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8

Volume 17 Issue 7 Rev. Dr. Atu O. White, Pastor December 2015

Mt. Zion will usher in the year of 2016, not once, but twice!!

On Thursday, December 31, 2015, Watch Night Service will be held here at the Church

at 12 noon and 10:45 p.m.

Yes, in addition to our traditional 10:45 p.m. service, for the first time ever, Mt. Zion will also celebrate the incoming year at 12 noon for people who cannot or prefer not to come out late at night. The musical guest at the noon-time service will be "The Northernaires".

As we've done for the past 5 years, we will continue to hold a Watch Night Service at 10:45 p.m. Following this service, a free breakfast will be served.

You are invited to usher in the New Year at one or both services.

Please join us.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Upcoming Events

Poinsettia Dedications

New Members

Thank You Letters

Community News & Events

And Much, Much More...

TO OUR READERS:

AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS, DO NOT FORGET..

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON: "For unto you is born this

day in the city of David,

a Saviour, which is

Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Dec. 1........................Bro. Stephen Josey

Dec. 2.....................Bro. Anthony Diggs

Dec. 2.................Sis. Alonzetta Gabriel

Dec. 2....................Bro. Marcus Holmes

Dec. 3..........................Sis. Aunesty May

Dec. 5........................Sis. Arlene Garner

Dec. 5...........................Sis. Diane Jacobs

Dec. 5...........................Sis. Zaniah King

Dec. 6....................Sis. Celestine Taylor

Dec. 7......................Sis. Angela Bennett

Dec. 10....................Bro. Rutho Charlot

Dec. 10.........Bro Miguel (Pete) Garcia

Dec. 11....................Sis. Akisha Maddox

Dec. 11......................Sis. Yanitza Nogue

Dec. 15............Sis. Denniya Carrington

Dec. 15.....................Bro. Darel Eastling

Dec. 15........................Sis. Kathy Griffin

Dec. 15............Sis. Tonya Shippy-Brice

Dec. 18........Bro. Darrell Coppedge, Jr.

Dec. 19...................Sis. Sharna Grayson

Dec. 19...............Sis. Peyton McAllister

Dec. 21.........................Sis. Melanie Irby

Dec. 21.....................Sis. Veronica Josey

Dec. 21....................Sis. Shamaya Marin

Dec. 22....................Sis. Catherine Bass

Dec. 22.............Sis. Cassandra Bennett

Dec. 22..........................Sis. Lynda Long

Dec. 22............Bro. Cornelius Maddox

Dec. 23....................Sis. Ariana Johnson

Dec. 24................................Sis. Ann Foy

Dec. 24......................Sis. Holly Skinner

Dec. 25...................Sis. Latora Godbolt

Dec. 25..........Sis. Christine Hartsfield

Dec. 26.................Bro. Geordan Dillard

Dec. 27.................Bro. Edward Caudle

Dec. 27.............Bro. Rudy Hytmiah, Jr.

Dec. 29........................Sis. Valarie Little

Dec. 30..................Bro. Michael Bryant

Dec. 31........................Bro. Pedro Marin

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARY Dec. 25....................Bro. George Garvin

& Sis. Bamma Garvin

Santa's Prayer on Christmas Eve Written by Warren D. Jennings

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed, But Santa still knelt

by the side of the bed.

"Dear Father," he prayed "Be with me tonight,

There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.

I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,

Knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly.

I will visit each household before the first light, I'll cover the world

and all in one night.

With sleigh bells a-ringing, I'll land on each roof, Amid the soft clatter

of each little hoof.

To get in the house is the difficult part,

So I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.

My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.

The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.

I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.

I'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.

I can do all these things Lord, only through You.

I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.

All this is to honor the birth of the One,

That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.

So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,

Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

End-of Year

Business/Vision

Meeting

Our Annual Church Business

meeting to wrap up 2015 and

hear the Pastor's vision for 2016

will be held here at Mt. Zion on

Saturday, January 9, 2016. The

meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.

and run to 12:00 p.m. A fellow-

ship lunch will follow. All Mt. Zion

members are invited and en-

couraged to attend.

CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

DATE CHANGE

The date for the Annual Christ-

mas Musical, which was original-

ly scheduled for Wednesday,

December 9, has been changed.

The new date is the third Sunday

of this month--December 20--

during both the 8:45 a.m. and

10:45 a.m. services.

Please come out, invite family

and friends, and hear the music

of the season during our regular

morning worship services on

Sunday, December 20.

The Mitten Tree

During the month of December, the Deacons & Dea-

coness Ministries are sponsoring a "Mitten Tree" in

support of the Children's Study Home.

These Ministries are collecting win-ter hats, scarves, gloves and mittens for boys and girls of all ages.

Donations will be collected through the end of December.

NEW MEMBERS

Joining Mt. Zion in November were:

SIS. MARGARET L. BROWN Date Joined: November 22, 2015

Method: Christian Experience

SIS. DENNIYA T. CARRINGTON Date Joined: November 29, 2015


BRO. RUTHO CHARLOT Date Joined: November 1, 2015


SIS. GENNEA F. DILLARD Date Joined: November 29, 2015

Method: Candidate for Baptism

SIS. MARY A. GADOUA Date Joined: November 15, 2015


BRO. GARRED GARRETT Date Joined: November 1, 2015


BRO. ROBERT GARRETT Date Joined: November 1, 2015


BRO. JAHEIM M. HAYES Date Joined: November 29, 2015


SIS. TONYA HAYES Date Joined: November 22, 2015


SIS. PAYTON A. MONTAGUE Date Joined: November 1, 2015


BRO. DEANDRE D. ROSS-LOMAX Date Joined: November 1, 2015


BRO. LAMONT WAITES Date Joined: November 1, 2015


SIS. DANIELLE E. WARE Date Joined: November 8, 2015


Welcome To All!

A Special Breakfast for You Today A plate of Love A bowl of Peace

A spoon of Hope A fork of Care And a glass of Prayer

Enjoy your meal for you are under

God's care.

Submitted by Sis. Arlene Garner

Work Has Begun!

The demolition of the old garage and all the structures on the property at 380 Bay Street (the lot adjacent to the Church on the corner of Clifford and Bay Streets) began on Monday, November 30, 2015. Barring any inclement weather or other delays, work should be completed this month.

Once the property is cleared of all structures and debris, initial plans are to level it and enclose it with a fence.

December & January

Schedule Changes

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Soup Kitchen-----------Christmas Meal

NO 1:15 p.m. Bible Study


Wednesdays, December 23 & 30, 2015 NO Soup Kitchen



Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Soup Kitchen and both Bible Study Sessions

resume at their regular times

Baptism Baptism Candidates

This month, all candidates for baptism

will be contacted on an individual basis

to schedule a baptism class. If you are

a baptism candidate and have not been

contacted by the third Sunday, please

see Deaconess Deborah Jones or Dea-

coness Lucille Hogan.

Baptism This Month Baptism Service will take place on the

fourth Sunday of this month, Sunday,

December 27, 2015, at 10:25 a.m.

Please be present to welcome our new

converts.

Baptism Last Month Four (4) members were baptized on

Sunday, November 15, 2015. They

were Sis. Olivea Elliot-Tanner, Bro.

Garred Garrett, Bro. Robert Garrett,

and Sis. Danielle Ware

Congratulations to all four!

Soup Kitchen Christmas Lunch

The Mt. Zion Soup Kitchen Staff will prepare its

Annual Christmas Lunch on Wednesday, December 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

here at Mt. Zion .

All are Invited!

Sincerely,

The Mt. Zion Soup Kitchen

Missionaries' Annual

Sing-a-Long

Please join the Missionary Ministry for their 3rd Annual Christmas Sing-a-long. It will take place at Heritage Hall South, 65 Cooper Street in Agawam, MA, on Thursday, December 17, 2015, at 1:30 p.m.

In addition to the singing, Min. Beth Irving will give a sermonette.

Help bring some holiday cheer to the residents of Heritage Hall. Join the Missionaries at this wonderfully uplifting event.

DEADLINE FOR

YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM

APPROACHES

The deadline to participate in the

1st marking period's

Young Scholar's Pro-

gram is Sunday,

December 13, 2015.

Students may be eligible to receive

$5 for each ‘A’ or ‘A’ equivalent

grade received during the 1st & 4th

marking periods. Awards are lim-

ited to $25 per student per mark-

ing period; $50 per school year.

Eligibility requirements and appli-

cation forms for the 1st marking

period can be found in the confer-

ence room. Also, if you have any

questions, see Youth Minister, Rev.

James Harrison.

TWO POSITIONS FILLED

Bro. Lusian Simpson has been hired

as the Church Sexton, responsible for

keeping both the inside and the out-

side of the church clean. Lusian has

been temporarily filling-in as sexton

since July.

Sis. Marcia Borders is the new Me-

dia Director. She is responsible for

overseeing the Media Ministry (Au-

dio, Broadcast, and Visual) and as-

sisting in the planning, executing,

and marketing of Mt. Zion, its ser-

vices and events.

THANKSGIVING BASKETS

Last month, Mt. Zion partnered with

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,

Theta Iota Lambda Chapter to help

families have a Thanksgiving meal.

The Church donated $350 which

provided (10) families a Thanksgiv-

ing basket.

Grandparents Corner Written by Sis. Andrea P. Dixon

The Dixon family would like to

make two announcements:

Kamara Jackson was recently told

by her teacher, Mrs. Clark, that she

scored 2nd highest on the ELA--

English Language Acts Test in this

region! Are we proud? Yes, we

are!! Continue to do good work,

Kamara: Proverbs 23:12--"Apply your

heart to instruction and your ears to

words of knowledge"; Proverbs 24:5-6--

"A wise man has great power and a man

of knowledge increases strength; for

waging war you need guidance and for

victory many advisors."

We're all very proud of what you've

done.

Secondly, Kevin Jackson's football

team won their last game of the sea-

son and are now the Junior Division

Champions of the Springfield Youth

Football Leagues (SYFL). The team

never lost a single game!

Way to go young men. We're proud

of you all!

A Big "Thank You" Written by Sis. Andrea P. Dixon

The Soup Kitchen and Mt. Zion sends a huge thank you to Sis. Kim Weir. Sis. Weir donated a brand new, right out of the box, Sharpe microwave for use in the kitchen. What a blessing!!

Sis. Weir heard of the need and re-sponded without a second thought. (The only question she asked, was, "What color?") 1 Chronicles 29:9: "Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart..."

The kitchen and the church will greatly benefit from such a wonderful, gift.

Rev. Atu has told us if we see or know of an issue within the church, come with a solution, and Sis. Weir did exactly that!! Thank you Sis. Weir for your thoughtful-

ness; you'll be blessed.

Community News:

A Community Event:

The Singing Christmas Tree

Bethany Assembly of God, 580 Main Street,

Agawam, MA, will present its 41st Annual Sing-ing Christmas Tree Spectacular this month.

Performances are scheduled for:

Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 5 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 6 at 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.

Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 12 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.

The centerpiece of the presentation is a tower-ing steel structure in the shape of a Christmas

tree. The Bethany Choir become the “orna-

ments”, and present a Christmas musical cele-brating the Advent of the Christ-child.

All seats are free, with no individual reserved

seating. Pre-arranged seating for larger

groups can be provided by calling the church office at 413-789-2930.

http://bethany-ag.org/event/the-singing-christmas-tree/

A NEWSletter Question

During the month of November, the Newsletter ran a question in the Sunday bulletin, which read,

"What is the most memorable gift you have given or received at Christmas?"

Three members responded...

MY MOST MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS GIFT(S)

Written by Sis. Awilda Oxios:

In Puerto Rico, we celebrate Three Kings Day and because it comes after Christmas, the children are expecting gifts also. I was fi-nancially tight and I couldn't afford to give my two boys any more gifts. But I did find two action figures that cost $1.97 each. The look of happiness in my kids eyes was so wonderful and up this day, they say that was the best gift ever.

My second memory happened in Springfield. I arrived in September and by December, I still didn't have a job. So when Christmas came around, I did not have money for a big gift for my granddaughter. So I bought her a ream of paper, crayon and colored pencils. On Christmas day, when she was opening her gift--Talking Elmo, a huge doll house etc.--she was happy, but when she opened my gift, she was ecstatic! Go figure. The grown-ups were not too happy with me, but my granddaughter was. Up to this day, she loves to draw and write.

Written by Sis. Theresa Bryant:

When I posed this question, I didn’t really have a particular gift in mind. I couldn’t put my finger on one particular gift that I would have to say was better than the other. As I sat and pondered what was the best gift I ever received I thought about the Ebony doll that my father brought for me many years ago. I was much too old to receive a doll, but Mt. Zion had been placing orders for this particular doll. My dad asked if I wanted to purchase one, I graciously declined the order but made it known it would sure be nice if I got one under the tree. I must’ve been about twenty something and sure enough that doll sat under the tree. Subsequently that doll started my Black doll collection. Now it sits in a sealed bag with my son’s stuffed animals of his early childhood in the shed out back. I think I’ll pull it out this Christmas and sit it under the tree since this will be our first Christmas without my father. I also thought about the Lladro my sister Laquetta purchased for me several years ago. I told her how Christmas was my favorite holiday not because of the presents but because of my afro-centric tree. You see I’m a gift giver. I never had presents under the tree for me. I think my sis-ter thought I was trying to give her a hint, so that year I received my very first Lladro Figurine to place in my china cabinet.

Every year that I decorate my Christmas tree, it makes me realize that I’ve been blessed with very lovely gifts – they are the orna-ments that adorn my tree--black angels, black nativity scenes, little children on skis that look like me, African mask, choirs, churches and crosses. Some that I’ve purchased and many from co-workers, friends and family members who knew I had a fetish for Black Art. But the greatest gift of all came from a note slipped into a box that held a Black Santa figurine. It was from my co-worker’s ten year old daughter. She’s Jewish and her mother had drawn my name as her secret Santa. It read I’m sorry. She told of her and her mother’s travels in search of a Black Santa. She said she learned a very valuable lesson and how the clerk’s in the store couldn’t understand why she was so adamant about finding one Black angel or Santa. She told of how her mother suggested they go with the Yankee candle that was also on my list or maybe they’d paint a white Santa black. She insisted they not give up. Franny the secre-tary told her if she prayed for one she might get it so she did. Her note told how shortly after that she had gone into Sears at Franklin Mills with her mother for something other than the Santa and there it was a ceramic Black Santa figurine surrounded by little Black children (it was the only one). She said she’d learned a valuable lesson one she’d never forget. She realized the many things that she took for granted. The following year when she heard I was having a baby; her mother said she insisted on buying me a present it was a black doll. We didn’t have the heart to tell her my baby was a boy. She slipped in a note that read, “Black children should have beautiful Black dolls that look like them." This indeed was the best gift I’d ever received. It wasn’t the Santa or the doll, but the power of prayer and the note from a child that may one day change the world.

Written by Sis. Wanda Powell:

Over the years, I have received some pretty amazing gifts from my family. However, one of the most memorable gifts was not from a family

member, but a friend. Apparently, in one of our regular conversations, I indicated how tired I was during the holidays and therefore planned

to do little or nothing when Christmas arrived--including cooking a big meal. I didn't think anymore about this off-the-cuff comment until a day or two before Christmas when the doorbell rang. Standing at the door was a delivery man with a box from Stop & Shop Supermarket

filled with an already cooked turkey and all the fixin's. The food was good--to be honest I don't remember it that well--but what I do remem-

ber is that someone cared enough about me and my well being to give a gift like this. For that reason, it is a gift that I will always remember.

THE BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIAS THAT ADORN THE

PULPIT AREA THIS 2015 CHRISTMAS SEASON

ARE DEDICATED…

In memory of Nappie Barrow and Elizabeth Holmes ~Mr. & Mrs. Barrow~

In memory of my parents, Jonathan & Evergreen Bass ~Lois Bass-Peterson~

In memory of my father, Joseph Pace ~Margaret Brown~

In memory of Louis E. Jones, Lynette Franklin and Evergreen Bass ~Theresa Bryant~

In memory of my sister, Dora Washington ~Walker Bryant~

In honor of our mother, Mrs. Lugussie Dean ~Earlean Caldwell & Betty Mayweathers~

In memory of Mr. Wallace Caldwell, Sr. & Mrs. Fay Caldwell ~Earlean Caldwell, Mrs. Lugussie Dean & Betty Mayweathers~

In memory of Theodis Caldwell, Wallace Caldwell, Sr., Fay R. Caldwell, Rodney Caldwell, and Authurtee Caldwell, Sr.

~Waunetta caldwell~

In memory of James E. Caudle ~Edward Caudle~

In memory of Renee T. Wilson ~Patrice Caudle~

In memory of my father, Rev. John A. Charles & my mother, Deaconess Jeanette Charles

~Larry Charles~

In memory of my daughter, Jacqueline McNeil, my father, Roger Williams, and my mother, Kinnie Williams

~Elaine Clough~

In memory of my mother, Lucille Etta Crane ~Suzetta Crane~

In honor of the Davis Family ~Tracy Davis~

[POINSETTIA DEDICATIONS CONTINUED…]

In honor of my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Denson, Sr. ~Darryl Denson~

In loving memory of all the deceased members of the Pertillar, Kelly, Robinson, & Freeman Families. Gone, But NOT forgotten.

~Andrea P. (Mimmie) Dixon~

In memory of my mother, Susie M. Pegaroe ~Jean E. Frazier~

In memory of Leo Gadoua ~Mary Gadoua~

In memory of Rev. & Mrs. Wilton Thomas, Sr. and Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Gabriel, Sr. ~John & Alonzetta Gabriel~

In memory of Rev. Joseph R. Thomas, Sr., Dorothy Gabriel, Doris Gabriel (Bradley), Angelina Gabriel (Jones), Lee Allen Gabriel, and Joseph Bruno

~John & Alonzetta Gabriel~

In honor of John & Alonzetta Gabriel for all of their love and support. We love you guys.

~Adriean, Ashley, Kasha & Jahleel & Logan~

In memory of my dear mother, Clara Garner. I love and miss you. dearly. In memory of my grandmother, Ella Garner. You are truly missed.

~Tina Garner~

In honor of my aunty, Arlene Garner. Thanks for being you. Never change. In honor of my aunty, Lucille Hogan. Thanks for always being there.

~Tina Garner~

In memory of Jethro Brantley, Catherine Brantley, and Samuel Brantley ~Patricia Grundy~

In memory of Dorcas Ineta Walker ~Naomi Hardimon~

In memory of my mother, Edith Jefferson ~Bobby Hartsfield~

In memory of my mother, Margaret Anderson ~Christine Hartsfield~

In memory of my brother, John Erick Hayes ~Tonya Hayes~


In loving memory of my aunt, Clara Garner, better known to us as Zaddie. I will always love and cherish your memory.

~Brenda Hogan~

In loving memory of my father, Edward Hogan. Love and miss you much! You are always in my heart, thoughts, and prayers!!

~Brenda Hogan~

In memory of Edward Hogan and Ella Louise Garner ~Lucille Hogan~

In memory of our grandparents, Rev. George & Miriam Heywood ~Beth Irving & Carolyn Heywood~

In memory of our grandparents, Mr. Douglas & Mrs. Gwendolyn Worrell ~Beth Irving & Carolyn Heywood~

In loving memory of my mother, Lillie Mae Daniels, and members of the Daniels and Jackson Families that have passed on

~Shirley Jackson~

In memory of all our Past Loved Ones ~Dan & Deborah Jones~

In memory of my parents, Mr. Ira Lawson & Mrs. Louise Kimbro Lawson ~Ernest J. Lawson~

In memory of Mrs. Susie Clark and Mrs. Aris Mack ~JoAnn Lawson~

In memory of my husband, Earl Little ~Valarie Little~

In memory of my parents, Evergreen & Jonathan Bass ~Valarie Little~

In memory of my father, Samuel McKnight; my mother, Mary McKnight; my aunts, Edith McKnight & Lillian Martin;

my mother-in-law, Carren Hannah; my father-in-law, Robbie Hannah ~Jesse McKnight~

In honor of Felicita Rivera ~Violet Matos~

In memory of my father, George Duncan, Jr. ~Pamela Medlock~


In memory of my parents, Idelia Hill and June Hill; my brothers, Ermon Hill, Roy Hill, June Hill, Jr., Louis Hill, Lonnie Hill & Lester Hill;

my sister, Ruby Dickson, my sister-in-law, Coleen Cook, & other members of the Moore Family

~Mary Moore~

In memory of my grandmother, Mary Oakley ~Heidi Oakley~

In honor of the Music/Choir Ministry ~Awilda Oxios~

In memory of our parents, William & Iola Johnson and Frank & Ethel Powell ~Steve & Wanda Powell~

In memory of Rex & Florence Ellis, Steve Currie, Barbara & LaBaron Lewis, Billie Crews, William Johnson, Jr., Nelson Johnson, Fernando Fredd, II,

Rev. James B. Williams & Elizabeth Bryant ~The Powells -- Steve, Wanda, Kelli & Ericc~

In memory of my mother, Estella Oakley ~Regen Pugh~

In memory of my mother, Caroline Scroggins and my sister, Cathy Sparks ~Richard Scroggins, Jr.~

In memory of my father, Arthur Stone, Sr., my mother, Evelyn Stone, and my brother, Arthur Stone, Jr.

~Deborah Stone~

In honor of my niece, Betty Ann Brown ~Ivrie Thompson~

In memory of my grandmother, Essie Williams ~Destiny Ware~

In memory of Jonathan & Evergreen Bass and Clayton, Mozelle, & Yvette Williams

~Bud & Gloria Williams~

Thank You Letters

October was "Celebrating Our Community" Month. As part of that celebration, Mt. Zion invited three (3) local non-profit organizations who strengthen and support our community to come in and share their mission with the congregation. To help each of these agencies further their work, Mt. Zion made a donation of $500.

The Church received these two thank you letters.

A THOUGHT As we age, consider this...

Wrinkles means you

Laughed.

Grey hair means you

Cared.

And Scars mean you

Lived.

Submitted by

Sis. Arlene Garner

Steve

Vivian

Mary

Pamela Awilda Alice

Wanda

Theresa

"Merry Christmas" from the Mt. Zion Newsletter Ministry

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