The Messenger for February 7, 2016

Our lives are consumed daily with
distractions and obligations that often
derail us from our relationship with
Christ, and distance us further away
from him. The Lenten Season is an
opportunity to renew this spiritual bond.
Lent is one of the most sacred
observances of the Christian Year. It
begins on Ash Wednesday and
culminates on Easter Sunday which
celebrates the resurrection of Christ.
This is a season of repentance, prayer,
fasting and self-reflection. As a
common practice, believers often
choose to abstain from some of life's
indulgences for a period of 40-days.
Some choose to give up certain foods,
activities, or volunteer their time in
service to others. Some, think of it as a
personal retreat with God,
reconnecting with Him to elevate their
spiritual growth. The 40 day
observance symbolizes the 40 days
Jesus spent in the wilderness after His
baptism. During this experience, he
fasted and prayed while resisting the
temptation of Satan. Sunday is excluded because it is a day of rest and
considered to be a little Easter
celebration.
Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
Associate Pastor
Associate Pastor
In preparation for Lent, the Christian
Education Ministry invites the entire
Cascade family to participate in the 2016
Lenten Bible Study. For six weeks, we
will study, “A Disciple’s Heart: Growing
in Love and Grace” by James A.
Harnish. Classes begin February 7 and
will be offered daily, Sunday through
Thursday. The study will be facilitated
by both clergy and laity. Members are
also encouraged to follow the “Daniel
Fast” during this period. Books are
available for purchase in the church
office or in class. Copies of the fast
will be distributed in class. Register
now to participate in this spiritual journey. For more information, contact
Ministry Chair, Marva F. Greene or
Ministry Vice-Chair Mirhonda
Studevant at
[email protected].
From LENT to Lifestyle
By DeBorah Hargrove
This year, make Lent more than a
fast for a couple of days or even a
couple of weeks like your New
Year's resolution. Make Lent a lifestyle change for life making your
body a living sacrifice (Roman12:12). Did you not know that your body
does not belong to you but to the Holy Spirit inside of you?
Continued on Page 4 -
By Greta Tifre
The Marriage Enrichment Ministry (MEM) uses God as
the foundation to encourage spiritual growth in couples
through prayer, fellowship activities, Bible study and
counseling. Marriage is the first institution that God
ordained and we must keep it holy. The marriage
covenant is sacred and couples who enter into holy
matrimony can experience the depths of love that only
God can manifest between a man and a woman. We
believe that by studying God's Word and keeping God
in the center, couples can overcome challenges, enrich
their marriage, and be a blessing to other couples and
the church as a whole.
The ministry is guided by the scripture, Ecclesiastes
4:9, 12 (NIV) – “Two are better than one, because they
have a good return on their labor. Though one may be
overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of
three strands is not easily broken.”
The MEM engages in several activities throughout the
year that further its mission. The ministry believes that
marriages are strengthened when there is regular
interaction between spiritually-minded couples serving
together. The ministry impacts marriages at Cascade
by planning quarterly "Date-Your-Mate" nights,
sponsoring workshops, marriage retreats, and by
facilitating Bible study.
communications, finances, resolve conflict, express
forgiveness, improve intimacy and more. This year, the
Heart of Marriage Retreat will be held at the Atlanta
Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone
Mountain, Georgia, September 9–11. For more
information, visit www.heartofmarriageretreat.com.
MEM also serves couples in the community and offers a
Marriage Ministry Scholarship to assist couples with
their education. Each year, the ministry awards over
$1,000 to married scholars at Cascade UMC and in the
community. Contributions can be made online at
www.cascadeumc.org (Online Giving/Marriage Ministry
Award, Account #109).
An Annual Marriage Enrichment Weekend is one of our
signature events which is dedicated to God’s first
institution: Marriage. The weekend kicks off on Friday
evening with “Dinner and a Movie” followed by
breakfast and an interactive workshop on Saturday
morning, and concluding with Marriage Enrichment
Sunday. Couples provide leadership in every part of the
worship service and the message for the hour is
focused on marriage. The 7th Annual Marriage
Enrichment Weekend will be held February 12 – 14.
This year’s theme is “Respect the Ring: Love Endures
All… Keep it Holy!!!” Reverend Lorraine JacquesWhite will facilitate the Saturday workshop, and Rev.
Judge Penny Brown Reynolds will be the guest
preacher for Sunday Worship Service. Couples may
register online at www.cascadeumc.org (Online Giving/
Marriage Enrichment Ministry).
The Marriage Enrichment Ministry is co-chaired by two
Christ-centered couples: Everett and Terri Garden and
Edwin and Greta Tifre. The Gardens have been married
for 22 years and have two lovely daughters, Chloe and
Camille. The Tifres have been married for 13 years and
have an adorable (feline daughter), Samantha.
All Cascade couples are encouraged to be involved in
the ministry so that together we can make an impact and
continue to build God’s Kingdom…one marriage at a
time.
Another signature event is our “Heart of Marriage
(HOM) Retreat” held in September of each year and
jointly sponsored with the marriage ministries
of Ben Hill UMC and Central UMC. The retreat is a
weekend getaway which is God-centered and includes
sessions that help couples improve their
For more information, contact the ministry at
[email protected]
[email protected]
2
By Quisa Foster
Cascade is
pleased to
spotlight our very
own, Kenny Leon,
who has been a
member of
Cascade since
1989.
Kenny Leon is a
Tony Award
winning Broadway and film director.
In December 2015, he produced and
directed, “The Wiz Live!,” a television special that aired on NBC. The
performance was a new adaptation
of the 1975 Broadway musical and a
soul R&B reinterpretation of “The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
Mr. Leon is the Artistic Director
of Kenny Leon's True Colors
Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to
co-founding True Colors Theatre
Company, he` served 11 years as
Artistic Director of the Alliance
Theatre, where he produced the
premieres of Disney's Elaborate
Lives: The Legend of Aida, Pearl
Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky
and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of
Ballyhoo. Other directorial credits
include Alicia Keys World Tour, Toni
Morrison's opera, Margaret Garner,
the world premiere of Flashdance,
The Musical, and the complete
August Wilson Century Cycle at the
Kennedy Center.
Leon is a sought after motivational
speaker that has done acting and
theatre workshops at universities
and corporate offices around the
country, South Africa and
Ireland. He has directed in England,
and extensively throughout the US,
including Chicago's Goodman
Theatre, Boston's Huntington
Theatre, Baltimore's Center Stage,
Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group
and New York's Public Theatre.
Leon is the recipient of numerous
awards including the 2010 Julia
Hansen Award for Excellence in
Directing by the Drama League of
New York.
Leon is a graduate of Clark Atlanta
University and is an honorary
Ph.D. recipient of Clark Atlanta and
Roosevelt Universities. He is
currently serving as the Denzel
Washington Chair at Fordhom
University.
Additionally, we, along with our loved
ones, can become more aware of other
risk factors, the signs and symptoms of
stroke and heart attack in women and
how to respond in case of stroke or
heart attack.
Let’s “Go Red” this month to help raise
awareness of heart disease in women,
and continue the activities that improve
health outcomes throughout the year.
By making a few small lifestyle changes
we as African-American women can
improve not only our quality of life, but
also the quality of life for those we love.
For more info on heart disease in
women, visit www.goredforwomen.org.
Matters of the Heart
By Mechelle Brown
February is a perfect time to
discuss all matters of the heart,
including heart disease.
Did you know that heart disease is
the number one killer in women
and disproportionally affects
African-American women? In fact,
of African-American women older
than 20, approximately 49 percent
have heart disease. Even though
African-American women are a
higher risk, studies show that only
about 36 percent are aware that
heart disease is their greatest
health risk.
Why are African-Americans
more at risk?
Researchers found that there may
be a gene that makes us more
sensitive to the effects of salt.
Additionally, African-American
communities tend to have higher
rates of obesity and diabetes, both
risk factors for high blood pressure
and heart disease.
What can we do?
• Cut back on salt intake in our
diet. The recommended salt intake
for African-Americans is 1,500
milligrams per day. To put that into
perspective, the average
restaurant salt packet contains
about 200mg of salt.
• Improve overall eating habits.
• Increase physical activity.
3
Be transformed.
Grow in love
and grace.
Take your
spiritual journey
through the
“A Disciple’s
Heart” Study
Classes begin the
week of Feb. 7
Books - $10/set can
be purchased in the
church office.
Checks payable to
CUMC.
REGISTER - Sunday, Feb. 7
on Lower Level or online!
Sharonda Brown - February 1
Sabrina Calhoun - February 1
Gloria T. Gross - February 1
Claudine Madden - February 1
Hattie Robinson - February 1
JoAnn Scott - February 1
BreAuna Hubbard - February 2
Vickie Ogunladé - February 2
Ann Richardson - February 3
Arletha Smith - February 3
Donald Jay Smith - February 3
Nadirah Simmons - February 3
Karen Davis - February 4
Mary Ellis - February 4
Mahki T. Gordon - February 4
Gloria S. Bolds - February 5
Sandra Robinson - February 5
Willie Jackson - February 6
Barbara Lightfoot - February 7
Vivian Middleton - February 8
Agnes Hill - February 9
Neva Housch - February 9
FROM LENT TO LIFESTYLE
Continued from Page 1 This year, Lent starts on February
10 (Ash Wednesday) at 12:00 noon
and ends on Easter Sunday, March
27. Biblical fasting is abstinence
from some foods or some other
ways of self-denial to help
experience God's presence and His
power in your life. The more
popular fasts are: the Partial fast,
the Daniel Fast, and Non-food fast
(restricting television, internet, and
other addictions such as alcoholic
beverages, sex, drugs,
pornography, gossiping, etc.).
Each year we use the Daniel Fast
as our spiritual discipline and for
spiritual renewal. (Romans 12:1-2)
The Daniel Fast includes fruits,
vegetables and water only.
Suggestions for the Daniel Fast:
 Avoid drinking sodas.
 Eat only baked foods (never
fried foods)
 Don't eat after 8:00 pm
 Consider oatmeal and toast
for breakfast.
 Eliminate all white foods white Sugar; white Rice (use Quinoa, brown rice); white flour (use
wheat); white bread (eat Ezekiel
bread); white milk (use Almond
Carol Robinson - February 11
Aquaria Smith - February 11
Denise Simpson - February 13
Tony Smith - February 13
Matthew Smith, III - Feb. 14
Mattie Wilson - February 14
General B. Works - Feb. 16
Antisha Burns - February 17
Joyce Mills - February 17
Ronald Jordan - February 18
Mable Reid - February 18
Brian Stills - February 18
Wilma Johnson - February 19
James C. Lewis - February 19
Gary L. Brown - February 20
Pat Davis - February 20
Rozie Lewis - February 20
Winnie Smith - February 22
Tia Abercrombie - Feb. 23
John Davis - February 23
Braxton East - February 24
Joan Johnson-King - Feb. 24
milk).
 Eat no sweets - instead, eat
healthy snacks like mixed nuts,
raisins or veggie straws. Also, do not
use high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
that’s in almost everything that's
sweet.
 In moderation, eat twice as many
vegetables as carbohydrates. This
includes salads.
 Add nutritional supplements if
necessary.
 Drink plenty of water throughout
the day.
Andrea Briscoe - February 25
Frank Walker - February 25
Corine Hanson - February 28
Karen Young - February 28
NOTE:
Birthdays are placed in The
Messenger by request only.
Send birthday requests prior
to the 15th of the month of
your birthday to
[email protected].
COMMUNICATION RESOURCES
THE MESSENGER newsletter is published
monthly and distributed to the
congregation on the first Sunday of each
month.
 Messenger announcements and articles
should be submitted to
[email protected] by
the 15th of the month.
THE PATHWAY e-newsletter is sent out
each Wednesday. Submit Pathway
announcements by 5:00 pm on Friday,
two or more weeks before event to
[email protected].
Affirmation: “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens
me.” - Philippians 4:13
The following individuals and families
send their special thanks and
appreciation to Cascade UMC clergy,
staff and church family during their
time of bereavement or illness:
The Family of Mrs. Mattie Parks
The Family of Mrs. Doris Deckard
The Family of Mr. Robert Sheats
Threet, Jean and Nikki Brown
The Ellis Family
CLERGY ON-CALL NUMBER
(404) 313-4225
(Please use for emergencies,
after hours, and weekends.)