African Mothers Day celebration was beautiful!

This year's African Mothers Day celebration, the highlight of First Fruits, was 100 times better than last year. Despite the snow storm, we had an awesome, diverse audience. Every woman, young or old, received a rose. The children from the Charles Riley Tutorial Program practiced reciprocity by donating change to the bowl. The Watoto-Lumumba Dancers recited the 'Parable of the Eagle.' The children told folk tales and blew the candles at the end of the program. Kudos to long time Institute supporter Ester Gliwinski for hosting African Mothers Day at the new and improved School #33 on Webster Avenue.

First Fruits/Kwanzaa schedule at First Community Interfaith Institute Inc.

Today is the first day of traditional First Fruits. First Fruits last until December 26, when we at the Institute celebrate Dr. Karenga's version of Kwanzaa. This is the schedule as of December 1 of our 32 day programs and activities. Please bring your families to as many of these events as possible.
Dec. 1: KWANZAA APPRECIATION PROGRAM 6pm at 219 Hamilton Street--donation collected and a brief introduction on the importance of Kwanzaa and First Fruits
Dec. 2-5, 7-12, 14, 16-19, 21-25: 6 pm at 219 Hamilton Street, where we honor our ancestors with a libation, say prayers and the young people blow candles
Dec. 6, 13, 20: Family Hour from 4- 6 pm, followed by libation and prayer
Dec. 15: AFRICAN MOTHERS DAY-- all women and girls receive flowers to represent their cultural and historical role as the mothers and teachers of all the children in the community, 6 pm at School #33, 500 Webster Av, Rochester NY
Dec. 26: Umoja 6 PM at 219 Hamilton Street
Dec. 27: Kujichagulia 4-6 pm at 219 Hamilton Street
Dec. 28: Ujima 6 pm at 219 Hamilton St
Dec. 29: Ujamaa--6 pm at 219 Hamilton St
Dec. 30: Nia-6 pm at 219 Hamilton St
Dec. 31: Kuumba -- 6 pm at 219 Hamilton
Jan. 1, 2010: Imani--6 pm at 150 Highland Ave (St John's Home)

First Fruits/Kwanzaa season is upon us!

First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. will open its First Fruits/Kwanzaa celebration on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 (6 PM) in a public open ceremony at 219 Hamilton Street. The events, activities and workshops about First Fruits/Kwanzaa will be at the headquarters of First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. each evening for the month of December at 6 pm. The only exceptions will be:
The African Mothers Day celebration, which will be held at School No. 33, 500 Webster Avenue, on December 15, 2009 and
The Kwanzaa Feast, which will be held at St. John's Home, 150 Highland Avenue on January 1, 2010

A wonderful weekend of celebrating Doology!

From October 31 to November 2, the members and supporters of First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. celebrated Doology as part of the 39th anniversary of the Institute. On Saturday October 31, we sang an early Happy Birthday to Minister Gerald Evans, before the trustee meeting. Our get together with our Ohio chapter was too short, however.

Sunday morning, November 1, we were treated to an excellent Doology workshop. According to Minister Lawrance Lee Evans, most people are selfish by nature and not very giving. When people get training, they often become extremely giving. Doology tries to balance between selfishness and altruism. Once a person uses Doology in their everyday living, he or she is able to develop self first and his/her community second. Doology also helps you to utilize your time constructively. Doology also improves your social skills.

Minister Evans developed Doology when he was thirteen years old, based on the informal lessons from his mentor and grandmother, Madame Martha Jordan.

At the November 2 lecture, Minister Evans stressed that people make things happen. Because of his grandmother's involvement with the struggle, she was very influential in exposing young Minister Evans to the prominent black leaders of the 1960s. Minister Evans was able to talk to them face to face. Minister Evans recounted about his many attempts to get black churches in Rochester to set up tutorial programs in the 1970s, but he was turned down by all of them; thus he formed his own at First Community Interfaith Institute Inc.

3 Day weekend celebration of the 39th Anniversary of the Institute and Ministers Gerald and Lawrance Evans

First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. invites you to the three day celebration/fundraiser of the 39th anniversary of First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. and the birthday of Ministers Lawrance and Gerald Evans:

Saturday 31 October: annual trustee meeting of the First Community Interfaith Institute Board of Trustees, 12pm, 219 Hamilton Street, Rochester NY, followed by field work and dinner

Sunday, 01 November: Doology workshop 10 am, special Family Hour Worship Service 4 pm, both at 219 Hamilton Street

Monday, 02 November: birthday of twin ministers Gerald and Lawrance Evans, special lecture starting at 6:30 pm, 219 Hamilton Street

Doology Workshop on Aug 23

Minister Evans summarized the main points of PLATE ANEW, one of the tenets of Doology:

PAY: you must pay for what you need and want--how valuable is what you need and want?
LABOR: you must labor for what you want
ASSOCIATE: you must associate with other people with similar values- you need to deal with people more than on a social level
TIME: our most wasted resource
EFFORT: related to ATTITUDE (See below)

ATTITUDE: what you think about a particular issue
NURTURE: you must nurture the right things, as well as yourself
ENERGY: life is about energy; we must focus on what is important
WIN: we must be successful by winning

Services offered at First Community Interfaith Institute Inc.

• Mentorship--Ministry School of Doology
• Tutoring--Charles Riley Tutorial Program
• Case management
• Recycling program--cans and bottles
• Adult tutorial program
• Funerals, African weddings, and event organizing
• AAFRO Festival in Elyria, Ohio
• Advocacy and organization
• Political education
• Doology cards
• Lowest price, highest quality baked goods