We had the opportunity to reunite with dear friends, the pastor and his wife, whom we haven’t seen for – at our best reckoning – 16 years.
We were warmly welcomed by many in the congregation. There is some signage, but with a major remodeling project going on it is understandable that directional signs might be missing. We asked where the restrooms were and someone quickly volunteered to show us.
The sanctuary is pretty and welcoming. The knotty pine paneling of the ceiling is accented well with dark wood beams. Besides the brass cross on the Communion table, there is a lighted one suspended.
We were acknowledged as visitors and humbled when the congregation sang their welcome to us.
There is a wall in the social room which I wish I had more time to peruse as it was devoted to honoring veterans from the church.
The sermon tied easily to the Scriptures and prayers of the day.
I have always felt special that Jesus’ birth was not first told to the intellectuals of the time, but to the shepherds. Considered an unreliable low-life group, these men were chosen by God to witness the birth of man’s salvation much as He continues today to use someone such as me to continue the witness.
I was pleased that the church is so quick to offer prayer and praise. The prayer was impassioned and the congregation seemed very much in sync. Even during what seemed to me to be a litany of devotional readings, the church was not just reciting, but worshiping.
Jan’s thoughts:
Just last week we learned that an old friend is now pastoring this church, so we followed the leading of the Spirit and renewed acquaintances with Bob and his wife Rita. It’s been a long time since we worshiped at an A.M.E. Zion Church.
This church is in the heart of Sewickley, and is just as warm and welcoming as can be. Because of the interior layout, when we entered the building we were unable to avoid interrupting the adult Sunday School. However they were entirely gracious and even escorted us to the restrooms.
We were thoroughly greeted before, during, and after the service. As we have experienced in only a couple of other churches, we were asked to stand and introduce ourselves, after which the congregation welcomed their visitors in song.
Coming as we do from the Presbyterian tradition there are many things about worship in an A.M.E. Zion Church that are strikingly different, and one is the enthusiasm exhibited in prayer. For instance, during one of the early prayers I heard, “We are excited to be here, and we officially invite You to be with us,” and “We praise You for the opportunity to bow before You.” The passion is genuine, and it ricocheted off the wall and landed in my heart.
Twice in the course of worship we were to read from different sections in the back of the hymnal, and I was having trouble locating the correct page. Each time a different woman noticed and traded books with me, giving me one open to the proper page, for which I was very grateful!
The message came from 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (especially verses 24, 26, and 30) and was entitled “I am In and I am Grateful!” He spoke of the “in-ness” between us and Jesus, as in believers are “in” Him and He is “in” us.
After defining wisdom as “the ability to use knowledge for correct behavior,” he went on to contrast Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. In order to be truly wise we must know Him first, and he stated that “Wisdom is in us if He is in us.”
The pastor concluded the message with two glasses of plain water (each representing a person) and a clear goblet of grape juice between them (representing Jesus). As he placed droppers of juice into the one glass, he likened it to the person gradually gaining more and more of Jesus and changing little by little to become more like Him. The hope, of course, is that eventually we are more and more like Jesus until there is almost no distinction.
We were blessed to participate in Holy Communion today and to participate in other ministries of this congregation.
When we left this church I was grateful for the presence of the Holy Spirit during worship as well as grateful to God for reconnecting us with these two old friends. I was truly blessed today.
No comments:
Post a Comment