Metropolitan Weekly Newsletter - Week of September 6, 2026
- Cozette Thomas
- 16 hours ago
- 9 min read
Metropolitan,
Due to significant flooding in our church basement, our Wi-Fi and portions of our technology infrastructure have been temporarily disrupted. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support of Metropolitan AME Church.
To give electronically in the sanctuary, please use your cellular data (mobile network) and scan the QR code in the sanctuary (located in the back and/or on the screens during giving).
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and are working diligently to restore full service as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your prayers, patience, generosity, and faithful support as we recover from this unexpected flooding and make the necessary repairs.
Due to ongoing restoration work in our basement, a portion of the main foyer has been temporarily sectioned off as the restoration staging area. We kindly ask all members and guests to adhere to the restricted area and follow posted signage. Douglass Hall's restroom will serve as the Men's restroom until further notice. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to restore the affected space.
We encourage your presence this week in Morning Meditations with Metropolitan starting at 6:50 am for music and meditation Monday through Friday; and the Men's Prayer Call at 7:30 am on Monday; Comfort, Care, Lament and Share is Thursday at 7pm on Zoom; Noon Day and Pastor's Study is on break.
Engage in ministry with us - Order Your Copy of the Women of African Methodism Anthology; Morning Meditations with Metropolitan (Sept. 7 - Sept. 11); Register by Sept 7 to be a part of “Metropolitan on The Hill” office visits (Sept.9); Congregation-Wide Strategic Planning Stakeholder Meeting (Sept. 9); Save the Date: National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program with the Veterans Council (Sep. 9); New Members Class (Sundays Sept. 13 - Oct. 4); Quarterly Conference ( Sept. 15); RSVP to attend a DMV-wide virtual teach-in with the Immigration Ministry (Sept. 17); Girls Who Code Fall Sessions (Sept. 19 - Nov. 7); Christian Education Sunday (Sept. 20); Sign up to volunteer for the SAMS Food Bank (Sept. 26); MET Kids Fellowship (Sept. 26); Liberation Lounge (Sept 27.); Sarah Allen Missionary Society Annual Day (Sept. 27); March On! Shall We Gather: Allyship, Music and the Power of the Collective Voice (Oct. 2); Lorraine Gillian Health Commission Vaccine Clinic (Oct. 4); Save the Date: Step Up for Veterans and their Families Annual Sock Drive (Oct. 4 - Nov. 1); Lady of Many Hats: Celebrating Joan Oxendine (Oct 17); Children's Sabbath Sunday with Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson (Oct. 18); Homecoming Sunday (Oct. 25); Donor Sabbath (Nov 15); Ethel P. Hall Club Annual Day (Nov. 22); 50th Anniversary: The Messiah Comes (Dec. 6); YPD Annual Day (Dec. 13); Remembering Our Loved Ones: Memorial Service (Dec. 20).
Need to join via phone? You can dial in for an audio-only livestream at 1-929-205-6099, 975804722.
Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and you'll be notified every time we are live. You can subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/metropolitaname.
Metropolitan Action Alert:
Become a DC Poll Worker + Support Black Workers Together
Metropolitan Family — it's time to ACT!
We're mobilizing for two urgent actions this week. Here's how you can get involved right now:
TAKE THE BLACK WORKERS TOGETHER SURVEY
Black Workers Together organizes Black workers and professionals who did everything right and are now stuck — unemployed, underemployed, doing gig work, or moving in with family. We're building teams of people who are done struggling alone. It only takes 3 minutes. Metropolitan wants to organize alongside Black workers.
Stay in touch with FAC by signing up to volunteer and organize with us on Linktree.
In solidarity,
Faith Action Committee
Contact: Sis. Joy Masha
Transportation will be available on the first and third Sundays of each month. Services may be expanded to other Sundays based on the demand. If you are interested in transportation to and from the church, please contact Ellen and Tyrone Fizer at 301-579-2482. We look forward to serving you and helping you get to church with ease!
We are at a pivotal place globally, politically, and spiritually. Our world is beautiful yet broken; holy, yet not fully healed. We have weathered similar storms with grace and strength, and we shall do so again. This is our moment to proclaim the unlimited power and majesty of our God.
All encumbrances must be eliminated so we can be an even stronger voice and catalyst for justice, livable wages, affordable housing, and food security.
We must liquidate the mortgage we assumed several years ago to restore the beauty and physical health of our beloved Metropolitan. Once free, we will have additional energy and resources to further our work to make manifest God’s reign here on earth.
In this moment, Metropolitan has a mind to work.
Housing Notice: Please note that there are individuals in our community currently seeking rooms to rent or housing. If you have leads or are able to assist, please contact the church office.
Please join us this week, Monday-Friday for “Meditations with Metropolitan.” Join us at 6:50am for music with the meditation starting at 7 am. This week's morning meditation leaders are as follows:
Monday, September 7 - Pastor William H. Lamar, IV;
Tuesday, September 8 - Dr. Dana Williams;
Wednesday, September 9 - Reverend Cozette Thomas;
Thursday, September 10 - Steward Board Member; and
Friday, September 11 - Dr. Bryon Garner.
As always, To sign up to offer a meditation or share your prayer requests, email the Morning Meditations team at prayer.metro1518@gmail.com.
The Men's Prayer Call is a sacred space where brothers can share and explore their relationship with God in Christ Jesus. All brothers are encouraged to join.
The call will be every Monday Morning from 7:30 am – 7:45 am on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 767 5679 7276
Passcode: y28Ma2
Train up your child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it. Church School meets each Sunday morning at 8:30 am, and concludes at 10am in Douglass Hall. There are classes available for EVERYONE! We will be excited to see you in attendance!
Congregation-Wide Strategic Planning Stakeholder Meeting
Thank you to everyone who participated in Metropolitan’s strategic planning survey. Your feedback is helping our partners at Raben better understand who we are, what we value, and our hopes for Metropolitan’s future.
As the next step in our strategic planning process, all members are invited to a congregation-wide stakeholder meeting. This facilitated conversation will provide an opportunity to share your experiences, perspectives, hopes, and concerns directly with Raben. Church staff will not participate in the conversation, allowing members the space to speak openly and candidly.
Wednesday, September 9 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. | Zoom
Your voice matters. We encourage you to join us and help shape Metropolitan’s future.
The Metropolitan AME Veterans Council is a ministry that supports military service members, veterans, and their families by providing information and prayerful support. All service members, veterans, and family members are invited to attend. Join us on the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm. For more information, please contact Dr. Bryon L. Garner at bryongarner@gmail.com.
The Metropolitan AME Veterans Council will have its 3rd annual National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, at 6 pm ET. For more details, please contact Bryon L. Garner, PhD, at bryongarner@gmail.com.
The Metropolitan AME Veterans Council will collect socks for the Step Up for Veterans and their Families Annual Sock Drive beginning Sunday, October 4th, 2026, through Sunday, November 1st, 2026. For more details, please contact Bryon L. Garner, PhD, at bryongarner@gmail.com."
A call to engage from Metropolitan’s Immigration Ministry:
REGISTER by the extended deadline of Monday, September 7 to be a part of “Metropolitan on The Hill” office visits on September 9 coordinated by Co-lead Rev. Kendal McBroom to advocate Congressional leaders to codify TPS for Haitians and curtail the power of ICE.
RSVP to attend a DMV-wide virtual teach-in on September 17 facilitated by Co-lead Sister Dora Muhammad on NEA guidelines to mitigate how schools have become ICE hunting grounds.
SIGN KIND’s petition to Congress for $65 million in federal payments owed to legal services providers for their work supporting unaccompanied children.
More info in our public resource folder here. To receive our monthly newsletter or join our monthly planning sessions, email us: immigration@metropolitanamec.org.
Congratulations to Rev. Thomas Brackeen on the release of his new docu-series project entitled Coach Thomas! Available now, follow the links below. The series shares a powerful testimony of faith, basketball, mentorship, and the journey of helping young people discover their voice, identity, and purpose. After the last episode is released, he will also be introducing a devotional book and a youth ministry curriculum from the series in the coming months. Episode 2 will be released soon.
The Youth and Family Ministry is in need of amazing people like you to serve for upcoming events and other additional projects. Please scan the QR Code and to share your interest and availability.
The Lamp Oil of Black Women and African Methodism anthology is now on sale!
The collection features section introductions from Bishop Francine A. Brookins, Bishop Erika D. Crawford and Rev. Debyii L. Sababu-Thomas, Ph.D., contributions from women and girls of Metropolitan ranging in age from 7 to 97 and three women clergy on Metropolitan's ministerial staff, a litany written by Rev. Evan Taylor, a foreword by Rev. William H. Lamar IV, and a special first note extracted from an interview with Rev. Dr. Marie Phillips Braxton conducted by Dr. Dora Muhammad, the editor of the publication.
Girls Who Code FALL 2026 Fall sessions start Saturday, September 19th through November 7th from 11:00am - 12noon via ZOOM.
Middle and High school girls are eligible to join.
The Sarah Allen Missionary Society Food Bank of the Metropolitan AME Church announces food bank operations will be held on Saturday, September 26th, from 9 am to 3 pm. The SAMS Food Bank is also accepting new food bank recipients.
Please see the link below to sign up for volunteer opportunities with the SAMS Food Bank. For more information, please contact Sister Virginia Boateng at vab-59@hotmail.com.
Families with children ages 4 and under are invited to our Met Kids Fellowship, Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Junior Playland at The Mall at Prince Georges. It’s a fun opportunity for our littlest friends—and their families—to play, connect, and build sacred community together. The event is FREE, but registration is required and space is limited. Register here.
Calling all teens! Join us every 4th Sunday from 10:00–10:45 a.m. in Douglass Hall for Liberation Lounge—a space to build community and explore faith, life, and relevant topics through brave conversations and theological reflection. Come as you are, bring your questions, and bring a friend! Following the session, teens will return to worship. For more information, email youthministry@metropolitanamec.org.
Have something to share with the congregation? Please send ALL announcement information to announcements@metropolitanamec.org. Blurbs should be no longer than 75 words. Announcements can be submitted by Tuesday for the following week OR by the 4th Sunday for the next month.
Stay connected to what’s unfolding in Metropolitan’s young adult community.
If you’re interested in leadership opportunities, faith formation, service projects, fellowship gatherings, and upcoming events, sign up to receive the RAYACNewsletter for monthly updates.
Be the first to know what’s happening—and how you can be part of it. Sign up here.
Do you have Instagram or Tik Tok? Be sure to follow our Youth and Family Ministry at @yafmamec to stay in the know!
Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1838. From its founding, Metropolitan AME Church, has and continues to do what other churches will not. We are known locally, nationally, and internationally, to be deeply spiritual and deeply engaged in the world. From anti-slavery leadership in the mid-19th century, in the harboring of runaway slaves, to organizing power, people and money toward the flourishing of all people in the District of Columbia today. Metropolitan has been not just a significant center of worship, but also an institution in the forefront of the civic, cultural, and intellectual life among African Americans and others. Today, Metropolitan is focused on theologically sound teaching and preaching in worship; combatting food insecurity through our Food Bank; addressing ecological devastation by addressing heat islands in metropolitan cities with Smart Surfaces Coalition; equipping parents and families with culturally responsive and biblically grounded teaching through the Sankofa project; and building Black Equity and Wealth through Homeownership, prioritizing community safety and holding political leaders accountable with Washington Interfaith Network.
-Pastor William H. Lamar IV
We're grateful for your generosity.
There are several ways to give:
via check mailed to Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M Street NW, Washington, DC. 20005;
via Credit card: on our website and via Realm;
via Text: To text to give, text “metro1518” to 73256;
“Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Let us continue to lift each other in prayer - please pray for those experiencing grief or in need of health, strength, and healing. Lord, hear the prayers of your people.
Have a prayer you would like to share in community, you can leave your prayers on our prayer wall here.
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