Prayers and sympathy

Greetings, all,

Let us remember in our prayers this week families of our local and denominational church who have experienced bereavement:

 

Tena Brown, at the passing of her daughter ("Missy"); services are Wednesday, with the wake from 6-9 p.m., and funeral on Thursday at 11 a.m.

 

Robert Smith-Rapley, one of our youth at Memorial, whose father passed away yesterday. Arrangements are: wake on Thursday, 5-8 p.m., and funeral on Friday at 10 a.m., Church of Love.

 

Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sharpe Johnson, former Missionary Supervisor and General Officer of the WH&OM Society, wife of Bishop Joseph Johnson, who passed away today. Her final services will be held on Saturday, June 4 at noon at Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina.

 

Thank you,

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10

Check out Aretha Franklin Sings Amazing Grace - Video - Oprah.com

Click here: Aretha Franklin Sings Amazing Grace - Video - Oprah.com

 

In case you missed it...this was worth watching the farewell show.

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10

Reminder: First Friday fast

Good morning, everyone,

Just a reminder that tomorrow, the first Friday in the month, is our fast day. Please join us, if you are able, in fasting and praying for our church.

 

Thank you.

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10

Next steps, Sunday, May 1 sermon

Last Sunday's sermon was from John 20:19-31, titled, "He Comes Back!" What are the "next steps" God will have us take in response to the Word we heard?

 

1. When you have experienced a setback or crisis, do you do what the disciples did - hide and try to protect yourself?

2. When/if you react as did the disciples, how have you experienced Jesus just showing up, "coming back" when you thought he was gone?

3. When you have experienced a setback or crisis, do you do what Thomas did - run away or leave?

4. When/if you react as did Thomas, how have you experienced Jesus "coming back" if you "gave up" before he "showed up"?

5. How are you challenged to show God's peace, presence and power, especially if you have to forgive someone? Are you willing to prove to others (or to yourself) that your thoughts about sin were wrong?

6. What questions/thoughts/convictions were raised in your mind after hearing this sermon or reading this passage? How is God speaking to you now?

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10

Next steps: Sunday, April 24 sermon

Good morning.

 

The Resurrection is for real! Jesus is alive, and our lives must reflect it. So, what are the next steps God would have us take after hearing his word on Sunday?

 

The Resurrection message was from Luke 24:5, titled, "Business As Usual Is No Longer Acceptable."

 

1. Can you accept the complete transformation that resurrection calls for, or are you merely settling for "resuscitation?"

2. Can you accept the complete transformation that resurrection calls for, or are you merely trying to "remodel" the arrangement of your life?

3. Can you accept the complete transformation that resurrection calls for, or are you simply "reacting" to a good feeling you have?

4. What new ways, new ideas, or new paths is resurrection power leading you on now?

5. Pastor Pierre DuPlessis said, "We are comfortable with a dead, crucified Jesus; a living, resurrected Jesus causes too much trouble." How much trouble are you willing to let Jesus cause in your life, if you experience resurrection power?

6. What questions/thoughts/convictions were raised in your mind after hearing this sermon? How is God speaking to you now?

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10

Prayer (Friday)

Greetings, all. Today (Friday) is the final day of our week of prayer. The focus for today is - ME. Yes, today, we pray for ourselves and our needs. And God is waiting to hear.

 

The late Bishop William Milton Smith used to say to congregations after introducing a preacher and soliciting prayers for him/her, "And don't forget to pray for yourselves."

 

After spending time as a church this week in prayer for the pastor, leaders and the church, our focus in prayer now turns to our own needs. Banish the idea that doing so is selfish or mercenary. It does not have to be. We are encouraged to come to God with our needs and requests (Hebrews 4:16).

 

In the book Too Busy Not to Pray, Bill Hybels gives us a simple formula for prayer which he gives the acronym ACTS –

ü  Adoration. This sets the tone for prayer, reminding us of the God to whom we pray and his power (Exodus 15:11, Psalm 8, Revelation 4:11);

ü  Confession. Hybels calls confession "a neglected act." Perhaps it is because it is hard to admit we need help, even help from God. But confession is necessary for prayer to be effective (Leviticus 5:5, Psalm 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16). Eugene Peterson says, "God doesn't seem to be embarrassed to be mixed up with lives such as ours...He doesn't keep his distance from us to protect his reputation."

ü  Thanksgiving. Note the distinction between adoration and thanksgiving. Adoration acknowledges who God is; thanksgiving acknowledges what God has done. It is one thing to feel gratitude, and it's another to express it. Prayer teaches us to express our gratitude (Psalm 103:1-5, Psalm 107:8, Isaiah 63:7, Romans 16:27);

ü  Supplication. We are taught to ask for help when we need it, and God is able to supply it (Psalm 55:22, Jeremiah 33:3, Philippians 4:6).

 

Put this model of prayer to work today. As Bill Hybels says, "God is interested in your prayers because he is interested in you" (Too Busy Not to Pray, p. 37). So pray for others, but don't forget to pray for yourselves.

Prayer (Thursday)

Greetings, all.

 

Today (Thursday) our focus on this third day of our week of prayer is the church. We will gather again as we have the past two days at Memorial at 6 p.m. for one hour.

 

Of course, when we speak of "the church" we are not talking about a building; and we are not just talking about Memorial AME Zion Church (although that is our concern). The church is more than a building. The word most commonly used in the New Testament for church ("ekkleesia") never meant or implied a building. The word church refers to the particular association of believers who were characterized by such features as faith (John 1:12; Acts 8:37), fellowship (Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; Romans 12:5) and unity (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 3:11).

 

Please prayerfully consider these passages of Scripture today as we lift up the church in prayer.

 

"I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off" (Isaiah 56:5).

 

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18)

 

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;  in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God" (Ephesians 2:19-22).

 

Thank you.

 

Pastor Kenneth Q. James
Psalm 119:33-34
"Let truth, the light of my heart, speak to me, and not my own darkness!"
Augustine, Confessions, Book XII, Chapter 10