This Week at EWHBC               October 31,  2015

The Pastor's Message

"Halloween, Martin Luther, and Grace"

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)
 
Halloween is now a distinctly American holiday.  It is second only behind Christmas in terms of the amount of revenue it generates for U.S. businesses in sales of candy, costumes, greeting cards, movie sales and other forms of entertainment.  However, when Halloween began, it was a church observance instituted in the year 835 to counteract pagan practices.  It was known as "Hallows Eve."

"Hallow" in old English means "holy" or "sacred" (as in the Lord's Prayer, "Hallowed by Thy Name"). "Hallow's Eve" or "Halloween" simply means the "evening of holy persons" and refers to the evening before All Saints Day, which is November 1 on Roman Catholic calendars.

However, some of the early practices associated with this holiday were questionable.  For example, people were taught that by paying a fee for a Halloween viewing of relics from the Saints -- like locks of hair and bone pieces - that they could quicken their entrance into heaven.
 
Needless to say, this didn't set too well with some, including Martin Luther.  And so on Halloween, 1517, he tacked his 95 theses to the door on the Castle Church in Wittenberg.  Luther's timing was intentional.  In his theses, he challenged the Halloween practice and many other teachings of the church. 
 
Overall, Luther's teaching was that it was by God's grace, not by relics, papal pardons, or good works that we are saved.  As it is written, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).
 
On this "Hallows Eve" let us not only eat lots of candy, but let us also thank and praise God for his grace which sets us free!
 
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Kip Banks, Sr.
Fall Back & Come to Church!
Tonight don't forget to set your clock back by one hour.  Thank God for the extra hour of sleep and make certain to make your way to the East Washington Heights Baptist Church for Sunday School at 9:30 am and our 121st Anniversary service at 10:45 am. Dr. Robert Cochran Executive Minster of the DC Baptist Convention will be our guest preacher. 


Food Pantry Donation
On Sunday, October 25, 2015 sister Viola Collier-Jones, an East Washington Heights Baptist Church neighbor, made a significant contribution to the church's food pantry.  Ms. Colllier-Jones organized a walk-a-thon and utilized the proceeds from the walk-a-thon to purchase items for the food pantry. 

The East Washington Heights Baptist Church food pantry is affiliated with the Capital Area Food Bank and dispenses food to persons in need every 3rd Thursday of the month and serves over 100 families.  Please contact Dea. Yvonne Burke at the church office (202-582-4811) if you'd like to volunteer with the pantry.
Prayer Conference Call
Please join us for our daily (Monday-Friday) prayer conference call. These 10-minute calls are a great way to start your day and include a daily scripture lesson.  Please join us at (641-715-3272; access code: 732413#
Pastor Banks Honored by DC Laymen
On Saturday, October 17, Pastor Kip Banks was honored by the DC Laymen of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. at a banquet that was held at the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church of Washington, DC.  Rev. Keith Byrd, Pastor of the Zion Baptist Church was the guest preacher.

Pastor Banks was honored for his service as Interim General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Banks served as the Interim operational manager of the convention as the convention searched for a full-time manager, and was replaced in September by Dr. Timothy Boddie.  The Progressive National Baptist Convention is the church convention of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SUNDAY'S EVENTS
121st Church Anniversary
9:30 a.m Sunday school
10;45 a.m. - Devotional Service
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service & Communion
12:30 p.m. - Anniversary Reception
12:30 p.m. - Connection Small Group Ministry
 
WEEKLY EVENTS
COMBINED CHOIR REHEARSAL -Tuesday, November 3 - 7:30 pm
REVIVAL - Wednesday, November 4 - 7:00 pm
CLOTHES CLOSET - Thursday, November 5 - 10:00 am
REVIVAL - Thursday, November 5 - 7:00 pm
YOUTH REVIVALFriday, November 6 - 7:00 pm
WORKDAY Saturday, November 7 - 9:00 am
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOARD - Saturday, November 7 - 10:00 am
CHILDREN & YOUTH CHOIR REHEARSALSaturday, November 7 - 12:00 pm

"The News" Newsletter

Click here for our November monthly newsletter including a message about gratefulness and highlights from our 2015 Annual Women's Day.
East Washington Heights Baptist Church | 202-582-4811 | www.ewhbc.org
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