Mrs. Rosa Parks, a civil rights icon who is called the “Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement,” has a special place in the hearts of members of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. To AME’s, she is Deaconess Rosa Parks, a longtime member of the denomination and holder of the venerated position of deaconess.
We encourage every one to take it forward on 2.4.13 by standing up and speaking out in honor of Rosa Parks’ 100th birthday. Match fear with strength during the National Day of Courage.
Please come and learn about how you can prevent a heart attack on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 11 AM-2 PM at our Red Dress Fashion Show and Luncheon.
Location: Douglass Hall
Tickets: $20
Speakers: Women who have experienced a heart event.
Contact person: Joan Oxendine, Metropolitan AME Church
Noted Musician Danny Hodge, Retiring Director of the Metro-Aires, to be Honored at Metropolitan on Saturday, Feb. 9
On Saturday, Feb. 9, the Metro-Aires Choir of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church will spearhead a retirement celebration recognizing Danny Hodge as its director for 42 years.
This will be city-wide, church-wide recognition of love and honor for a noted musician who has given his life towards the progression, education, and development of choral music.
The congregation is urged to support this event. Please RSVP no later than Saturday, January 26, 2013 to either the Facebook event under Geoffrey Tate, president of the Metro-Aires, or contact Mr. Tate via email at GROJEN@msn.com.
February 3, 2013 – African American-Read-In, 1:30 pm in Douglass Hall – Come read a selection from a Black author or just to enjoy the program.
February 10, 2013 – Nannie Helen Burroughs Project Display by Col. James Wyatt in Douglass Hall. Meet and talk to Col. Wyatt after the 7:30 am and 11:00 am service
February 24, 2013 – Annual Day – Speaker: Rev. Jonathan Newton, Reception following 7:30 am and 11:00 am service; Martin Luther King Memorial Stone Exhibit- Douglass Hall. Meet August Williams, one of only two African American stone masons on the project.
March 2, 2013 – Annual Cultural Arts Festival – 12:00 N – 4:00 PM – Fashion Show- featuring hats, entertainment, vendors, lunch
Cost: $15.00 – General Admission and $40.00 for Vendor Table
Do Not Miss These Exciting Programs As We Begin Our 175th Church Anniversary.
For information on either of these events, please contact Consentine Morgan, 301 449-9464 or Joan Oxendine, 301 577-6849.
The Sarah Allen Missionary Society (SAMS) and The University Club are co-sponsoring a trip to George Mason University (GMU) Men’s Basketball Game on Saturday, February 9, 2013. The trip includes a tour of the GMU campus, lunch on campus, transportation to/from GMU by Motor Coach and an exciting game between the University of Delaware Blue Hens and the GMU Patriots. This trip is for youngsters, ages 8 – 16 years old. Deadline to sign-up is Thursday, January 31, 2013.
For further information and to sign up, please contact Virginia Boateng at (240) 381-6193 or Donice Jeter at (202) 262-6962 or see the kiosk in the front of the church for a trip flyer.
President Barack Obama and the first family worshipped at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church on Sunday shortly before he took the official oath of office for a second term at the White House.
Led by senior pastor Rev. Ronald E. Braxton and assistant pastor, Rev. Marie P. Braxton, nearly 2000 members and visitors welcomed the president for the dual celebration of his second inauguration and the holiday honoring the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pastor Braxton’s sermon, building on the president’s theme for his second term, was entitled, “When Forward is the Only Option,” and may be viewed on our YouTube channel.
The service received wide media attention and the church’s website broke previous records for the number of viewers. The Michigan Chronicle called the visit “significant” not only because it marked Metropolitan’s l75th anniversary year but also because “it underscores Obama’s faith posture, which came under fire during his first term in office with some of the religious right questioning his faith.”
Metropolitan’s leaders voiced regret that some of its congregants were unable to gain access to the church. Despite waiting up to three hours for the service to begin, however, the congregation inside was in high spirits. “The songs really highlighted the importance of the faith tradition to our country–especially the Battle Hymn of the Republic,” said Dakarai Aaron, a lifelong member of the church. “While there was certainly a lot of excitement and pride in having the Obama family join us in worship, our congregation did not turn the service into a political rally. We remained focused on celebrating God’s favor and asking God to bless our leaders as they begin a new chapter in their work to solve some of the nation’s biggest challenges.”
It was the first family’s second visit in two years. However, President Obama’s choice of Metropolitan on such an historic occasion turned another exciting page in the storied history of the church. [see “Metropolitan: A Brief History"]. The National Cathedral of African Methodism is not only a major center of worship but its strategic location reinforces the wisdom of the former enslaved persons who built and founded the church. They designated it to be of national character “in close proximity” to the nation’s points of power—the White House and the Capitol. The church’s dedication to continuing to be in the forefront of the civic, cultural, and intellectual life of African Americans will be on display through 2013 as it celebrates its 175th anniversary.
Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Braxton, Senior Pastor
Metropolitan AME Church
Sunday, January 20, 2013 http://www.metropolitanamec.org Scripture: Exodus 14:10-15, 26-30
The book of Exodus gives the reader a very elaborate, detailed and dramatic narrative of the Israelites’ journey to freedom from Egypt and the mighty hand of Pharaoh. Most of us are familiar with the secondary and primary characters of the narrative. Making up the brief listing of secondary characters are: Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt; Moses, the champion of God sent to lead the people (God always has God’s own champion to lead the people); there is Aaron, the brother and trusted right hand person at the side of Moses; and though not visible, I am sure she played behind the scenes a vital role, is the wife of Moses-Zipporah.
In whatever you undertake in life, make sure God has the leading role.
As the narrative unfolds it becomes clear to the reader that the principal character and star is God in God’s effort to move and perform major miracles on the part of humankind. This is an aside: never take God out of the equation; in whatever you undertake in life, make sure that God has the leading role. The God of Moses still moves on behalf of humankind, with miraculous powers.
The narrative moves through a series of strange and catastrophic events affecting Pharaoh surrendering to Moses and his God and mandating by executive order the releasing and freeing of the Israelites. In our text, this morning, the Israelites are on their way to freedom; the march out and forward was on the way; the people were filled with song, praise and laughter; in the air was a spirit of excitement, joy and exuberance. Then, bad news – at the peak of your most joyous moment, don’t be surprised when you get some bad news from somewhere or someone. Pharaoh had a change of heart, and some of his closest and most trusted men convinced him to make a last ditch effort to go after the Israelites.
In all things, seek the will of God, and when God finally gets through to you, obey Him.
Here is another aside, and trust me on this: in all things seek the will of God, and when God finally gets through to you, whatever you do, obey God.
1. Never allow obstacles or fear to blind you of the power, potential and possibilities that rest only in God.
Now, we move to a salient point to always hold on to and never forget. The Israelites have now come to a turning point in this whole saga. They arrive at the Sea of Reeds, or what is commonly called the Red Sea. Pharaoh had amassed a massive force behind them; they were not yet physically, emotionally or mentally suited to encounter the terrain and the forces on either side of them, so FORWARD was the only option. Music no longer filled the air; a major needle had punctured the bubble; anger, regret and terror filled the hearts of the people. Moses goes to God crying, and God says to Moses, “Why are you crying to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.” Here is the point: (1) never allow obstacles or fear to blind you of the power, potential and possibilities that rest only in God.
H. L. Ellison writes, “We can easily understand the terror of the Israelites. They must have felt like so many modern ‘freedom fighters’, when suddenly faced by ranks of crack troops and a battalion of tanks. Nor should we be surprised that they turned on Moses. It was he who had been, as they saw it, the originator, sustainer and organizer…surely he should have foreseen such…in addition we know from experience that, however much we have experienced God’s power and care for us, an entirely new experience leaves us with the uncomfortable feeling, ‘can God really cope with this situation?’” Brothers and sisters, when forward is the only option, don’t let obstacles or fear blind you of the power, potential and possibilities that rest only in God.
When it came to the feeding of the massive crowd on the side of the mountain, the disciples were blinded to the power of and the potential and possibilities that rested in the hands of Jesus. On the other hand, Jesus, himself is a perfect example: when the horrors of a cross faced him and he knew that forward was the only option, he did not allow the cross, the beatings, the false accusations, or the entire Calvary experience to blind him of the power, potential and possibilities that rested only in the hands of God. I suspect and submit that Richard Allen in the early 1800s as he was trying to form a new denomination for freed and enslaved Africans, from friends and foes, had his share of Red Sea moments. I suspect and submit that Martin Luther King, Jr., from friends and foes, experienced more than his share of Red Sea moments. But neither allowed their crosses, obstacles and Red Seas to blind them of the power, potential and the possibilities that rested only in the hands of a loving and caring God.
2. When forward is the only option and no one, including you, can see clearly the way ahead, stand firm in your faith and expect to see the deliverance and salvation of the Lord.
Here is the second salient thought that this narrative provides for us as a lesson in life: (2) when forward is the only option and no one, including you, can see clearly the way ahead, stand firm in your faith and expect to see the deliverance and salvation of the Lord. Because you stand with God does not ensure that your tomorrows will be revealed to you when you think they ought to be. You can surround yourself with all human intelligence, experts and wise counsel and they have their place. You can prepare the best you can for forward movement, but be clear that only God knows tomorrow; only God knows what is down the road; only God knows what is around the corner.
In the gospel writing of Matthew, chapter 10, the Message Bible version, Jesus is preparing the seventy to go out and he gives them this charge, “Stay alert, this is hazardous work… you’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack…don’t be naïve…don’t be intimidated…don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There is nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life – body and soul – in his hand.” And later on, the promise of Jesus comes, “I am with you always, until, until, until…” When you can’t see it…when the way is not clear…when doubts arise, trust in the promise of Jesus; stand firm on your faith and expect to see the deliverance and salvation of the Lord.
I like the way this scripture narrative ends. It does not discount the human experience. With all of their fears, with all of their anxieties, with all of their inhibitions, Cecil B. DeMille (in the movie, The Ten Commandments) positions Moses on a rock with uplifted hands. The accompanying text (v. 29-31) says, “The Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the water forming a wall to the right and to the left. God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians…and as Israel looked they realized the tremendous power that God brought…the people were in reverent awe before God.” Biblical scholarship tells us that they worshipped and praised God.
When forward is the only option, there is a Rock upon which to stand and worship. Through the eternal ages, humankind has come to know that there is a sure rock upon which we can stand and worship. When darkness veils…in every high and stormy gale, there is a rock upon which we can stand to worship and give praise…when all around seemingly is giving away, there is a rock to stand to praise and worship. WHEN FORWARD IS THE ONLY OPTION, ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK TAKE YOUR STAND AND IN AWE, PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF GOD MOVE, MARCH, FORGE ONWARD AND FORWARD IN THE POWER OF GOD.
Scripture: Exodus 14:10-15, 26-30 (Message Bible)
10-12 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them! They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”13 Moses spoke to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.14 God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!”15-16 God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground. 26 God said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea and the waters will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, over their horsemen.”27-28 Moses stretched his hand out over the sea: As the day broke and the Egyptians were running, the sea returned to its place as before. God dumped the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. The waters returned, drowning the chariots and riders of Pharaoh’s army that had chased after Israel into the sea. Not one of them survived.29-31 But the Israelites walked right through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall to the right and to the left. God delivered Israel that day from the oppression of the Egyptians. And Israel looked at the Egyptian dead, washed up on the shore of the sea, and realized the tremendous power that God brought against the Egyptians. The people were in reverent awe before God and trusted in God and his servant Moses.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, the Metro-Aires Choir of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church will spearhead a retirement celebration recognizing Danny Hodge as its director for 42 years.
This will be city-wide, church-wide recognition of love and honor for a noted musician who has given his life towards the progression, education, and development of choral music.
The congregation is urged to support this event. Please RSVP no later than Saturday, January 26, 2013 to either the Facebook event under Geoffrey Tate, president of the Metro-Aires, or contact Mr. Tate via email at GROJEN@msn.com.
Sunday’s worship service is at 10:00 AM. Because of the many high level dignitaries who will possibly be worshipping with us, it is recommended that you arrive at the church no later than 7:30 AM. Church members should line up on the 15th Street side of the church for more rapid entrance.
The church doors will open at 8:15 AM
The NEA garage will be available for parking from 6:30 AM until 9:00 AM when it will be closed for security purposes.
Parking will also be available at the PMI garage beginning at 6:30 AM; that garage will remain open throughout the worship service.
The Church doors will be closed at 9:15 AMand there will be no further admissions due to securityconcerns. Also, due to security reasons, there will be no street parking on the 1500 block of M street.
We expect a large number of visitors who will be in reserved seating so some of our members may not be able to sit in their regular seats. We thank you in advance for your indulgences.
One Combined Service at 10 a.m. Will Also Mark Social Action Sunday
An Episcopal Statement by Bishop William P. DeVeaux and a distinctive sermon by Senior Pastor Ronald E. Braxton will mark Metropolitan’s celebration of the inauguration of President Barack Obama and Social Action Sunday on January 20.. One combined service at 10 a.m. will also be the congregation’s special celebration for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Observance.
Hundreds of special guests are expected to attend the service. These will not only include hundreds of members of the Jack and Jill organization, but also an anticipated large crowd of persons who are in the Nation’s Capital for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.
The pastor will use the president’s campaign theme, Forward, as the subject of his message.Bishop DeVeaux’s statement will focus on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the re-election of President Obama.
Entries
Mrs. Rosa Parks, a civil rights icon who is called the “Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement,” has a special place in the hearts of members of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. To AME’s, she is Deaconess Rosa Parks, a longtime member of the denomination and holder of the venerated position of deaconess.
