Sunday October 5, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30am
(Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1-5; 3:17-19)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching
Scripture

John 6: 8-14
⁸Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ⁹“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
¹⁰Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
¹⁴After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Sermon Title: "Little Becoming Much”

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday September 28, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30am
(Scripture: Jeremiah 33:1-11)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Andre Bennett preaching
Scripture:
Luke 8: 43-48
⁴³And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
⁴⁵“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
⁴⁶But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
⁴⁷Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Galatians 6:9
 ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Sermon Title: "Keep Going”

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday September 21, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30am
(Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-9, 14, 15)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching
Scripture:
John 3:1-9
¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
³In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
⁴“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
⁵Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit£ gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You£ must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
⁹“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

Sermon Title: "A Beautiful Impossible Possibility”

Annual Usher Day Service 3:30pm

Preacher: Minister Gillian Thomas
                     Morning Star Baptist Church

Scripture:
Proverbs 3:6-9
6    in all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
7    Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the LORD and shun evil.
8    This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.
9    Honor the LORD with your wealth,
    with the first fruits of all your crops;

Theme:
“Thou will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in the Lord forever”.

“For a day in thy courts is better than a  thousand.
I had rather be A doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness”.
                                                      Psalm 84.10

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday September 14, 2014 at Zion

Homecoming Sunday
-bring family and friends

Sunday School 9:30am
(Scripture Jeremiah 31:31-37)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am (note new time)

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching
Scripture:
1 John 4:16

¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Sermon Title: "Coming Home To God's Love”

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday September 7, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue next Sunday, September 14th

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday August 31, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September
Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Minister Karina Fontanez-Joe preaching

Scripture:
Jonah: 1:3,17, 2:10
1 ³But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
¹⁷But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
2 ¹⁰And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Sermon Title: "From the Belly of the Fish”

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday August 24, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September
Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but 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.

Sermon Title: "Get On Up” (part 3)
Series: "God's Enduring Strength"

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday August 17, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but 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.

Sermon Title: "Get On Up” (part 2)

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday August 10, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but 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.

Sermon Title: "Get On Up”

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study Tuesday night 6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting Tuesday night 7:30 PM
Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday August 3, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Richard M Shprecher preaching

Scripture:
2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2
5:¹⁴For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6: ¹As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ²For he says,
    “In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Sermon Title: "Getting There Now”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday July 27, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-30
²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sermon Title: "Three Great Things That Make Life Lighter”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday July 20, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
John 5:1-9
¹Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. ²Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. ³Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. ⁵One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
⁷“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
⁸Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath.

Sermon Title: “Being Alert for a Divine Breakthrough”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday July 13, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Minister Ebonie Aghahowa preaching

Scripture:
Acts 28:1-6
¹Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. ²The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Sermon Title: “Still Standing”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday July 6, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September
Note Summer Worship  times

Praise and Worship 9:45am

Sunday Service 10:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday June 29, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday June 22, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Andre Bennett preaching

Scripture:
John 8:1-11
¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
¹¹“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Sermon Title: "Grace Happens Here "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday June 15, 2014 at Zion

Father's Day Service

Sunday School will continue in September

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Psalm 46:10
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sermon Title: "My Morning BREW "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Adult Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday June 8, 2014 at Zion

Youth Sunday

Theme: “Remember The Lord When You Are Young”

Sunday School will continue in September.

Today Sunday School Breakfast will be served at 9:30 am.

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Terrence J.  Young, M.I.T
Kingdom Worship Center Church in Philadelphia
preaching

Other opportunities to be transformed by God's Word

6:30-7:30PM   Tuesday night           Joint Adult Bible Study
7:30PM               Tuesday night          Prayer Meeting
6:30PM            Wednesday night     New Members Class

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday June 1, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

(Sunday School Scripture:
Haggai 1:1-11)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
Psalm 23
¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Sermon Title: "Too Blessed to Complain "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday May 25, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

(Sunday School Scripture:
Leviticus 19:18
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Mark 12:28-34)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Richard Shprecher preaching

Scripture
Acts 17:22-31
 ²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
²⁴“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
²⁹“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by man’s design and skill. ³⁰In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Sermon Title: "Gone Fishing in the Agora"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday May 18, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Sunday School Scripture:
(Matthew 15:1-11, 15-20)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Annual Men’s Day Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture:
John 20: 21-22
²¹Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

I John 4:4
⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Sermon Title: “What’s in You is Greater than What’s Against You”

Sermon Topic:
The sermon will offer encouragement for living more intentionally and joyfully in God's Spirit.

3:30pm Men of Zion Service
Rev Momolue Diggs Guest Preacher
"Putting Love into Action"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday May 11, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

(Sunday School Scripture:
Isaiah 61:1-3
Luke 4:14-21)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones and Sister Mary Brown Jones preaching

Scripture:
Isaiah 66:13
¹³As a mother comforts her child,
    so will I comfort you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

Sermon Title: "A Mighty Love "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday May 4, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

(Sunday School Scripture:
Deuteronomy 6:13-16
Matthew 4:1-12)

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture

John 21:1-14
¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.£ It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
⁵He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
⁶He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
¹¹Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Sermon Title: "The Resurrection of Community "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

From the Interim Pastor

GRACE CHANGE: Enjoying the Challenge of Transformation

How Jesus came back to life matters almost as much as the fact that he did.

When Jesus came back to life, he took his time to lovingly greet Mary, casually walk with two persons who thought he was a stranger on the Emmaus Road, gracefully address Thomas's doubts, and gently encourage and reassure Peter. There is excitement in his return, but no hurry or strain. His resurrection is dripping with grace as much as it is with glorious new possibility.

The patient grace with which Jesus lived his transformation is a model for how we may live ours. In a culture characterized by doing as much as we can as fast as we can, to the point of stressing out ourselves and those around us, how soul-easing it is to know that personal transformation can have as much patience and grace in it as challenge. Change filled with grace is in the spirit of the words attributed to Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29:

Come to me, all you that are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls.

Paul reflects this notion of change at the pace of grace when he encourages us in Romans 6:4 not to sprint or strive in the newness of life, but to "walk in the newness of life.” As we walk in the newness of life, we are more likely to stick to our transformation, to be less demanding and judgmental of ourselves and others, and to savor and enjoy the change process as much as the change result. 

If we are willing, God is willing to transform us at the pace of grace.

Prayer: God,  As I suspect leaves and flowers enjoy their budding before full bloom, inspire me to more fully notice, embrace, and enjoy Your unrushed sacred grace change in me. Amen.

Rev Dr Kirk B Jones

Sunday April 27, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture

Romans  6:4
⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Sermon Title: "Daring to Live a New Life"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Easter Sunday April 20, 2014 at Zion

He is Risen!

Children's Easter Program  9:30 am

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture
Matthew 28:16-20
¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Sermon Title: "A Person, A Plan and A Promise"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Good Friday April 18, 2014

12 noon to 3pm
Seven Last Words Service
at
Washington Street Baptist Church
256 Washington St.
Lynn, MA 01902

Preachers will include :
Rev Dr Kirk B Jones
Rev Dr Anita Farber-Robertson
Rev Eric Nelson

Liturgists will include:
Rev Richard M Shprecher
Rev Viola Morris-Buchanan

Sunday April 13, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Palm Sunday
Annual Diaconate Day
Theme: “Encouraging Others As We Follow Christ"

Sunday Service 11:00am

Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones preaching

Scripture
Matthew 21:1-3
¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Philippians 2:3-4
³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Sermon Title: "Can I Help Somebody As I Pass Along"

And come to the:
Annual Choir Spring Music Festival at 4pm
Evangelist Johnnie Shelton- Living Elevated Church, Brocton- Mistress of Ceremony
and seven choirs will lift their voices to praise the Lord

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Rev. Dr. Everette W. Frye Sr. (1932 - 2014)

Calling hours
Thursday, Apr. 10, 2014
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Bethlehem Baptist Community Church
304 Elm Street
Holyoke, MA

Funeral service
Friday, Apr. 11, 2014
10:00 AM
Bethlehem Baptist Community Church
304 Elm Street
Holyoke, MA

Sunday April 6, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:45am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Please come and welcome our new interim minister this Sunday
the Reverend Dr. Kirk B. Jones who will be preaching

Scripture
Matthew 4:18-20

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

Sermon Title: "The Best Invitation of All"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday March 30, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Jerrell Riggins preaching

Scripture
Colossians 3:12-17

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sermon Title: "New Clothes"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday March 23, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister DiOnetta Jones Crayton preaching                                                              Associate Minister, Morning Star Baptist Church

Scripture
1 Samuel 16:7
⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Sermon Title: “Look Beyond the Mask”
Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday March 16, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Ebonie Aghahowa preaching

Scripture
Luke 15: 11-18
¹¹Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
¹³“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
¹⁷“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Sermon Title: Tell the Devil I’ve Reconsidered”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday March 9, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Nathan B. Ferguson 
Bethel Baptist Church, Roxbury  preaching

Scripture
Exodus  14:15b
^14b"Tell the Israelites to go forward."

Sermon Title: “Move Forward”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday March 2, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev. Richard M. Shprecher preaching

Scripture

Matthew 5:13-20
¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Sermon Title: “You Are the Light of the World”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday February 23, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Gillian Thomas preaching

Scripture
Daniel 10:12-14

¹²Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. ¹³But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Sermon Title: “It’s on the Way”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Tuesday February 18, 2014 at Zion

THE EVENING PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND THE CHURCH IS CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Sunday February 16, 2014 at Zion

CHURCH CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Jerrell Riggins preaching

Scripture
Acts 20: 7-12

⁷On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹²The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Sermon Title: "Who Is In The Window"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday February 9, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Annie Belmer preaching

Scripture
Exodus 13: 17-22

¹⁷When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
¹⁹Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
²⁰After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. ²¹By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²²Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Sermon Title: "Never Would Have Made It"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday February 2, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Richard M Shprecher preaching

Scripture
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
¹⁸For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” ²⁰Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. ²²For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, ²³but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. ²⁶Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, ²⁹so that no one might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Sermon Title: "God's Wisdom"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday January 26, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Andre Bennett preaching

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Tuesday January 21, 2014 at Zion

THE EVENING PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND THE CHURCH IS CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Sunday January 19, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Michael D. Bailey preaching

Scripture
Luke 10:1-12;16-20.
¹ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Sermon Title: "The Believer's Authority"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday January 12, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Steve A. Robinson preaching

Scripture
Jeremiah 8:20-22.
²⁰ “The harvest is past,
    the summer has ended,
    and we are not saved.”
²¹ Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
    I mourn, and horror grips me.
²² Is there no balm in Gilead?
    Is there no physician there?
  Why then is there no healing
    for the wound of my people?

Sermon Title: "Dealing with Hurt"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday January 5, 2014 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Richard M Shprecher preaching

Scripture
Isaiah 60: 1-6
1    “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2    See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
    but the LORD rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
3    Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4    “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble and come to you;
    your sons come from afar,
    and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5    Then you will look and be radiant,
    your heart will throb and swell with joy;
    the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
    to you the riches of the nations will come.
6    Herds of camels will cover your land,
    young camels of Midian and Ephah.
    And all from Sheba will come,
    bearing gold and incense
    and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

Micah 5: 2-5a
2    “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
    out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
    whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”
3    Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
    and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.
4    He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the LORD,
    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
    And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.
5    And he will be their peace.

Sermon Title: "Epiphany"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday December 29, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Ebonie Aghahowa preaching

Scripture
Matthew 15: 21-28

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Sermon Title: "Spare Blessings"

Friday  December 27th  6:30pm                                                                           Joint Kwanza Celebration at Bethel AME at 72 Silsbee St in Lynn with potluck

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

 

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday December 22, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School Christmas Program 9:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Richard M Shprecher preaching

Scripture
Luke 2: 8 - 20

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Sermon Title: "Tidings of Great Joy"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Tuesday December 17, 2013 at Zion

THE EVENING PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND THE CHURCH IS CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Sunday December 15, 2013 at Zion

CHURCH CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Annie Belmer preaching

Scripture
Exodus 13: 17-22

¹⁷When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
¹⁹Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
²⁰After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. ²¹By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²²Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Sermon Title: "Never Would Have Made It"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday December 8, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Gillian C Thomas preaching

Scripture
Matthew 2:1-12

¹After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ²and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
³When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ£ was to be born. ⁵“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
⁶    “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
    for out of you will come a ruler
    who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
⁹After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Sermon Title: "Wise Men Saw the Star: What Do You See?"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday December 1, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Andre Bennett  preaching

Scripture
Luke 22: 3-17 and 13-30
3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Sermon Title: "Thank God for Judas"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday November 24, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Rev Steve A. Robinson  preaching

Scripture
John 10: 1-14
¹“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ²The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. ³The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
⁷Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.£ He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — “

Sermon Title: "Overcoming Worry"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday November 17, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Minister Christopher D. Williams  preaching

Scripture
Hebrews  10:35-39
³⁵Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. ³⁶For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; ³⁸but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” ³⁹But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

Sermon Title: "Press Towards the Promise"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday November 10, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Mission Sunday

The Rev. Adrienne Berry-Burton  preaching

Scripture
Matthew 14.22-36
²²Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat was already a considerable distance£ from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³²And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
³⁴When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him ³⁶and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

John 21.15-17
¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
¹⁶Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
¹⁷The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Sermon Title:  "Walking the Water"

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday November 3, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

The Rev. Richard M Shprecher  preaching

Scripture
Hebrews 10:31-11:1
10: ³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ³²But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. ³⁵Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. ³⁶For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; ³⁸but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” ³⁹But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

11: ¹Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Sermon Title: “Keeping the Faith”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday October 27, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

The Rev. Adrienne Berry-Burton  preaching

Scripture
2 Kings 4:1-7 and 38-44
¹The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
²Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”
³Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
⁵She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
⁷She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

³⁸Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men.”
³⁹One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were. ⁴⁰The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.
⁴¹Elisha said, “Get some flour.” He put it into the pot and said, “Serve it to the people to eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
⁴²A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said.
⁴³“How can I set this before a hundred men?” his servant asked.
But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” ⁴⁴Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Sermon Title: “A God of More than Enough”

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.

Sunday October 20, 2013 at Zion

Sunday School 9:30 am for all ages

Praise and Worship 10:30am

Sunday Service 11:00am

Annual Women's Day  Service

Women of God Working
           Together
In Unity, Peace and Love

Minister Olivia J Dubose preaching

Scripture
Ephesians 4:3
"³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. "

Other opportunities  to be transformed by God's Word
Women's Bible Study             Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Men's Bible Study                  Tuesday night                  6:30- 7:30 PM
Prayer meeting                      Tuesday night                        7:30 PM

Let us worship and celebrate the Lord together.