Pecos Benedictine Monastery

—'Let all guests be received as Christ.'

Rule of St. Benedict

Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey is otherwise known as The Pecos Monastery.

 

In 1947, Trappist monks from an Abbey in Rhode Island bought the Valley Dude Ranch and formally established a monastery in on the property in 1948. The Trappists moved to Oregon in 1955 and sold the property to Benedictine monks from St. Benedict's Abbey in Wisconsin who ran the monastery until 1985. Today the Monastery is 1,200 acres that sits on the Pecos River and is now a Benedictine Olivetan Monastery.

I attended a Charismatic Catholic retreat at Pecos Monastery from September 18-21. 

The monastery currently has almost a dozen community members - several monks, a nun, a few oblates in residency, minou the cat, and sophia the dog. Father Aiden is the current elected Prior. They are very gracious to their guests that stay for retreats. They provide 3 meals a day and they have individual rooms for guests. The center is open as a retreat center The Monastery, though Catholic, is open to all faiths and disciplines for retreat purposes. They have multiple services every day, the schedule varies depending on the day of the week.  Most days, they have Lauds at 7am, Holy Mass at 7:30am, 12pm Midday Prayer, Rosary at 4:30pm, Vespers at 5pm. Some days there is Compline, Vigils, or Confession in the evening. Lauds, Vigils, Vespers, and Compline are different Catholic Prayer services. 

This Monastery is governed by the Rule of Benedict (RB) which constitutes the basic guide of monastic life. Written in the sixth century the Rule was followed by thousands in monasteries in Europe during the early Middle Ages. "It is written for ordinary Christians who wish to immerse themselves in a pattern of living in which the life of Christ can be lived out with understanding and zeal. Monastic communities accept it as their basic inspiration even as they mitigate it, supplement it, or adapt it to the living conditions of today." ~ The Order of Saint Benedictine. 

One of the Monks, Father Sam, is 90 years old and has been a monk since 1957. He has a True Cross artifact he blessed all of the items guests had. A True Cross Artifact that has a sliver of what is considered the be from the True Cross.    

Normally in Catholic Churches, communion is reserved only for baptized Catholics. The monastery states in their information publication that what they require to receive Holy Communion is:

1. Be a baptized Christian
2. Share the Catholic understanding of the Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
3. Be properly disposed in Heart and Mind. 

I really was not sure what #2 meant, so I just went up and received a blessing from the Prior. 

The first mass I attended Father Aiden's sermon spoke of the loyal women followers of Jesus and how important a role they played in the early years of Christianity. The second Mass, Father Aiden shared his personal testimony of conversion. How his recent medical condition brought him even closer to God and renewed his faith again.

Thank You Pecos Monastery for graciously accepting me into the Community for the Weekend Retreat!

Disciples of Christ

The Disciples of Christ Church was the result of two movements seeking Christian unity due to denominations not being able to share communion together in the early 1800s. A few Presbyterian ministers from Pennsylvania and Kentucky were behind the merging and formation of the Disciples of Christ. 

The Disciples of Christ Church is a place to grow in FAITH in an Atmosphere of Freedom, with others that become your Family.

They celebrate Open Communion - All that believe in Jesus are welcome to partake in Communion. 

The Church is ONE - they believe that all Christians are called to be ONE in the Body of Christ and seek unity and fellowship with all denominations.

The Disciples have Freedom of Belief - they are called together around two essentials of faith: a believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, our Lord and Savior, and a belief that Christians are free to follow their own consciences, guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, fellowship and study in community, and prayer. As Disciples we not only enjoy this Freedom in Christ, we respectfully extend that freedom to others.

They have Baptism by Immersion. They encourage both ministers and lay people to lead in the worship service and at the table. We are ALL called to minister and serve each other and are dedicated to spiritual growth. 

I visited Los Altos Christian Church at their 10:30 am service.

They had bags hanging on the back wall for children with coloring books and crayons. They started with the Call to Worship with hymns and prayers. Then members great each other. The pastor gave a children's lesson. They had a nice choir that sang many songs throughout the service, at times they also have a bell choir. The Pastor was Bill Harrold. He gave a sermon about Moses. 

The sermon was about God and the Mighty acts of God. He talked about Moses and the parting of the sea to save the Israelites. The Pastor talked about how we can walk together and we are here to tell God's story.  Christ died for our sins, so that we may live a life free of sins.  God gives us a new name and identity, so give God the credit. He told us God is with us and the Lord is good all of the time. He reminded us that our Lives are in the hands of God. Have Faith, Hope in Jesus. 

The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.   ~ Exodus 21-22

For communion, the Pastor broke the bread and prayed over it. Bread and cups of juice were passed out to the members in the congregation. The Pastor then prayed over the chalice and the members took the sacrament together. 

There was another hymn then the benediction prayer.

And All God's people said, "AMEN."

They have a Taize service at 5pm on Sunday evenings. 

THANK YOU Los Altos Christian Church for your beautiful service. 

First Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church has its roots back to the Reform Movement in England and Scotland, when people like John Calvin separated from the Roman Catholic Church based on grievances. Presbyterian churches surged in the United States during the Revivalist Movement of the early 18th century. 

The Presbyterian Church has a combined governance of both clergy and laity, which is open to both men and women. They believe in "the sovereignty of God, the authority of the scripture, justification by grace through faith, and the priesthood of all believers."

PC (USA) made several momentous decisions regarding the direction of the national organization this summer, one of which was to allow their ministers "freedom of conscience" to perform same sex marriages in the jurisdictions that have legalized them. 


I attended the First Presbyterian Church's 8:45 am Sunday service. They held the service in their courtyard. The 11am service is held in their Sanctuary. 

I got there a little early and there was fellowship with hot drinks and donuts. Many people spoke to and greeted me. 

A piano and clarinet duo performed the service music ~ very nice.  

Don't Tell Me What You Believe - Show Me

Presbyterians use a form of prayer and ritual similar to Catholics in their service; but the Calls to Worship, Doxology, and Prayers of Confession are more unique and modern. After the initial prayers and announcements, there was a time of greeting peace to one another. Elder Libby told the children a bible story. 

Reverend Matthew Miller gave the sermon about Moses and the Burning Bush.

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you." ~ Exodus 3:12

The minister talked about when Moses was living in exile. He was just trying to mind his own business and live an ordinary life, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a Burning Bush. God commanded him to take off his shoes and go Barefoot on the Holy Land. God had different plans for Moses, to mind God's Business by being a part of the Deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. God made that Moses' business. When Moses questioned God on how he could do it, God assured him that he would be with him on his Journey. 
God comes to us in many ways, are you listening, or are you just walking by that Burning Bush? Minister Miller shared with us that Once your World is Ablaze with the Glory of God, it is hard to go back. In the end, the only thing that any of us need is that God will be with us in all that we do. 

"But only he who sees, takes off his shoes." ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do you know that God has not sent you a Burning Bush, are you paying attention?

After the sermon, there was offering and communion. It was an altar communion with loaf bread and trays of individual glasses. The service ended with the Benediction and a send off Blessing. 

There was something very peaceful about the outside service, I really like it. 

THANK YOU First Presbyterian Church for your peaceful service.