REMINDER

If you are joining us for IN-PERSON Worship Celebration

We are gathering across the street at the

Saint Stephen Child Care & Learning Center

while renovations are taking place at the Church.

CLICK ONE OF THE LINKS BELOW TO JOIN THE SERVICE!

Website: ststephenamejax.com

FaceBook: @ststephename

OR

CONFERENCE CALL 605-313-4185, Access Code 369246#

ORDER OF WORSHIP | WAYS TO GIVE | ANNOUNCEMENTS

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK | UPCOMING EVENTS

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023 | 10:00 AM

THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP

THE DOXOLOGY

“Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow”



THE CALL TO WORSHIP

Minister

Minister: I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

People: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Minister: Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good.

People: Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Minister: Blessed are they that dwell in thy house. Lord, I have loved thy habitation and the place where thy honor dwelleth.

People: For the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him.

Minister: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

People: O sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth, and sing praises.

THE HYMN OF PRAISE

"O, Magnify the Lord"

O magnify the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised.

O magnify the Lord, for He is worth to be praised.

Hosanna! Blessed be the Rock! Blessed be the Rock of my salvation!

Hosanna! Blessed be the Rock! Blessed be the Rock of my salvation!

THE INVOCATION

THE SCRIPTURE

Matthew 16:21-28

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Minister:   This is the Word of the Lord to the people of God.

People:     Thanks be to God!

THE INTROIT TO THE DECALOGUE

 From all that dwell below the skies, let the Creator's praise arise;

Let the Redeemer's name be sung, through every land by every tongue.

THE SUMMARY OF THE DECALOGUE

Hear what Christ our savior says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great Commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

 THE 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 MINISTRY OF GIVING 

THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC

THE SERMON

Reverend Dr. David W. Green, Sr.

"Looking to the Other Side of Cross!" ~ Matthew 16:21

THE INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP

THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF VISITORS

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The General Confession

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word, and deed against Thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father for Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake; forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of Thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Sharing of the Elements

The Lord’s Prayer

THE DOXOLOGY

THE BENEDICTION

Sister Carole Jenkins

Passing of her Sister

Ms. Leassie C. Armstrong

in Gaithersburg, Maryland

(Funeralized last week)

Sister Carmen West

Passing of her Nephew

Mr. Ronald Wimberly in Philadelphia

(Funeralized last week)

Brother Alphonso Hodge

St. Vincent's Hospital

Sister Seyburn Rocker

Recuperating at home

Brother Ricky Singletary

Hospitalized in Miami, FL

Sister Cheryl Cooper

UF Health

Sister Brenda Holland

Brooks Rehab Center

Brother Charles Kohn

Sister Patricia Black

Sister Cheryl Oglesby

Reverend Moses Crocker

Deaconess Earlene Edwards

Sister Venus Ross

Sister Gloria Arline

Deaconess Mary Ravnell

Sister Bernice Porter

Mr. Ivory Baker, Texas

Brother of Rev. Pat McGeathey

and Sister Liz Demps

Mrs. Iris Kelly, Ft. Lauderdale

Sister of Sister Linda Frazier

Mr. Harry Senior

Husband of Sister LeeDoris Senior

Prayers for Comfort, Healing and Peace for the Victims, Families and all

who are affected by natural disasters and the continued violence.

Continued Prayers for the victims of Covid-19

and over 1,000,000 (US) bereaved Families who have lost loved ones.

We are so grateful and thankful for the life of our Queen, Sister Geneva Holmes Mungin. Her ministry stretched far and wide throughout the city and surrounding area; and her love touched a multitude of souls. We shared her with many but the love and care she had for us ran deep and shined bright. We are so thankful for the support of the Saint Stephen Family; your many acts of kindness have lifted our spirits and your prayers have helped to hold us steady during this difficult time. We solicit your continued prayers as we learn to navigate life without her and uphold her legacy of ministry and service.

Brother Robert Mungin and Family

********************

The family of the late Walter Eugene Lewis, Sr. extends our sincere gratitude for the help and support during our time of loss. We truly appreciate the Saint Family, for the love you had for over the years for my husband, as he had for you. Your kindness was appreciated more than you know. We thank you for the love and prayers as we focus not on doing God's will.

Mrs. Emma Lewis and Family



HAPPY 76th BIRTHDAY

Brother

HENRY LAWRENCE

March 30th

HAPPY 74th BIRTHDAY

Sister

SYLVIA EBRON

March 31st

CHURCH CONFERENCE

Pastor David Green is calling for a Church Conference, to take place Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 10:00 am, In-person at the Child Care and Learning Center.

VISION 2020 UPDATE MEETING

Saturday, April 29, 2023

10:00 am at the Child Care and Learning Center



QUARTERLY CONFERENCE

Presiding Elder Karl V. Smith will convene the Second Quarterly Conference Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 6:00 pm on ZOOM. Reports are to be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 11th.



The Christian Education Department

will present

    EASTER GARDEN 2023 LIVE - The Rebirth

Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 8:30 am

We are planning a High Praise Celebration for our first LIVE Garden Presentation since 2019!! We would not only like all Saint Stephenites to be in attendance, but to also PARTICIPATE with us. Please see below how you may get involved. ALL NAMES AND INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY TUESDAY, APRIL 4th.

** ALL NAMES AND INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY TUESDAY, APRIL 4th.

** EASTER GARDEN REHEARSAL will take place on Good Friday, April 7th, at 11:00 am, at the Child Care and Learning Center.



Click the image for PART TWO of the Lent Devotional

VISION 20/20

It's Time to Move Up!!

We are thankful for the dedicated and faithful members of Saint Stephen AME Church, who continued to give generously towards this effort. We also greatly appreciate those who have made a Monthly Commitment to give for the next year as we move forward:

Pastor David Green, Sr.

Lady Kimberly Green

Charlene Taylor Hill

James Crawford

Dr. Ronald Stephens

Hazel Agee

Gloria Arline

Darryl Atkins

Quincy Axson

George Baker

Judith Baker-McKeithan

Mary Barney-Kirkland

Cynthia Benjamin

Mary Blake-Holley

Juliann Blackmon

Bridgett Brown

Stacie Brown

Carrie Bryant

Levon Burnett

Kwame Chambers

Joann Christian

Donna Cobb

Patricia Conway

Rev. Moses Crocker

Sandra Crocker

Susie Davis

Sis. Clattie Dawkins

Carolyn Day

Charles Demps

Elizabeth Demps

Joritta Dotson

Jolita Durden

Russell Earl

Gwen Earl

Sylvia Ebron

Michael Finley

Kathy Payne Foreman

Mary Gardner-Brown

Ronald Gardner

Yulanda Glenn

Doris Glover

Dr. Nathaniel Glover

Rev. David Green, Jr.

Bishop Samuel Green

Elijah Griffin

Valerie Griffin

Erica Harvey

Jimmy Henderson

Juanita Henderson

Marie Hightower

Harriette Holland

Thelma Howard

Judy Hubbard

Carolyn Jackson

Donna Jackson

Carole Jenkins

Fredrick Jenkins

Lawrence Johnson

Tina Johnson

Larry Jones

Mattie Jones

Myschelle Jones

Rue Kirkland

Mildred Lambert

Euzella Lawrence

Henry Lawrence

Mazie Lawrence

Reginald Lawrence, Sr.

PE Lorenzo Laws

Bethany Lawton

Vanita Lawton

Marco Leathers

Taige Leathers

Linda Mack

Rev. Amy Mainor

Edith Mainor

Paula Maple

Rose Maxey

LuCretia McBride

Leola McCants

Ariel McClain

Darrell Hampton-McClain

Deneen McClain

Geneva McClain

Jaylon McClain-Sapp

Jeannetta McClain

Johnnetta McClain

Joshua McClain-Sapp

Matthew McClain

Rev. Patricia McGeathey

Carolyn McIntosh

Janice McIntosh

Callie Merriweather

Carol Boyd Mitchell

Robie Mixon

Gwendolyn Moore

Michael Morris

Stephanie Neloms

Terri Newberry

Cheryl Oglesby

Donna Okeafor

Charlean Outler-Lawton

Katura Owens

Patricia Owens

Cheryl Parker

Velma Pearson

Jackie Prime-Thompson

Robert Ray

Sonya Ray

William Roberson

Rev. Donald Rocker

Seyburn Rocker

Ola Rutledge-Cargile

Selma Rutledge

Velma Rutledge-Ross

Rosa Salter

Crystal Sapp

Kenneth Scott

Rose Simfukwe

Herman Stewart

Isabelle Tarver

Donna Thomas

Patricia Timmons

Clara Tremble

Claudia Tremble

Christian Turner

Bishop Robert Webster

Carmen West

Zenobia Williams

Hazel Howard Wilson

Margie Witherspoon

Davis Wright

Le'mmon Wright

Patricia Wright

If you have not yet made your pledge, it is not too late to do so. In-person, ask the Usher for a Commitment Card and submit it today, or click the Image below to access the Commitment Card and return it to the church as soon as possible.