By Rev. Sheri D. Smith Clayborn, TCR Contributing Writer
Thursday, July 8, 2021, the 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered in person at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center and around the world virtually for the Service of Word and Sacrament. Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson led worship.
The MCAM Ensemble provided The Moments of Praise prior to the Doxology (AME Hymnal No. 647). The Call to Worship was led by Bishop Reginald Jackson and written by Bishop E. Anne Henning-Byfield. The Opening Hymn, “The Blood That Jesus Shed for Me” (AME Hymnal No. 137), was led/lined by Bishop Stafford J. N. Wicker, followed by The Invocation prayed by Bishop Clement W. Fugh. “Sweet Hour of Prayer” is the prayer response that followed. The anthem, “Inflammatus” (Rossini), was lifted through video/multimedia presentation. The Scripture Lesson was read from 1 John 1:5-7 (NIV) by Retired Bishop Robert Webster. The Preface to the Decalogue~ “From all that Dwells” (AME Hymnal No. 69) and Bishop Henry Turner’s version of The Summary of the Decalogue was led by Bishop John F. White, Sr. The Gloria Patri followed.
The worship service program chair, Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, presented the preacher, The Right Reverend Samuel L. Green, Sr., the Presiding Prelate of the 7th Episcopal District and the former pastor of St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church (Orlando, FL). The Seventh Episcopal District/MCAM choirs lifted the sermonic selection and invited us to join in the Low Country connection that transitioned us from mainstream to down home as they sang, “O Thou, In Whose Presence” (AME Hymnal No. 83). The Facebook chat lit up in response to their invitation through ancestral sounds.
After Bishop Green gave honor to God, his family and friends for their support, he opened with the prayer, “Do it again. Amen.” His text was Nehemiah 2:1-5 – using the title, “I Can’t Do This Anymore.” Bishop Green began his sermon by sharing a statistic that four million people left their jobs in April 2021, according to a report from NPR. The pandemic prompted this move. It was as if the issues of our current society caused millions of people to rethink their lives. Bishop Green said, “We are one problem away from our greatest moment.”
Bishop Green states that Nehemiah was in the same position. He was sick of his situation with his home country in ruins. He had a prestigious job but was unfulfilled. Bishop Green referenced the words of Jesus, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.” Only the things of God fulfill us!
Bishop asserted that something deeper was calling out to Nehemiah. Deep calls unto deep! Our future will call to us. We must listen to the voice of God. Often times we do not recognize God’s voice. One of the unique places that God’s voice can be found, according to Bishop Green, is in restlessness. God will not leave us alone until God squeezes glory out of our lives. Nehemiah’s future called to him, and he heard God’s call through his own restlessness regarding the ruins of his hometown. We don’t know him as a cupbearer; we know him more as a builder…that was his destiny.
Bishop Green declared that when we declare we can’t do this anymore, we are saying that we are ready for what God has for us. God has miracles for us. Better is coming. Get ready for an upgrade! Bishop Green’s sermon ended in celebration and praise!
The invitation to Christian Discipleship was extended by Bishop Green. Part of Bishop Green’s closing prayer was “Breathe on us, God. O breath of God, renew, restore and revive us. Breathe on us.”
The Offertory Appeal was led by Bishop E. Anne Henning-Byfield. Communion was held simultaneously in each of the delegate rooms. Communion included: The Solicitation (Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr.); The General Confession (Bishop Julius H McAllister, Sr.); The Summary of the Collects – Humiliation and Adoration (Bishop Michael L. Mitchell); The Prayer of Consecration (Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr.); and singing the Caribbean version of The Lord’s Prayer (MCAM). The Celebration was led by Bishop Stafford J. N. Wicker, “What A Mighty God We Serve.” The service concluded with The Announcements (Bishop Ronnie Brailsford), Closing Remarks (Bishop Vashti McKenzie), and the Benediction by Retired Bishop John R. Bryant. Bishop Harry L. Seawright led the Recessional.
