103 East Avenue * Mailing: P.O. Box 338 * Middletown, NY 10940 * (845) 343-2796

Worship  *  Fellowship  *  Ministry   *  Discipleship

1. Why do the ministers bow in front of the altar before they enter the pulpit?

This act (also referred to as "genuflection") is an act of reverence to Jesus as we approach the cross that stands on the center table.

 

2.  What is that long passage everyone recites?

This is the point during worship that is listed in the Order of Worship as the "Affirmation of Faith."  The long passage that we are reciting is known as the Apostle's Creed. The Apostle's Creed is a statement by the early church leaders to help people understand and to explain the meaning of God’s revelation in Christ.  The Apostles’ Creed is a statement of our Christian understanding.  It is a declaration of our faith, an affirmation of who we are, of what we believe, and of our relationship to the fascinating world that God has given us to monitor and care for.  

Note:  The term "catholic" within this creed is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church.  Our use of this term points to us belonging to God's universal church.

 

3.  Why do you kneel at the altar for Holy Communion?

Our reasons for kneeling at the altar to receive Holy Communion is two-fold: First, our kneeling represents us coming humbly to the Lord's table.  Secondly, we all kneel together and partake together to remind us that before the Lord we all are on the same level.  Before the Lord, no one is bigger or smaller than the other.  We all come recognizing our thankfulness for His grace and mercy bestowed upon us through Jesus.

 

4.  What does A.M.E. Zion stand for?

 

A is for African - the background of the founders of this church.

 

M is for Methodist - referring to the doctrine about God to which we adhere as originally developed by John Wesley.

 

E is for Episcopal - meaning that we are a church overseen by Bishops (their office is known as the Episcopacy)

 

Zion is the name of God's holy hill.  When the church was first formed, the place where they met was called Zion Chapel.  In 1848, Zion was added to the name of our denomination to distinguish us from what is known today as the A.M.E. Church.  

 

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in New York City in October 1796, when James Varick and about 30 other African-American Methodists withdrew from John Street Methodist Episcopal Church and formed

their own congregation. At this point, the African-American congregation was still related to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Its organization was a direct result of the dissatisfaction of African-American Methodists over the

treatment they were receiving in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

 

By 1820, the A.M.E. Zion Church was ready to break its organizational ties to the Methodist Episcopal Church, which still refused to ordain African-American elders.  They broke away and formed what was called then "The African

Methodist Episcopal Church of New York."

 

It should be noted that while the A.M.E. Zion Church was taking form in New York City, a similar movement was going on in Philadelphia, PA at about the same time. Under the leadership of Richard Allen, African members of the St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church broke away and formed what is known today as the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. Although the A.M.E. and the A.M.E. Zion Church shared the same name for a period of time, they were always separate movements. They both serve as a testimony of the greater things God had in store for a people that was being deprived of all the blessings He had for them.

 

The A.M.E. Zion Church stands today on the same principles as those on which it was founded.  We believe that God’s Church is not a place for separation or segregation because of one’s nationality, race or color.  With churches in five of the seven continents we seek to let the whole world know the good news about salvation through Jesus and that all the gifts and blessings of God are available to every man, woman and child.

 

 

St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, located at the corner of East Avenue and Genung Street, had its beginnings over one hundred and forty years ago. The forerunner of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was incorporated November 20, 1861 as the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Middletown.

 

St. John continues to stand today as a testimony of God's grace being placed upon His people.  We continue to serve faithfully, believing that "He who has begun a good work in us shall complete it until the day of Christ's return."