The Victorious Vessel

Vol. 20 Issue 3 - March 2020

T h e S e a s o n o f L e n t

Grace, peace, and mercy to you from God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost, our Comforter, Teacher, and Guide. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:1-2a, KJV). For the past fifteen years, God has afforded me the wonderful blessing of serving with gladness as the seventh Pastor of the historic Morris Street Baptist Church. The road has possessed joys, pains, bumps, curves, celebrations, and obstacles. God being the faithful God that He is, has strengthened us, made ways for us, blessed us, wiped our tears, fed our hungry souls, lifted our spirits multiple times, and supplied every need across this decade and a half.

We have made and continue to make a difference in this community for the Lord. We impact lives monthly through the labor of volunteers and partnerships with Central Baptist Church and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church through the Food Bank Ministry. Our Face Book and Web pages have grown to reach people beyond Charleston, outside of the state of South Carolina, and beyond the borders of our nations with the Word of God. We learn more and more how to live healthier, holier, and happier lives from our Health Ministry. We remain engaged in and with the political issues that impact and

influence the lives of members of our congregation and the surrounding community. We continue to support the education of young minds through our Education Committee’s vigilant efforts to keep our youth and college-aged students encouraged. In short, we are a prophetic, dynamic, learned, pastoral, worshipping, welcoming, adoring, respectful, and mission-minded congregation. You are amazing believers having an impact for God.

Thank you for allowing God to take us thus far on this journey these fifteen years. Your prayers, follow-ship, cooperation, and service made the tasks of doing ministry more effective and more engaging. Thank you for supporting my family and for supporting the ministry, as we have travelled to many places together.

I pray that all members will join together with us as we strive to pray the Prayer of Jabez throughout this year. For those who may not have remembered: “Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my [territory], and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NASB).

With the arrival of March also comes the Season of Lent. Lent began a little earlier this year, as Ash Wednesday came on February 26, 2020. This process of purging our bodies through fasting and prayer during the 40 days of Lent, contains significant spiritual impact. This time allows us to draw closer to God, to relinquish the sins that beset us, to pray more fervently, to become more aligned with the Word of God in our daily living, and to appreciate the journey of Christ during the last phase of His earthly ministry that culminates in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension!

Use this time to grow spiritually. Use this time to draw nearer to God. Use this time to further connect with your divine purpose. Use this time to allow God to commune with you in a fresh way. Blessings and peace be multiplied unto each one of you!

#MSBC154 #WARMMESTchurchInCharleston

FROM THE PASTOR'S PRINTER

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Education Day Observance

Our Education Day Observance was held on Sunday, Feb. 23rd. Our Youth Ministry put on a tremendous Black History presentation. Dr. Katherine Whitaker, Chairperson of the Department of Business and Entrepreneurship at Voorhees College - Denmark, SC, was the guest speaker for the

occasion. Her message to our youth: “Study to show yourself approved.” 2 Tim. 2:15

Congratulations

Deacon Edward M. Brown was the Keynote Speaker for the Martin Luther King Award Dinner in Jackson, Mississippi on January 17th. He was also presented with the

“Barack Obama Lawyer of the Year" Award.

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#MSBCgoesRED for Heart Health Month

On February 16th, we joined in partnership with the MEDI Community Resource Center to observe our annual Red Dress Sunday, in which members wear red to bring attention to heart health. Heart disease is

the #1 cause of death among women, yet most women don’t know about the threat.

Our annual NAACP Observance was also held during this service.

MUSC Health Presentation

Ms. Courtney Chavis gave our Health Ministry a presentation on February 16th about the difference between 2D and 3D mammograms. She stated that in SC, African Americans have the highest rate of breast cancer deaths.

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The African Origins of Mathematics To mark its reopening, the Avery Research Center hosted a series of new exhibits beginning on Jan. 15th. Bro. Robert Ross, Charleston resident and artist known as “King David,” highlighted the direct impact Africa has had on modern mathematics in this exhibit. Showcasing the first math instrument, the Ishango bone, this exhibit allows visitors to see the influence Africa has had on every aspect of life.

The Avery Research Center is located at 125 Bull St. in downtown Charleston and is free to the public.

March Birthdays

Lalakesheica Wittrell 2 Alethia Smalls 16Arlene Robinson 3 Aleshia Seabrook 16Dea. Theodore Hartwell 3 Reanna Holmes 20Kathleen V. Stewart 3 Mary Williams 21Cheryl L. Myers 5 Dorothy Pompey 22Prince Williams 8 DeAngelo McCoy 23Vondalin Robinson 8 Joyce Dembele 23NaShanda Suitt 8 Amanda Washington 23Vanessa Rivers 8 Alita O. Thompson 25Betty Alston 9 Bertheria Gaston 26Alonzo Campbell 9 Sandra Simmons 26Sharvette Slaughter 10 Karen Richardson 26Gabreilla Dungee 10 Leroy Burnell 30Robert Anderson 10 Samone Grant 30Bruce Morgan, Jr. 10 George Counts 31Katrina Rollerson 15 Brandon Johnson 31

Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is a Christian observance that marks the first

day of lent, which is prior to Easter.  Ash is an important symbol of Ash Wednesday in many Christian churches.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lenten discipline for observant Christians. It is traditionally a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for receiving or reaffirming baptism at

Easter.  For some Christians , Lent is time to think about one’s life choices and mortality as well as reflect on life directions.  It serves as a wakeup call for some Christians.  There are also those who choose this tie of the year to donate to charities or

take part in charity events as a way to get close to God.

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SPRING FORWARD!Daylight’s Savings time begins on

March 8th.

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“The WARMMEST Church in Charleston”Welcoming Adoring Respectful Mission-Minded Church

MORRIS STREET BAPTIST CHURCH 25 Morris Street Charleston, SC 29403 | Rev. Leonard O Griffin, Pastor |

P: 843.723.0408 | F: 843.723.0988 | www.morrisstreetbaptist.org

Have a recent event, achievement, or announcement you’d like to share? Submissions for the Victorious Vessel are due by the 15th of each month.

Contact Sis. Emily L. Smith or Sis. Wendrah M. McCoy.

Lenten Services Wednesday, March 4thReverend Arthur Holmes

Trinity AME Church, Charleston, SC

Wednesday, March 11thReverend Robert Capers

Bethel/Salem Presbyterian Churches

Wednesday, March 18thReverend Aaron Brown

Unity Missionary Baptist Church, Eutawville, SC

Wednesday, March 25th

Reverend Edward SimmonsCentral Missionary Baptist Church,

Summerville ,SC

Wednesday April 1st

Reverend Kylon J. MiddletonMt. Zion AME Church, Charleston, SC

Thursday, April 9th

Reverend David MillerMorris Street Baptist Church, Charleston, SC

(Includes The Lord’s Supper Observance)