HAPPY NEW YEAR!
At this
time, you have thanked the Lord for being privileged to enjoy the beginning of
another year – 2007. Your memorable
2006 Christmas gift has been put away and you are really looking forward to the
365 days of 2007 that will be filed with sunshine, some rain and, perhaps, the
sight of a rainbow or two.
Seniors, you and I will be living for
those days and, hopefully, our prayers will be answered for good health and
times filled with rousing giggles, laughter and smiles. We know the Lord is good all the time – yes,
all the time our Lord is good.
The Inauguration
Some of us
are also looking forward to being a part of the historic Deval Patrick
Massachusetts Gubernatorial Inaugural celebration, which will be held in select
cities statewide. Springfield is one of
the inaugural sites. At this point,
though, I have felt exclusion from the transition team – little or nothing has
been done to show the inclusion of the thousand of seniors from
Springfield. I am deeply concerned and
I am waiting to see if that will change.
Mind, Body and Spirit Martial Arts Institute
Leo
Williams, director of the Mind, Body and Spirit Martial Arts Institute, and
members of his staff who teach older students were guests of an exciting group
of St. John’s Congregational church members, the “Seasoned Saints,” some of
whom this writer has been friendly with over the past years.
When Mr. Williams and his entourage
arrived, we heard music and a voice calling out 1-2-3-4 and watched the body
action as they performed their exercise class.
At the conclusion of the class, we were guests of the group’s
well-planned luncheon of baked salmon, roasted chicken, steamed vegetables and
dessert. Then Mr. Williams and his
teachers presented a martial arts class to the group of Seasoned Saints. This was a delightful event. After being shown some of the moves by the
presenting seniors, the class was invited to be guests at the Mind, Body and
Spirit Martial Arts Institute.
21st Annual Black American Heritage Flag Celebration
During the
Month of January, I will be planning to receive Mr. Melvin Charles from Miami,
Florida, who will be attending Springfield’s 21St Annual Black
American Heritage Flag Ceremony to be held on Thursday, February 1, 2007, at
the Springfield City Hall. The flag
will fly the entire month of February in celebration of Black History
Month. We will be looking for as many
as are able to attend the flag raising -- from the Pastor’s Council to leaders
of our African American community to the general public. As the remaining living designer of the flag,
Mr. Melvin Charles is no stranger to our community. He has commented, “The Black American Heritage Flag is the only
common symbol that Black America has.”
Once again, Happy New Year!