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The Service For Trinity Sabbath
June 9, 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): "Blessed be God the Father and His only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit: for He has shown that He loves us."
[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): "Blessed be God the Father and His only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit: for He has shown that He loves us."
[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 who 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 Trinity Sabbath is found in:
Exodus 34: 4-9:
4. And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
5. And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].
8. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
9. And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
Responsorial Psalm
Response: "Glory and praise forever."
Moderator: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is Your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
Congregation: "Glory and praise forever."
Moderator: Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
Congregation: "Glory and praise forever."
Moderator: "Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
Congregation: "Glory and praise forever."
Moderator: Blessed are you who look into the depths from Your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
Congregation: "Glory and praise forever."
Moderator: "Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
Congregation: "Glory and praise forever."
The New Testament Lesson
Moderator: “The New Testament lesson for Pentecost is found in:
2 Corinthians 13: 11 - 13:
11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12. Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13. All the saints salute you.
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 Trinity Sabbath is found in:
John 3: 16 - 18:
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[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
"God So Loved the World!"
Moderator: "These days we hear a lot about love. It seems that the subject is all over the place. In literature Danielle Steele's steamy novels hit the best-seller lists. There is a whole series of paperbacks dedicated to romance called the "Harlequin" series. We read the headlines of the tabloids telling of the stars' torrid love affairs while we're waiting to check out our groceries at the food store. And it's no different on TV, and in the movies. Always we have the hero who gets the girl at the end of the program. And, arm-in-arm, they go off into the sunset, confident that because they have found the perfect mate all their problems will be over. Even in our music, look at how many songs are written about broken-hearted love affairs, or someone who is desperately looking for love in, apparently, all the wrong places. Everyone is thoroughly convinced that if they just found the right one all their problems would be solved.
But do these people really understand what love means? It's certainly much more than a mere feeling, not that feelings are wrong. Love feels very nice. It's that feeling that gets you out of you. You become bewitched by someone, want to be near him, be there for him. There is a sense of commitment. It is a commitment that involves concern. You care about that person. He becomes someone very special, just because your love has made him special. Out of all of the people in the world he takes on a uniqueness for you. You want to take him in your arms and shield him from the cares and worries of the world. And when he falls, when he fails, you are there to console him to tell him he still has worth in your eyes. You assure him that the next time he tries something he will succeed. You do your best to convince him that someone still believes in him.
Now think of how God loves us, yes - each and every one of us, as Gay people. We know that we have a unique place in His heart just for us. Didn't He give us the Great Gay Commission? Didn't He give us our nudity? In the beginning of our covenant with Him He tells us that we must understand that we have worth. We are not to consider ourselves "dry trees".
All we have to do is to follow three simple rules. 1) Keep His Sabbaths, 2) choose the things that please Him and 3) take hold of His covenant. Nowhere does He demand that we give up His gift of Gayness or nakedness. In fact, we are told in other places in the Bible that we are to rejoice because we are Gay. And if we do those simple things, what are the rewards? He says that we will have a name and a place in heaven. But not only just a name and a place, we will be honored above those who insist upon having their portions in this life. We will have an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
That was two thousand five hundred years ago. Then God sent Jesus to fulfill the promise He made to Abraham to send a Messiah. Yet, see how the Messiah fulfilled the third part of our provisos. He brings us a new covenant, sealed with His sacrifice on Calvary. Are we then to worry? Does this mean then that God's great promises to us are of not important anymore? No. Jesus, Himself, said that He did not come to do away with the Law of the prophets: He came to fulfill them. That means that God has not taken back His love for us. He has strengthened it by sending His beloved son. We are still guaranteed His favor in heaven for eternity. At the same time, we are still bound by His three provisos. Jesus' sacrifice didn't get us off of the hook. We still have our obligations. St. James said that faith without works is dead. That means that we must still 1) keep His Sabbaths, 2) choose the things that please Him and 3) take hold of His covenant.
Just as Jesus came not to do away with the Law and the prophets, neither did He come to condemn anyone. As our Scripture for today says, Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but that the world though Him might be saved. But saved from what? Eternal damnation! The Law had become tyrannical. It was so restrictive that no one could have followed it. Jesus made the Law a dynamic, outward-going thing, rather than an inward-turning thing, only meant to show up man's shortcomings. With His new concept of the Law He came to help us.
How? Instead of the "thou shalt nots" He made them "thou shalts"! Listen to the words of our Master, Himself.
Matthew 22: 37-40:
"Jesus said unto him: Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
But what does this really mean? We have just celebrated - if that's the correct term to use - the 20th anniversary of AIDS. Hundreds of thousands of Gay people have died from this devastating plague. Yet so many of us Gay people sit idly by, pretending that it won't happen to us, or shunning those who are either sick with the disease or test HIV positive. We, as Apertarians, must never turn our backs on our Gay brothers who desperately need our help and our love more than at any other time in their lives.
WE MUST GET INVOLVED, just as Jesus did. He did not come to condemn. He came to comfort, to console, and to reconcile the sinner with His God. And so must we! We Apertarians, especially. Would Jesus have turned His back on any one of these? NO! Then neither should we. As Gay Christian Nudists it is our responsibility to lead the way. And God help us if we should fail such a grave responsibility.
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 those Gay male 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.]