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The Service For The 18th Sabbath In Ordinary Time
August 4, 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, come to my help. Lord, quickly give me assistance. You are the one who helps me and sets me free: Lord, do not be long in coming.”
[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, come to my help. Lord, quickly give me assistance. You are the one who helps me and sets me free: Lord, do not be long in coming.”
[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 the 18th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Isaiah 55: 1-3
1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2. Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Response: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.”
Moderator: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is god to all and compassionate toward all His works.”
Congregation: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.”
Moderator: “The eyes of all look hopefully to You, and You give them their food is due season; You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
Congregation: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.”
Moderator: “The Lord is just in all His ways and holy in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
Congregation: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; He answers all our needs.”
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Moderator: “The New Testament lesson for the 18h Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Romans 8: 37-39:
37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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 18h Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Matthew 14: 13-21
13. When Jesus heard [of it], he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard [thereof], they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18. He said, Bring them hither to me.
19. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
[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
“Who shall separate us?”
Moderator: “A Jewish scholar once said that the Gay minority was unique amongst minorities because it was the only one he could think of that couldn’t go home. He was right. But today, for the first part of the homily, I’m going to be talking about another minority that couldn’t go home. Namely: the Jews.
Israel had been involved in a civil war and had split in two. Johiakim, a later king of Judah, was no match for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, when he came conquering. So, consequently, the Babylonian king conquered him. To prevent a dagerous uprising by the conquered Jews, Nebuchadnezzar authorized Ashpanaz, his head eunuch, to select especially good-looking young men at the court and send them to Babylon. They had to be the “creme de la creme” of Judah’s society. When they got to Babylon they were all castrated. This was done so that they could never return to their homeland. if they tried, they would have to return as eunuchs. And as eunuchs, being ‘wounded in the stones’, they would not be allowed into the temple.
Daniel was chosen to be among this group of young men because of his stunning good looks, his breeding and his brains. He was among the ‘chosen’ but oh what a price he had to pay for the privilege. They castrated him and made him serve as a eunuch in the king’s court in Babylon. He was trusted in high oppositions with great wealth and power. But then why would he steal anything? He would have no sons or daughters to pass it on to. And he certainly couldn’t go back to Israel. Back there he would be considered to be a misfit, a freak!
To many people Daniel’s’ position would be hopeless. He had no family, he had no homeland, and he had no church. And all of this was not his fault! Did he lose hope? Did he give up? NO! Why? Because he had his covenant with God. And that he could take with him anywhere he went. And it was a good thing he had ‘The Covenant’. His enemies were out to destroy him.
In one episode he was called in to interpret the king’s dream after all the sorcerers and wizards failed to do so. To complicate matters even more the king couldn’t even remember the dream! It was only though Daniel’s interpretation of the dream that all of the “wise” men of the land were spared. And everyone remembers the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. His enemies had plotted and connived against him until he was thrown in the lion’s den. And nothing happened! God had closed the mouths of the lions so that they wouldn’t hurt him. The king, when he realized his mistake, had Daniel pulled out of the den, and his enemies thrown in.
The Burning finger? Can anyone ever forget the story? Belshazzar had been drinking all night with his cronies. Then they decided to drink from the sacred vessels they had taken from Solomon’s temple. God was not about to let this sacrilege go by. While they were all there, a burning finger showed up and started to write the words across the marble wall: “Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin”. Nobody could understand these words until Daniel showed up and interpreted them.
In many ways, we Gay people are like Daniel. The majority of our families have trouble with our being Gay. They try to explain it away, and when they can’t they turn vicious. They may call us names; they may run us out; they may even try to have us arrested... Yet it avails them nothing. Again and again! They can’t seem to understand. Jesus said: “that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit...” We Gay people have been called to give birth to spiritual things, not physical things. Yet the heterosexuals just can’t raise their minds above the level of their groins. That is why we can’t go home. Our whole lifestyle is a complete antithesis to that of the heterosexual world exemplified by their insistence on breeding the race.
Being Gay, we know the heterosexual church closes their doors to us. Because we are wounded ‘in the psychological stones’, we cannot breed children. Therefore, according to them, we cannot have a sex drive. But then why do we have sex? It confuses them, so they reject us. Just as many of our families do when they find out we’re Gay. We won’t be carrying on the blood lines, which just might fade out at our death. So what do they do with us? How do they react with us? To give you an honest answer, they try to turn us into heterosexual wannbies: baby-sitting their children, fawning over their pregnant women, and worshipping at the altar of their procreative abilities. And when we don’t? We’re run out of the family.
Is it any better in the military? Perhaps the society at large... NO! Oh granted, some advances have been made but they are much too small and far too late. So we bear the brunt, like the Jews in Nazi Germany. Someday we will have our temple in Everett. Like those Jews did, we also have our covenant.
The Third Great Covenant in the Bible is the Great Gay Commission: Our Gay spiritual bill of rights. We, like Daniel did, can carry it everywhere we go. Whether we are captive or free; accepted or rejected; praised or condemned; allowed in or driven out; it is ours to take with us no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
It is the Third Great Covenant in the Bible and it is only and ever ours. It is God’s agreement with us Gay people. And it doesn’t depend on whether other people feel we’re good enough for it. It is ours, given to us by God, just as He has given us our nakedness!
So there is NOTHING that can separate us from the love of God.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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 alter. 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.]