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Genesis 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Luke 17:32 Remember Lot‘s wife! The modern Hebrew word for repent is ‗shoov, spelled "sheen"-"beit" ("vet", the secondary form of "beit") In ancient Hebrew script the letter "sheen" is represented by teeth and means "to destroy". The "beit" in Hebrew represents a tent or a house. So a literal reading of "sheen"-"beit" would be "to destroy the house"! The word picture of the original Hebrew portrays the meaning of the word, which is, "to be taken captive". In the ancient world, conquerors wanted their captives to become part of their kingdoms, and this could only happen if they destroyed homes. So in horror, those who were taken captive would witness their houses being

News

Temple

January 2012 | Monthly Newsletter of Solomon’s Temple

Issue 1 Volume 4

completely destroyed by the conquering kings, so they could never return. From this understanding of being taken captive we grasp the true meaning of "returning" and "repentance": you have left no house behind! Real repentance means "no turning back" (as the song says). It means that the house you lived in before has been completely destroyed and you have "died" to living there. Don't look back, in futility, at what has ended forever. Live in the choice you have made to love and serve the resurrected King Jesus. Remember Lot's wife. She escaped Sodom, but became a statue of salt, an eternal monument to half-hearted repentance. Don't let your only testimony be a longing for a house you can never return to. Make a conscience choice to turn completely from your pass regrets, sins, mistakes, unforgiveness, and hurts. Decide this new year to live fully for Jesus no matter what may come.

New Beginnings

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March

18

St. Patrick’s Day

February

05

Agendas due in

14

Valentines Day

April

Easter

January

sscchheedduullee ooff eevveennttss

01/01/2012 New Year’s Day

01/08 Directly following Morning Worship Service the

Christmas Committee for 2012 will meet in parlor

room A and the Singles Ministry will meet in

Parlor room B.

01/09 7:00-8:30PM Meet and greet for all dancers,

youth and adults and for anyone interested in

joining the dance ministry

01/14 9:30AM Sunday School Teacher’s Meeting

01/15 9:00AM Consecration of Officers

Directly following Morning Worship Service, the

Tribe of Benjamin will meet

01/17 6:30PM CID Session resume

01/20 7:00PM Women’s Ministry will meet

01/21 9:00-11:00AM Dance Ministry will rehearse

(Adult dance team)

01/22 Directly follow morning worship service the

Outreach Ministry will meet

01/27 7:00PM Friday Night Hour of Power

01/28 05:00PM Men’s Sing-O-Roma

01/29 11:00AM Elder Thomas will preach Missionary

Day service at St. James AME in Norfolk

01/30 6:30PM Levite Ministry Meeting

7:30PM Assembly of Servants Meeting

02/05 All 2012 Agendas are due in no later than

February 5th

, 2012

Up

Co

min

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ve

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Choir Rehearsal Schedule Thursday before 1st Sunday

6:00pm- Praise Team 7:00pm- Mass Choir

Thursday before 2nd Sunday

7:00pm - Sons of Solomon

Thursday before 3rd Sunday 6:30pm- Youth Choir

Thursday before 4th Sunday

6:00pm- Praise Team 7:00pm- Joyful Voices

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JJaannuuaarryy BBiirrtthhddaayyss If your birthday is missing from the list or incorrect, let the office know.

Points to Ponder

If this is to be a Happy New

Year, a year of usefulness, a

year in which we shall live to

make this earth better, it is

because God will direct our

pathway. How important then,

to feel our dependence upon

Him!

~ Matthew Simpson~

Resolution One: I will live for

God. Resolution Two: If no

one else does, I still will.

~ Jonathan Edwards~

We must bear in mind that

mere resolutions to take more

time for prayer and to conquer

reluctance to pray will not

prove lastingly effective unless

there is a whole hearted and

absolute surrender to the Lord

Jesus Christ.

~ Anonymous~

We also want to know

about those who have made the

honor roll. Let’s not forget

baby announcements, bible

humor, or recipes.

If you have a story or idea

that you would like to

incorporate into the newsletter,

forward the story to

stsecretary@verizon.net or leave

the idea on the secretary’s desk.

Do you know someone

who is doing great things in the

community, school, or church?

Nominate them to be the

Outstanding Disciple of the

Month. This person can be a

youth or an adult.

Don’t forget to recognize

those celebrating an anniversary,

graduation (from high school,

college, or any other), or special

occasion.

Newsletter Submissions

Kenya Hargrove Wed., 01/04

Corey Brown Thurs., 01/05

Florence Turner Sun., 01/08

Vernell Brown Mon., 01/09

Inez Jenkins Mon., 01/09

Donald Watkins Tues., 01/10

Jessica Smith Fri., 01/13

Connie Payne Sun., 01/15

James Cotton Thurs., 01/19

Earnest Ruffin Sat., 01/21

Hezekiah Spruill Sat., 01/21

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A New Ending I recently saw this quote, "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" (Unknown). I really began to think about that statement. The conclusion was that we don't start over; but we begin again right where we are, making things better in our lives.

As a believer in Christ, it is not about saying I will do this and I won't do that and then dropping the idea or falling short. It is more about asking the Lord to help us each day, to fall deeper and deeper in love with Him. This way our focus will be set on the things of heaven and not on all this earthly stuff.

If I were to make a New Year resolution, it would be to have a deeper commitment, a deeper love, and a deeper worship for the Lord.

This year I am determined to make Him my all and all. He wants our undivided attention in spite of the distractions and temptations that lie waiting around the corner. He has to be our main focus.

How we will end this year will be determined by how we started it. Did we want to get more "INTIMATE" with the lover of our soul? I looked up the word intimacy and the meaning is to be close, familiar, very personal and private.

Do you want a new ending this year? If you're not a Christian, please know that this could be the best New Year of your life. Your life can be filled with hope and peace. To know what the ending will be is an extra bonus. Why should every year be the same as the one before with nothing really changing?

If you are a Christian and you feel stagnate in your relationship with the Lord, then now is the time to rekindle the love affair with Him. He calls us to Himself and says, "Come away my beloved." Can you hear Him? He is tugging at your heart. The real ending in our life will be when Jesus says well done my good and faithful servant. That statement will be for someone who took the time to get to know Him, love Him, and that obediently followed Him.

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God. You can also send us your prayer requests at stsecretary@verizon.net. I am praying for each of you. Strive to make this your best year ever

Pastoral Thought

Pastor K. D. Shivers and

Minister E. R. Shivers

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Scripture and Welcome

01/01 Ernest Ruffin (Luke 22:14-20)

Jackie Ruffin (welcome)

01/08 Jayla Nichols (Exodus 20: 1-3)

Destiny Shivers (welcome)

01/15 Samanthia Little (James 1: 5-9)

Ruby Clarke (welcome)

01/22 Hilja Hall-Diggs (Psalms 23:1-6)

Beretta Smith (welcome)

01/29 Shenille Gray (I Corinthians 5:14-17)

Nasheena Roberts (welcome)

Worship Leader Schedule

01/01 Minister Edith Shivers

01/08 Elder Wayne Hatton

01/15 Minister William Robinson

01/22 Elder Margaret Thomas

01/29 Elder Sarah Hatton

Tuesday Altar Prayer

Brother Ernest Ruffin

Sister Shirley Haskins

January Door Opener

Bro Ray Holmes

Servant Leader Schedule

01/03 Sis. Turekia White

01/10 Sis. Jackie Ruffin

01/17 Bro. Earnest Ruffin

01/24 Bro. Michael Green

01/31 Sis. Phyllis Duck

Hour Of Power Friday Night H.O.P.

January 27th

– Elder Joyce Woods

Children’s Fellowship

Sis Samantha Lyttle

JJaannuuaarryy TTeeaacchheerr’’ss SScchheedduullee

(The date in parenthesis is the Sunday date of the

lessons to be taught on Tuesday)

Adult Teachers

01-17 Wayne Hatton (01-22)

01-24 Sis Wendy Green (01-29)

01-31 William Robinson (02-05)

Teen Teacher

Jackie Ruffin

Intermediate Teachers

Primary and Beginners Teacher

Rhonda Ralph and Hope Parker

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Just a Moment

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.

As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.

God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.

God had come near. He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

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Just a Moment Continued …

Congratulations RN Ebony Clarke!!

Congratulations to Ebony Clarke on becoming an Registered

Nurse. We are so proud of you!

Love,

The Clarke Family

To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn‘t it? It‘s not something we like to do; it‘s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.

For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary.

He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.

He‘s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.

But don‘t do it. For heaven‘s sake, don‘t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him

into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

It all happened in a moment. In one moment … a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God. When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, ―we will all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.‖ (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)

The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you can bet your sweet September that the second one won‘t. The next time you use the phrase ―just a moment, … ‖ remember that‘s all the time it will take to change this world

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January 1th

, 2012

Dear Disciples,

Throughout our eleven wonderful years of ministry, God has truly blessed us. We are so

grateful for all that God has done and will continue to do in 2012. We believe God is Jehovah

Jireh, our ultimate provider. He supplies us with what we need to take care of our family, home

and also the church body.

We would like every disciple to participate in this year’s pledge drive. Not only will you be

helping the ministry build and get into our new edifice, but your gift will touch a wide variety of

people. Your gift could counsel a young woman to not have an abortion and provided the help

she needs to take care of her baby; it could help to feed the family of someone going through a

difficult time, perhaps, maybe right here in our body.

Thank you for your support. It is gifts like yours that allow Solomon’s Temple to grow in

the Lord and to respond lovingly to those most in need right here in our community. At the

bottom of the page you’ll find a donation form. We ask that you seek God about which weekly or

monthly pledge is right for you. Thank you for your continued support of the ministry. May God

continue to bless you and your home.

Sincerely,

Pastor K. D. Shivers Leading Lady E. R. Shivers

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I, _____________________________________________, pledge to give (please check one box)

$25.00 weekly _________ weekly

$110.00 monthly _________ bi-weekly

$1,300.00 for the year _________ monthly

Date: _____________________

$

$

$

Please Print Name

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