Had I followed my first impulse, I would have given this message a title and called it "Where Do We Go From Here?"

It is not an easy matter to write a meaningful message with an equally meaningful theme for inclusion in the 2008 publication of the "Church Directory and Calendar of Events" on the heels of such a successful and memorable 2007 year-long celebration of Mount Carmel's 125th Church Anniversary, under the bold and exciting theme of "This Far by Faith: A Plateau Not A Pinnacle: Taking Time to Remember".

This 125th Church Anniversary theme was not arbitrarily chosen. On the contrary it was both chosen and developed with a view to moving us forward in a more confident knowledge of our collective historic past.

In a practical sense we not only revisited some of the events of the past, but also we sought to recapture and relive some of the lives and legacies of the people of our rich past. Both the events and the personalities combined to make us what we are and who we are today.

In short, we dug deeply into this well-chosen theme for one solid year, from January through December, 2007 for the blessed benefit of each and every member of our church family.

Consequently, as I prayerfully pondered the events of last year, the question kept reverberating in my heart and mind and spirit, "Where do we go from here?" Not that there were absolutely no possible answers forthcoming; but the limited few that emerged from my prayerful musings just did not seem to satisfy my deep pastoral sense of need for a thematic emphasis that would move us collectively forward to the next level.

For example, because I wanted us to start the New Year, 2008, on what I chose to call "The Same Page "blueprint" beginning to read the Holy Bible together from Genesis to Revelation (selected passages) in the course of the year, I deliberately began our first "Rapping With Rev" session by entitling it "On The Same Page". I was proceeding on the well-founded assumption that should the Mount Carmel Congregation join other committed congregations in the Philadelphia area by reading the Bible through in this manner it might well result in a Bible Reading Spiritual Revival; buttressed with study and preaching for our growth and learning.

In fact I did a follow-up "Rapping With Rev." session with the bolder and broader topic, "Turning to The Same Page" incorporating the idea of our moving together from one year into the next; from the old year, 2007, into and through the new year, 2008.

In the course of events, however, the pertinent theme of evangelism kept pushing its way to the forefront of my mind, both as a matter of necessity and as a way of exploring new opportunities and developing new approaches to meet new challenges.

As a matter of necessity we are mandated by Jesus Christ the Risen Living Lord and Head of The Church to go into all the world and make disciples of people of every nation, lest local churches (congregations) like Mount Carmel either reach a stand-still or go out of existence altogether, becoming irrelevant relics of the past. Since Jesus Christ did not tell us how to do evangelism, we are left with the awesome responsibility of cultivating and developing methods and strategies by which to do evangelism effectively and relevantly, on both a personal and a corporate level.

In the interest of effectiveness and relevance therefore we have been required to revisit an old idea that has been lurking in the shadows for sometime called "Operation Andrew". Our re-visiting and re-thinking of this old idea has resulted in some heated and productive discussions and developments relative to our achieving the more effective and relevant goals of evangelism.

In fact I did a follow-up "Rapping With Rev." session with the bolder and broader topic, "Turning to The Same Page" incorporating the idea of our moving together from one year into the next; from the old year, 2007, into and through the new year, 2008.

In the course of events, however, the pertinent theme of evangelism kept pushing its way to the forefront of my mind, both as a matter of necessity and as a way of exploring new opportunities and developing new approaches to meet new challenges.

As a matter of necessity we are mandated by Jesus Christ the Risen Living Lord and Head of The Church to go into all the world and make disciples of people of every nation, lest local churches (congregations) like Mount Carmel either reach a stand-still or go out of existence altogether, becoming irrelevant relics of the past. Since Jesus Christ did not tell us how to do evangelism, we are left with the awesome responsibility of cultivating and developing methods and strategies by which to do evangelism effectively and relevantly, on both a personal and a corporate level.

IContinued)

Greece Trip

We still have a number of cabins available. The deadline for full payment of the trip is December 1, 2008. A passport is required. Cruise Night Meetings will be held at the church beginning in September 2008. Contact Rev. Vincent Coles. If you are still considering going to on the trip to Greece in March of 2009, we still have a number of cabins available. The price is based on the size and location of the cabin you select. The deadline for full payment for the trip is Monday, December 1, 2008. A passport is required. Cruise Night Meetings will be held at the church beginning in September, 2008. Contact Rev. Vincent Coles

 Wednesday Morning Prayer and Noon Day Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study will resume Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

A Trip to Ace in the Hole

Wayne, NJ 

“Merry Christmas Baby”

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Buses leave: 8:00 A.M.

See any member of the guild for tickets and information.

Donation $75.00

The Missionary Society Invites you to join them for the theatre production of “A Christmas Celebration 2008" At the Evangel Cathedral Upper Marlboro, Maryland On Saturday, December 6, 2008 – Cost $120.00 Bus departs 9:30AM -Bus returns 8:00 PM
 

             CANCELLED !!!!!            The Women’s Ministry trip on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Jersey Garden Outlet Mall in Elizabeth, NJ. has been cancelled.

Annual Tea – Mother’s Guild 3:00 PM For further information, contact Gladys Jackson

The Men of Mount Carmel Invite All Men to attend the 33^rd Annual Thanksgiving Day Fellowship Breakfast Guest Speaker: Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor  Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 7:30 AM at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church 2251 N. 54^th Street Philadelphia, PA  19151 Cost: $16.00 Contact:  Bro. Chris Burrell, Chairperson Deacon Henry Knox, Co-Chairperson Deacon Malcolm Darden, Convener

THE D.W. HOGGARD SCHOLARSHIP GUILD Sponsors AN AFRICAN MARKET D.W. Hoggard Fellowship Hall, Saturday, November 1, 2008 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Special Featured Guest: Robert Jefferson, Renowned African American Artist Proceeds benefit the 2009 High School Graduates of Mount Carmel Barbara Benson, President Evanda Jefferson, Chairperson Lorraine Carey, Co-Chairperson

On Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM, we are invited to be the guests of Bethlehem Baptist Church, at Penllyn Pike and Dager Road in Spring House, PA  19477, Reverend Charles W. Quann, Pastor.

The occasion is the Service of Ordination and consecration of Deacons and Deaconesses. Our Church Choir will be singing and our Ushers will be ushering for this special service. Pastor Campbell is inviting all Deacons, Deaconesses, Trustees and all others who can go with him to Bethlehem.

On Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 3:30 PM, we will share in a Service of Ordination for our own class of new Deacons. The Rev. Dr. William B. Moore, Pastor, and the Choir and congregation of the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church of the City of Philadelphia will be our special guests for this very important service.

Sunday, April 26, 2009, the Laity Day Committee will celebrate their 40th year anniversary and invites you o join them for their afternoon Cultural Arts Program presenting --          AN EVENING WITH         -----------LADY TREMAINE HAWKINS           Grammy and Stellar Award Gospel Artist at 4:00 PM. Tickets and other information will be forthcoming. See any member of the Laity Day Committee for details.

Attention! Women's Ministry Events
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Our 2009 Women's Retreat will be held once again at Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center on March 13th thru March 15th. We are now accepting deposits in the amount of $50.00 for this event. Make plans to be a part of this spiritual journey. For information contact: Vivian Brew, Convener.
 

The Audio Video Ministry

The Audio and Video Ministry is looking for persons of All Ages to become a part of this ministry. If interested please leave your name and phone number in the church office.
 

***Attention: Presidents and Chairpersons of all Guilds, Auxiliaries and Ministries

Date forms and Listing of Officer Forms for 2009 are available in the Church office. The deadline date for the forms to be returned to the office is Friday, October 31, 2008.

Rev Vincent Coles,  Rev. Julia Brutin-Shephard, Minister Joyce Woodson                       

Please bear in mind the following: 

The Capital Campaign Memorial Corridor 

The Memorial Gift Program is an ongoing project of the Capital Campaign Committee. If you are interested in making a gift in the name of a loved one, please pick up a flyer on the table in the corridor. If you have any questions please contact: Clarice Archer, Fannie Bakon or Mary Nesmith.

Music Ministry

The Junior and Young Peoples’ Choir is back in session for 2008/2009 season. We are open to new members beginning at age 7. The rehearsals are each Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary.

The Hand Chime Choir Ministry rehearsals will begin on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 3:00 PM in the multipurpose room. New members are welcome.

If you are interested in taking adult Piano Lessons, please call Sheila B. Hughes. Lessons by appointment only.

Attention Mount Carmel Family  Please join our Youth                  Ministries every Friday here at Mount Carmel in the Multipurpose Room.

6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

We will have Game Night, Movie Night, Joy Night and much more for our Youth. Please spread the word. We are looking for young people in our church and in the community to attend and participant. We are looking for YOU Mount Carmel, to volunteer on Fridays to help with our Youth. Please RSVP to participate. We need you !! For more information, call Dawn Jones.

Flu Shots will be available to persons 60 and older who who have a chronic health condition on Thursday, October 30,2008 from 8:30 AM to 10:30  AM in the DW Hoggard Fellowship Hall. This is sponsored by the Mount Carmel Nurses Unit and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.