A Bi-Monthly Newsletter of Eastern Community Church

Reverend Damion M. Briggs, Pastor

“Where there is no VISION, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18a)

Volume 5, Issue 5 October 2009

ECC Community Wide Revival

with
Evangelist Manuel Scott, Jr.

“Be Equipped to Face the Tests, Trials &

Temptations of Life.”

From September 14, 2009 He has conducted well over 900

through September 16, 2009, Eastern
Community Church (ECC) held a
Community Wide Revival. The
theme was titled “Be Equipped to
Face the Tests, Trials & Temptations
of Life.”
Our revivalist was Evangelist
Manuel Scott Jr. of Los Angeles
California. Evangelist Scott is the
first Seminary-trained, full-time
Evangelist on a national scale
coming out of the black Baptist
Church.
revivals and crusades (averaging 45
revivals a year) wherein some 20,000
persons have confessed to wanting a
new relationship with the Lord.
The sermons scriptures, topics, and
three major points were:
• Monday - Scripture: Genesis
22:13-14; Judges 23:24; Exodus
15:26
“Good News for Your Future”
(1) Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will
provide)
Continued on page 5
The Spoken Word
Inside this issue …
Spiritual Wilderness--------------------------2
What Can Teenage Christians --------------3
Do To Have Fun??
Health & Fitness------------------------------4
In The Spirit-----------------------------------6
Inspirational Poem/Reading-----------------8
Calendar of Events/Services---------------12
THE SPOKEN WORD is a bi-monthly publi-
cation of the Eastern Community Church, 8213
Manson Street, Landover, Maryland. Its mission
is to serve as a communication tool for informing
the congregation, friends, and the community about
ongoing activities at Eastern Community Church
and to spread the “good news” about the wondrous
of God’s love.
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Sister Dorothy A. Watson
Email: editor@easterncommunity.org
Editorial Assistant
Tiffany Clark
Finance Columnist
Email: finance@easterncommunity.org
Health Columnist
Pastor Damion M. Briggs/Sister Pamela Bright
Email: health@easterncommunity.org
Youth Columnist
Sister Hilary Bright
Church Telephone: (301) 322-9787
Pastor: (301) 808-9353
Fax: (301) 322-9240
Articles in this newsletter should not be
duplicated or used without the written
consent of the “The Spoken Word.”
@2009 Eastern Community Church
October 2009 2
Spiritual Wilderness (Storms of Life)
DEVIL INDUCED Wilderness
This kind of wilderness comes about due to our own
evil desires. “But each one is tempted when, when by his
own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after
desire has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is
full grown, gives birth to death.”( James 1: 14 and 15).
Characteristics of Devil Induced Wilderness:
▪ Spiritual bankruptcy
▪ Fear of being alone
▪ Health-Maladies (spiritual and physical)
▪ Total darkness and fear
▪ Moral decay
▪ Hopelessness and lost of directions
▪ Depression and thoughts of suicide
▪ Low self esteem and shamefulness
▪ Disobedient to the words of GOD and arrogance
▪ An increased appetite to lust, to the things of the
Flesh.(e.g. Pride, Power, Sight, Taste
etc.).Genesis3:6
▪ Unnecessary companions (distractions from the
voice of GOD).
▪ Death (physical and spiritual).
Continued on page 5
─────────────────────────────
May God Bless and use
“The Spoken Word”
In serving Him!
ECC
The Spoken Word October 2009 3

Youth Columnist have fun, or don't have anything fun to do, it's just
Sister that we need to know what is appropriate and what is
inappropriate according to our faith.
Hilary
Bright There are some things we shouldn't do like
going to night clubs, and staying out at odd hours,
especially when we're still going to school. These
things just don't reflect what we say and what we
Dear Hil, believe in. If you can find a teen dance club that you
and your parents deem appropriate, then there is no
What can teenage Christians do to have fun? problem. Those usually don't stay very late, so your
parents won't be mad at you for going, and you won't
It’s not that hard for Christian teens to have do anything that you will later regret in your life.
Remember people, there is always an option or an
fun. Just because we are Christian, doesn't mean
alternative to everything. It's not that you don't have
we can't do anything other than going to church or
things to do; it's that you need to find new ways to do
reading the Bible. I mean, those two things are
them.
very important parts of our lives, but that don’t
mean we can't enjoy other things.
-Hil
What you can and can not do to have fun
mostly depends on how strict your parents are,
and what is morally right according to what the
Bible has told us. It's not like we can't go to
dances and other things like that, but we just have
to be careful of what type of dancing we're doing,
and who we are associating with. We can still go
Youths: Do you
to movies, go shopping, or just hang out with have a question for
friends. It's not like our parents or the fact that as Hilary?
Christians it automatically means that we have to
hold ourselves up at home and just do nothing Send you ecc@eastern
with our lives. On the contrary, we have to learn topics or community.
how to mingle with people. We need to know how questions to: org
to communicate with them so that we know ways
to express our views to them, and maybe even get
them to embrace our religion.
Do you have
Like I have said in my articles before, a certain topic
there are always teen clubs and social groups that you would
do something together in almost every like to see
community. It’s not that Christian teens can’t in the youth
column?
 The Spoken Word October 2009 4

Blood Type AB
But if and whenever we genuinely repents; God is ever
ready to forgive us and deliver us from what ever
storms/wilderness we may find our-selves in;
This is the fourth and the last of the main known Eat turkey; cod;6:1-40.
(Judges4:1-24. mahi-mahi; navy,8:1-21.)and
7:1-25. pinto soy beans;
then our
blood types. Blood type AB is the also the newest of oat andwill
LORD rice flours;
make the collard dandelion
storms, and mustard
wildernesses, enemies
all the blood types. Individuals with blood type AB green; figs
subject to usgrapes;
and His plums.
peaceAvoid chicken,
will be with us duck, all as
as long
are blessed with inheriting the two dominant genes: A pork, kidney, lima beans, venison,
we remain faithful to Him through his words and clams, crab,
and B. This unique character makes them susceptible haddock,Judges3:30.
precepts. lobster, shrimp, white and16,23and24.
Judges4:6-7, yellow corn,
to both A and B diseases, making them prone to peppers, guava, mangoes and oranges.
cancer, heart disease and autoimmune diseases. (b) Sometimes we have been faithfully obeying God's
Research has also noticed a clear trend for women of commandments,Submitted but without by Sister
visiblePamela
and orBright
immediate
this blood type to have many menstrual problems ------------------------------------------------------------
result; faithfully paying tithes, Malachi:10; but still in
such as excessive bleeding, clotting, cramping, wants of financial break- through. The question
irregular menstrual cycles – either leading to Portobello
becomes, has Pizza (AB Blood
God changed? Type) not, heavens
Of-course
hysterectomies or continued misery. Some of these forbid. (Malachi.3:6) “I the lord do not change-------.
women who experienced menstrual problems also But what then is the problem? Let us read Jeremiah3:24
Ingredients:
experienced migraine and other headaches. There is a and 25, Hebrew 5:8, Acts 7:51-53, Zecharaiah1:4. So
clear pattern of hormonal imbalance that plagues this just •as God allowedmushroom,
1 portobello the Midianites,
cleaned,Amalakites
stem and
blood group. ABs are slightly more muscular than A other eastern
remove people to invade the Israelites and ruined
and chopped
blood type, but less muscular than the B blood type. It their • crops (Judges6:3-5),
1-2 Tablespoons pizzasosauce
Godthatwill allow the
is BTD
is easier for an AB to build muscle than A, but in devourer compliant
to spoil our tithes and labors/efforts. Read
some cases, AB’s have a more difficult time building 1Samuel:15
• 1 teaspoon and 23.feta “Does
or goatthecheese
Lord delight in burnt
muscle as A’s. offerings
• 1and sacrificesmozzarella
Tablespoon as much ascheese
obeying the voice
minced garlicof
the Lord?toTo obey
taste is better than sacrifice, and to heed is
Eating properly for an AB requires guidelines better• than the fat
2 cups of rams.23;
mixed greens &For rebellion is like sin of
vegetables
similar to A’s, but with small amount Continued from page 1
of animal divination, and arrogance like the
• 1 Tablespoon oils (I mix 1 teaspoon evil of idolatry-----”.
each
protein. AB’s should acquire their vitamins, minerals butter/ghee, olive oil & flaxseed oil)
(2) Jehovah
and essential aminoShalom (the Lord
acids through ourand
plants Peace) Characteristics
• Other toppings of HolytoSpirit Induced
your liking: Wildernesses.
fruit, meat, rice
(3) Jehovah
vegetables proteins. Rapha (the Lord our Healer) • You can really get creative with toppings.
▪ Repentance
• Tuesday - Scripture: John 14:9; Revelation ▪How
Healing
Strengths: to make it:
13:8; and Matthew 28:18 ▪ Spiritual endowment/ enrichment
Two “Enough
dominantistraits
Enough”
Friendliest ▪ True1. knowledge/Wisdom
Sauté Portobello in 1/2 oil & 1/2 garlic.
God was sayingsystem
immune enough is enough: ▪ Peace
Weaknesses: 2. and
Set Tranquility
aside.
(1) In the Incarnation ▪ Indescribably Joy/Satisfaction
Pattern 3. Sauté veggies & chopped mushroom stem
(2) of
In hormonal imbalance
the Crucifixion ▪ Restoration/ Renewal/ Enlargement
Tendency in1/2 oil & garlic.
(3) In to
thechemical imbalance disorders
Resurrection ▪ Eternal life
Health risks: 4. Spread pizza sauce on top of Portobello
Cancer
• Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14 ▪ Faith/Trust/Strength
mushroom.
Heart disease
“Be Careful of the Traffic” ▪ Assurance/Purpose
5. Pile on chopped mushroom stem and veggies
Anemia
Be Careful of the Traffic because: ▪ Reversal or of curses
other toppings to your liking.
Autoimmune
(1) You maydisease
miss your appointment ▪ Thirst
6. and
Addobedient
feta/goattocheese
the words of GOD cheese.
and mozzarella
The
WomenSpoken Word
tendmay
to have ▪ Character
7. Place building
under broiler until cheese is bubbling &
(2) You missmenstrual
your exit;problems
and and
October
migraine2009
andmay
other headaches ▪ Anointing of once
starting spiritual gift/gifts
to brown.
(3) You miss getting home
5
Nutritional profile: ▪ Birthing
8. Enjoy of ministry/ministries.
thoroughly!
Limited to small
Each night amounts
we left of animal
spiritually protein.
energized and with a Submitted by Sis. Pamela Bright
zeal to go out and share the word with others. (Will continue in next issue)

To God Be the Glory!

Submitted by Deaconess Martha Randolph
-----------------------------------------------------------------

HOLY SPIRIT INDUCED Wilderness

Continued from page 2
Some of the reasons why GOD allows/induces storms
in our lives.

(a) Some of us have been prayed up by our relatives,

friends, church families for our salvation, trials etc.
and as such we became dependent on them for
prayers each time we need one. We then forget, that
as followers of Christ, that we have been admonished
to always pray and watch.1Thessalonians5:17.
Luke18:1.Luke11:5-
13.Acts.1:14.Romans12:12.Ephesians6:18.Colossians
4:2.and Isaiah40:25-31.

When we forsake God, (Judges3:7) due to our

ignorance, stubbornness or and laziness; He calls and
gets our attention back to him through these storms of
life. (Judges3:1-4. Deuteron-omy.8:2-5.)

The Spoken Word October 2009 6

 IN The Spirit
The Cost of Honesty
"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these
things have I given willingly and with honest intent" (1 Chronicles 29:17, NIV).
A brief lesson on everyday integrity.
When I was a child, I thought as a child.
Sometimes I took things from another child's
hand when I wanted it. Once or twice, I took
candy from a store. That ended the first time my
mother caught me and sent me back to confess
and apologize.
It wasn't much, about a penny's worth of
thievery.
But is there such a thing as a "little
dishonesty"?
Recently, I left the post office with a handful
of stamps. Once I had stamped all my
manuscripts, I found that I'd been given eight
more stamps than I paid for. When I returned to
the employee who had sold me the stamps, it took
a lot of explaining to make him understand why I
was returning them. "Why did you bring them
back? No one would've known."
"It's the right thing to do," I explained,
suddenly not even sure why I'd made the effort.
But my 12–year–old daughter nodded and
smiled at me.
Should we go out of our way to be honest?
After all, with the post office situation, I didn't
steal the stamps; it was the postal worker who
made the mistake. But does my honesty depend
on the actions of another?
I can be dishonest. But I choose to be honest.
The Spoken Word
When it's all said and done, how much is my
dignity and self–respect worth? The cost of an
outdated coupon or rebate on an item I didn't
purchase?
It's easy to be honest when we're afraid of getting
caught or into trouble. But, if it seems like a "sure
thing," it's easy to convince ourselves that we're not
being dishonest, someone else just wasn't being
careful enough.
Is a lie always a lie?
The best lesson I had on honesty came several
years back while on vacation in Wimberley, a
charming town in southern Texas. The small square
was filled with antique and craft shops. After an hour
of shopping, my husband and I stopped for lunch in a
café; near the square. I was surprised when a woman
entered the restaurant and walked over to our table.
"I'm sorry, but I shorted you on your change," she
explained. Then she held out a $1 bill.
I recognized her from a candle shop we'd visited
earlier. "But how did you know I'd be here?" I was
flabbergasted. She had actually searched the shops to
return a dollar. Honesty was very important to her.
On the other hand, a man I know returned a large
television set to a department store and was given
cash for his return. A month later, he noticed this
amount had also been deleted from his credit card bill.
He didn't bother contacting his credit card company.
Continued on page 7
October 2009 7
 Continued from page 6

Does God want me to be just a little honest? Or

honest only in certain situations? Or only when
someone is looking? How much dishonesty is too
much? Sometimes I am the only person who knows
whether I am being honest in a situation or not.
2009 Everybody’s
Do I keep extra change I'm given, cheat on my
taxes, ignore the double credit on a credit card
Birthday
statement? Do I tell my daughter that a white lie is Celebration
still a lie, but a few minutes later tell the police officer
that my accelerator got stuck?

When did honesty become an endangered value?

Somewhere that man is proud of the $700 he

cheated the department store out of and laughs about
it with everyone he knows, even his daughter.
Somewhere in Wimberley, Texas, there is a truly
honest woman. I rejoice in sharing that story with my
daughter.

If given a choice, I hope I'm the latter.

Month of November table
And that's the honest truth.

Kathryn Lay is a writer in Arlington, Texas.

Month of March table

all said and done,
honest. When it's

dignity and self–

how much is my

respect worth?”
choose to be

The Spoken Word October 2009 8

 Already Paid

There’s so much temptation

in the world today.
But remember the cross, NEW
it’s already paid. MEMBERS!
No other name whereby we
can be saved,
Jesus the High Priest,
He leadest us to the presence
of God.

My soul does magnify the Lord,

open you heart, receive Him,
the eternal King of Kings,
my beginning, my last.
God has reconciled Himself
through the blood Christ shed,
He’s knocking at the door
of your heart
Don’t turn away,
his strength will receive
you each and everyday
build hope; more forward
relying on no one else,
He’ll lead and guide
in a righteous way.
Food for your Soul
Accept responsibility for your
actions.
The things you do, the things you
say and the things you think.
If things don’t go quite right ask
yourself what you could have done
differently to get a different
outcome.

It is not always someone else’s fault.

You stand up and take responsi-
bility.

The Spoken Word October 2009 9

 Finance Corner
Whether you've grown up in the church, have
recently started attending - or even if you have never set
foot in one in your entire life - you have probably heard
about the concept of the tithe. Basically, it is giving
10% of your income to God.
That sure sounds like a lot, especially in the
economic times we are in. Tithing has one interesting
aspect to it however - it is the one place in the Bible
that God actually says we can test him on it. Test God?
No way you may think - but it's true. Malachi 3:10
(NIV) says "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse,
that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,
says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open
the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it". Wow -
those are pretty strong words on this subject.
Notwithstanding God's words, I still feel odd
'testing' him on this. Instead, I give faithfully in hopes
that God will continue his grace and blessings in my
life. I have actually felt convicted by the Holy Spirit at
times that I was not tithing. It's true: for a while I had
stopped tithing for various reasons - more out of
personal want rather than financial necessity - and I felt
absolutely guilty about it. So I started again and that
feeling completely disappeared.
If you are in the leadership of a church, I want to
share something that we do. A couple weeks ago, I
mentioned that my Pastor had started a series on
Recession Proofing your life. With regards to tithing,
our church does an interesting thing - basically a 'tithe
test'. If a person tithes for 3 months and does not feel
God blessing them, then our church will refund their
tithe back to them. Talk about a guarantee! This is not
the first time we have done this, but over the years we
have never had to refund any money back. Does that
speak for the benefit of tithing?
The SpokenGet your copy today! Order from the
Word Media/Library
October 2009
http://www.easterncommunity.org
– The Tithe
As individuals, you must seek God's will in your
life in this - just as you should with everything else
you do. If you want to test God, do so - because He
tells us that we can. And remember what our purpose
on earth is for - not to build ourselves up, but rather
for the glory of the Kingdom. Our treasures are
stored in heaven, and our time here is just temporary.
God will not let you go without - He is faithful to us
if we are faithful to Him.
Courtesy of Christian Finance
The Twelve Historical Books
• Joshua 24:14-18 - A Choice To Give
• Judges 17:1-6 - Doing What Is Right In God's
Sight
• Ruth 1:3-5, 15-16, 2:3, 11-12 - The Lord
Recompense And Reward You
• 1 Samuel 15:2-3, 18-22 - Sacrifice Is Good
But Obedience Is Better
• 2 Samuel 2:3-6 - Showing Kindness Has It's
Rewards
• 1 Kings 2:1-4 - Prospering In All We Do
Wherever We Go
• 2 Kings 4:1-7 - Preparing To Receive From
God
• 1 Chronicles 22:1-6 - Preparing To Build The
Lord's House
• 2 Chronicles 2:1-2 - Bearing The Burden
Together
• Ezra 1:1-5 - Two Reasons For God's Material
Blessings
• Nehemiah 10:34-39 - Supporting The Levites
And The Priests
• Esther 2:17-18 - Love Gives According To It's
Ability
Ministry or online at 10
 The Spoken Word
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Day Celebration
Sermons by $15.00
Pastor Briggs
$15.00
$15.00

The Spoken Word October 11

 Advertise Here Has God Blessed You Lately?

Was it something you have

Get your business noticed. Advertise in the
Spoken Word! been praying

about; an unexpected
¼ Page - $25.00 Per Issue or $150.00 Yearly
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Wednesday
Sermons preached by our Pastor 7:30 P.M.
Pastor Damion Briggs, Instructor
For a complete listing of sermons preached by Current Topic: Old Testament Survey
Pastor Damion M. Briggs, or to order a CD, DVD or
Cassette online, please visit our Web site at Bible Study Sessions Now on CD
http://www.easterncommunity.org and click on the
link “Multimedia Shop.”
9:00 A.M. – 9:45 A.M.

We Are Now Recording Sermons On

DVD
Check availability on our Multimedia page

The Spoken Word October 2009 12

 Calendar of Events
November
Services
7 Healing and Deliverance Twelve Step Wrap Up Prayer
Sunday School 9:00a.m.
Breakfast 9:00a.m.
25 Thanksgiving Praise & Worship 7:00 p.m. .
9-13 Pastor’s 8th Anniversary Celebration 7:00 p.m. nightly Sunday Morning Worship 10:00a.m.

December Holy Communion First Sunday Monthly

5 Fellowship with Seniors 10:00 a.m. Praise, Testimony, Prayer Wednesday 7:00p.m.
12 Men’s Pancake Breakfast 10:00 a.m.
13 2nd Annual 100 Men and Women in Red and Black Bible Study Wednesday 7:30p.m.
3:00p.m.
20 Annual Christmas Service 3:00 p.m.
31 New Year’s Eve Service 10:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal Thursday 7:00p.m.

New Members Class 3rd & 4th Wednesday 6:00p.m.

For an updated listing, visit our Web site at
http://www.easterncommunity.org Usher Meeting 3rd Saturday 10:00a.m.

Youth Choir Rehearsal Last Friday of Month

7:00p.m.

EASTERN COMMUNITY CHURCH

8213 Manson Street PLACE
Landover, MD 20785 STAMP
www.easterncommunity.org HERE

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED