THE FOURTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant

Senior Episcopal Supervisor

Bishop John Richard Bryant, Presiding Prelate

Senior Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Fourth Episcopal District

African Methodist Episcopal Church

5627 South Michigan Avenue, 3rd Floor – Chicago, IL 60637-1103 Office: 773.955.9825 † Fax: 773.955.9840 † Web: AME4th.org

Ms. JoAnn Hawkins White, Administrator Ms. Ni Jonna Edge, Secretary

March 27 – 29, 2014

Mid-Year Convocation

May 3 – 10, 2014 AME-India 5th Annual Conference

July 23 – 26, 2014

Christian Education Congress

October 23 –25, 2014 Planning Meeting

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

THE 15TH OF THE EVERY MONTH WMS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ARE DUE. EMAIL: gailg51@msn.com

“The Cost of Discipleship”

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself

and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for

the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul.” - Mark 8: 34-38

I greet you in the strong name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Peace, Power and Love,

Bishop John and Rev. C.

The Lord has given the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the vision that we as a

Connection ought pursue the mandate to respond to the “Call to Christian Discipleship”. In the Fourth District, we

will continue to pursue the challenge and the responsibility that is ours by way of the Great Commission (Matthew

28:16- 20). The Church must grow numerically, financially and spiritually, and so, please know that I am praying for

the clergy, the laity and the youth, that we will all move from membership to discipleship. I pray that during this

Planning Meeting that the preaching and the teaching will be done at such a level that we will all be strengthened

as disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

We are grateful for the hard work and the planning for the upcoming year that has already begun by our host

pastors, local churches, stakeholder leaders and presiding elders. Join me as we assume the posture of “tip-toe”

expectations as the Lord fulfills His word to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to

the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2

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24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Fourth Episcopal District Planning Meeting – Grant AME Church – Toronto, ON, Host Connectional Lay Organization Retreat – Atlanta, GA International Day of Prayer Bishop John preaches at First Baptist Church – Landover, MD at 7:30 am and 11:15 am Bishop John preaches at Cathedral International Church – Perth Amboy, NJ at 7:00 pm Chicago Conference – South District Planning Meeting at Wayman AME – Chicago, IL – Presiding Elder Thomas M. Hughes Chicago Conference – North District Planning Meeting at Miller Chapel AME – University Park, IL – Presiding Elder Albert D. Tyson, III Chicago Conference – St. Paul /Minneapolis District Planning Meeting at Lily of the Valley AME – Apple Valley, MN – Presiding Elder Alphonse Reff, Sr. Indiana Conference – North District Planning Meeting – Wayman AME – Kokomo, IN – Presiding Elder E. Anne Henning Byfield Indiana Conference – South District Planning Meeting at Robinson Community AME – Indianapolis, IN – Presiding Elder Samuel L. Sumner Illinois Conference – North District Planning Meeting at Allen Chapel AME – Galesburg, IL – Presiding Elder Tyson Parks Illinois Conference – South District Planning Meeting at Shiloh AME – East St. Louis, IL – Presiding Elder Gary McCants Michigan Conference – North District Planning Meeting at Vernon Chapel AME – Flint, MI – Presiding Elder H. Michael Lemmons Bishop John preaches at Bethel AME Church – Quincy, IL at 4:00 pm 15

th NAACP National Religious Leadership Summit – Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA

World Diabetes Day Canadian Conference Planning Meeting – Central Grove AME Church – Harrow, ON, Host - Presiding Elder Tracey Thomas Chicago Conference – Milwaukee District Planning Meeting at J.W. James AME – Maywood, IL – Presiding Elder Walter R. Bauldrick, Sr. Bishop John preaches at Metropolitan AME Church – Washington, D.C. Bishop John preaches for the AME Ministerial Alliance - Chicago and Vicinity at St. Stephen AME Church at 7:00 pm Bishop John preaches for the Morris Brown College ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ – Atlanta, GA at 12:00 noon International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

October 31 – November 2

November 1-2

November 3

November 3

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 12-14

November 14

November 14-16

November 16

November 17

November 19

November 23

November 25

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TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

December 1

December 1

December 1

December 2

December 6-8

December 6

December 8

December 14

December 15

December 15

December 17 - 21

December 22

December 25

December 29

December 31

World Day of Prayer for AIDS Bishop John preaches at St. Paul AME Church – Cambridge, MA R.A.G.E. ‘INTENTION CELL’ with REV. C - 9:00 pm CST, 218.895.2434; Passcode 652027# Bishop John in Southfield, MI for the ‘Word Network’ Conn-M-SWAWO Plus PK’s Leadership Planning Retreat – Wilmington, NC Bishop John speaks at St. Paul AME Church – Jacksonville, FL Bishop John preaches at Greater Allen Cathedral AME Church – Jamaica, NY at 8:30 am and 11:15 am Christmas Brunch with Bishop John and Rev. C at New Zion Banquet Facility – Chicago, IL Bishop John preaches at Covenant United Church of Christ – Chicago, IL at 7:30 am

Bishop John preaches at J.W. James AME Church – Maywood, IL at 11:00 am Bishop John preaches for Fifteenth Episcopal District Planning Meeting and attends Episcopal Headquarters Renovations Dedication and New Episcopal Residence Dedication – Cape Town, South Africa Bishop John preaches at Shiloh Baptist Church – Baltimore, MD Christmas Day Bishop John preaches at Davis Memorial AME Church – Baltimore, MD Bishop John preaches at Sharon Baptist Church – Baltimore, MD

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MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

January 8 -10

January 13-17

January 18

January 20

January 29 – February 1

AME Church Growth and Development Conference – Memphis, TN AME Church Bishops’ Retreat – San Diego, CA Chicago Conference ‘Leadership Training’ at Grant Memorial AME Church – Chicago, IL at 8:30 am – Milwaukee District, North District, South District Young People’s Department (YPD) Dr. King Day of Service: Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off! Connectional Women’s Missionary Society 2014 Executive Board, Training and Service Day – Little Rock, AR

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28

February 1

February 2

February 2

February 3 – 6

February 8

February 9

February 9

February 16

February 17-20

February 22

February 23

YPD “Souper” Bowl of Caring Service Blitz – www. souperbowl.org YPD “Souper” Bowl of Caring Chicago Conference Founder’s Day Worship Service - Ebenezer AME Church – Evanston, IL Turner Theological Seminary 119th Founder's Convocation – Atlanta, GA Bishop John preaches at Davis Memorial AME Church – LaGrange, IL at 5:00 pm R.A.G.E. ‘INTENTION CELL’ with REV. C - February 9, 9:00 pm CST, 218.895.2434; Passcode 652027# Indiana Conference Founder’s Day Worship Service – Bethel AME Church – Indianapolis, IN Michigan Conference Founder’s Day Worship Service – Bethel AME Church – Detroit, MI at 5:00 pm “Conversations: A Pastoral Summit” at Sanctuary Resort- Phoenix, AZ Illinois Conference Founder’s Day Worship Service – St. Paul AME Church – Springfield, IL at 1:00 pm Canadian Conference Founder’s Day Worship Service – 6:00 pm

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13

14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

March 2

March 8

March 16

March 19

March 23

March 23

March 27 – 29

March 27 – 29

March 29

March 30

March 30

Bishop John preaches at Bethel AME Church – Saginaw, MI International Women's Day 25th Anniversary Bishop John preaches at Arnett Chapel AME Church – Chicago, IL Bishop John preaches at the 22nd Session of the Pentecostal Church of Christ Annual Conference – Cleveland, OH at 7:00pm Bishop John preaches at Third New Hope – Detroit, MI in the am Bishop John preaches at Trinity AME Church – Detroit, MI at 4:00 pm Fourth Episcopal District Mid-Year Convocation – Ward Chapel AME Church – Peoria, IL, Hosts Connectional YPD Leadership & Training Institute (LTI) – Baltimore, MD Women’s Missionary Society “Blue and White Breakfast” at Fourth District Mid-Year Convocation Bishop John preaches at Greater St. James AME Church – Gary, IN First Lady’s and First Gentleman’s Day

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5

6

7 8 9 10 11 12

13

14 15 16 17 18 19

20

21 22 23 24 25 26

27

28 29 30

Bishop John preaches for 12th Episcopal District Holy Convocation – Little Rock, AK at 7:00 pm Illinois – South District Conference at Trinity AME Church – Alton, IL PK/GK Retreat at Camp Baber – Cassopolis, MI Bishop John preaches at Howard University – Washington D.C. Michigan – South District Conference at Smith Chapel AME Church – Inkster, MI Illinois – North District Conference at St. Peter’s AME Church – Decatur, IL Michigan – North District Conference – Location TBD Chicago – St. Paul/Minneapolis District Conference at St. Peter’s AME Church – Minneapolis, MN (Palm Sunday) Bishop John preaches at Oak Grove AME Church – Detroit, MI R.A.G.E. ‘INTENTION CELL’ with REV. C - February 9, 9:00 pm CST, 218.895.2434; Passcode 652027# Chicago – South District Conference – Location TBD Chicago – Milwaukee District Conference at Allen Chapel AME Church – Rockford, IL Indiana – South District Conference at Robinson Community AME Church – Indianapolis, IN Indiana – North District Conference at St. James AME Church – Elkhart, IN Chicago – North District Conference at Carey Tercentenary – Chicago, IL Bishop John preaches at Bethel AME Church – Ann Arbor, MI Bishop John preaches at Canaan AME Church – Maywood, IL (Good Friday) Bishop John preaches for “Seven Last Words” – Chicago Conference (Easter Sunday) Bishop John preaches at St. John AME Church – Aurora, IL Earth Day Bishop John preaches for the Regional Prayer Convocation at Olivet AME Church – South Bend, IN at 7:00 pm Bishop John preaches at Greater Quinn AME Church – Detroit, MI at 11:00 am

April 2

April 3 – 5

April 4 - 6

April 6

April 7 – 9

April 8 – 10

April 9 – 11

April 9 -12

April 13

April 13

April 10 – 11

April 10 – 11

April 10 – 12

April 10 – 12

April 11 – 12

April 14

April 16

April 18

April 20

April 22

April 24

April 27

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

May 1 – 3

May 3-10

May 7 – 14

May 11

May 17 – 18

May 18

May 19-22

May 22 – 23

May 25

May 31

Canadian District Conference – Location TBD AME-India 5th Annual Conference – Chennai, India (May 6 – 8, conference takes place) YPD Self Denial Campaign Mother’s Day Wise and Beautiful Retreat at Camp Baber – Cassopolis, MI Bishop John preaches for Southwest Michigan AME Churches at Camp Baber – Cassopolis, MI at 11:00 am Fourth Episcopal District Presiding Elder’s and Minister’s Retreat at Camp Baber Payne Theological Seminary Board Meeting and Commencement Bishop John preaches at St. James AME Church – Lawrenceville, IL

R.A.G.E. Impact Breakfast – Chicago, IL

SUN

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

June 1

June 5

June 1-6

June 6 – 7

June 7

June 7

June 8

June 13

June 13 – 14

June 13 – 14

June 15

June 18 – 20

June 19 – 20

June 20

June 20 – 21

June 20 – 21

June 20 – 21

June 21 – 28

June 23 - 25

June 25 – 28

Bishop John preaches at Bethany Baptist Church – Baltimore, MD World Environment Day Hampton Ministers Conference – Hampton, VA Illinois North District – Sunday School Convention at Gaines Chapel AME Church – East Moline, IL Bishop John is honored by the Great Blacks in Wax Museum and a statue in ‘his likeness’ will be unveiled at Morgan State University – Baltimore, MD Chicago South District – Sunday School Convention at Mayo AME Church – Matteson, IL Bishop John’s Birthday Bishop John preaches for St. John AME Church at Morgan State University – Baltimore, MD Indiana South District – Sunday School Convention at Robinson Community AME Church – Indianapolis, IN Illinois South District – Sunday School Convention at St. Luke AME Church – East St. Louis, IL (Father’s Day) Bishop John preaches at Grant Memorial AME Church – Chicago, IL Chicago Milwaukee District – Sunday School Convention at Camp Baber – Cassopolis, MI Chicago St. Paul/Minneapolis District – Sunday School Convention at Wayman AME Church – Minneapolis, MN Michigan South District – Sunday School Convention at Brown Chapel AME Church – Ypsilanti, MI Chicago North District – Sunday School Convention at Christ Centered Ministries – Kankakee, IL Indiana North District – Sunday School Convention at Bethel AME Church – Noblesville, IN Michigan North District – Sunday School Convention – Location TBD Beverly Thomas Fine Arts Institute at Camp Baber – Cassopolis, MI Bishop’s Council and General Board Meeting Connectional Christian Education Congress – Nashville, TN

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

Bishop John preaches at Thomas Memorial AME Church – Zion, IL at 4:00 pm Bishop John preaches at First AME Church – Alexandria, VA Fourth Episcopal District Christian Education Congress - Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL

Bishop John preaches at St. Paul AME Church – Glencoe, IL

July 13

July 20

July 23-26

July 27

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3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

August 6-9

August 7 - 10

August 13 – 17

August 24

August 26 – 28

Connectional AME Women In Ministry (WIM) Quadrennial Conference - Charleston, SC Canadian Annual Conference – Tanner-Price and Bethlehem AME Church – Windsor, ON, Hosts Michigan Annual Conference – Bethel AME Church – Saginaw, MI, Host Bishop John preaches at Mt. Calvary AME Church – Detroit, MI Bishop John preaches at New Progressive Baptist Church – Chicago, IL

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7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29

30

September 3-7

September 14

September 14

September 17-21

Illinois Annual Conference – Springfield Ministers’ Alliance, Hosts Bishop John preaches at DuPage AME Church – Lisle, IL at 8:15 am Bishop John preaches at Wayman AME Church – Racine, WI at 4:00 pm Indiana Annual Conference – Turner AME Church – Ft. Wayne, IN, Hosts

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29

30 31

October 5

October 8-12

October 11

October 31

October 31

October 23-25

Bishop John preaches at Bethel AME Church – Bloomington, IN at 11:00 am Chicago Annual Conference – Bethel AME Church – Cedar Rapids, IA, Host International Day of the Girl Child Rev. C’s Birthday YPD Trick or Treat for UNICEF Fourth Episcopal District Planning Meeting – Springfield, IL

- Illinois Conference – South District, Hosts

ADDITIONAL

CALENDAR DATES