Prelude: “My Jesus, I Love Thee” by Robert J. Hughes, based on the tune “Gordon” by Adoniram J. Gordon
Welcome and Announcements: Ms. Dorothy Berry
Call to Worship
Invocation
Hymn: “He Has Made Me Glad” and “This Is The Day”
Moments of Prayer
Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-13
Sermon by Rev. Dr. Remona L. Farley Taylor, Associate Director MBMM, Associate Pastor, Metropolitan Church, Dorchester, MA.
Hymn: “Come, Share the Lord”
Reading of the Church Covenant
Hymn: “In Christ There Is No East or West”
Benediction
Postlude: “Maestoso” by Catharine Doige
Organist: Ms. Marilyn Glover
Rev. Dr. Remona L. Farley Taylor is an ordained minister with American Baptist Churches, USA. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Psychology. Upon graduating, she was hired as a Financial Analyst working with International Brokers at Thomson Financial. She not only holds a MDiv and DMin from Andover Newton Theological School, but also has a technical degree in Therapeutic Massage. She is a licensed Massage Therapist with a professional membership in Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.
She received the Rev. Dr. Henry C. Brook Award for excellence in the field of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling, in recognition of outstanding achievement in Psychology and Religion, the highest award in the area of pastoral care. Dr. Farley Taylor’s doctoral research involves practical theology of what it means to care for those that suffer from mental health issues. Research gleamed from this study provides a means for greater awareness of the social, moral, ethical and theological implications of doing justice work for persons who suffer from mental and emotional challenges such as depression. She strives to destigmatize mental health concerns, while bringing awareness to the prevalence of mental health issues within communities of faith and creating resources that can assist clergy to better support parishioners and clergy leaders, alike, who suffer in silence.
Rev. Dr. Farley’s ministerial leadership has encompassed many roles such as operating on the Ministerial Staff at Metropolitan Baptist Church as an Associate Minister performing many varied tasks of the church. She has been a facilitator and teacher for the United Baptist Convention of New England in past years and diligently serves where there might be a need in the body of Christ. Outside of the church community, Dr. Farley Taylor has led in the role as domestic and partner violence abuse advocate, patient advocate at Boston Medical Center as well as mentor and advocate for social injustices.
Currently, she heads up an outreach ministry called Miracle Mile which developed out of the pandemic and consists of about 25 volunteers that serve to feed, clothe, and provide the bare necessities and items of daily living for those that are homeless and may be subjected to substance abuse and facing mental health concerns. She was most recently hired as the new Associate Director of Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries (MBMM), where she undertakes daily tasks of the organizations, including the ACE Center for new Americans. Her main role in that position is to behave as Program Coordinator of the Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program, fueled by a four-year grant from the Lilly Foundation. Here she serves to assist ethnic pastors (African, Haitian, Asian, Latino, African American and White) to coordinate programs that lead them to thrive in ministry.