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Front Page  Merry Christmas from Praise! NOTE: If you have an interesting tidbit that you beleive Praise might be interested in, please submit info to our editor via email or contact Bro. Mike Catledge after worship services. |
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| Making Our Presence Known!
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| A Mission To Keep
On Monday, December 18 the officers and members of Flipper Chapel AME Church will be gathering in conference at 7pm. In addition to any pertinent concerns and old and new business at hand, Pastor Bell has asked that each ministry, auxiliary, and board of the church submit their mission statements and objectives for the 2000-2001 Conference Year on this occasion. As is custom, the conference is open to all members for participation. | |
| Prepare Yourself
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Hallelujah! After much prayer and effort, the Flipper Chapel Marquee has been erected! Standing boldly out front of the church edifice overlooking the corner of Osceola and Flipper streets, the burgundy-colored marquee announces to the surrounding Bond Community that our humble church is finally making it's presence known. By being able to advertise coming events and other messages, it is hoped that the marquee will encourage passers-by and our more immediate neighbors to fellowship and participate on a continual basis with the members of our vibrant congregation. It is anticipated that the marquee will be updated weekly in order to broadcast upcoming events. All boards and auxiliaries who hope to utilize this service should make their intentions known in advance by contacting Pastor Bell or the members of the newly formed Marquee Maintenance Committee--Sis. Anne Collins or Bro. Michael Catledge--on or before Tuesday of each week. The officers and members of Flipper Chapel would like to thank the Lay Organization for spear-heading the marquee initiatives as well as all who contributed to it's erection. 
Many of our readers may be asking themselves: "Just what is Advent?". Well, historically, Advent is a period in time when Christians prepare themselves to observe the coming of the Savior--that is, the actual birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, the word 'advent' is derived from the Latin meaning "to come". The length of the season of Advent has often differed according to the various denominations and faiths who hold true that the Messiah was born on or about December 25th--i.e. Christmas Day. In the fifth and sixth century Gaul (ancient France), Advent consisted of the six Sundays before December 24th--Christmas Eve. Presently, due to papal modifications, the Season of Advent is comprised of only four Sundays before that auspicious day. There does remain some differences in the way the season is observed. In the Eastern Orthodox faith, Advent is seen as a time of fast--though not in the liturgical sense. It is true that Advent is held as a solemn season by Western faiths, however, it is not as heavily penitential as Lent. Spiritually, Advent is seen as a time when the followers of Jesus cleanse their heart, mind and soul in order that the true teachings of our Savior can be received in the proper light. At Flipper, we mark the occasion by lighting a series of candles meant to represent the four traditional attributes of the season; faith, hope, love, and joy. Customarily, each Sunday of Advent Pastor Bell invites a group of Flipper family members into the pulpit for an inspirational reading and brief candle lighting ceremony during the regular worship service. In this way, it is hoped that all Flipperites might generate a better understanding of the Advent Season as well as be well prepared to celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior in true Christian spirit.