EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

Church Resources & Funding Opportunities 2025

Beth Bentley — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 01:08:15 +0000

September 6, 2025

Community Update

Beth Bentley

Episcopal District Coordinator of US Mission Engagement

Please find attached information regarding three funding opportunities from the following organizations: the National Preservation Trust Fund, Feeding America, and the Heirs Property Program.

These programs are designed to support various community needs:

National Preservation Trust Fund: This fund provides grants to help preserve historic sites, including churches with significant historical value. It’s a fantastic opportunity for communities looking to maintain their cultural heritage and ensure these landmarks are preserved for future generations.
Feeding America: This initiative offers resources through its extensive Food Bank Network to assist those facing food insecurity. By supporting food banks across the country, Feeding America helps ensure that no one goes hungry and that communities have access to nutritious food.
Heirs Property Program: Offered through the Federal Home Loan Bank, this program aims to assist families in maintaining ownership of inherited property. It’s an essential resource for promoting generational wealth and stability, providing legal assistance and financial support to ensure families can keep their homes and land within their lineage.

We encourage you to review the attached documents for detailed information on how to apply for these opportunities and the specific benefits each program offers.

National Trust Preservation Fund for churches with historical significance.

Resources from Feeding America Food Bank Network for those experiencing food insecurity

Heirs property program through Federal Home Loan Bank.

Feel free to share this link with others who might be interested in these funding opportunities. We hope these resources will be beneficial to our community and help address some of the pressing needs. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your engagement and efforts are greatly appreciated as we work together to support and uplift our community.

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HEALTH MINISTRY IN THE EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT (VOL 9-2025)

Patricia McKenzie — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:07:51 +0000

EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

HEALTH MINISTRY (VOL 9)

Dr. Patricia D. McKenzie

Episcopal Coordinator for Health Ministries

PART I.
NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES FOR SEPTEMBER

A. NATIONAL SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH

Source: National Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCD). www.sicklecelldisease.org/

FACTS:

PART l. NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES FOR SEPTEMBER

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month Source: Sickle Cell Disease

“Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disease that affects red blood cells, have hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes the cells become crescent shaped and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. This leads to less blood reaching that part of the body. Tissues that do not receive a normal blood flow eventually become damaged leading to sickle cell disease. There is currently no universal cure for sickle cell disease. Sickle cell conditions are inherited from the parents. For example, when both parents have the Sickle Cell Trait, the children have a 25% chance (1 in 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease. It is important to speak to your physician to understand what type of sickle cell disease you have. The disease may cause anemia, jaundice and formation of gallstones. When the flow of blood is blocked, there may be pain episodes in the arms, legs, chest or abdomen. Living with a chronic disease is stressful affecting psychosocial and mental health. The plan of care is designed to help the patient stay healthy and will include reducing stress, healthy eating, light exercise, lots of sleep, and mental health therapists. This patient may experience the stigma of Mental Health in the Black community but it must be overcome because this therapy is crucial to the survival of some patients. If someone is interested in becoming an advocate for mental health care: Go to www.sicklecelldisease.org/mentalhealth and wellness. Check out the “l Believe in Therapy Tool Kit.”

Some of the most common complications:

Eye Disease which can lead to long term damage
Acute Chest Syndrome with blockage of blood to lungs which leads to chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing and fever and always requires hospitalization
Stroke when blood flow to the brain is clogged and can lead to disabilities and learning problems.

B. National Children Obesity

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity

FACTS:

Childhood obesity is a complex problem. About 1 in 5 American children and adolescents have obesity. It affects Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children and families with Low incomes. This means approximately
14.7 million youth ages 2-19 have obesity. There are more non-Hispanic Black girls and more Hispanic boys impacted. They are at a higher risk for asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes and risk factors for heart disease, and high blood pressure. These children are more likely to have obesity as adults. Factors that influence obesity include genetics, eating patterns, physical activity levels, access to health care, and sleep routines. Conditions where you live, learn, work, and play can make healthy eating and getting physical activity difficult. Ways to prevent obesity: may purchase frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, but you must check for low sodium or no salt added and fruit packed in 100% fruit juice. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean protein meats, low fat or fat-free dairy products. Replace drinks with water, 100% juices or plain low-fat milk. Call 1-866-3
HUNGRY-Hunger Hotline (for English) and (for Spanish 1-877-8 HAMBRE) These lines are open 7am-1Opm 9 CT), Monday-Friday. Also, plan to increase physical activity as a family. Good sleep helps to prevent obesity. Preschoolers need 10-13 hours per day including naps. Children 6-12, need 9-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep and youth 13-17, need 8-10 hours.
Replace screen time with family time. Too much screen time can lead to poor sleep, weight gain. Lower grades I school and poor mental health.
Plan to turn off the screen one hour before bedtime.
When looking for Early Care and Education settings, check for healthy infant feeding, healthy physical activity and screen time limits.”

C. PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Source: American Association for Cancer Research. www.aacr.org/

FACTS:

“Prostate Cancer is the most common type diagnosed in men in the U.S. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Prostate cancer often has no early symptoms. While advanced cancer can cause men to urinate more often or have a weaker flow of urine. However, these symptoms can also result from benign Prostate conditions. Screening

options include a digital rectal exam and a blood test which often identifies the disease early before it spreads, this cancer is more common in older men with a family history of prostate cancer and in men of African American descent. Other risk factors include Vitamin A E, folic acid and high intake of airy and calcium. About 12.9% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Black men have the highest death rate of any race or ethnic group in the U.S. Black men are about twice as likely to die as White men. Scientists believe this disparity stems from both genetic and socioeconomic factors. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 313,780 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 35,770 will die of the disease in 2025. However, the five-year survival rate is now 97.9%.

Note: The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) will release a Cancer Progress Report at 12pm ET on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Nearly 20% of U.S. caner diagnoses are related to excess body weight, unhealthy dietary patterns, alcohol intake and physical inactivity.”

PART II.
HEALING AIDS FROM THE BALM IN GILEAD

Source:

www.balmingilead.org

Click on Education and Inspiration and find to topics-Sunday Morning Health Corner and Resources

Facts:

A. Sunday Morning Health Bulletin-"Black Mental Health Awareness and Empowerment," "Bridging the Gap: Minority Mental Health Matters," "Physical Activity for Families Moving Together for Better Health," "Healthy Lunchbox Ideas: Fueling Students for Success," "Immunization Awareness: Protecting Black Communities," "Preventing Alzheimer's & Preserving Brain Health."
B. Resources-"Mental Health," "Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia."

PART III.
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

www.cdc.gov/

A. COVID 2025

FACTS:

" COVID 2025 Updates-To help protect yourself and others from health risks by COVID19 and other respiratory viruses.

Core Prevention Strategies:

1. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine and lower the risk of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19
2. Practice good hygiene to improve cleanliness
3. Take steps for cleaner air
4. When you are sick—Stay home and away from others, including people you live with who are not sick
5. Seek health care for testing and treatment if you have risk factors or severe illness (Treatment must be started within a few days of when symptoms begin)
6. Wearing a mask and putting distance between yourself and other can help lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission
7. Watch for illness increasing in your community
8. Increased risk of severe Respiratory illness for older adults, young children, teens those with medical conditions as chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, persons with weakened immune system, disabilities and pregnant women
9. children, teens and adults with obesity
10. All with sickle cell disease.

*Influenza (Flu)-

September and October are good times to get flu vaccine. Talk with your Doctor.

*RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus-

Can severely impact older adults and adults with underlying chronic condition; Contagious virus occurs during fall peaks in the winter and subsides in spring; vaccination is available. Talk with your Dr.”

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PRESIDING ELDER JAMES OAKRY

WebmasterTJ — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:40:22 +0000

Contact

revjoakry@yahoo.com

9106 Millwood Drive

Rowlett, Texas 75088

469-734-9334

Reverend James Guy Oakry Jr. was born on August 26, 1960. He was raised and educated in the Plano public school system, graduating from Plano Senior High School in 1978. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Texas College in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Criminology at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Additionally, he holds a Certificate in Theology from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC).

Ordained as a Deacon in 1997 and elevated to Elder in 1999, Reverend Oakry is actively involved in ministry and recently married Reverend Vernice Fowler. He is a proud father of three children and a grandfather to two beautiful granddaughters. In his leisure time, he enjoys golfing and fishing.

Currently, Reverend Oakry serves as the newly appointed Presiding Elder of the Tyler District within the Central Texas Region. His previous pastoral roles include leadership at Friendship CME Church, Holsey Chapel CME Church, and Mt. Zion CME Church in Ben Wheeler. After retiring from the City of Plano, where he served for 24 years, he has been driving a school bus for Garland Independent School District for the past 15 years.

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PRESIDING ELDER JONATHAN L JONES SR

WebmasterTJ — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:46:15 +0000

Website: www.houstondistrictcme

P.O. Box 1433

Hurst Texas 76053

817-812-9298

jonathansr303@gmail.com

Presiding Elder Jonathan L Jones Sr was born October 22, 1966. He is a native of Los Angeles, California. Elder Jones earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance in 1988 from the University of Texas at Arlington.

In 1986, he joined McIntosh CME church in Grand Prairie, TX under the Pastoral leadership of Rev James L. Smith. He served in many capacities at McIntosh. He sang in the young adult choir, served as Sunday School Superintendent, taught the adult Sunday school class, and led Wednesday night prayer meeting. While attending McIntosh CME church he answered his call into the ministry and received his license to preach in October 1992 under the leadership of Rev James L Smith.

In 1995, he moved his membership to Christian Chapel CME church in Dallas, TX under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Jerome E McNeil Jr. At Christian Chapel he was the worship leader for the 8:00 am worship service. He also taught new membership classes, participated in monthly prayer vigils, and visited and served communion to the sick and shut in. He was ordained as an Elder in June 2007 under Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham.

In June 2007, he was assigned to Morning Chapel CME church as an associate minister Bishop Cunningham. He served under numerous pastors at Morning Chapel. He served in numerous teaching capacities while at Morning Chapel. He taught the adult Sunday school class; he taught various classes during Vacation Bible School and The Rock Respect Academy as well as Wednesday night Bible study. He also visited and served communion to members that were sick or hospitalized.

He served as pastor of New Bethel CME church in Stephenville, TX under the appointment of Bishop LL Reddick III during the 2014 Dallas-Fort Worth Annual Conference. He pastored New Bethel from July 2014 to July 2017.

He was appointed Pastor of St. James CME church in Gainesville, TX by Bishop LL Reddick III during the 2017 Dallas-Fort Worth Annual Conference. His focus in his first two years at St. James was to lead the church in completing important renovations that would allow the members to return to the church building to worship.

He was appointed Pastor of Stewart Chapel in Fort Worth, TX by Bishop LL Reddick III during the 2021 Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Annual Conference. He currently serves as an Episcopal Leader over the Economic Ventures. In this role he is tasked with seeking financial opportunities that would benefit churches in the Eighth Episcopal District. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University in December 2022.

He was appointed Presiding Elder of the Houston District in the 2022-2023 Southeast Texas Region Annual Conference by Senior Bishop LL Reddick III.

Rev. Jones is married to Mrs. Tina Jones. Together they have a total of seven children.

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Apparel

WebmasterTJ — Wed, 22 May 2024 23:31:28 +0000

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The Christmas Purpose: to Point Us to Jesus and to Our Holistic Salvation

Lawrence Reddick — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 02:50:19 +0000

The Christmas Purpose: to Point Us to Jesus and to Our Holistic Salvation

By Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick

Dear CME Family:

We awake every December 25^th to be reminded that God is sovereign – especially over God’s creation, but beyond that creation into eternity.

In many of our congregations, for the last four Sundays (beginning November 27^th), we celebrated the Advent Season, lighting the Advent candles. We gathered in and read – one person lighting the candle and reading in some services, one family on behalf of the church in some others, while all in some ways participated in the worship rituals that heralded God’s love, God’s hope, God’s joy, and God’s peace.

For many of us, looking at it from the smaller scope of Christian Year symbols can seasons (Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, Kingdomtide), we were pointing through the Advent Season toward the coming of the Christ child to the earth (while simultaneously highlighting – sometimes to a lesser degree – that He will come again to receive us to Himself). But the message beyond the narrower scope of Advent is the message of God’s eternal purposes for and presence with us, and God’s holistic salvation for all of us. (By holistic salvation, I mean, the healing from our sins, from our fears, from our wounds, from all things earthly and finite; it is our healing from all that makes us seem less than God created us to be into the joy and fullness of all God intends us to be.)

The journey toward God’s holistic salvation begins with recognition in our minds, our spirits, our spiritual awareness that God was always with us, calling us into a divine/human relationship. We’ve called it many things, chief among them being “saved,” “converted,” and sometimes “changed” – oftentimes as if the acting is done by us. The truer thought is that the action is begun by God, who prods us to awaken to God’s creative salvation in during God’s eternal process.

God’s eternal process means that since our beginning, God was at work in us, God was creatively working to guide us into being whole in God. And “us” in that sentence is every one – not just every Black one, or every Caucasian one, or every European or Asian or African one … but everyone. That process we know to be this: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Whoever you are, Reader of this short message, God is at work in you, prodding you, pulling you, embracing you (with all your faults, failures and

doubts) with God’s encouragement, comfort, consolation, and God’s healing graces. You are not hopelessly lost: God is working in you, and God is reconciling (the word reconcile means “to bring back together”) you and me and the rest of God’s creation to God’s very own self; and God has done it by bringing into creation a picture of the fullness of God’s nature in a human body, born in a manger in Bethlehem, but living His life through the struggles and strivings, the gains and losses, the ups and downs which are the plight of every human being … while yet remaining godly. That’s why Colossians 1:15 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Thus we are right to take Advent as the time to point to the coming of the Christ into the world, so that we may know that we can be reconciled; and yet, we are also right to point to and beyond the life, the death, the resurrection, and the resurrected spirit of the Jesus Christ to our own entrance into the life that trusts and follows Jesus into becoming whole, complete, mirroring Him, and growing up into His nature and into His eternal holistic salvation.

I close with a hymn that is short, that has almost always been in our hymnals, yet seldom sung in CME churches. It expresses, better than any other I see today, our moving from Advent to Christmastide as a part of God’s eternal process of moving us from finite to infinite and from weakness to wholeness. The words are from Charles Wesley:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a king.

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

The hope of Christmas is its message that God is sovereign – over God’s creations, but even beyond God’s creations into an eternity of holistic salvation

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Advent- A Season of Anticipation

Valencia Edner — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 20:06:20 +0000

Worship Music for Advent
Don't Rush to Christmas Old Testament Promise New Testament Anticipation

The Advent of Our King
(tune: Bless Be the Tie )

01.

The advent of our King

Our thoughts must now employ;

Then let us meet him on the road

With songs of holy joy.

02.

The coeternal Son

A maiden’s offspring see;

A servant’s form Christ putteth on,

To set his people free.

03.

In glory from his throne

Again will Christ descend,

And summon all who are his own

To joys that never end.

04.

Our joyful praises sing

To Christ, who set us free;

Like tribute to the Father bring,

And Holy Ghost, to thee.

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Community Update

Beth Bentley — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:53:09 +0000

November 3, 2022

Submitted by

Beth Bentley

November 3, 2022

Community Update

As requested, additional information regarding Faith Forward Dallas (FFD) has been gathered. Through personal interviews with the Race, Justice and Equity Chair, Mr. Collin Packer, please accept the following update:

Faith Forward Dallas was birthed out of the crisis stemming from 5 Dallas Police Department Officers being shot and killed on July 7, 2016 and on the heels of the death of Philando Casteel, killed by a police officer, on July 6, 2016 in Minnesota.

Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square is a diverse coalition of Dallas’ faith leaders, dedicated to service, hope and a shared vision of peace and justice for our North Texas community. Faith Forward Dallas leads this virtue initiative and serves as a moral compass for the community.

The mission is to foster and sustain the multi-faith fabric of our community by celebrating diversity and building strong relationships. They offer support, solidarity and a voice for those without a voice through civic engagement and educational partnerships.

When our community needs them the most, they provide crisis management to maintain structured communication and assist in the grieving and healing process. They are currently developing Character Building 101, a curriculum to help foster virtue. They also engage international visitors and welcome them into an atmosphere of hospitality, belonging and compassion.

3 key leaders who started FFD:

Rabbi Nancy Kasten – Rabbi (wife of main Rabbi at Temple Emanuel) – STILL ENGAGED – NOW LEADS “FAITH COMMONS”
Omar Suleiman – NOT ACTIVE
Pastor Dr. Michael (and Elise) Waters – NOT AS ACTIVE

The Clergy Organization is made up of individual members in these categories:

Faith Leaders:authorized by ordination, commissioned by faith community, or involved in congregational leadership.
Friends:welcome to attend large group meetings and participate on committees.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Faith Leaders: Dues of $90 annually (90 is a multiple of 18, the Jewish meaning for life).

Friends: Donations are welcome, but not mandatory.

STRUCTURE

Executive Committee: Convener, Convener-Elect/Treasurer, Executive Director, CEO of The Thanks-Giving Foundation.

Leadership Council: Made up of 14 to 15 members who are appointed by the Executive committee, responsible for decision-making as needed.

Committees: Each chair will nominate a Chair-Elect.

Civic Engagement Committee
Task Forces: Each coordinator will nominate a co-coordinator
- Housing Solutions (Homelessness)
- Equal Justice (Law Enforcement)
- Migrant Status (Refugees and Immigrants)
- Gun Sense (Gun Control and Gun Violence)
Crisis Management Committee
Communication Committee
New Members & Relationship Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Rabbi Andrew Paley – Former Chair
Rev Neil Thomas – Current Chair
Almas Muscatwalla – Executive Director
Kyle Ogden – President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation

Pastor George Mason – recently retired

While FFD is organized around the interfaith community and diverse partnerships, there has been somewhat of a struggle of trying to figure out who they are now apart from their original pastors:

what are we being asked to do;
we show up when needed;
moral compass or voice for religious leaders;
sign on to statements;
legislative voice

Next monthly meetings – November 14^th – 10-11:30am at Thanksgiving Square
(1627 Pacific Avenue; Dallas, Texas 75201)

Opportunities:

Form their own 501c3
Dallas – passed Racial Equity Plan
Interested in conversations in Collin County
Not aware of involvement with NAACP, which would be helpful
# of churches – FFD is hesitant to share the list of those involved; online – 35-50 on the Zoom calls – various denominations and cultures – not many Black leaders involved

With the meeting on November 14, 2022 and the change in leadership for 2023, this should offer an opportunity for participation and direction for the 8^th Episcopal District moving forward.

Submitted by Beth Bentley

St. James CME Church

McKinney, TX 75069

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Health Ministry In The Eighth Episcopal District (VOL11)

WebmasterTJ — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:52:19 +0000

EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

HEALTH MINISTRY (VOL 11)

Dr. Patricia D. McKenzie

Episcopal Coordinator for Health Ministries

PART I.
NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES FOR NOVEMBER

A. National Bladder Health Awareness Month. Source American Urology Association, Urology Care Foundation.

https://www.Urologyhealth.org

FACTS:

“Bladder cancer is the 6^th most common cancer in U.S. Nearly 84,000 people were diagnosed in 2021. It is more common in males. Three times more men get the disease. Incidence is higher in the age group 75-84. More Caucasians than any other ethnicities. However, there are more African Americans who do not survive the disease. Bladder cancer may spread to lymph nodes nearby and it may reach the bones and the lungs. Talk to your Dr. if you notice the following: blood in your urine and often there is no pain, frequent and urgent urination, pain in lower abdomen and back. May get this cancer when you come into contact with tobacco, as smoking or breathing in tobacco smoke. Smoking is a big risk factor. In the workplace, exposure to chemicals used to make plastics, paint and textiles. Your Dr. may refer you to a Urologist for the needed tests. Your options for treatment will depend on how much the cancer has grown. You should expect to return to your Dr. for re evaluation and further test even after surgery. You may even need to be referred to a certified sex therapist/counselor. Some patients have participated in peer support groups to help them deal with Erectile Dysfunction. After treatment and surgery, healthy living will include recommendations for diet changes, a fitness plan and other lifestyle changes.”

B. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Month.

Source: American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/

FACTS:

: “COPD is referred to as chronic bronchitis emphysema. This disease affects millions of Americans and is the leading cause of long-term disability and early death in U.S. It is often preventable and treatable, and there is no cure. The main cause is smoking, but nonsmokers can get the disease too. About 85-90% of cases are caused by smoking. Other causes include long term exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, dust fumes and chemicals which are often work related. Five steps to risk your risk: 1. Stop smoking 2. Don’t start smoking 3. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke 4. Protect yourself from chemicals, dust and fumes in your home and at work 5. Fight for clean air in your community. Be alert to these symptoms and discuss with your Dr. Theses include chronic cough, shortness of breath while doing ever day activities, frequent respiratory infections, blueness of lips or fingernails, fatigue, wheezing, and producing a lot of mucus. Early detection is key to successful treatment. Your Dr. will ask you about your symptoms, write them down and share the list, and if family members have had COPD. You must understand your medical plan. Taking your medication at the right time can help you breathe better, do more of the things you enjoy, and have fewer flare ups or exacerbation of symptoms. A pulmonary rehabilitation program will include education, exercise training, nutrition advice and counseling. All are designed to help you rebuild strength and enjoy a fuller more active life. Also, getting emotional support is important and those professionals can help you handle feelings of fear, anxiety, depression or stress. To talk to experts, call the American Lung Helpline and Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) TTY for hearing impaired is 1-800-501-1068”.

National Diabetes Month. Source: American Diabetes Association,

https://www.diabetes.org/

FACTS:

“There is a short Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. T A1C test is used to identify prediabetes. The goal for most adults is a reading of less than 7%. The higher the percentage, the higher the blood sugar level. Before you develop Type 2 diabetes, almost all persons will have prediabetes. There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, so you may have it and not know it. The following symptoms are typical of diabetes-urinating often, feeling very thirsty, feeling very hungry even though you are eating, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, cuts/bruises that are slow to heal, weight loss even tough you are eating more, tingling pain or numbness in the hands/feet. Some people have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed. Early detection and treatment can decrease the risk of complications. Healthy living includes nutrition and diet changes, physical fitness, can’t be overweight, keep extra weight off with a balance of exercise, healthy food and portion control. No fad diets! Practice positive self-talk and set realistic goals to help you succeed (For example: say I’m glad I decided to get out for a walk. Some exercise is better than nothing.) Always check your glucose level before exercising; the range is about 100to180mg/dl. Confirm your level with your Dr. Know that your emotions can influence you’re eating habits. You can assess your physical hunger using their Hunger-Satiety-Rating Scale. Alternatives to eating may include: drinking a glass of water or another zero-calorie beverage, take a walk to change scenery, read a book or magazine, work on a hobby. If you feel an emotional strain, always seek a professional for mental help. There are ways to lighten your mental load. For example, try telemedicine instead of routine appointments, stay organized, simplify the mealtime, and plan ahead and not at the last minute. You can manage Type 2 Diabetes, but changes are required.”

November 17 “Great American Smoke out.

https://www.Cancer,org/

Plan:

Plan to adopt a friend/ family member and help them start their journey toward a smoke-free life. This day is important because almost 34 million American adults still smoke and smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death. Smoking causes about 480,000 deaths every year, or about 1 in 5 deaths. Those who smoke include people in lower socioeconomic level, those without a college degree and African American/Black communities. No matter how long the person has been smoking, quitting improves health outcomes.”

American Lung Association “E-Cigarettes and Vaping. Know the Risks Visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Reference: E-Cigarettes.SurgeonGeneral.gov Slogan: QUIT Don’t SWITCH.”

PART II.
HEALING AIDS FROM THE BALM IN GILEAD

Source:

www.balmingilead.org

Click on Education and Inspiration and find these topics-Sunday Morning Health Corner and Resources.

Facts:

A. Sunday Morning Corner-“Featured Health Literacy, Health and Wellness with download,” “”Coping with Seasonal Depression,” “The Importance of Handwashing During Cold and Flu Season,” “November is National Diabetes Month.”
B. Resources: “Diabetes,” “Obesity and Nutrition.”

PART III.
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

www.cdc.gov/

“COVID-19 County Check.

FACTS:

”Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters-A. What You Need to Know: 1. Updated (bivalent) boosters became available September 2,2022. 2. CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group. Children and teens ages 6 months to 17 years and adults ages 18 years and older. 3. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from infection provides added protection against COVID-19. 4. If you recently had COVID-19 you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test. 5. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations forCOVID-19 vaccines. Note: COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data. B. Updated Boosters Are Recommended for Some People: CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was-1. Their final primary series dose or 2. An original (monovalent) booster. People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster. (Note: Posted 11/6/2022) CDC facts are intended to help you make decisions about getting COVID-19 vaccinations. See your Dr. for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

A helpful tool provided by CDC is the COVID-19 Community Level Report. You may check your county and find out the level. There are three levels High, Medium and Low with recommendations for safety protocols for each level. The numbers are tabulated and the Levels are updated every Thursday by 8pm ET. When you are traveling and gathering, check the County Level and protect yourself and others.

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PLAN to Vote,

Lawrence Reddick — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:01:06 +0000

PLAN to Vote, and Work Your Plan

By Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick

This has been a very busy year of crowded schedules – at least from the time of Bishop Umoette’s death on February 26, 2022 through this time in October. I am looking forward to some respite in the not-so-distant future.

Yet, I cannot let us go into this voting season without saying something about the importance of voting, of all of us voting, and for voting through all of the offices on the ballot.

And so, I must ask and answer some question about what I believe God intends for me as a Christian to be doing when I vote in a democracy. (And the key words are, “in a democracy.”)

I will say what might surprise you: I am not a Christian nationalist … if that word means that I believe everything about the nation I live in must be Christian. What I believe is that God wants me, in a democractic system, to make this democracy open to believers of different faiths, and to protect the rights of individuals to practice their faiths (even if different from my own). For the security of a place to practice the Christian faith in a democracy requires me fighting the right of every believer of every stripe to have a security of place to practice his or her faith.

Let me use an old anecdote. I grew up in public schools beginning with first grade in 1958, so I can say that from 1958 through 1970 almost every class knew what it was for the teacher to start the day with prayer and Scriptures. The church era I grew up in resisted the fact that someone could go to the Courts and advocate against prayer in schools. Our teachers then were predominantly Christian. But I am not convinced we ever looked seriously in those days of the 1960s to see what “prayer in the schools” was going to look like when our teachers began to be not only Christian, but Muslim, and Jewish, and Bahai and other faiths?

And there is another part to the question of whether we Christians should have continued to try to force prayer in the schools: suppose we would have been able to continue to promote prayer in the schools and assure that the prayer in every school would be a Christian prayer rather than an interfaith or other faith prayer; do you believe God would have been pleased with people being forced to pray rather than people responding in love and obedience to God in prayers?

A teacher of mine – Dr Melvin Vulgamore – quoted in his lectures these words he attributed to John Wesley (tonight I am trusting him, not having found the quote for myself, but trusting his fastidious nature about quotes and citations: “Forced religion stinks in God’s nostrils.”

Yes, children ought to pray in schools, but not because they are forced to; rather, they should pray because we who believe in God have taught them to pray at home and in worship and in Bible study and Sunday School.

By now you may want to say, “What does this have to do with voting?” And my answer is that we must be on guard because there are groups of people who vote en bloc (as a block) because they have attitudes and positions that are strongly for or against whatever things they believe are not Christian: against abortion, for capital punishment, against welfare, against any sexual deviation from that which is traditionally understood. But I ask you, are you so sure that our beliefs on all of these issues are so clearly black or white, never gray, or so clearly “black or white” that we often speaking out of the clarity we have been taught to see or hear … or, God forbid, have been taught to subconsciously read into the Scriptures.

Many of you would tell me that Sodom’s and Gomorrah’s destruction was God’s judgment because God was against homosexuality. I can see how you can argue that. But tell me, friend, how can you argue that the same God on the same night that he was punishing homosexuality was in favor of the rape of two women whom the resident of Sodom had put out that night so that the men who wanted to ravish the other male visitors would rape these two young women instead? Are you so sure of what God is saying about deviant homosexual behavior with one breath that in the same biblical passage you are comfortable being silent about the cruelty that is visited upon others? In the same passage that carries a message about sexual deviance?

Old Testament Israel was God’s theocracy – a government in which God was ruler. But there is no theocracy among major nations today. Even modern-day Israel is not such a government; it, too, like the United States, is a democracy. And so, I am saying to you that I would not want the rainbow of understandings of the Christian faith to take over this nation in the name of “Christian nationalism” and make it a nation in which Christians fight each other in the names of our differing interpretations of God while in the same breath defying anyone who does not call himself or herself by the name of Christian a place in the government.

If you can’t agree with this statement now, think about it, live, and observe, and learn, for I believe it proves itself true in many of our experiences: sometimes the nonbeliever or the believer in another faith is closer to being an advocate of the justice God demands of us than some of the people who call themselves Christian. Yes, and I believe that is obvious when it comes to immigration laws and advocated reforms and in issues of capital punishment and in issues of criminal justice reform; or in something so simple as people who are anti-abortion but also anti-life in their unforgiving “eye for an eye” attitudes that find no place for mercy in the justice system.

But this is about voting, and these questions and thoughts of the previous paragraphs are the reasons I vote the way I vote. I do not vote for or against a person because of the label “Christian.” I do not vote for or against a person because of any faith labels. I try to not vote for or against a person simply because of his or her color. I vote because I believe this person or that person will do his or her best to be fair and just, has the capacity to do a credible job in the office, and will be an advocate of laws that help society while also realizing that there is a place for mercy.

And so, I admonish you to do these things which my wife and I plan to do between now and November 8.

We plan to go to vote together, and we plan to go on October 24, the first day of early voting in Texas.

We plan to study the candidates and their positions on the issues before we go. We will take some time to search the internet and see what people advocate for or against before we go.

We plan to go prepared to be patient and wait a long time.

We plan to take notes and mark the names for each candidate for whom we plan to vote so that we do not dilly-dally in uncertainty while we are at the voting machine.

Having planned our work, we intend to work and plan and come out of the voting precinct believing we have done a civic duty and a God respecting duty to uphold democracy’s walls.

An old accountant once said to me: “Take care of your business, and your business will take care of you.” I admonish you to hear his words with these adjusted thoughts: “Take care of democracy, and democracy will take care of you.” If we give democracy up to any one tradition, any one culture, any one social group, any one race, any one ethnic group, or even any one faith, we may give it up forever, and find ourselves living in an autocratic of some despot leader who cannot be trusted. “Take care of democracy, and democracy will take care of you.” VOTE. PLAN your work, then work your plan.

Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick

The post PLAN to Vote, first appeared on EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT.

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The Christmas Purpose: to Point Us to Jesus and to Our Holistic Salvation

The Christmas Purpose: to Point Us to Jesus and to Our Holistic Salvation

By Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick

Advent- A Season of Anticipation

Worship Music for Advent Don't Rush to Christmas Old Testament Promise New Testament Anticipation

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The advent of our King

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The coeternal Son

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In glory from his throne

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PART I.
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Worship Music for Advent
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The Advent of Our King
(tune: Bless Be the Tie )

PART I.
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