Fifth Episcopal District, CME Church

Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Presiding Prelate

LENT 2016

Join the CME Church family in prayer and fasting this Lenten Season, beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The theme of our iFast, iPray program for this year is "SWAG: Sharing, Witnessing About God".

Engage in prayer daily at 6 am, 12 noon and 6 pm from February 10th through March 24, 2016.

There will be community conference calls at 7 pm in your time zone led by the College of Bishops and General Officers on these Sundays during Lent: February 14th, March 8th, and March 20th.

The Conference Call dial-in information, the SWAG handbook, Fasting Options and the Lenten Calendar can be found at www.thecmechurch.org.

2016 SPRING CONVOCATIONS

Friday-Saturday, March 17-18 at Miles College

ALABAMA REGIONS SPRING CONVOCATION

Hotel reservation deadline is February 19th!

Click here to get registration form and schedule!

Friday, March 17th at 7 pm at Pearson Hall, Miles College

ALABAMA REGIONS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ECUMENICAL SERVICE

Calling all youth and young adults to participate!

Click here to read more!

Saturday, April 1st at Carter Tabernacle, Orlando
FLORIDA REGION SPRING CONVOCATION
Hotel reservation deadline is March 10th!
Click here to get registration form and schedule!

Bishop Snorton expresses her deepest appreciation for all the holiday gifts and greetings and the prayers for her mother!!!

Thanks to everyone who helped the Fifth District raise the second highest amount among the Episcopal Districts for Phillips School of Theology at the 2016 Pastor's Conference - $34,885.00

We had 69 pre-registrants ($5,865.00) and 16 on-site registrants ($1,360.00).
Tuscaloosa $3,900
Huntsville $4,675
Mobile $1,835
MPCO $3,100
Jacksonville/Orl $3,215
Miami/Tampa $1,815
Anniston $3,070
Birmingham $3,350
Board of Trustees members $2,700

Thanks to the Florida Region who has raised $3,545 as of January 19th for the

New Year's Offering! The offering will help the Region pay down its loan indebtedness on the District parsonages.

Outreach for Black History Month:

Support our Historically Black Colleges & Universities!

Support the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) with a gift by February 28th. The CME Church has four UNCF schools that receive grants, scholarships and other support from the UNCF. Our own Rev. Steven Hoyt is chair of the Birmingham area Faith-Based Initiative!

Click here to get a pledge form!

February is "Love Paine College Month!" Send a special "love" gift to Paine! Make checks payable to the Department of Finance and forward to Bishop Snorton's office.

Church, individual or organization gifts are all welcome!

Let's make sure OUR school remains strong!

Miles College will be the sight of our 2016 Missionary March on Friday, March 17th at 3 pm. Join us for the celebration in Brown Hall. Our goal is to raise $40,000 for Miles College this spring!

Rev. Dr. Earlie Douthard, pastor of Pine Grove CME, Eastaboga, AL recently completed her Ph.D. degree!

Rev. Valentino Hall, pastor of Greenfield, Cropwell, AL, recently completed his Associate's Degree from Wilmington Bible College of Liberty University.

Rev. Jacqueline Nance Cockerham, Pastor of New Mount Zion CME, New Smyrna Beach, Florida received a Certificate in Theology and Ministry in January from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. She was also the keynote speaker/preacher for the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in New Smyrna Beach at Old Fort Park. (see attached link)

Rev. Jacqueline Cockerham, and husband, Derrell Cockerham, recently launched a campaign against gun violence, "Word Up, Guns Down", in efforts to elevate the word of God, and reduce the need to resort to gun violence. "Word Up, Guns Down" t-shirts are available for purchase. Our goal is to also provide a Bible with each t-shirt sold. Order by clicking here!

Rev. Dr. Paul Jones (Miami-Tampa District) has completed a book The Pastorals, as a resource for bible study . It may be purchased through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Westbow Press.

Bishop Snorton, who serves as the Ecumenical Officer of the CME Church, was recently elected President of the Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC). She also begins her term as Chair of the Pan-Methodist Commission. (Click here to read the article).

ACKLIN CME CHURCH, Gurley, AL (Rev. Joe C. Kelly, Pastor) Since the Annual Conference, Acklin has added 7 new members and had 1 rededication. Acklin's local preacher, Min. Jacqueline Wilson, President of the Church Women United in Alabama, represented north Alabama and gave the meditation at the 50th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Protest Breakfast held on Dec. 5, 2015

in Montgomery, AL.

CHEROKEE CME Church, Cherokee, AL, Rev. Zethelyn Johnson, Pastor, recognized their Usher Board on January 18th. The program speaker was Sis. Doris Brazelton, President of the Huntsville District Usher Board. She spoke from 1 Corinthians 15:58, her subject was "Door Keeper for Our Lord." The Church's Usher Board President is Sis. Barbaris Armstead. Everyone had a great time in praising the Lord!

In keeping with the National Wreaths Across America initiative, CONLEY CHAPEL CME Church members under the administration of Mrs Ollye Conley placed over 140 wreaths on the graves of veterans in the Northside cemetery located on Jordan Lane in Huntsville.

MAYS CHAPEL CME, in Sipsey, AL is proud to have a new sign. Rev. Jasmine Agnew is the pastor.

In March, Rev. Agnew, Rev. and Mrs. Eric Williams (St. Paul, Russellville), Rev. Travis Chaney (Givenland/Miles Chapel) and Rev. Sandra WIlliams-Chaney (Oak Grove, New Site) will represent the 5th District at the World Methodist Evangelism's Order of the Flame Conference.

Awards

Rev. Michael Watkins, Pastor of Friendship CME in Tavares, FL, was presented with the Outstanding Ministries Award for the Fifth Episcopal District at the 2016 Pastor's Conference.

Rev. Eddie C. Richardson (pastor of Bass Tabernacle CME , Akron, AL) and Rev. Genevere Bullard-Swift (pastor of Prosperity CME, Orrville, AL) received awards and scholarships at the 2016 PST Pastor's Conference. Congratulations to them and to all of the Fifth District's students at Phillips School of Theology (Rev. Gregory Scott, Rev. Sheila Crabb Longshore, Rev. Rickdrieka Sanders, Minister Jermaine Robertson and Minister Yolanda Johnson)!

Congratulations to Yvonne Ellison, one of the youth at Phillips CME, Huntsville and daughter of pastor Rev. Keith and Mrs. Bengy Ellison! She is a member of the Sparkman JV cheerleading squad, who just ranked #2 in the nation!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February is National Heart Month! Click here to get resources to promote heart health!

Saturday, February 27th from 8:30 - 11 AM

Birmingham District Social Concerns Workshop

Southside CME Church, 713 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Birmingham, AL 35211 Church Phone: 205/458-4174 Breakfast will be served beginning at 8:00 AM!! For more information, contact Rev. Dollie Pankey or view flyer here!

Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 10:00am

African-American History Brain Brawl

Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL. In1990, James Coon conceived the Duval County-wide African American History Brain Brawl Festival when he was 15 years old. His life was violently cut short January 22, 1995. His last words were "Let me live so I can finish college. For more information visit our website at www.jlcbrainbrawl.com

Sunday, February 28th at 10:30 am

Bishop Snorton will be the guest preacher at Trinity Baptist Church, 900 Graymont Ave, West, Birmingham.

Sunday, February 28th at 3 pm

Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders' Day Program, Murray Temple, Anniston, AL

Bishops Training for Ministers and Fellowship Lunch Dates (all Saturdays)

February 13th Miami-Tampa District at Bethany, Clearwater, FL
February 10th Jax-Orl District at Allen Temple, Tallahassee, FL
March 5th, Tuscaloosa District at Bailey Tabernacle, Tuscaloosa, AL
April 16th, Birmingham District at Thirgood CME, Birmingham, AL
April 30th, Mobile District at Pine Grove, Daphne, AL (NEW DATE)

Saturday, April 23 from 9 am - 3 pm

Birmingham Region Ministry to Men Spring Retreat, Shocco Springs Conference Center. For more information, contact Rev. Pearson McGhee.

PASTORAL CONCERNS

Retired Presiding Elder Percy Jackson (Huntsville District) made his transition in December. Please keep Mrs. Jackson and family in prayer.

Mrs. Lillie Lockett (widow of Bishop Lockett) and Mrs. Lula Mae Williams (wife of Rev. Dr. Raymond Williams, lost their sister, Mrs. Ida Brown in December.

Rev. Luther Edwards, pastor of St. Mark and Shady Grove CME, Lisman, AL, lost his brother Charles in December.

Rev. Nancy Madlock, pastor of New Hope, Pine Level, AL, lost her sister in December.

Rev. Charlie Johnson, Jr., pastor of Oak Grove CME, Athens, AL, lost his father, Mr. Charlie Johnson, Sr. on December 26th.

Mrs. Judith Colbert, wife of retired pastor, Rev. Jacob Colbert (Birmingham Region), lost her mother, Mrs. Jessie K. Wilson in Berkley, California on January 29th.

Dr. Barbara Boyd, Fifth District Connectional Board Member, lost her sister, Frances Jean Bigsby Morris in early February.

Rev. O.R. Jackson (retired, Florida Region) has moved to Pennsylvania to live with his son due to health.

Rev. J.C. Davis (Huntsville District) had surgery and is now in rehab.

Rev. Donnie Craig, pastor of St. Paul, Gordonville, AL, is recovering from surgery.

Rev. Rene McKay, pastor of Miles Chapel, Reform, AL, is recovering from knee surgery.

Rev. Conway Spears (Retired, Anniston District) is recovering from surgery.

Rev. Rose Lynn Brooks, pastor of Garner-Bass, Phenix City, is anticipating surgery this month.

Rev. Larry Allen (Jax-Orl District) has been in the hospital.

Rev. Teresa McMillon, pastor of Mt. Zion, Quincy, FL, is having chemotherapy treatment.

Rev. W. Clyde Jones (retired, Tuscaloosa District) continues to recover from an illness at home.

Mrs. Valeria Echoles, wife of Mobile District Presiding Elder Desi Echoles, was recently hospitalized and will be scheduled for surgery soon.

Rev. John Pasley, pastor of Central, Jacksonville, FL asks for prayers for his father who had a stroke.

Rev. Michael Watkins, pastor of Friendship, Tavares, FL, asks for prayers for his granddaughter, Javiana Jones.

Fifth Episcopal District of the CME Church

Phone: 205-929-1145

email: cmec35203 website: cmefifthdistrict.org

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Twitter: @cme5th