It's Sunday ...... Guess Where I've Been?

Yes it's Sunday so it means I gather with God's people for public worship and to say things were different today would be an understatement.

Let me give you some context. Today I went into Charleston to join Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for worship.

The church was founded in 1817 and is one of the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church congregations in the Southern USA. AME was the first independent, black denomination in the USA.

The history of the church is one of fighting injustice, racism and oppression as well as holding out the need for individuals to come to a saving faith in Jesus.

At the time in 1817 state decrees limited worship services by black people to daylight hours, required that a majority of congregants in a given church be white, and prohibited black literacy. In 1818, Charleston officials arrested 140 black church members and sentenced eight church leaders to fines and lashes.

Denmark Vasey, one of the churches founders was tried in a show trial in 1882 and accused of leading a slave revolt. Along with five other organisers he was sentenced to execution in a secret trial and on July 2nd was executed.

On June 17th 2015 a stranger by the name of Dylann Roof walked into the church and in an act of racially motivated hate shot dead nine members of the congregation, including the pastor Clementa Pinckney.

What a history and what a lot to deal with!

As I joined the church the worship was joyful and we were encouraged to focus on the greatness and goodness of God not our problems and issues.

The choir were robed, the service was liturgical and the preaching was passionate. There was no children's talk and no attempt at being 'contemporary'.

There was a coachload of visitors from out of town and we were all welcomed and encouraged to stand, as we did so we were applauded and made to feel most welcome.

Mother Emmanuel Church are involved in the civic life of the church and it seems they work hard to help the poor and offer hope to those who struggle.

We shared communion together which was unusual as we received the bread and wine in a ziplock packet and in sealed bread and wine containers. By the time we had all been served it felt like the moment had been lost and despite the thorough liturgy my mind was wandering and wondering what I'd do when I left.

The time with Emmanuel was beautiful. The worship was wholehearted and the preacher felt genuine. TImes like this make me wonder what heaven will be like. The trumpeter today did a fantastic job in accompanying the organ and choir.

Check out their website if you'd like to find out more....

Mother Emmanuel Website.