*The New Year is here.

People are gathering up their goals and hopes for 2013.

Some have lost their loved ones naturally and others because of tragedy.

Sybrina Fulton, mother of slain teen Trayvon Martin, is among those mourning the premature loss of their loved ones.

Ten months after Trayvon was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, his mother shares her thoughts about gun violence and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

Here is an excerpt from her interview with Essence.com.

“This year has been bittersweet. The bitter part is that I lost my baby boy. The sweet part has been the show of support that we have received from our community and from the world. We are thankful. This is our first holiday season without Trayvon, and I have to admit, I’m having a difficult time. I’m an emotional rollercoaster. Trayvon loved the holidays, especially Christmas and Thanksgiving. He always looked forward to those holidays. But while I am sad I’m reminded that I have another son that I’m trying to help get through not having his younger brother around.

Trayvon would have turned 18 this coming February and would have been graduating from high school. He had just turned 17 a few days before he was killed. I remember how much he was looking forward to senior picture day,” she continues. “ I won’t ever get a chance see those moments; to see his high school graduation picture, his prom pictures, his wedding pictures. I won’t get that experience. It’s still difficult to swallow because Trayvon had his whole life ahead of him. Seventeen years just seems so short to me, but I do thank God for the time that he did give me with him.

I want justice in 2013. The trial begins in June and we want Trayvon’s murderer held accountable for what he did. This was a murder. This was not a case of Stand Your Ground or self-defense. One of the things Tracy [Trayvon’s father] and I have done is take a negative and make it positive. We want to try and engage the political process with the Change for Trayvon campaign to encourage people around the country to get involved and vote to help revise these Stand Your Ground laws. I have always been a faithful person who firmly believed in God so I know that my strength in the past few months didn’t from me. It came from God. That’s why it’s important for me to give back to the community and other families

Read the rest of Sybrina Fulton’s thoughts at Essence.com.

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1075 Shalimar Drive, will honor the memory of Trayvon Martin with a special “Hoodie” service on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 at 9:45 a.m.

Martin was shot and killed on Feb. 26, 2012 in a gated community in Sanford, Fla. by George Zimmerman, the community’s neighborhood watch captain.

Zimmerman, who is currently out on bond while awaiting his June 10 trial on second degree murder charges, has claimed that he shot the 17-year-old after the teen attacked him.

Many others believe that Zimmerman became suspicious of Martin simply because he was a young black man wearing a hoodie (a sweat-shirt or jacket with a hood). Martin was not carrying a weapon, only a bag a of Skittles and an iced tea he’d purchased shortly before his death.

The service will highlight the continual struggle African American youth face to be judged for the content of their character, instead of the color of their skin and clothes they choose to wear.

The Church’s Youth Ministry will be in charge of this service.

Mendez

Pastor John Mendez will deliver a special message. The En Motion Mime Ministry will perform, as will other special guests.  Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, contact the church office at 336-788-7023.