The Potter's House

Pentecostal churches have a unique history in that they were the first interracial churches in the United States. In the early 1900's, one of the biggest churches that contributed to the spreading of the Pentecostal faith, the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angelos; held services that were ethnically diverse. The denomination, Potter's House Christian Fellowship, is a church that was founded by Pastor Wayman Mitchell and split from the Foursquare Pentecostal church in the late '60's. It experienced a large surge of growth during the Jesus People Movement. The unique denomination now has over 2,000 congregations worldwide. 

They believe "The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and giver of life, who was active in the Old Testament, and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost."

GOD'S FIRE NEVER BURNS OUT

The name of the church came from a biblical reference: 
The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, “Go to the potter’s house. There I will give you my message” ~ Jeremiah 18:1-2

Pentecostal religions have several distinct traditions - Glossolalia or speaking in tongues, Baptism with the Holy Spirit (salvation), and Revivals.  Glossolalia is believed to be a person being filled with the Holy Spirit, there are generally three types:

1. Tongues as a Sign to Nonbelievers - Acts 2:11
2. Tongues for the Strengthening of the Church - Requires Interpretation - 1 Corinthians 14:5
3. Tongues as a Private Prayer Language - Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:4 

I attended the Albuquerque Potter's House Christian Center 6pm Sunday Service. In jeans and a sweater, I was underdressed. Almost all of the women wore dresses and the men wore dress shirts, slacks, and a tie or even suits. 

The service opened up with lively group singing and prayers. During the prayers, the pastor and people in the audience spoke in tongues at times. 


Pastor Lee Wilson gave the sermon. He spoke of believers being a light in the World ~ the smallest of lights can illuminate the darkest of places. He called upon us to not allow things of the material world to come between us and God. He preached that to have a powerful relationship with God, all we have to do is ask. He shared that the true Freedom of life is allowing the Power of God to work, uncontrollably in our lives. 

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  ~ John 8:36

After the sermon, most of the congregation went up front and knelt down to pray and receive God's blessings. 

Many people came up and greeted me before and after service, they seemed like a very close group of believers. 

They also have live music and entertainment on Saturday nights. 

THANK YOU Albuquerque Potter's House for sharing your form of worship with me. 

Note: This denomination is not associated with the Mega Church The Potter's House in Dallas or Denver. 

Anglican Taizé Eucharist

The Anglican Church began in the 6th century in England, when Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine to Britain to disciple to the Anglo-Saxons. This mission, often called the Gregorian Mission, lead to the foundation of the Church of England and the eventual separation from the Roman Catholic Church. There is no central authority for the Anglican Church, instead churches are unified by tradition, belief, and agreement. 

Taizé is an ecumenical form of worship that incorporates song, prayer, and silence to foster a peaceful and calming atmosphere and facilitate a meditative worship. Taizé originated during World War II, in Taizé France first as worship for those trying to hide and flee from the war. It later developed into a monastic brotherhood that used a simplistic and unique worship style, that survives today.  

Many Christian churches worldwide are integrating services of the Taizé tradition into the normal services they offer their congregants. The Church of the Holy Faith offers a Taizé service on Tuesdays, it is a Catholic style liturgy with Holy Eucharist. I attended their 6pm Tuesday Taizé Eucharist service.

The Church of the Holy Faith was founded in 1863 in Santa Fe. They believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, and the Authority of Scripture. It is officially an Episcopal Church but is more conservative and closer to an Anglican Church in its Anglo-Catholic rituals and use of the Book of Common Prayer. I found the service to be very much along the lines of a Catholic service except women were part of the ministerial team and everyone was welcome for communion. 

WORD MADE FLESH

Reverend James Brzezinski and Dean Peggy Patterson led the services. There were moments of meditative silence throughout the service as well as singing meditation, short hymns that were repeated several times. There was not really a sermon, just some readings and Dean Patterson spoke to us that we all have an anointed vocation in this life. 

For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Then they performed the laying on of hands and lighting of the candles. Everyone at the service went up to the altar and were anointed with oil and given healing prayers by the ministerial team. After each person left the altar, they lite a candle. Then the Holy Eucharist was offered to the members. It was a very unique service that had a certain tranquility about it, I can see why Taizé services are growing in popularity. In a World seemingly filled with increasing chaos, a peaceful service of worship can be very restoring.  

THANK YOU Church of the Holy Faith for showing me your unique Taizé service.

All Nations Assembly of God

Assemblies of God were first part of the revival Pentecostal movement. In the early 1900's, tent revivals sprang up all over parts of the U.S. as a way to breathe life into stale Christian worship. The Assembly of God denomination came about in 1914, when people from the movement sought to organize the revivals into the structure of a permanent church community. Evangelism and missions are at the foundation of the Assembly of God Church.

The Assemblies of God have a four-fold Mission:

1. Evangelize the lost.
2. Worship God.
3. Disciple believers.
4. Show Compassion.

I attended the Sunday evening 6:30 service of All Nations Assembly of God. A small chapel, within a block of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. All Nations is a church dedicated to evangelizing the gospel to people of all the tribal nations.  

ALL ARE WELCOME IN GOD'S HOUSE

It was a small group but a big and powerful message. Pastor Marleen Mercer has been preaching the word of God amongst the Native Cultures for almost 40 years. It opened with a prayer and songs. People shared their praises and a young woman recited John 3:16 in Navajo ~ it was very meaningful and touching. 

Pastor Mercer gave a powerful and moving sermon. She spoke of our Spiritual Body Armour - Armour of God that helps us withstand in the battles against evil and self destruction. She made the illustration that negative thoughts are like runaway wild horses and God is what you must use to reign them in. When we are clothed in the breastplate of Jesus, we are righteous. It is difficult to allow ourselves to believe that we are righteous because we judge ourselves on our own actions and our limitations. We are righteous, however because it is Jesus that is righteous for us. This she affirmed, is the armour that will defend you against the World and allow you to shine God's love. 

Shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 5:17

We closed the service with a prayer circle. We joined hands and prayed out loud for the person on either side of us, for the group, the community...The room was truly filled with the Holy Spirit. It was an amazingly uplifting service to be a part of. I now know why they call them Revivals!

THANK YOU All Nations Assembly of God for showing me that we are all part of God's Tribe.