I’ve been interested in possibly joining the Seventh-Day Adventist church, and am hoping that next Saturday I can go visit a local one for the first time. I have looked on your official website and I used the “find a church” feature to see where my nearest ones are. I am a college student who does not have a car with me, so I would have to take my city’s bus to get to church. Well, it turns out there is one SDA church that is only about 7 minutes away from my school, which would be very convenient. But something I noticed is that it is huge! It says the number of members, and this church apparently has 799 members. Now, there is another church that is in the next town over, sort of a suburb of the place I live, and it’s probably about 15-20 minutes away. It’s much smaller, and has 62 members. So, I was just wondering if it would be better to go to the smaller one. I attended a Baptist church for a few months with a friend that was really big and had hundreds of people there, and what I didn’t like about it was that it wasn’t at all like a community where everyone knew everyone. Everyone would just go in, sing, listen to the pastor, then hop up and leave. There were just too many people, so the pastor didn’t even know half the people there (I don’t think he ever knew I existed). You only really talked to the people who usually sat near you, but really didn’t know the vast majority of the people in the church. I liked the church I attended as a child with my parents better- there were definitely less than 100 people and we all knew each other, and we’d all visit with each other and the pastor after services. That was an Episcopal church, but, I don’t know that these differences had much to do with the denominations, but probably just the size.

So, what I’m asking is, do you think that if I went to the big SDA church, that it would be TOO big, and be too much like the other church I described? Would you recommend the smaller one instead? While I am sure the people and pastor at the big one are friendly, it just seems like it would be very hard to get to know 799 people, and for the pastor to know them all! That one is so close to my school, and the problem with the smaller one is that it would be more complicated to get there (in the next town over and I’m sure I’d end up having to ride on more than one bus- I’m scared I’d get lost lol). So if any of you SDAs are members of large churches, how is it? I’ve heard how you SDAs are friendly and welcoming but I’m just wondering how well it works in such a big church and if it would make it difficult to really get to know people and have fellowship with all of them.

And please no antis preaching against the church, I know some people don’t like it but that won’t answer my question and I have already decided I want to at least try the church out (if I find anything wrong I can always go to a different one)
Oh, and one other thing I was wondering, do your members generally dress fairly casually or are you more on the dressy side? Because I’m not really sure what I should wear. Would a nice shirt and jeans be all right, or would it be better to wear a skirt?

Rachel we welcome you into one of our Churches.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness.

Seventh-day Adventist web-site:
http://www.adventist.org/beliefs

>What Seventh-day Adventists Believe
>ADRA–Humanitarian Aid
>Mission and Service
>Sabbath School
>Education
>Religious Liberty
>World Church
>Bible Study
>Biblical Research Institute
>GeoScience Research Institute

Information regarding the true biblical Sabbath:
http://www.sabbathtruth.com/

> When is the Sabbath?
> Who changed the Sabbath?
> Why does the Sabbath matter?
> Discover the History of the Sabbath.
> What other denominations say about the Sabbath.
> Is it possible to obey the Law?
> 100 Amazing Facts about the Sabbath.

The Ten Commandments:
http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/

Amazing facts Christian media ministry/OnlineBible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/
>Bible Answers Live
>Marriage,Divorce&Remarriage
>E-Books

http://www.breathoflife.tv/

However, aside from my strong beliefs, I don’t consider myself to be a particularly good Christian. I pray frequently for myself and others, I thank God for his blessings, and I ask for help when I need it. but I don’t go to church (had a bad experience with a church that split when I was young) and I don’t have a strong fellowship with other Christians (just my Dad). I rarely read my bible, though I have read it before and I know it well. I am a very proud person, stubborn, and like everyone sometimes I make mistakes. I always confess to God, I try to apologize to people I’ve wronged, but I have a temper that sometimes gets the best of me.

In the last 2 years, I have been extremely blessed. Work, Husband, life, everything is going well for me. I can’t help but feel like I don’t deserve it, and like something is going to go terribly wrong because I know I’m not the person I SHOULD be.

On the other hand, my sister works for the Episcopal church. She goes to church every Sunday, hangs out with almost only Christians, etc. She never apologizes for her mistakes, and has the same temper as I do, but by most standards her lifestyle makes her a better Christian than I am. Yet things have been going very poorly for her over the last few years, as things have been getting better for me. She holds this against me and she can’t understand why.

Do you think these things are related or unrelated? Why am I being blessed so much, when I don’t deserve it? Am I right to be trying to mentally prepare for the worst to come, or am I being paranoid?
I do plan to start going to Church, I am moving in January and I just don’t feel like I can invest myself in a church here that I will just be leaving soon, but when I move I hope to find one.

Personally, I don’t believe anything happens without God’s consent, and perhaps without His specific plan already in force.
If things are not going well for your sister but for you, things are great, then I’d say you are both just woven into His plan in different ways, different colored threads.

He has two agents of change at His disposal: good and evil.
Say a person had an evil mother and her friend had a sainted mother. Both women would probably decide early on that being a wonderful mother to their own children was the way to go.
One is having a reaction to the love she herself never received, and the other to the love she did receive, but the end result is going to be a happy home in the next generation for the children.

In the long run, after a whole lifetime, both you and your sister will be greater human beings. The tide is taking you both in the same direction.

Episcopal Church USA, Church of Sweden (Lutheran Branch), Anglican Church of Canada, Unitarian Universalists, Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals, Universal Fellowship Metropolitan Community Churches, Mennonite Church of Netherlands, Sedenborgian Church of North America, and the Australian Quakers.

—–

This is what Scripture teaches about the institute of marriage. Do Protestant Churches change what they don’t want to believe, or do they disregard certain verses if it conflicts with their own personal beliefs? This does not sound like Scripture is the authority of their Church, this would indicate disobedience to that authority. And if they are disobedient to the authority of Scripture, does this mean they are disobedient towards God?

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her

Ephesians 5:31-33

"For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Matthew 19:4-5

He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

Mark 10:6-8

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Please no comments from homosexuals, this is a religious queistion not a civil question.

Thank you for your answeres and God Bless.

It’s simple, they are hypocrites.

For a few years now I have been studying LDS and it’s beliefs. I have always been an admirer of the church and it’s teachings. I esp. like the fact how family oriented the mormons are. I would love to raise my future family the way the mormons do, through love, and the teachings of being a good christian.

What I want is to become closer to god. I can only do that by going into a more larger society, and LDS I find is the right choice.

My question is how can I join the church? Can I just show up at the meeting house on a Sunday and attend the service and meetings? Or do I have to do something else before hand??

I am 19 years old, and nervous what to tell my parents. Any advice??

Before you do, think carefully about what is really attracting you to the LDS. Their beliefs are contrary to the actual teachings of Christ.
Look at the history of Joseph Smith. He was a con artist. Also, the tales he tells in his Book of Mormon are pure fiction. There were never any Semetic people in North America, prior to the arrival of the Europeans after 1492. So the entire premise that he builds his religion on is completely false.

Also, Consider how similar his story is to the founder of the Muslim faith, Mohammed. The two are quite striking in their similarities. Now consider that Jesus himself warns against "false prophets" that will come after Him.
"Bring’em Young" was even worse.
There are several ex-Mormons who saw the light and have websites that you should read before you make this move.

There are many Christian denominations that are "family oriented" and getting to know Jesus in the actual and true gospels (KJV) will bring you closer to God, if you are not feeling this at your current church.
Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and please do some research before you join that cult.
You and they are not destined to become "gods" of other planets when they die, and they will not be producing "spirit children". They call themselves Christian, but their teachings have nothing to do with Jesus. Please be careful.

The Episcopal General Convention also underscored the church’s desire to remain a full member of the global Anglican Communion. But the actions at the national assembly are likely to damage the already strained relations within the fellowship.

Delegates voted earlier this week to effectively drop a pledge that they would act with "restraint" when considering any more openly gay candidates for bishop.

The Episcopal gay advocacy group Integrity said the church "turned an important corner" with the vote.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_rel_episco…

I am a life-long Episcopalian, and Episcopalians have many individual beliefs. Some of us are very liberal, while others are quite the opposite. One thing that Episcopalians learn as little children is that all beliefs must be honored and that differences are to be respected. We all are taught to ask questions and to support others on their spiritual journeys. Many Episcopalians believe as I do: God made some people white, black, yellow, et al. God made us male and female, and some of us are gay. All the science seems to indicate that gay is not a choice, any more than skin color or sex. We are not a cult, we are one of the oldest Protestant groups in the U.S.A. We are also one of the best educated, because that is a tradition of the church as well.

If you examine the context of the passage usually cited as an example of forbidden homosexuality, you will also find instructions about how to treat your slaves. Many scholars feel that these passages relate to ancient texts advocating homosexual relationships between soldiers. Both slavery and armies have changed in modern times.

Did you know that more Presidents of the U.S. have been Episcopalian than all other religions put together?

NOTE: During the Easter season, the Lenten Prayer Walk is converted to a Prayer Walk focusing on The Resurrection (Stations of the Resurrection.)

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Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The organ is J.W. Steere, Opus 701, built and installed in the Church of the Redeemeer, Morristown, NJ, USA in 1918.

If you like what you see and hear, please feel free to share it with your friends.

For anyone interested in what we’re doing at Church of the Redeemer, check out our website:
www.RedeemerMorristown.org

J. W. Steere & Son Organ Co., Opus 701, 1918
Church of the Redeemer
Morristown, NJ, USA
as it exists 2007:
Three manuals (61 notes) and Pedal (32 notes), six divisions
Austin stop tab Console, 1962
Church Organ Company, Cantilevered Great, 1979
New Century Products, Zimbelstern, 2005

Great Organ I, Unenclosed, Manual II, Cantilevered
8′ Principal (61 pipes)
8′ Rohr Flöte (61 pipes)
4′ Octave (61 pipes)
4′ Rohr Flöte (12 pipes)
2′ Block Flöte (61 pipes)
Fourniture IV (244 pipes)
8′ Trompette (61 pipes)
4′ Clarion (12 pipes)
Zimbelstern 9 bells

Great Organ II, Unenclosed, Manual II
16′ Bourdon (61 pipes)
8′ Open Diapason (61 pipes)
8′ Gross Flute (61 pipes)
8′ Gemshorn (61 pipes)
4′ Octave (61 pipes)
4′ Harmonic Flute (61 pipes)
8′ Trumpet (61 pipes)

Gt. to Gt. 16′
Gt. Unison Off
Gt. to Gt. 4′
Sw. to Gt. 16′
Sw. to Gt. 8′
Sw. to Gt. 4′
Ch. to Gt. 16′
Ch. to Gt. 8′
Ch. to Gt. 4′
Echo to Gt. 8′
Echo to Gt. 4′

Swell Organ, Expressive, Manual III
16′ Bourdon (73 pipes)
8′ Diapason (73 pipes)
8′ Gedeckt (73 pipes)
8′ Salicional (73 pipes)
8′ Voix Celeste (61 pipes)
8′ Aeoline (73 pipes)
4′ Flauto Traverso (Harmonic) (73 pipes)
2′ Piccolo (61 pipes)
Mixture III Ranks (12th, 15th, 17th) – (183 pipes)
16′ Pousaune (61 pipes)
8′ Cornopean (73 pipes)
8′ Oboe (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Sw. to Sw. 16′
Sw. Unison Off
Sw. to Sw. 4′
Ch. to Sw. 8′

Choir Organ, Expressive, Manual I
16′ Contra Gamba (73 pipes)
8′ Diapason (73 pipes)
8′ Concert Flute (73 pipes)
8′ Flute Celeste (TC) – (61 pipes)
8′ Quintadena (73 pipes)
8′ Dulciana (73 pipes)
4′ Flute d’Amour (73 pipes)
8′ Clarinet (73 pipes)
8′ Orchestral Oboe (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Celesta 49 bars
Ch. to Ch. 16′
Ch. Unison Off
Ch. to Ch. 4′
Sw. to Ch. 16′
Sw. to Ch. 8′
Sw. to Ch. 4′
Echo to Ch. 8′
Echo to Ch. 4′

Echo Organ, Expressive, Floating
(North Clerestory, 4th bay)
8′ Fern Flute (73 pipes)
8′ Muted Viole (73 pipes)
8′ Viole Celeste (73 pipes)
4′ Flute a Cheminee (Harmonic) (73 pipes)
8′ Vox Humana (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Chimes (Degan) 20 tubes

Pedal Organ
32′ Resultant (32 notes)
16′ Diapason (32 pipes)
16′ Gamba (Choir) (32 notes)
16′ Bourdon (shared with Great) (32 notes)
16′ Gedeckt (Swell) (32 notes)
8′ Diapason (from Steere Great Processional) (32 pipes)
8′ Flute (Great II) (32 notes)
8′ Violoncello (Choir) (32 notes)
4′ Octave (from Steere Great Processional) (12 pipes)
4′ Flute (Great II) (32 notes)
2′ Octave (from Steere Great Processional) (12 pipes)
Mixture II (Church Organ Company) (64 pipes)
16′ Trombone (shared with Swell) (32 notes)
8′ Trompette (Great I) (32 notes)
4′ Clarion (Great I) (32 notes)
Gt. to Ped. 8′
Gt. to Ped. 4′
Sw. to Ped. 8′
Sw. to Ped. 4′
Ch. to Ped. 8′
Ch. to Ped. 4′
Echo to Ped. 8′

Pistons:
10 General Pistons and Toe Studs
8 Swell Pistons
8 Great Pistons
8 Choir Pistons
3 Echo Pistons
6 Pedal Toe Studs
Swell to Pedal 8′ Reversible Piston
Great to Pedal 8′ Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
Choir to Pedal 8′ Reversible Piston
Tutti Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
General Cancel Piston
Zimbelstern On/Off Buttons

Balanced Echo, Choir and Swell Pedals
Balanced Crescendo Pedal

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Linda Powell Pruitt is an educator, writer and organizational consultant. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Northwestern University and a M.Phil and Ph.D. in psychology from George Washington University. Dr. Pruitt is Life Professed in the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis, a religious order in the Anglican Communion. She is married to Canon Alonzo C. Pruitt, Under Sheriff and Chief of Chaplains of the Richmond City Sheriffs Office.

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