New Mexico's Society of Jesus

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✞✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ Jesuits (or The Society of Jesus)

St. Ignatius, a  soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius Loyola, founded the Society of Jesus in an effort to reform the Roman Catholic Church. Rather than break off as a separate church, the Jesuits became a distinct order of priests in 1534 and received commendation from Pope Paul III in 1537. Pressured by the royal courts in Europe, Pope Clement XIV denounced the Society, causing Jesuits throughout the world to renounce their vows and go into exile. The suppression lasted for 41 years, until what is called their restoration on August 7, 1814. Jesuit priests take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Today they are the largest all male religious order in the Catholic Church. Jesuits are well known for their schools, including higher education, but are mainly a missionary order. 

The Jesuits are celebrating 2014 as their 200th Anniversary from the Restoration

Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pontiff

Jesuit Spirituality 

•    Finding God in all things 
• Listening with a discerning heart
• Choosing to live for the greater glory of God 

Founded in 1883, Immaculate Conception Church is the only Jesuit Church in New Mexico and only one of a handful in the Southwestern part of the United States. They have an affiliated school and nursing home next door, St. Mary's Catholic School and St Mary's Rest Home.

I attended the 5pm Saturday Mass.

It is a large and gorgeous chapel in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque. The service had well over a hundred people in attendance. Right away I noticed something pleasantly different about this Catholic service. Women were an integral part of the service - leading the chants, doing readings, helping with communion. There was not a individual bulletin for the service, but I believe it was Father Oren Key who presided over the mass. 

The liturgy was a traditional one otherwise. The sermon was based on Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians. Fr. Key spoke of Paul's heartbreak at the news of the divisions in Corinth for Paul believed, "we are one in Christ. Brothers and Sisters in Christ." He talked about the relevance to today's issues of division and discord among different denominations of Christians and that the differences should only serve as an enrichment, rather than a division. He talked of the passion Paul had for unity. Just as Paul urged the Corinthians to set aside their difference and come together, so he urged his congregation:

That is the spirit we still have to strive for today ~ Fr. Key 

I really liked the sermon. I feel it spoke to the mission of my journey. While preparing to share communion, they did not announce any restrictions but I knew from experience that only baptized Catholics in good standing are meant to partake, but I did go up and get my blessing.  

It was a great way to spend my Saturday evening, well worth the trip downtown. 

THANK YOU Immaculate Conception Church for welcoming me into your sanctuary to Worship God. 

Me and the Mormons

During the Second Great Awakening of the 19th Century, a young man named Joseph Smith Jr. began soul searching for answers to his questions of religion and faith. During this time, he discovered ancient scripts about Jesus Christ engraved on gold plates. His interpretation of those scripts became the Book of Mormon, which teaches that Christ’s original Church has been restored in modern times with living apostles and prophets, starting with Joseph Smith. Following this, Smith helped organize the first Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In 1844, following the political death of Joseph Smith, the church split based on different leadership. The Latter-Day Saints established a Quorum of Twelve with a leader of Brigham Young and relocated to Utah. Another group chose Joseph Smith III as their leader and stayed in Missouri, this group became the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The Latter-Day Saints have unique beliefs separate from other Christian denominations. Some of those beliefs are: 

• faithful members must participate in...temple "endowment" ceremonies
• marriages performed in LDS temples can continue after death
• deceased persons can embrace Mormonism in the spirit world through 'baptism for the dead.' (MRM)

New Mexico and parts of surrounding states are served by the Albuquerque Temple. LDS Temples are not places of ordinary worship, they are only for weddings and special ceremonies, "the temple is to provide a dedicated place where sacred ordinances needed for eternal life can be performed." Only baptized mormons who have received an endowment can enter the temple. 

The Church divides geographical areas into stakes and then further divides them into wards (or branches.) Different wards often hold their weekly service, or sacrament meeting, at the same meetinghouse. Wards are presided over by a bishop and services are run by members of the congregation. There are no paid clergy in LDS. 

I attended the 11 am Albuquerque East Stake, Sandia Ward meeting on Sunday morning at the LDS Church at 4109 Eubank NE. Three separate Wards hold regular meetings there at different times. The services are very family oriented. All ages attend the service, one of the children even came up to me during the service and offered me a toy. ☺

They partook in sacrament, bread and water. I had not read anywhere of any restrictions on nonmormons partaking, so I honored the sacrament as well. 

Many hymns are sung throughout the service and several members spoke. The youth speaker explained the theory of GodHead. She made an analogy to the three branches of the U.S. government, three separate entities that make up one government. 

The adult speaker was a sister who was a 7th generation mormon. She spoke of the Law of Consecration, "a divine principle whereby men and women voluntarily dedicate their time, talents, and material wealth to the establishment and building up of God’s kingdom." She advised the congregants to live by the law they should:

• TITHE - give freely to the church and to the less fortunate
• SERVE - willingly in the church
• MISSION - serve your mission - the closest to living by the Law of Consecration
• BE CHRIST-LIKE in your love for others 

They show great pride and commitment to their religion and beliefs. After the meeting, all members study the bible in classes designated by age and sex. All LDS churches study the same curriculum every week in Sunday school. 

Interesting Note: LDS do not use the Cross as a symbol in their religion. 

THANK YOU Sandia Ward of Albuquerque LDS for sharing with me your Sacrament Meeting. 

Albuquerque Mennonite Church

The Anabaptist movement came about in protest to groups like Lutherans and others during the reform movement. Reformist churches required citizens to bring their children to the church for baptism. Anabaptists rejected infant baptism, believed in baptism of adults as a renewal of faith, and fought for early separation of church and state and PEACE.   

This movement led to Amish, Mennonites, Brethren and Hutterites. There are a few Mennonite and Brethren Churches in New Mexico. Amish colonies are spread out in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Hutterite communities are only in Northern U.S. States and Canada. Each group has become distinctly different in their beliefs and lifestyles, but most of them share the belief of not participating in litigation, holding government positions, or taking up arms in defense. 

A group of Anabaptists split from the Joseph Amman followers (Amish). In the mid 1500's, this group came to be led by a former Catholic Priest named, Menno Simons, and his followers eventually were called Mennonites. 

There are different orders of Mennonite churches - Old Order, Conservative, and Progressive. Most churches in the Western part of the United States are progressive. They are similar to Quakers in their goals of peace and justice. 

I attended the 9:30 worship service at the Albuquerque Mennonite Church. Worship is open to newcomers. Their belief statement:

          We of Albuquerque Mennonite Church are committed to Jesus’ call to be a
          growing community that embodies God’s love in the world, a community that 
          cherishes and practices worship, healing, hospitality, peacemaking, and respect
          for all. Open and affirming, we hold that every person is created in God’s 
          image, valued without regard to origin, sexual identity, affiliation, or status.

Every year, they ask their members to Re-Covenant to the church. 

Their worship team includes Pastor Anita Amstutz and Associate Pastor Andrew Clouse. Assoc. Pastor Clouse led the worship service. Visitors were introduced and then everyone greeted each other and were very welcoming to me. They were a very participatory congregation, vibrant and full of love.  

Pastor Amstutz gave the message (sermon) based on the story of Balaam and his Donkey from Numbers (22:21-35). 

While enroute to Moab, God blocks Balaam's path with an Angel because his path was "reckless." The Angel however was only visible to the Donkey. When the donkey would not continue on the path, Balaam beat him multiple times until the Angel finially shows himself to Balaam. 

It was a story that helps us look anew at life for unexpected mysteries. Pastor Amstutz spoke of how God comes to us in unexpected ways and unexpected places, so be open to it. Assoc. Pastor Clouse talked about how the story helps us to, "See with new eyes and to trust the God that we cannot see." 

        I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may

        know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious

        inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who

        believe. Ephesians 1:18-19

Their Worship Service included much joyous group song, as MUSIC is very important in the Mennonite faith. They feel it is their, "most profound connection with God." (Kropf) My favorite hymn was: 

Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day. HWB 569

THANK YOU Albuquerque Mennonite Church for sharing with me your love of God and manner of worship. 

Praising God with the Baptists

Baptists first came about in England in the 17th century as part of the separation of Protestants during the reform movement in the Church of England. One of the congregations that split off only accepted "believers" and they would baptize the converts as a symbol of their commitment of faith. Their opponents thus nicknamed them "Baptists," and the name stayed with them. (BHHS)

According to the National Baptist Convention, a Gospel Church is a "congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ"

Today I attended the 11am Sunday service at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Mt Olive is a 115 year old church in the heart of Albuquerque. It has been a vibrant part of Albuquerque's past and present. Although Mt. Olive has historically been an African American congregation, they are completely welcoming to all of God's children. Musical ministry is a large part of this church community, with solos and a choir being an integral part of the worship service. 

Before service, the ministerial team prepared themselves by forming a prayer circle with a private prayer. 

The service began with an uplifting prayer then the spirited musical worship began. The choir and musicians praised God in a joyous and wonderful way and the congregation joined in, singing and clapping.   

Their LOVE for The Lord was contagious

The congregation then greeted each other.  Members came up to me and greeted me with a handshake or a hug. They were very friendly and welcoming to me as a newcomer. 

Reverend Michael Sumbry preached the Gospel. His sermon spoke of the harmony of God's Law and the Gospel. He talked of the purpose of God's law including - how God's law exposes our faults such as pride or a mean spirit; how it teaches us our utter helplessness without God; and serves as a vehicle to Christ. 

For Christ is the end of the law. 
                           Romans 10:4
            For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
                                                                                                                  Romans 6:14

What God's law cannot give us, Jesus Christ does ~ Rev. Mike

After the sermon, he summoned all the people who serve as leaders (deacon, Sunday school, etc.) in the church to the front of the church. He had the congregation bless them for the New Year and then he washed their feet. He said the feet washing served not only as an expression of love for them but also a reminder that we all are here to be of service to one another. 

Communion was then shared, followed by fellowship after service. 

It was a great service - If you have never Praised and Worshiped God in such a glorious way, you are truly missing out on an amazing experience. 

THANK YOU Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church for welcoming me into your home to praise the Lord!

 

New Year's Eve in Unity

I attended the 7 pm Burning Bowl Ceremony at Unity Spiritual Center of Albuquerque. 

Unity is a spiritual organization that came about during the New Thought Movement of the late 1880's. The founders, Myrtle and Charles Filmore, attributed prayer and positive thought to the healing of illnesses that they both had. Unity as a faith believe in positive, practical Christianity and, "teach the effective daily application of the principles of Truth taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ." 

Unity is most well known for their belief in the Power of Prayer: 

       

       Affirmative prayer is the highest form of creative thought. It includes

               the release of counterproductive, negative thoughts, as well as holding in mind 

               statements of spiritual truth. Through meditation, we experience the presence 

              of God. Prayer and meditation heighten our awareness and thereby transform 

              our lives. (Unity.org)

Their national organization runs the well known publication Daily Word and the 24 hour prayer line Silent Unity. 

Unity does not believe in original sin. They believe people are inherently good because we are, "created in the image and likeness of God, and as such we are originally blessed."

The Albuquerque Unity Church has a pastoral couple, Reverends Ross and Jude Campbell. 

Rev. Ross started the service with a prayer about the "boundless riches of God," inspired by Ephesians 3:8.

They had a pianist and a soloist. The congregation greeted each other and they advised the packed house that chaplains were available for anyone with prayer needs after the service. Rev. Jude gave a brief sermon about the New Year. She spoke of rather than making a New Year resolution, make a New Year intention. She spoke of tonight's ceremony as a ritual of release, bless the past year without making any judgements and let it go to pave the way for our new intentions.

♥♥Let Go and Let God♥♥

Every person was given a small piece of "flash" paper. We were instructed to write an aspect of our life that we wanted to release. We then each went up to bowls that had a flame and threw the papers into the bowls as a purging ceremony. While people were composing their papers, Rev. Ross conducted a guided meditation. He spoke affirming words and encouraged people to forgive in the New Year - not only others, but also themselves. 

After the ceremony, everyone wrote a letter to themselves. A letter about your intentions for 2014, what you wanted to draw to you, or whatever you would like really. The letters were collected, they will be prayed over throughout the year, and sometime after Thanksgiving the church will mail them back to the recipient. 

The musicians performed some more songs, people rose up singing and clapping, a few even danced. The service was concluded with a prayer and song while everyone held hands. Fellowship followed the service. What a wonderful way to bring in the New Year. 

The Unities are an eclectic and energetic group that are joyously striving to live a Christ conscious life. 

THANK YOU 

Unity Spiritual Center for letting me participate in your renewal service.

HAPPY NEW YEAR