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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