Joining Hands of Rochester

Location

Rochester, NY Area

Phone

585 324 0230

Hours

Pastor Jack Porcello

Monday - Thursday: 10:00AM to 4:00PM

Friday: 10:00 AM to 1:00PM

Website Meetings

Website

http://www.OurFellowship.org/

Contact

Joining Hands of Rochester (aka Joining Hands Free Church) is a independent spiritual organization that describes itself as:

At Joining Hands we believe that we should take control of our lives and live them to the fullest, thus achieving in life all we are capable of.

By following this basic principle we can learn to accept responsibility for our actions, throw off the bondage of destructive behavior and legalistic beliefs, and have abundant life by constantly improving and growing both as individuals and a community.

We emphasize building relationships with one another at our meetings.

Our meetings are discussion groups facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Jack Porcello, and are meant to encourage and edify all of us.

We believe that this leads to an understanding of:

Free Will - without the freedom to choose our life's direction, we have no ability to make the right choices and truly improve ourselves. The choice to do that which will lead to abundant living, and the decision to do it, allows us to advance ourselves and better our lives. But first we must make the choice, and act upon it.

Self reliance - when we are able to provide for ourselves, we develop a sense of dignity and self respect. Once we have self respect, we are better able to accept and respect one another. If we are reliant on others, or on society, we become enslaved and a burden. Self reliance leads to true freedom.

Personal responsibility - accepting the responsibility of our life choices empowers us to make the right decisions for our lives and for the betterment of our society. Directing responsibility away from ourselves, and blaming others, society, or our situation, makes us dependent, as does the belief that belonging to a specific religion gives us a pass on responsibility. Once we take responsibility, we are truly free to make the best choices to better ourselves and society. Our lives are no longer defined by the actions or beliefs of others, but solely by our own.

Informal fellowship - a fellowship that does not depend upon sensationalism or supernatural experience is a fellowship that is built upon true relationships. Taking the emphasis off of special effects and expensive presentation leads to more concern for one another. Unreasonable and unrealistic expectations creates an environment of irresponsibility and deception. Rational discussion leads to understanding, acceptance, celebration of differences, and fulfilled lives.

Our Goals


As we live abundant lives we will not be compelled by contention and jealousy. This will lead to respect and love for others, and that love will be manifested in practical ways. We encourage personal and family responsibility and the strengthening of society.

We don't get involved in "hot-button" issues or political activism. Morality should not be mandated politically. It should be a personal matter.

Joining Hands Ministries is not supernatural experiences or emotional highs. It is a rational humanist dialog centering on the advancement of the individual and society.¹