The notion of reality is perhaps the most comprehensive of the fields of philosophy, religion and related social phenomena. The issue of reality involves properties of the external world that cannot be proven by science or accepted as facts. Nevertheless, the External world including our world is material and the internal world, the spiritual world from a Christian perspective, is spiritual. The Christian notion of reality involves reference to the inner workings of the mind which states that the things of the world must come from a higher being. The Bible calls this higher being the Spirit of God, which the Son of God came and brought into the world.
While the external world includes entities such as governments, society, laws, etc, it is the internal spirit world that represents the source of the external reality. Christians refer to this as the first and holy Ghost. The realm of the Spirit is not subject to time or space and its realm does not respect the natural emerge or retreat of the sun. The Christian notion of reality is a spirit world where God’s power is at its maximum. The source of this power is not in the physical, but is a higher intelligence which is the harmony of all things in creation. This power brings forth all things into existence that are effectively subject to God’s will. The orderly structure of the universe, the perfection of the earth, and the orderliness of the life on earth are all a result of this power of the Spirit.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
The power that was in Jesus is still within us, at the whisper of God’s call. Those who are born again have this power in them. It is for us to make a commitment to a deeper walk with God by acknowledging the reality of the Spirit within us, and by allowing this power to do what it senses to do in the world through us. The true Christian notion of reality rejects the misleading idea that the external world must be a reliable ally. The true Christian notion that the external world can be relied upon to reveal the truth is confirmed by the following verse from Oswald Chambers:
“Might you not consider, my brethren, that the principles of this age, which are not so divine as theirs is either duller and less clear, or worse, than the clap of a hand? From whence cometh all this difference? They are not so divine as thou art.”
The reality that the Spirit is divine, life-giving and life-believing, therefore, rejects the idea that the external world can be relied upon to reveal the truth. It is by divine right that the spiritual world presents the truth, not the other way around. The spiritual world does not perceive the same truth as the external world. It does not respond according to the same rules that are established for the external world as in carrying a clear purse showing all your contents (intentions). The spiritual world reflects the inner character of God’s creation. The physical world is for physical development, not eternalorealization.
A teacher of the truth is an inhabitant of the land of the spirit who has agreed to abide with God; who acts as a representative of the spiritual relationship between God and man; who reveals and embodies the truth that is the essence of creation and the reality of faith. Such a person is an inhabitant of the land where the winds and rains, the thunder and lightning, and the earthquakes prevalent. He lives between the two worlds, not by physical force, but by the word of spiritual power./whoever lives between these two worlds is equal to that person who is occupying the position of representative in these two worlds.
The Attendance of the Spiritual World to the Other
The spiritual presence between these two worlds is not automatic, it demands presence. This is a demand, for, without it, we are cut off from this reality. It is impossible to fulfill such an invitation without willfully accepting it. The attending of the spiritual world to the other is a pastime activity which a soul whenever undertake, with the assurance of Divine presence even if for a brief moment.
Such a moment may be an instant or a lifetime journey and the recipient may be anyone, even an unbeliever. In fact, the experience which is referred to here can be enjoyed by the practitioner and the recipient even among non-believers, though of course, their disbelief prevents full manifestation of the experience The spiritual world is conscious of the need to act, and that action is performed by the words of the Invitation and Covenant. In the Invitation and Covenant, the awareness of the other can be recognized and affirmed. The resident in the other world is aware of the need to act and manifests that need to the delight and salvation of those around him or her.
So, fun fact, Nashville, or more specifically, Tennessee, is one of the eight states with more than 50 mega churches. A lot of those are in Nashville, a great big portion of them actually, probably because of the competition and such. There is a lot of churches there, if they are a megachurch or not, there is a lot. As you can probably guess, this is what we are going to be talking about today.
You can be looking this up for a hundred thousand different reasons, dozens of different things that that could be influencing you as to why you want to be learning about some of the best churches in Nashville. Hopefully, we are going to be able to cover something that you may want to know about these churches, and hopefully you will be able to find exactly what you need.
You may be here to find a church to attend, in which case, we dearly hope that we are able to match you with one that you would be really happy to go to. We are going to be talking about a lot of different types of churches, Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Calvary, etc. We are going to be talking about a lot of different churches and different religions, so whatever you may need for research purposes, hopefully we can help you out.
We do sincerely apologies if we leave out one of your favorite churches or if we leave out a specific church that you were hoping to be added onto this list. We do really hope that you aren’t disappointed in any way for the things that may or may not be on this list, but if we do end up disappointing you, then we apologies.
We also wanted to say a deep and sincere thank you for taking some time out of your incredibly busy schedule to come and learn a little bit more about this topic. We do really appreciate the fact that you want to come and read this list and analysis, it is really great to know that we were helpful to you in anyway.
Also, just a really quick warning before we get on with the list. As we said, there is an absolutely enormous number of churches, big churches, small churches, megachurches, different churches of different faiths, etc. There is a lot and because of that we are going to have to limit this list in a way that saves us and you some time. We are going to have to go ahead and just pick the best of the best churches available in Nashville and hope that we can land on one that you see.
Also, just a note, we aren’t doing this in any kind of particular order, this is just randomly placed, so being the first or last one on here does not make one church above any other, this is just to point out that these churches are absolutely amazing.
It’s just not possible to go through all of them, all two hundred something, it just wouldn’t work, so we are going to have to keep it limited to only the best of the best. The top churches are the only ones allowed on this list, and if that disappoints you, then we are incredibly sorry. So, without any further delay, here is a conveniently compiled list and analysis of all the top churches in Nashville.
Journey Church
So, the first church on this amazing list is a Baptist church, and it is a doozy, this place is honestly one of the best churches in Nashville, probably the entire world even. There is everything g that you could possibly need in a church like this, there’s the music, there’s the preaching, there’s the incredibly friendly community of like-minded people. It has everything that you could ever possibly want from a place like this and we do sincerely hope that you consider checking it out, it honestly has some of the coolest things there.
A lot of the reviews about this church are mostly positive, the only negative ones talking about how traffic can be kind of bad when it let out, but that’s not that bad, it’s kind of something that happens at all the biggest churches. I myself would definitely not mind taking a look at this church and maybe connecting with a few of the people there, because as the reviews said, a lot of the community is incredibly generous and loving, and the staff even more so.
Most of the pastors are incredibly good at what they do, and they can most certainly teach about the gospel that they praise. The music there is just an amazing quality, they sing everything they have newer Christian music in later services and older songs during the morning for the more traditional Christians.
Hopefully you yourself can find some time to go out and see what everyone is raving on about with this church, maybe you’ll see it as your new church home and be there every Sunday from now on, that would certainly be something wouldn’t it? They are open every day, except for Friday and Saturday, and generally from nine to two, so if you ever do decide to visit, you would have plenty of time during the week.
The services for Sunday though are a 9:30 service to 10:30 and then one at 11:15 to 12:15, so two services that you can take advantage of and make yourself a flexible schedule based upon it. Again, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to go and visit, maybe you could even skip the middleman and just call them, maybe ask a few questions that they may be able to answer.
Whatever you need to do, this is the best Baptist church in Nashville, according to a majority of the people that attend or have attended, so that alone is enough evidence to suggest that it is in fact a church worth checking out at one point or another.
Belmont Church
Right behind Journey Church is Belmont Church, another Baptist one that really is just something special, this is one that is for sure one to check out, especially for the more classically minded Christians as this is the church for more traditional things. The music is a little more traditional, the preaching, some of their practices, all around good things that a lot of people can enjoy during their Sunday service.
All of the people at this church, the community that is, is incredibly friendly, they are all very accepting and very good at begin good Christians, and the preachers and staff are even better. They are right next to the metal recycling near me. As we said, the preaching is a little more old school, but it still stands strong today with its strong core beliefs that Jesus Christ is everyone’s savor. There is a lot to be offered from this place to say the least and they are all good things, so hopefully you find some time out of your very busy schedule to go by for a service or two and see what they are all about.
Hopefully for them, and you, this will be your new church home, possibly you’ll be able to connect with them and learn a little bit more about yourself as you search for all the best churches, and hopefully this will be one of the ones on your next stop. As we said, it is one that is definitely worth checking out, it has a ton of things to love about it and hopefully you’ll be able to see how much they can offer you and your potential family.
Church of the City
The next one on our list is another follower of Jesus Christ but with a more directed focus. This church as you can probably guess form its name is dedicated to the city and its betterment, using the gifts Jesus has given them and the faith that they have ready. It is honestly very admirable how they decide to take their city by storm and go out to help those in need and help make things better in general with their wisdom, patience, and kindness.
They of course have a Sunday service, they are after all a church, they don’t spend all their time and effort in the city. They have a lot of amazing things to look forward to when you go to this church a lot of spectacular things to look at and see and learn from on your trip to this one. The staff and the community is all incredibly welcoming and they are all incredibly kind and helpful, always willing to lend a hand when one is needed.
This is honestly one of the best churches in Nashville for the simple fact they care so deeply for the people around them, they always take the servants route and decide to be the better people in their community. they want to make a change and with their prayer and the resources given to them by God, they have decided to make the best of it and make the city better.
This is one that I would personally go and check out, they have a lot of things that I would love to see. From the reviews and other face to face comments, I’ve seen that there is a lot of praise in particular for their preaching, there pastors are all very kind and easy going, making sure that people can understand their message with clarity and sure footedness. So, if you ever find the time, you should definitely go and check this place out, and maybe consider donating to there very charitable cause.
Woodmont Christian Church
The last church that we are going to be talking about today is the Woodmont Christian Church and this is one of the best for the simple fact that their motto is about complete and utter unity. They are all about togetherness and making sure that everyone stays afloat on their journey through life, which is also something that is incredibly heartwarming and good, and they apply this motto to whoever joins them, and whoever hasn’t yet.
This is a church that is just so incredibly welcoming that it is almost shocking, just for the sheer fact that they are so welcoming should put this as the best church in Nashville, but like we said there is no best and there is certainly no worst with this list. There is a lot that can be said about this church but the unity that they have and the feeling of warmth and family they exude is just irreplaceable.
So, if you ever find the time to go and see this church, then we definitely recommend it, hopefully you will be able to find everything that you could ever possibly want out of a church like this very soon. Again, this is one of the best, possibly the best, and we dearly hope that you agree with us if you ever get the chance to try them out for yourselves.
The Conclusion
So, we talked about quite a few churches today, all of them being absolutely amazing and good for everything that they do, and they are all just so wonderful and the best with what they do. Hopefully you agree with us and hopefully you were able to find a church that you like with this list, we dearly hope that it was useful.
We just wanted to say again that we are very grateful for the time and effort you put into reading this analysis, we do sincerely thank you for the time that you put aside to come by and read through it really quickly. Thank you very much, and we do hope to see you again and again with everything that you do in life, and we really hope that we will be able to help you in some other future endeavor. This was the top churches in Nashville.
If you happen to visit La Sagrada Familia in Spain, do not be surprised to see the amazing beauty inside. This church is filled with magnificent examples of Art Deco. The Luke Cathedral and the imposing triangular architecture is a sight to seen. Although you may not see the outside of the church, you can see the remarkable level of decoration inside the church. Many of the brightly colored brightly decorated buildings are covered in rocking seated art deco paintings. Some of the recurring themes in the interior of the church include; saints, angels, Mary, the shepherds, Joseph and Mary’s dress. Also, the most charming Chapel of all time, the S pertaining to the Crucifixion, the Tutor Saliba, the patron of thieves, the Julia Cameron among others.
Sabbath rested Sundays are traditionally regarded as the best time to visit churches. There is always a unique blend of drama and music with the different brief iconographies of the saints on the Sunday evening. Many people visit churches on Sundays to attend the Sunday worships, do a bit of shopping or to attend a baptism celebration. During the week, many churches have play areas for the children and the singing of church hymns is a public holiday in La Sagrada.
Many people take their family to visit churches on the Fourth of July, special events like birthdays or the celebration of a wedding, baptisms or funerals because they have one of the best commercial kitchen design in the world. Church strolls are also popular at this time of the year with churches being easily located around the city. occupies the postal area in the responding to public demand for a quiet and peaceful place to attend mass. Church has a special place in the hearts of some people.
La Sagrada Familia in the city of Sagrada del Rinseqala is one of the original cathedrals of the Sagrada community. It is among the smallest of the Sagrada Familia churches of the city. It is official in the ownership of the First Lady, PMad Ursula Moreira dasilvania. The walls and ceiling are constructed of a special stone that is procured from the Andes and weighs six hundred and sixty tons. This is the main building of the Sagrada Familia, which is comprised of two different chapels, a sacraments church and a conference center.
Sagrada Familia Church is comprised of 13 meeting places, 10 chapel serving various spiritual needs and four priests. It even hosts a cooperative ministry center called Casa de Sagrada where individuals are encouraged to volunteer. Another building called Casa de la Sagrada is an alternative safe haven for individuals who need psychological help.
Sagrada Familia is dedicated to the teaching and exemplification of the life of Jesus in the modern world. Many of the programs and activities held at the Sagrada Familia are original toscarago. These include a bridge program where church members can learn and reconnect with others who are also members of the Sagrada community. Another program called Live Savers is an outreach designed to help children and adolescents learn about responsible scientific living. Another popular program at Sagrada Familia is called Live 5,000, which is an invitation to send a donation to help another person in need.
Seven churches in the Sagrada Familia are dedicated entirely to helping those in need through financial gifts. These include the Keep The Garden Trust, whose main objective is to encourage protecting the hedgerows of the state of affairs; the East West Ministry, to provide opportunities for the marginalised to participate more fully in church life; the Document and Industrial Security Center, which provides assistance tuberous mothers with babies; the rethink ministry, designed to help individuals improve their attitudes; and finally, the Missionary Covenant Church, to which converts are invited upon repentance of sins and obedience to theicular Word of God.
hotter than a hypocrite is the man or woman who reports pains and sorrows of the heart and the spirit that torments them self, what they treasure in their hearts, to the covetousness of others. We read words like these and within them lies the wisdom of God, for whose name is This is Love, Joy, Peace, Rest, and Forever in Jesus name of truth Highest and Lowest all worthy is the treasure most precious still to be given away. This is a lesson for every one of us on the earth, that life with intent on the giving God, to Love most pure, may be the most fruitful, if we honour his commandments.
The treasure of truth was a treasure hard to measure or value, nevertheless, was worth more than silver or than gold. its exact measurement. Silver describes the glory of God an hundred thou art thou precious, gold fills thy birth, wondrous apostle of praise, full of thy grace and gratitude, co- all for this priceless of holiness of God fill thy faithfulness.
There may come a time when you find yourself looking for a new church. This may be for a variety of reasons, however, whatever the reason, it can be a tough decision to make.
Choosing a new church requires a great deal of thought and reflection about the church that suits your needs. This will involve carefully looking at the options available to you, and a great deal of prayer, so that you can select a church that has a core doctrine you agree with.
Why are you looking for a new church? Have you relocated to a new residence or have you become aware that something is lacking in your present place of worship? Possibly the doctrine of your existing church has an element that troubles you, or your understanding of faith has outgrown what your church offers. Very few people have a static faith all their life and it is not uncommon for people to review their beliefs and find that the particular denomination they belong to, is a mismatch for an individual belief.
Thinking about why an individual should, or should not join a particular faith reminds me of a story from Iran. In Iran, the majority Islamic Faith has a strong dislike of another religion that rose within the country, the Baha’i Faith.
Islamic leaders have such a hatred of that faith that they destroy Baha’i Cemeteries, ban Baha’i children from higher education, and close down Baha’i-owned businesses. The Baha’is have been persecuted for many years and many have been killed. Many stories about the Baha’is are spread among the Muslims by Islamic Mullahs, spreading disinformation about them.
Anyway, a group of Baha’is was meeting in one city and a Muslim came in and sat at the back. He came for two consecutive weeks. On each occasion, he was approached by members of the community and invited to take part in worship. He politely declined and said he just wanted to sit and watch. The same thing happened the third week, but this time when he was asked, he replied that had attended three weeks and in all that time there had been no dancing naked around the room. He went on to say that he was very disappointed as his Mullah had assured him that was what happened at Baha’i meetings. Finally, he inquired when the naked dancing was going to start!
Sometimes we do not understand other denominations and we base our decisions on information garnered from biased and inaccurate sources, or we make assumptions that later prove to be false. When looking for a new church we must take our time to understand the doctrine of the denomination/church, and how they put this into practice. If we carelessly join a church without any investigation, we may find ourselves disillusioned and that disillusionment could drive us away from Christianity altogether.
Section 2 – Personal Experiences
· Lifestyle
For around a year I lived in Ireland, a strongly Catholic country. One thing I soon realized in my village was that if you did not belong to the Catholic church you never got to hear about community activities, you were an outsider and could never properly become part of the community. I was not a Catholic and when talking about my beliefs with friends one or two of them agreed with the spiritual aspects of my faith but could not bring themselves to make that leap and leave the Catholic church.
We seek to be part of a community when we join a church. It should feel like home. In rural Ireland that meant the Catholic church. In other countries establishing that sense of community is much harder. Does the church you are considering offer the community that you are seeking? Some of the more successful churches in America today are those which offer a whole lifestyle.
· Friendliness
The next church I experienced was in Bulgaria. A fellow British guy and I were living in the coastal resort of Varna, where we decided to go and make friends with members of other faiths/churches. We found a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints, and we went along to some of their meetings. We made it abundantly clear that we had our own faith and did not want to join their church, but that we wanted to share some worship with them. People were so very friendly, there was even a translation service set up so one member of their congregation sat at the back and spoke into a microphone, translating Bulgarian into English for us in our ear-pieces. After the service, they would split into discussion groups and we were allowed to join and made very welcome, comparing their interpretation of Jesus against ours. We had many happy visits to their church during our time in Varna. Had I been looking to join a church in Varna, they would certainly be high on the list of possible, because of the love they demonstrated to everybody. Compare this to another church we visited where nobody took the time or trouble to speak to us.
· Doctrine
To look at doctrine I will go back to my teenage years in England. I had a friend who did dielectric testing who belonged to a house church and he invited me along. I guess I went along simply as an act of friendship but on arriving I was made welcome by everyone, in particular an attractive young lady about my age. I have to be honest and she was the reason I kept going back, and over time I got swept up in this community and got baptized.
This was where it started going wrong. The pastor and the senior members of this church seemed intent in isolating me from my parents. They called them sinners and said they were a bad influence. This started to put my guard up. I also noticed that generally, when preaching, the pastor seemed to be filled with hate of anyone who was not part of the church.
I still have visions of him seething with rage, and vitriol. I just knew this was not the loving church that I was looking for, and I stopped going. It was to be 40 years before I came back to religion because of this church. To them, I guess their approach and interpretation of the words of God made sense, but it didn’t to me.
· Finding Your True Faith
Forty years after my experience of the house church, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and given five years to live at the most. This starting me thinking about spiritual matters and I was open to thoughts that I had not explored for a lifetime. I found my current faith online, and before I had even met a member of that faith I knew from my studies that this faith made sense to me. Where the house church had hate, my new faith had love. Where the house church saw themselves as apart from the community, my new faith believed in unity.
I knew within days that this would be my spiritual home, but remembering the mistakes I had made in the past with the house church, I studied, and I arranged to go and visit an elderly lawyer who was a member of this faith. I attended his home once a week for five weeks and then I knew, and I became a member of this community of faith.
There are a great many resources online where you can explore different denominations and faiths. Places where you can find out the truth, unlike the Muslims who had fallen for propaganda. Be certain that you understand fully what the community you seek to join, really believe, and how they put those beliefs into action.
Section 3 – How YOU can find a Spiritual Home
In the last section, we looked at what I have learned through personal experience. I wanted to include this so you would understand my journey and my guidance for you. In this final section, we will look in detail at how you can find a spiritual home where you feel comfortable and will thrive.
The Church is People, not Buildings
The Bible tells us very clearly that the church is not a structure, it is not a piece of architecture, it is a body of believers. Hebrews 10:25 makes it very clear that the members of the church should regularly meet together. Are the members of this church people who you would want to spend time with? Do they share the same outlook? Recent studies have shown that the United States alone has some 450,000 churches. Even a smallish town will typically have six or seven choices. Focus on these six or seven communities and decide where you best fit.
How Does the Church Regard the Bible?
Some people believe wholeheartedly, often against scientific evidence, that the Bible is literal history. Others believe that the Bible uses language to explain complex ideas understandably and is not intended to be taking word for word. Both groups of people have equal respect for the Bible but they understand it differently. If you are someone who is more liberal with their interpretation of the Bible and you join a church that takes the Bible exactly as it is read, then you are going to crash on the rocks. Many churches will have a website and will post a doctrinal statement on them. Make a point of reading them.
Is Church Just a Place to Attend on Sundays?
Some Christians like to attend a weekly church service and that is their only interaction with the church all week. Others expect to be involved in a community that may meet several times during the week carrying out different activities. They take pleasure in working with the community and learning together. If you are a Sunday-only Christian and find yourself pressured into doing far more, then you will not be comfortable.
Another Great Divide
Some believers see charity as an important task for the church to support. They expect the pastor to live a simple lifestyle and to dedicate himself to the comfort of others. Others seem to thrive in a mega-church with expensive buildings and a pastor who becomes very wealthy, living almost a jet-set lifestyle. Some enjoy the showbiz and environment of these megachurches, while others prefer a more spiritual and simpler approach, spending most of the church income on caring for the sick or the poor.
Visit Each Church
If your small town has six to seven churches before you make a final decision about which church to join, visit each one on a Sunday in turn. What sort of welcome do you get? How does the worship feel? Do you feel at home with this community? A church should notice when someone new sneaks in at the back, Someone should make a point of welcoming you.
Website and Social Media
You can find out a lot from the website of a church, and even more from social media. You can get background and an idea of how the church functions before you pay a visit. Is there genuine love shown in social media posts? What activities do the church-run? How involved is the membership in the church activities or is the same person or couple doing everything.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right church is important. If your faith is important to you and you want to feel truly a part of a community, then it is worthwhile investing some time and effort into finding the right match. Spending a few weeks checking out each church, in turn, can be an interesting experience in itself and is a sure way to help find your new spiritual; home.
What you do not want to be doing is constantly moving churches every few months, spend just that little bit of extra time now to find a place where you will feel at home.
Before spending any money on buying a new church kitchen design, make sure you know more about what your church will be using it for and how much you will need. This will help you get a better picture of what exactly you will need. If your assets will be used for church activities, you will need to maximize space by getting storage space for equipment as well as cooking, storage and preparation areas for food that are for religious eduction purposes.
Choosing the Right Church Kitchen Design
Once you know what you’re looking for, you need to determine what options will work best for your church. You will want to design your kitchen after any specific requirements. If you have four separate areas for your hot food before service, then designate those areas with one chef. However, this may not work for a community closet that will have numerous people. In this case, you will need your hot food areas near the front of your church or will need to make sure that two areas get close enough to meet in order to allow for aisles.
If you have a provincial scale, then you will still need designated areas for hot food and cross trainers before service and two authorized areas before service, with an area provided for hot food. If you need to add more accommodations, such as catering, then contact the owner of the facility where you’re planning on serving your food.
Next, you must decide whether you want a proper kitchen design or a theme. A proper design will help your kitchen’s function efficiently. It will vary with your location. It will also help fit in with your Communion process. Designers will help you ascertain your purpose and identify what kind of space you require.
Planning Your Kitchen
Once you have chosen what look you want for your kitchen, then make sure you plan it out carefully. This will give you a better general idea of how you’re going to proceed with your décor as well as make it easier to address issues surrounding your kitchen.
Shop Around
When shopping for a design, it’s best to shop around. Resist the temptation to pay attention to first price points first. You can then follow up with the most expensive choice and judge their quality.
Speak to the Design Professional
Once you have completed your design, it’s important that you get all the opinions of an expert. Bring folks in from time to time to see how their ideas translate to your needs. You can also present questions for consumers and ask the best design professionals in your area to provide feedback.
Get Professional Installation
It’s a lot of hard work to work on a building. It’s easy to consider highly technical specifics for conventional shop real estate but this is not always the case for church facilities. When you are considering church furniture, make sure you get professional installation. Commercialism is a big decision and the last thing you want to do is to compromise the quality of your church due to a lack of expertise in the field.
Before you send the design process to work, make sure you have done your research and have a plot out on the floor plan. This is the solution to pulling off a perfect design that will provide a beautiful and functional space.
One of the most important things to consider is how much space you have to play with. You need to make sure that you have enough room for services such as cleaning, cooking and cooking hot food. Sometimes these are not convenient for an individual who wants to eat alone.
Next, you will need to decide on functionality. Will you need catering and a kitchen/catering area separately? If so, do you have room for both? If so, do you need to separate the kitchen and serve it in separate rooms? If you do need separate services, then you will need to make sure that all guests have access to the kitchen area. Will you need commercial kitchen equipment?
Finally, coordinating power and sound are important features frequently ignored that will prove very useful. Power those lights as far as possible from your kitchen and don’t take any incoming telephone calls from the kitchen area in the same manner that you would if it was in the service area.
Sacramento is home to a wide variety of churches, including Roman Catholic, Baptist, Non-denominational, Methodist, and Pentecostal. Believers of God always search for the right Sacramento church to worship God, meet new people, and even serve others. Let us explore to find the most reputed churches in Sacramento.
1. Capital Christian Center
2. Calvary Christian Center
3. Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
4. Real Life Church
5. The Crossing Church
6. Bayside Church Midtown
7. St. John’s Lutheran Church
8. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
9. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
10. City Bible Church
11. Center of Praise Ministries
12. Arcade Church
1. Capital Christian Center
Capital Christian Center is a highly popular Pentecostal church in Sacramento. Established in 1916, this Assemblies of God church welcomes all people. Rick Cole is the Senior Pastor of this Sacramento church. He took charge from his father, Glen D. Cole, on September 17, 1995. In addition to being a pastor, Rick is also an author and a social worker.
Offering great music and motivating messages, Capital Christian Center provides a perfect setting for worship. You can come across extremely friendly people in this church. The auditorium of this church can accommodate 700 people. You can visit this church at 9.00am or 11.00 am on Sunday to attend the services. You can even attend these services online. The mission of this Pentecostal Sacramento church is Gather, Grow, and Go.’
Address – Capital Christian Center, 9470 Micron Ave, Sacramento, CA 95827
Church Office (Phone Number) – 916-856-5683
14-hour contact line – 916-856-5690
2. Calvary Christian Center
Established in 1980, Calvary Christian Center has been gaining in popularity as a safe place of worship. The founder, Dr. Phillip G. Goudeaux, and his wife Brenda Goudeaux are highly renowned pastors, authors, and teachers. Offering highly inspiring motivational classes, they have brought positive changes in the lives of several people.
This non-denominational Sacramento church teaches believers about the Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Both Phillip and Brenda preach that all scripture is provided through the inspiration of God. Calvary Christian Center makes people aware of the need for baptism by water. It also believes in observing the Lord’s Supper.
The Sunday church services are available at 9.00 am, 11:30 am, and 6 pm. The Bible study classes are conducted every Tuesday at 10.00 am. This Sacramento church also offers prayer services every Wednesday at 6.30 pm. The mission statement of the church is Winning Souls, Changing Lives, and Helping People.’
Address – Calvary Christian Center, 2667 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
Church Office (Phone Number) – 916-929-5725 ext. 175
3. Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Located in the heart of Sacramento city, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful church with a rich legacy. Following the classic Roman Catholic belief system and sacraments, this Sacramento church has been instrumental in changing the lives of a large number of people.
Serving as the mother church for the Diocese of Sacramento, this cathedral is highly renowned for its amazing architecture. It is one of the most historically significant buildings in Sacramento. The main pastor or rector of this church is Father Michael O’Reilly.
Sunday masses are conducted at 8.00 am, 10.00 am, and 4.00 pm. This Sacrament church also offers masses in Chinese and Spanish. You can attend the church services online as well. Many people are also making use of the church building for weddings, baptisms, confessions, and other kinds of holy orders.
Address – Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1019 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Church Office (Phone Number) – 916-444-3071
4. Real Life Church
Started in 2007 by pastors known as Scott and Karen Hagan, Real Life Church is popularly known as a multi-missional, multi-generational, and multicultural church. The lead pastor of this Sacramento church is Dean Deguara. The mission statement of Real Life Church is Engaging Real Life, Embracing Real People, and Encountering the Real God.’
It is a sovereign church that has been voluntarily associating with the Assemblies of God Fellowship. The church hall can accommodate people between 800 and 900. The pastors teach ESV or NKJV versions of the Bible. You can attend church services at 10.00 am on Sunday and at 6.30 pm on Wednesday.
Real Life Church also lets believers participate in church services online. A dedicated team of pastors is working together to popularize the Old and New Testaments of the Bible responsibly. According to them, these are the words of God, and everybody should follow them to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life. Their sanctuary was recently updated by a General Contractor Sacramento so it is very nice and comfortable to visit.
Address – Real Life Church, 1921 Arena Blvd Ste 100, Sacramento, CA 95834
Church Office (Phone Number) – 916- 928-9005
5. The Crossing Church
If you are on the lookout for a safe and reliable non-denominational place to worship God in Sacramento, you can choose The Crossing Church. According to the founders, Kyle Johnson and Kelly Johnson, a church is not just a building but a community of people.
Working as an instrument of change in this world, this Sacramento church serves the community as Jesus demonstrated. The friendly pastors and volunteers along with inspiring music create an enjoyable ambiance for worship. The church services are offered at 8.30 am and 10.00 am on all Sundays for believers.
This church believes that the living world of God, Holy Bible is the best way to learn and follow him. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in God or skeptical, you can attend the services offered by this Sacramento Church.
Address – The Crossing Church, 1227 N, Market Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95834
Church Office (Phone Number) – 916-928-0599
6. Bayside Church Midtown
Established in 2011, Bayside Church Midtown teaches traditional Christian views and advice people to lead a meaningful life with a strong commitment to the community. The founding pastor of this Sacramento church is Bob Balian. He and his wife, Letty Balian always have strong faith in Bible and believe that it was inspired by Jesus Christ.
If you want to experience the grace and love of God, you need to transform yourself. That is what exactly Bob teaches his followers. The core values of Bayside Church Midtown are centered on biblical-based teachings, the atmosphere of acceptance, inspiring worship, and discipleship.
The church Sunday service times are 8:00 am, 9:45 am, and 11:30 am. Online services are also offered to accommodate the needs of the maximum number of believers.
Address – Bayside Church Midtown, 2225 19th St, Sacramento, CA 95818
Church Office (Telephone Number) – 916 706-2337
7. St. John’s Lutheran Church
St. John’s Lutheran Church is one of the ancient churches in Sacramento. Founded in 1867, this church follows the Lutheran belief system. Being a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), this church urges people to do God’s work with grace and commitment.
This Sacramento church invites people to be a part of their community that shows unbreakable trust in the gospel. Irrespective of your age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation, you can be a part of this community. On September 29, 1867, the first worship service was held by Pastor Matthias Goethe. Since then, it has been grown into one of the most popular Lutheran churches in Sacramento.
You can attend the church services on Sunday at 8.00 am, 9.00 am, and 11:30 am. It also offers services on Wednesday at 12.15 pm. The church hall easily accommodates people between 350 and 400.
Address – 1701 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Office (Telephone Number) – 916-444-0874
8. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Established in 1958, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church has been home to a wide range of ethnic groups. The parish priest of this Sacramento church is Father Francisco J. Hernandez. The Mass times available on Sunday are 7.00 am, 9.00 am, 11.00 am, 1.00 pm, and 5.00 pm. The church services are also available at 8.00 am and 7.00 pm on all Saturdays and weekdays. All these masses are offered in the Spanish language.
You can find a beautiful rose garden on the campus of this Catholic Church. Many believers are relying on this Sacramento church for conducting various functions, such as marriage, baptism, first communion, Anointing of the Sick, and many more. There is a small shop on the church corridor that sells many valuable items, including the Bible, Catholic books, rosaries, statues, music CDs, and baptism gifts.
Address – Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 711 T Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Office (Telephone Number) – 916-442-3211
9. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church creates a perfect environment for families to grow together in Christ. With the help of knowledgeable and experienced pastors and volunteers, this Sacramento church makes people aware of the fact that the Bible is from God and the Bible speaks the truth.
The Sunday worship services are held at 10.00 pm. Children can attend online Bible study classes every Wednesday at 12.00 pm. Kenneth Ray Reece is the main pastor of this church. As one of the best Baptist churches in Sacramento, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church teaches its members the true importance of faith.
Address – St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 3996 14th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820
Office (Telephone Number) – 916-737-7070
10. City Bible Church
City Bible Church is a popular non-denominational church in Sacramento. Established in 2016, this church proclaims the glory of Christ and His word to help people leading responsible and meaningful lives. Vlad Burlaka is the founding pastor of this Sacramento church. A dedicated team of pastors and other staff are working with him to motivate people to place their trust in Christ.
This Sacramento church has been doing a commendable job to make the community understand the value of God’s word, the Bible. You can attend the church services at 1.30 pm on all Sundays. Online services are also offered to take care of the needs of many followers. This church creates the best opportunities for you to interact with new people and catch up with friends after the worship session.
Address – City Bible Church, 6879 14th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820
11. Center of Praise Ministries
Bishop Parnell M. Lovelace, Jr. is the founder of the Center of Praise Ministries. He is often known as the People’s Bishop. With his life-transforming teachings, Bishop Parnell has made a positive impact on the lives of a large number of people. In addition to being a pastor, he is also a great teacher, prolific thinker, and progressive leader.
With a mission of embracing people, belonging to all backgrounds, this Sacramento church sends a message of unconditional love and abundant grace to all people in society. The ultimate objective of this church is to make everyone the disciple of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1989, the Center of Praise Ministries has been offering excellent services to the community to improve the quality of life in many different ways.
The Sunday church services are conducted at 7:00 am, 8:45 am, and 10:30am. You can also attend these services online.
Address – 2223 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95816
Office (Telephone Number) – 916-441-3305
12. Arcade Church
With an objective of taking the maximum number of people closer to Jesus Christ, Arcade Church has been making dedicated efforts to make changes in the lives of a large number of people. The Sunday services are offered at 9.00 am. Believers are also allowed to attend these services online.
Craig Hardinger is the lead pastor of this Sacramento church. A team of experienced pastors is also working with him to get people to hear, see, and follow Jesus. You can download the church app to get instant notifications about the services and other related matters.
Address-Arcade Church, 3927 Marconi Ave, Sacramento, CA 95821
Office (Telephone Number) – 916-972-1617
Other popular churches in Sacramento include:
– The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
– True Jesus Church, Society Church
– Citizens Church
– City Church of Sacramento
– Divine Mercy Catholic Church
– Antioch Progressive Baptist Church
– Shiloh Baptist Church
You can come across a myriad of churches in Sacramento. These are the most popular churches available in this area. When it comes to searching for a Sacramento church, you need to find one that matches your own beliefs.
You might be wondering what a fire engineer is required to do in a church. However, you have to know that fires are not choosy. As such, a church, like any other facility, can fall victim to an outbreak.
As a steward when it comes to the safety of your flock, non-zero-sum thinking on professional recommendations should prevail. And so, to speak, the fate of people in the church building hinges on you, but you can prevent any bizarre occurrences by hiring an FPE.
Each church building is unique, and so are the difficulties when it comes to fire protection. Any church must maintain fire protection tolls and carry out highlighted actions from the fire risk assessment conducted.
As a legal obligation for people in charge of non-domestic buildings, you have to carry out fire risk evaluation. The same applies to churches to ensure that every member around the place is safe. It’s always logical to let professionals do the work.
Who is a fire protection engineer?
A fire engineer is a person who specialized in applying scientific engineering principles to protect people from fires. They may work with designers, architects, and in system manufacturing, they help prevent fire breakouts. Their scope involves researching how fires break out and put the right prevention measures in place. By working with the organization, these guys’ saves live on a daily basis before the fire is triggered.
They may work at refineries, plants, and architectural firms. But since fire is not selective, any faculty needs their expertise, and churches are not left behind.
The role played by fire protection engineers on churches.
1. They apply their expertise on Church construction
Churches usually expand as they get larger congregations. For this reason, construction of new buildings or renovations is much needed. As a measure of safety, the building schematics should be designed to combat fire breakouts.
A fire protection engineer, in this case, will offer technical support that guarantees the building’s fire safety to designers. It’s the engineer’s work to help the designer create the plans that will see the accommodation of fire detection equipment.
Also, the engineer will point out where the fire escape route should be positioned. Additionally, the fire engineer will help the designer evaluate the building’s lifetime. That way, the persons affiliated with the church get to know when the building will collapse.
Still, on architectural designs, the engineer ensures that the building is built in accordance with the fire safety association rules. Further, architectural layouts for churches should enable all members to egress the building quickly. Also, it should be accessible for the fire brigades to get in and out.
2. They oversee fire safety installation.
In as much as fire safety installation sounds easy, things can go south without a professional taking charge of the program. The critical part played by fire engineers in the installation is their abilities to predict behavioral responses. These predictions are mainly based on how people may behave during the breakout. As such, they will know the areas where the installations should be mounted during a breakout and panic state.
After installation, maintenance of the fire equipment might come in handy. Still, it’s within the scope of the engineer to conduct it and ensure full functionality.
Should everything from construction to the installation be done, they will inspect if they are accurately done. In most cases, the accuracy is determined through fire drill performance testing. Should there be flaws, they will recommend the necessary rectifications. Owing to this, having the fire protection engineer do the church building inspection is a safety guarantee.
3. They offer investigative services.
Fire protection engineers’ job requirements demand that they should be able to point out and weigh faults in buildings entirely. The engineer will therefore inhibit future fire breakouts in the church building by retarding the starting points.
On the other hand, if there has been a breakout in the church’s building, the engineer will determine the cause. If it were not deliberately done, they would come with ways to prevent similar occurrences.
Still, a church can hire a fire protection engineer from an insurance firm covering their building. If there has been a breakout recently, they will determine if the cover should be applied by investigating the cause. Further, if the church’s building has a soft spot for fire incidents, the engineer shall help with the inhibition.
4. The engineer will conduct fire safety training for church officials.
Fire protection engineers are well renowned when it comes to fire safety training sessions. In companies, it’s sufficed for supervisors. Still, when it comes to churches, there is coherency.
There are the clergy members and other official people responsible for the congregation. These training sessions are mainly conducted to impart to the church members fire regulations, prevention methods, and how to act. Should there be fire policy changes, the fire engineer will keep the church members in the loop.
5. They write documented reports.
The work of a fire protection engineer is not outlived in the field of preventing fire. Their experience can also be used to write scripts for fire prevention procedures. Further, they not only write prevention plans but updated reports regarding the previous fires to the officials. The reports can be used to avoid similar cases or prevent new ones from ever happening.
6. They do researches on safety.
Churches, like other buildings, may at times experience fire breakouts. There may be fortunate times where it can be prevented, and sometimes, luck may not happen. It’s the work of a fire engineer in such cases to investigate why the protection efforts prove inefficacy.
Owing to the knowledge obtained, they can redesign fire safety equipment to ensure functionality. Further with the researches, they help the eradication of fire sources that may cause future disasters.
7. They help in the creation of paths of egress.
As aforementioned, the paths of egress are usually integrated into the architectural layout. Typically, the work of a fire engineer is pointing out where it should be located. But it doesn’t end there. Paths of egress need to have minimal ventilation.
They have to be in a way that prevents smoke entry and the spreading of fire. Since churches may be flocked during the outbreak, the engineer has to help architects design the building with sprinklers on the egression path. It’s done to delay rapid spread and ensure that everyone within the church will get out of the building safely.
Further, since they are familiar with the fire escape routes, the engineer will use the workshops’ knowledge. As a result, every member will have detailed knowledge on how to use these paths, should there is an emergency.
8. They can create fire prevention plans.
The plans for fire prevention are what is documented and issued to relevant church authority. The filed plans are usually based on recent incidents. However, if there are no recent incidents, they are lucidly based on predictions.
Moreover, educating the church officials is still part of the prevention plan. With such knowledge, they can be able to identify flammable materials and act appropriately. If they cannot handle them, they can also call for help. Still, all these details during the workshop can be documented, printed out, and shared with every church member.
9. They do maintenance in church buildings.
Church buildings are active places with different activities and multitudes of people. Wearing off of the building is something common that maintenance to keep it up to standards. Since the whole building is being maintained, fire safety installation paths are no less. Also, the ways of egress must be uniform with the entire building.
During maintenance, the engineer will help to remove combustible materials out of the paths. Besides that, he will check if the recent works carried out have interfered with the ventilation system. Should there be damages, the engineer will call for maintenance of these parts anew.
Further, the engineer has to ensure that the egress zones have proper lighting to avoid tumbling. Also, if there is loose electrical; wiring, he will oversee the fixing and proper installations.
10. They can Educate church officials on how flammable materials should be handled.
The most common fire cases are attributed to recklessness. And that starts from poor storage of flammable materials. In churches, there may be fireworks for celebrations of significant events.
If not, there may be fuel for the electricity backup system. In these cases, the fire protection work shows the members responsible for how poor storage can cause damages. Since fire protection engineers write reports, they will explain how the church’s flammable materials should be stored.
Further, if the church intends to purchase candles for certain events, the engineer will point out the right ones. It’s critical to note that there are variations of candles, and some pose major risks, should they be mishandled.
Again, the engineer will work with architects on designing the storage apartments. He will ensure that these rooms are not close to aisles and egress zones.
11. The engineers conduct training on fire response teams.
The church, unlike any other place, is usually with masses of people. For this reason, one has to take responsibility, especially during an emergency. Sufficed to say, during a fire incident, an emergency team should be in place.
As a church hiring a fire engineer to train your emergency team can be a good turn. The unit shall be imparted with knowledge on fire prevention methods within the building. If the situation exceeds the limits, they will still be able to combat it. The lesson also makes the emergency team proactive and less panicked during a fire incident.
12. They carry out assessments on purchased systems.
Most of the modern churches working nowadays depend on systems. However, one should not fail to appreciate that these systems are disguised fire sources. Nevertheless, you can stay free from paranoia by having a fire protection engineer. They work with system manufactures to assess faults in the newly manufactured electrical systems. Even though the system may be certified for use, damages may at times be disguised. Having a second eye to assess the issues can be ideal.
On the other hand, should you be using dryers, a fire protection engineer will prevent electrical malfunctioning. Failure to assess such issues and prevent them is a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, if the church is fitted with sprinklers and alarms, fire protection engineers evaluate its functioning.
Take away
Owing to the saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; in as much as fires may seem to be an inevitable incident- doing prevention can turn things different. Of course, fire results in regress on the economy and may cause injuries and deaths. To prevent this, you have to enlist the help of a fire protection engineer. Their work is promising, and day by day, it saves lives, and fires are inhibited.
A church is one of the most active faculties in the world. There are masses of the congregations that gather around, and their safety relies on the officials. As a show of care ad respect for human life, hiring a fire protection engineer for your church is a must-do. If they prevent your church from a fire outbreak, your property remains safe, and it’s a win for you. Also, they avoid your congregation from injuries and even death. And that way, you will have responded to your legal obligation; hence, it’s still a win for you.
These engineers play an important part in our daily living. They are committed to saving lives and preventing the community against fire outbreaks. Each faculty worldwide is appreciating their work and even embracing them as part of their employees. The same applies to churches, and every official should recall that fire has no conscience. It attacks even the most sacred places. So, hire a fire protection engineer lest your flock fall, the victim. Watch out!
Compared to other countries worldwide there are far more churches per head than in most other countries around the world. Palm Beach offers many options when it comes to churches. Most of them will have services in English, but many will have some services in Spanish and there are even churches that offer worship in Korean and Tagalog (The language of the Philippines).
In our selection of the best churches in Palm Beach we have included a variety of types of church ranging from a Gothic Church reminiscent of the great European churches, to more modern churches that have a whole new approach to worship.
The Orthodox Zion Primitive Baptist has a mission to reach out to the “unchurched communities” in Palm Beach. The aim of the church is to be “culturally relevant.”
Activities
The church believes in five tasks that the church was set up to accomplish:
Service – Service is for everyone by everyone
Worship – The first purpose of the church is to worship God and should be continuous (done in private and public)
Outreach – The church believes it is its duty to share the good news
Relationships – Helping people feel they belong to the church, not just to believe
Discipleship – To assist people on a journey if growth, in both knowledge and grace.
History
The historic roots of the Orthodox Zion Primitive Baptist Church go back to 1963 when Elder William Arnold organized the church which broke away from Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church. They moved to a temporary location but later purchased the building where they had previously met as members of the Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church. Over the years, church membership grew until they outgrew the old church premises. On March 26, 1995 the church relocated to a 4.8 acre site at 2900 N. Australian Ave. in West Palm Beach.
In August 1997 the church opened its Orthodox Zion Child Development Center with just six children. Today that center caters for 89 children. In 2004 the extension continued with the development of
Family Church is one church in many neighborhoods, The church aims to be a location where the public can feel at home. The church is multigenerational, multicultural, and operates in multisite. The church welcomes people whether they are single, married, divorced, young or elderly. When the church was formed, there was still less than 1,000 people living in the city.
Activities
The church is actively training pastors and planting churches all over South Florida. Every week they hold multiple meetings in all parts of the city to introduce people to the church family. Adults, students and children all come together for a little singing, Bible teaching, and taking the lord’s supper. They hope to make these meetings fun. The following locations:
4901 PGA Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens 33418
18477 Loxahatchee River Rd, Jupiter 33458
13475 W Indiantown Rd, Jupiter Farms 33478
1950 NW Federal Hwy, Stuart 34994
115 NE Solida Dr, Port St. Lucie 34983
1101 S Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach 33401
3600 Village Blvd, West Palm Beach 33407
8401 Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach 33411
8657 Lantana Rd, Lake Worth 33467
History
The church was founded as the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach in 1901. They started by meeting in a home, then a temporary building, and then in 1965 they built the current downtown premises. They operate as a multi-site church and have planted campuses across the area (see above).
The first Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach aims to make you feel welcome even before you visit the church.. Everybody is welcome to wear what they feel comfortable in, whether that be a suit or a pair of jeans. The church goes out of its way to present itself as a warm group of people dedicated to following Christ.
Their core values are:
Rooted in the Bible
Caring deeply about one another
Serving together
Developing leaders
Missionary Focused
Activities
Some 17% of the church budget goes on missionary work. The church supports three kinds of missions: Local Missions, Global Missions, and Church Planting/Growth.
Ministries
Adults (60+)
Children
Congregational care
Fellowship
Memorial Services
Men
Missions
Music
Prayer
Preschool
Students
Woman
History
The church was founded by Reverend Joseph P. Calhoun, D.D. on February 22, 1922. It was a congregation of the Presbyterian Church USA. two years later there was a split with 15 members opting to join the Presbyterian Church US (Southern Chapter). They later became the Memorial Presbyterian Church. The First Presbyterian Church continued and met at the Women’s Club, until 1925 when the new church was completed. In 1928n a storm demolished the new church and important documents were lost. Over the next 12 months membership dropped from 402 members down to 275. Over the years to follow the church helped to plant new churches and gradually added to its buildings and facilities. In 2009 the church entered into an agreement with the Korean Presbyterian Church to share buildings.
Since then parish was established back in 1988 the church has grown quite a bit, and in December 2009 they opened a brand new church. The church now has 2000 registered families and more than 50 ministries. the church also has over 200 students in its religious education programs.
The Adoration Chapel is open every day and has a comprehensive music program which includes several choirs. The church also features a weekly Spanish Mass and a Tagalog (Filipino) one every month.
Activities
The church has developed a large number of ministries in an effort to expand community involvement:
Adoration: Paul and Yverose Jean-Mary (561) 790-4768
Altar Linens: Gina Figurella (561) 793-4957
Altar Server: Kerry Gornick (561) 317-8854
Altar Vessels: Evelyn Barry (561) 798-9132
Building & Grounds: Rick Busch (561) 798-5661 ext 101
Music Ministry: Thomas Marino (561) 798-5661 ext 110 / ThomM@olqa.cc
Our Lady Queens of Talent: Angela DiLeonardo (561) 791-2914
Parish Office Support Team: Chris Winters (561) 798-5661 ext. 103/ChrisW@olqa.cc
Photography: Paule Jean-Mary 561-762-8729
Religious Education: Dr. Christina Danko (561) 798-5661 ext 109/ChristinaD@olqa.cc
Respect Life: Parish office (561) 798-5661
Rite of Christian Initiation – RCIA: Dr. Christina Danko 561-798-5661, ext. 109/christinad@olqa.cc
Rosary Makers: Yverose Jean-Mary (561) 790-4768
Sacristans: Butch Figurella (561) 793-4957
Skilled Trade Committee: Rick Busch (561) 798-5661 ext 101
Spanish Ministry: Enrique Sobrino or Alsacia Sakellis (561) 252-0003 or 561-792-7476
St. Vincent de Paul Cookie: Dykes (561) 333-4664
Usher: Tom Schmidt (561) 798-8354
Youth Group: Chris Winters (561) 798-5661, ext. 103 / ChrisW@olqa.cc
History
Following the foundation of the church in 1988, the first pastor began holding Sunday Mass at the Lions Club in Royal Palm Beach, and the search for a building began. They eventually found a site on Crestwood Boulevard that they purchased. In 1993 they started construction of a 3,600 square feet pavilion for outdoor services. Then in 1994 they major building for services, offices, and Parish activities. Following the arrival of several priests to assist, new buildings and activities were added. In 2006 they unveiled the drawings for an exciting new Parish Church and building that started in 2008.
The Church continues to grow and expand its embrace on the community.
The Victory church is a nice place to go, the people are welcoming, and the music is awesome. The church is really marketed to a younger generation but has quite a few older attendees as well. The preacher has a great way with words and it is a fun place to attend. People who are just a little curious about Jesus will not be intimidated and those who are regular worshipers can relax. People of all ages and walks of life attend this church. Visitors are very welcome at the services. The core values of the church are:
Faith
Growing up in your relationship with God
Service
Relationship
Honor
Ministries
The BVC (Believers Victory Church) has a strong Children’s Ministry that is fun and exciting for all age groups.
Bloom Women’s Group Fun, food, and friends
Impact Men’s Group is the place where the men of the BVC come to meet.
Elevate Youth group is a place where the potential of youth is matured
The 412 Young Adult Ministry is all about being young and unashamed of who God has created you to be.
History
The church was founded by Pastor Mark DeBehnke in 1987. At the beginning the church struggled, meeting in classes being held at Haverhill Town Hall, then inside a bus. Finally in 2002 a church building was purchased In 2004 Pastor Mark passed away and his sister Peggy followed him as leader of the church. Today Peggy and her husband Scott now lead the Believers’ Victory Church.
The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea is a mixed community which includes people from a wide range of walks of life. People who love Jesus and enjoy following him. Every Sunday the church gathers to hear the sacred stories that tell us of God’s love. The community also gathers to take part in communion before we act, and make God’s love a reality in our lives. I like this church because our Accountant in Palm Beach attends it.
Activities
The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea operates a store named “The Church Mouse” which is one of the premier donation based resale shops in the country. The income from this store is used to fund the outreach projects of the church. The stock turns around quickly and there is always something you have not seen before. The Church Mouse is one of the busiest shops in Palm Beach.
History
Back in 1889 four people gathered on the shore of Lake Worth to establish an Episcopal Mission, which grew into the The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. They built the first church out of driftwood and old packing cases and opened in 1889 and had a capacity of 100 people. Later the church built a larger building alongside the Intracoastal Waterway. In 1925 they built the current building used today. the 1925 building was the first Protestant church in southeast Florida. The church was built in a Gothic style of architecture. It is a contrast to the modernity of the area.
The church has cloisters made up of beautiful archways, and wonderful stained glass windows. Outside there is a quiet garden where visitors can reflect. Strangely enough, the architect also decided to include Gargoyles in the construction of the church, something not normally seen in Florida.
The grounds are really well maintained and the garden and courtyard both offer a wonderful retreat where one can meditate.
If you have chosen to get married in a church, either the one near your current home or the church you attended when growing up, you may decide to decorate the church for your big day. Quite often churches have their own set of rules regarding decoration so before you make any firm plans you should consult with the church.
The best way to decorate a church for your wedding is to select a theme and fit all the decorations into that theme, rather than simply adding a random selection of decorations. Consider the overall look of the church.
Consider whether the addition of a lot of garish decorations will enhance the look of the church or be detrimental. A church that is already attractive may be better left with no decorations or perhaps one central decoration.
Outdoor church décor
The first thing that people will see when they arrive for your wedding will be the exterior of the church and the church grounds. It may be a great place to introduce the theme of your wedding.
You can welcome guests, when they are about to enter the church, with a simple easel standing by the door, that displays a plain sign with your names and date. Do not make it over-elaborate, in this situation less is more. A plain white sign with a white easel is very attractive, or you may go with a brown that matches the woodwork of the church.
An interesting idea for positioning just inside the gate to the church is a decorative arch, containing flowers and greenery, which will make an excellent photo prop and can be used to frame the happy couple as they leave the church. Add some floral displays to highlight architectural features on the exterior of the church.
Some churches already have archways at the entrance to the church grounds. Take advantage of this by fixing a floral display to this arch to add a splash of color as people arrive at the ceremony.
A simple but effective exterior decoration are wreaths of “baby’s breath,” which is a plant that symbolizes ever-lasting love. These wreaths may incorporate a plan plaque in the middle with the name of the couple.
Of course, if you are on a budget, it is better to forego the exterior decoration and utilize what funds you have on the church interior.
Balconies
Some churches have a balcony above the altar, or at the back of the church. A few may even have a balcony outside, and any of these balconies can be utilized to hang garlands. Balconies, especially those above the altar can extend the decorations vertically and are very appealing visually.
How do I decorate my wedding aisle?
The aisle of the church is usually the focus of church decorations. A common way to improve the look of the aisle is to have a plain colored runner stretch the length of the aisle. This adds a degree of elegance to the décor (the church may even own one so do not forget to ask). For a touch of drama, the ushers can unroll the runner just before the bride makes her entrance.
If you plan to have a flower girl distributing real flower petals in front of the bride as she walks the aisle, the church may insist that a runner is used, as flower petals have the potential to stain floors and carpets.
Aisle decorations are an ideal way to add a touch of color to a simple church. A frequent method of decorating the aisle is to place a small bunch of flowers at the end of each pew. Place larger floral decorations either of the aisles at the back of the church and just before it reaches the altar.
An attractive effect can be achieved by lining the aisle with vines attached to the end of each pew. A particularly stunning effect can be created by constructing an archway made of vines at the back of the church
Other decorations that can be placed at the end of each pew would be candles, ribbons, or tree-like features. The aisle is an important area to decorate, so should be one of the priorities when working on a budget.
Decorative Columns and Lighting
Place several plaster columns along the aisle to create a vertical break to the length of the aisle. On top of the columns, you could place vases with floral displays, or you could link them with ribbon.
Instead of adding physical objects to decorate your church, have you thought about the creative use of mood lights that bathe the architecture of the church in swathes of color. Highlight those extensive rafters by bathing them in colored light, imagine the upper area of the church glowing in purple color, for example.
Alternatively, highlight key areas of the church by spotlighting. Many lighting effects can easily be created and that will be tremendously effective in adding color and light to the church. Lighting can also be a much cheaper solution for those on a budget.
Church Altar Decoration Tips
Most churches are naturally designed so that the altar is the focus of attention, it also serves as a backdrop to the proceedings during the wedding ceremony. A nicely decorated alter can make a huge impact on the way your wedding looks for those seated in the stalls. There are a variety of ways that the alter can be decorated.
Candles
A large selection of candles in candelabra, different heights, sizes, and colors can look very effective and cast a nice glow behind the bride and groom. They will look particularly good in any photographs.
Flowers
A beautiful floral display 0n the alter adds a blaze of color behind the bride and groom when viewed from the pews. For floral displays in the vicinity of the alter, consider using moveable pillars/plinths.
· Another beautiful effect is to place tree-like vegetation on either side of the altar with white lights hanging from the branches.
· Hire two candelabra and place them at each end of the altar with some attractive candles.
· Think about leasing two statues or large crosses and placing them on either side of the altar.
Maybe add birds like a quaker bird to liven up your color palette as well as add some fun.
Winter Church Decorations
The winter can be quite a romantic time and if you think about decoration for the church in the winter, there are several perfect options to choose from.
Imagine arriving at the church, as a guest (or the bride) and seeing all the trees in the churchyard decorated with while decorative lights, creating a fairyland look. String some market lights around the limbs of the leafless trees.
Scattering dozens of white floating candles around the altar area, with the lights, turned down low will create a romantic look.
Decorate the aisle with sets of candles of various sizes at the end of each row of pews. Alternatively place small branches from trees in vases, with the branches sprayed with frosting, and draped with colored beads.
Think about utilizing pines cones and winter foliage in displays.
A practical decoration that I saw once was to have small knitted plain blankets in a variety of warm colors draped over pews. It adds a beautiful splash of color and where you are using a cold church building is very practical too.
Choose seasonal décor
Every season has its unique qualities, we just looked at winter and how a seasonal look can be used to decorate the church. Other seasons also have a character that can be used for inspiration. Do not forget to consider all four seasons and what is right for each one. Consider the range of warm, browns and oranges captured in autumn leaves. How can you translate that into a theme for your décor? Do not feel bound by tradition. Think about the light, the yellows and greens suggested by springtime. A spring theme can make the church that much lighter and connect your special day to this joyous time of the year. Just take a few moments to visit the church and just sit quietly, taking in the natural features of the church, and imagine how it would relate to the four seasons.
Photography in the church
When thinking about the decoration of the church, it is sensible to think of the implication for any photographs taken in the church.
Taking photographs in a church can sometimes be very problematic. Some churches impose restrictions on what photographs are permitted and where the photographer is permitted to stand. The photos taken in the church can often be the most important, after all the key moments of the whole wedding take place in the church. It is important to know, understand, and plan for making the best of the situation in your church.
Sometimes photographers are only allowed to stand on a balcony to take photos or stand behind the final row of pews, neither of which is the ideal position to get the best shots. Because of this, it is wise to find out at an early stage what the policy of your chosen church is on photography. You can then plan your decorations with this is in mind.
Good wedding photographers will work as best they can within these constraints, and produce the best shots that are possible. One popular shot is where the couple is facing one another and so when planning decorations for the church, take this into account, and if this shot is possible with the church restrictions, consider what will be in the background. Place attractive decorations behind to enhance the shot. Other popular shots are looking at the faces of the bride and groom while they face the priest. These will only be possible if the photographer has access to behind the priest and slightly to the side. Once again, if that shot is going to be possible, consider what will be in the background. All of this should be considered when you are planning the church decorations.
Remember the rules
Before you start to plan your wedding decorations for the church, you should meet with the church and find out what rules they may or may not have regarding decorating the church, and when this can be done. Most churches will have some sort of guidelines on what can or cannot be done that you can check. By adhering to these rules, not only are you avoiding any last-minute hitches, but you are also showing respect for the church. If you have no respect for the church then why are you getting married in a church?
Typical rules
· Restrictions on the use of candles and naked flames
· Floral Guidelines, real and artificial
· Rules for how you attach decorations to pews, the altar, and balconies/walls.
· Restrictions on confetti and flower petals
· Rules regarding cleaning up and removal of decorations, including timescales.
Finally: Do you really NEED to decorate the church?
We have spent a lot of time talking about decorating the church, thinking of exotic ways to do this, and worrying about breaking and rules the church may have. Perhaps there is a case for not decorating the church, or for just adding a couple of vases of flowers at the front. Perhaps all the wonderful ideas are not necessary.
Why did you choose that particular church? Was it because you were awed by that magnificent historic architecture? Is it the classic grandeur that attracted you? Have you thought that the venue might not look a lot better in its authentic look?
You may not need to spend a lot of money decorating the church and changing its ambiance when just a few flowers are all that is required. Imagine a high roofed classical church with stone walls and wonderful wooden ceilings with just a couple of colored uplights strategically placed.
In short, before you go overboard decorating a church, really look at the church and decide if a more natural look might not be more appropriate.
Megachurches have become one of the most powerful influences in mainstream media. With thousands of followers and millions viewing on television, the megachurch has become a powerhouse of its own. The biggest US Churches are teaching people about how to daily live. Many offer online programming and podcasts for their members to follow during the week. And many of their pastors are best selling authors on how to live a purposeful and fulfilling life. But what are the biggest US churches? And what part of the country will you find them? These are some of the numbers from Exploring-usa.com with regards to average weekly attendance that show you the biggest US Churches in the world.
Lakewood Church – Houston, TX
Average Attendance – 43,500
Started back in 1959 by Joel Osteen, Sr, Lakewood Church has become a megachurch powerhouse. It began with only a few members and a vision by the senior Osteen. Today the megachurch is led by Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria. Joel is seen as the positive preacher with the positive message. With little to no theological training, Joel Osteen worked his way up in the church alongside his father. When his father called him to preach just before his death, Joel was unsure. He did not feel that he was capable to build the church and keep the members like his father wanted. He has stated that he now teaches in a way that is comfortable for him and God has done the rest. The church meets in what was the former Houston Rockets soccer arena and has missions around the world. Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria preach prosperity teaching and he has several New York Times best seller books that guide people about living a good life. It is the largest of the US Churches in the world.
Northpoint Church – Alpharetta, GA
Average Attendance – 30,629
Northpoint Church is based in the more affluent Alpharetta area. Built in 1996, the pastor is the well known Andy Stanley. His name should ring bells as his father is the legendary Dr. Charles Stanley. While Andy worked alongside his father, he grew in theology. Working with his father gave him the foundation, tools and resources to begin on his own. It is said that after a falling out between the two, that Andy Stanley set out on his own. He has stated that he wants to focus on leadership development and not just expansion. Andy Stanley’s style of teaching is very contemporary and relates to what is going on and relevant in today’s society. The church is seen as one of the fastest growing US Churches in the state of Georgia.
Life Church – Edmond, OK
Average Attendance – 30,000
Founded in 1996 by Craig Groeschel, the church’s core Christian beliefs are based from the Evangelical Covenant Church. The church also has powerful internet presence where their complimentary Bible application has been downloaded more than 200 million times. In 2001 Metro Church merged with Life Church making it a multi site facility. The Metro Church is a non-denominational church which was a great fit for Life Church. While Oklahoma is one of the campuses, as of October 2020, the church boasts 36 churches at various locations across the nation, with most of them being in the Midwest. It is the largest of the US Churches in the state of Oklahoma.
Gateway Church – Southlake, TX
Average Attendance – 28,000
Gateway Church is a very prosperous church and a huge enterprise. In the past, it reported earnings in excess of over 218 million dollars. Founded in 2000 by Pastor Morris, the church is bible based and spirit empowered with programming around the world. Pastor Robert started life involved with drinking and slowly gave his life to the Lord. His progressive teachings can be found by followers and those who are looking for a church to call home. Pastor Morris works with his wife and they both do television programming to spread the good news. He has cleaned up his life and it is because he stated that Jesus came into his life/ His wife has stated that Pastor Morris is a good, open hearted man who has given away cars to some of his members. It is in the spirit of giving that Pastor Robert Morris says he will run his church. And though his church had been on good merit financially, most recently it has had to layoff staff because of the pandemic crisis. They have recently come to a place where they meet in multiple locations as one church, while experiencing more than 100,000 people total on weekends. I’ve personally visited Gateway church and walked away impressed. If you are a car guy like me, you will notice a lot of trucks with banks performance parts installed, so I know they have like-minded membership.
Willow Creek Church – Barrington, IL
Average Attendance – 25,000
Founded on October 12, 1975 by Dave Holmbo and Bill Hybels , Willow Creek Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical church located on the northwestern side of Chicago. They have seven locations around the Chicago area with their Spanish speaking congregation meeting in the Barrington area. In 2018, the church’s entire elder board and senior pastors resigned amid allegations of mishandling an abuse case within the church. Steven Gillen, the North Shore campus pastor was named head pastor during this time. In January 2020, Pastor Gillen announced that he would be stepping down and the search for pastors would continue. Willow Creek Church began in the Willow Creek Theatre and uses relevant biblical teachings. music and drama in guiding their members and guests.
Fellowship Church – Grapevine, TX
Average Attendance – 24,200
Fellowship Church is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, which is one of the largest in the nation. Their goal is often to bring a larger audience through unorthodox teachings. The creator of the movement Pastor Ed Young, has started a controversial debate about gender with his book “Sexperiment”. Pastor Young has a simplistic style of preaching his message which seems to be more relatable to his viewership. Since 1990, the church has grown from just 30 families to campuses in Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth and Norman, Oklahoma. Over the past 10 years, the church has been ranked as one of the most consistently growing churches in North America. Pastor Ed Young has also authored several books revolving around parenting, marriage and Christian living. This is another great one of the US Churches in the Texas area.
Christ’s Church Valley – Peoria, AZ
Average Attendance – 23,300
Christ’s Church Valley was founded in 1982 by Pastor Don Wilson in his living room. He kept the church going by renting a film theater for his parishioners. The church was finally able to find permanent residency in 1996. But it came with a price of having to raise 1 million dollars in one day to purchase the land. The church is the largest non-denominational church in Arizona, playing host church to several other locations in the area.
In 2004, the church moved into their church building of 4500 seats. And in 2006, an attached CVV building was built for their children and youth ministry.
New Spring Church – Anderson, SC
Average Attendance – 23,000
Deemed the largest church in South Carolina, New Spring has 15 campuses in the area. It is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention which is one of the largest in the country. The church offers what is called the Fuse ministry which helps families in understanding their dynamics within the home. These are often done online every Wednesday. You may watch with a Fuse Group or with your family. New Spring is a church that is working with what is required by the Centers for Disease Control. They ask their guests and members to wear a mask, to social distance and wash their hands. They also ask that they stay in limited, familial groups to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus. This is one of the US Churches that is housed within the bible belt of the south.
Elevation Church – Matthews, NC
Average Attendance – 22, 200
It is one of the most well known and familiar churches in the world. With Pastor Steven Furtick, the name Elevation does not begin to speak to what this church has done. The church has gone global with online and television programming around the world. Pastor Furtick is young and brings people of all ages including youth to the pulpit. He is a progressive preacher who speaks in simple terms for his guests and members to relate. The church was created in 2006, when Steven Furtick was in his mid-twenties. Since that time he has made coming to church cool for a lot of young people. The church has a dynamic youth ministry and has undergone huge growth in Charlotte, North Carolina all the way to Toronto, Canada. Steven Furtick also brings millions into his sermons with his E- family podcasts. Elevation is seen as one of the most youthful US Churches.
Church of Highlands – Birmingham, AL
Average Attendance – 22,100
Founded on February 4, 2001, by Chris Hodges, the church is considered the largest and greatest church in Alabama. Hodges has used nearby Highlands College for ministry training. The church started with 34 people until 2007 when it opened a main building that offered 2400 seat capacity. The church is associated with the Association of Related Churches, a membership not quite as large as the Southern Baptist Convention. The Church of Highlands is non-denominational and offers multi-site training and teaching. This is another one of the US Churches housed in the bible belt.
Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, CA
Average Attendance – 22,000
Saddleback Church started with its members and guests worshipping under a tent. They were not able to get a building permit until the 1990’s. The building went up while the church grew to over 10,000 attendees per week. They are non-denominational and have expanded worldwide throughout southern California, Manila, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires and Berlin. They are associated with the Southern Baptist Convention which is one of the largest in the world. Saddleback Church is one of those US Churches that offers the community the real deal. The senior pastor of Saddleback is Rick Warren. He and his wife Kay founded the church when he was just 26 years old. He is now just known as Pastor Rick. He has written several best sellers, including, “The Purpose Driven Life.” The book was on the New York Times Best selling list for over 90 weeks and sold over 32 million copies within the first 10 years of its creation.
Southeast Christian Church – Louisville, KY
Average Attendance – 21,700
Founded in 1962, the church is the largest in Kentucky. Starting with just over 50 members, the church has 14 other sites. The church offers Se!KidsOnline for your children to worship, read bible lessons and sing from a video. It is entertaining and gives kids something to do while the adults have their time. The Southeast Christian Church has many ministries to choose from that include; deaf and disabilities, foster care, seniors, single, middle school, high school, college age, men, women, family, children and community engagement. The church offers live streaming for your benefit.
Central Christian Church – Henderson, NV
Average Attendance – 21,055
The Central Christian Church is all about bringing in those that may be lost about spirituality. It seeks those who are not normal church goers but are seeking to be better. The church seeks to show those who may not go to church, how different a spiritual framework can be. Pastor Jud Wilhite is the senior pastor and also a best selling author. His approach to teaching the world of Chris is simplistic and in a conversational tone. The church wants to introduce people to Jesus and show them what he can do in changing their life for the better. They have live and on demand sermons that allow them to reach the world. It is one of the better US Churches that seeks to work within the community and streets rather in the four walls of church.
Dream City Church – Phoenix, AZ
Average Attendance – 21,000
Founded in 1923 by John Eiting, Dream City Church is made up of the large community within Phoenix. In 1979 Tommy Barnett became the Senior Pastor with Luke Barnett taking over as Senior Pastor in 2011. The church became a multi-site church in 2015 with the opening of the Scottsdale site. In 1994, the church founded the Dream Center which works in the community to do away with hunger and other ills of society. They have a food bank, assistance programs, a clothing bank, and other programs for combating domestic violence, human trafficking and drug addiction.
These are the biggest US Churches. They each have the love of spirituality and Jesus Christ in common. They each owe a debit to the community. They are on television, online programming and podcasts with special programs for children, youth, men, women, families and the community at large. As you can see, many of these US Churches are in the states of Texas and Florida. Many of their Senior Pastors are well known best selling authors, conference speakers and spiritual giants who teach from the pulpit but reach millions daily. This is what these U S Churches represent to an individuals, families and the world.
