Atonement Baptist Church
545 Utica Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11203

One of these English General Baptists who settled in the American colonies was Benjamin Laker, who arrived in colonial Carolina as early as 1685. Laker had been associated with the illustrious General Baptist theologian and writer, Thomas Grantham, and had signed the 1663 edition of the General Baptists’ Standard Confession of Faith. The earliest Free Will Baptists in America arose from English General Baptists in Carolina who were dubbed “Freewillers” by their enemies and later assumed the name.

Two distinct branches of Free Will Baptists developed in America. The first and earliest was the Palmer movement in North Carolina, from which the vast majority of modern-day Free Will Baptists have their origin. The later movement was the Randall movement, which arose in the late eighteenth century in New Hampshire. These two groups developed independently of each other.

Confessions: Saturday, 3:30-4:00 PM, or by appointment
Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM
Daily Masses: Monday-Saturday, 7:00 AM
Holy Day Masses: As published in the bulletin.
Weekly Bulletin: 12_Nov_2006, 05_Nov_2006, 29_Oct_2006, 22_Oct_2006
Fiftieth Jubilee Celebration Click here for pictures.
Rectory: 285 West Center Street, (860) 643-2195
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 4 PM
Baptisms: All parents desiring the Sacrament of Baptism for their children must participate in a Pre-Baptismal Program. Call the rectory for information and arrangements.
Rosary & Novena: Miraculous Medal, Monday at 7:15 PM
Marriages: Couples please make arrangements at least six months prior to the wedding date.

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a United States-based international Christian faith of the Pentecostal movement, and is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, Missouri. The UPCI was formed in 1945 by a merger of the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. The UPCI states the following

about itself:
since it’s formation in 1945, the UPCI has been one of the fastest growing denominations in North America, growing from 617 member churches in 1946, to over 4,300 member churches as of 2005.
the UPCI in North America has over 9,000 licensed ministers
reports a Sunday School attendance circa 650,000.
the UPCI has a presence in 175 other nations with more than 22,500 licensed ministers, 28,300 churches and meeting places, 650 missionaries, and a foreign membership of roughly 3 million.
total worldwide membership, including North America, is estimated to be over 4 million

History

When the Assemblies of God adopted the doctrine of the Trinity at its Fourth General Council in October 1916, the Oneness Pentecostals withdrew from the organization. Two months later, beginning in late December, Oneness ministers met in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and on January 2, 1917, they formed a Oneness Pentecostal organization called The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies.

In late 1917 or early 1918 The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and held its first meeting in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, later the same year. This organization adopted the name of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. In late 1924, the organization split over racial concerns. During 1925 three new organizations formed: The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, and Emmanuel’s Church in Jesus Christ.

In 1927 two of the new organizations merged. Meeting in a joint convention in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Emmanuel’s Church in Jesus Christ and The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ joined under the name The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This merger, which united about 400 ministers, was celebrated at the next General Convention held in Port Arthur, Texas, in October of 1928.

In 1931, a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. This attempt was partially successful. The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. A merger between The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was completed in November of 1931. The merged organizations adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ.

In 1932, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, to better reflect its organizational structure. Neither of the two remaining organizations attempted another merger until 1936, when The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward a union with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Negotiations were unsuccessful. Eight years later, in 1944, the two organizations reopened negotiations which would eventually lead the to the formation of the present United Pentecostal Church International in 1945.

UPCI doctrinal beliefs

Overview

The UPCI’s doctrinal views reflect the Holiness-Pentecostal movement, with some exceptions including the “second work of grace” and the Trinitarian formula of water baptism. The doctrine of the UPCI derives its central theology of salvation from Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Repentance

The UPCI believes that repentance is essential to salvation, as found in Luke 13:5. Repentance is defined as turning away from sin and turning toward God. According to the UPCI, true repentance requires forgiveness and cleansing of sins found in 1 John 1:9. As found in 2 Corinthians 2:10, members of the UPCI believe that repentance must be accompanied by Godly sorrow, as it is the motivator for true repentance. Repentance is also a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Ghost (John 14:17; Acts 2:38). Lastly, the ability to repent is temporary and may only be accomplished while one is alive (Hebrews 9:27).[2]

Baptism

Baptism is a second essential component of UPCI doctrine. Members of the UPCI affirm a need for baptism as shown in Matthew 28:19 and point to Matthew 3:13-16 as evidence that even Jesus was baptized. The UPCI mode of baptism is complete immersion in water, completed in the name of Jesus Christ. This method of water baptism is a point at issue between Trinitarians and Oneness Pentecostals. Both sides include Matthew 28:19 to support their claims, with Oneness believers supporting ‘Jesus Christ’ and Trinitarian believers supporting “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” as it appears in Matthew 28:19. The UPCI believes that the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is ‘Jesus’, making a distiction that the word name in the scripture is singular, thus all three titles refer to Jesus. Furthermore, the UPCI believes that salvation cannot be complete without baptism, specifically without the pronouncement of the name of Jesus Christ over the proceeding. This interpretation originates from Acts 2:38

Speaking in tongues

The UPCI embraces the view that speaking in tongues is the outward, observable, and audible evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The UPCI holds that speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation and that speaking in tongues applies to all comers, regardless of race, culture, or language. This is interpreted from Acts 2:38. The tongue becomes the vehicle of expression for the Holy Spirit (James 3), and to a member of the UPCI, it symbolizes God’s complete control over the believer. According to the UPCI, speaking in tongues should also be accompanied by inward changes. These changes can be found in Galatians 5:22-23 and are collectively referred to as the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

The Bible

The UPCI believes this of the Bible: “The Bible is the only God-given authority which man possesses; therefore all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instructions for the church must be based upon and harmonize with the Bible” (Manual of the United Pentecostal Church, 19). According to the UPCI, the Bible is the Word of God, and therefore inerrant and infallible. The UPCI rejects many extrabiblical writings (such as The Book of Mormon and the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures) as well as various books others consider part of the Bible (specifically the Apocrypha), and views church creeds and articles of faith as the thinking of men, and therefore fallable in comparison to the Bible.

Godhead

The UPCI teaches that the one God who revealed Himself in the Old Testament as Jehovah revealed himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus Christ was and is God. For the UPCI, Jesus is the one true God manifested in flesh, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9).

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God and one person, rather than one God in three persons as in the doctrine of the Trinity. The UPCI believes their conception of the Godhead is true to early Christianity’s strict monotheism, and views the trinitarian concept of God as scripturally incorrect, compromising the biblical teaching of God as one.

This is a major difference between the UPCI and other Pentecostals and evangelicals, such as the Assemblies of God.

Holiness

The UPCI holds that salvation is accomplished by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works (Titus 3:5). The UPCI teaches a code of conduct based upon what it believes to be scriptural teaching, although detractors allege that many of these beliefs are mandated by church officials. The UPCI professes holiness standards as a privilege and that obedience to those standards is for the benefit of the individual. This includes beliefs that women should not cut their hair and should wear dresses or skirts, not pants, according to a scriptural mandate to “Not wear that which pertaineth to a man” (Deuteronomy 22:5) and “adorn [yourself] in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Men and women alike are discouraged from wearing jewelry, scripturally “gold, or pearls, or costly array” (1 Timothy 2:8-10).

One contested holiness viewpoint in the UPCI involves ownership of a television set. Licensed UPCI ministers are not allowed to have televisions in their homes. This view has been passed down to the local congregations through the ministers, who frown on their membership possessing televisions. In the same vein, many ministers do not want their constituency attending movies or going to movie theaters. These teachings vary from church to church.

History

When the Assemblies of God adopted the doctrine of the Trinity at its Fourth General Council in October 1916, the Oneness Pentecostals withdrew from the organization. Two months later, beginning in late December, Oneness ministers met in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and on January 2, 1917, they formed a Oneness Pentecostal organization called The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies.

In late 1917 or early 1918 The General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and held its first meeting in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, later the same year. This organization adopted the name of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. In late 1924, the organization split over racial concerns. During 1925 three new organizations formed: The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ, The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, and Emmanuel’s Church in Jesus Christ.

In 1927 two of the new organizations merged. Meeting in a joint convention in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Emmanuel’s Church in Jesus Christ and The Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ joined under the name The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. This merger, which united about 400 ministers, was celebrated at the next General Convention held in Port Arthur, Texas, in October of 1928.

In 1931, a unity conference with representatives from four Oneness organizations met in Columbus, Ohio, in an attempt to bring more Oneness organizations under the same banner. This attempt was partially successful. The Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance ministers voted to merge with The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, but the terms of the proposed merger were not accepted by the ministers of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. A merger between The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was completed in November of 1931. The merged organizations adopted the name of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ.

In 1932, the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance changed its name to The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated, to better reflect its organizational structure. Neither of the two remaining organizations attempted another merger until 1936, when The Pentecostal Church, Incorporated ministers voted to work toward a union with The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Negotiations were unsuccessful. Eight years later, in 1944, the two organizations reopened negotiations which would eventually lead the to the formation of the present United Pentecostal Church International in 1945.

The Church of The Ascension has been the Episcopal presence in the Village of Rockville Centre since 1885. As a parish of the Diocese of Long Island, we are part of the world-wide Anglican Communion, a faith which combines elements of both the Catholic and Reformed traditions. The Anglican ethos is summed up in the phrase: in matters essential, unity; in matters non-essential, diversity; in all things, charity.

The focus of our worship is The Holy Eucharist. Also called The Mass, Holy Communion, or The Divine Liturgy, it is at the Altar of God where all Christians are invited to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation. Our 5:00 PM Saturday service is brief and contemporary, and celebrated outside in the garden, weather permitting. 8:00 on Sunday morning is a quiet, spoken liturgy with brief homily, and the 10:30 choral celebration features a professional-caliber choir performing music that ranges from Gregorian Chant to rousing spirituals. On Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist is celebrated according to Rite Two in the Chancel area of the Sanctuary. In place of a sermon, the priest engages the congregation in conversation about the scriptures for the day. Often the day is the feast of one of the saints of the church and something about that person’s life is read and reflected upon. Our church is renowned throughout the diocese for the excellence of our liturgy and music, and we welcome you to join us.

And not only for worship. We offer an active Christian Formation program for adults and children that takes place on Sundays and weekdays. Our children’s program is under the direction of Linda R. Hay, a professionally-trained Christian educator, and begins at 10:15 on Sunday morning. A dedicated team of teachers present lessons and stories, conduct chapel services, and engage the children in outreach projects, such as the Christmas gifts for the BOCES Teen-aged Parenting Program, and, for the year 2004, our year-long commitment to Heifer Project International, which raised over $5,000. A combination acolyte training/youth group has been started by several of our young adults, and meets on Sunday afternoons.

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm
Saturday Vigil Mass in Spanish: 7:00pm
Sunday: 8:30 and 10:30am
Spanish Mass: Sunday 12:30pm
Nursery Open: 10:15am Holy Days: See Bulletin
Weekdays
Tuesday-Friday: 8:00am
Thursday: 12:00pm
(No mass or Communion Service on weekdays when the office is closed.) Reconciliation: By Appointment ONLY.

Sundays:
9:15am - Grades 1-6
10:30am - Preschool

Spanish Religious Education
Saturday: 10:00am - 11:30am

Adult Education: See Bulletin Sundays:
1st and 3rd Sundays 12:00 to 1:30pm - Junior High
2nd and 4th Sundays 12:00 - 1:30pm - Senior High

Asamblea Pentecostal Church
A church which seeks to meet the needs of the heart with the Gospel. The church also helps individuals with their social needs.

Language Spanish

History

Established in 1906 by Bohos Nubar in Cairo, Armenian General Benevolent Union has the mission to encourage the Armenian national development in intellectual, moral and economic aspect. In the first years of its lifespan, the organisation put all of its financial resources to ensure immediate help in the distressed regions during the Genocide carried out by the Turkish government over the Armenian people (1896 - 1915). The dispatch of food, medicines, tents and clothes, the construction of orphanages, hospitals and shelters for those saved from the massacres in 1915, is the priceless contribution of “Parekorzagan” in the fight for survival of the Armenian nation.

Years after the horrible events, the benevolent organisation continues to work for the recovery of the forced disruption in the normal development of the Armenian nation. The Union engages in the process of repatriation of the survivors from the massacres, raises funds for construction of towns in Armenia, where the refugees can settle. Furthermore, AGBU builds new schools, clinics and humanitarian centres.

Nowadays “Parekorzagan” directs its efforts towards popularisation of the Armenian cultural and historic heritage and strengthening of the Armenian self-awareness in the Diaspora. Significant resources are also invested in improving the living standard in Armenia. Educational, benevolent and cultural programmes, incorporated within an annual budgetary framework of USD 28mn, represent the main activities of the organisation. The headquartrs of “Parekorzagan” is located in New York and the incumbent president is Mr. Berge Setrakian. At present the Armenian General Benevolent Union has branches in 22 countries worldwide, one of them being Bulgaria.