United Pentecostal Church

United Pentecostal Church was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and originally emerged out of the Pentecostal movement of Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles and later Topeka, Kansas. Pentecostal faiths believe Miraculous Works of the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit takes a hold of a person and they should express it by singing, dancing, jumping, and other movements. 

I attended the 2pm service at the New Life United Pentecostal Church 

The Mission of the New Life Church is to "exalt God through heartfelt sincere worship,  bible-based teaching, and anointed preaching." The whole service was conducted in praise - first singing praise, then prayer and healing, a sermon full of the praise of God, then they concluding the service with more healing prayers. In the true pentecostal vein, the members of the church were very vocal - speaking in tongues, praying out loud, singing joyfully. Some of them jumped up and down and ran around. They were very excited about the time they spent in prayer and praise. It was by far the most spirited pentecostal service that I have attended. Their healing is done by the laying of hands on each other, anointing with oil, and speaking tongues over one another. 

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:13

Pastor Steven Hamilton gave an exuberant sermon. He showed a great humility for his faith and God's will. He encouraged us to always go to God for direction and spoke of not holding the words of ministers or any man above the words of God. He asked if we have surrendered our Affection, Intellect, and Will to God?  Only those who have surrendered to God will hear the guiding voice of God. 

"Only God can stop your crash course to Destruction."  - Pastor Hamilton

The members showed a great dedication to their faith and humbleness to the Lord. 

Note: Pentecostal women generally wear skirts and wear their hair up even thought there is no official rule on that. Pentecostal women do not cut their hair so that is the reason so many of them wear it up. 

THANK YOU New Life United Pentecostal Church for sharing your Spirit Filled worship with me. 

A Reformed Good Friday

Good Friday is part of the Holy Week before Easter and is a remembrance of the Crucifixion of Christ. Catholics as well as many Protestants celebrate the day. 

When the reform movement occurred, many different church denominations were born during the split from the Catholic Church. In Germany, it was the Lutherans. In England, the Anglicans, and in Switzerland and other parts of Europe, it was the Calvinists. A Dutch branch of the Calvinist movement brought about the foundation of the Dutch Christian Reformed Church, many of whom emigrated to the United States in the middle of the 19th Century. In 1857, the Christian Reformed Church CRCNA was established when a group of families in the United States split from the Dutch Reform Movement. CRCNA is a confessional church that believes: The Bible alone is the Authoritative source for individuals rather than church traditions, daily lives should be directed by the scriptures, and they place an important emphasis on Christian education and global outreach.

I attended the Fellowship Christian Reformed Church's Good Friday service. One of their congregational goals is "to help everyone connect with God in a way that makes sense and is meaningful." "

IN ALL I DO - I HONOR YOU

As we entered the sanctuary we were each given a stone. Pastor John Dykhuis facilitated the worship service. He lit a group of candles at the beginning, and after each section of the service, a candle was snuffed out. The sermon was the end of a series of sermons around stones. The service was broken into the events (or stones) leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus ~ the stone of condemnation of Jesus, separation, sorrow, suffering - then to the final stone that was placed when Jesus' tomb was closed. 
Different members led the congregation through each section - read a bible passage, said a prayer, then there was a moment of silence. Many songs were also sung throughout this journey of worship. 

The service ended by uniting with Jesus in his death by the breaking of bread and The Lord's Supper. Pastor Dykhuis asked as we approached the alter to put our stone on the cross as a symbol of shedding the burden and weight of the sins of the world. If we give our sins to Jesus, he will take them from us. After each person received communion, they could either stay and meditate or quietly leave the sanctuary for fellowship outside of the worship hall.  

This cup is the new covenant made with my blood. Every time you drink from it, do it to remember me. 
                                                                                                    ~ 1 Corinthians 11:25

I do believe this congregation is accomplishing their goals, the service was very intimate and meaningful. A wonderful representation of worship through scripture. 

THANK YOU Fellowship Christian Reformed Church - it was a lovely Good Friday.