Metropolitan Baptist Church

Congratulations to our own Minister of Music, Rev. Nolan E. Williams, Jr. and his ensemble Voices of Inspiration. Read his press release below.

Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. and his Inspiration Ensemble to join renowned singers Placido Domingo and Denyce Graves as musical guests for historic Papal Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Washington, DC


WASHINGTON, DC, April 15, 2008 --- Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr. and his Inspiration Ensemble have been confirmed to join renowned tenor, Placido Domingo, and mezzo soprano, Denyce Graves, as part of the music lineup for the historic papal visit of Pope Benedict XVI. Rev. Williams and his ensemble will render special music for the public Mass at the new Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium on Thursday, April 17.

Rev. Williams is no stranger to the Catholic and Jesuit community as 2008 also marks his fifth year as music director for the annual MLK "Let Freedom Ring" Celebration, jointly-sponsored by Georgetown University and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Williams was also invited to Italy last year as featured artist and guest lecturer for the Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival and the Music & Philosophy Festival in Naples.

Williams is best known for his work as Chief Music Editor of the landmark publication, the African American Heritage Hymnal (over 300,000 copies sold worldwide), and is an established songwriter and emerging recording artist whose debut CD, inSpiration, is receiving critical acclaim ( www.newinspiration.us ). Additionally, Rev. Williams is Founder and CEO of NEWorks, a music ministry consulting, production and publishing company, and serves as minister of music at the Metropolitan Baptist Church (Washington, DC).

The six-day trip of Pope Benedict XVI will begin in Washington, D.C., and continue to New York City. The trip is historic, especially since the Holy Father will address the United Nations General Assembly, meet with President George W. Bush and visit Ground Zero.

Mattie Taylor never thought she would work in music publishing. A retired government official raising two children, she unexpectedly received a crash course in the business in 1987 when she visited the vacant home of her late foster brother Van McCoy, who had written hits such as “The Hustle” and “Baby, I’m Yours.” While she knew Van was a prolific songwriter, she was amazed to find boxes full of sheet music and crates of recordings in his home. Read more. . .

Metropolitan Member and Newly Ordained Servant Norm Jenkins is featured in the Spring 2008 edition of Howard Magazine. The article entitle, Marriott Executive Credits Business School with Success discusses Servant Jenkins' experience as a student at Howard University's School of Business in the 1980's.
You may read the full story here.

Senator Barack Obama sent a special greeting to the Metropolitan congregation which was read to the congregation on February 10, 2008. Senator Obama implores people of faith to vote and states, "I believe it is a moral imperative for people of all faiths to engage the world around them, and hold our elected officials accountable for the policies they advocate and the values they share."

Click here to view the letter.

Metropolitan does not endorse any candidates in any elections and we will post letters of greeting from any other candidate.

Metropolitan mourns the loss of Commander Christopher G. Riley, pipe organist and New Psalmist, who was to celebrate his promotion to Commander in the United States Navy on January 11, 2008.

Commander Christopher G. Riley, U.S. Navy, passed away suddenly from an aortic aneurysm on December 23, 2007. He was 36.

The husband of Treska Riley and the devoted father of three children; Tarin, 8, Julian, 4, and Eden, 2 years old, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992 and Syracuse University in 1994.

A published author, he wrote The Modern Organ Guide and founded Modern Organ Consulting, facilitating greater understanding of the organ. He was a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. A Memorial service will be held at Metropolitan on Sat. Jan. 5, 2008 at 11:00 am.

His additional family includes his father Robert T. Riley, Sr.; sisters Bobette Wynter (Courtney); Terry Riley Patton; aunt Bernice Gibson, uncle Ronald Coleman (Lawonna); Godmother Alex Babione; nieces Jerrica Patton, Andrea Bradley (George), Kira Tabron, Danielle Tabron, Elizabeth Wynter and Ayana Wynter; nephews Jason Patton, Rowan Wynter and Aidan Bradley.

Donations can be sent to:

CDR Chris Riley Memoriam,
PEO Submarines (PMS450),
614 Sicard Street, SE,
Washington, DC 20376

Read more. . .

Metropolitan member Charlotte Brookins-Hudson is the recipient of the prestigious Beatrice Rosenberg Award in recognition of 30 years of government service. She is the first lawyer from the legislative branch of the District government to receive this honor. Beatrice Rosenberg’s 35 years of government service included positions at the US Department of Justice and the EEOC. In honor of her dedication and exemplary government service, the DC Bar established an award in her name to present to a Bar member who has shown outstanding performance in his or her government career. The nominees must be persons who have had a long-term government career on the local, state, or federal level with outstanding performance. They must also show excellent judgment on their own matters and matters handled by those under their supervision. The award will be presented on Friday, April 11, 2008 at the luncheon during the 2008 Judicial and Bar Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Charlotte is the spouse of Servant Gregory Hudson. They have two children.

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee announced today that Reverend E. Terri LaVelle has been named staff director of the DNC's Faith in Action Initiative. Under the leadership of DNC Chairman Dean and Chief of Staff Rev. Leah Daughtry, the Faith in Action Initiative has worked to strengthen and build relationships with members of the Faith community through regular outreach based on our shared values and priorities. These efforts include national and state level outreach to diverse Faiths in coordination with the DNC's 50 State Strategy.

"We are so glad to have Reverend LaVelle join the DNC," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. "Democrats are a big tent party, and Reverend LaVelle's unique talent and proven track record of bringing people together around our shared values are critical to our ongoing effort to engage in a meaningful dialog with the Faith community and reach out to Democrats everywhere as we work together for the common good."

"It's so important for Democrats of Faith to come together and talk about how our values shape our positions," said Reverend LaVelle. "During my time at The Faith & Politics Institute, I had the privilege of working with Democratic Members of Congress who are also people of Faith and saw firsthand how their Faith had called them to public service. I'm excited to contribute to Faith in Action's successes so far and continue the Democratic Party's efforts to work towards a common good agenda based on shared values."

Reverend LaVelle comes to the DNC after serving as Program Director of The Faith & Politics Institute in Washington, DC, an organization that brings Members of Congress, staff, and other public officials together across partisan lines to talk about Faith and values. During her tenure there, she facilitated Member reflection groups, dialogues about Faith, diversity, race, and poverty among other issues and co-led pilgrimages to Alabama, Tennessee, and South Africa.

An ordained Baptist minister, Reverend LaVelle serves as an Associate Minister at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC and is a Chaplain in Residence at Georgetown University. Before coming to Washington, she spent over 20 years at the St. Luke Church of God in Christ in Chicago, where she served as a licensed evangelist. She holds an M.A.T.S from McCormick Seminary and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Rush University.

The DNC's Faith in Action initiative offers a variety of resources to assist Democratic Party members on the national and local levels to engage the press, provide rapid response, continue message development on core policy issues, and strengthen Faith community relationships and contacts.

DR. MARVIS P. MAY, 47, pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church of Baltimore City, Baltimore, Maryland passed away at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 24, 2007. Dr. May was born in Los Angeles, California. He received his B.A. degree from Bishop College, Dallas, TX. He was also a graduate of Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, D.C., where he received his Masters of Divinity. He graduated from United Theological Seminary, where he was a Samuel Proctor/Charles Booth Fellow, completing his Doctorate of Ministry degree.

He was the former Pastor of the Union Bethel Baptist Church in King George, Virginia. He also served as assistant to the Pastor at Metropolitan. At the time of his passing, he was the minister of the Macedonia Baptist Church of Baltimore City in Baltimore Maryland.

Read the full obituary: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.may27nov27,0,3357479.story

All Services will be held at

Macedonia Baptist Church
718 W. Lafayette Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland
(410)669-5776

Friday, November, 30, 2007
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Viewing
7:00 p.m. - A Musical Tribute

Saturday, December 1, 2007
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon - Family Hour/Wake
12:00 noon - Service of Triumph!

More than 20,000 runners crossed the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon finish line on October 28th including our own Mona Calhoun. The Marine Corp Marathon is the fourth largest marathon in the US and the seventh largest marathon in the world.

Congratulations to Mona for her training and perserverance in completing the 10K race.  Mona, a professor at Coppin State University, is active in the Metropolitan Music Ministry and is Co-Chair of our Memorial Giving Campaign.

Mona is married to Servant Maurice Calhoun.  They have three daughters. View her personal finisher web site.

Washington, DC - Fox 5 News reports that "2 DC Department of Transportation workers are being hailed as heroes after saving an elderly man from his burning home. The workers were inspecting a retaining wall on O Street southeast when they saw smoke coming from the house."

View the video of Metropolitan Servant Reginald "Reggie" Arno and his coworker being interviewed about the rescue. Karen Gray Houston reporting.

Gregory Wragg's STREATS Television takes a focused look at the homeless.
Artifacts By Matthew Borlik

Gregory Wragg has spent his fair share of time and effort aiding Washington, D.C.’s homeless community. But when he first began developing the concept for his homeless-issues-based STREATS Television series a year ago, the 44-year-old District Heights resident quickly decided that the best course of action would be to take the bulk of the work out of his hands.

“Instead of trying to sell [the homeless] on a concept, I decided to let them develop a concept,” Wragg says of the show, for which he serves as executive producer. “I sponsored six individuals to go through some training at DCTV, and in the process they learned about camerawork, camera angles, storylines, editing, directing. That saved me the process of having to do any of that or bringing in anybody to do that. Basically, I said, ‘Why don’t you guys just do the whole thing?’” ...

Read more at The Washington City Paper

What God is doing in His land in Largo?

I rode past MBC in Largo last evening and was pleased to see - through unclothed trees - the girders, beams and other structures in place. To look upon it is to observe God literally giving birth!!! Allelulia. So, why don't you GO BY, and PRAY, as you "see" what God is doing for and through His people. (Note: I found
the best observation point is on Central Avenue and to peek through the trees - please pull off and pray.) In this session of thanksgiving, let us to continue to:

Pray for God's will and way through Metropolitan,
Pray for Pastor Hicks and his family,
Pray for our church leadership,
Pray for persons whose lives are being transformed by the Word of God,
Pray for yourself, that you will be Light in the world we are called to be, and
that you will fulfill your commitment to Christ and MBC.

Now for today's devotion:

THEN JESUS SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE. (JOHN 8:12 NKJV)

Dear Co-laborers:
Just as the sun provides our physical light, Jesus is our spiritual light. As Children of God, we always have that Light to give us hope, and to strengthen us, and guide us out of the darkness! SO COME LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD. (ISAIAH 2:5)

What a wonderful Heavenly Father God is! He is always there with us no matter what, and always blessing us with His Hope, Faith, Peace and Love! You see, those dark times in our lives actually strengthened us, and shaped us into the people that we are today! So Co-laborers, as a child of light always: LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. (MATTHEW 5:16) For, EVEN IN DARKNESS LIGHT DAWNS FOR THE UPRIGHT, FOR THE GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE AND RIGHTEOUS MAN. (PSALM 112:4)

Therefore: ARISE, SHINE FOR YOUR LIGHT HAS COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD RISES UPON YOU! (ISAIAH 60:1)

So...Arise, GO BY AND PRAY. Amen.

Rev. Dorothy Davis

JOIN REVEREND AL SHARPTON, MARTIN LUTHER KING III, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, REALIZING THE DREAM, WARREN BALLANTINE, STEVE HARVEY, AND OTHERS TO MARCH ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

WHEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH

WHERE: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - 950 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.

TIME: NOON TO 2PM

With hate crimes and noose hangings on the rise across the country, we must have the federal government protect us from local hate and bigotry. From Mychal Bell in Jena, Louisiana, to Sean Bell in New York, it is time for the federal government to intervene, and you can help us achieve this objective.

Get into the action and make a difference by signing up and joining us on November 16th at noon in Washington D.C. Please Call: 646-417-7086 24hours a day, 7 days a week and leave your name, address and telephone number to register for this important event.

You can also RSVP by "Clicking Here” and filing out the web-based form.

Nolan Williams, Jr./ NEWorks Productions Lands Music on BET's "Exalted!"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 10/28/07

Washington, DC---Chief Musician Nolan Williams, Jr. has been tapped to produce music for BET's new "spirit-hit" show "EXALTED!"

Williams, whose extensive industry work and debut CD -- "inSpiration" -- have established him as a gifted songwriter, musician and producer, is one of a select core of musicians tapped to contribute songs for the show's soundtrack.

"EXALTED!" focuses on the lives and ministries of some of the major preachers of our times. The new weekly series explores the path that has led to the success of our country's premiere African American ministers.

Williams' writing and production partners for the "EXALTED!" series include artist/producer JOHN STODDART ("Wings to Walk This Road," Warner Bros.) and writer/producer WARREN JONES (who has also worked with recording artists Gideon Band and Isaiah Thomas).

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute musically to this important work," says Williams. "EXALTED! is a well-conceived show that provides such an insightful look at some of today's premiere preachers."

For Williams, production credit on this new BET show is yet another plateau in a standout career. Williams is Chief Music Editor of the landmark best-selling publication, The African American Heritage Hymnal, with sales now surpassing 300,000 copies sold worldwide. In addition, he has worked with mainstream industry artists, including Diana Ross, Michael MacDonald, Erykah Badu, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Anthony Hamilton, Denyce Graves and Dionne Warwick; and gospel recording artists: Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Lamar Campbell, Daryl Coley, Tramaine Hawkins, Donald Lawrence, Donnie McClurkin and Dorothy Norwood. His work also includes songwriting credits with R&B artist Regina Belle and Gospel Legend Richard Smallwood.

"EXALTED!" reflects the effort of BET to launch programming that reaches out to the African American church community," according to Adriane Hopper, co-executive producer. "This show has been an incredible project for the Strange Fruit Films family to produce."

Hopper, along with Strange Fruit Films executive producers D'Angela Steed and Nia Hill created the show.

Don't miss "EXALTED!" on Tuesday, October 30, at 9:00 p.m., or Sunday, November 4 at 12 noon and 9:00 p.m. The show will feature Bishop Charles E. Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, along with NEWorks from Nolan, John and Warren!

Friday October 5, 2007
Church Gives Homeless a Ride to Services
By BECKIE SUPIANO

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON -- Jill Peddycord and Gary Bradley bow their heads and pray in the front seats of a white van parked outside Metropolitan Baptist Church here.

Peddycord asks for God's blessing as they begin the weekly rounds of Metropolitan's transportation ministry.

Many churches provide rides to worship services for seniors and people with disabilities. Metropolitan takes transport a step further -- sending a van to pick up women from several area homeless shelters.

Metropolitan has a long-standing ministry to homeless people, but it did not always include transportation. Read more

THIS IS THE WASHINGTON AREA ALUMNI EVENT OF THE SEASON! You won’t want to miss it! The Morgan State University Alumni Association, Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Chapter will sponsor its Fourth Annual Fall Benefit Concert featuring the world-renowned Morgan State University Choir on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 5:00 P.M. at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 1225 “R” Street, NW in Washington, D.C., for this fundraiser to benefit the Chapter’s Scholarship Fund. Concert tickets are $20.00.

For tickets contact any of the following Chapter members:

Charles Pollard 202-269-3466

Jackie Lawson 202-832-3167

Gina Harrell 301-742-5280

See the attached flyer for more information. Morgan State University Choir Concert

The Girl Scouts of Metropolitan are proud to announce that we have our first Gold Award recipients, Esther and Arianna Newman. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest recognition that a Girl Scout between the ages of 14-18 many earn. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and the sense of community and commitment that come from achieving the Gold Award set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.

Esther and Arianna are 2006 and 2007 graduates of McLean High School respectively. Both young women were members of the Alpha and Omega
Church Step Team, the Metropolitan Hand Bell Choir and the Teen Choir. Girl Scout activities for Esther and Arianna include being Teen Program Coordinators for Service Unit 42-3 Encampments, Teen Camp Trainers for the GSCNC DC Taste of Camp and Council Delegate for Association 42-3. Esther is currently enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College studying International Business. Arianna is a Freshman at Virginia State University majoring in Business Management.

Andre and Shirleen Brown-Newman are the proud parents. Esther and Arianna have a younger brother, Andre.

Photos: Esther Newman (top) Arianna Newman (bottom).

Each year Metropolitan Baptist Church gives leadership to providing volunteers to feed 5000 people at the Convention Center. This will be our 8th year. The largest number of our volunteers have come from Metropolitan. This serves as an important Outreach Ministry for us. For more information contact Rev. Georgia Davis at revgdavis@hotmail.com or register online.

The Union Missionary Council in partnership with the Street Ministry have volunteered to provide clothing for the “Give-Away” clothing portion of the Safeway Feast of Sharing on November 21, 2007 at the Washington Convention Center. We are asking our Metropolitan family to help us in this endeavor. If you have seasoned clothing for men, women, and children, please bring them to the church between the weeks of November 5 - 15, 2007 and leave them in room M-117. The articles can include dresses, suits, sweaters, handbags, and also jewelry. They must be clean and wearable. Please put the apparels on hangers, and the shoes, handbags, and jewelry in plastic sleeves. For more information contact Rev. Georgia Davis on 202-238-5012.