First AME Zion Church Virtual Worship
Sunday, January 10, 2021
The Call to Worship and Invocation
This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. In this new year, we pray for renewed hope and love in our land. Dear Heavenly Father, teach us how to pray and how to obey Your Holy Word. Amen.
Morning Hymn -- Pass Me Not
Performed by Pastor E. Dewey Smith
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
The third day he rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Scripture Reading -- Ephesians 3:1-12 NIV (1st Sunday Epiphany Season)
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Altar Call/Pastoral Prayer -- Pray for Me
Performed by The Late Pastor Rance Allen
We are praying for you:
Rev. Keith Johnson, Octavian Rodriquez, Angelikka Carter, James Spaulding, Rev. and Mrs. Braxton, Dwaine Giggans,
Johnie Mae Williams, Christine Ferguson, Rev. Michael Henderson, Rev. Veronica Buckner, Greg and Monica Thompson, Tim and Sarah-Ann Pennington, Ronald Rogers, III , Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Garrison, Mrs. Mary Brown and the Brown Family in the loss of her husband, Brother Joseph Brown of Kyles Temple Church, Sacramento, Mrs. Denise Prince and Family in the loss of her husband, Rev. Timothy J. Prince of Frisco, Texas
Dear Heavenly Father,
We kneel before you today, asking for your forgiveness of our sins and transgressions. The thank you for the opportunity to assemble once again to give thanks and praise unto your Name. Heavenly Father, we do not consider ourselves worthy to gather the crumbs from under Thy holy table, yet you have had mercy upon us and granted us favor in Thy sight.
Today we pray for those on our prayer list and plead that you will cover and protect those who are sick and be a comfort to those who have lost loved ones. We know that Your comfort will sustain them and minister to their brokeness in this hour of grief.
First Church needs you, Lord. We need your guidance and your direction. Teach us oh Lord how to praise and worship you in the spirit of oneness and give us a renewed spirit for serving you.
As we go forward in the week ahead, do not let us faulter, be our buckler and shield. Bind our hearts together with your love that we may stand as a church united to fulfill our mission to reach souls for Christ. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Song of Praise -- Thank You Lord
Performed by Bishop Paul Morton and Mary Mary
Tithes and Offerings
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2nd Chronicles 9:7
Visit our Gift section on the Gift tab. You may give via credit cards, PayPal and Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone). If you prefer, mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116
Announcements
Please mark your calendar for Saturday, January 23, 2021, 10:00 a.m. Zoom Check-Up Meeting. All First Church Officers are asked to attend.
Please check your text messages and email for further updates on the events and news about the schedule for all local AMEZ services. In accordance with the directives of the Board of Bishops, our on-site services are suspended until further notice. This includes Bible Study and choir rehearsals. Our next on-site service to be announced.
The Sermonic Scripture - Ezekiel 37:1-5
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
(King James Version)
Song of Preparation -- Oh to be Kept by Jesus
Performed by Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston TX - Dr. Marcus Cosby, Pastor
Sermon -- A Message for the Hopeless
Click icon for sound
Invitation to Christian Discipleship
The door of the church is open. Now is the time when we offer Christ to you. If you need to make a tough decision, now is the time. Without discussion, dialogue or debate, take that step and unite with First AME Zion Church today. Call (408) 688-6980 and First Church will celebrate with you as you make the best decision of your life.
Benediction
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.