9 am Daily Morning Prayer
2025-09-30 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-01 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-02 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-03 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-06 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-07 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-08 09:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-09 09:00 - 09:30 UTC and 13 more dates
Dial into the prayer line for early morning prayer Dial 716-427-1562 Enter code: 786535 then press # When dialing in, please remember to mute yourself by pressing *6

Women's Day Rehearsal
2025-10-04 11:00 - 13:00
Welcoming All Ladies to rehearsal for the Women’s Day Choir

Annual Women's Day
2025-10-05 10:00 - 12:00
Guest Preacher: Elder Rosalind Christian, Associate Minister, Cornerstone UHC
Theme: “Women of Faith Declaring God’s Plan” – Luke 1:38a

Bible Study - Lamentations Chapter 1
2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:00
You can join in Bible Study via Zoom.
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.

Facilitator will be Elder Charlene Mills Watkins. See the notes for bible study below:

When we are confronted with the brokenness of the world we live in, what can we do about it?
N.T. Wright says, “Complaint is an accusation against God that maligns His character, but lament is an appeal to God based on confidence in His character.”
Read Jeremiah 52:1-19 – Important Background for the study of Lamentations Chapter 1:1-22
Discussion Questions

What is the meaning of lament?
How is Jerusalem personified in verses 1-3, and what does this comparison to a widow and a slave tell us about the city’s condition?
How does the text describe the depth of grief and mourning, particularly in verses like 11 and 16?
How can we apply the experience of Jerusalem’s lament to our own lives when we face the consequences of our decisions?
In what ways can this chapter encourage a more thoughtful approach to personal sin and the need for God’s mercy?

"I Am a Church Member" Book Study
2025-10-17 18:00 - 20:00
The book study will be held in St. John’s lower level. This session will cover Chapters 1, 2, & 3.

District Elder fall meeting
2025-10-18 10:00 - 12:00

Wednesday Bible Study - Lamentations 2
2025-10-22 18:30 - 20:00
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.

Bible Study October 22, 2025
Lamentations Chapter 2 Facilitator, Elder Charlene Mills Watkins
Read Lamentations 2:1-17 and Reference Scriptures Please include other translations in your reading, in addition to KJV (for example NIV, NLT, Message, and Amplified)
Outline

God as the enemy of Jerusalem
(1-5) The Lord as Jerusalem’s enemy
How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud of His anger (1Kings 8:10-12); Ezekiel 10:4-5; Matthew 5:35; Acts 7:40; 1 Chron. 28:2; Mt. 11:21ff
He has thrown down in His wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah
Standing like an enemy. He has bent His bow.
(6-7) The Lord destroys His own tabernacle
He has done violence to His tabernacle:
The Lord has caused the appointed fests and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion
They have made a noise in the house of the Lord
A city reacts to the judgment of God.
(8-9a) The defenses of the city react.
The Lord has proposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: b. He has stretched out a line:
Her gates have sunk into the ground:
(9b-10) The people of the city react.
Her king and her princes are among the nations:
The Law is no more, and her prophets find no vision from the Lord: c. The elders of the daughters of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence:
The virgins of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground: 3. (11-12) The prophet reacts.
My eyes fail with tears:
They swoon like the wounded:
Longing to comfort a forsaken city
(13-14) False prophets cannot comfort
How shall I console you?
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions: 2. (15-16) Friends and foes cannot comfort Jerusalem
All who pass by clap their hands at you:
We have swallowed up:
God’s purpose on the day of the Lord’s anger.
(17) The judgment of Jerusalem as what God purposed. a. The Lord has done what He purposed: (Lam. 2:8)
He has caused an enemy to rejoice over you:
(18-19) The prayer of Jerusalem’s enemies
O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night:
Lift your hands toward him for the life of your young children: 3. (20-22) The agony of the perishing city.
To whom have You done this? (2 Kings 6:28-29)
You have slain them in the day of Your anger:

Wednesday Bible Study - Lamentations 3
2025-10-29 18:30 - 20:00
Go to www.sjuhcrichmond.org and scroll down and select the yellow “Watch” button and then select the “Zoom link for services” button to join bible study or any service.
Bible Study October 29 Lamentations 3
Facilitator will be Elder Charlene Mills Watkins. See the notes for bible study below:
Lamentations 3 “Great Is Your Faithfulness”- God’s Mercy in the Midst of Disaster
Read Lamentations 3: 1-66 and Reference Scriptures. Please include other translations in your reading, in addition to KJV(for example NIV, NLT, Message, and Amplified)
Outline

Opposed by the Lord
(1-9) The one afflicted by the Lord(besieged, turned hand against me, shuts out my prayer) Ps. 51:8; Isa.38:13;Job 30:20
(10-18) God an adversary in many ways(bear lying in wait, strength & hope perished) Job 19:27;Prov.23:16;Hosea 6:1;Job 7:20;30:9;Pr.20:17
Rising hope in God’s help.(sinking soul, affliction & roaming)

1.(19-20) The sinking soul.

(21-23) New mercies from a faithful God.(This I recall to mind,hope,”concerned but not consumed”, new mercies, compassions, faithfulness)
(24-26) God’s goodness to the sinking soul(Lord is my portion,I hope in Him: seek Him,hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Ps. 119:57 4. (27-29) Hope for the silent soul. It is good to bear the yoke in youth,sit alone and keep silent.Ps.47:7;Jer.15:17.
(30-36) The goodness of God even in justice.(give cheek to the one who strikes; For the Lord will not cast off forever:He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children. Ps.94:14;Eze.33:11;Hab.1:13;Isa.50:6;Mt.27:27ff & 26:67-68;Lk.22:64 C. Prayers of humble trust in God

(37-39) The God who cannot be opposed; Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed?Why should a living man
complain:Ps.33:9-11;Job2:10;Mic.7:9

(40-47) Humbly turning back to God. (search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord;You have made us an offscouring and

refuse.Ps.119:59;Da.9:5;1Cor.4:13;Isa.24:17-18

(48-51) Weeping over destruction.(eyes overflow with rivers of water:Lord from Heaven looks down and sees.Jer.14:17;Is.63:15
(52-56) Praying for help under enemy(enemies hunted me down like a bird;I called on your name,O Lord. Ps.35:7;69:2
(57-63) Thankful and confident of future help.(You drew near on the day I called You:Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul and seen how I am wronged and all their vengeance. Is.41:10;Ps.39:1
(64-66) Giving vengeance to God. (Repay them, Lord, according to the work of their hands; Your curse be upon them;In Your anger, pursue and destroy. Ps.28:4; Is.6:10

Summary
The book of Lamentations demonstrates the purpose and power of lament. It not only points to the destruction of Jerusalem, but also shows us how to pray when the dark clouds of suffering roll in. Through Christ we show the world what it means to be covered by grace, despite the hurts of this life. When suffering comes, Psalm 34:18 is a promise of God; “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Reasons to Read and Study Lamentations

Lamentations displays the severity of sin and the holiness of God. We have reasons to lament.
Lamentations gives the Church a voice in suffering. Lament fills the gap. 3. Lamentations provides hope. It matters how we respond when everything falls apart.
Lamentations doesn’t end with resolution. Lamentations reminds us that God is good and faithful when our circumstances suggest He is not.

4 lessons from Lamentations About Suffering

God will bring us to desperate places. God doesn’t waste desperate places. 2. God is merciful and draws His children to repentance. God does not leave us in our suffering.
God is patient with our response to suffering. Remembering the truth of God’s faithfulness gives us hope.
God restores. Whatever the suffering season you are facing, God walks with you. He does not leave us without a way out, without hope, and without His peace.

East End Harvest & Career Festival
2025-11-01 12:00 - 15:00

Annual Senior Missionary Day
2025-11-02 10:00 - 12:00
Guest Preacher: Elder Doris Allen
Theme: Help in Times of a Crisis”
Scripture: Matthew 25:40
