SBC LA News! 04.03.2022

April, the fourth month of the year, has a few important dates that I want to call to your attention. These dates are observed each year as they remind us of the importance, significance, and value of the Christian Faith; we as believers in Christ, have come to appreciate, embrace and practice.

Sunday, April 10 is Palm Sunday. This incident is found in all of the Gospels, (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19). The essence of Palm Sunday is about accepting Jesus' offer of himself as the "One who comes in the name of the Lord." The implications of that for our lives are simply astounding as we receive the Lord for who the Lord is to each of us.

Monday, April 11 through Thursday, April 14 will be Holy Week Services. We are still meeting virtually due to the structural damage to our sacred space. Our staff ministers will be preaching each night at 7:00 pm via zoom as follows:

Monday, April 11, Barbara Melancon
Tuesday, April 12, Venus Butler
Wednesday, April 13, D. Marie Battle
Thursday, April 14 Maundy Thursday, Ernest Young

We will close this service with communion on zoom.

Friday, April 15 is Good Friday. We will have a virtual service at noon via zoom. We will use the same format as last year.

Those Who Killed Jesus / Barbara Melancon / Music Ministry
Those Who Died With Jesus / Venus Butler / Music Ministry
Those Who Watched Jesus Die / D. Marie Battle / Music Ministry
Those For Whom Jesus Died / Ernest Young / Music Ministry / Concluding Remarks / Pastor

Sunday, April 17, 2022, is Resurrection Sunday (Easter). We will have our Easter broadcast message aired by Pastor at 8:00 am on KJLH 102.3 FM Radio Free. The Christian Education Department will have an Easter program at 10 AM, during the Sunday School hour.

Be sure to set aside something each day as you read the Lenten scriptures as you would if you

had a Lenten folder. It is anticipated that you will give a Lenten offering leading up to Easter

Sunday or on Easter Sunday, either through US mail, Givelify or Zelle. Thank you.

Sunday, April 24, 2022, is the 100^th Annual Usher Day. The ushers will serve as worship participants for the 8:00 AM radio broadcast.

Resurrection Sunday is a reminder that there is more to life than we can see and still more of existence that is yet to be. Death rather than extinguishing life expands existence to be more encompassing of reality in all of its fullness, without any barriers, hindrances, or obstacles. Death releases us to go to that bourn from whose shore no traveler returns, beyond the confines of restricted mortality into the realm of unlimited immortality.

This is the season of the year where we bask in the aura of the implications of what God has done in Christ and the implications of the life of Christ for those who believe in him. John in sharing the purpose of the gospel which bears his name reminds us of the continuing legacy of faith in Christ. "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing in him, you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31 / New Revised Standard Version).

The implications of believing in Christ have phenomenal benefits for life. Firstly, believing in Christ affirms there is providence operative in the world that is working for what is in our best interest. Sometimes you just need to know that there is providence working for your good when all seems to be working against you to bring about what's awful and bad. Secondly, believing in Christ attests to the reality that faith survives beyond whatever seeks to destroy, deter, and dismantle it. There is a resilient temperament that comes with faith that reinforces its value despite all that would diminish its worth. Thirdly, believing in Christ acknowledges that there is more to reality than we know which can continue to take us further than we ever thought we could go. Believing in Christ creates a hope that springs eternal. In the words of Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be blest: The soul, uneasy and confined from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come."

Well, that is enough of my musing. Have a great April and make the most of your life as you begin this second quarter of the year. April is known for its showers. There is a rhyme which was originally a short poem that says "April showers bring May flowers." In keeping with the theme of the benefits of faith in Christ, we are reminded that the most unpleasant of things can bring about something very memorably appreciated. What God has done in Christ gives us confidence about positive possibilities despite negative eventualities. "Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns" (Revelation 19:6).

-Pastor Epps

Dr. William S. Epps, Senior Pastor

"Service is the price you pay for the space you occupy"

POLITICAL GRAB BAG

Member Steve Bagby, Sr. has released the Political Grab Bag for the month of APRIL. The topics include the confirmation hearing of Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson, upcoming special elections, and an update on redistricting.

READ IT!

The Black History Class will meet on April 9, 2022, at 11:00 AM. We will continue to focus on Black Women in History. Our assignment is to research and share a Black Woman’s accomplishments. A person who has not received the attention in Black History as Harriet Tubman, Madam C J Walker, Biddy Mason, or Phyllis Wheatley. Please come and learn with us.

Meeting ID: 876 9167 4783

Passcode: 980053

Dial-in: 1-669-900-6833

JOIN IN ON ZOOM

Second Baptist Church has partnered with the Los Angeles Food Bank to host 2 food giveaways a month, on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. The next food giveaway will be held Saturday, April 9th from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Volunteers are needed, specifically those who can lift medium-sized boxes. If you'd like to volunteer for this giveaway or future giveaways, please send an email to sbclanews@gmail.com and your name will be forwarded to Ella Quinlan-Oatis and Jackie McMahon.

April 11th-14th

Holy Week Services

(there will be no Prayer Meeting or Bible Study on 4/13)

7:00 PM

April 15th

Good Friday Service

12:00 Noon

April 17th

Sunday School Easter Program

(no Zoom Chat)

10:00 AM

April 24th

Usher's Day

100th Anniversary

**Zoom information for these events will be given in this week's Weekly Reminder.

FROM THE ARCHIVES...

Here we are today our fifth and final Women’s History Month presentation, featuring one of our very own, the first woman to represent the 55th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. On December 19, 2006, she was named Chairwoman of the House Committee on House Administration for the 110th Congress. She was the first African-American woman to chair the committee. She was also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and of the New Democrat Coalition and was considered a front-runner for the job of Secretary of Transportation if John Kerry had been elected President in 2004. She was a noted leader in international women’s rights and many domestic issues such as transportation, federal election reform, and issues relating to military service personnel, along with her service to California’s 37^th congressional district. She was a devoted Second Baptist Church member, who daily exemplified her love for Christ and her church, in all of her activities. You could easily recognize God’s qualities within her. When present in the city she was always there with her family. Her family members continue her legacy through their service to the church and community. We have included some of her speeches for your reading pleasure. These celebrated words offer expressions of her heartfelt thoughts about community and women’s rights. Read and recall the trailblazing lawmaker and leader she exemplified. As we close the month of the weekly celebration of African American Women that have opened doors as the first and conquered cultural stereotyping with excellence. Please know it has been our pleasure and join us, the SBC Memorial and Historical Commission in celebration of our fifth and final 2022 Women’s History Month Women, our very own Juanita Millender McDonald.

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES, Memorial and Historical Commission

Click here for more from the Memorial and Historical Commission

Click here for more on Juanita Millender McDonald

College & Scholarship Information

(click on the graphics for more information)

SBC Graduates...Graduation season is upon us!

Are you graduating or do you have a child that is graduating this year?

It’s that time again, to celebrate and congratulate all of our graduates. If you are graduating or have a child that will be graduating this year, please click the link to complete the Graduate Form.

Send a check to:

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH

2419 Griffith Ave. Los Angeles, CA. 90011

Give through our digital platform, GIVELIFY.

Call the Church Office

Monday - Friday

213.748.0318

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Second Baptist remembers those who have recently passed...

William L. Roebuck III passed, son of Helen Roebuck; viewing and service of memory were held at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills on March 30th and 31st.

Faye Johnson passed, mother of Bobette Phillips and Linda Johnson. Her service of memory will be held at Angelus Funeral Home, Friday, April 8th at 10 AM.

Susan Osborne Knight, daughter of Arthur & FayeOsborne recently passed. Her service of memory will be held Friday, April 8, 2022, at 10 AM at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Our prayers are with the families during this time of bereavement.

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to Miss Olivia Carter, first-place winner of Our Authors Study Club & Sigma Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc Annual Black History Oratorical Contest! 2022 ASALH Theme-Black Health and Wellness. She addressed the topic of childhood mental health and left the judges and spectators in awe! Keep up the good work, Olivia!

Good News!

On March 24, 2022, Daryl L. Jones, the nephew of Dr. Lawrence Harkless and the cousin of Jolaine Harkless, successfully defended his dissertation for his biblical studies Ph.D. in New Testament and Biblical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation is titled "An Examination of the Seventh Seal, Seventh Trumpet and Seventh Bowl Towards a Sequential Interpretation of the Twenty-One Judgements in the Book of Revelation." We are proud to now call him Dr. Daryl Jones. Dr. Jones is the Pastor of The Rock Fellowship Church in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He is also the founder of Point Ministries (daryljones.org), a Christian Bible teaching ministry (radio and internet), where the stated goal is "to point you to the word of God, where Jesus is the Point!" Congratulations to Dr. Daryl L. Jones! (Submitted by his proud cousin, Jolaine Harkless)

Deborah Washington has the pleasure of being a friend of Morgan Fuller's family, who is a college senior and recently competed in Opportunity Hub's entrepreneurial event.

"Two seniors in the School of Mechanical Engineering took the national stage to tour their startups during Opportunity Hub (OHUB)'s HBCU@SXSW pitch competition on March 11 at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.

Morgan Fuller and Isaiah Baptiste were competitively selected to join OHUB’s High-Growth Company Building HBCU@SXSW cohort and deliver their presentations during Demo Day in front of a panel of venture capitalist judges."

Click here to read the full article.

COVID-19 RESOURCES & VACCINATION INFORMATION

As restrictions are lifted in Los Angeles County, please do your due diligence to keep yourself and others safe.

GET VACCINATED.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

WEAR A MASK.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS.

Click on this link for more resources regarding the Coronavirus.

Los Angeles County

***Vaccinations are available to all people 5 and older. All COVID-19 vaccines have also been approved for boosters. People over the age of 50 have also been approved for a second booster. Please click on the graphic or the link below for more information.

A Christian Approach to Vaccine Hesitancy

Visit the SBC LA Website for more COVID-19 Updates

**COVID-19 At-Home Test Kits**

You can order a second round of free rapid COVID-19 test kits through the government, www.covidtests.gov. A total of 4 test kits can be ordered per household.

NEED TO GET TESTED? Several churches in the Los Angeles area are offering free, rapid COVID testing. CLICK HERE for more information.

Let's stay connected! Do you have good news to share with the congregation? We want to hear it! Read more about the protocols for sending in information HERE.

Second Baptist Church Los Angeles

2412 Griffith Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90011

Phone: (213) 748-0318

Get In Touch Today