Lifting Up Prayer for Those Challenged in the Coronavirus’s Recent Surge

Recent news reports have indicated that there has been a surge in Coronavirus, respiratory illnesses predominantly affecting children and a new flu strain. The hospitals in certain areas have been overwhelmed. 

Below is a link to a past podcast episode that was recorded near the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic on March 26, 2020. It is a prayer for healing for those impacted. 

Today, let us pray for family, church members and friends near and far who are currently facing and who have had to face challenges from Covid, Omicron, the flu and other respiratory illnesses. Pray hard for the children and others who are in the hospital receiving treatment for the RSV respiratory disease. Also pray for those who are currently at home in quarantine recovering from these illnesses.

Below is the above-mentioned podcast episode that is a call for prayer where ever you are.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44623857

May God’s healing power and grace be with you and your family today and always.

Peace and blessings,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Humble Yourselves and Pray

 

Brittany Griner Finally Released

WNBA star, player for the Phoenix Mercury, Brittany Griner’s Russian ordeal is finally over. She is happily on a flight and on her way home from Russia. She was found guilty on drug charges and what many considered harshly and unjustly sentenced to 9 years in a desolate Russian Prison camp several months ago. 

Her family and others concerned were alarmed about unsafe and unhealthy conditions in the camp that they feared posed a danger to her  life.

The questions that many Americans as well as her fans around the world have had about why it has taken so long to negotiate any workable deal to get her home, can now end. Thanks to God, the Biden Administration and Brittany’s family and caring friends, she is out of a cell and free from that experience.

The conversation will undoubtedly now turn to the behind the scenes negotiations involved in the prisoner swap that was instrumental in securing Griner’s release. The prisoner exchanged for Brittany is Russian arms dealer Victor Bout. It has been reported that he is a prisoner that the United States was extremely reluctant to release. In addition, the fact that there is a war raging on between Russia and Ukraine likely complicated matters making the negotiations process even more complex. Credit skillful negotiations for that feat.

The Biden administration is being deservedly praised for the success of the negotiations. Biden has committed to seeing that every US citizen unjustly detained in foreign lands is released and their families made whole. That would include Mr. Paul Whelan who has been locked up in Russia on espionage charges for 4 years. 

Biden has been on a roll with a string of successes that include the recent midterm election results.

Expressions of gratitude  for Griner’s successful release were extended to President Biden, Vice President Harris and Biden’s entire administration as well as to the many others including the Griner family.

Please pray for Brittany’s traveling grace, that she may safely reach American soil and be reunited with her family and friends while enjoying the love, peace and joy of this holiday season. Also pray that those who still remain in foreign custody unjustly will be soon released.

Peace and blessings,

 Cynthia Wilson, Blog Founder and Editor

We Need Warnock’s Wisdom, Judgment and 51st Vote:Thanks Raphael for Your Candidacy

 There are two Black men running for a powerful and influential political office in Georgia. The office of Senator no less. Pursuing and gaining that level in politics is no small feat. One candidate is considered highly qualified and has demonstrated his promise. The other is a retired football player with stellar accomplishments as a sports figure and questionable Republican backing, but encouraged to run initially by former President Donald Trump who is currently maintaining a low profile on his support. Mr. Walker has crossed over bravely into politics with no background or experience and though he has received a considerable amount of pushback about it, the race has been close, now requiring a run off. Indeed Walker has a right to run for Senator like any other politically vetted person. However, the question is—is he the most qualified? 

Democratic Party icon, former President Barack Obama who believes in Warnock’s political potential recently stumped for Warnock in Atlanta before an enthusiastic crowd.

His re-election would give Democrats the 51st vote and more readily provide a way for bills to get passed. Many believe that Raphael Warnock is the better candidate and the best one to move the citizens of the great state of Georgia forward on issues that need addressing to assure those in the state a better future.

Raphael’s accomplishments are remarkable. He has proven during his term in the Senate that he is a confident trailblazing leader who has the interests of both the public he competently serves and the congregation he pastors at heart.  He is Senior Pastor of the iconic and storied Second Ebenezer Baptist Church  in Atlanta, a pulpit the civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. occupied during the height of the civil rights movement. Dr. Warnock has served the church faithfully for nearly 20 years.  A recent New York Times article credits his impressive first term accomplishments. See article here. He is the author of several scholarly books, including an upcoming children’s book set for release in January. Learn more about him in his book A Way Out of No Way: A Memoir of Truth, Transformation, and the New American Story.

Senator Warnock is a graduate of  revered Union Theological Seminary of New York City where he earned a PhD in Theology under the guidance of legendary Liberation Theologian Dr. James H. Cone, author of several ground breaking books including “Black Liberation Theology”, “God of the Oppressed” and “The Cross and the Lynching Tree”.

This current political race between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker is proof positive that obstacles once facing Black voters in the past have been transcended.  The racial and physical barriers that hindered Blacks from the polls back in the early 1960s and before then that spurred President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King to collaborate urgently to push and promulgate the 1964 Voting Rights Act have been substantially overcome. Even though the fight to uphold and enforce voting rights continues in various forms to this very day. No doubt, Blacks have made significant inroads into the electoral process in the Deep South since Dr. King’s era. This Georgia run off election is evidence that part of his dream has been realized.

Support Senator Warnock. Assure his re-election by getting to the polls on Tuesday and making your voice heard. Send a strong voice/vote for social justice, economic parity, progress and freedom for Georgians. Like the Rev stated in a recent video clip, “Your voice is your vote.”

Re-elect Senator Warnock. Send him back to the Senate and strengthen the Democrats’ voting margin in congress with his 51st vote. Please join me in keeping candidate Warnock lifted in prayer and well wishes for his victory.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Union Theological Seminary Alum ‘06

Go Midterms!

Today, I am topping a blogpost I wrote on the Importance of the 2014 midterm elections. Obama was in the White House then and the midterm elections were very crucial. Nothing much has changed about their cruciality since then. The midterms remain important to the Democratic process and pave the way by providing a trajectory for future National elections. 

I encourage you to read this and get energized about the campaigns now underway. I am for various reasons paying close attention to the senate race in Georgia between incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. The very fact that Walker is running his campaign for office under the auspices of former U.S. President Donald Trump is definitely worth analyzing from a number of angles. Especially in light of the buzz presently circulating about how republicans are using selected Blacks to ramp up diversity within their party and gain more credibility and votes from Black voters. Time to pay attention. Things are heating up indeed.

Here is the actual extended link if for some reason the above link does not work:

https://cynthiadwilson2.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-importance-of-your-2014-midterm-vote.html?m=0

Have a blessed day,   

Cynthia Wilson

Praying the Psalms Series

 https://youtu.be/DZLjh9uhZ70

Give Thanks!

 Tell God thank you and that you appreciate all that he does and has done.  Continue to pray for those in Florida, South Carolina and other places that Ian has caused damage. Audio and written updates will be posted  on the Heavier Octaves blog.

Calvary Baptist Church Retires Its Mortgage

Video clip of Senior Pastor Lawrence T. Foster conducting mortgage burning ceremony before the congregation and special guests.

As part of its 103rd year Founder's Day celebration, Calvary Baptist Church of Detroit opened its sanctuary to members, old friends, civic, church and community leaders who joined together with Pastor and people rejoicing,  singing praises and shouting hallelujah to God at its mortgage retiring/ burning ceremony held on Sunday, September 25,2022 at the historic Baptist church. Pastors, church, civic and business leaders joining in the occasion included Rev. Christian Adams, Senior Pastor  Hartford Memorial  Baptist and President of Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention,Rev.Dr. J.T. Thomas, Senior Pastor New Calvary Baptist, Coleman A. Young II, Detroit City Councilman at Large and a representative from neighboring historic Elmwood Cemetery.

Long time member, over 50 years,  Calvary DEACON and Event Co-Chair Geraldine Sumpter exhorted an inspiring  charge to all with her spirit-filled words. See video excerpt below:

See other selected, captioned, tagged photos and video clips of the gathering below:

Dorothy Wedgeworth reciting the 91st Psalm. Video excerpt below:

Senior Pastor Lawrence Foster with Ernestine Cox at his side along with a select committee of  members with 50 years or more of service including Cora Baker,Russell Baker, Rosemarie Brooks, Diane Burt-Mohammed,Rubye Davis, Osie Gaiters,Barbara Hackett, Frances Harden, Dorothy Hopkins, Cynthia Jackson, Louise Jenkins, Frazier Kimpson, Michelle Martin, Mildred Perry, Doris Pickett, Darniece Rutledge, Elma Stewart, Lecta Stewart, Ray Stewart, Jr. Gregory Sumpter, Geraldine Sumpter, Carolyn White, Alvin Williams, Maxine Williams, Madeline Woodhouse, Vera Worthy, Berniece Williams and others burning the mortgage papers as a symbolic gesture signifying that the debt is paid off and the church property is now owned by the church free and clear. Video excerpt below:

Mother Naomi Wilson

(Honorary Over 50 year Member)

Ladell Mobley and Louise Jenkins

Madeline Woodhouse and Barbara 

The guest preacher for the day, Rev. Dr. J.T. Thomas, Senior Pastor of the New Calvary Baptist Church delivered a powerful sermon.  He was accompanied by his choir, the New Calvary Praise Team. Video excerpt of his sermon above.

Deacon Geraldine Sumpter and Dorothy Wedgeworth

Rev. Cynthia Wilson and Deacon Geraldine Sumpter

Rev. Cynthia Wilson and Rev. Christian Adams

Rev. Cynthia Wilson, Cynthia Jackson and Dorothy Wedgeworth

Senior Pastor Lawrence Foster

Darniece Rutledge and Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Carolyn White, Dorothy Wedgeworth, Barbara Hatchett and Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Please click on the post title permalink above for a supplemental audio version of this post. (Coming soon! The permalink function did not work. When it does I will post it here and on my podcast.

Peace and blessings,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson,

Independent Blogger, Content Author and Curator.

________________________________

Note: All photos and audio on this blog update are the combined property of Cynthia Wilson and the Calvary Baptist Church, excepting other fair and reasonable claims that may be made concerning photo and video footage recorded exclusively by Rev. Wilson on her cell phone specifically for this event i.e., claims that may be fair and reasonably made by person’s videotaped or photographed by her and made subsequent to this posting. These recordings were made by Cynthia Wilson on an informal basis using her private cell phone. No “for hire” agreements were negotiated prior to this event assigning any ownership rights of  Cynthia Wilson’s content nor negotiating any form of compensation for her services with any third parties. She was acting as an “independent contractor” and extended ownership rights to Calvary Baptist Church as a gift and courtesy. For further info about how to obtain copies of video and/or photos, please contact Calvary Baptist Church at 313-567-4575. You may contact Cynthia at 313-296-9943 or 313-633-3002.

____________________

“Mighty Good”

 https://www.spreaker.com/episode/47782942

Biden Nominates First Black Woman to Supreme Court

 As Black History Month draws to a close, President Joseph Biden keeps one of his most notable campaign pledges and nominates 51 year old federal judge, past Harvard Law Review editor and Harvard overseer since 2016, Ketanji Jackson Brown to serve as the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court, the US Supreme Court. She is among just three Black jurists nominated to serve in the Court’s 233 year history. The other two trailblazing jurists to be nominated and successfully confirmed to serve as Supreme Court justices were the late Thurgood Marshall and currently serving, Justice Clarence Thomas.

This is an historic day for our country and an occasion that should inspire a great sense of  pride in our government and encourage our nation to continue to achieve diversity across all branches—legislative, judicial and executive. Kudos to the Biden administration for its integrity in following through and it’s leadership in continuing diversity in the executive branch with his choice of Kamala Harris as his Vice Presidential running mate last year, and his recent nomination of Judge Jackson Brown to serve as first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court.

Cynthia Wilson

            Judge Ketanji Jackson Brown

Photo Credit-Wikipedia/Creative Commons

Black History Month Celebration Day 9- Mother Rosa Parks

 

Today’s blog update includes a video podcast episode below.

Today’s Black History Month Celebration honors memories of Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks whose birthday was recently celebrated. Detroit Pistons honored her by partnering with the Rosa Parks Estate to provide free bus transportation to Detroiters on February 4 and February 7. They also provided free jackets to Detroit’s transportation department.

I am sharing with you both a collage of selected photos as well as single photographs from my archive database that I snapped or that were taken with my camera at several community events, including Living Stones/Imani Day programs held at Calvary Baptist church and Ms. Park’s 100th birthday celebration and postage stamp unveiling held at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History. 

 Many of us in the community have had the opportunity to participate in events and activities involving Mother Parks over the years because of her commitment to reaching out to churches, schools and neighborhood organizations through the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self- Development’s Pathways to Freedom Program, Imani Day Interfaith celebrations and the Parks Legacy Program. I am blessed and consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to not only interact with Mrs. Parks, but also to have Co-Chaired both the Imani Day and Living Stone events held at Calvary Baptist church in her honor when I served as an Assistant Minister there.

Thanks to all who contributed in their own way to the historic significance of all programs. A special thanks to Michael Joseph (not pictured)who served as videographer of all of Calvary’s Imani Day and Living Stones programs circa 1995-2000.

All photos are captioned.

Blessings,

Cynthia Wilson