Join Us on Thursday’s (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
Lose your “COVID 19 Quarantine” weight with us.
For Weight Loss Support and Wellness Education

Attend your first meeting free of charge. Bring a friend if you like. For more information contact, TOPS Chapter contact person listed next to the chapter meeting information.

REGARDING TIMES LISTED: The first time listed is when private weigh-in begins. The second time listed is when the meeting begins. So, if you are interested and want to visit, please arrive at the meeting time. Meetings generally last about an hour.

UBC (in the rear-Nursery)
904 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27701
Thursdays:
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (weigh-in)
6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. (meeting)

Contact Information:
Angela Henderson – 919-225-7934
Pamalia Y. Davis – 908-642-6242
Durham TOPS NC 0902

Mission Statement: TOPS’ mission is to support our members as they take and keep off pounds sensibly.

Membership Fees: $49 annually in the United States includes bi-monthly TOPS News Magazine. Dues at NC 0902 are only a $5 per month to cover operating costs.

Other Features:
· A system of competition and recognition to provide additional support.
· TOPS’ healthy lifestyle guide, Wellness News, tips, recipes, all available to reprint as member education tools, websites, blogs, and newsletters.
· TOPS retreats, rallies, and recognition days to provide additional support and encouragement.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND LISTINGS OF ALL THE LOCAL CHAPTERS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: www.tops.org

Call for Scholarship Applications- We are pleased to invite all UBC disciples or regular attendees (including virtual attendees) pursuing or considering higher education who meet the following criteria to apply for the scholarship program:

· Upcoming 2024 High School Graduates or Grade Equivalent Degree Recipients.

· High School Completers or Grade Equivalent Degree Recipients before spring 2024.

· Plan or pursue post-secondary education institutions no later than the spring of 2025.

· Previous applicants who were not awarded a scholarship

All interested potential applicants must attend a Virtual Scholarship Information Session on either Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. or Saturday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. The virtual information session will be held at (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82687224904. )

Parents/guardians are also welcome to attend.

If you have any questions, please send them to () and place “2024 Information Session” in the Subject Line.

Thank you for your interest in the UBC Education Ministry Scholarship program.

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Each of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is a Holy Spirit-inspired retelling of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four books and contains much less of Jesus’ teaching than the others. It emphasizes Jesus’ power and suffering. Early historical sources link the human authorship to a disciple named John Mark (Acts 13:5).

Mark is fast-paced. In fact, a favorite word in Mark is the word translated as ‘immediately’ or ‘at once’. Mark uses this word about 40 times in 16 chapters to highlight that Jesus is constantly on the move from one place to the next. As you read through Mark, notice how the scene rapidly changes as the gospel unfolds.

Although Mark is considered the first gospel written, it is the second book of the New Testament. Why is that? First, when we study Scripture, it’s important to know that the books were written at different times over many, many years and they are not in chronological order according to when they were written. For example, the four gospels were not written before the letters that appear later in the New Testament. Galatians or First Thessalonians is probably the earliest of all the New Testament books. Revelation is probably the last written so it’s in the proper place at the end of the Bible.

Second, the New Testament as we know it today was compiled as one book in the 2nd century AD (100-200 AD). While we cannot know for certain why the books are ordered the way they are because Scripture does not say, Matthew begins with a genealogy that links Jesus to Abraham who was the patriarch of Jewish faith. Out of the four gospels, Matthew provides the best transition from the Old to the New Testament.

Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah, the prophesied king of Israel. Mark describes the kind of King that Jesus came to be—a servant king who gave his life for our redemption, which makes Mark fit well after Matthew.

The original purpose of Mark was to equip disciples to face and overcome suffering. Mark lets us know that Christianity is not easy, but as followers of Christ, we will be victorious. Time will not permit me to preach from each chapter of Mark during the Lenten season. So, here’s a concise outline of the gospel to help you in your personal devotion and study:

I. Different reactions to God’s kingdom arriving in Jesus (Mark 1:1- 8:26)
II. What it means for Jesus to be the Messiah (Mark 8:27- 10:52)
III. Confrontation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection (Mark 11:1 – 16:20)

May the Spirit lead you and guide you into the truth.

Lenten Blessings,
Dr. Prince R. Rivers

Below, is a 42-Day Reading Plan you can use to read through the entire gospel of Mark and a link to a video overview of the Gospel that we shared with our Connect Group participants.