WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 02/27/2011

Praise God saints...In all things; let’s give God the highest praise, for he is worthy.
This coming Sunday, we will be blessed with the preached word from Rev. Shprecher, as we are moving through the Gospel of Mark, with this week’s lesson from Mark 13. Here is the text…

TEXT: Mark 13:14-27, 31

14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
18 Pray that this will not take place in winter,
19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 “But in those days, following that distress, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How God wants us to be able to see where our journey as Christians is leading.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to expect God to be there in the time of our trouble.

RESPONSIVE READING: #594 The Christian Hope

NOTE: As many of you know I have expressed the need for a little break, so this week I am trying to get some R&R. Please let non-emergency matters that I need to be involved in wait until next week. Thank you to those have agreed to fill in for me in various roles.

Bless you all,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 02/20/2011

Praise the Lord Saints! My prayer is that you are all well. This week in the preaching /teaching focus, we are moving forward from were we left off last week in the book of Mark, this week the tenth chapter. Here is the text…

TEXT: Mark 10:35-45
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,
40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: What it means to be “great” in the Kingdom of God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: How to be considered “great” in the sight of God.

RESPONSIVE READING: #619 The Beatitudes

NOTE: A big "thank you" for all that helped to make Mother Carrington's home-going celebration a wonderful event. I appreciate you and thank God for you. Our prayers are with the Carrington family.

Pastor W. C. Hill

Men's and Women's Bible Study Resume

Here's Deacon Anthony Walker addressing the church annual meeting last Tuesday, February 8th. And it didn't snow.

Next Tuesday February 15th we will resume our men's and women's bible study at 7pm. We have been encouraged by the attendance. Please attend and bring a friend.

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 02/13/2011

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…to God be the glory for the great things he has done! In the preaching /teaching focus, we are picking up were we left off last week in the book of Mark, ninth chapter. Here is the text:

TEXT: Mark 9:2-13 (NIV)
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The impact that seeing “God’s glory” should have on our lives.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s teach our children how knowing God should impact their life decisions.

RESPONSIVE READING: #606 The Majesty of God

NOTICE:
As you know we lost our faithful member Helen Carrington last week. The arrangements for her funeral service are as follows:

Thursday (Feb. 10th)
WAKE 4-6PM at Zion Baptist Church
FUNERAL 6-8 PM Zion Baptist Church
REPAST 8 PM Zion Baptist Church
Friday (Feb. 11th)
Internment----11 AM----Oak Grove Cemetery Medford MA (Family)

Thank you to all of you that are already helping to make this life celebration a proper “so long” to such a faithful servant. I thank God for each of you.

Pastor W. C. Hill

--

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 02/06/2011

Praise God saints...It is my prayer that each of you are fairing well through the snow. A challenging start to winter, but we will make it. Be encouraged.
This week’s preaching and teaching theme is “Assuring Hope: The Fulfillment of God’s Promise.” We are moving to the gospel of Mark and this week’s lesson is from Mark 8:27 – 9:1 and will focus on the identity and suffering of Christ.

Here is the text….
TEXT: Mark 8:27-9:1
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
9:1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How our understanding of who Jesus is and the nature of his ministry should impact our Christian lives.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to learn "how to know" and "do" the things that are pleasing to God.

RESPONSIVE READING: #589 Growing in Grace

FEBRUARY MEMORY VERSE: Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

Bless you and stay safe...
Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 01/30/2011

Praise God saints...Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow and let’s praise God anyhow. For through it all, his goodness and his mercy continues, and we make it through. This week’s preaching and teaching theme will continue on “Assuring Hope: A Future for God’s People.” This week’s lesson is from Isaiah 53:1-12 and will focus on the appearance, suffering, and rewards for the suffering servant. Here is the text….

TEXT: Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: A “heads up” on what to expect as a servant of God; such as; need to be different, able to endure suffering, and anticipating a reward (of some kind) for faithfulness.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to learn how to be different than the crowd (resist peer pressure); willing to endure suffering without retaliation (repay evil with good); expect to be rewarded by God for faithful service.

RESPONSIVE READING: #590 Christian Commitment

Bless you and stay safe,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 01/23/2011

Praise God saints! As we make our way through this winter, let’s be mindful that “God is good!” all the time. This week’s preaching and teaching theme will continue on “A Future for God’s People.” And this week’s lesson is from Isaiah 49:1-7 and will focus on the responsibility that comes with our blessings. Here is the text….

TEXT: Isaiah 49:1-7

1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.

2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”

5 And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—

6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

7 This is what the LORD says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: Our responsibility that comes from getting blessed by God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to learn how to be nice and be a blessing to others as God has blessed them.

RESPONSIVE READING: #607 Blessings from God

Also note that we have two candidates for Baptism on this Sunday. Bless you.

In Christian Love,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 01/16/2011

Praise God saints! We have survived another NE storm and I encourage you to be careful and stay safe. This week’s preaching and teaching theme will continue on “A Future for God’s People.” This week’s lesson is from Isaiah 48:12-21. Here is the text…

TEXT: Isaiah 48:12-22

12 “Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last. 13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together. 14 “Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out his purpose against Babylon; his arm will be against the Babylonians.[a] 15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission. 16 “Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. 17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be blotted out nor destroyed from before me.” 20 Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob.” 21 They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: Getting past mistakes and moving forward in our life with God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn how to get past their mistakes and move forward being better with God.

RESPONSIVE READING: #584 Sanctification

NOTE:—

We will not close the church today; however, I ask leaders to use discretion and good judgment about planned meetings. Let’s make safety a priority.

Bless you...

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 01/09/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In this new year, let’s try to give God praise, in all things, for he is worthy. AMEN

We are still focused on the Book of Isaiah, however this week begins a new preaching and teaching quarterly theme. It is “A Future for God’s People.” Here is the preaching text…

TEXT: Isaiah 45:22-25 (NIV)

22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.’ All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the LORD and will make their boast in him.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The path and reward of being found just by God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: How to cause God to see you as “good” and the benefits of that.

RESPONSIVE READING: #583 Justification

Bless you saints!

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY‭ ‬01/02/2011

Praise God for the New Year‭!‬ ‭ ‬The preaching and teaching lesson this week will conclude our study on‭ “‬God’s comfort for his people.‭”‬ Here is the text‭…

TEXT:‭ ‬Isaiah‭ ‬44:21-28
21‭ “‬Remember these things,‭ ‬Jacob,‭
‭ ‬for you,‭ ‬Israel,‭ ‬are my servant.‭
I have made you,‭ ‬you are my servant‭;
‭ ‬Israel,‭ ‬I will not forget you.‭
22‭ ‬I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,‭
‭ ‬your sins like the morning mist.‭
Return to me,‭
‭ ‬for I have redeemed you.‭”
23‭ ‬Sing for joy,‭ ‬you heavens,‭ ‬for the LORD has done this‭;
‭ ‬shout aloud,‭ ‬you earth beneath.‭
Burst into song,‭ ‬you mountains,‭
‭ ‬you forests and all your trees,‭
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,‭
‭ ‬he displays his glory in‭ ‬Israel.
24‭ “‬This is what the LORD says‭—
‭ ‬your Redeemer,‭ ‬who formed you in the womb:
‭ ‬I am the LORD,‭
‭ ‬the Maker of all things,‭
‭ ‬who stretches out the heavens,‭
‭ ‬who spreads out the earth by myself,‭
25‭ ‬who foils the signs of false prophets‭
‭ ‬ and makes fools of diviners,‭
who overthrows the learning of the wise‭
‭ ‬and turns it into nonsense,‭
26‭ ‬who carries out the words of his servants‭
‭ ‬and fulfills the predictions of his messengers,
‭ ‬who says of‭ ‬Jerusalem,‭ ‘‬It shall be inhabited,‭’
‭ ‬of the towns of‭ ‬Judah,‭ ‘‬They shall be rebuilt,‭’
‭ ‬and of their ruins,‭ ‘‬I will restore them,‭’
27‭ ‬who says to the watery deep,‭ ‘‬Be dry,‭
‭ ‬and I will dry up your streams,‭’
28‭ ‬who says of Cyrus,‭ ‘‬He is my shepherd‭
‭ ‬and will accomplish all that I please‭;
he will say of‭ ‬Jerusalem,‭ “‬Let it be rebuilt,‭”

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT:‭ ‬What it means to be a‭ “‬redeemed‭” ‬people of God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:‭ ‬Let’s help our children to Learn to see that they are special in the eyes of God.

RESPONSIVE‭ ‬READING:‭ ‬#583‭ ‬Justification

NOTE:‭—
Many of you know by know that our beloved sister Queen has had successful surgery and is now recovering.‭ ‬It will be al little while before we can see her,‭ ‬please continue to pray,‭ ‬and we need to thank and praise God right now‭! ‬He is a mighty God indeed‭!
In Christian Love, ‭

‬Pastor W.‭ ‬C.‭ ‬Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 12/26/2010

Praise the lord saints! I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is the reason for the Season!

In our preaching and teaching focus we are continuing on the quarterly theme of “Assuring Hope.” This week our message will come from Rev Shprecher. Here is the text…

TEXT: Isaiah 43:1-7

1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

TITLE: God Is With Us

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: This sermon will proclaim that with Lord on our side we can conquer our fears and overcome all obstacles.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to trust that God to help them overcome life's challenges and problems.

RESPONSIVE READING: #563---God The Omnipotent

NOTE:—

Also Don't forget, this Wednesday at 7 PM in the evening, we will be visiting Bethel AME (Lynn) to join in their Christmas Pageant. I am asking that you as well as those that come to prayer meeting join us for that program. And finally, Merry Christmas to all of you and to your families.

Bless you saints,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 12/19/2010

Praise the lord saints! I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is the reason for the Season!

In our preaching and teaching focus we are continuing on the quarterly theme of “Assuring Hope.” This week we will consider the lesson on A Child Is Born from Isaiah and Matthew. Our preaching focus will be Matthew 1:21-23. Here is the text…

TEXT: Matthew 1:21-23 (NIV)

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: This sermon is about God’s ability and faithfulness to bring his word to pass.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to trust that God will do what he said he will do.

RESPONSIVE READING: #567---The Birth of Jesus

NOTE:—

This Sunday is the last Sunday we will meet before Christmas and the Sunday School will be putting on heir Christmas program at 9:30 AM. Please come out and support that program.

Also, this Wednesday evening, we will be visiting Bethel AME (Lynn) to join in their Christmas Pageant. I am asking that you as well as those that come to prayer meeting join us for that program.

Bless you saints,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 12/12/2010

Praise the lord saints! I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who died so that we could live!  Hallelujah!

In our preaching and teaching focus we are continuing on the quarterly theme of “Assuring Hope.” This week we will consider the lesson on the Lord who is our God from Isaiah 41&42. Our preaching focus will be from chapter 42, vs. 3.  Here is the text…

TEXT: Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: This sermon is about God being able to depend on God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to depend on God in their difficult times in life.

RESPONSIVE READING: #596---Faith

NOTE:—

The Zion Church Business Meeting is tonight (Thursday December 9th) at 7 PM. Please come out and support the business of the church. And let's continue to pray for one another. i thank God for you.

 -- 
Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 12/05/2010

Praise the lord saints! I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Salvation.  In our preaching and teaching focus, we are now moving from the fall quarter to the winter quarter. Our new quarterly theme is: “Assuring Hope” and considers ways that God Reassures us. Our texts this quarter will come from the books of Isaiah and Mark.

This week we will consider the lesson on God Who Gives us Strength from Isaiah 40. Here is the text…

TEXT: Isaiah 40:1-8, 25-26, 29-31  

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. 6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.   7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.  Surely the people are grass.   8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

25  “To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.  26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: This sermon is about God encouraging and strengthening his people.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to see God even in their difficult times in life.

RESPONSIVE READING: #612 God’s Everlasting Mercies

NOTE:—

The Homegoing and Life Celebration Service for Willie Cooper will begin at Zion Baptist Church with the wake on Thursday from 6-8 PM, funeral service Friday morning at 10 AM, followed by a repast after internment at Pine Grove Cemetery.  Please keep the family in prayer and if you are part of the choir and able to come and support us, please do.

Beloved, I thank God for each of you and ask that we continue to keep each other lifted up in prayer.

Pastor W. C. Hill

 

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 11/28/2010

Greetings, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith. . What a wonderful Thanksgiving Community Worship Service. “Congratulations” and “job well done” to the many that worked so hard to make it a success. We were truly blessed.

This week we will return to our study of “The Inescapable God” looking in the Book of Psalms (139), and Minister Taylor will be bringing the Word.  Here is the text…

TEXT: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23-24  For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

5You hem me in— behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting

 

TITLE:  Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

 

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: God, who is ever present, all knowing and His ability to do all and how God can potentially impact us who are His creation if we submit our total self to Him.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to see themselves as precious creations of God.

RESPONSIVE READING: #562 God The Creator

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving and know that you are in my heart and prayers. Let us all continue to pray for each other.

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY‭ ‬11/21/2010
 
Greetings,‭ ‬in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,‭ ‬who is our Rock. ‭ ‬What a wonderful celebration of Women’s Day.‭ “‬Congratulations‭” ‬and‭ “‬job well done‭” ‬to the many that worked so hard to make it a success.‭ ‬We were truly blessed.

This week we will return to our study of‭ “‬The Inescapable God‭” ‬looking in the Book of Psalms‭ (‬91‭)‬. ‭ ‬Here is the text‭…
 
TEXT:‭ ‬Psalm‭ ‬91:1-6,‭ ‬9-16
1‭ ‬Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2‭ ‬I will say of the LORD,‭ “‬He is my refuge and my fortress,‭ ‬my God,‭ ‬in whom I trust.‭”
3‭ ‬Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. ‭
4‭ ‬He will cover you with his feathers,‭ ‬and under his wings you will find refuge‭;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. ‭
5‭ ‬You will not fear the terror of night,‭ ‬nor the arrow that flies by day,‭
6‭ ‬nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,‭ ‬nor the plague that destroys at midday. ‭
___
9‭ ‬If you say,‭ “‬The LORD is my refuge,‭” ‬and you make the Most High your dwelling,‭
10‭ ‬no harm will overtake you,‭ ‬no disaster will come near your tent. ‭
11‭ ‬For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways‭;
12‭ ‬they will lift you up in their hands,‭ ‬so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ‭
13‭ ‬You will tread on the lion and the cobra‭; ‬you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14‭ “‬Because he loves me,‭” ‬says the LORD,‭ “‬I will rescue him‭; ‬I will protect him,‭ ‬for he acknowledges my name. ‭
15‭ ‬He will call on me,‭ ‬and I will answer him‭; ‬I will be with him in trouble,‭ ‬I will deliver him and honor him. ‭
16‭ ‬With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.‭”
 
WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT:‭ ‬The promise of supernatural protection for God’s people if they live in close relationship with God.
 
SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:‭ ‬Let’s help our children to Learn to see God as a source of protection if they live for him.
 
RESPONSIVE‭ ‬READING:‭ ‬#595‭ ‬Spiritual Warfare
 
NOTE:‭—
Zion‭ ‬Baptist‭ ‬Church is hosting the Community Thanksgiving Service on this Sunday at‭ ‬7‭ ‬PM.‭ ‬Please plan to come out and help us host and welcome the other churches of‭ ‬Lynn as we express our gratitude in worship to God.
Beloved,‭ ‬I thank God for you and all of your faithful support
‭
‬--‭
‬Pastor W.‭ ‬C.‭ ‬Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 11/14/2010  

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I hope this message finds you in the best of health and spirits. If the challenges of life are pulling at you down, let me just remind you that God loves you and so do I. This week we are celebrating the “wonderful” Women of Zion. I am excited and “thank God” for all of the women. The Lord placed it on my heart to visit a familiar text and story regarding a woman that met a Man...Here is the text…

TEXT: John 4:1-24

1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.  3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied.   Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”  

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The importance of women (and all believers) finding their identity in God.  

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Let’s help our children to Learn to see themselves as God sees them-and know they are who God says they are...(Gen. 1:27)  

RESPONSIVE READING: #588  

Please come Sunday "expecting" GOD to meet us there and entire day and celebration to be a blessing-- Thank you Saints,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 11/07/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things we should give God praise, for he is truly worthy.  Our focus is still on the “God who sustains” us.  This week I will be preaching on the "Awesomeness of God.”

Here is the text…

TEXT: Psalm 66:1-12 (NIV)

 1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 
 2 Sing the glory of his name; 
   make his praise glorious. 
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! 
   So great is your power 
   that your enemies cringe before you. 
4 All the earth bows down to you; 
   they sing praise to you, 
   they sing the praises of your name.”

 5 Come and see what God has done, 
   his awesome deeds for mankind! 
6 He turned the sea into dry land, 
   they passed through the waters on foot— 
   come, let us rejoice in him. 
7 He rules forever by his power, 
   his eyes watch the nations— 
   let not the rebellious rise up against him.

 8 Praise our God, all peoples, 
   let the sound of his praise be heard; 
9 he has preserved our lives 
   and kept our feet from slipping. 
10 For you, God, tested us; 
   you refined us like silver. 
11 You brought us into prison 
   and laid burdens on our backs. 
12 You let people ride over our heads; 
   we went through fire and water, 
   but you brought us to a place of abundance.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How God works on behalf of his people, even in time of testing.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: How God helps us in time of trouble.

RESPONSIVE READING: #565 God's Providential Care

Let's also encourage and pray for each other.

NOTE: We have been asked by the Lynn Council of Churches to host the "Community Thanksgiving Service" on Sunday November 21st at 7 PM.  Please put it on you calendar and plan to come out and support this community effort.

Yours in Christian love and service,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 10/31/2010

 

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things give God praise, he is worthy.  Our focus is still on the “God who sustains” us.  This week I will be preaching on the "comforting presence of God.”

 

Here is the text…

 

TEXT: Psalm 63

¹O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

⁶ On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

⁷ Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

⁸ My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

⁹ They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.

¹⁰ They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How Christians can find comfort in the tough times because of God presence.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Understand that God will never leave you.

RESPONSIVE READING: #564 God the Omnipresent 

Let's also encourage and pray for each other.

--
In Christian Love,

Pastor W. C. Hill

 

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 10/24/2010

Greetings beloved in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope this email finds you in the best of health and spirits. God is good and his wonders to behold!
This week our sermon while be offered by Rev Shprecher and our focus is still on the subject of “God who sustains” us. We will be considering the "reign" of God.
Here is the text…

TEXT: Psalm 47 (KJV)
1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
2 For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet.
4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The nature of God's reign as our King.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Learning to make God first in our lives.

RESPONSIVE READING: # 563 God The Omnipotent

Bless you, and i thank God for you, and let's remember to keep each other lifted up in prayer.

--
Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 10/17/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I hope this email finds you in the best of health and spirits. Let me just remind you that God loves you and is willing to carry you through whatever challenges life may bring, and when you come out on the other side of trouble, you will be stronger, wiser, and more trusting.

This week for our preaching/teaching focus (still on the subject of “God who sustains” us) we will consider God’s Safe Refuge.

Here is the text…

TEXT: Psalm 46:1-7 (NIV)

Psalm 46:1-7

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah

 

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: God as an ever-present help in time of trouble

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Learning to trust God to help us.

Bless you and let's remember to keep each other lifted up in prayer.
--
Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 10/10/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope this email finds you in the best of health and spirits. God is good...

This week for our preaching/teaching focus ( still on the subject of “ God who sustains ” us ) we will consider God’s perfect LAW.

Here is the text …

TEXT: Psalm 19:7-14 ( NIV )

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold ; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned ; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors ? Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins ; may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The relationship between God, God’s Laws, and God’s people.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Trying to do what God wants us to do.

Let's remember to keep each other in prayer.

Pastor W. C. Hill

Here are some pictures from Pastors 8th Anniversary:

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 10/03/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: 

God is good, all the time, and all the time...I want to thank all of you that were faithful in participating in our Fall Revival and helped in my 8th Pastoral Anniversary celebration. It was a fine time, I thank God for you, and I look forward to serving the Lord with you in the future.

In our preaching and teaching, we are still focusing on our quarterly theme of the “Inescapable God” This week begins a two month study of some of the Psalms, as we consider “God as our sustainer and protector.” The text for this week is Psalm 8. Here is the text… 

TEXT: Psalm 8:1-9 (NIV)

 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise [b] because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c] and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: Finding our real “identity” in God. (Who is man?)

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Trying to learn to take on the “likeness” of God. (consider his attributes of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, etc.)

NOTE: 

Our Fall Revival theme was “Lord do it” with our text coming from the Book of Lamentations 5:21 which says...”Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old. The preachers had messages very appropriate to the theme and text, let me suggest again that if you missed the Revival, consider getting a copy of the CD, you will be blessed.

Yours in service and love,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY‭ ‬09/26/2010

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ:‭ ‬In all things praise Him,‭ ‬praise him,‭ ‬praise Him,‭ ‬for He is worthy of ALL of our praise.‭ ‬he really is‭!

If you were not at our Revival last night,‭ ‬you missed it‭! ‬Rev Debora Jackson preached a word that every member and especially church leaders need to hear.‭ ‬Let me suggest you get a copy of the CD,‭ ‬listen to it,‭ ‬and consider our‭ "‬personal role‭" ‬in being spiritually revived and helping our Church Vision become our Church Reality.

This week as we continue in the quarterly theme of the‭ "‬Inescapable God,‭" ‬Minister Gabriel Taylor will be bringing the sermon. Here is the text‭…‬

TEXT: Exodus‭ ‬34:5-7 ‭(‬New International Version‭)

5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name,‭ ‬the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses,‭ ‬proclaiming,‭ "‬The LORD,‭ ‬the LORD,‭ ‬the compassionate and gracious God,‭ ‬slow to anger,‭ ‬abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands,‭ ‬and forgiving wickedness,‭ ‬rebellion and sin.‭ ‬Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished‭; ‬he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.‭"

TITLE:‭ ‬The Almighty

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT:‭ ‬The power of The Creator.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE:‭ ‬Understanding the limitless power of God.

RESPONSIVE‭ ‬READING:‭ ‬#‭ ‬563‭ ‬God The Omnipotent

NOTE:

‭***‬As leaders and role models,‭ ‬each of us should make every effort to come to support the Revival so that we are not asking others to do something we are not willing to do ourselves.‭ ‬Choir did great job last night,‭ ‬tonight Male Chorus.

‭***‬This Sunday afternoon,‭ ‬we will celebrate my‭ ‬8th Pastoral Anniversary‭; ‬I am hoping you will come out and be supportive.

Yours in Christian love and service,

--‭

‬Pastor W.‭ ‬C.‭ ‬Hill

Please note that men's bible study will begin this Tuesday at 7:30pm. We will be following the Sunday School text which is Exodus 34:1-10

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 09/19/2010 

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things praise Him, praise him, praise Him, for He is worthy of ALL of our praise.  Homecoming was a great time in the Lord, major thanks to all that worked to make it a success--special gratitude to the Homecoming Committee for their great work.

This week for our preaching/teaching focus, we will get back on track with the text from Sunday school lessons and the story of Moses going up on the mountain to get the 10 Commandments from God, and what happened down below while he was gone. (Aren't you glad we serve a God that is patient with his people?)

Here is the text… 

TEXT: Exodus 32:1-6 (NIV)

1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 

3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 

4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD." 

6So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: The danger of serving a "god" that you made.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Trying to learn to do what God wants us to do.

RESPONSIVE READING: # 563 God The Omnipotent

NOTE: 

1) This Sunday at 3:30 PM is the Usher Annual Day. We will be blessed with the preaching of Minister Vivian Hicks from New Hope Baptist Church. Please plan to join them as we celebrate this powerful ministry of the church.

2) This Wednesday we will begin our Fall Revival leading up to my 8th Pastoral Anniversary. This has been in the bulletin, but some have missed it, please help get the word out. Here is the schedule

Fall Revival

Wednesday, September 22nd  7PM       Rev. Deborah Jackson, Pastor

                                                                      1st Baptist Church, Needham                     

Thursday      September 23rd 7PM                  Rev. Eric Nelson. Pastor

                                                    Washington Street Baptist Church, Lynn

Friday          September 24th 7PM    Rev. Nathaniel G. Gaye, Sr., Pastor

                               International Fellowship Evangelical Church, Peabody

Saturday       September 25th TBD        Youth Minister

Sunday        September 26th 3:30PM    Pastor's 8th Anniversary Service

                                                                   Rev. Kenneth Simms, Asst. Pastor

                                                                   New Hope Baptist Church, Boston

 

Here is what we need for musical support:

Wed: Adult Choir

Thurs: Male Chorus

Fri: Praise and Worship Team

Sunday PM: Adult Choir

Call me if you foresee any potential problems or if we need to make scheduling adjustments.

Sincere thanks--

Yours in love and service, 

--
Pastor W. C. Hill

HOME COMING SUNDAY

September 12, 2010

At a dressed down church service to begin the church year Alex Newell led the choir as it entered the sanctuary. We had many visitors including Pastor John Grayson from Selma Alabama who proclaimed us "a good old country church." And many old timers including the Homecoming Queen and King: Carri and Aaron Murkison. Our Rev. Dr William C Hill preached on how in the Lord's house, there's "no place like Home." It was a wonderful celebration of the Lord with good food and fellowship following the service. If you didn't make it last Sunday please come home next Sunday, we miss you.

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 09/12/2010 

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things give God the praise, He is worthy of all our praise.  Here we go, back to our regular schedule. This week I feel called to stray from SS text and to tap into Homecoming, by going to the Prodigal Son text in Luke's Gospel.  Here is the text… 

TEXT: Luke 15:11-32 

Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.  And he divided unto them his living.  Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.  Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.  Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry.  Luk 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.  Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  Luk 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.  Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.  Luk 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: Luk 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  Luk 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.  

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: Several ways of returning to God.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Trying harder to do what God wants you to do.

RESPONSIVE READING: # 604 Peace

Yours in love and service, 

Pastor W. C. Hill

SUNDAY SCHOOL INFORMATION

God Makes a Covenant with Israel

Our Sunday School Text is Exodus 20:1-11

1And God spoke all these words:
2“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3“You shall have no other gods before£ me.
4“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 09/05/2010 

Greetings Saints in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things give God praise, he is worthy.  This Sunday marks the Labor Day weekend, the end of our summer break, and preparation for kicking off the Fall quarter. 

Our theme for this first quarter in “The Inescapable God” and we will consider in the preaching and teaching ways that God reveals himself to us, sustains us, and protects.

This Sunday we will get started with God revealing himself to a shepherd that He was going to put in service to carry out a great task, you know the story and here is the text…

TEXT: Exodus 3:1-6  (New International Version)

¹ Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

² There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

³ So Moses thought, I will go over and see this strange sight— why the bush does not burn up.

⁴ When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, Moses! Moses! And Moses said, Here I am.

⁵ Do not come any closer, God said. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

⁶ Then he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How God calls us from unusual places and calls us to do important work—we need to be ready to say “yes Lord”

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Learning to agree with God (i.e. do what God wants)

RESPONSIVE READING: #590 Christian Commitment

SEPTEMBER MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 139:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

NOTES:

This week we have been saddened by the loss of our beloved brother Vernon Makkers. Please keep the family in prayer. Initial arrangements for his “Celebration of Life” service includes a wake from 4-8 PM at Solimine Funeral Home (Ocean Street location) on Wednesday, September, 8^th and the Funeral will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, September 9th (Zion Baptist Church). Repast will be here at the church following internment at Pine Grove Cemetery. Kenny Odom and Annie Jackson are taking the lead on the repast, please contact them with questions.

Thank you already for your prayers and support,

In Christian Love,

Pastor W. C Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 08/29/2010

 

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: In all things give God the praise, He is worthy.  This coming Sunday has been designated as “Mission Sunday” and is a time for us to focus on our Biblical responsibilities to show the love of God at home and abroad. Our guest preacher will be Rev. Howard McLendon ,a key leader with The American Baptist Convention of Mass.’s (TABCOM) “Ghana Mission Explosion.”  I’m confident that he has for us a Word from the Lord. Here is the text…

 

TEXT: Luke 9:12-17

Luke 9:12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

Luke 9:13  But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Luke 9:14  For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Luke 9:15  And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Luke 9:16  Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luke 9:17  And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

 

TITLE: Causing Your Little To Become Much

 

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How God can take the little good things we do and make them accomplish much.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: How God can take the little good things we do and make them accomplish much.

 
RESPONSIVE READING: #579 Stewardship

NOTES:

The Mission Committee is planning a question and answer session in the Fellowship Hall following the service—light refreshments will be served. Please plan to come out and see and hear how we can continue our efforts to continue and grow our mission efforts as we live out the Vision to reach out to the local and global communities.

As you know, several of our members are struggling with health issues, please keep them and all of us in prayer.

Yours in love and service, 

Pastor W.C. Hill

--

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 08/22/2010
 
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ:  In all things give God praise, he is worthy.

On Sunday (August 22nd), Rev. Shprecher will be bringing the Word to us, here's is the text:

TEXT: Isaiah 58: 9b-14 

 
9b “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry  
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;  
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins  
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath  
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD’S holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD,  
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

 

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: How God expects us to be healing agents for ourselves and the world.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: How God expects us to help ourselves and others.

 
NOTES:
1. Don't forget to come out and support the Women of Zion Yard Sale on Saturday, August 21st, 9-2 PM. and please PRAY for our sisters and brothers that are struggling with health issues
 
Yours in Christian love and service,
--
Pastor W. C. Hill

WORSHIP SERVICE INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY 08/15/2010

 Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ:  I hope that you are all enjoying the summer and getting some rest and personal time in for yourself. The summer is moving very quickly and before you know it...but praise the Lord anyhow!

On Sunday (August 15^th), we will again look at God's children on their wilderness journey, and what happened as they were meeting another of life’s challenges...here is the text:

TEXT: Exodus 15:22-27 (NIV)

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. ²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. ²⁴ So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

²⁵ Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. ²⁶  He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

WHAT THE SERMON IS ABOUT: Learning a lesson from Israel on what to do when the challenges of life come on us.

SUGGESTED CHILDREN'S MESSAGE: Learning to do what pleases God, when things do not go right or we have trouble.

RESPONSIVE READING: #594 The Christian Hope

NOTES:

A huge “thank you” and “well done” to the many that did such a good job on supporting the families of brother Thomas McGlown and brother Salim Fort during their time of loss. Please continue to pray for them as God heals them and let’s pray for each other.

Yours in Christian love and service,

Pastor W. C. Hill

WATCH THIS SPACE

We will be keeping this blog up to date from now on; posting our weekly schedule and information about our Sunday Service and Sunday school lesson as well as details about up and coming events. Watch this space also for opportunities to serve the Lord. More about that coming. God bless. 

What you see at the top of the page is the Mission and Vision statements of Zion Baptist Church. The leadership met and worked together for many months on a statement that described what our mission was and how we wanted to proclaim it as a vision statement for the future. The statement is as follows:

Mission Statement:

"Zion Baptist Church seeks to advance the kingdom of God by reaching all people with the loving Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Vision Statement:

Our vision is to be a church where people of all cultures and ages are welcomed to worship; supported in being transformed by God's word; encouraged to be followers of Jesus Christ; and where we embrace those within our own walls and reach out to the global community; and where love is put into action.

Amen"

Joining the winning team

By Rev. Rich Shprecher

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

(1 Cor 12:27)

Super bowl Sunday (the game!) has made me think about how times have changed. On the Sunday of Super Bowl #1 in 1967 we went out and played some hoops in the morning and then watched the game. I was the worst player on our basketball team but I could run for two hours and I was big enough to be a defensive factor. I had some gifts and I took part. But during the years that followed I started sitting a whole lot more than I ever did before and it shows. I sit by my computer. I sit at the TV. I sit in church. I’m a spectator more often than a participant. (and that’s true for many of us.)

It used to be that when we mentioned “the game,” it was a game we participated in. We went out and played some hoops. We played sand lot baseball or softball. There was a time when even the churches had teams, but that doesn’t happen much anymore. Now we sit and watch. Even our church service and the church has become a spectator sport. And why? Part of it because of the choices we have. We have 1000 channels as well as on line computer content instead of four to twelve channels.

But there is only one choice for salvation and it requires our participation. To become part of the body of Christ we need to choose to get off the couch and use our gifts. The church is us. And the Apostle Paul tells us that we need to participate if the church is to exist. We need to participate and share our gifts. We need to be part of the body of Christ.

I hear people complain about programs we aren’t doing anymore. Those programs were maintained by people who participated. We need new people to step up and share their gifts so that these programs can be restored and new programs developed and old programs maintained. This year the winning coach in the super bowl Tony Dungy said "I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this; but …, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."

Let us also do it the Lord’s way. Let us listen to the coaches and get up off our couches and join the Lord’s team. We have been meeting as leaders during these last few months in leadership summits to “ensure that our church lives up to its full potential as God’s church and diligently works to advance the kingdom of God.” Let’s all join the team and share our gifts. If we do that, we can’t fail to be on the winning team: God’s team.

The season Lent began last Wednesday. It’s an opportunity for us to approach Easter with reflection and prayer so as to strengthen and renew our faith. The following is a list of things that we might do toward that endeavor. It came from Rev. Craig Gates of Jackson Mississippi. I used it to close my sermon last Sunday. He says we should:

GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, "In everything give thanks." Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not Christian disciplines.

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion. A few minutes in prayer WILL keep you focused.

GIVE UP looking at other people's worst attributes. Instead concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It is a lot easier to have people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.

GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting or to offer a smile. Why not check that sharp tongue at the door?

GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! Instead, learn the discipline of love. "Love covers a multitude of sins."

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! They're too heavy for you to carry anyway. Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about: like tomorrow! Live today and let God's grace be sufficient.

GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead, visit someone who's lonely or sick. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front of the "tube?" Give someone a precious gift: your time!

GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for yourself! Instead, give the money to God. The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet basic needs. We're called to be stewards of God's riches, not consumers.

GIVE UP judging others by appearances and by the standard of the world! Instead, learn to give up yourself to God. There is only one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.

And we might add the following. GIVE UP missing Worship and Sunday School and Wednesday bible study. Attend every service during Lent. What better way to focus on the Cross.

Wednesday March 15, 2006 Bible Study

Where were you last night? We had bible study and you weren't there and we missed you. But more importantly, the Lord missed you. It reminds me of the story I told at the end of my last sermon at Zion.

An elderly minister, a grandfather, was in his study preparing the sermon and thinking about the poor turn out for bible study the night before when he heard his grandson John crying. The child was the youngest of his grandchildren and was often left out of the activities of the older children. The minister went to him and asked what happened. He said that they were playing hide and seek but when he went to hide, no one came to look for him. "Ah John!", said the old man, "that's exactly what's happening with the Lord. The Lord is always present for us in our lives but for many is hidden just below the surface of our daily activities and no one seems to be looking for him." "But, don't worry child; He will be there for you and you will be a part of his activities in the world just as your older playmates will soon be part of yours."


In our bible study from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth (1Corinthians 2:1-10) we studied about the strength of the Lord which is ever present for us in our lives but which lies hidden from our immediate perceptions but always available to us by discernment through prayer and faith. We also raised our hearts and voices to the Lord through song and prayer. Our bible study and prayer meeting is an intimate encounter with the Lord. It is an important part of our spiritual lives. Please come next Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Not only do we miss you but the Lord misses you as well.

Rev. Rich

Attention-
God bless everyone who tunes into this blog. You may have heard about blogs. There seems to be one for everything people want to talk about. This is the one for Zion Baptist church in Lynn, Massachusetts. Its been around for a couple of years now but hasn't been kept up to date. The lat entry was in December of 2004. However, that's about to change. If you have anything that should be listed on the blog let the church office know about it. We will be posting the latest issue of Good News From Zion. We will post announcements that are important. We will also post church closing in times of inclement weather so tune in and let us know what's happening.
May the Lord be with you always.