Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe

Unitarians first came about in the 16th Century in Great Britain. They were reformist both in religion and in politics and they did not conform to the new Anglican State. They were called "Rational Dissenters." Unitarians originally were, "Christians who did not believe in the Holy Trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Instead, they believed in the unity, or single aspect, of God." They intellectually stressed, "rational thinking, each person's direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus."

In the 1800's, the faith broadened to more of a transcendental movement with such influences as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Universalists were originally Christians who believed in universal salvation and felt that all people would one day be reconciled with God. The movement came to America in the late 1700s. They are most well known for ordaining the first woman to full denominational authority, Olympia Brown, in 1863.   

In 1961, Unitarian and Universalist denominations on the most part consolidated. Eventhough UUs originated from Christianity, today it is a non-creedal faith and most present day congregations do not identify with being Christian. There are however a few UU Christian churches and a group of Unitarians that did not merge and are today called Christian Unitarians ~ most of these churches are on the east coast and in other countries. 

UUs are very intellectual in their beliefs. They believe in working toward social justice, religious naturalism, and supporting humanitarian issues.
I attended the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe Sunday 11am service. 

God's Love embraces the Whole Human Race!

They started the service by singing hymns and then lighting the Chalice. The Chalice is the symbol of their religion and is lite at the beginning of all services. 

Before the children went off to Sunday school, they gathered at the front and were told a story. 

There was a soloist, Karen Hall, who sang during a guided meditation. For applause, the congregation uses a silent clap by shaking the hands - the same as used in sign language.  

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael Dowd, an Evolutionary Theologian who believes in marrying Christianity with Science. 

A religion that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths.   - Carl Sagan

Pastor Dowd shared that God is not like a clockmaker, overseeing a project, rather he is part of this World - everything from the Wind & Ocean to you and I. He said scientific and real evidence is God's language.  

He spoke of our greatest duty during our time on Earth is to act and be a Blessing to those of the Future and by doing so you will live a life that honors God. 

They ended the service with singing, extinguishing of the chalice and then a closing benediction - members all held hands for the closing words. They then shared in fellowship after the service. 

They were very friendly to me as a newcomer. 

THANK YOU - UU of Santa Fe for allowing us to see your form of Worship. 

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.