Metropolitan’s community outreach arm, the Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation (CDC), and the Church’s Health Ministry, are collaborating with the American Chemical Society, the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Howard University, Howard University Hospital and Metropolitan AME, to host the second STEM event of the Percy L. Julian Institute. The “Dr. Charles Drew Morning of Discovery” will take place on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Metropolitan AME Church, 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Dr. Drew (l904-l950), native of Washington, DC, was the first of his race to be selected for membership on the American Board of Surgery.
All DC, VA and MD area middle school students, parents, teachers and friends are invited to attend the event for an in depth look at all areas of the medical field. Learn what is required to enter, major and succeed in the medical professions. To attend, please register online at www.cdmod.eventbrite.com .
Download the Charles Drew Morning of Discovery Flyer
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Charles Drew,
Percy L. Julian,
Stem
NEWS RELEASE
April 24, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Johnson, 703-499-4198, gjziii@gmail.com
Constance Todd, 301-578-8829, cctodd2@verizon.net
“DAISY BATES: FIRST LADY OF LITTLE ROCK” SCREENING AT METROPOLITAN AME CHURCH ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012 AT 2:00 PM
April 24, 2012, Washington, DC – “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock,” a widely-acclaimed documentary film will be shown on Sunday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, 1518 M Street, N.W. Following the screening, a panel featuring Ernest Green, a member of the Little Rock Nine, Ellen Fizer, whose father ministered to members of the Little Rock Nine, and filmmaker Sharon LaCruise, will offer firsthand accounts and respond to audience questions facilitated by award-winning journalist, Dorothy Gilliam. The film presentation is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the NEA garage across the street from the church.
The documentary, which premiered on PBS’ Independent Lens series earlier this year, tells the story of Daisy Bates, a fearless fighter for justice who earned her place in American history and became a household name during the height of the civil rights era. She is more commonly referred to as “Mrs. Daisy Bates and The Little Rock Nine” for courageously leading the integration of the all-white Central High School in Arkansas in 1957. Her public support culminated in a constitutional crisis — pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself. It took the presence of the National Guard, with protective assistance from President Eisenhower, to usher the nine black students into Central High School.
As both protector of the nine students who were on the front lines of the school desegregation battle and president of the Arkansas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Daisy Bates achieved instant but fleeting fame. The documentary candidly explores and resolves questions concerning her place in history: What motivated Daisy Bates? What does her story tell us about the place of feminism in the civil rights movement? After all she did, why was Daisy Bates never fully embraced, even within the Little Rock community?
La Cruise’s film connects Bates to many of the well-known female civil rights activists who followed in her footsteps: Gloria Richardson Dandridge, Diane Nash, and Angela Davis. In telling the story of a woman who paved the way for others to take a stand, the film fills in a gap in the story of hundreds of women in the Civil Rights Movement, both past and present, whose contributions continue to be overlooked. The film illustrates how Daisy Bates’ long and lonely journey, full of triumphs and defeats, parallels the ongoing struggle of generations of African Americans who challenged America to live up to what it has claimed to be for more than 200 years.
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This public service program is presented by Metropolitan’s Women’s Season 2012 Committee, Public Relations Commission, and Church School in partnership with the Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation. Reverend Ronald E. Braxton, D.Min. is Senior Pastor of Metropolitan A.M.E Church.
For more information, visit the church website at metropolitanamec.org or call 202.331.1426.
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Daisy Bates,
Taste and Talk
Metropolitan’s Women’s Season 2012 Committee, Public Relations Commission, and Church School, and the Daniel Alexander Payne Community Development Corporation, Metropolitan’s outreach arm, invite you to a “Taste and Talk,” a dining and documentary event on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Following the 11:00 a.m. worship service, the exciting programs of Metropolitan’s Women’s Season 2012 will continue with a “Taste of the Met” smorgasbord, featuring the culinary skills and delectable delights of the women of Metropolitan. The smorgasbord will be highlighted with a special screening of the film, “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock.” Following the film’s presentation, the director and producer, Sharon La Cruise, will share a “behind-the-scenes” look at the film, which tells the inspiring story of the legendary woman who fought for the right of nine black students to attend the segregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Metropolitan’s own Ernie Green of the Little Rock Nine and Ellen Fizer, who has historic ties to the Little Rock Nine, will join Ms. La Cruise in an interactive discussion, moderated by Metropolitan’s award-winning journalist, Dorothy Gilliam. Admission to the film screening is free. A donation of $10 is requested for the smorgasbord, and tickets are available from members of the sponsoring organizations.
Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Braxton, Senior Pastor
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Metropolitan AME Church
www.metropolitanamec.org
Scripture: Luke 24:36b-48 (NIV Translation). Jesus Appears to the Disciples 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
In the scripture, the disciples, like many of the other believers, found themselves locked behind closed doors huddled together, scared to death that they would meet the same fate that Jesus, their teacher, had met. By now, the reports are coming in. They were there when he was crucified; they were present when he was buried in the cave and the stone was rolled over the entrance. On the first day of the week, they saw with their own eyes the empty tomb. But then Mary the Magdalene reported that she had seen him alive. Now others were coming with similar reports. The disciples were confused and scared out of their wits. What is to be believed? What are all these rumors about? What do we do next?
Peter most of all, but all the others too, were loaded with guilt, grief, unbearable frustration, doubt, and anxiety. And in the midst of their confusion and anxiety about the empty tomb, the unthinkable and unimaginable occurred: Jesus appeared, standing tall in their presence.
1. When Jesus stands tall in your life, his presence restores the peace. Look at the first thing that Jesus does. In the midst of all the noise, chaos, and confusion, he restores the peace and tranquility that existed when he was alive just by saying: “Peace be with you.” Jesus’ mere presence restores a sense of peace to them.
There are many occasions in the bible when Jesus speaks peace and calms the situation. Remember when he was in the hull of the boat asleep, and remember when he walked on water to save his disciple walking in the midst of a raging storm? Both times he stood and spoke the word peace.
And there are many other times when Jesus brings a sense of peace and tranquility to a situation: Remember the lunatic in the cemetery who was found clothed and in his right mind. Remember the 10 lepers; the woman with the issue of blood; the man who couldn’t get into the pool of Bethesda – there so many others where Jesus brings a sense of peace and tranquility to a stormy situation.
You might know the story of Horatio Spafford, who was a successful attorney in Chicago, father of five children and an active member of a Presbyterian Church who knew what it was to live in peace and happiness. But without warning, life started crashing in on him. His only son died; then the great Chicago fire wiped out the family’s fortunes. Then, when he decided to take his family to Europe to lift their spirits, the ship was struck by an English vessel and his family, along with 226 other passengers, drowned at sea. Only his wife survived. Yet, out of his deep sense of sorrow and unwavering faith, Spafford composed the hymn we all know: “When peace like a river…when sorrow like sea billows roll…whatever my lot…it is well with my soul.”
Brothers and sisters, whatever is going on in your family, your job, whichever party is in office, whatever congress or the Supreme Court hand down – it won’t matter. If the living Jesus is standing tall in your life, you can live with a sense of peace.
2. When Jesus stands tall in your life, he challenges you to live with a conquering courage. Here is the second thing that happened when Jesus stood up in their presence: Jesus understood the disciples’ fears, but he challenged them to live with a conquering courage. “They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost” reads the NIV. Look at how Jesus deals with their fears; the Message Bible says: “Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s really me. Touch me. (Instilling courage) Look me over from head to toe.” Can you imagine the courage it must have taken to touch him? Can you imagine how their whole persona and being must have shifted when they realized that Jesus had actually conquered death?
Sisters and brothers, when he who conquered death stands up in your life, your whole being will shift. You take on a conquering courage to live in spite of and because of he who stands tall in your life. Some will see your courage as arrogance, but with Christ standing tall in your life, there is a spirit that thrives to conquer the unconquerable. Cancer, unemployment, foreclosure, loss, death, terrorist attack, a school killing — as daunting as these challenges are, when Jesus stands tall in your life, there is a conquering spirit that will rise up in you to keep you pressing on.
3. Finally, when Jesus stands tall in your life, every challenge becomes an opportunity. When the living Jesus stands tall in your life, every challenge becomes an opportunity to let others see Christ living and standing tall in your life. In verse 45, “Then he opened their minds” and told them to go and witness to all nations.
It is a terrible thing to live closed minded. If we open our minds and spirits to the Jesus who stands tall in us, it will help us take the risk and walk through some new door.
If we open our minds and spirits, every challenge in life can become our witness that he lives in us.
No matter that you’ve been knocked down, everyday God is doing a new thing and he’ll stand you back up. No matter that you’ve been pushed out, he’ll close one door, and he’ll open another.
Every challenge will be accompanied by new possibilities…if you let Jesus stand tall in your life.
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Rev. Ronald E. Braxton
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