Apostolic Church is a pentecostal faith that believes in the "infallibility of the Bible, and it is founded on faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God" and seeks to have a faith practice based on first-century Christianity, in other words based on being an Apostle of Christ. The church teaches applying New Testament standards to everyday life. Most Apostolic Churches are part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW).
Founded in 1916 by an Evangelical Prayer team the Pettifords, God's House has been the hub of a vibrant and God loving community in Albuquerque for close to a Century. Eventhough God's House was one of the founding churches of the Mountain States Council which is a PAW organization, they no longer seem to be a member of that Organization.
I attended God's House Church 11am Sunday Morning Celebration.
God's House is an ethnically rich and diverse congregation that welcomes all to Worship God.
A wonderful group of young adults performed the music for the service and they did a fantastic job. As is the norm in Pentecostal services - the congregation participated during the music - singing, clapping, and standing.
And the Levites, of the children of the Korhites, STOOD UP to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:19
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.
Hallelujah
The guest speaker was Pastor Barbara Norfor whose home church is in Roswell NM. Pastor Barbara was a Powerhouse of Praise. She encouraged us that even in the face of adversity - Don't Stop Praying - Don't Stop Believing - Because Something Good is Coming! It is vital to not give into the Despair of your circumstances and whatever comes your way DO NOT let it change your relationship with God. Glorify God in the life you live and the words you speak. She emphasized that rather than complaining about the things you don't want in life or that are challenges - everytime you open your mouth, it should be to praise God.
Congregants who had prayer needs were asked to come to the front and prayed over.
Their tithing ceremony was unique. Everyone first stood and blessed their offering then the ushers directed everyone up front where they deposited their envelopes into baskets. After the tithing procession many congregants left, but for those who stayed we witnessed an individual get baptized.
THANK YOU God's House for letting me join in your Celebration of God.
Home of the Annual Grecian Festival - St. George Greek Orthodox Church is one of the few Eastern Orthodox Catholic churches in New Mexico.
Between the fourth and tenth centuries, the Greek Orthodox Church separated from the Roman Church to follow the Byzantine Rite. The church teaches that it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission with two great sources of authority:
HOLY SCRIPTURE AND HOLY TRADITION
They follow holy Sacraments, which they believe are "the visible means by which they believe are imparted the invisible Grace of the Holy Spirit:"
Obligatory:
1. Baptism
2. Chrismation (anointment with holy oil)
3. Confession
4. Holy Communion
Optional:
1. Matrimony
2. Holy Orders (Ordination)
3. Unction (anointment of the sick) (GOARCH)
The Greek Orthodox Church traditions and ceremonies are far more expansive than I can detail here. Their ceremonies are rich in culture and history and their goal is to, "achieve union with Jesus Christ and unity with each other through the Sacrament of Holy Communion."
Prior to attending the service, I acquainted myself with the ceremonious services by visiting the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's site. It explained the different services and even provided the words and prayers that would be used.
Sunday services include:
Orthros at 8:15 am
Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am
I attended the Divine Liturgy service. They perform the same liturgy service that has been used since the beginning of the Orthodox Church. When I first arrived, a small group was still leading the Orthros Chant. The transition from Orthros was without interruption. They had a Divine Liturgy book that provided the words to the service. The service was largely conducted in English but some parts were in Greek and the Lord's prayer was additionally done in Slavonic. I cannot say that I did not get lost a few times, so I was happy to have the guide.
Father Conan Gill & Deacon George Collaros conducted the service.
The service is very formal but the feeling of the church is comfortably casual. It is a welcomed diverse congregation, I heard several different languages being spoken by the members. The sanctuary is amazingly, beautiful filled with ornate fixtures and vibrant portraits.
Most of the service was chanted except the sermon. In his sermon, Father Conan made parallels of the massacre at Sandy Hook to the massacre of children in Matthew 2:18 and predicted in Jeremiah 31:15. He spoke of the archetype of the mourning mother Rachel. He assured his congregants that doubting faith or the faith of God during the quake of such tragedies was not bad. In fact, this is "what lead us to wonder and awe." We may not know what work God is doing during these tragedies, but we can be assured that:
"Even in the darkest moment, when it seems that God is not around -
He is doing his greatest work" ~ Fr. Conan
After the sermon, more people entered the church, many of them with children. Holy Communion was then given and was only for those who have been baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox church. After the completion of the service, there was fellowship in the building adjacent to the church.
It was very interesting to see an Orthodox service being conducted, I felt almost transformed in time.
THANK YOU St. George for letting me experience an Orthodox worship service.
