African Methodist—Episcopal Zion Churches

Although A.M.E. Zion churches do not widely observe the Christian year, some congregations have made attempts to include some of its features in worship. This article describes the efforts of one pastor to revitalize worship, particularly through Advent and Epiphany traditions.

The Christian church year presents the cyclical events in the life of Christ. Its perennial use is a vehicle of recall association, much like one's favorite hymn, continually reassuring the believer of Christ's activity in the cycles of their own lives. Zion Methodism has struggled with its identity as a liturgical church. Vested and stoled clergy and the use of paraments were not the norm until the 1950s. The increased number of seminary-trained clergy and the acceptance of Christian education as a ministry of Zion fostered a greater use of liturgy and the church year. In 1968, the General Conference adopted a resolution to observe the Christian church year as a denomination, but in general the resolution did not receive broad support across Zion. My resolution to the 1992 General Conference for the adoption of the Christian church year was more than a reissuance of the 1968 resolution. It was also a call for uniformity of liturgical practices where the church year is observed. Mother Methodism, the United Methodist Church, and others from whom Zion sought direction seem, to this writer, to have lost their way. I believe that Zion should reject the use of blue for Advent, for it is the Roman color of the Virgin Mary, the color of the sky. Purple is, was, and evermore shall be right and proper. In like manner, Zion should object to the removal of red for Pentecost. It is clear that the flaming tongues, like fire, could not and therefore should not be symbolized by any other color. Nevertheless, these arguments for the church year and the use of appropriate colors for the seasons will remain moot (except for theological and liturgical debate) unless and until Zion's episcopal leadership promotes and encourages an appreciation of the benefits of the church year. Clergy and laity must both participate in this discovery, or a liturgical A.M.E. Zion connection will not be a reality. The Shrewsbury Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church where I pastor was organized in 1827. When I arrived in 1982, I began to emphasize the practice of the Christian church year. Prior to my administration, this church observed denominational special days, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The seasons of the church year I introduced were those used by other Methodists: Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, and Kingdomtide. The reorientation process at Shrewsbury Avenue began with the musicians of the church. We talked about the words in the stanzas of hymns and other musical selections that were appropriate for the seasons of the church year. For example, the singing of hymns and playing of music that relates to the Star of Bethlehem is now reserved for the Sunday nearest the day of Epiphany. Hymns for morning worship are chosen to emphasize the appropriate season. During Kingdomtide, we sing "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord" and the "King of Love My Shepherd Is." During Advent we do not sing "O Holy Night" or "As With Gladness Men Of Old," since both point to the Star of Bethlehem. Unfamiliar hymns are introduced during "The Teaching Minute" each Sunday for a month prior to the season in which the hymn is to be sung during morning worship. The theology of the hymn and/or the story of the writer is shared to show why these hymns should be included in our worship experience. This effort has greatly increased the lively participation of the congregation when these "new" hymns are sung. We commissioned our Christian education department to make banners relevant to the season and its color. For example, Epiphany's banner is green, with a star and the words "The Wise Still Seek Him." Clergy stoles and paraments are changed along with the banners. The only exception is that, in Zion churches, clergy always use white stoles and robes and white paraments for Communion Sundays. In addition to the visible seasonal enhancements, I contributed congregational calls to worship, invocations, and prayers to emphasize each season and its theme. These tools also increased the level of participation of the congregation in worship. Zion's current responsive readings for the Sundays of the year have been replaced, when appropriate, with a reading written for the season. We have used most of Zion's special day readings, designed for seasons and days in the church year. Sermon series were prepared according the theme of a season. For example, an Advent series has been titled "Ready or Not, Here He Comes," with the emphasis on the first and second advent of Christ. These changes have produced musicians, choirs, and congregation more keenly aware of the church year and its importance to the renewed life of the church. Musicians are more sensitive about selecting music that is season-appropriate, and deaconesses and Christian education boards make sure the paraments and banners fit with the theme of the season. As we reflected on Christ's wilderness experience during Lent, we realized with greater conviction that the church year does not inhibit worship, rather it enhances it with a unity of thought, with recall association. He is with us as we travel from the bondage of Egypt, through the wilderness of this life, marching to Zion.