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Front Page Wanna know what's new in the AME world today, then pop over to AME Today, the web's best location for AME news. NOTE: If you have an interesting tidbit that you beleive Praise might be interested in, please submit info to our editor via email or contact Bro. Mike Catledge after worship services. |
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| Break Out The Repellant!
The annual Tallahassee District Lay Organization Picnic will be held on Saturday, August 12 at Myers Park. There will be a business meeting prior to the event at 10pm, then the festivities will get underway. As always this promises to be a fun time for the whole family so mark your calendars accordingly and make plans to be there bright and early. Oh, and don't forget your mosquito repellant--the critters are in full force this year! | |
| Know Your Church: Church Etiquette & Protocal by Sis. Julie Catledge
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Have you ever wondered why we sit, stand, and enter the church at certain periods of time? The AME Church has a long history, built on traditions. One of the most prominent of these traditions is how we conduct the order of service. Most members know that it is not proper to enter the sanctuary during the Consecration and Doxology, however, you can enter during the opening hymn. There are other places throughout the body of service where the ushers are instructed not to let anyone enter (unless there is an emergency). These moments include Invocation, during the Decalogue, the Introit, and other sacred moments--such as the Scripture reading, etc. Indeed, on occasion one might notice older members exiting with their index finger pointed upwards in an excusable way.
But, do we all know when to keep quiet, infants withstanding? Do we all know when it is not appropriate to enter the pulpit or to become so disruptive that the rights of other individuals to experience God's blessings are impeded? Under no circumstances should anyone, with the exception of the ushers (or at the pastor's discretion), disrupt the choir or the pastor by entering the pulpit. For those who need to bring an announcement to the attention of the church, this should be done prior to service. Messages should not be delivered to the pastor during service. For those who are taking pictures, be aware of the camera flash and try not to disturb tbe speaker. For those who are preparing their offerings, do so quietly. For those who must exit the sanctuary, remember to close the door lightly. If you are not certain of the appropriate time to enter the church, exit, or do otherwise--please, ask an usher, they are there to assist you in that accord. In truth, these matters are man-made, time-honored, traditions of the AME faith, however, they are not, in anyway, designed to hinder your own personal experience with the Lord. If the spirit so moves, sing, shout, exalt the glory of God! Let out an "Amen" or a "Hallelujah" from time to time. However, we are members of a great society of Christians who must learn to obey our man-made, tradition-based, rules of church etiquette and protocol just as we are asked to obey His Commandments