Living Waters Ministries Monthly Quote
“Yes, we come to march behind and with these amazingly able leaders of the Negro American…They have offered their bodies to arrest and violence, to the hurt and indignity of fire hoses and dogs…for this just cause…We come to present ourselves this day, our souls and bodies…We come in prayer…We come in faith that the God who made us…will overrule the fears and hatred that so far have prevented the establishment of full racial justice in our beloved country… And we come in that love…which reconciles into true community all men of every color, race and nation. ”
Reverend Eugene Carson Blake ~March on Washington 1963
Inspiration
Don't Dim Your Light
By: Jennifer L Smalls
"This little light of mine,I’m going to let it shine,
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine"
It's so easy to fall into darkness with so much happening around us. We get so caught up that we forget that "we are the light of the world" put here to be light, and bring out the God-colors in the world. On our jobs sometimes for whatever reasons we allow others to dim our light or "dumb us down", we lack the confidence to speak up. Some of us spend too much time comparing ourselves to others and focusing on what we don't have and so we're afraid to step out and approach a thing, person, or situation. We are light bearers and we were made to shine! Don’t allow yourself to be shaded let your light shine before men so that they may see all the good that God has put in you and glorify Him!
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV
News from Living Waters Ministries
Happenings Around St. Augustine
Concerts in the Plaza, The City of St. Augustine proudly hosts Concerts in the Plaza from Thursday, June 1, through August 31, 2023. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday evening from June 1 to August 31, 2023.
Plaza de la Constitución is located between Cathedral and King Streets in the center of historic downtown St. Augustine.
First Friday Art Walk, August 4th downtown St. Augustine 5-9 p.m. First Friday Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of every month, exhibiting creative artworks throughout St. Augustine's fine art galleries.
First Friday Art Walk Concert Series, August 4th. First Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m. This organ recital at the Cathedral Basilica in downtown St. Augustine is free and open to the public on the first Friday of every month.
St. Augustine Remembrance Ceremony, Wednesday, August 23rd at 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm. We invite you to commemorate the 2 million African Ancestors who perished during the Transatlantic Human Trade Route known as the Middle Passage, and the 10 million who survived to build the Americas.
News For Us By Us
A lawsuit filed in 2020 that sought reparations for the victims and descendants of the Tulsa Massacre was dismissed last month (June). In addition to reparations, the defendants also requested an unnamed amount for punitive damages, a compensation fund, a scholarship program for descendants of those living in the Greenwood district at the time of the massacre, and mental health and education programs for Greenwood residents.
Greenwood was a thriving black community with black businesses in Tulsa Oklahoma. In 1921 white rioters looted and burned 35 blocks, destroying more than 1,200 homes and businesses. It is reported that as many as 200 people died in the massacre and 800 others were injured. Black residents were left without homes, and the property damage throughout Greenwood is estimated to be between $50 million and $100 million dollars in today's money.
The 1921 Massacre is labeled as one of "the worst acts of domestic terrorism in United States history since slavery" robbing Black residents of their self-determination which continues to have harsh impacts on the community today., according to survivors' Lessie E. Benningfield Randle, Hughes Van Ellis, and Viola Fletcher, all of whom are over 100 years old.
A group of descendants and survivors of the 1921 massacre has filed an appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court requesting it to pick up the case dismissed by a lower court.
Justin Jones and Justin J Pearson were both expelled by the Tennessee Republican House Legislators for leading a protest following the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville Tennessee which left six people dead, including three 9-year-olds.
The Justins are both Democratic lawmakers in the State of Tennessee, the two of them along with a white female colleague led supporters to protest on the chamber floor to call for stricter gun safety measures. During the protest a bullhorn was used in violation of rules for the House chamber and the legislators were gathered in an area on the House floor without being recognized to speak. The House leaders call the actions "an insurrection." However, their white colleague was spared.
The ordeal drew national attention particularly the racial dynamics in the Tennessee Legislature, the three democratic lawmakers became known as the "Tennessee Three".
Both Justins have been reinstated to their seats by local government officials.
August 28th A Day in Our History~ A Day in the Life of A People
Melissa Noel for Essence Magazine
Do you know the significance of August 28th? Here's why August 28th is an important date in the history of Black America:
August 28, 1833: Slavery was abolished in the United Kingdom. The Slavery Abolition Act was passed by Parliment in 1833, abolishing slavery for over 800,000 enslaved Africans in South Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada. This Act was influential in ending slavery in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation of the United States in 1863
August 28, 1955: The Murder of Emmett Till. 14-year-old Emmett Till from Chicago was abducted by two white men while visiting his family in Mississippi. Till was killed because he supposedly whistled at a white woman. The death of Emmett Till helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.
August 28, 1961: Motown Records Makes its Mark. On this day in 1961, Motown released its first number-one hit, "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes. This marked a turning point for Black music and the beginning of long-lasting success for Motown.
August 28, 1963: The March on Washington ~ I Have A Dream. More than a quarter million people marched on Washington for jobs and freedom. Martin delivered his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech during the march.
August 28, 2005: Hurricane Katrina Hit Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina made landfall at a Category 5 destroying New Orleans and its surrounding area. Black residents of New Orleans were disproportionately impacted by the storm. Thousands were displaced and separated from their families, and many died. The storm brought attention to the racial inequities in the government's response
August 28, 2008: Barack Obama Accepts the Democratic Nomination For President of the United States of America: Standing on the shoulders of the ancestors, namely Shirley Chilsom and Jessee Jackson, then-Senator Barak Obama delivered an address to the Democratic National Convention and accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming the first Black person to win the nomination and bid for the presidency. Barack went on to become the first Black president, serving for two terms.
August 28, 2016: Calin Kaepernick Protests The National Anthem. Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers made a decision to protest police brutality and the unjust actions of the country by taking a knee (kneeling) during the national anthem. On this day he addressed his decision saying, People don’t realize what’s really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust. People aren’t being held accountable. And that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for — freedom, liberty, and justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now,”
August 28, 2020: Actor Chadwick Boseman Dies. Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther star succumbed to his four year battle with colon cancer at the age of 43. Chadwick is also known for his historical on-screen performances portraying Black history makers such as Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and Jackie Robinson. Chadwick was also the first Black Marvel comics superhero.
WELLNESS
August is National Wellness Month
August is National Wellness Month and now is a great time to do a wellness check on you and your family.
Are your vaccinations up to date? Have your kids had all of their shots? Also we're easing out of the summer and headed for fall and winter (flu season) it's a good time to put those flu shots on the calendar and start preparing for b the cold season. If you haven't had your annual physicals, here's a reminder to get them scheduled.
Here are 10 Health checks you can do at home:
Take your temperature
Testicular check
Be breast aware
Check your heart rate
Check your blood pressure
Blood and swab test
Blood sugar levels
Meningitis test
Waist fat measurement
Skin test
Reflections
Here is a look back at June and July at Living Waters Ministries. We celebrated the men for Father's Day and commemorated Juneteenth. In July we had VBS and Fifth Sunday Fellowship.
Living Water Ministries Upcoming Events
August 18-20: "From Tweens 2 Queens" Empowering Little Brown Girls will Relaunch with a weekend retreat in Palatka Florida.
August 26: Living Waters has been invited to join St. Paul AME for a Prayer Breakfast
September 24: Friends & Family Day; Concert 4 pm
Coming up at Living Waters Ministries
St. Augustine
Monthly Weather
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