St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church announces addition of a Sunday early morning worship

The Chicago Southside house of worship welcomes a new service created to accommodate those with busy and working schedules. Beginning on Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2009 a new worship service hour will be available to those seeking to participate in a worship experience but also wishing to begin their day earlier than the traditional start times for worship services. Currently St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church has a 10:30 a.m. worship service.  A new 7:30 A.M. early morning service has been added for those who are seeking a church home, are curious about church, or have a need to accommodate work and scheduling conflicts.  “Our goal is to extend our ministries beyond the traditional time to reach those in need of spiritual direction and uplift,” says J. Leon Thorn, pastor. “This service has been designed to offer opportunities for praise and worship, prayer, proclamation of the Gos -pel of Jesus Christ, and to teach life application of the Holy Bible.” 

St. James AME Church’s ministries are growing to meet the needs of the community. And during Resurrection Weekend St. James A.M.E. has designed events “that are a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the commitment to the faithful members who pray for increase.”

The weekend began with the Good Friday Service, which commenced at 7:30 P.M. The service which usually draws a large attendance brought “both seasoned and new believers together to experience and meditate on Christ’s last words and how they apply to our daily life,” this according to Clenard Ward, spokesperson for the church.

St. James chooses as it scripture to guide these services, “For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert!  Isaiah 43:19 (The Living Bible).”

It is the hope of the leadership that “this additional service offers an alternative for those who are seeking an experience with God in a new and different worship service.  We pray that the un-churched will be compelled to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and join our church family.  We also pray that this addition does not diminish the attendance and growth of the 10:30 a.m. service, but increase our ability to minister to the needs of God’s people throughout the Chicago-land area.”

The addition of the 7:30 a.m. will not affect any of the other services already in progress. It will conclude at 8:50 a.m. and Sunday school will remain at the regularly scheduled time of 9:00 a.m.

Led by Rev. J. Leon Thorn, St. James AME Church offers many ministries for people of all ages and walks of life who are looking to strengthen their relationship with Christ. You will find that the church offers ministries in Community Outreach, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry; Marriage and Singles Ministries; and Youth Ministries. St. James A.M.E Church has been a part of the Christian community for 95 years. The church is located at 9256 South Lafayette Ave., on the Southside of Chicago.

Learn more by contacting the church at 773-785-9733, or visit the website at http://stjame-same.net/ for more information about the church ministries.
Story posted: 4/11/2009

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