From the Heart of Pastor Jacqueline A. Thompson

March 5, 2014

Good Afternoon Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Today, millions of Christians will flock to churches and cathedrals throughout the world to attend masses and services of worship commemorating Ash Wednesday. They will emerge from these services with ashes on their foreheads as a sign of their repentance to God. Generally, Ash Wednesday is associated with the Catholic Church, but many Protestants observe the day as well because it also signifies the beginning of the Lenten season.

The Season of Lent is a 40 day period of fasting, prayer and reflection in preparation for the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The consistent practice of spiritual disciplines is a key component in strengthening and deepening our relationship with God and one another.

Some of you may already have Lenten practices or have made decisions as to how you will prepare and reflect. This Lenten Season, you are invited to join with us corporately on a 40 day "Journey To the Cross: Remembering Jesus". For the next forty days, we encourage your journey with us by:

1. Walking with us daily through the scriptures highlighting the disciplines Jesus practiced.
2. Selecting a food item, drink or practice you will abstain from.
3. Selecting a spiritual practice or activity you will adopt.

For example, I will abstain from my daily Starbucks drinks. (Pray Now!) I will spend 30 minutes in silence each day. I will read and reflect on the daily ATBC Lenten Scripture. The goal is to join together corporately, on one accord as we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to experience anew the power of the resurrection not just on Easter Sunday but everyday as we live as witnesses to that power in the world.

Blessings to you!

jacqueline signature

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor

dr jacqueline thompson lent 2015 series

March 30, 2015

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for the kind words, prayers and support extended by so many of you this past week. It is greatly appreciated!

It's Holy Week, also known as Passion Week! It is marked by The Triumphant Entry of Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem to celebratory cries of "Hosanna" and palm branches being laid in the road for the Passover Feast knowing that by the end of the week, he will be killed. Those cries of "Hosanna" will be replaced by demands to "Crucify Him".

I am on the flight returning from Palm Sunday services with the great people of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York where the Reverend Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood is the Senior Pastor. This year, Palm Sunday happened to coincide with the close of their Women's Month. Every Palm Sunday, the Mount Pisgah Church family marches throughout their Brooklyn community handing out palms to the community and in their way serving as a visible witness to the coming of Christ. This year they commemorated the Black Lives Matter Movement by wearing BLM shirts and carrying banners that showed the last words of 7 murdered African Americans including Amadou Diallo, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Renesha McBride. It was a moving and powerful display. It was also hauntingly ironic.

Jesus also found himself falsely accused, betrayed, subjected to a system of "justice," institutionally structured to preserve the status quo at all costs and killed for his identity. Let's be intentional this week as we take the daily journey to the cross with him this week.

Monday: Matthew 21:12-22
Tuesday: Luke 20:1-21:36
Wednesday: The Gospels are silent. Let us make time for intentional silence as well.
Thursday: Mark 14:12-72
Friday: John 18:28-19:37
Saturday: Matthew 27:62-66

In our own lives, many of us can identify with what it feels like to be falsely accused, betrayed, even victimization by unjust systems, but scripture admonishes us that...

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11, New International Version).

The Lenten Sermon Series will conclude with the final "I AM" saying of Jesus. Join us at one our three services at 6, 8 or 11:15am as we celebrate the RESURRECTION! I hope this week as you Stop and Be Still that you will be filled with joy in Knowing that this week ends with more than Easter bunnies, Baskets, Easter dresses, Easter Suits and Easter Eggs.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26, New International Version).

Be still and know,

J Thompson Signature

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson

Assistant Pastor

dr jacqueline thompson lent 2015 series

March 25, 2015

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Hoping this note finds you well. My sincerest apologies for sending this note today. Life happened, the way life often can - in the most unexpected way that just leaves you spinning. On Friday evening, one of my sisters called. I didn't get to my cell in time so she immediately sent a text. "Jackie, call back now. Kevin is dead." Huh? What? Who? Kevin? Wait a minute, what? I didn't call right back. I needed a minute to just collect myself for what I knew would be coming next. After reading and rereading, breathing and reading again, I whispered a prayer and called. It was true. Kevin had passed away from a heart attack and my sister - his wife - had just found out. Kevin was also the Assistant Church Clerk at our church, and has been a part of my life all of my life. He was just there. No fanfare. Just always there. Ready to serve and help in any way he could.

Have you ever had one of those experiences or events in life that left you feeling like a spinning top? You can't prepare for it. You can't control it. You certainly can't fix it and now nothing will ever be the same. I'll be the first to admit. That's where I was and life wasn't stopping and neither did I. I didn't stop. I had to lecture Saturday and preach Sunday. I wasn't Still and I wasn't even present enough to Know. But God in God's tremendous grace and mercy, has a wonderful way of leading us right back to where we need to be. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit's reminder that no email had gone out Monday. Writing this has caused me to stop, be Still and Know. I know what the disciples must have been feeling at the thought of Jesus no longer being physically present. I understand better the questions they asked and the anxiety they felt.

I believe sometimes on the journey to the cross we forget that it was and is a death walk. At the end of the journey, there is no ribbon to break thru or adulation, cheers and medals. It's a cross: pain, suffering and death! Often on our own journey, we experience pain, suffering and death. And yet that same cross, is also a symbol of power, transformation and victory. How is that possible? It does not make sense to the rational logical mind. Even Paul confesses that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing but to us who are being saved it is power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18). The cross becomes powerful, transformative and victorious when we understand the truths it reveals and appropriate them for our lives.

One of the truths revealed by the cross is that God is just as present with us in our pain and suffering as when we are experiencing joy and victory. God is with us. Not just bringing us out of it but giving is strength in it. Truly God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. This truth comforts us but also challenges us to find ways to be present with and for those who are in pain and suffering. A view of the cross that only points to heaven leaves an irrelevant and impotent church on earth. After preaching Sunday, my nieces and I drove up to my sister's home. She was comforted in knowing we were just there. No agenda, no plans - just present.

Let's practice the ministry of presence this week. Call someone you haven't seen or spoken to in a while. Send a card. Embrace a one-time service opportunity. Our Pastor Emeritus has made famous leaving a prayer on voicemails. Be intentional about being there for someone in the same way God is intentionally and deliberately present for us while reflecting on the following verses: Philippians 2:1-11; Romans 8:28-38; John 14:1-6; John 15:1-14. The last "I AM" saying of Jesus will be RESURRECTION SUNDAY! Hope to see you there. Please say a prayer for my family this week as we prepare to celebrate the life of a kind and generous man who loved God and God's people. He is not here but I know exactly where he is, therefore I have hope.

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross.

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.

Thank you for being present with me on this journey! We're almost there!

Be still and know,

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson

Assistant Pastor

dr jacqueline thompson lent 2015 series

March 16, 2015

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

Hope this week's note finds you having experienced the Blessed Assurance that comes with knowing God. Our Lenten Sermon Series will resume this Sunday with the fifth and sixth "I AM" sayings of Jesus. In preparation, I really wanted to write something around seeking God. After all, that's what this Journey is supposed to be about. Taking time, to stop and seek the Lord intentionally. It is a worthy subject and one that is quite appropriate. The examples are too numerous to list of this noble bible characters who diligently and consistently sought the Lord. Moses, Esther, David and Daniel are just a small few.

In addition, there are all kinds of scriptures that encourage us, even commanding us to "Seek the Lord". The prophet Amos speaks to the house of Israel saying, "For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name!" (Amos 5:4-8, KJV) Clearly, the Lord desires to be sought.

Click to Read More

dr jacqueline thompson lent 2015 series

March 8, 2015

Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,

I hope this note finds you well this wonderful day we have been given. I pray this past week you have been able to intentionally STOP, BE STILL and KNOW and in doing so, are experiencing God in new ways. Your feedback is so encouraging. Feel free to check in on the Journey. We are helpers to each other. Our sermon series continued yesterday on the "I AM" sayings of Jesus. The third and fourth sayings were shared at the 8 and 11:15 a.m. services. Jesus said, "I AM THE DOOR" and "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD".

Many sheepfolds during the time of Jesus had no door which could be opened or closed. It was simply an opening. Once the sheep entered, the shepherds would position themselves at the opening as the "door". No one and nothing could enter in or out without first coming through the door. With the good shepherd, there is protection, provision and promise as he keeps a close and watchful eye on the sheep even giving his life for them. So no matter what threat, obstacle or challenge arises this week, BE STILL and KNOW that are doubly protected. Jesus is both the good shepherd and door of His sheep. He gave his life for you to redeem you! The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give you life, abundantly!This week, practice ASSURANCE. Assurance is freedom from doubt. It is confidence and certainty in the truth of something. Practicing assurance is a declaration of that truth. David had a wonderful assurance of God's presence, protection and provision as evidenced in the Psalms. Even during those times when everything was falling apart and he felt as if his life was over, he was sure that God would eventually act on his behalf. In the face of it all David declared, "The Lord is My Rock, My Fortress, My Deliverer". (Psalm 18:2a) When it comes to God, what do you know for sure? As you reflect on the scriptures this week, look for the assurances that you can capture to increase your knowledge of and faith in God: Psalm 23, Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 121:4-8, John 10:1-10, Ezekiel 34:11-16, and Psalm 103.

Click to Read More

Page 14 of 15

Main Menu

From the Heart of Pastor Jacqueline A. Thompson

Lent 2014 - Lenten Journey To The Cross: Remembering Jesus

March 5, 2014

Lent 2015 - Be Intentional

Lent 2015 - Be Present

Lent 2015 - Be A Seeker

Lent 2015 - Be Sure