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The Service For Pentecost Sabbath
June 2nd, 2001
[The “+” indicates that the Moderator and the Congregation are to cross themselves, if they should so choose.]
[The men, upon entering, must remove all their clothes and when they have found a proper place to sit, out of respect for the sanctuary of our Lord, must kneel before entering the pew. It is expected that they will furnish and use their own serviettes.]
[The Choir is to sing the antiphon. If there is no Choir the Congregation is to recite it.]
Choir (or Congregation): “The Spirit of the Lord fills the whole world. It holds all things together and knows every word spoken by man, alleluia, alleluia.”
[The Altar man, holding the censer, and the Moderator, in that order, line up for the procession. The rest of the Congregation lines up behind them row by row and proceeds to walk around the church in the procession.]
Choir (or Congregation): “The Spirit of the Lord fills the whole world. It holds all things together and knows every word spoken by man, alleluia, alleluia.”
[After the procession is over, the Congregation takes their seats and the regular service begins.]
Moderator: + “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Most Holy and Eternal Trinity.”
Moderator: “Let us all join in a statement of our faith:”
Congregation and Moderator: “We believe that God, through His Holy Word, has made it more than evident as to how He wishes to be worshipped. Man, as represented by Adam, was created by God in His image. This creation was meant to be in harmony with Nature and the Natural Laws. To this end men were created to be naked and to worship God in that, their natural state. It is only by the shame of having sinned that Adam felt that he had to hide himself behind clothes. We believe that by encasing ourselves in clothes that we are only mimicking Adam in his sin and rebellion against the First Cause. God, in His Holy Wisdom, had given Adam the option of eternal life in his nakedness. But he, in his ignorance, cast away the blessing of nudity that God so fervently wanted him to have. We believe that we of the Apertarian Church must return to the First Cause in the way He has called us to worship Him. We offer an open door to any Gay male that would worship with us in the joys and blessings of his God-given nudity. For those who wish not to join us we offer prayers that God will also bless them. When His time is right He will open their eyes that they might see what has been so abundantly revealed to us.”
Moderator: “Amen.”
Old Testament Lesson
Moderator: “The Old Testament lesson for Pentecost is found in:
Isaiah 54: verses 7 through 10:
7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9. For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
Responsorial Psalm
Response: “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
Moderator: “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, You are great indeed! How manifold are Your works, O Lord! The earth is full of Your creatures.”
Congregation: “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
Moderator: “If You take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When You send forth Your spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.”
Congregation: “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
Moderator: “May the gory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord be glad in His works! Pleasing to Him be my theme; I will be glad in the Lord.”
Congregation: “Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
The New Testament Lesson
Moderator: “The New Testament lesson for Pentecost is found in:
Acts 2: 1 - 11:
1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9. Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Thus endeth the New Testament lesson for today.”
[The Moderator then raises the Bible.]
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
The Gospel Lesson
Moderator: “The Gospel lesson for Pentecost is found in:
John 14: 23 - 31:
23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25. These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
26. But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
[The Congregation rises as the altar man rings the bells.]
Congregation: + “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Most Holy and Eternal Trinity.”
Moderator: Thus endeth the Gospel for today.”
[The Moderator holds up the Bible]
Moderator: “This is the Word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God!”
A hymn is sung at this point.
[The Congregation then sits down as the altar man rings the bells.]
The Homily
“The Forgotten One”
Moderator: “In the Great Gay Commission there are three provisos or conditions that God gives us to follow. The first is to “keep the Sabbaths.” Because of its insistence on form and ritual, it can be said to represent God, the Father, representative of “The Law”. Here is the Old Testament concept of a righteous God. The last condition is to “take hold of His covenant.” Christianity interprets this to mean the covenant of a Messiah, namely Jesus. By believing in Christ as our personal Savior all our sins have been forgiven. Yet we can also take hold of the Great Gay Commission as the covenant that God wants us to claim as our own. Either way the Great Gay Commission still remains ours. It is the second condition that I wish to talk about today: we must “choose the things that please God.” St. Paul writes that without faith it is impossible to please God. Yet where is this faith to come from? Who is there that can give us this all-abiding faith in our God? It is the Holy Spirit.
And there we have, right within the Great Gay Commission, a representation of the Trinity: God the Father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit. Yet, God the Holy Spirit seems to be the forgotten one. But we must never underestimate His power. To prove this, listen to the people around you. All too often you will hear God’s name taken in vain. In fact in some places it is done so frequently that some one growing up in that environment thinks that God’s last name is “damn!” It’s not! Even so, it is a very serious sin. But even as serious as that sin is, it can and will be forgiven. Never, though, will you hear ANYTHING said against the Holy Spirit. That’s because It is sacrosanct. It is considered to be so holy that no one may even dare to be a little flippant about it. Listen to the words of Jesus:
Matthew 12: 31 - 32:
“Therefore I say unto you, All manor of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto me: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
What then makes this third part of the godhead, the Forgotten One, so powerful? Why is the Holy Spirit so important? Because it is It Who teaches us, gives us faith, and then intercedes for us.
Romans 8: 26:
“Likewise the Sprit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
In other words it is the binding between our souls and the Godhead. It is what keeps us attached to God, anchored in Him. Without the Holy Spirit it would be impossible to believe in God. It is through the teaching of the Holy Spirit that we know anything about God at all.
St. Paul writes in:
1st Corinthians 2: 12 - 13:
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world; but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which thing also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
We, as Gay people have that Spirit as promised by David in:
Psalm 17: 15:
“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake with Thy likeness.”
Yet without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to be like God. We must ask It to enter our hearts and help us to believe. It is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Your physical body has been baptized, signifying your taking hold of God’s covenant: Jesus. Now your soul must be baptized by the Holy Spirit just as the disciples were baptized with It at Pentecost.
And what happens to your soul after baptism of the Spirit? You receive the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul in Galatians 5: 22 says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Once the touching of the Holy Spirit takes place there comes a peace that “passeth all understanding.” This is not to say there won’t be troubles, or problems or tribulations. But we will be able to say with St. Paul:
2nd Corinthians 4: 8 & 9:
“We are troubled on every side yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed...”
With the Holy Spirit touching our hearts and providing the vital link to the Godhead we have nothing to fear, and every incentive to dare great things. And let me repeat the rewards of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, meekness and temperance.
Every time we Gay people go to Scripture we see great promises for us from God. But are we ready? Are our hearts open to His wonderful words of love? Do we come to Him as children: naked, trusting, and curious? Have we made ourselves teachable? Or are we like Adam who wanted to control everything?
The choice is ours and ours alone. God gave us the Great Gay Commission as an act of love. We, as Gay people, must now step up and claim it as our own. One way of doing it is to ask the Holy Spirit to come into our heart and give us the wisdom to “choose the things that please God.”
How can we possibly say “no” to so great a promise as this?”
“Thus endeth the homily for today.”
Moderator: + “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Most Holy and Eternal Trinity.”
The Offering
Moderator: “Jesus has said that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. We pray that you will open up your heart and give so that we may continue to carry God’s message of nakedness, healing and salvation to all Gay males.
Nudists who still are suffering needless pain and rejection.”
[The collection plate is then passed around while a hymn is sung. When the collection is completed the collection plate(s) are brought forward and laid on the altar. The Moderator then prays over the gifts.]
Moderator: “Dear heavenly Father, we know we can do nothing to merit Your eternal love. Yet You did love us before the foundation of the world. Accept our humble gifts for your service and bless the givers also. We pray in Your Son’s name and for Your eternal glory. Amen.”
[The Moderator moves back to the pulpit.]
The Communal Prayer
Moderator: “The Lord be with you.”
Congregation: “And also with you.”
Moderator: + “Let us pray... Oh Lord, we bring before You all of the problems of the day (here list petitions for local problems). Help us to put in proper perspective the trials that You send our way. We ask that You will look down on our efforts and help us to help the Gay male Nudist who still suffers. We ask Your help in particular for N_____ and N_____. We also pray for our leaders who You have put into power. Give them the wisdom to make decisions that reflect Your will. But we always and ever give You thanks and pray that You will work Your will so that one day all men may walk free in their nakedness the way You have created us to be. Let Your Holy Spirit guide us as we pray the way Your Son taught us saying...”
Congregation and Moderator: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thou art the Kingdom and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Moderator: “Amen.”
The Communion Service
[The Moderator moves behind the altar and faces the people.]
Moderator: “Brothers, we are gathered here today to commemorate the sacrifice of our most Holy Lord Jesus Christ who by His willful offering of His perfect self upon the cross secured for us the promise of heaven in the next life and the blessings of nakedness in this life. Let us each examine our consciences and prepare ourselves for the communion service.”
[Here is observed a moment of silence while the men examine their consciences and silently ask for forgiveness.]
Moderator: “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread...”
[At this point the Moderator elevates the bread and displays it to all sides of the Congregation while the bells are rung. The priest then genuflects.]
Moderator: “And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me.”
[The Moderator then breaks the wafer into three pieces and places it in the chalice of grape juice.]
Congregation: “This, Lord, we will remember, to keep it holy.”
Moderator. “After the same manner also He took the cup, and when He had supped said, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
[The Moderator then elevates the chalice filled with grape juice and displays it to all sides of the Congregation while the altar man rings the bells. The priest genuflects.]
Congregation: “This, Lord, we will remember, to keep it holy.”
Moderator: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.”
[The Congregation then lines up to receive communion. The Moderator dips a wafer in the grape juice and offers it to each communicant. Each may take communion the way he feels is right, i.e., standing or kneeling, in his hand or in his mouth, etc. When all have received communion the Moderator then offers communion to the altar man, if there is one. He then takes communion himself, and drinks ALL OF THE GRAPE JUICE IN THE CHALICE. He carefully washes the chalice and covers it with an altar cloth. He then returns to the pulpit.]
[A hymn is sung.]
Moderator: “Please stand for the final benediction.’
[The Congregation stands.]
Moderator: + “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Go thy way and be at peace in thy nakedness. The service is ended. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, most Holy and Eternal Trinity.”
[At this point a closing hymn may be sung.]
[The Congregation then observes a moment of silence while the Moderator goes to the front door to welcome the men as they exit. When the altar man rings the bells the men are then free to dress and leave the service.]