the
church
HPGMBC
website under
the Services Tab.
-
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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Upcoming Events
Virtual Prayer Service, Tuesday,
October 18, 6:30 pm
Call: 253-215-8782;
Meeting ID: 685 433 0718
NO Young Adult Bible Study, Wednesday,
October 19
Virtual Bible Study, Saturday,
October 22, 10:00 am
Join with Zoom using Computer, Tablet, or Smartphone or
Call: 253-215-8782;
Meeting ID: 685 433 0718
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In-Person Worship Guidance
- Sunday Service at 10:30 AM
- Church Entry 9:45 am to 10:45 AM ONLY
- Attendance Limited to 100
- Pre-Registration (Optional)- Wednesday through Friday 9 am - 6 pm (please provide name(s) and phone number(s) for all who will attend):
Email: In-PersonWorship@hpgmbc.com . or
Call (859) 321-1728
- Health Screening prior to entrance (Temperature & Questionnaire)
- Face Masks/Coverings Required
- Social Distancing ( 3 foot radius individuals or family units)
- Controlled Seating (Usher direction)
- Congregants are asked to cooperate for the Health and Safety of all
Our prayer is that we will continue to be prayerful, patient, vigilant, safe, and adhere to all of the CDC and KY COVID-19 Guidance.
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Welcome to the 40 Year Christians' Cooking Corner!
Here we will feature recipes from the 40 Year Christian Group. This week's recipe comes from Sister Linda Gates.
Blessings to all.
Sister Linda Gates, President
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Keep Your Contact Information Updated
Please keep your contact information up to date. In cases of emergencies, changes of service times, etc., every attempt will be made to contact church members as expeditious as possible using text messages to cell phones, phone calls, and emails. You can update your contact information by calling the church at (859) 254-7387.
If you would like to volunteer in assisting with contacting members on the rare occasions when information needs to be communicated to the church membership quickly, please call the church and give your name and phone number.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
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Due
to the Global Supply Chain situation, our Sunday School book delivery
will be delayed. The literature vendor, Urban Ministers, has provided
access to an online version of the lessons for October 9, 16, 23 and 30 at
urbanministries.com/September.
Contact Sister Darrylyn Combs
(859) 221-7830 for assistance.
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Today's Bible Study Lesson
“Stephen’s
Martyrdom”
Aim:
Identify the
reasons
for Stephen’s martyrdom;
Reflect
on
our reactions when our beliefs ae challenged;
and Witness
peacefully
and candidly for Christ regardless of the cost.
Background:
Acts 7:1-8:1a
Bible
Lesson:
Acts
7:51-8:1a
“And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.” Acts
7:59 KJV
Some
Highlights:
- The
Book of Acts is the second New Testament Book (the Gospel According
to Luke being the first) authored by the physician Luke under the
inspiration of God. Its title is sometimes referred to as the “Acts
of the Holy Spirit.” Acts recounts how early followers of Jesus
Christ led by the Holy Spirit spread the Gospel far beyond the
confines of Jewish life to the whole world. In Acts Chapter 6, Luke
describes the rapid growth of Christianity. As with most growth
there are growing pains, here the diversity of believers spanned
Jews who spoke Aramaic and those who spoke Hebrew. The early saints
shared their resources with each others. The widows were a group
that was specifically cared for. The Greek speaking saints
complained that their widows were neglected in favor of the Hebrew
speaking widows. There is not proof of this disparity presented,
but never the less the complaint is made. The apostles assembled
the saints to address the matter. Their solution was to have those
assembled to select seven men of a good reputation, full of the Holy
Spirit who exhibited wisdom and to assign them the responsibility of
distributing food and other resources to the widows. Meanwhile, the
apostles would devote their time and efforts in prayer and teaching
God’s Word. This solution was embraced by all and seven men were
selected. (“Everyone liked this idea, and they chose
the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit),
Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch
(an earlier convert to the Jewish faith Act 6:5 NLT).
The apostles set these
men, who were of the Greek speaking Jews, apart with prayer and by
the laying on of hands and appointed them to their task of service;
however, only two of the
seven are mentioned further in scripture, Stephen and Philip. Our
lesson today highlights Stephen’s
defense of false accusations before the Sanhedrin council and his
subsequent execution by stoning for bravely standing up
for his conviction and
belief in the Gospel.
- Acts
7:51-53,
The
Conclusion of
Stephen’s
Defense:
Acts
chapter 7 opens with Stephen’s recount of the history of
Israelites.
He begins with Abram, who was regarded as a man of faith by all of
the people of Israel. He describes Abram’s obedience in leaving
his homeland at God’s command. Abram
was told by God of
the
bondage that
his
offsprings would experience in a foreign land for four hundred years
and
that
the land he was sent to would be a permanent possession of his
offsprings,
even though Abram and Sari were childless at the time. God made this
covenant with Abram sealed
it with requirement of
circumcision of
all males eight says after birth.
God changed Abram’s and Sari’s names to Abraham (“Father of
many nations”) (Genesis
17:5)
and
Sarah (“Mother of many nations”) (Genesis
17:15).
In
their old age Issac was born to them
(Genesis
21:2-3).
Issac was the father of Jacob who was father of the twelve
patriarchs
(Asher,
Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon,
Zebulun, Judah, and Benjamin). He describes Joseph’s ordeal and
triumphs in Egypt. Jacob moved
to Egypt with his a
household
of 75 and their
numbers greatly
increased in Egypt. A
Pharaoh, who knew not the works of Joseph, viewed the people of
Israel as a threat and enslaved and
abused them.
He
recounted how Moses was raised as the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter and how he at
the age of 80 under
God’s direction, he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. In
the wilderness, Moses became the go between for God and the people
of Israel. He
described the disobedience of the people of Israel in the
wilderness, including
Aaron’s forming a golden calf as an idol god and
how they were made to wander for forty years. He also told
of how
God gave
Moses the
details for
the construction of
the
tent of meetings (Exodus
25:9-40)
which
was
the
predecessor to the magnificent temple that Solomon built (1
Kings 6).
Stephen explained that God could not be housed in a temple
constructed by
man (Isaiah
66:1-2).
This
brings us to today’s study. Stephen called
members
of the
council stubborn and stiff-neck and accused
them of having uncircumcised hearts and ears. In other words, they
may have
been
physically circumcised, but the hearts and spirit were not dedicated
to God and they refused to hear the Gospel just as their forefathers
had
rejected
the prophets sent by God (Exodus
33:3).
Stephen further accused them of not only rejecting the prophets, but
killing
them. These
prophets foretold the coming of
the
Messiah. He stated
that
they later even betrayed Jesus and murdered him using
an
illegal trial and with
false
accusations. The religious leaders heard the Law given from God, but
they were not obedient to it.
-
Acts7:53-
8:1a,
The
Death of Stephen:
Stephen’s
defense was so strong that the council could not stand it. It cut
to their very being and they became infuriated. Their anger was so
intense that they clinched and ground their teeth
together.
Today, we would say the “saw stars!” (like the way
comic
strips depict anger). As their anger kindled, Stephen under the
control of the Holy Spirit looked up to heaven and saw the splendor
and majesty of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. He
asked them to look up and see what he saw. Instead
of looking up, the council members and the witnesses screamed and
shouted, placed their hands over their ears to block out Stephen’s
words and rushed
upon him and dragged him outside the city gates, where they began to
stone him. By custom the witnesses were
to cast
the first stones in such an execution. Before beginning the
execution, they laid their outside garments for safe keeping at the
feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned, he
prayed “Lord Jesus receive
and accept his spirit (soul). Death
occurs
when the soul leaves the physical body. Stephen added to his prayer
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” In other words, he
prayed for the
forgiveness
of his executioners and then
he
fell asleep. The death of saints is merely a
state of sleeping
awaiting the time of Resurrection.
Our
lesson ends with the statement that Saul not only kept the coats of
those stoning Stephen, but he agreed and approved of the execution
of an innocent man. Saul’s experience on that day never left his
mind. Saul who later was renamed Paul became a great evangelist and
witness for the Lord himself and
experienced persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
Take
Aways:
-
Recognize
that God’s promise of never leaving or forsaking us is true no
matter the circumstances
-
Don’t
be discourage or surprised if when you share the Gospel you
encounter opposition
-
Be
prepared to forgive others even when you are intentionally
mistreated
Bible
Verses to Keep in Mind:
“"Be
strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for
the LORD your God, He [is] the One who goes with you. He will not
leave you nor forsake you."” Deuteronomy
31:6 NKJV
“"Therefore
whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My
Father who is in heaven. "But whoever denies Me before men, him
I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew
10:32-33 NKJV
“"For
if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew
6:14-15
NKJV
“But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you;” Mat thew
5:44
KJV
“Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans
12:19-21 KJV
“For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose
his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”
Mark
8:35
KJV
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Bible Lesson Study Questions
We thank Rev. Ron Jones for faithfully teaching 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). If there are Bible Study Lesson questions, you can email them in advance to Rev. Jones at rwilljones@gmail.com for discussion following Bible Study.
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Prayer Requests
- Family Brother Freddie Moody, Sr. (Los Angeles, CA) (First Cousin of Rev. Freddie Moody)
- Brother Levi Fishback (Harrodsburg Health & Rehabilitation Center, Harrodsburg, KY)
- Brother Brooks Gardner, Jr. (St. Joseph Hospital ICU Harrodsburg Rd)
- Sister Kauai Greer (St. Joseph Hospital Harrodsburg Road) (Niece of Sister Norma Johnson)
- Sister Jeanette Higgins (St. Joseph Hospital Harrodsburg Rd)
- Rev. Robert Quarles (Owensboro Health Regional Hospital )
- Sister Mary Sykes (Baptist Health)
- Sister Gloria Tompkins (Homestead Rehab Facility)
- Brother Glenn Allen (Home) (Relative of the Brooks Family)
- Sister Lanndrea Banksden (Home - Alabama) (Niece of Brother Sammie Brooks)
- Sister Eleanor Beatty (Home)
- Brother Samuel Bethel (Miami, FL) (Cousin of Brother Michael Horton)
- Brother Richard Briscoe (Home)
- Sister Bonita Brown (Home)
- Brother Byron Brown
- Brother Gary Wayne Clark (Home)
- Sister Gloria Coleman (Home)
- Sister Charmaine Collins (Daughter of Sister Debra Collins)
- Sister Gloria Conner (Home)
- Brother Lonnie Cowan (Home)
- Crutcher, Jones, & Payne Family (especially Little Brother Vince Crutcher III and Sister Brittany Payne)
- Sister Carolyn Doty (Home) (Sister of Sisters Evelyn Jones and Gloria Tompkins)
- Brother Marvin Emerson (Home)
- Rev. Wendell Emerson (Home)
- Sister Johnetta Frazier (Home)
- Brother Eric Gardner (Home)
- Little Brother Ransom Greene (4 months old) (Home) (Cousin of Sister Marva Eubanks)
- Rev. John Haddix (Home) (AZ)
- Sister Sheryl Haskins (Home)
- Sister Mary E. Jackson (Paris, KY) (Sister of Brother William Jackson)
- Brother Julian Jackson (Home) (Father of Brother Jarold Jackson)
- Sister Yolanda Jackson (FL) (Sister-in-Law of Sister Vanessa Sanford)
- Sister Norma Johnson (Home)
- Brother Vincino Johnson
- Brother John Jones (Florence, AL) (Home) (Uncle of Sisters Liz Brooks, Trina Morton, and Sobona Sweat and Brother Travis Jones)
- Sister Kay Jones (Home) (Wife of Rev. Lamont Jones)
- Brother Travis Jones (Home ) (Brother of Sisters Liz Brooks, Trina Morton, and Sobona Sweat)
- Sister Janet King (Classmate of Sister Norma Johnson)
- Sister Lindsay Leath (Home)
- Sister Lisa Leath (Home)
- Brother Everett Martin (Home)
- Sister Rita Maxberry (Home) (Sister-in-Law of Sister Dorothy Haskins)
- Sister Irene Sykes McKenzie (Home)
- Sister Dorothy Offutt (Home)
- Sister Joann Perry (Home) (Aunt of Brother Derrick Winn)
- Brother Ashley Roach
- Sister Gayle Rush-Coleman (Home)
- Sister Tamika Sales (Home)
- Brother Doug Smith (Brother of Rev. Michael Smith) (Home, Louisville, KY)
- Sister Pennie Smith (Home)
- Sister Eleanor Smothers (Home)
- Sister Delores Spencer (Home)
- Brother Adrian Tatman (Home)
- Sister Anna Tatman (Home)
- Sister Cheryl "Midge" Taylor (Home)
- Sister Kendra Taylor (Home)
- Sister Mary Thomas (Home)
- Sister Castella Washington (Home) (Texas)
- Sister Tassa Wigginton (Home)
- The Spiritual Growth of Our New Pleasant Green Members (Brother Eden Fulz and Sister Addison Jones)
- Each person listed on our Sick List
- Families affected by the Flood Waters in Eastern Kentucky
- Families affected by the Water Crisis in MIssissippi
- Families affected by gun violence in our community and abroad
- COVID-19 Victims around the world
- The People of Ukraine
- Healthcare workers, First respondents, etc.
- The Entire Pleasant Green Church Family
- HPGMBC Pulpit Committee
- Our National and our Government Officials
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your stedfast and unchanging love. Thank You for Jesus. In His Name. Amen
{Adapted from Our Daily Bread, October 13, 2022}
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EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION |
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Thank You
My Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church family and the 40 Year Christians.
Thank you so much for remembering me on my birthday. God has blessed me with so much and He continues to shower my life with blessings of family and friends like you. I’m so grateful for your prayers, messages, calls, letters, gifts, and Facebook/Instagram well wishes. They meant so much and I will keep them all in my heart. I thank God for you. God bless each and every one of you!
To God Be The Glory!
Sis Juanita Black
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Thank You
To Sister Linda Gates and 40 Year Christians Group,
Thank you so much for the gift remembering me for my 80 more years of life at this time. Very much appreciated and love that you think of me.
Love you,
Sister Ruth Gaylord
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Thank You
To Sister Linda Gates and 40 Year Christians Group,
You are a beautiful person in spirit, heart, and in mind. I truly thank you for thinking of me. May God Bless and Keep You in His Care.
Much Love,
Sister Dorothy Jones
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Thank You
Because of you,
there's someone who
is thanking God today,
Someone who appreciates
your warm and caring way,
Someone who's remembering
the special things you do
And wishing you His blessings
every day
the whole year through.
Thanks for your Acts of Kindness.
The Family of Brother Joe Grady Lewis
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Click Button for Latest COVID-19 Guidance Based on Community Level |
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Weekly Summary Report
3,392 New COVID-19 Cases, 81 Deaths, &
Positivity Rate: 7.91 %
Reported in Kentucky for
as of October 10, 2022
(190 New Cases in Fayette County for Week)
_____________________________________
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 , if you have not received the vaccine
- 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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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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