June 15, 2025
Happy Father’s Day
The Emmanuel Nine Remembrance Sunday
THE DOXOLOGY
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen, Amen, Amen
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord, our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122: 1, 2
People: 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
Leader: Because of the House of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. Psalm 122:9
People: Those that be planted in the House of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13
Leader: Blessed are they that dwell in thy House. Lord, I have loved thy habitation, the place where thy honor dwelleth. Psalm 84: 4a; Psalm 26:8
People: For the Lord is in His Holy Temple, let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20
Leader: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
People: Oh sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth sing His praises. Psalm 98:1a, 66:1
THE OPENING HYMN
We’ll Understand It By and By #394
We are often tossed and driv'n on the restless sea of time; Somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, We will understand it better by and by.
Refrain:
By and by, when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home, We will tell the story how we've overcome, We will understand it better by and by.
We are often destitute of the things that life demands; Want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands; We are trusting in the Lord, and according to his Word, We will understand it better by and by. Refrain
Trials dark on ev'ry hand and we cannot understand All the ways that God would lead us to that blessed Promised Land,
But he guides us with his eye, and we'll follow till we die, For we'll understand it better by and by. Refrain
Temptations, hidden snares often take us unaware, And our hearts are made to bleed for a tho'tless word or deed, And we wonder why the test when we try to do our best, But we'll understand it better by and by. Refrain
THE PRAYER OF INVOCATION
THE CHORAL RESPONSE
There is a sweet anointing in the sanctuary, there is a stillness in the atmosphere, o come lay down the burdens you have carried, for in the sanctuary; God is here, Oh come lay down the burdens you have carried, for in the sanctuary; God is here.
THE SELECTION
THE EMMANUEL NINE LITANY
THE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PREACHER
THE SERMONIC SELECTION
THE SERMON – Elder James Barnes
THE INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
THE TITHES AND OFFERINGS
THE OFFERTORY
All things come of Thee, O Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee. Amen.
THE DOXOLOGY
THE BENEDICTION
2025: Celebrating 10 Years of Ministry and Miracles Praise God for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bible Study: June 4, 11, and 18 at 7 pm Zoom Meeting ID: 829 3635 2029 – Passcode: 808242
Tuesday 7 pm Prayer: (605) 313-5093 - Access Code: 481371
In-Person 9:30 am Sunday School: 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays.
June 17, 2025: 10th Church and Pastoral Anniversary Committee Meeting, at 7:30-8:30 pm, Zoom Meeting ID: 874 9984 5937 - Passcode: 580623.
June 27-28, 2025: Baltimore District Church School Convention, Bethel AME Church, Cambridge, MD.
July 27, 2025: 10th Church and Pastoral Anniversary: Rev. Johnnie Palmer, pastor of Evergreen AME Church will be our guest preacher, along with the Evergreen church family
Goodworks Community Center: Join us as we seek to raise $20,000 in 2025 church anniversary offerings for our Goodworks Community Center which will include worship space, classrooms, church offices, outreach space, community gathering space, and disaster response space. Every dollar donated will be matched 1:1, up to $5,000. Please specify your offering as “Church Anniversary” when you give.
2025 Sacrificial Love Offering: All members are asked to give sacrificially above your tithes and offerings, for the work of ministry. Please give $20.25, $202.50, $2,025, or $20,250. Please specify your offering as “Sacrificial Offering” when you give.
Black History Fact: June 17, 2015: A racist 21-year-old man entered the Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC, and opened gun fire on the Bible Study participants martyring the Emanuel Nine: Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Clementa C. Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Myra Thompson. Let us never FORGET!
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Mental Health and Grief Support and Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: CALL 988 NAMI-Baltimore Metro – www.namibaltimore.org
Black Mental Health Alliance – www.blackmentalhealth.com
Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. – https:/bcresponse.org
Roberta’s House – www.robertshouse.org
MICAH Resources Page – www.micahame.org/resources
LITANY OF REMEMBRANCE
By Rev. Mashod Evans, 4th District (Michigan)
Leader: “I had rather be a doorkeeper the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Yes. But what happens when wickedness makes its way into God’s house? Charleston… Mother Emanuel.
People: Lord, today we remember the Emanuel Nine who were tragically slain on June 17, 2015.
Leader: With open doors, and open hearts, they welcomed the stranger, just like the Bible encourages us to do. Then, suddenly, things took a horrific turn; intentions announced, weapon brandished, pleas offered, terror unleashed, horror ensued. In a matter of minutes, a holy space became the scene of a hate crime.
People: As we reflect on that night and relive those moments, our hearts are made heavy again. We cry aloud again, “Why, Dear Lord? Why?”
Leader: Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Clementa C. Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Myra Thompson.
People: Lord, bless their memory, bless their families.
Leader: Immeasurable grief, YES. Righteous anger, DEFINITELY. Hate in response to hate: NEVER. In fact, the opposite was the outcome. Almost instantly forgiveness was offered, unity was demonstrated, steps toward reconciliation were made.
People: Evil will not win. Hate will not have the last word.
Leader: We are a resilient people, we are a redeemed people, a resurrection people. We know that in death, even horrible, inhuman, unjustified death, God can create opportunity for new life, just as He did in Jesus Christ.
People: Evil will not win. Hate will not have the last word.
Leader: As we reflect, and as we remember, we maintain our hope. A hope that is sustained by a belief that God is our Emmanuel, meaning, God with us, and if God, be with us, then God be for us, and if God be for us, who can be against us?
All: Evil will not win. Hate will not have the last word. AMEN.
Council of Bishops of the AME Church (2019) The Anvil Annual Resource Guide: Sankofa: Worshipping God Yesterday, Today and Forever. AMEC Publishing House: Nashville, TN., p. 241-242.
Sermon Notes:
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