I think that it's safe to say that in light of last week's national tragedy that many of us Americans sought comfort in our churches on Sunday. I would like to hear from the ministers out there as to what you preached this past Sunday.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Answers

Our pastor (Gregory Wilson) preached/ministered a powerful word of encouragement. As we have many in Toronto that have family and friends in New York City, it has trully hit home. He preached from 2 Chr. 7:14 . He reminded us that first of all God did not do this but God is calling on the body of Christ to take it's place in society. He reminded us that it is time to wake up in the church and take over. He said in closing it is the church that God is looking to to bring about change and we must 1)seek God in prayer, 2) stand on His promises, 3) wait on Him with patience, 4) go forth with perseverance, as we press toward our callings in Jesus.

The Lord moved and souls were brought into the Kingdom.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

After wrestling w/ how to deal with the tragedy, I chose the Book of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall as a back drop for my sermon entitled "Picking up the Pieces". The points of the sermon is that we need to respond to this situation as Nehemiah responded to rebuilding his homeland's security. We must first pray. Pray for family, victims, our enemies, our gov't, and for churches that in light of this we will still exalt the name of Jesus!!! Secondly, we still must praise God! Finally, we must be like Nehemiah and hold steadfast to the promises of God.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Our Pastor who was in the terrible car accident Sunday evening preached " I want to be ready."

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Yesterday, our service was extremely high-spirited despite the somber setting.

Our children's insert was the 23rd Psalm which helped them to dissipate some of the fear and apprehensions they had as young people in light of the spate of television coverage.

The sermon came from three Biblical texts: Psalm 46; II Corinthians 10:3-6 and drew the pieces together with the Whole Armour from Ephesians 6. With the theme the War of the Worlds.

If were are going to battle, we must be properly armed. The belt of truth, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteous and most importantly the helmet of salvation.

The congregation was eager for a Word from the Lord and it was received enthusiastically.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

In spite of the tragedy and the hurt, one must acknowledge that God is still in control. If He's still in control then why did it happen? We know that God did not cause it to happen, He could have prevented it but chose not to.

I turn to two of the former presidents of the USA to find a direction to move in:

"We have become . . . too proud to pray to the God that made us. "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. "But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. "Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."- Abraham Lincoln, U.S. president 1861-1865.

The second; "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.""God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are of the gift of God? . . . Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President 1801-1809

Our failure to adhere to the task God chose for us has reached such a point that we need to (as reflected above) wake up and turn to the work originally entrusted to Israel ... to be Light Beareres. God made you the most powerful nation to spread the news and set the example of a certain life-style. We cannot bost we are powerful, depend on our might and not acknowledge that this is all because of the grace of our Lord. In His wisdom is it okay for 10 000 to die and by such means save 4 - 6 billion people ???

God is still in control Clive

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

The title of this Sunday's message was "Finding Hope". Lamentations 3:19-23. The thesis was: When our present circumstances seem hopless, we can find hope in God when we remember where we came from, remember who brought us out, remember why he brought us out, and remember how he brought us out. We can find hope when we remember where we came from; the affliction the wormwood, V19-20. We can find hope when we remember who brought us out; the Lord's mercies, V22a. We can find hope when we remember why he brought us out; because his compassion fails not, V22b. We can find hope when we remember how He brought us out; morning by morning, V23a. Close: Great is His faithfulness!! , V23b.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

I preached from John 18:28-40; Isaiah 53:1. The title was Whose "Report" will you believe?

Just an aside to this, I believe this can be one of the greatest times of Revival America has ever seen.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

On sunday the Lord led me to preach from the book of 11 Samuel 5:22- 25. Learning To Move W/ God. David ask God if He should go up against the Philistines and God said no. Set thy compass and go around behind them and when u hear the sound of the mulberry tree, that will be your sign to move. God allow thing to happen in its own time. Wait on the Lord and he will exhault thee. The Philistines positioned themselves in the valley of Rephaim. in essence, they were in the valley of decision. At this point in our country, we are in the valley of REphaim, we have to decide if we are going to go on business as usual, or will we seriously turn to God as a Nation.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

I was privileged to preach at the Johnson Chapel A. M. E. Church in Santa Ana , Ca. where The Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler is pastor. The Lord spoke to us from 3rd John verse 3 and Psalms 92:1-2 and I Thess.5:18; from the Topic: "Therapeutic Thanksgiving"

Conclusion: Even in the midst of trying times such as these, giving thanks begins the healing process.When you are in the dumps, when you feel that you have no purpose for living; When your whole world has gone sour, Practice the therapy of thanksgiving, and you will make a wonderful discovery. You will develop a grateful spirit. Your attitude will become radiantly positive. And you will become an attractive witness for Christ.! "my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust a sweeter frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name!"

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

I PASTOR THE GREATER BETHEL A.M.E. CHURCH IN HARLEM NY AND I ENJYED READING THE SRRMONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE CONNECTION

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2001