October 11, 2020 | Mysite 1

FIRST AME ZION CHURCH VIRTUAL WORSHIP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

The Call to Worship and Invocation

We have come into this virtual place of worship and gathered in His name to worship Him. This is the day that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Heavenly Father, please receive us today, empty pitchers to be filled with Your Holy Spirit. Give us the love for one another that we so desperately need to face this world of hate and deceit. Reveal unto us Your perfect will and grant us Thy peace.

Morning Hymn – I Am Thine, O Lord

Scripture Reading (Hebrews 11:1-6 NLT)

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.”[a] For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

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.

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.

Altar Call/Pastoral Prayer – Sweet Hour of Prayer

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, Betty Jo Smith, Joe and Mary Brown, Kyles Temple AMEZ, Sacramento, and Pastor Rogers

Today our Heavenly Father, we come with a praise of gratitude and thanksgiving in our hearts. We bless your name and thank you for the wonderful gift of life. We praise and thank you for allowing your darling Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. We love you and beg your forgiveness of our sins. We acknowledge Lord God that we have sinned and fallen short of your Glory. We ask for strength to stand against these evil and wicked times and to be lights that shine brightly as a witness to your presence in our lives.

Now, God as we look toward another week, we pray your blessings on those who are less fortunate. We pray your mercy on those who do not know you in the pardon of their sins, and we pray for blessings on those who stand in the gap and intercede for the lost.

Bless our Church dear God, and please continue to give our Pastor the strength and courage to lead us. Speak to the hearts of those who have gone contrary to your Word in their thoughts, words, and deeds. Bless First Church in all of those things that we stand in need of and give us a determination to carry on. Let us not grow weary in well-doing. These and other blessings we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Amen.

Song of Praise - Bless Somebody Else

Tithes and Offerings – "All things come of Thee O Lord, and of Thine own, have we given Thee."

Givelify.com (Download Givelify to your Smartphone) or mail your tithes and offerings to First AMEZ Church, 95 S. 20th Street, San Jose CA 95116

Announcements

Today is Pastor Appreciation Sunday. This celebration was established in 1992 with the mission of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries and religious workers. And, in 2020, they could probably use a little more encouragement than normal. Pastor we salute you and pray for God's continued blessings as you serve First Church, the Bay Cities District, and mankind through your ministry.

A Message from our Voter Registration/Project 100 Coordinator, Susan Rigmaiden

Every member of First Church is encouraged to vote and to spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors about the importance of casting your ballot. This site will allow you to track your ballot as to when you will receive it, all the way until when it's processed. Go to https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status/wheres-my-ballot

Thank you to Sylvia Stokes who is also keeping First Church abreast of voting facts. Here's information provided by Sylvia that will help us stay on target for this election. Remember, vote as if your life depends on it.

All registered voters in California will receive a ballot by mail. However, in-person voting locations will be available to voters. Polling locations may be found online by visiting the Secretary of State's My Voter Status tool. Vote early!

California voters can vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Monday, October 5, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live. Early voting and vote-by-mail ballot drop off locations may be found on the Secretary of State's Early Voting website.

What to bring

If you've voted in California before, you don't need to show ID.
If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail, and didn't include your driver's license number, California ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your registration, you may be asked to provide ID when you vote. Acceptable forms include: copy of a recent utility bill, the sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office or another document sent to you by a government agency, a US passport, driver license, official state identification card, or student identification card showing your name and photograph.
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot.

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 of the AME Zion Church, our on-site services have been suspended. This includes bible study, choir rehearsals and community sponsored events. Our next on-site service will be scheduled when directed by the AME Zion Board of Bishops.

Sermonic Scripture Reading - Ephesians 4:1-7

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Song of Preparation - My Soul Says Yes