Pastor’s Corner
Fathers’ Day in the United States is held annually on the third Sunday of June. This year Father’s
Day is being celebrated on Sunday, June 15, 2014. Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers
and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. The idea of a
Father's Day celebration originated in Sonora Smart Dodd's mind when she, per chance, listened
to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Fairly mature at the age 27, Sonora pondered, if there is a day
to honor her mother, then why not her father? Sonora felt strongly for fathers because of the
affection she received from her own father, Mr. William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran.
Sonora's mother died during childbirth when she was 16. Mr. Smart raised the newborn and five
other children with love and care. Ms. Sonora Dodd was inspired to begin a rigorous campaign
to celebrate Father's Day in US. The Spokane Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's
Christian Association (YMCA) supported Sonora's cause. As a result, Spokane Washington,
celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910. The idea gained gradual popularity all over the
US and Father’s Day came to be celebrated in cities across the country. Looking at the
heightened popularity of Father's Day in US, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea in
1916. President Calvin Coolidge also supported the idea of a national Father's Day in 1924 to,
"establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers
the full measure of their obligations". After a struggle of over four decades, President Lyndon
Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day in
1966. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of
Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Sonora Smart Dodd was honored for her
contribution at the World's Fair in Spokane in 1974. Mrs. Dodd died in 1978 at age 96.
Our Fathers, our Men of God, have very important roles. The bible says in Ephesians 6:4, “And,
ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord.” And in 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who
hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” Fathers, the Word of God give us guidance. If we
adhere, we can be assured that we will greatly rejoice according to Proverbs 23:24, “The father
of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.”
Do Something Extra Special For Your Dad On Father's Day
-Take Dad out for lunch
- Clean the yard (including cutting/edging grass)
-Take Dad to a sporting event
- Spend the day with Dad
-Drive Dad wherever he wants to go
- Buy Dad something that he won’t buy himself
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Church Visitors: It is very important to me, for us (Miracle Temple Church Family) to make all
church visitors, from the moment they walk onto the church ground until the time they leave, to
ensure that we exude the spirit of love, acceptance and Christian fellowship. People will draw
people to Christ with love and kindness according to Jeremiah 31:3, “The Lord has appeared of
old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving
kindness I have drawn you.” We all know that the Ushers role in the Church is a vital part of the
ministry and certainly important as it relates to our visitors according to Psalms 84:10, “For a
day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” However, the role of being loving & kind does not
rest with the Ushers on duty only, the entire congregation has a responsibility to the visitors. We
must change our way of thinking. The worship experience starts in the parking lot, not when the
pastor steps into the pulpit. Think about it, if you ignored the visitor, did not speak, rolled your
eyes, frowned, they overheard you talking negatively in the parking lot or using inappropriate
language, you have lost them before they could even make it inside the church to hear the
WORD OF THE LORD.
We recently had some visitors from Hudson, Florida who attended our Women’s Day Program last month
and tremendously blessed our souls in song. Ms. Virginia Semester, one of the visitors commented, It was
so wonderful to be there… Your message was so good, anointed. Such an awesome presence of the Lord
in the service. The kids really enjoyed the service as well. Mikey said he wished he could go to a church
like that all the time. Hope they find one as receptive to the moving of the Spirit when they get to
Georgia... Love you all so much...”
Now, this is how a visitor should feel! Keep up the good work Miracle Temple! We must continue to be
vigilant about God’s business!
“A Breath of Fresh Air”
Psalms 68:4 “Sing
unto God, sing
praises to his name:
extol him that rideth
upon the heavens by
his name Jah, and
rejoice before him.”
Clethen U. Sutton, Pastor
Superintendent of the West Central District