Alzheimer's Awareness Month

November is quickly coming to a close. What a blessed month it has been! We didn't want to close this month's blog postings without recognizing that November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. This month we want to recognize and honor those who are living with Alzheimer's disease, as well as their families, friends and caregivers.

Many Americans dismiss the warning signs of Alzheimer's believing that these symptoms are a part of normal aging. They are diagnosed too late and miss the opportunity to get the best care possible. This is of even greater concern for African-Americans, who are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than whites.

It may be hard to know the difference between age-related changes and the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. To help, the Alzheimer's Association has created this list of warning signs:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgement
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Change in mood of personality

If you or someone you care about it experiencing any of the 10 warning signs, please see a doctor to find the cause. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and plan for the future.

Source: www.alzheimers.gov

DeVeaux Thanksgiving

Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam trust that you and your family had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving holiday.They were pleased to have their children and their spouses and 14 of their 15 grandchildren visit them at the Episcopal Residence in Mclean, VA. The children who live in MD, KY, GA and NC enjoyed "Pam Pam's" delicious food, playing football, and thanking God for ALL their glorious BLESSINGS!

 Bishop DeVeaux & grandsons

Dr. Pam & granddaughters

2 year old Joshua

who refused to be in any group photos

 To God Be the Glory!

Gaston Chapel AME

On Sunday November 18, 2012 Episcopal President D. Faye Conley "went home" to Gaston Chapel AME Church in Morganton, NC to speak for the Annual Day of the Fleming, Avery, Caldwell, Wilkins Women's Missionary Society.

Sister Gloria Chambers, President D. Faye Conley, Pastor Gwyndolyn Benjamin,
WNCC President Frances Hope, Local President Jacqueline Conley Kanipe

God's Name be Praised!!

Western North Carolina Conference Branch President Frances Hope was the speaker for the afternoon service. Congratulations to Gaston Chapel AME WMS on your Annual Day!

Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam pray that your heart be glad and your home be happy at this joyful time of thanksgiving!

Let us always be aware that all gifts come from the Lord, and we shall serve His heavenly will in everything we do.

Congratulations!

Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam, on behalf of  the entire Spirit-filled Second Episcopal District, would like to congratulate our beautiful and talented 2012 DORCAS winners.

2012 DORCAS WMS

Class A

Ms. Sandra Boswell

Virginia Conference

Betherl AME Church (Hampton)

Class B

Ms. Lulu Marshall

Washington Conference

First AME Church (Gaithersburg)

Class C

Ms. Frances Smith

Baltimore Conference

Mt. Olive AME Church (Worton)

Congratulations!

Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam, on behalf of the entire Spirit-filled Second Episcopal District would like to congratulate our beautiful and talented 2012 DORCAS winners.

2012 DORCAS YPD

Class A

Miss Breonna Massey

Baltimore Conference

Bethel AME Church (Baltimore)

Class B

Miss Akilah Jones

Baltimore Conference

Grace AME Church (Catonsville)

Class C

Miss Montasia Phillips

Baltimore Conference

Allen AME Church (Thomastown)

Ward AME

Sunday November 18, 2012 the Women's Missionary Society of Ward AME Church in Washington, DC celebrated its Annual Missionary Day where the Reverend Roger Hall Reed serves as senior pastor and Dr. Shirley Cason Reed is the first lady.

Dr. Pam with the Ward AME WMS

Rev. Reed and Connor Harris (Bishop & Dr. Pam's grandson) enjoy a fellowship moment

Capital District Conference

November 15-17, 2012 The Capital District Conference hosted by Reverends Harry and Serita Seawright was held at Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywinie, Maryland. Presiding Elder Douglas organized the conference around the theme: "New Paradigms for Ministry: Developing Healthy and Growing Churches." The opening sermon was preached by Bishop DeVeaux. The choir inspired and the liturgical dancers were awesome.

Flashback Friday

General Conference 1996. Beautiful memories.....

To God Be the Glory!

Meet Your WMS Officers Series

D. Faye Conley

President

Washington Conference Branch

Women's Missionary Society

D. Faye Conley is a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, growing up in Gaston Chapel AME Church, Morganton, North Carolina (Western North Carolina Conference), where she held several offices. She is a lifelong member of the Women's Missionary Society.

She was appointed President of the Second Episcopal District Women's Missionary Society, effective July 3, 2012. She served as President of the Washington Conference Branch WMS since 2004. An educator, she implemented several workshops in the WMS, including one for "new and not so new local presidents." Conference outreach activities during her tenure include Taking it to the Streets, working with Food & Friends and providing Thanksgiving dinner for 250 families.

Having served as First Vice President, she coordinated the first 12 Reconsecration and Recommitment Prayer Breakfasts for the WCBWMS. She also served as Recording Secretary. Sister Conley has also coordinated the Prayer Luncheons for the 2 Second Episcopal District WMS Retreats under Supervisor Connie Richardson.

She is presently a member of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland where she serves as Chair of the Pauline Tate Mattison Scholarship program under the Dolly Desselle Adams Missionary Society. She also directs the Men's Ensemble and the Agape Choir. Under her leadership as the Director of Christian Education, the first Family Conference was held in 2007. She has developed and delivered several workshops including Leadership Development, the Order of Worship, Hymns of the Church and Mapping the Vision.

The immediate past local WMS President, she made history by being the only local President to serve for 8 years. During the 8 years, she was successful in increasing the membership, adding several associate members, and raising the awareness of missions by engaging the Society in several Community outreach projects. Included are: Community-wide Back to School Bashes, providing a weeks worth of food to at least 30 families during November and February, providing monthly SHARE packages to church members and members of the community, providing bag lunches to the Montgomery County Emergency Men's Shelter that  is now a monthly dinner program where 60 to 200 men are fed each first Saturday, and initiating a monthly hymn sing-along at a Montgomery County Nursing Home.

Sister Conley has also held various local, Conference and Episcopal District Lay Organization positions. Along with serving as Washington Conference Lay Organization Director of Lay Activities, she completed the SED term of Sister Florence Johnson Warren when she elected to the Connectional Lay Organization. She contributed a module on spiritual gifts to the most recent Lay Study Guide contributed and various modules to the Lay Study Guide (2004-2005). The module on High Impact Lay Organization contributed to the Lay Study Guide Supplemental and Supplement has been widely-used across the AME Church. She has served Chair of the Evaluation Committee for the last four Biennial Conventions of the Connectional Lay Organization. Most recently, she was invited to present Parliamentary Procedure during the 3rd Regional CLO Training session for the 1st and 2nd Episcopal Districts in Wilmington, DE.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she also minored in Philosophy and Education. 

She is a member of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless and has served on committees with the Montgomery County chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

She has held several technical management positions at the IBM Corporation and Black Entertainment Television. She has also worked as a Training Consultant. She served as Volunteer Coordinator with Habitat  for Humanity (Columbia, Maryland) under the AmeriCorps program. Newly-elected Connectional WMS President, Shirley Cason-Reed asked Sister Conley to join her in the WMS office as Office Manager. Prior to that she was the part-time Church Administrator at First AME Church.

"God has given us the power to stir up the gifts that are in us."

Hello Readers! 

We hope that you are enjoying our recently launched blog. We trust that you are finding the posts informative, entertaining and thought provoking. Our main purpose for this blog is to improve the communication between members of the 2nd District WMS , pastors and lay using innovative technology. We want to stay connected and committed. We would love to hear from you. Please share the exciting happenings at your local churches in the form of articles, fliers, pictures, etc. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks.

Please submit to: drpamdeveaux6@aol.com

To God be the Glory!

Celebration of a Life Well Lived

On Monday November 12, 2012 the home going service was held for Mrs. Annette Jones at St. Paul AME Church in Washington, DC.  Mrs. Jones was regarded to many as a friend, a leader, and a mentor. The capacity filled sanctuary was a tribute to a woman who described her time on earth as ,"A Life Well Lived". Speakers from the organizations she supported spoke glowingly of her tenacity for excellence. Program participants included Bishop and Mrs. William P. DeVeaux, Reverends Lee Washington, Harry Seawright, Ronald Braxton, Presiding Elder Louis-Charles Harvey, Mrs. Jackie Dupont Walker, The Comfort Choir, and Sister Selerya Moore. The Reverend Constance Evans, the host pastor, was the worship leader and Presiding Elder Douglas delivered the morning eulogy. Mrs. Jones will be missed, but we are comforted in knowing that she is now resting in the sweet arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dr. Pam & Mrs. Jones last month at St. Paul AME

Pilgrim AME Church

On Sunday November 11, 2012 Dr. Pam brought the word at Pilgrim AME in Washington, DC as the WMS celebrated its Annual Day. Reverend Wendell O.E. Christopher is the senior pastor.  The worship was spirit-filled and the fellowship was warm. Pilgrim AME is a church "United and Committed to Love and Serve God and His People" (Matthew 22:37-39).
 

Hear our Prayer....

God's Name be PRAISED!!!

Dr. Pam is greeted by one of Pilgrim's beautiful babies--Miss Mariah





Sister Annette Jones

I am saddened to announce the passing of Sister Annette C. Jones who  faithfully and ably served African Methodist in numerous capacities at the local church, Episcopal District and Connectional levels in the Women's Missionary Society, the Connectional Lay Organization and CONN-M-SWAWO, Plus P.K.'s.  Moreover, she was a devoted mentor and cheered friend.

Services will be held on Monday November 12, 2012 at Sister Annette's beloved St. Paul AME Church located at 4901 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. The Viewing will begin at 9:00 a.m. until time of Service at 10:30 a.m. Internment will follow at Harmony Memorial Park in Landover, Maryland.

Expressions of condolence can be sent to Sister Annette's nephew:
Mr. Jonathan Gibson
5422 2nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011

~Rev. Dr. Constance C. Evans, Senior Pastor
(202) 882-7088
(202) 291-8693 (F)

Tribute to our Veterans from Bishop William P. DeVeaux

Chaplain John A. DeVeaux, Sr.
Father of Bishop William P. DeVeaux

I am the son of a World War II and Korean Conflict veteran. My father went away to serve his country and our family lived with my grandmother until he came home safely. In 1969, it was my turn to join the service men and women as a part of a generation's war. For me it was Vietnam. It was also my brother John who also served a long and industrious career as an AME Army Chaplain and also served in Vietnam and retired as a colonel.

The reasons for each war may be different but the effects on families are the same. Separation, anxiety, loneliness and disruption are critical problems resulting from military service.  As the season of Veteran's Day approaches on November 11, 2012 we African Methodist surely mourn the loss of those brave fighters who have paid the ultimate sacrifice; and support families who are separated from loved ones.

Now, the county is again engaged in combat, this time in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are obliged to seek out those contemporary warriors and invite them to our houses of worship where they can find fellowship, comfort and safe sanctuary. Many of today's returning vets suffer with mental health illnesses, substance abuse, poverty and homelessness. Clearly these conditions are not easily or quickly addressed. Nevertheless, I pray that we find ways to provide those who have served abroad and those who protect us at home with an affirming place in which to rehabilitate their lives.

Finally, I would like to express proud gratitude to the men and women of the 2nd Episcopal District who have given the best of their service for us and future generations. Sir Winston Churchill's tribute to the English solider of WWII: never have so many owed so much to so few, probably best pays homage to our military veterans. We should be grateful and join together in saying God Bless you and thank you again to those stalwart servants.

Senator Ben Cardin

While casting votes for the presidential race last Tuesday, Marylanders also went to the polls to elect a U.S. Senator. Incumbent Democrat Ben Cardin won by a "landslide". The race was called almost immediately after the polls closed. Congratulations to Senator Cardin.

Bishop DeVeaux & Dr. Pam welcomed Senator Ben Cardin to Mid-Year Conference

RE-ELECTED!

  E. Gail Anderson Holness, Commissioner

  Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B11 

Government of the District of Columbia

On behalf of the 2nd Episcopal District, Bishop DeVeaux & Dr. Pam extend CONGRATULATIONS to Rev. Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, Pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church, Washington, DC.

To God Be the Glory!

"I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started.  But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place. 

"Today is the clearest proof yet that , against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests. 

"There's a lot more work to do. But for right now: Thank You".

~ President Barack Obama

Election Day 2012

Happy Election Day! TODAY, remember what others endured so that you can vote safely. 

Mid Year 2012- Pictures

Bishop DeVeaux & Dr. Pam are welcomed by 

Rev. Grainger Browning & Rev. Jo Ann Browning

Dr. Pam is welcomed by the beautiful WMS Conference Presidents 

and Ms. D. Faye Conley, District President

 Volunteers collected hundreds of cans of food for SEDWMS outreach-

The Capital Area Food Bank

Participants in the Dorcas Celebration

Mid-Year Conference Highlights

The Spirit-led and Holy Ghost-fed Second Episcopal District celebrated with absolute joy its 2012 Mid-Year Conference November 1-3, 2012 . Highlights of the conference included:

• The Reverends Grainger and Jo Ann Browning along with members of Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, MD hosted the Mid-Year Conference with exuberance, excitement and excellence!
• Business, education and political expressions were offered at the Welcome Service. Congressman Steny Hoyer offered heartfelt greetings. A festive reception was held and opened to all.
• The Ebenezer AME Choir led by Minister Byron Cage inspired, the newly organized Clergy Family Singers (CFS) under the leadership of Mrs. Irene Montague and direction of the Reverend Dana Ashton amazed and Bishop Clement Fugh blessed the people with his anointed word, "The Incomprehensible Excess of God's Goodness."
• Presiding Elders Douglas, Harvey, Dunn, Hilton, Pridgen, Wilder, Morris, Beatty , Montague, and Hunter shared reflective insights with the Bishop in a closed session.
• Plenary Session "We Will Vote, We Will Be Heard", moderated by Rev.Wendall Christopher and composed of a panel of political activists was informative and stimulating.
• Component/Ministry meetings were convened and held to formulate guidelines to enhance its organizationzal objectives, goals and outcomes.
• The Dorcas Extravaganza under the leadership of District president, D. Faye Conley and chairperson, Mrs. Shirley Sheares was a financial, creative and spiritual success. The Young Women's Initiative organization had complete leadership of the evening's entertainment and provided hilarious insights of the WMS (i.e."You know you are an AME when you plan your trip around the locations of Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans or Golden Corral.")
• The participation, prayers and love of the Connection leaders who reside in the District- namely, Dr. Shirley Reed, Mrs. Frieda Johnson, former supervisors Yvonne Parks and Rev. Rowena White and Judicial Counsel member Glenda Hodges was much appreciated.
• Precise reporting at the closing session on Saturday morning by the component and ministry groups.
• Appointment of District Historian- The Reverend Charles Sembly.

To God Be the Glory!

Monday Morning Prayer

A Prayer for Health and Healing

Father, I come boldly before Your throne to obtain grace to help in the time of need. I have confidence in Your word, and I take hold of Your promises to heal me. According to Isaiah 53:3 and 1 Peter 2:24, I resist sickness and disease. I speak with my mouth and believe in my heart that I am healed of sickness and disease.

Your word says that Jesus bore all my sickness and diseases, and He carried my sorrows, so I receive healing now, I know and declare that Jesus is my healer. I give You all the praises for providing everything I need to walk in wholeness.

Satan, I declare to you in the Name of Jesus that you have no authority over me.  According to Matthew 18:18, I bind you from operating against me in any way. My life is hidden in Christ. You have no power to bring any part of the curse upon me. 

Now Father, I worship You. I give You reverence. I confess with my mouth that Your word will not return to You void. I praise You for Your protection and for Your goodness upon my life. I thank You that Satan is unable to penetrate that. Thank you for bringing total healing to me. Your word says whatever I ask in the Name of Jesus will be done for me. So I declare this is done. My healing is complete. AMEN

American Diabetes Month is a time to raise awareness of diabetes prevention and control. In the United States, more than 25 million people are living with diabetes and 79 million more are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Over time, if it's not controlled, type 2 diabetes can cause serious health problems including heart disease, stroke and blindness. Yo may be at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are overweight
• Are over 45 years old
• Exercise less than 3 times a week
• Have high blood pressure of high cholesterol
• Are African American, Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native or Asian American
• Have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes

Good news! You can do a lot to lower your chance of getting type 2 diabetes by:

• Eating healthy
• Watching your weight
• Being active
• Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol

Please visit www.stopdiabetes.com for more information and resources.