God Our Father Christ Our Redeemer the Holy Spirit Our Comforter Humankind Our Family
101 Van Zandt Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island 02840, United States
Our Services
Sunday Worship @ 11:00 AM
Bible Study Every Tuesday @ 7:00 PM
Mt. Zion AME Church Bible Study is open to all who want to come and participate in an interactive study of the Bible led by Reverend Leslie J. Greene and Chaplain James Dance, USN. This one hour of power discussion allows attendees to ask questions, provide comments, and receive direction on the word of God. You are sure to be fulfilled, renewed, and revitalized as you study an array of topics on the Christian way of life by attending this one hour session.
“Bible study is instrumental to your spiritual growth as a Christian. Deciding to dedicate time each day to Bible study helps invigorate, nurture, and grow your faith”
Embark on a path of spiritual discovery into God’s word
Prayer Meeting on Fridays @ 7:00 PM
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Music Ministry
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16)
At Mt. Zion AME Church, we believe in the power of music to comfort, uplift, and provide a tangible experience of God's Holy Spirit among us. As well as being an integral part of our daily lives, music is also one of the best ways to worship our Heavenly Father. Worshiping through music is a uniquely rewarding way to connect to God emotionally, grow spiritually, and serve Him with our offering of worship. These are gifts from God to us, and we enjoy using them as gifts to God in return.
The purpose of the Voices of Zion Choir is to minister songs of worship and praise to the glory of God, while preparing the congregation for the preaching of the word of God for the edification of their heart, soul and mind.
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YPD (Young People's Division)
MISSION: GROW, GLOW AND GO FOR CHRIST!!
Under the leadership of the Women’s Missionary Society, the YPD provides meaningful youth trained programs and opportunities for leadership experience in all areas of church life. By providing training in Evangelism, Christian Social Relations and Education programs the YPD is designed to connect youth more fully to the mission of church and increase knowledge of the African Methodist Episcopal Church history and the scriptures.
HATTIE L. GILTON WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Hattie L. Gilton Women’s Missionary Society is to encourage, elevate, empower the people of God in our church, community and abroad through outreach, prayer and supportive programs.
MISSION STATEMENT
We are called to strengthen our faith and sent to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ by service and witness to the world.
OUR WORK
• Coordinate and unify the work of our mission structure, by establishing and supporting organizations and units to carry out God's mission in the church, the society and the world.
• Build and maintain an intergenerational community of caring women, fostering relationships and encounters between the Connectional, Episcopal, Conference and Local organizations and other women's organizations.
• Develop responsible and visionary leadership through training and experience.
• Provide for flexible structures, so that groups may determine the structure and programs most appropriate and workable in their church.
• Provide education and training that inspire and motivate members to witness for the global mission community.
• Create and utilize training and development to equip and inspire members to participate in advocacy for justice and peace, human rights, the oppressed and voiceless, women, children and the elderly.
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YPD (Young People's Division)
MISSION: GROW, GLOW AND GO FOR CHRIST!!
Under the leadership of the Women’s Missionary Society, the YPD provides meaningful youth trained programs and opportunities for leadership experience in all areas of church life. By providing training in Evangelism, Christian Social Relations and Education programs the YPD is designed to connect youth more fully to the mission of church and increase knowledge of the African Methodist Episcopal Church history and the scriptures.
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THE LAY ORGANIZATION
What Is The Lay Organization?
The reason for organizing the Lay Organization within the church is to provide proper instruction for each new and old member of the church as it relates to duties, responsibilities and loyalty to the AME Church as outlined in the AME Discipline.
Who’s A Layperson?
All persons who have joined the AME denomination and have not been ordained is a layperson. It is each person’s responsibility to become an active member of the Lay Organization.
Eight Biblical Principles That Lay Leaders Are Encouraged to Study and Practice As They Serve God.
~Be a Servant Leader, as was Jesus Christ. (Matthew 20:27-28)
~Serve and Worship God in all things. (I Peter 4:11)
~Respect those in authority. (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)
~Do not squander or squirrel away the abilities God has entrusted to you. Instead use them to His Glory. (I Peter 4:10)
~When necessary, delegate. And once you have delegated, trust your assistants to get the job done; then, express appreciation.(Exodus 39:42-43)
~Recognize your limitation, avoiding the natural tendency to try to do all the work alone, and the inclination to take on more than you can possibly handle. (Exodus 18: 13-26)
~Cultivate good character qualities, such as wisdom, understanding, and respect. And then look for similar traits in ~those you would recommend for positions of leadership. (Deuteronomy 1: 13-18)
~Be prepared, under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, to execute your duties, effectively and efficiently. (Matthew 24:45-4
OUR PASTOR
Reverend Alvin Riley is the Pastor of Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newport, Rhode Island and former Interim Dean of Students at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts. He is a product of and strongly believes in the Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church which is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ's liberating gospel through word and deed.
Rev. Riley, an ordained elder in the A.M.E. Church since 1985, has served as a leader and remains engaged in two primary ministries; the pastoral ministry and the educational ministry of the church. As pastor, Rev. Riley and congregation completed the building of a new edifice which was dedicated by Bishop Norris in 2005. Within the New England Annual Conference, he serves as instructor for the Ministerial Institute teaching Old Testament, Theology I, and is mostly known for teaching the History of the A.M.E. Church. He also served as Chair of the Mission and New Works Committee and Secretary of Education Committee for both the Boston-Hartford District Conference and the New England Annual Conference. He has served as pastor at Mount Zion since 1989 and is leading the church in the celebration of 175 years in the city of Newport, RI, In 2004, Rev. Riley began an internet radio broadcast ministry on www.cyberstationusa.com entitled, Living and Learning which is a Bible teaching ministry and was heard every Sunday even from 7:30 to 8:00pm online for 13 years. A part of his calling to the educational ministry, he has been a member of several boards including President-Elect New England Education Opportunity Association (NEOA) 2015, NAACP, President, Massachusetts Education Opportunity Association (MEOA), GEAR Up, New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE) Minority Affairs Think Tank, and John D. O’Bryant Think Tank.
Rev. Riley began his educational ministry career as Counselor at the M.I.T.-Wellesley Upward Bound Program. Before coming to Massasoit Community College in 2006, he served as Director of ACCESS and Minority Affairs at Fitchburg State University as well as in other educational capacities at Morris Brown College, and at the Interdenominational Theological Center, both in Atlanta, GA. While in Atlanta, he served as Youth Minister at Big Bethel AME Church under the pastorate of Pastor, now late Bishop McKinley Young and the Inspirational Choir director at St. John AME Church. At his home church, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cambridge, MA, under the pastorate of Pastor, now Retired Bishop John R. Bryant, he served as President of the Junior Usher Board, Assistant Director and Director of the Inspirational Choir, 2nd Vice President of New England Conference YPD, as well as Church School Superintendent under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Leroy Attles, Sr. During this time, he has mentored hundreds of young men and women, particularly young Black and Latino males.
Rev. Riley holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bentley University, three Masters degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Turner Theological Seminary at The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) and Clark-Atlanta University. Because of his tireless efforts to advocate for underrepresented students, Rev. Riley’s calling has taken him in several multicultural settings. Additional certifications have been awarded him from the National Multicultural Institute in Washington, DC and the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI). He is the son of Mrs. Evelyn (Agard) Riley and the late Alvin T. Riley, Sr. and married to Mrs. Wendy Hoyte-Riley of Barbados and has 3 adult children, Aliyah, Roy and Tania and surrogate father and mentor to hundreds of young women and men across the country.
STEWARDS AND TRUSTEES
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Our History since 1845
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Stewardess Board
Selected by the Pastor and confirmed by Steward Board, the Stewardess Board assists both as directed. Duties and responsibilities include the following:
- To prepare the Elements for the services of Holy Communion, and Holy Baptism.
- To assist with special services such as weddings, funerals, or candlelight services as requested.
- To care for the Altar and the space in the Sanctuary which is enclosed within the Chancel area
- To care for and change the paraments to the proper seasonal color; linens, and all items associated with worship and special services as needed