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. 

7th Day Adventist

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.

Adventists hold 28 fundamental beliefs including holding the Sabbath on Saturday and treating their body with divine respect, including not consuming some or all meats or intoxicants. Seventh-day Adventists only practice communion four times a year. The communion is open to members and non-members and includes - Foot washing, which symbolizes the commitment to love others as Jesus loves us, and the partaking of Bread and Wine or grape juice. 


Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."
                                                                           Genesis 1:29

I visited Albuquerque Heights Seventh-day Adventist at their 11 am Saturday service. 

♥SOMEWHERE SOMEBODY NEEDS YOUR LOVE TODAY♥

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 Sermon was called "Why Does Jesus Sleep While We Drown" and based on Matthew 8. 

Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"                                                            ~ Matthew 8:26-27

Pastor Merling spoke about how sometimes we think Jesus is asleep and not there for us, but in reality, he is waiting for us to call him so he can carry us. He told us to cast off the "weights of the world so that we do not drown." He shared that we cannot depend on anything of the world, but we can count on Jesus. 

After services the pastor and members spoke to me and welcomed me to visit again. I found the people to be very personable and I loved that the group was wonderfully diverse. 

THANK YOU Heights Seventh-day Adventist church for welcoming me into your family.