The Omaha guide., 1947-04-19
Pre- edicdton Service At St Johns ANNE
PRE- DEDICATORY SERVICE
OPENS ST. JOHNS MAIN
AUDITORIUM TO PUBLIC

A capacity congregation of friends
and members of St. Johns gathered
on Sunday, April Is, l947 at l0;45
am. to witness the opening Pre-dedi-
catory service of the St. Johns A. M.
E. church main auditorium of wor-
ship.
The pastor, Rev. E. B. Childress,
led the grand professional followed
by the church stewards, Stewardess
Senior and junior Deacons, Deacon
ess, Class Leaders, Trustees, Superin-
PENDANTS, Supervisors, Presidents Of
Auxiliaries, arrayed in their colorful
religious garments. Then came the
Color Bearers: Bro. w. P. Erwin and
Bro. G.. Woods who placed the col
ors in their respective place (he
christian an dthe American flag with
the Bible tenders following them:
Bro. w. E. Carter, Bro. VIM. Burrel,
Bro. E. A. Lofts, Bro. VIM. Cunning
ham, Bro. w. A. Smith, and Bro.
Thomas Rucker. The Sentinels Bro.
A. Johnson, Bro. C. B. Friedrich who
knelt at the altar in prayer and Bro.
w. H. Moore.
The Choir professional was led by
members of the Senior Choir and their
d~irectress Mrs. Pearl Gibson, next
came the Junior Choir and their di-
r~ectress Mrs. E. B. Childress who
were followed in the line of process
sional by the Watchmen'S Chorus I'M
der the direction of Bro. HI. L. Pres
ton. The organist Mrs. Otis Jamer-
son, Mr.. R. Downing, Miss E. Triggs,
Miss M. ]. Harris.
After the opening hymn Rev. w. S.
Metcalf led. the congregation in an
opening prayer which was followed
by the singing of all choirs Glory,
Glory. The scripture reading, a song
by the Watchmen, the decalogue,
song by the Junior Choir, and for the
Missionary Offering all choirs sang
Have Thine Own Way Lord. An
nouncements by the pastor and Bro.
Preston. Song by the Senior Choir and
the I~ntercessional rs your All on the
Altar" all were welcome to come and
kneel at the altar in prayer. Let us
have a Little Talk With Jesus by all
the choirs.
The subject of the Pastors sermon
"A Provision of Cod At the c%onclu-
sion OF the pastors sermon the invita-
ton song wa sung Where He Leads
Me l VIII Follow by all Choirs as
the doors of the church was opened
for membership. Converts: Yvonne
Hill, Maggie Roundtree, Lillian Lew
is. Mrs. Thompson from Allen Chapel
A.M.E. of Kansas City, Mo-, Mr.. Roll
and Green, and Mrs. Harriet Gillian
were visitors.
Presentations were made by the
following: Mrs. A. Kennedy a bouquet
OF flowers to Mrs. Carrie Carter the
church mother, Mrs. Ray the eldest
living member Of the St. Johns
church received a bouquet of flowers
from Mrs. Bell Taylor of Zion Bap-
fist Church. Mrs. Strawther received
a bouquet of flowers honoring her as
the second eldest living member of
St. Johns. Mrs. Whey Walker pre-
Sented for the Cheerful Builders flow
erS to the Junior Choir and its direct
reSS Mrs. ChildreSS. A flower in the
memory Of Thomas Floyd by Mrs.
Cunningham, Mrs. fastening a token
OF money in honor of her mother and
two sons, and Mrs. Lillian Vincent
President and members Of the Willing
Workers presenting to the Trustees
for the Building $505.O0. Other flow
erS were received from the Zion Bap-
fist Church, Sister Of Bro. c. B. Fred
rick from Florida, and a plant from
the Youths Guild. Telegram of con-
gratulations from Rev. Raine of the
Cleaves Temple Church. There were
also kilograms from a host of other
friends and well-wishers which were
more than appreciated, but are too
numerous to mention them individu-
ally.
According to the pastor this faith
tul congregation after spending TWEEN
ty-tive years worshipping in the
church basement have now reached
higher ground through their faith and
trust n the Almighty Father and Son
Jesus Christ.
Reverend J. B. Brooks of the Allen