October 8, 2023 - Homecoming

 Welcome From Brown Chapel AME Church

Sermon from Proverbs 22

Welcome 2023 Homecoming/Church Anniversary & Cemetery Association

First and foremost, Brown Chapel Church Family welcomes everyone for another year of celebrating our annual homecoming. This is the 66^th homecoming & after the previous one last year out on the cemetery grounds…..my goodness, didn’t we have a fantastic time?!  With all the hugs, laughter and shared memories, my heart is still singing praises. So, welcome back everyone, welcome back. And for those new visitors who stopped by, we are very glad you came.

We are also celebrating our 135^th Church Anniversary. Can you imagine our forefathers back in the late 1800s meeting, organizing, building and searching for a pastor to lead them? The blood, sweat &, I’m sure, many tears they shed just to forge a place where Christians could meet. As the bible says in Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Through the years each generation trod forth, on a steady path. Choosing carefully, each decision guided by God’s hand. And here we are today, moving forward but looking back, thanking all those who pointed the way.

And finally, we are also acknowledging our Cemetery Association, for their efforts in maintaining the grounds.

So let us celebrate this day in prayer, in fellowship and some good eats!

Homecoming 2016

The Doxology - Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Congregational Hymn - Blessed Assurance

The Written Word - Psalm 34:1-8 - v1 I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise Him. v2 I will boast in the Lord; let the oppressed hear and rejoice! v3 Magnify the Lord with me! Let us praise His name together! v4 I sought the Lord's help and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. v5 Those who look to Him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed. v6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; He saved him from all his troubles. v7 The Lord's angel camps around the Lord's loyal followers and delivers them. v8 Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in Him!

Congregational Hymn - O How I Love Jesus

The Salutation/Occasion
Pastor Baggett, Rev. McIlveen, Homecomers, family and friends.
Welcome is a word of kind greeting, as to one whose arrival gives warm pleasure and happiness.
That is what the Brown Chapel Family feels for you all on this 60th Homecoming celebration.
So, Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Family would like to welcome you all with open arms and warm pleasure and happiness!

The Occasion - On this Homecoming occasion which reminds us that we are all on a journey to that great homegoing, I'd like to take is time to reflect on how God's plan for us has also provided, if we allow it, His glorious protection, as we walk this daily journey.
As our spiritual conflicts with Satan continues, our weapon are mighty and numerous!
For instance, we have the Whole Armor of God which allows us to stand against the wiles of the devil.
From Ephesians 6:10-18, each morning we should praise God in all things and be strong in His might power. Then clothe ourselves with the Belt of truth, put on a Breastplate of righteousness, followed by the Gospel of peace fitted firmly on your feet, hold up the Shield of faith, place the Helmet of salvation atop the heads and arm ourselves with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And finally, pray in the Spirit on all occasions.
Now we are prepared to face another day. But as we go through the rituals of daily life, Satan will attempt to derail us in sneaky ways, such as watching the daily news, that could raise one's blood pressure or listening to gossip. You get the picture. But God had provided another weapon against this tactic. God said in Philippians 4:8, Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and whatever is praiseworthy, think on these things.
There are many other tools that I could mention but I leave you with this thought from 1 Corinthian 15:57, Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Congregational Hymn - Blessed Quietness

Hymn Of Preparation - Father I Raise My Hands To Thee

The Spoken Word - Rev. Clifford Estell McIlveen
Mark 5:25-29 - And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was noting bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind and touched His garment. For she said, "If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole." And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Mark 9:23 - Jesus said unto him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.
1 John 3:10 - By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness - the one who does not love his fellow Christian - is not of God.

• When we believe, it is of the supernatural
• Our faith in Jesus heals us.
• If we pray and believe, God will answer us
• The mind is like fertile ground
• Believe and allow it to happen
• Remember, there are two kingdoms
• The kingdom of God is now at hand
• There is no lack in the kingdom of heaven

October 12, 2014 - Homecoming

Sunday School

James 4:1-17

Drawing Close To God

• We are to obey God
• We are to be humble to God, for God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
• Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
• Speak no evil to one another.
• Do not become boastful in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
• Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Morning Sermon

• John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in the Me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for apart from Me you can do nothing.
• We have God's approval when He have us salvation.
• Be sure that your anchor holds on a solid foundation. (Jesus)
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 - But He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. v10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. v11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
• Isaiah 40:29-31 - He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, He gives renewed energy. v30 Even youths get tired and weary' even strong young men clumsily stumble. v31 But those who wait for the Lord's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
• Surrender your life to Him.
• Depend on Him in all things because only God has the power to bring all things back to Him.
• God loves us.
• Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. v29 Take my yoke on you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. v30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry." 

Homecoming Service

Welcome

Pulpit occupants, homercomers, visitors and Christian friends.

The Brown Chapel Church Family along with Pastor Baggett and his wife welcomes each and every one to our annual homecoming service. It brings great joy to see you once again as we celebrate this homecoming. 

Let us rejoice in our spirits, laugh and fellowship with one another, reflect with fond memories of our loved one who have passed away.

So let us lift our voices in praise to God! 

From Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Rev. Clifford Estell McIlveen delivered the Word from 1 Samuel 17:45 & 47; John 14:12 

1 Samuel 17 v45 - Then said Davit to the Philistine, Thou come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. v47 and all assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord's and He will deliver you into our hand."

Subject: Facing Our Giant

Sub-text: Don't Forget To Remember

Deuteronomy 28:1 - "If you indeed obey the Lord your God and are careful to observe all His commandments I am giving you today, the Lord your God will elevate you above all the nations of the earth.

Sermon Snippet

Family & Friends

Tour of Churches

Brown Chapel was honored with the presence of our Bishop, the Episcopal Supervisor and our Presiding Elder in their Tour of Churches in the Tenth District.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate; Dr. Stan McKenzie, Episcopal Supervisor; Hertha Taylor; Rev. James Baggett, Pastor of Brown Chapel; Rhonda Lawton; and Rev. Darrell G. Caldwell, Sr., Presiding Elder.

Dr. Stan McKenzie and Rev. James Baggett

Bishop McKenzie spoke briefly spoke about:

• Membership
• Church & Community
• Wake-up Call

Refreshments were served in Fellowship Hall as everyone visited for a short time.