The worship service allows God's children to join in thanksgiving and praise and to gain mutual support and commitment for fighting life's battles. We have an order of worship that is standard to the point that worship should be familiar in any AME Church, but flexible enough to allow for local custom and for the action of the Holy Spirit. Worship in a Methodist context emphasizes the centrality of Christ and the sacred nature of that which we do. Because of that, the worship outline in any Methodist worship service is called the "Order for Worship," not the "Program." Worship is led by a "Worship Leader," not a "Presiding Officer" or "Master of Ceremonies."

While worship should be an important and joyous experience, it should be remembered that worship is not the sum total of our Christian walk. We gather once a week to worship, but we serve on boards and auxiliaries and let our Christianity show through the way we live from day to day. Everything done in worship is important, from the prelude to the benediction. To miss any portion of worship is to cut short your praise of God. Worship, especially in the tradition of the historically black church, is participatory. We gather not to be entertained, but to praise God.

The altar area, or Chancel, is the place fom which worship is led. It is a raised area, with the pulpit at the highest level. The Chancel rail and area behind the rail are considered to be sacred, so books or other objects should not be placed on the Chancel rail. The table for Holy Communion is reserved for the purpose of Communion and should be adorned only with a cross and candles non-Communion Sundays. On Communion Sundays, nothing but the elements of the Sacraments should be placed on the table.