Western North Carolina Conference Closing

Bishop DeVeaux & Dr. Pam were extremely pleased with the success of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. The business was productive and the praise was powerful! The final day consisted of recognizing the deceased and the retired during the morning memorial service followed by the conclusion of official business. 

The evening event was the Ordination and Commissioning Service presided over by worship leader Presiding Elder Conrad K. Pridgeon. The service was highlighted with worship through mime and music and powerful preaching by guest preacher, Bishop John F. White, Sr. Presiding Prelate of the 18th Episcopal District.There was the ordination of three new itinerant deacons and three itinerant elders, including one deacon being re-directed. The evening would not have bee complete without words of thanks from our illustrious Supervisor, Dr. Pam, who encouraged the new ordinates toe "BUST LOOSE"! The Lord's name be praised!

Mime, Praise & Worship, Bishop John F. White, Sr.

Business, Ordination, Praise & Worship

Special thanks to Brother Geoffrey Tate for providing daily conference updates and pictures for use on our blog. 

Always Remember. Never Forget.

Memorial Day Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

With a sober heart we come before you this Memorial Day. We pause for a moment and call to mind all the men and women who have died in the service of our nation.

Dear God, please look with mercy on our brave and selfless brothers and sisters, who did not shirk from their tasks but gave themselves completely to the cause of defending and protecting us all. Bless all who have given their lives for the sake of our liberty, and grant them eternal rest with You.

We remember also our brave men and women now serving in our Armed Forces, both at home and abroad. Dear God, send out Your angels to protect them all. Help them discharge their duties honorably and well. Please bring them safely home to their families and loved ones. Please bring Your peace and mercy to our troubled and challenging world.

We ask this, Father, in the name of Jesus, Your precious Son.

Amen.

Western North Carolina Conference

Day 2 of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference began with devotion and meditation followed by the conference institute presentation on financial and investment scams targeting churches and individuals. The Mid-Day Refreshing Service conducted by the Western North Carolina Conference chapter  of the Women in Ministry featured Rev. Debra Smith. Rev Smith preached "Shake Well Before Using" taken from the second chapter of Haggai.

Powerful Praise and Love Overflowing

The evening concluded with the Annual Lay Witness Service featuring a service of music worship and liturgical dance highlighted by solos by host pastor, Reverend Gregory L. Edmond, St. Paul AME, Raleigh, NC.

Our 2nd District YPD Worship Leader, Alexis Morton (granddaughter of Bishop DeVeaux & Dr. Pam) delivered 37 care packages to the 2nd District Incentive Shelter in Raleigh, NC.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

~Psalm 34:8

Western North Carolina Annual Conference

Wednesday May 22, 2013 was the official opening of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference with clergy and delegate roll call followed by the opening worship service. Rev. Tony Boone preached with conviction and power from 2 Timothy 1:1-9 using the topic "Timothy, You Can Do This." The evening service was preached by Rev. Henry Davis whose text was taken from 2 Samuel with the sermon title "You Gotta Keep it Movin'." The evening ended with the recognition of the Eastern and Western Men of the Year and the Bishop's Business/Professional and Community Service Awards.

Bishop DeVeaux, Men's Night  Award Presentations

To God Be the Glory!

Western North Carolina WMS Day

The day began with roll call and business sessions in the morning. A mid day luncheon followed that featured recognition of unsung heroines and scholarship awards to college bound YPD'ers. The marvelous evening Night in White service was highlighted with the annual capping and pinning ceremony which recognized 61 new missionaries and associates. The guest speaker was our very own 2nd District Episcopal Supervisor, Dr. Pam DeVeaux, whose sermon was taken from John 4. The sermon title was "Your Condition is not Your Conclusion." The message was powerful and well received. To God be the Glory!

Dr. Pam, Beautiful Missionaries, Awards Luncheon

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

~Mark 16:15

Western North Carolina CDMC

The Christian Debutante-Master Ceremony is the official activity under the auspices of the CDMC, a solemn religious service whereby the young honorees in their period of transition celebrate their new adult status in the church. The Western North Carolina Conference hosted its CDMC in Fayetteville. The event was well attended and a great success. Congratulations to our beautiful and talented young people! Thank you to our adult leaders and many volunteers.

Honoring our Debutantes, Masters, Sub Debs/Masters and our Allenites

 

Motto: Daily Magnify Christ

NC Conference Lay Day

Lay Witness Day began with a spirit-filled noonday service with Rev. Gaylain Barbour as the guest speaker. Next on the agenda was a tribute to Presiding Elder Larry Hilton by the Northern District, with a plea to the Bishop to return him for another conference year. The night concluded with the The Sermon in Song featuring the Liturgical Group and Mime Troop, SHP Youth for Christ (Sand Hill AMEC), Brother Abdue Knox, the Ne St. John AMEC gospel choir. What an awesome day we had praising and celebrating the great things God has done!

Recognition of Lay King, Queens & Advocates, Mime, Sister Valerie Bell

In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path

~Proverbs 3:6

North Carolina Conference- WMS Day

The Annual WMS Day for the North Carolina Conference included an effective business session, the election and installation of 2013-2014 conference year officers. The morning session was followed by a wonderful President's Luncheon honoring outgoing WMS President Barbara Vaught, who served with grace and dignity and is well respected by all. The day concluded with the official passing of the torch between outgoing president to the new president, the official capping ceremony and last but not least, the Night in White featuring our own Episcopal Supervisor Dr. Pam DeVeaux as guest speaker.

Beautiful hats ladies! St. Mark AME - Rocky Mt. Praise Team

 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD, Praise the Lord!

~Psalm 150:6

Congratulations to our new NC Conference YPD Officers

President: Brandie Simmons

1st Vice President: Tyson Love

2nd Vice President: Justin Shear

3rd Vice President: Lael Clark

Recording Secretary: Jenaria Tart

Financial Secretary: Lauren Massenburg

Communications Secretary: Matthew Fox

Historiographer/Statistician: Chase Aiken-Brown

Parliamentarian:  Demarcus Stewart

Worship Leader: Elijah Jenkins-Hall

Editor YPD Newsletter:  Lori Pittman

Associate Editor:  Alexis Smith 

YPD Mission Statement: The Young People's Division (YPD) under the leadership of the Women's Missionary Society provides meaningful youth training programs and opportunities for leadership experience in all areas of the church life. By providing training in Evangelism, Christian Social Relations, and Education programs the YPD is designed to connect youth more fully to the mission of the church and increase knowledge of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

YPD Motto: "Grow, Glow and Go for Christ"

YPD Day North Carolina Conference

What a fabulous and blessed YPD Celebration we had at St. James AME Church in Kinston, NC! Highlights of the day included an effective business session, powerful praise team worship and the election of our 2013-2014 YPD officers.

St. Luke-Fayetteville-Praise Team, Rev. Howard L. Johnson

NC YPD Pres. Brandie Simmons, Juanita Wills, Esq & YPD Pres. Eddie Scott, Installation of  new officers
Ms. Annette Dockery, NC Conf. YPD Director, Dr. Pam makes remarks

"Grow, Glow and Go for Christ"

No gift on earth is greater,

No treasure held above,

The joy that comes from knowing,

A Mother's endless love.

In spite of how it's tested,

It grows from year to year,

Providing Strength and comfort....

It "gently" draws us near.

It warms and it protects us,

And guides us from afar.

Shedding light upon us,

Like a bright and shining star.

And when all things are measured,

Not one shall rise above,

Or be compared in value

To a Mother's Endless LOVE.

~unknown

Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam would like to wish all mothers a WONDERFUL & BLESSED

Mother's Day!!!

Bereavement Notice

We are saddened at the passing of our beloved Rev. Brian H. Thomas, pastor of Wright's AME Church, Elkton, MD, the husband of Rev. Dawn Thomas and father of their daughters, Tamikia Reddick and Shakeisha Reddick.

The Celebration of Life Service for Rev. Brian H. Thomas will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2103 at St. John AME Church, 810 N. Carrollton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217. The Wake has been scheduled from 10:00 AM-11:00 and the Worship Service will begin at 11:00 am. Dr. Frank M. Reid, III will be the Eulogist.

The Elkton Maryland viewing will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Wright's AME Church, 125 Booth Street, Elkton, MD 21921. The Baltimore viewing will be held on Friday May 10, 2013 from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Vaughn C. Green Funeral Home East, 4905 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212.

Expressions of Love and Condolences can be sent to:

Rev. Dawn Thomas

3506 Elmora Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21213

443-912-7440

preachergirl707@yahoo.com

Submitted by,
Dr. Joan Wharton
Pastor, Evergreen AME Church
Baltimore Conference

Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Month. This year's theme is Pathways to Wellness.

Key Messages:

• Wellness-it's essential to living a full and productive life. It's about keeping healthy as well as getting healthy.
• Wellness involves a set of skills that prevent the onset or shorten the duration of illness and promote recovery and well-being. Wellness is more than just the absence of disease.
• Wellness is more than just the absence of disease. It involves complete general, mental and social well-being. The fact is our overall well-being is tied to the balance that exists between our emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health.
• Whatever our situation, we are all at risk of stress given the demands of daily life and the challenges it brings-at home, at work and in life. Steps that build and maintain well-being and help us achieve wellness involve a balanced diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, a sense of self-worth, development of coping skills that promote resiliency, emotional awareness, and connections to the family, friend and community.
• These steps should be complemented by taking stock of one's well-being through regular mental health checkups and screenings. Just as we check our blood pressure and get cancer screenings, it's a good idea to take periodic reading of our emotional well-being.
• Fully embracing the concept of wellness not only improves health in the mind, body and spirit, but also maximizes one's potential to lead a full and productive life. Using strategies that promote resiliency and strengthen mental health and prevent mental health and substance abuse conditions lead to improved general health and a healthier society: greater academic achievement by our children, a more productive economy, and families that stay together.

For more info please visit:

Source: http://mentalhealthamerica.net

VA Annual Conference

The Virginia Annual Conference was well attended and a great success! Thursday May 2, 2013 we continued with business sessions and workshops. We had a wonderful  Mid-Day Refreshing Service as  guest preacher, Reverend Gwendylon Minor broke the bread of life.

We capped off a full day with the Lay Witness evening service with our dynamic guest speaker, Sister Valerie Gary Bell, Second Episcopal District Lay President. We are so blessed to have such talented lay working in our church!

The conference concluded with the Ordination/Commissioning/Closing service. Highlights from the evening included the ordination of new deaconesses as well as new local and itinerant deacons. The Rev. Dr. George F. Flowers, Secretary/Treasurer AME Church Global Witness Ministry preached with power! His sermon topic was "Fragile Handle with Care" reminding us that God is the potter and we are vessels of clay molded as God sees fits, taken from Jeremiah 18:1-7. What an awesome word!

VA Annual Conference WMS

We had an exciting and soul stirring Night in White with the beautiful ladies of the VA Conference WMS.  Bishop DeVeaux, Supervisor Dr. Pam DeVeaux,  Connectional WMS President Dr. Shirley Cason-Reed and WCB/ WMS President Ms. D. Faye Conley were all in attendance as we recognized and honored the work that the missionaries of the VA Annual Conference are doing to serve the church and community. To God be the Glory!

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

~Psalm 96:3