First Missionary Baptist Church celebrates Senior Saints Day
Senior saints of First Missionary Baptist Church in southeast Gainesville were honored for their loyalty, wisdom and love they have given to the church over the years.
The church at 1515 SE 15th St. hosted its Senior Saints Day service on Sunday, and sister Ora White, a member of Springhill Baptist Church, also in southeast Gainesville, served as the worship leader during the service.
"It is a beautiful thing to have seniors to come and be received by their church body," White said. "We are blessed to have our beautiful saints with us. They are the beacon of light and the pillars in the community."
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The seniors of the church dressed in red and white and walked down the aisle while each of their names were called during the processional.
The seniors that were honored were Mary Bell, Thennie Cason, Carrie Cobb, Marie Criswell, Louise Dockens, Mittie Flourney, Orian Flournoy, Jerlene Gainey, Susie Lee Hicks, Pearl Holmes, Lottie Lewis, Bessie Richardson, Beronia Sallet, Gloria Simmons, Kenneth Simmons, Raymond Strong, Janet Swan, Offie Tyson and Jacquelyn Williams.
Donald Page, a top deacon at Mount Nebo United Methodist Church in Alachua, gave the invocation prayer and read scripture from Psalms 121.
"Thank you for blessing us over and over again," Page said. "Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Thank you for the rain and the sunshine. Thank you for the word and the Holy Spirit, and thank you for giving us the food we eat. Thank you for where you brought us from and where you will take us to."
The service also included the FMBC Mass Choir singing several inspiring and uplifting songs.
There was a solo performance by Leona Williams who sang "Blessed Assurance."
Afterwards, FMBC members Carrie Cobb welcomed the congregation and Cassandra McCallum read scripture from Philippians 2:1-5.
Mittie Flournoy introduced her husband, the Rev. Orian Flournoy, who delivered the sermon.
Flournoy said he underwent back surgery a year and a half ago and was not able to walk or bathe himself. He thanked his wife, whom he will have been married to for 49 years come April, for being there during the difficult time and for taking care of his necessities.
He went on to read Psalms 97:10-12. Verse 11 reads: "Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart," according to the New International Version of the Bible.
"Senior Saints have a divine glow," Flournoy said. "God's light shines on the godly."
Flournoy said seniors have learned life lessons like minding your business, do unto others what you would like them to do unto you and be yourself so you are irreplaceable.
"Life doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you worked for," Flournoy said.
He said these are dark days among us and that God is with us.
"I'm looking to the hills that cover all my strength," Flournoy said. "God can fix up what they mess up."
Jerlene Gainey and Jacquelyn Williams presided over a memorial tribute to 12 seniors of the church who have passed away. A family member of each deceased senior walked in front of the sanctuary to light a candle in their memory.
"To all the deceased members, we will keep you in our hearts and in our minds," Williams said.
The service's final remarks were delivered by Janet Swan.
"We would like to say thank you for all that you do for our ministry," Swan said. "Thank you for coming out to be a part of this blessed celebration."
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 1st Missionary Baptist Church in SE Gainesville honors 'senior saints'
