BABER AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Reverend James C. Simmons, Pastor

LENT 2016

Disconnect to Reconnect
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
Psalm 42:1

In 2012 the Pew Research Center reported that 84% of cellphone users claim they
could not go a single day without their device and 67% of cellphone users check their
phone messages, alerts and calls even when their phone does not ring or vibrate. In
2012 Nielson reported that traditional TV viewing eats up over six days (144 hours, 54
minutes) worth of time per month for most persons. One preacher even quipped that
television, social media and our phones often receive more of our attention each day
than God.
In other words between email, text messages, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and other
social media websites, we often cannot hear Gods still, small voice. Between
telephone calls, television and the normal hustle and bustle of life, sometimes we dont
spend the time with God that is needed to foster a real and intimate relationship.
Between our addiction to media and technology, we dont make space needed to
cultivate a life that reflects the life and unconditional love of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Lent 2016 challenges the church to use the power-off button to unplug and
find time - free from interruption - to spend with God. This lent we will unplug in order
to be present to whats important in life and to the world in front of us. Lets unplug
so we can reconnect with God and feed our inner man. Lets unplug and stop allowing
Satan to feed us through media.

So Unplug challenges each member fast from non-work related social media and
television (at least Monday-Friday) and spend intentional time each day in
meditation on the Scriptures and take time to write your thoughts and feelings in
a journal.
In addition, members are welcomed to join Pastor Simmons in our traditional Daniel
Fast. The Daniel Fast includes:
1. What not to eat or drink: refined sugars, anything that contains white flour,
processed foods (lunch meat, ramen noodles, easy mac, etc), no red meat, no
sugared drinks, butter, margarine, no frying anything, mayonnaise, ketchup. If
you have to wonder about it, that means dont eat it.
2. What to eat or drink: wheat bread, wheat pasta, nuts, whole grain cereal,
granola, oatmeal, light yogurt, skim milk, lean chicken and turkey meat, lean fish,
fresh turkey, shrimp, scallops, lobster, crabmeat, tofu, organic honey, WATER,
FRUIT, VEGETABLES, eggs, vegetable oils (safflower, olive, or canola oil), olive
oil based salad dressing, mustard.
Participants are also encouraged to not eat at least three hours before your bedtime.

Of course we will continue our 6:15am corporate prayer.

Corporate prayer will commence on Wednesday, February 17, 2016.
The prayer phone number is (605) 475-4000. The access code is 862191
.

Matthew 19:26

550 Meigs Street

Rochester, New York
www.BaberRochester.Org