Luke 15 Parable of the Prodigal Son or
Parable of the Compassionate Father
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Father's Day rarely gets the attention and hype of Mother's Day, although the celebrations are only about a month apart. Perhaps it is because in our culture, most of our relationships with our fathers are ambivalent at best. In other situations, there was no relationship with our father at all.
In previous generations, even when a father was present, fathers were to work and support the family. He was often absent from the daily routine of home and the tasks of nurturing and parenting (Thankfully this is changing for many current generation fathers). It can be a challenge to figure out how to celebrate this "absent/present", "distant", often "unknown at any deep level" parent figure.
It is clear that if we want Father's Day to have more significance, then FATHERS must be more significant in the lives of children and family. The father in the Luke 15 story give us some clues as to how to be significant. Some of those clues are:
1. Be there for your children.
2. Respect that they are individuals who have their own dreams and will often need to make their own mistakes.
3. Some of what you earn/accumulate should be invested back into your children and not just used on yourself.
4. Be affectionate, hug and kiss your children, and tell them you love them.
5. Forgive your children when they mess up.
6. Each child is different. Parent each child in a way that is consistent with his/her personality.
7. Guide your children into spiritual, emotional, educational and social maturity by precept and by example.
To all the fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!!! And may God bless all that you do to be a Father!
"Faith and Fitness" Updates
June is Men's Health Month
Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. This year's dates are June 10 - 16, 2013 but the observance continues throughout the month. The goal of Men's Health Week/Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This is a time to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Resource material can be downloaded here and visit menshealthnetwork.org.
Men's Health Awareness Month Flyer
Health Screening Checklist
The Bishop's Blog
My hip is better and I can walk again. But I am having a hard time getting back into my routine. Isn't funny how hard it is to break bad habits and how easy it is to stop good ones?
Here are some good tips to stay motivated......
- Find a covenant or exercise partner to keep you on task
- Try to exercise at the same time each day
- Vary your daily exercise routine or route to keep it interesting
- Get better informed by reading about health and fitness
- Encourage yourself, but don't be too hard nor too easy on yourself
- Chart your progress in some way (there are some excellent apps out there to help you track on your smart device)
- Accept the fact that any change you want to see in your health and fitness will require work. There is no magic pill!
NIHD and Black People Run, Bike and Swim receive VISTA Volunteers Grant to
Promote Health Programs
(APPLICANTS NEEDED)
The National Institute for Human Development (the Fifth District's faith-based program manager) and the Birmingham-based organization Black People Run, Bike and Swim have been awarded a one-year grant of five (5) VISTA volunteers from the AmeriCORPS program.
AmeriCORPS is a national organization that places volunteers in community based organizations that work to improve communities by addressing poverty, educational deficits, health and other disparities.
If you are interested in applying to be one of the VISTA volunteers, you must be at least 18 years old, able to make a one-year commitment for 35 hours per week, attend an expense-paid orientation in Atlanta in August, live in the Birmingham area, have no other income from employment, and be able to pass a background check. Applications must be completed no later than June 25th! Volunteers receive a monthly stipend for expenses and health insurance coverage. Click here for more information or to apply.
REV. KENNETH SMITH
RECEIVES AWARD FROM
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Rev. Kenneth W. Smith, pastor of the Mt. Ararat CME Church, Alexandria, AL has been selected to receive the 2013 Life Inspiration Award from the American Cancer Society. A celebration in honor of him and eight other recipients will be held Tuesday June 18, 2013 at the The Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Congratulations, Rev. Smith!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 2 Connectional Stewardess Day
June 8 Birmingham Region Stewardess Luncheon, Pell City Civic Center
June 8 Florida Region Committee on Ministerial Exam Testing Day, Carter Tabernacle, Orlando
June 30 Extended deadline for Alabama Regions Children, Youth and Young Adult Retreat, Shocco Springs, AL
July 13 Birmingham Region Committee on Ministerial Exam Testing Day, Thirgood CME Church, Birmingham
ON THE WEBSITE - www.cmefifthdistrict.org
The follow are available on our website (click above for a direct link):
- Annual Conference Information/Schedule/Registration forms
- Pastoral Report Form (NEW)
- Pastors Continuing Education Report Form (NEW)
- Florida Region Children and Youth Conference Registration
- Alabama Regions Children, Youth & Young Adult Registration
Contact Us: Mailing Address: P. O. Box 13383 Birmingham, AL 35202 Office Location: 4901 Lloyd Nolan Parkway Fairfield, AL 35164 PLEASE DO NOT SEND MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS, USE THE POST OFFICE BOX ABOVE!!! Website: www.cmefifthdistrict.org Facebook: 5th Episcopal District of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) Email: cmec35203@yahoo.com Twitter: @cme5th Office Phone: 205-929-1145 Office Fax: 205-929-1190 NEW! CME Church Website: www.thecmechurch.org |
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Congratulations Graduates!
HIGH SCHOOL
George French, III (Miles Chapel, B'ham)
Derrick Garnett (Jefferson Chapel, M'ville)
De'Ambria Harris (Williams Chapel, B'ham)
Robert Harris (Williams Chapel, B'ham)
Gabrielle Jones (Greater St. Paul, Akron)
Kyana Lowe (Southside CME, B'ham)
Julian McDuffie (son of Rev. McDuffie)
Ricky Persons (Southside CME, B'ham)
Kenya Rivers (Southside CME, B'ham)
Chris Stewart (Great St. Paul, Akron)
Toi-Shekira Young (Jackson Ch, Courtland)
COLLEGE
Stacey Beaton, Miles College, member of Stewart-Isom CME Church, St. Petersburg
Katrina Brock, College, member of Southside CME, Birmingham
Ebonee Horn, Miles College (Valedictorian), member of Acklin Chapel CME Church, Gurley
Hope McKay, University of Alabama (3.06 GPA), daughter of Revs Richard and Renee McKay (Tabernacle, Ethelsville and Miles Chapel, Reform)
Bianca Miles, University of Alabama, member of Greater St. Paul, Akron
Jasmine Parham, Lawson State Community College, member of Southside CME
James LaGrand Pierre, Miles College, son of Rev. and Mrs. Richard McDuffie)
Chasity Puryear, Alabama State University, Jackson CME, Courtland, AL
Iris Reddick, Birmingham-Southern, daughter of Bishop LL Reddick, III
Rose Reddick, Birmingham-Southern, daughter of Bishop LL Reddick, III
Jocelynn Wright, Miles College, member of St. Phillips CME Church, Ft. Myers, FL
SEMINARY/GRADUATE SCHOOL
Rev. Gloria Longstreet, M. Div., Phillips School of Theology, ITC, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Snorton.
Rev. Alford McClaney, M. Div., Phillips School of Theology, ITC, pastor of Williams Chapel, Birmingham.
2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCES MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW! DEADLINES ARE SOON! June 8 -------SE Alabama June 16------NC Alabama June 25 -----Florida June 30 -----Birmingham PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THE CONFERENCE IS JUNE 30th! DATES, LOCATIONS, SCHEDULES AND REGISTRATION FORMS are now available on our website, www.cmefifthdistrict.org, or click here! Pastors, Delegates, Visitors and ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH are asked to pre-register. There will be separate Christian Education sessions for children and youth at all the Annual Conferences. The Florida Region Children and Youth Conference will be during annual conference July 24-26 at the Conference Hotel. The Florida Young Adult Retreat will be on the Fri-Sat, July 26th-27th, following the Annual Conference. The Alabama Regions will have their Children, Youth and Young Adult Conference on August 9-10 at Shocco Springs Retreat Center, Talladega, Alabama. Registration is open for the 2013 PHENOMENAL WOMEN'S SUMMIT! AUGUST 29-31 in Birmingham  Save the Date--- August 29-30-31, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Birmingham at the Sheraton Hotel. Spread the word!! Come together in groups- churches, families, friends! Pay your deposit of $50 today! Click here to download the registration form! or visit our website for details, sponsor information and online registration www.phenomenalwomenssummit.com For highlights from the 2012 Summit, visit Pastoral Concerns Bereavement Rev. Debra Thomas (Mount Calvary, Lake Wales) lost her mother, Annie Walker. Rev. Dr. John Walker (Bethel, Sarasota) lost his mother in Virginia, Johnnie "Janice" Walker. Rev. Jacob Colbert (Metropolitan, B'ham) lost his father in Los Angeles, Jacob Colbert, Sr. Rev. Jacqueline Cockerham (New Mt. Zion, New Smyrna Beach, Fl) lost her father in Texas, Presiding Elder Andrew Nance. Rev. Mary McKinney (Florida Region) lost her sister, Lucinda Rivers and her brother-in-law, Richard Rivers within a month of one another. Rev. Charles Youman (Williams Tabernacle, Jasper) lost his brother, Robert Monroe. Rev. DuJuan Henson lost his grandmother, Alberta Adams. Rev. James Knight (local, St. Phillips, Ft. Myers) and his wife Mary lost their son Dale Knight. Mrs. Beverly Combs (SE Ala Lay President) lost her mother, Alberta McCaden. Prayers Needed - Hospitalized Rev. Glen Jones (Star of Bethlehem) Rev. Cassandra Weakley (Allman Chapel) Rev. Margaret Boudreaux (Layman Chapel) Rev. Debra Thomas (Mount Calvary) Rev. Brenda Napier (local, Jackson Chapel) Minister Dorothy Stephenson (local,Carter Tab) Mrs. Jewel Jarman (Love Chapel, Trinity) Mrs. Mary Carter (Widow, Huntsville Dist)  Thanks to everyone who send birthday greetings, love tokens and gifts to me last month! Your thoughtfulness and generosity is deeply appreciated! From Bishop Teresa Snorton.
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