National Candlelight Program - 2020 General Assembly

unto thee oh lord do we give thanks [Applause] [Music] ah [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] ah [Music] [Applause] [Music] ah yes [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Applause] bye [Music] man [Music] me [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] [Applause] yes [Music] me oh hail excuse me oh hell i pray that all is exceedingly well i pray that anyone that is in spiritual poverty will obtain spiritual wealth after the end of this program or no later than the end of the assembly let us greet god with gladness let us pray thank you god for crowning us with goodness so now we're asking you to allow us to crown you with praise thank you for allowing our wakefulness to be a worshipful time thank you for robing us with strength thanking you because everything is exalted above you all earthly affairs you have no need to receive anything but you're able to give everything thank you because your royal supremacy is grounds for our human joy thank you because your perfection is suitable material for our grateful praise thank you for prophet william s crowdy bringing this spiritually great work during an immense dark time thank you for all the sleep and prophets who played their own pivotal roles thank you for chief rabbi philip mcneil god i thank you for putting your super with his natural making him a supernatural man of god today i'm asking you to put a hedge of protection around him and his family that no man can break down i thank you father for just allowing kangasak and everyone on this zoom platform to be in the land of the living today i'm asking you father that every obstacle crumbled before us dear father father let your love surround all of us let your prayers support all of us and let healing be possible because of you any of those who are sick father i'm asking you to restore them to soundness of help father any of us that have friends that don't know you let them come to know you through us let us be a mighty force in the world for good dear father let us keep our swords on your side dear lord dear father let the world stop being so critical against each other when it comes to the principle of love dear father let everybody aspire to be the light and this spiritually wilderness coveted experience father we're thanking you for all the many blessings that you gave and father we thank you for all the blessings that you took away for father only you know dear father we're just asking you to put a special blessing on those who are mourning dear father please comfort those who are disturbed and disturb those who are too comfortable dear father let us all seek your nearness let us always stay close with you dear father we're just asking you to walk closely with us dear father we're asking you to continue to work on all of our spiritual progress and our spiritual success father teach us we all must respond in faith rather than fear let us do what is right even when we have been done wrong dear father father let your power continue to entangle us let our head let your healing power surround us as a shroud i'm asking you all these many blessings dear father and i'm gonna believe that it's already done in the name of abraham isaac and jacob and man amen amen thanking god for the opportunity to be found worthy to the to do the invocation and the purpose saying ronald said it's so godly there's no way i could refuse and anything that chief rabbi wants i'm there i thank god for chief rabbi because he's not only an icon but an inspiration he truly cares for all of our salvation as well as the salvation of our nation thanking god for this opportunity to have experienced loss personally and all i can say is if you haven't experienced it god bless you but keep living and you understand what it is too for our sake as well as the sake of others we have to be spent and be we have to spend and be spent in glorious service thanking god because god is still our best doctor and prayer is still our best medicine thanking god that broken things often become blessed things a perfect example broken clouds bring forth rain broken rain brings forth crops broken crops bring forth grain broken grain bring forth bread and broken bread brings forth strength he will heal up your broken hearts and bind up your wounds through us they live those we love don't go away they walk beside us every day unseen unheard but always near still love still missed but always dear i just want to thank god also because he takes out one generation and then calls another generation into place i thank god because he is our only option in life and our only option in depth he's with us no matter what we just have to hold on to the love but not the loss thanking god that i just want all of those who have lost loved ones even recently i just want you to know that sometimes the journey may seem bleak and lonely but look in front of you there are others encouraging you and guiding you look beside you and there are others on the same journey look behind you and there are others encouraged by you you are not alone on this journey and that's what chief rabbi and his program's intent is i thank god for the program committee and let us all work to become more than we have ever been don't forget that the beautiful memories silently kept of our members will live on it lives on through us saints once they're gone then we've got to work even harder we've got to set aside the deeds of darkness and do what is right we can't be better we have to become better sometimes we can't we just gotta hold on to the faith fear not and when we hold on to that faith we gotta choose to do one or two things we either face everything and run or we face everything and lies and we also can't doubt we can't dig up and do whatever we plant in faith so saints we're just wanting you to keep the faith and just know that we care we're aware and we share in your loss house of israel please pray for me i come to the garden [Applause] [Music] [Music] the sound of did this color hoses i come to the garden [Music] alone [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] he walks with me and he talks with me and he walks he talks he talks to me and he tells [Applause] [Music] me [Music] [Music] [Music] he speaks and the sound of his [Music] so sweet that the birds they hush their sea hanging in the melodies that he gave to me within my heart my heart is sorry he speaks and the sound of his fall so sweet that the birds they hush their seed hanging as a man that he gave to me within my heart my heart is so he walks with me and he talks to me and he walks and he talks he talks to me and he tells me i am his own and the joys we share the joys we share as we tarry terry there and the joys we share the joys we share as we terry there and the joys we share the joys we share as he tarry we tarry [Music] oh this afternoon scripture reading is taken from second corinthians chapter 1 verses 3 and 4. blessed be god even the father of our lord jesus christ the father of mercies and the god of all comfort who comforted us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are all which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of god thus ended the reading of the scripture may the lord add a blessing to the readers hearers and doers of his holy word [Music] sir [Music] wow so why [Laughter] [Music] uh [Music] r [Applause] [Music] bye [Music] [Music] more [Applause] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is [Music] [Applause] is [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] yes [Applause] unto the house of israel giving honor thanksgiving adoration and praise to the almighty and most high god thanking this god for the bountiful infinite countless blessings that he has bestowed upon us and upon our loved ones thanking this god for the gift of prophet william saunders crowdy our spiritual emancipator and thanking god for all of the prophets faithful successors up to and including our current leader chief rabbi philip e mcneil grandfather abraham thanking god for all of the grand general district officers the rabbinical council the evangelists at large the entire ministerial body and all of those who are assembled those of us who walk by faith and not by sight it is indeed an honor and a privilege to have been asked to share some words this day during this national memorial program i have only just a minute only 60 seconds in it forced upon me can't refuse it didn't seek it didn't choose it but it's up to me to use it i must suffer if i lose it give a count if i abused it just a tiny little minute but eternity is in it those words authored by the late dr benjamin mays speak to the preciousness of time they remind us that time is something that is both beyond our control and yet afforded to us to use wisely in some sense that may seem like a paradox how can i use my time wisely if i don't know how much time i have we'll come back to that but we have been wrestling with a similar paradox this year in this covid19 era as we seek to comfort one another from a distance as human beings we have become so accustomed to expressing our feelings through non-verbal means either hugging or putting our arm around someone or holding their hand how do you show someone your affection or concern for them through a telephone how do you express your deepest sympathies through a computer screen how do you console someone standing six feet apart furthermore in our congregation we are accustomed to homegoing services that are almost like worship services with singing and preaching and fellowship and we have had to forego all of that of course due to the social distancing requirements and restrictions on gathering it's difficult to say the least some of us have had to say goodbye to loved ones who have closed their eyes for the last time over the phone or through face time some of us have had loved ones in the hospital and we were unable to visit them or we have may have been hospitalized and could not have visitors but one thing that i have come to understand better during this pandemic is the spirit of course we know that god is spirit and that spirit is omnipresent it's everywhere at the same time but we can get so accustomed to feeling or experiencing that spirit in a congregational setting in the tabernacle the sanctuary that we can almost forget its transcendent nature our virtual services have personally reinforced that despite the fact that we are apart physically we are still connected spiritually and that when we open ourselves up we can all feel god no matter where we are john of old was in exile on the isle of patmos yet he declared i was in the spirit on the lord's day david said whither shall i go from thy spirit or wither shall i flee from thy presence if i ascend up into heaven thou art there if i make my bed in hell behold thou art there if i take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me those scriptures reinforce the notion that god the spirit can transcend time geographical distance and setting and for just a few moments i want us to consider this scripture found in second corinthians wherein paul writes blessed be god even the father of our lord jesus christ the father of mercies and the god of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of god paul essentially says that god the father of all is the source of all comfort and that god almighty comforts us in all our tribulation that means that means regardless of what kind of distress we find ourselves in whether it's losing my mother or my father or losing my job whether it's financial or physical or emotional distressed the most high comforts us regardless of how painful or unbearable our anguish may be god is there i submit to you that no matter the trauma or loss we have experienced in our lives god is with us and he alone can ease the pain we are all familiar with the scripture that says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning sometimes it may feel like that morning will never come but if we just hold on it will come paul goes on to say that god comforts us that we may be able to comfort others who are in trouble while i may not always see eye to eye with paul i can work i can rock with brother paul on this one you see job's greatest testimony was when god brought him through his grief brought him through all of the agony and and blessed him with more than he had initially and job declared i have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine i seeth thee as a result of his suffering job was qualified to speak in a way that none of his so-called friends could he could bear witness to the comfort the healing and the strength that came from the almighty god he could stand as a living testament to god's renewing power our former leader rabbi levi solomon plummer grandfather abraham talked about the ministers being wounded healers and while that that too may sound like a paradox what it says to me is that i am in a better position to help someone when i've been wounded and during this national memorial service it it almost seems strange to be talking to you because i too have been wounded in fact all of us have been wounded this pandemic has spared no one we have all lost and felt lost but yet my loss and my healing and my strength allows me and it enables me to approach the person behind me with a certain sensitivity i can talk with a certain authority based on my lived experience i don't have to say that i believe god is a strong tower i can proclaim i know that he is a strong tower i know he's my help i know that god is my refuge and my strength i know he is a healer i know he is my burden bearer and my heavy load sharer that's one of the reasons i believe we draw so much strength from the psalms is because king david was was vulnerable and open enough to say in my distress i cried unto the lord and he did hear my voice the power of that lived experience provides hope and strength for those who are in the storm right now as they say in the street it hits different those we remember and honor today have used their time to leave an indelible mark on our lives and while they may longer they may no longer exist in this plane in this dimension they live through us we have all suffered loss but the most high has left us here for a reason that's to be able to comfort someone else and while we may be physically apart we can comfort because we are all connected in spirit to the spirit the bible says it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that i speak unto you they are spirit and they are life god has created all of us for a purpose and part of that purpose is to use our story our journey and our experience to help others and so my message today is that while we may be grieving while we may be mourning while we may be socially distant god can and god will wipe away all tears and he may use you and i the wounded healers to do it my comrades are you weary of the roughness of your way does your strength begin to fail you and your vigor to decay further on still go further count the milestones one by one my god will forsake us never it is better it is better i know for myself it is further on house of israel please pray for me sounding of the trumpet heart go listen to the joyful sound it is the sound of the coming of the lord and king heartless [Music] [Music] the coming of the lord and king the lord is coming the lord is coming get ready to meet your king the lord is coming the lord is coming he's coming on the earth to reign [Music] oh [Music] from their labor and their works too follow them white's robes shall be given unto them in that morning when the saints shall rise white rose shall be given unto them and they shall wear a story crown white robes shall be given unto them in that morning [Music] be given unto them in that morning when the saints shall rise white's robes shall be given unto them and they shall wear a starry [Music] no more death no more death [Music] shall be no more death [Music] [Music] that's overcoming [Music] he shall be a killer in the temple of [Music] you shall be a pillar in the temple of my god when satan tommy's raging we will call upon our savior who is able to deliver us [Music] [Music] evening morning at noon stretch [Music] and pray for the peace of jerusalem [Music] set your face [Music] oh and pray for the peace i bow in humble submission before this god of grace and mercy elohim this god of might and of power who can make the heavens testify while the mountains shout his name and the angels sing her praise and still he keeps his hand on this broken vessel i'm a witness because i have been kept by his mercy and sustained by his grace in the midst of these troubling times and that's why i'm going to bless the lord at all times and his praise shall forever be in my mouth i'm ever thankful for the obedient spirit of prophet william saunders crowdy the re-establisher of the ancient of days who brought the lights that i might see and i'm grateful for my leader chief rabbi phillip eugene mcneil grant father abraham who with a humble spirit is leading us closer to the god of our salvation and where he goes i will follow to the rabbinical council the evangelists at large the evangelists the elders grand general district officers and to you who walk by faith and not by sight the armor bearers of the god of abraham to our visiting family and friends i say all hell shalom good afternoon when i saw the theme for the national candlelight service through us they live my thoughts immediately went to the verse in luke that says to whom much is giving much is required i remember as a little girl i grew up in a small apartment on park place in brooklyn new york and every time i turned around my parents were letting someone stay in our small apartment which means i had to get out of my bed sleep on a pallet or with them and if you ever came to our house one thing that would never happen is that you would never be hungry and while during this candlelight service i will also be honoring my parents with me what it made me think about was the fact that it's okay to remember them but more than remembering who they were to me i have to remember who they were to the world because what they taught me by their actions was not to be selfish and to share and open our hearts and our home to all those who are in need and that is in fact what prophet william s crowdy brought and i know that every year we honor those that have gone the way of all flesh and i know that those that we have loved and those that we have admired who raised us and saved us who directed us in some shape form or fashion those that have touched our lives in such a way that their absence seems unbearable we then plan our programs to honor those who walk before us we submit photos of our most cherished loved ones we speak words and sing songs of comfort we share stories of what once bars and we take the opportunity to recall with vivid memories their smile they touch their love but i submit that while all those things are necessary and needed there is more for us to do in fact if we believe that they live through us we have a responsibility to continue their good works we have to ask ourselves what mean ye by this candlelight service if we want our children to remember and understand that we are the sea of abraham then we must not only sing i love thy church oh god but it must translate into our actions and our deeds if we believe that they live through us when we feel that we're getting weary of holding up this bloodstained banner let us remember those that worked while it was day that we might have a temple in canaanland fully realizing that they might not receive the promise but they worked anyway so that their children would receive the blessing we have some awesome shoes to fill we come from a spiritual people who didn't have much in the way of material things but what they had in faith and spirit their connection to god that even today's internet couldn't contain the light that they let shine the work that their hands found to do the joy that they shared with others about the goodness of their god they might not have had the eloquent words to explain or describe who they were but because of how they walked and moved in this universe people understood whose they were they were the children of this true and living god you know the peace that they were always striving for the beautiful songs of zion that were written in times of trouble and distress because they feared not and knew that god would be with them what me ye by this candlelight service if we believe that they live through us then we have to do more than light candles we must be a light to the world through our work in this time of darkness if we believe that they live through us we have to do more than have service we need to be a service to our community to our leader and to our god what mean ye by this service that the works of prophet william saw is crowding will live on through us as we follow his director to little children love ye one another that we must honor all those who came before us and who walked and marched and cooked and cleaned so that we might have life and have it more abundantly and that the opportunities that would be extended to us we would bring back to the church and build this work of god if we believe that they live through us we've got to follow our leader leader and truly fear no danger we've got to let this national candlelight service be a call to action as we honor those who walk by faith and not by sight because they live through us if we believe that they live through us let us take care of rabbi crowley's baby and do the best we can even if we're not sure what direction we should actually be going if they live through us let us be guided by the love of god and the faith of god let us stay strong and not be weary let us fear not because god will be with us if we want to make this candlelight service have meaning after we're done with today's program we'll roll up our sleeves and we'll go to work if we truly believe that they live through us i ask the house of israel to continue to pray for me as i will continue to pray for you [Laughter] in [Music] thy name like [Music] thy will be is [Music] give us this day our daily bread [Music] um [Music] [Music] and the power and the glory forever and ever [Applause] [Music] man so yes my prayer is one of affirmation and acceptance i lift my cup of acceptance knowing that he who is supreme above all and in all will fill it man is like to vanity his days are as a shadow that passeth away in the morning he flourishes and sprouted afresh in the evening he is cut down and withered so teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom mark the innocent man and behold the upright for the latter end of that man is peace thou will show me the path of life in thy presence is fullness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for everyone my flesh and my heart feel it but god is the strength of my heart and my portion forever and the dust returned to the earth as it was but the spirit returneth unto god who gave it i shall behold thy face in righteousness i shall be satisfied when i awake with thy likeness i realize the presence of the living spirit within me i realize the presence of this living spirit all around me divinely conceived and perfectly created i will mention the lovingkindnesses of the lord and jesus of the lord according to all that the lord hath bestowed on us and the great goodness toward the house of israel which he had bestowed on them according to his mercy and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses i know that the spirit within me goes before me making perfect plain straight easy and happy the pathway of my experience there is nothing in me or in my experiences that can obstruct the divine circuits of life love beauty and truth may god remember the souls of our revered loved ones who have gone to their sweet repose may their souls be bound up in the bond of life may their rest be glorious with fullness of joy in thy presence and pleasures forevermore at thy right hand father of mercy in whose hand of the souls of the living and the dead may thy consolation uplift us as we remember on this day our beloved and honored loved ones who have gone to their rest we honor those whose desire it was to train us in the good and righteous way to teach us by statutes and commandments and to instruct us to do justice and to love mercy we beseech thee oh lord grant us strength to be faithful to their charge while the breath of life is within us and now oh good and beneficent god let thy grace be with us that we may rear our children to keep thy commandments and to fulfill thy will all the days of our lives oh god take us not hints in the midst of our days let us complete in peace the number of our years verily we know that our strength is frail and that thou has made our days as hand breaths help us o god of our salvation to bear ourselves faithfully and blamelessly during the years of our pilgrimage today we recognize the abundance of life we know good we accept good we expect good and this is our experience god is over all and in all and through all god is right where we are and we are at peace with self at peace with everyone around us at peace with this moment of reflection and gratitude and at peace with the light of thy divine presence amen amen amen we [Music] go [Music] sweet [Music] sweet jerry [Music] to carry [Music] [Music] why don't you swing swing down chain stop and let me ride swing down chase stop and let me ride rock me lord [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] swing swing [Music] sweet [Music] [Music] on the other side [Music] come in [Music] wow [Music] [Applause] other side to the house of israel officers and members of our congregation and any visitors that might be with us on this youtube broadcast i'm giving praise and thanks to the almighty god from whom all blessings flow i'm thanking the daughters of jerusalem and sisters of mercy for this fine program this program designed to honor memorialize and offer a measure of dedication for those of our congregation who have transitioned to another level of life and this is what we're about in this fine program through the lighting of symbolic candles but in a larger sense we cannot sufficiently honor and memorialize and provide dedication for these stalwart soldiers in a single service it is the lives that they lived the works that they did the children that they raised the people that they helped their tireless efforts to do the work of the lord those things provide lasting honor and lasting memorials and lasting monuments of dedication to their time here on earth the scripture puts it so well in revelation chapter 14 and verse 13 they may rest from their labor but their works their lives their efforts those things do follow them so the question remains beyond these ceremonial events what can we do to honor their memories and memorialize their lives one answer is this have become engaged in the battle that they fought so valiantly if they were ministers get engaged in the ministry if they were singers start singing to the glory of the almighty god if they were daughters of jerusalem and sisters of mercy hook into the work of the daughters if we want to honor our loved ones then let them live their lives through us in the words of abraham lincoln at the gettysburg address he said it is for us the living to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced it is rather for us he says to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that these dead shall not have died in vain and so as we memorialize these are these our fine brothers and sisters who have passed on let us decide from this day forward that we will take up the torch take up the battle for which they fought i asked the lord to bless the memories of those whom we honor here today and to bring comfort and consolation to all of us who grieve their passing i'm asking the lord to bless you and to keep you and this is my prayer amen [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] my name is [Music] [Music] [Applause] is [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] and forgive us we forgive our death [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is [Applause] [Applause] know [Music] [Music] ups too and the millions who live across the sea from this i know he is very much alive without him knows where we would be you know god must be mad to roll up he takes [Music] [Music] i know very [Music] you know god bless me boy [Music] we and he sets that's so beautiful is [Applause] he lights [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] alive who know where it would be [Applause] oh [Music] [Applause] oh down in the valley [Music] and i stayed all day [Music] oh [Music] that i'm coming to [Music] [Music] oh trying to make [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] don't worry [Music] a job [Music] uh [Music] [Music] [Music] my [Music] cathedral is build on [Music] memories and gladness and it's here peace in my heart and it's here i pray has no quiet softly [Music] singing [Music] there is [Music] no but still i can say [Music] i loved my [Music] cathedral is a resting place [Music] every day [Music] is [Music] and it's here [Applause] [Music] oh [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] is [Music] [Music] he [Music] is [Applause] [Music] [Music] in the beauty of the lilies christ was upon the cross [Music] that [Music] as he died make a man holy make [Music] is [Music] [Music] is [Music] am [Music] will be [Music] is [Music] me [Music] my [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] how [Applause] is [Applause] [Applause] oh [Applause] is [Applause] [Applause] oh oh [Music] [Applause] hallelujah [Applause] [Music] [Applause] my [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] here [Music] of the yay [Music] the name of the lord [Applause] [Music] from [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is is the lord is [Applause] [Music] is [Applause] who is [Applause] oh yes with god [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] team [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] river to crawl [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] [Music] oh [Applause] [Music] yes [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] dear [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] now [Applause] [Music] is [Applause] oh [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Applause] oh [Music] [Applause] is tell me tell me [Applause] hear the sound [Music] [Applause] tell me [Music] did oh my gosh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] is tell me [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Music] tell me oh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Applause] okay [Applause] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] round round round round round round round [Applause] [Music] run [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] uh in the morning in the morning i'm getting ready [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh me

Channel: Church of God and Saints of Christ

Views: 3,856

Rating: 4.8367348 out of 5

Keywords: Church of God and Saints of Christ, COGASOC, Temple Beth El, Belleville, Phillip McNeil, William Crowdy, William S. Crowdy, Howard Plummer, Howard Z. Plummer, Israelites, Black Jews, Judaism, Hebrew, Sabbath, Bible, Torah, Commandments

Id: 8Giz0YiVB9U

Length: 113min 32sec (6812 seconds)

Published: Sat Aug 08 2020