Order Has Been Restored….

ACOLYTE MOMENTS African Methodist Episcopal Church

Newsletter Date Aug. 1 2008

Volume 1, Issue 1

“God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother ”

Gloria Duplessis

Director/Trainer

A member of the

African Methodist

Episcopal Church

for as long as she

can remember in the

8th 5th 4th and the

6th Districts respec-

tively has recap-

tured the great tra-

dition of spiritual

worship.

HISTORY IS BEING MADE…Today at Tranquil African Methodist Episcopal Church, we look

back and recapture the tradition and reflect upon the spiritual aspect of our worship service. Up-

holding the tradition of the order of service that has been handed down from the beginning, the

altar servers have been reinstituted to become an integral part of our worship.

THE OFFICE OF ACOLYTE

Taren A. Oglesby, age 12, Byron J. Johnson, age 9 and Travis J. Johnson age 7, answered the call,

received the proper training and have passed all necessary requirements for the acceptance of this

office (The Office of Acolyte). The Ceremony was performed on March 30, 2008, at the 11:00

a.m. worship service by J. Larry Ervin ll, Senior Pastor.

The beautiful melody of the chimes on the organ sounded out, “We have come unto this house to

worship him, Christ the Lord”. There was a great silence that swept over the sanctuary, while the

Director/Trainer, Gloria Duplessis-consecrated Acolyte led the Processional to light the altar can-

dles. The candidates for consecration led the worship processional followed by Pastor Ervin, Rev-

erend Archie W. Morris, Worship Leader and Bro. Barron Chisholm, Youth Minister.

During the Altar Call, the Acolytes and there presenters, Father, Mother, Youth Minister, Director-

Trainer and Stewardess approached the altar. The Acolytes were asked to kneel at the altar where

the prayer of consecration was offered. Pastor, Ervin gave the instructional part of the ceremony,

which included the receiving of the Vestments, (the colors of the Vestments red and white), the

Tapers and anointing of the foreheads for the bestowal to the office. Our Pastor performed the

Consecration ceremony with elegance and great spiritual exhortation. Carolyn Windfield, Lyric

Soprano, rendered the 3-fold “Amen” accompanied by our accomplished musician, Jackie Smith-

Ervin.

HISTORY REPEATS….. Byron J. and Travis J. Johnson are 5th generation African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Taren A.

Oglesby is a 6th generation African Methodist Episcopal (AME). Byron and Travis’ father and

mother are both 4th generation. The father also served as an Acolyte while at an early age in the

church of his origin, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fairfield, AL. and Mother’s

church background stems from the state of Virginia. Taren’s historical trace in the African Meth-

odist Episcopal Church reveals her mother as a 5th generation African Methodist Episcopal stem-

ming from grand and great grand parent of South Carolina’s 7th Episcopal District-St John AMEC

in Columbia, SC.

Our Pastor, J. Larry Ervin ll, was also an acolyte at an early age, and today is performing the same

rituals to three acolytes that at one time he had received.

Faith without works cannot be called faith. Faith without works is dead, and a dead

faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visi-

ble. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but

it must be more. It must inspire action. Throughout his epistle to Jewish believers,

James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that true

faith must manifest itself in works of faith. Faith endures trials. Trials come and go,

but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Faith understands

temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin. Faith obeys

the Word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doers. Faith harbors no

prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist. Faith displays itself in

works.” Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith

without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Faith is more than

mere words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it ob-

viously responds to the promises of God.

FAITH...IT IS WHAT IT IS

“ show me thy faith without thy

works, and I will show thee my

faith by my works.” JAMES 2 : 18

Page 2 ACOLYTE MOMENTS

CANDLES HAVE BEEN USED IN CHRISTIAN

WORSHIP SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, FIRST BE-

CAUSE THEY PROVIDED LIGHT NECESSARY

FOR READING AND IN RECENT TIMES BE-

CAUSE OF THEIR SYMBOLIC VALUE, SIGNI-

FYING CHRIST AS THE LIGHT OF THE

WORLD. GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO

DARKNESS AT ALL (1 JOHN 1:5).

MEDITATION- WHILE THE CONGREGATION IS

SEATED, SILENCE WITH PRAYER, THE ACOLYTES EN-

TER FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE

Barron Chisolm, Youth Minister is sharing the same experience, reflecting back to

his childhood.

Truly, this is history. The congregation of Tranquil African Methodist Episcopal

Church located at 4450 Dorsett Shoals Road, Douglasville, Georgia, of the 6th Epis-

copal district of the North Atlanta Conference will cherish this memory for years to

come.

Now as our candidates have been consecrated as the true Acolytes, they partici-

pated in the Recessional, by first extinguishing the Altar Candles. This was done by

Taren A. Oglesby and Byron J. Johnson. Travis J. Johnson led the Acolyte reces-

sional, followed by the choir, worship leaders and Pastor. Again, the voice of our

Lyric Soprano, Carolyn Windfield echoed over the sanctuary, accompanied by our

Musician, Jackie Smith- Ervin the exuberant and exhilarating works of Ludwig

Von Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Chorale, “Ode to Joy”.

Special Thanks to the following supporters:

Pastor J. Larry Ervin, II-Pastor Tranquil African Methodist Episcopal Church

Gloria Duplessis-Director of the Acolytes

Byron and Trina Johnson-Parent, Member and Steward

Tamika and Jonathan Miles-Parent, Member

Catherine Wynn- Steward, Member and Financial Supporter

Opal Ervin-Stewardess, Member

Carolyn Windfield-Soloist, Member, Choir

Jackie Smith-Ervin- Music Director

Kenny McCoy-Photographer, Layout/Computer Graphics Designer, Member

NATIONAL ACOLYTE FESTIVAL 2007

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 1

ACOLYTE FESTIVAL 2008

THE 29TH ANNUAL NATIONAL ACOLYTE FESTIVAL WILL BE AT THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008. THE FESTIVAL

SERVICE OF HOLY EUCHARIST WITH REDEDICATION OF ACOLYTES WILL OCCUR AT 10AM FOLLOWED BY LUNCH AND A VARIETY OF WORKSHOPS AND TOURS.

THE CATHEDRAL LOOKS FORWARD TO WELCOMING ACOLYTES AND LEADERS FROM PARISHES AND DIOCESES AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR AN EXCITING

DAY OF WORSHIP, CELEBRATION AND ENRICHMENT. MORE DETAILS ON THE 2008 ACOLYTE FESTIVAL WILL BE POSTED AS THE DATE APPROACHES.

.

Acolyte Schedule

Welcome to the first edition of The Acolyte Moment

Newsletter , one of many that will enlighten and give

positive information to our readers. We hope to even in-

spire you to get involved in your Church Community. We

dare to be different in our approach and content to en-

gage thought and conversation among the Community of

The African Methodist Episcopal Church. The forth com-

ing information will be Historical and Factual as well as

beneficial to our readers.

Thank You and God Bless You

Kenny McCoy Publisher Acolyte Moment Newsletter/

Graphic Design/Photographer/Editor

Gloria Duplessis Historian/Editor/Consultant/Educator

E-mail: kmccoy@upar.us

E-mail: frankfinch@comcast.net

Afr i can Me thod is t Ep i s copal

Church

The Acolytes are happy to announce that they will be resuming their positions as Altar Servers again, beginning the 1st Sunday in August. SUMMER VACATION IS

OVER. I'm sure we've been missed and we've missed serving.

2008-2009 Acolyte Schedule: 1st, 2nd and 5th Sunday at the

11:00 a.m. Worship service.

Morning worship music-TBA (to be arranged)