Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould

Isaiah 61:1-4
61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;

61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

61:3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

61:4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

2nd Sunday of Advent - Unbound Advent marks a time of new beginnings. Although this four-week period of watching and waiting occurs at the end of the calendar year in December, it is the beginning of the liturgical calendar. It is the Christian “New Year” when we focus on birth and new beginnings, which the life of Jesus brin...

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. The theme is "peace. Please read the attached reading from a beloved scholar preacher, Rev. Dr. Gay Byron who transitioned last week.

2nd Sunday of Advent - Unbound Advent marks a time of new beginnings. Although this four-week period of watching and waiting occurs at the end of the calendar year in December, it is the beginning of the liturgical calendar. It is the Christian “New Year” when we focus on birth and new beginnings, which the life of Jesus brin...

“O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends nor heap shame upon their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NRSVUE‬‬

Psalms 15:1-5 O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue and do | New Revised Standard Version... O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue and do

Psalm 123
123:1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

123:2 As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us.

123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.

123:4 Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

Here is one of the many things I have been up to lately. Co-hosting with Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews is dope enough but having my brother beloved Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson as a guest is even more dope. Check out the episode.

JUST DROPPED: Join Michael-Ray Mathews
& co-host Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould for a NEW episode of with Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson as they discuss what led him to become a child advocate & what we gain from a multigenerational coalition dedicated to justice & liberation! https://faithinaction.org/podcast/episode-70-rev-dr-starsky-wilson/

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service.

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
107:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble

107:3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

107:4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;

107:5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

107:6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;

107:7 he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.

107:8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

107:9 For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.

107:33 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,

107:34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.

107:35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.

107:36 And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;

107:37 they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.

Be reminded we are on our scheduled hiatus of reflection and renewal after finishing the series on Grief and Loss. Thank you for journeying with us. Stay connected to us text Beyondwall to 84576.

“If we keep quiet now the rocks will cry out!” Luke 19:40
Join us and sign this petition bit.ly/faithleadersforceasefire

"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” ~ Ezekiel 18:32

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." ~ Matthew 5:9

Black Christian Faith Leaders across the country are uniting our voices to call for a Ceasefire in Gaza! As we continue to grieve the loss of 1,400 Israelis killed by Hamas on October 7th and the more than 7,000 Palestinians, including over 3,000 children, killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, we join faith leaders across many traditions calling for Immediate Deescalation, Humanitarian Assistance for Palestinians, Release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and No War in the Middle East.

We have a unique opportunity to speak peace in a violent world! Will you join us by signing this petition to bear public witness for peace, justice and life!

bit.ly/faithleadersforceasefire

Matthew 22:34-40
22:34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,

22:35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

22:36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"

22:37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

22:38 This is the greatest and first commandment.

22:39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

If you are in the DMV show up if not share and pray.

Still time to register for Bible Study

Last week our Zoom was hacked. It was not a good experience. Join us for Bible Study tonight at 7 p.m. CT. We are still on Zoom but you have to register. Register here: https://bit.ly/btwgriefbiblestudy You can also scan the QR Code on the flyer. Grief is complex condition join this conversation. Tonight we will use Job as a discussion point.

Mannie Ellis was murdered by law enforcement in Tacoma, Washington on March 3, 2020. He like Eric Garner before him and George Floyd after him cried out, “I can’t breathe,” while officers pinned him down. He was a 33 year old father and church drummer. It happens so often that many of this cases go under the radar.

This is week 3 of the trial. Yes, I am on vacation but showing up matters. Pastor Anthony Steele, members of Allen AME Church have been providing presence for the family since the trial began and organizing others to do the same including Simeon Rhoden and Presiding Elder Spencer Francis Barrett. Please pray for this family and that there is

Medical experts rule on Manny Ellis death Jurors in the trial of the three Tacoma Police officers charged in the death of Manny Ellis are worried for their safety. They told court officials they're concerned their identities could get out, opening the door to possible harassment, or worse. Today, the judge spoke to both the defense and the....

I forgot to post this but here is link to worship in Tacoma this morning where I preached at Allen. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=227599900081848&id=100001940229606&mibextid=0cALme

Isaiah 25:1-9
25:1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

25:2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt.

25:3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

25:4 For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,

25:5 the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.

25:6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

25:7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.

25:8 Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

25:9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Philippians 4:1-9
4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

4:2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

4:3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

4:5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

4:9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Last week our Zoom was hacked. It was not a good experience. Join us for Bible Study tonight at 7 p.m. CT. We are still on Zoom but you have to register. Register here: https://bit.ly/btwgriefbiblestudy You can also scan the QR Code on the flyer. Grief is complex condition join this conversation. Tonight we will use Job as a discussion point.

Evidently our zoom was hacked. Please look for a registration link for a new zoom for Bible Study this weekend. I apologize that it was not an ideal experience.

STL parents check this out!!!

Join us tonight for Class 3 of Navigating Grief & Loss Tuesdays 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Zoom 894 5873 9587 Code: 2012. Rev. Lavetta Hall is our guest. Tonight's Lesson: There is No Wrong Way to Grieve John 11. Bring a Friend.

Navigating Grief and Loss Bible Study has been a necessary and revelatory journey. Join us on Tuesdays at 7 pm CT. Next week Rev. LaVetta J. Ross-Hall will be our guest. As a Hospice Chaplain she assists others in navigating grief and loss daily.

Please join us tonight at 7 p.m. CT for our second session on Grief and Loss a Bible Study series. See info on the flyer and share with others.
Zoom 894 5873 9587 Code: 2012

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭31‬ ‭NRSVUE‬‬

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the disc | New Revised Standard... For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I...

The celebration of life for Anna Scott-Holman will be on Monday August 28.
The viewing will be from 10 AM to 11 AM.
The service will start at 11:00 am. at Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church at 151 Broadway, Newark, New Jersey.
The family is asking all that attend to please wear white or bright colors to celebrate our home going. Please continue to pray for her family.