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.
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. 
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. 
Mysticism is not a religion, it is rather a way to practice a certain religion. Mysticism is defined as distinctive practices, discourses, texts, institutions, traditions, and experiences aimed at human transformation, it is expressed differently in each religion. There are mystics in Christianity, but there is also Judaism mysticism called Kaballah. Muslim mystics are Sufi. 
Christian Mysticism is the "spiritual process of coming into the experience of God at the center of one’s being." Mystics do this through practices of meditation, prayer and being in relationship with God on a daily basis, all in an attempt to know God with a personal relationship. Famous Christian mystics are St. Francis of Assisi and St. Catherine of Siena. 
NM State Treasurer, James Lewis, spoke briefly and introduced gubernatorial Candidate, Gary King spoke to the congregation and shared a little about himself and his commitment to giving back to the community. 
Seventh-Day Adventist emerged from the "Millerite movement," which centered on the belief that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844. This day came and went without the return of Christ and led many followers to leave the movement en masse in what is now termed "The Great Disappointment." The Seventh-day Adventist denomination was founded by those who left and has two main distinctions: Sabbath observance on the seventh day (Saturday) and living a life with the expectation of the awaited return of Jesus.
They started out with prayers and their covenant. They had a children's story. I think it is wonderful when churches do that, always reminds me of Jesus and the children in the bible. (Mark 10) Pastor David Merling had everyone in the congregation greet each other and he referred to them as family. It was a large group but most everyone greeted and hugged each other. The greeting they use is, "Happy Sabbath." Pastor Merling offered to pray for people and about a third of the congregation went up front for prayers. 
The Charismatic movement -- which includes the traditions of Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Third Wave -- is now an established part of the world's faith. The Charismatic Movement was birthed from the Pentecostal faith and came about with the hope of integrating, "Spirit baptism and gifts into the practices of mainline Protestant denominations" and even spread to some Catholic Churches. Many churches have branched out from underneath the Pentecostal denomination and are called independent Charismatic churches, Oasis Family Church is an independent church. Charismatic churches tend to be more progressive and inclusive than Pentecostals. 
