FEBRUARY 2012

TABERNACLE TODAY

Humor Central

Remembering Alberta Martin

From the Pastor‟s Desk

Inside this issue:

African Influences on Christianity 2

The Black Madonna 2

First African American Lutheran Bishop 2

Mother of Black Lutheranism 3

MLK Day Of Service 4

Calendar of Events 5

Henry Ossawa Tanner: 6

BLACK HISTORY Edition

Top Row (from Left): St. Augustine, Cyprian, Tertullian, Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman

Second Row: Michelle Obama, Rev, Wil Herzfeld, Black Madonna, Henry O. Tanner, Shirley Chisholm,

Third row: Mark dean, Jehu Jones, Paul Robeson, W. Wilson Goode,

Fourth Row: rev, Rosa Key, Mae Jamison, Fred Douglass, Madam C. J. Walker, Booker T. Washington, Barack Obama

Accepted by most scholars to be the most important figure in the ancient Western church, St. Augustine

was born in Tagaste, Numidia in North Af-rica.

His mother was a

Christian, but his fa-ther remained a pagan until late in life. Augustine drifted through several phi-losophical systems

before converting to Christianity at the age of thirty-one. This period of exploration is recorded in

Augustine's most widely read work, the Confessions.

St. Augustine was

ordained a presbyter in 391, taking the po-sition as bishop of Hippo in 396, a posi-tion which he held un-til his death.

Besides the Confes-sions, Augustine's most celebrated work is his De Civitate Dei (On the City of God),

His other works in-clude treatises On the Trinity; On Faith, Hope, and Love; On

Christian Doctrine; and some early dia-logues.

He is also considered to be "the founder of Western theology."

Tertullian is perhaps most famous for being the oldest extant Latin writer to use the term Trinity (Latin trinitas),

and giving the oldest extant formal exposi-tion of a Trinitarian the-ology.

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 225 AD

was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa.

Tertullian has been called "the father of Latin Christianity .

African Influences on Christianity

lapsed, those Chris-tians who had denied the faith under duress. Cyprian held that they ought to be received back into full commun-ion after suitable inter-vals of probation and penance.

Cyprian was a prolific writer. Besides a num-ber of epistles, which are partly collected with the answers of those to whom they were written, Cyprian

wrote a number of trea-tises, some of which have also the character of pas-toral letters. His most important work is his "De unitate ecclesiae." In it, he states: "He can no longer have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother; . . . he who gathereth else-where than in the Church scatters the Church of Christ" (vi.); "nor is there any other home to believ-ers but the one Church"

Cyprian was born around 200 AD in North Africa . . Around 246 he became a Christian, and in 248 was chosen Bishop of Carthage. A year later the persecution under the Emperor Decius began, and Cyprian went into hiding. He was severely censured for this. After the per-secution died down, it remained to consider how to deal with the

Page 2 TABERNACLE TODAY

St. Augustine

Cyprian of Carthage

Tertullian

A Black Madonna or Black Virgin is a statue or painting of Mary in which she is depicted with dark or black skin, especially those created in Europe in the medieval period or earlier. In this specialized sense "Black Madonna" does not apply to images of the Virgin Mary por-trayed as explicitly black African, which are popular in Africa and ar-eas with large black populations, such as Brazil and the United States.

Some statues get their color from the material used, such as ebony or other dark wood, but there is debate about whether this choice of ma-terial is significant. Others were originally light-skinned but have be-come darkened over time, for example by candle soot. This is gener-ally thought to be the explanation for most medieval "black" images of Mary, but this theory has been contested by those who believe that the color of originally-dark Madonnas had a more intentional signifi-cance.

The Black Madonnas are generally found in Catholic areas. The stat-ues are mostly wooden but occasionally stone, often painted and up to 75 cm tall, generally dating from between the 11th and 15th centu-ries. They fall into two main groups: free-standing upright figures and seated figures on a throne. The pictures are usually icons which are Byzantine in style, often made in 13th or 14th century Italy. Their faces tend to have recognizably European features.

There are about 450–500 Black Madonnas in Europe, depending on how they are classified. There are at least 180 Vierges Noires in France, and there are hundreds of non-medieval copies as well. Some are in museums, but most are in churches or shrines and are venerated by devotees. A few are associated with miracles and at-tract substantial numbers of pilgrims.

“Black Madonnas”

Page 3

First African American Lutheran Bishop

Page 4 NEWSLETTER TITLE

The Rev. Will L. Herzfeld, the presiding bishop of the former Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC), was a civil rights activist, ecumenist and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Herzfeld was a key leader in the church's international program, which put the ELCA in partnership relationships with 70 Lutheran church bodies and with 25 other churches and institutions. He helped place some 300 missionaries and volunteers. Herzfeld served as a vice president of the National Council of Churches in Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), an organization of 36member communions and denominations representing more than 50 million people.

He was also president of Church World Service and Witness, the relief, development and refugee assistance ministry of the NCC. Herzfeld continued to serve on the NCC executive board and general assembly until his death. Herzfeld is best known for his role as AELC presiding bishop, a position he held from 1984 through 1987. He was the first African American to serve as the national leader of a Lutheran church body. Born in 1937 in Mobile, Ala. Rev. Herzfeld earned an associate of arts degree from Immanuel Lutheran Col-lege, Greensboro, N.C., in 1958, and a master of divinity degree from Immanuel Lutheran Seminary, Greens-boro, in 1960. He held honorary doctor of divinity degrees from the former Christ Seminary St. Louis, and the Center for Ur-ban Black Studies, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif. In 1977 the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), one of the eight ELCA seminaries, gave him a Distinguished Alumni Award. Herzfeld held numerous church and community leadership positions during his lifetime. He was vice presi-dent of Lutheran World Relief; adjunct professor of urban ministry, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, an ELCA seminary; and a member of the board of regents of California Lutheran University, Thou-sand Oaks, Calif., an ELCA higher education institution. He was a past vice president of the Lutheran Human Relations Association, Milwaukee, and served on the executive committee of the Wheat Ridge Foundation board of directors. He was also a member of the board of trustees of LCMS' Walther League and a member of the board of mis-sions of the LCMS. Herzfeld was a member of the board of directors of the National Conference of Black Churchmen and was western regional vice president.

“A Mother of Black Lutheranism”

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Rosa Jinsey Young (1890-1971) of Rosebud, Wilcox County, is known as the “mother of Black Lutheranism in central Alabama.” A strong advocate for the education of rural children, this remarkable woman is responsible for the founding and development of numerous Lutheran schools and congregations throughout the state. Rosa had always enjoyed learning, and desired to be a teacher. When she completed her basic education in 6

th grade, she

began attending Payne University, an African Methodist Episcopal School in Selma, Alabama. During her six years at Payne Rosa won many scholarships, served as editor of the school newsletter, and earned the distinction of being valedictorian of her 1909 graduating class. Her valedictorian speech emphasized the importance of service. She told her classmates, “„He that is greatest among you shall be young servant.‟ Is the language of the Great Teacher. To serve is regarded as a divine privilege as well as a duty by every right-minded man."

Though Rosa‟s father (Grant Young) was an African American Episcopal minister, it was only later in life when she became associated with the Lutheran Synodical Conference that Rosa felt she understood the light of the Gospel. This association with the Lutheran Church also came as a result of her desire to serve. In 1912, after acting as a traveling at various schools for African American children, Rosa returned to Rosebud to begin her own private school, called the Rosebud Literary and Industrial School. The school was a huge success, with 115 students the first year and 215 students the second year. However, when the school families were struck by economic calamities in 1915, the school was in dan-ger of closing. Rosa wrote to Booker T. Washington, who suggested that she contact The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, since the LCMS had a history of founding Black Lutheran missions in the rural South through the founding of Lutheran schools. Rosa did just that, and in 1916, Rev. Nils Baake was sent to Rosebud to evaluate the mission field and later to act as superintendent of a school and to oversee its development. Rosa turned the property and the administration of the school over to the Synod and remained as a teacher and advisor. After adding Religious Education to the curriculum, Rev. Baake had the privilege, in 1916, of baptizing 58 people and confirming 70, including Rosa Young. These individuals became the core members of Christ Lutheran Church, the first black Lutheran church and school in Wilcox County. Beyond this initial work, Rosa and Pastor Baake labored together for the founding of about 30 other Lutheran schools and congregations, in places such as Buena Vista, Tilden, Tinela, Midway, and Ingomar. In 1922, Rosa used her personal influence to help found Alabama Lutheran Academy (ALA) in Selma for the purpose of training black Lutherans as pastors and parochial school teachers for the Alabama mission field. Rosa served as a faculty member at ALA from 1946-1961. By the time that she began teaching there, the institution had been renamed as “Concordia College” and is still today part of the LCMS Concordia Univer-sity System. In 1961, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, awarded Rosa an honorary doctorate (L.L.D.) in recog-nition of her remarkable life of service to God, His church, and His people. I thank God for such and inspiring example that Rosa‟s life provides for us today!

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Barbara Eddings and Rochelle Wooten, we had a fantastic MLK Day of Service here at Tabernacle!

Several church members, friends and community volunteers came out and cleaned up various areas of the church, including the front office, the Parish hall, the closets, and the bathrooms. The work started at 9 AM and a good time was had by all. Thanks guys!

MLK Day of Service at Tabernacle

Red Tails: The story of the Tuskegee Airmen

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Director George Lucas is firing on all cylinders in Red Tails, the film-

maker‟s long-gestating tale of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

Those African American pilots, disregarded and shamed throughout the

war, eventually became one of the most decorated fighter squadrons and

their story was one of the few remaining important stories about the last

Great War to be told until now.

We congratulate the Rev. Williena Owes on her recent ordination into the pastoral ministry. Rev. Owes was ordained by Bishop Benjamin Ravenal in an ordination service that was held last month in Virginia.

Pastor Owes will be leading our new Tuesday evening worship service that will begin at 6:30 Pm. To God be the glory!

Calendar of Events

Congratulations to Rev. Williena Owes!

Page 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

FEBRUARY 2012

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Bible Study at 7 PM

2

Evening Prayer at 7 PM

3

Youth Ministry & Confirma-tion at 5:30

4

5 6 7

Bible Study at 10 AM

Worship @ 6:30

8

Bible Study at 7 PM

9

Evening Prayer at 7 PM

10

Youth Ministry & Confirma-tion at 5:30

11

12

Congregational Meeting @

12:30 PM

13 14

Bible Study at 10 AM

Worship @ 6:30

15

Bible Study at 7 PM

16

Evening Prayer at 7 PM

17

Youth Ministry & Confirma-tion at 5:30

18

Community

Dinner at 2 PM

19

Rev. Purnell Wright preaching

20 21

Bible Study at 10 AM

Worship @ 6:30

22

ASH WEDS

SVC 7 PM

23

Evening Prayer at 7 PM

24

Youth Ministry & Confirma-tion at 5:30

25

26

Black History

Svc at 3 PM

27 28

Bible Study at 10 AM

Worship @ 6:30

29

Bible Study at 7 PM

Henry Ossawa Tanner

A major exhibition of artwork by African-American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner pre-

miered at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, on January 27 and will run

through April 15, 2012.

Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit will contain over 100 works, including 12

paintings that have never been shown in a Tanner retrospective and the only two

known sculptures that Tanner completed.

The exhibition also includes Tanner's famed Raising of Lazarus, from the collection

of the Musée d'Orsay, a career-making canvas that earned Tanner his first interna-

tional praise when it was exhibited in 1897 and which has never crossed the Atlan-

tic.

Tanner, a native of Philadelphia, and son of a Baptist preacher, was America's first

internationally renowned African-American artist. In 1880, Tanner began two years

of formal study under Thomas Eakins at Philadelphia's prestigious Pennsylvania

Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where he was the only African American.

Due to the racism he experienced in this country, Tanner moved to France In 1891.

By 1894, his paintings were being exhibited at the annual Paris Salon, at which in

1896 he was awarded an honourable mention for Daniel in the Lions' Den (1895;

this version lost). The Raising of Lazarus (1897), also biblical in theme, won a

medal at the Paris Salon of 1897, a rare achievement for an American artist..

After touring the Holy Land in 1897–98, Tanner painted Nicodemus Visiting Jesus

(1898), which in 1900 won the PAFA's Lippincott Prize. That same year he received

a medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

In 1923 the French government made Tanner a chevalier of the Legion of Honour,

and in 1927 he became the first African American to be granted full membership in

the National Academy of Design in New York.

Page 8 NEWSLETTER TITLE

Joke of the Day ….

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. There-fore, he took out a card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been re-turned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!

Black History Word Search

Page 9 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Humor Central

Page 10 NEWSLETTER TITLE

SOME FUNNY FACTS ABOUT LUTHERANS

1. Lutherans believe in prayer but would practically die if asked to pray out loud.

2. Lutherans like LOVE to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four

stanzas.

3. Lutherans believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don‟t notify them that they are

there.

4. Lutherans usually follow the official liturgy^^ and believe it is their way of suffering for their sins.

5. Lutherans believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation pro-

grams or when passing the plate.

6. Lutherans feel that applauding for their childrens‟ choirs would make the kids too proud and conceited.

7. Lutherans think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle when greeting or passing the peace.

I had forgotten all about Ms. Martin until by chance, I opened the Inquirer last week and saw her picture in the Obituary sec-tion. Curious to see what the write-up would say about this grand lady ,I read the obituary and could not believe all that this quiet, unassuming lady had accomplished in her life. A summary of her obituary is as follows:

Alberta Martin was a groundbreaking African American nurse and World War II veteran, died of heart failure Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the age of 92. .

She graduated from William Penn High School in 1936 and graduated from Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1942. She enlisted in the Army and became a Lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corp.

After her discharge in 1946, Miss Martin earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1950, she became the first black head nurse at Philadelphia General Hospital. Unfortu-nately, when she applied to join the faculty of the hospital's school of nursing, she was told her that "it was not the time to have a black instructor on the faculty."

However, after her rejection, Miss Martin joined the faculty of Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and became the school's assistant director. Miss Martin joined the faculty of Chestnut Hill Hospital School of Nursing in the 1960s.

According to her autobiographical notes, she became the first black faculty member at Temple University's Col-lege of Allied Health in 1969, As a professor of nursing, she helped develop the curriculum for the collegiate nursing program. Miss Martin was a two-time recipient of Temple's Lindback Award for distinguished teaching.

Sister Alberta was the author of several articles and book reviews published in nursing journals, and enjoyed writing poetry. In one poem, A Psalm to Live By, she wrote:

"Lord,

"Help me face my problems with a smile.

"Accept them and absorb them into my way of life.

"Recognizing my limitations, give me the courage to face them openly.

"Guide me spiritually so that my directions in life may be meaningful and helpful to others."

I believe that God wanted me to read Sister Alberta‟s obituary that day so that I would appreciate the type of people that he has placed in my life. What a grand lady she was. To God be the glory!

Pastor Rodgers

Remembering Alberta Martin

Page 11 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Sometimes, you think that you know a person, and then you read their obituary,...

I spent the first 35 years of my life as a member of the Zoar United Methodist Church, in North Philadelphia. It was there that I came in contact with Ms. Alberta Martin.

Ms. Alberta Martin was a tall, dignified, grace filled woman of God. She was a quiet spirit who never had a harsh word or a bad thing to say about anyone.

Ms. Martin was always a positive influence on those who were around her. She always had an encouraging for me and the other young people of the church, imploring us to work hard in school and to do our best at all times. As the years passed, I lost touch with sister Martin.

We hope that you have enjoyed this newsletter.

We invite you to visit our website and view informa-

tion about our congregation's history, what we be-

lieve, and our vision for the future ministry of this

congregation.

In addition, we invite you to come and worship with

us on a Sunday morning, and see how the Spirit is

moving in this place. God is up to something!

Finally, if you are not connected to a local congrega-

tion, it is our hope that you will prayerfully consider

being a part of this glorious ministry.

As always, we pray that the Lord's richest blessings

will rest upon you and your family.

Rev. Carlton E. Rodgers

TABERNACLE LUTHERAN CHURCH

5843 Spruce Street Philadelphia, Pa 19139

Phone: 215-748-5533 Fax: 215-748-5210 E-mail: tabernaclephilly@gmail.com Web: www.tabernacleweb.org

From the Pastor’s Desk

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