The Interfaith Peace project hosted a September 19th Peace Poetry Jam” at the Antioch Peace Center on Matterhorn Way. Walter Ruehlig moderated this 11 Days of Peace event attended by twenty original poetry composers, rappers, readers and devotees. Pictured, sitting from left to right, are Deer Valley High School English teacher Pandora Sibley and Juniors Payton Walker, Leonel Jiminez and standing Quame Mays and Jose Hernandez.
Photo courtesy of Sue Batterton.

As part of the 11 Days Of Peace celebration put on by the Antioch-based Interfaith Peace Project the Islamic Center of the East Bay sponsored an Open House on September 16th with dialogue, a tour and refreshments. Part of the several score in attendance are, standing left to right, Rev. Tom Bonacci, Walter Ruehlig, Sukhdev Singh, Ashraf Chaudry, Susan Batterton, Lesley Eubanks, M.D. Jalal Atmar.

The Antioch Church Family multi-cultural children’s choir is holding auditions September 7th and 14th at 5:30 for their upcoming Peace concert.

The audition and concert will be held at 55 East 18th Street in Antioch. We are looking for 50 eager voices aged three to ten to sing at our September 17th, 5 p.m. concert. Musicians of any age are also welcome.

The concert is part of East Bay’s regional 11 Days of Peace celebration, and will include the award-winning Voices Of Antioch. For more information call Joyce Howell at 202-8022.

Hard Hitting Reality of Poor Choices

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Every day an average of 99 young people die in the United States; 31 young people will die today from auto related accidents, 16 from domestic violence or homicide, 12 will commit suicide, today, and the remaining will die from poor choices, diseases and natural causes (CDC Data). “the 99” is a walk-through reality theater focusing on the leading causes of death to young people in our country.

The production is housed in a 20,000 square foot air structure and features 13 rooms each portraying real-life situations where guests experience a 45-minute guided tour.

Four recent guests, two Antioch boys who are cousins and their two relatives from Oakley who are brothers, shared their experiences.

“It was scary and eye-opening,” said Domenic Ferreira, age 13 and a soon-to-be Freshman at Antioch High. “It basically opened your eyes to the real world and how if you take the wrong path it will be hard to get out. You don’t have to take that path since there are two paths.”

Esteban Gurule, a 14 year old who will be a Freshman at Freedom High School said “It was fun and also serious at the same time. It teaches you a lot of important things about what things can do to you.”

His 12-year-old brother Elesio, was old enough to get in, since the warning is no one under age 11 is allowed in due to the graphic nature of the presentation.

“It wasn’t what I expected. Not at all,” Elesio stated. “It was scary and life changing. It made me think about life and choices I make. Everyone should go.”

Humberto Saucedo, age 15, who will be a Sophomore this Fall, also at Antioch High, said “the 99 was a great show filled with great actors, designs, props, features and performances.” Then he added, “I highly recommend it.”

Jeff Warrenburg, owner of Paradise Skate and the Antioch Paintball Park said he took his son, who went back another time.

“I thought it was great,” Warrenburg said. “Everyone should go, teens, young adults and parents.”

The production is not based on fear and scare tactics, but rather is based solely on reality. “the 99” is th ultimate near death experience – a life changing production that will bring people to a point of decision that can change the course of their lives forever.

“the 99” is open to the public, ages 11 and up, in Antioch, for two more weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Thursday the final weekend, July 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 in the parking lot of the Somersville Towne Center, between Macy’s and Sears, off Delta Fair Blvd. Doors open at 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Tickets are $10 per person or $3.00 with a discount ticket.

Discount tickets are available at Mr. Pickle’s on Lone Tree Way in the Bluerock Center, Paradise Skate on W. 10^th Street at the Fairgrounds and the Antioch Indoor Sports Center on Sunset, next to Aladino’s Pizza or by clicking here and downloading and printing your own.

“the 99” is sponsored by Dr. Rosenbaum & Associates, Arrowed Towing and Recovery, the four East County Ace Hardware Stores, Williams Sanitary Service, Zoo Crew Construction, and Uno Chicago Grille.

For more information visit www.whatisthe99.com.

Light Outreach Ministries presents: Bread of Life. Come join us for free lunch & fellowship 11am-1pm every Saturday (except holidays).

Sonya Gasaway, Director, Light Outreach, 415 West 6th Street, Antioch. (925) 778-1639 phone, (925) 777-2093 fax, www.Light-Outreach.org.

In recognition of the National Day of Prayer, the annual Antioch Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will be held on Thursday, May 5 at 7 a.m. at the Antioch Community Center at Prewett Park, 4701 Lone Tree Way.

This is the Antioch community’s annual opportunity to join together in prayer for our nation, military, state, city, schools and their leaders, in accordance with what is written in the second book of Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 in the Bible, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

This year’s breakfast will include Pastor Kirkland Smith of Grace Bible Fellowship, Pastor Rich Murphy of Golden Hills Community Church and Major Jackie Smith of the Salvation Army of the Delta, as well as other community leaders.

Tickets are $15 and are available at Golden Hills Community Church’s Brentwood campus and at their Antioch location, at  on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, as well as Graceland Christian Bookstore near Target on Century Blvd. in Pittsburg.

For more information on the National Day of Prayer, click here.

Empowered Parents help to make Empowered Kids!

PASSA, which stands for Promoting African-American Student Success and Achievement, is a program that was piloted at Lone Tree Elementary school in Antioch It will now be presented at Grace Bible Fellowship in Antioch, this Friday night and Saturday morning.

Parents and students are invited to attend and hear from school administrators and personnel.

The workshop, presented by both Grace Bible Fellowship and the NAACP East County Branch, “strives to educate and guide parents to become empowered to work as partners with the school system,” according to the promotional flyer.

In addition, it states “In turn, our parents will help promote their African American students to display success and achievement academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally.

The two-day “mini series” will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 8 and 9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 9 at Grace Bible Fellowship, 913 Sunset Drive, Antioch, in Suite L.

For more information about the PASSA workshop, call Cheryl White, (925) 522-8186. For more information about Grace Bible Fellowship, visit www.gbfofantioch.org and for the NAACP East County Branch, visit www.naacpeastcounty.org.

The Greatest News Ever Given

The lyrics in the old Christmas carol pretty much sum up the story of Christmas: “Hark the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn king! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.’” Because that’s how it’s described in the book of Luke, chapter 2 in the Bible.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby [Bethlehem], keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:8-14

As we celebrate Christmas, today, exchanging and opening presents, eating wonderful homemade food and watching classic Christmas movies, let’s remember what this holiday is really all about – celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Christ.

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