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

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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.

40 DAYS OF PURPOSE
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE CAMPAIGN

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What on earth am I here for?” Do you think you may be missing God’s purpose for your life? Join us as we begin our “40 Days of Purpose Campaign” to learn God’s 5 purposes for your life:

DATE: Saturday, April 24, 2004

PLACE: Zion Baptist Church, 4 Adams Street Ext.,
Lynn, MA 01902

TIME: 11:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

Come join us and bring a friend as we begin the spiritual journey of a lifetime. Registration must be in advance, please call 781-595-0840 and leave your registration information or e-mail us at zbcfor40days@aol.com, or use regular mail to furnish us with the name address and telephone number of each participant. Registration is free, however, we will be distributing the “Purpose Driven Life” book by Rick Warren, to each participant and asking for a $7.00 donation for those who are able.
Hope to see your there.


Sincerely,
The 40 Days of purpose Campaign Team


“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10

We are planning a new date for our mortgage burning ceremony, also becuase of the storm.

The men's choir meets tonight at 7:00pm. See you there.