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The Service For the 17th Sabbath In Ordinary Time
July 28, 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): "God is in His holy dwelling; He will give a home to the lonely, He gives power and strength to His people."
[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): "God is in His holy dwelling; He will give a home to the lonely, He gives power and strength to His people."
[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 the 17th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
1 Kings 3: 5 - 12.
5. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.
7. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I [am but] a little child: I know not [how] to go out or come in.
8. And thy servant [is] in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12. Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Response: "Lord, I love Your commands."
Moderator: "I have said, O lord, that my part is to keep Your words. The law of Your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces."
Congregation: "Lord, I love Your commands."
Moderator: "Let Your kindness comfort me according to Your promise to Your servants. Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight."
Congregation: "Lord, I love Your commands."
Moderator: "For I love Your command more than gold, however fine. For in all Your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate."
Congregation: "Lord, I love Your commands."
Moderator: "Wonderful are Your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of Your words shed light, giving understand to the simple.
Congregation: "Lord, I love Your commands."
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Moderator: “The New Testament lesson for the 17th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Romans 8: 28-30:
28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
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 the 17th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Matthew 13: 44-46:
44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
[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
"Dare to Dream!
Moderator: "What do you dream of? All of us to one degree or another have dreams. Without them life would be meaningless. Without dreams there really is no profile to our personality. It is our dreams, hopes, ambitions that keep us going from day to day. Without them life would be very dull. But what do we dream of? Are our dreams of only this material world? How can we get that handsome guy to notice us? When are we going to get that new car? How come I'm not as hung as the guy sitting next to me this morning? How in the world am I ever going to make my mortgage payment?
Do we only dream of the material world? David says that he won't be satisfied until he awakes with God's likeness. What a dream! We can dream the same thing if we want. Each one of us Gay nudists has given to us the means to be happy. No! Not just happy! The Bible tells us to be more than that!
Isaiah 54: 1:
"Sing, o barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith thy Lord.
There it is! God has ordered us to be happy that we are Gay and to break forth into singing. And do you see God telling us that we must expand our thinking. The prime end of life is not to breed the race: it is to glorify God; Gone are the days of no hope, the days of no dreams. God says that we are going to spread everywhere, on the right, on the left. We will even inherit the Gentiles.
And what do we have to do to get this great happiness as Gay people? First we must keep His Sabbaths. We must set the Sabbath aside and keep it Holy for God. We must try as much as possible to remain clothes-free that day. God created us to be naked and He wants us to worship Him that way.
Second, we must choose the things that please Him. St. Paul says in
Hebrews 11: 6:
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
We must remain naked as much as possible; we know that that pleases Him.
And lastly we must take hold of His covenant. And what is His covenant? Nakedness is part of it. He created man to be free not bound by sin and clothes. Because Adam sinned God had to send a Redeemer. That is the covenant God is talking about. The messiah has taken away your sin and also your need for clothing.
And if we keep His Sabbaths, choose the things that please Him and take hold of His covenant what will be our reward? We will have a place in heaven. That's right, we Gay people will have a place next to God. No wonder the prophet instructs us Gay people to sing.
But not only will we have a place in heaven we will have a name better than of heterosexual breeders. Why? Because by
1) keeping His Sabbaths,
2) choosing the things that please Him and
3) believing in God's Messiah,
We put Him first. The heterosexuals have made their choices to have their portion in this world. We Gay people have chosen to put God first. A fact that He will not forget!
And to top that all off, we Gay people, being written in His book of eternal life, will have heaven for eternity. We will not be cast into the lake of fire. Why? Because we, like St. John say:
"...are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."
Christ our Savior was the first-born among the brethren. In several places He is called "beloved of God"! We know that He was Gay. There are too many proofs to deny it. We know that He was also married Gay. How? The Bible tells us so. We know that He was married to St. John. He, as God's Son, has the highest place in heaven. He came with the message of salvation. And once that was accomplished God called Him home to be with Him. Jesus' work was done. And it was done on Calvary and done nakedly! He had kept the Sabbaths, chose the things that pleased God and later took hold of His covenant.
He is, for us, the Great Gay Martyr. It was He who fulfilled prophecy and became the perfect naked sacrifice, as did our Savior. And we can. Everywhere we can we must show our covenant with God through our nakedness!
We Gay people are God's favored because we have put Him first by: 1) keeping His Sabbaths, 2) choosing the things that please Him and 3) taking hold of His covenant.
Because we are Gay we have not defiled ourselves with women, as He has instructed us not to do. We have made Him our Lord.
And He has made us His favorites. We are His firstfruits, the apple of His eye. Our Great Gay Commission tells us that in no uncertain terms.
So let us sing. Let us raise our voices in a constant hymn of praise to our God for His unspeakable gifts. Salvation for the soul and nakedness for the body. Let us constantly pray that someday, all over the earth, men will be able to walk freely, in open nakedness, showing off their covenant with God.
It is a dream we all can dream and share. It is a dream we can work for, everyday, no matter where we are. It is a dream for all of mankind. We can even dream of going to heaven as Gay people to be with our God for all eternity.
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.]