St James AME Zion Church

04/05/2026

🔥 EASTER SUNDAY 🔥

This year hits different.

Pastor King brings a powerful message:
“It Was Meant for Me!”

Experience the cross through the voice of Barabbas—the guilty man set free while Jesus took his place.
What if the cross… had your name on it?

Plus Communion—remembering not just that He got up… but what it cost.
It was meant for me… but Jesus took my place.

03/16/2026

Clergy Conference 2026 was nothing short of a blessing—restorative and refueling for the journey ahead. Our church was especially proud to witness our very own Rev. Yolonda Clarke faithfully operating in the assignment of worship leader. What a beautiful fellowship, and what a divine joy it was to experience together!

01/27/2026

📣 NAACP Ithaca–Cortland First Branch Meeting 📣
Join us for our Inaugural General Body Meeting
🗓 Tuesday, January 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
💻 Virtual
All members and community members are invited!
👉 Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link.
Let’s come together and continue the work.
✊🏾 Leading the fight to end racial inequities.

01/25/2026

🚨 Service Update 🚨
Due to inclement weather, tomorrow’s worship service at St. James AME Zion Church is canceled for the safety of our church family.
Please take this time to pray for yourselves, our congregation, and our country, and to rest and rejuvenate.
Stay safe and know that I am praying for you.
✨ Looking forward to fellowship on Communion Sunday. ✨
— Pastor King

11/18/2025

**Celebrating History in the Making!**

St. James AME Zion Church is honored to witness **and be the founding institution** of the new **Ithaca/Cortland NAACP Chapter** — continuing our legacy as a hub for justice and community impact.

📣 **It’s on the horizon!**
See the flyer and scan the QR code for details.

10/26/2025

Yesterday Pastor King, church members, and friends attended The Thorn — a powerful and uplifting production.
This year we’re being intentional about fellowship beyond the church walls, leading up to our spring bus trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Museum of African American History & Culture!

07/27/2025

What a fellowship, what a Joy divine!

07/17/2025

I’m 🎨 Help Bring a Historic Mural to Life! ✨We’re raising funds to create a breathtaking new mural on the ceiling above the pulpit at Ithaca’s historic St. James AME Zion Church—the oldest Black church in the city and a cornerstone of community and faith since 1833. Designed by local artist Jesse Wright, this powerful ceiling mural will honor Black history, spiritual resilience, and the unshakable strength of community.With your support, this sacred space will be transformed into a radiant work of art—inspiring all who gather here for generations to come. Let’s make history together. Donate, share, and spread the word!Donate: https://www.every.org/ithaca-murals-cta/f/ame-zion-church-mural

07/17/2025

07/13/2025

St. James AME Zion Church is honored to host "Good Trouble Lives On: An Evening of Inspiration & Action" on Thursday, July 17th at 7 PM as part of Indivisible Tompkins' Week of Action. Pastor King is expected to make an address as well. Join us as we continue the legacy of John Lewis with an evening of reflection and mobilization. One of the Week of Action events took place earlier this afternoon, and we’re keeping the momentum going.

06/30/2025

The church is happy to announce that our very own Rev.Dr. Kenneth Clarke Sr. Is the new pastor of Frederick Douglass Memorial AME Zion church in Elmira, NY!!! We are in prayer for this season of his life, he will be missed but God has more in store!!!