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The Service For The 24th Sabbath In Ordinary Time
September 15, 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): “Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for You and Your prophets will proclaim You as You deserve. Hear the prayers of Your servant and Your people Israel.”
[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): “Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for You and Your prophets will proclaim You as You deserve. Hear the prayers of Your servant and Your people Israel.”
[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 24th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 8
1. To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Moderator: “This is the word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God.”
Responsorial Psalm
Response: “The Lord is king and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.”
Moderator: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Congregation: “The Lord is king and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.”
Moderator: “He pardon all your iniquities, He heals all your ills. He redeems you life from destruction, He crowns you with kindness and compassion.”
Congregation: “The Lord is king and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.”
Moderator: “He will not always chide, nor does He keep His wrath forever. Not according to our sins does He deal with us, nor does He requite us according to our crimes.”
Congregation: “The Lord is king and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.”
Moderator: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is His kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us.”
Congregation: “The Lord is king and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion.”
The New Testament Lesson
Moderator: “The New Testament lesson for the 24th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in:
Romans 14: 7-9
7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
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 24th Sabbath in Ordinary Time is found in
Matthew 18: 21-35
21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
[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
“A Time For War...”
Moderator: “In our Gospel lesson for today we see Jesus teaching a doctrine of forgiveness. And what a beautiful doctrine it is. And perhaps if we were only talking about a debt owed, or an insult given, then perhaps we should forgive seventy times seven, as our Savior advocated. Actually, if the truth were known, if you were a Roman citizen you had all the rights. If you weren’t one, you had very little if any rights. In essence, a Roman citizen could do anything to you and, if you weren’t a Roman citizen, you had to stand and take it.
Jesus’ teaching at least gave you some reason to stand and take it. Yet even He lost His temper at times. He got so incensed when He saw merchants doing business in the temple that He fashioned Himself a whip and drove them out. Did He stop, bow His head in submission, and forgive the moneychangers? NO! He whipped them out of the temple!
Last Tuesday not only we here in the US but everybody all over the world had the horrible chance of witnessing the worst unprovoked tragedy in recorded history. In a mere matter of an hour we saw. played out in front of us. the slaughtering of thousands of innocent people by the human bombing of the World Trade Center. What person in his right mind could ever justify such a horrible atrocity? What madman could be so twisted in his thinking as to be able to convince himself that this could ever possibly be a good thing? Yet we know this was more than the act of one insane man. We know that there were gangs of three to five men apiece who invaded and hijacked those planes that were used. What possible reason could be so compelling as to drive anywhere from twelve to twenty men to commit mass suicide? But to just not commit suicide but to cause such a horrendous holocaust?
One senator has labeled this as second Pearl Harbor. And in a way he was right! It was an unprovoked attack alright. But in Pearl Harbor it was directed at our military installations. At the World Trade Center it was directed solely at civilian, peaceful, law-abiding citizens. It was directed at the center of the world’s financial district. THE WORLD’S (!) financial center. This was not just an attack on us, the people of the United States. It was an attack on the entire world! Whoever caused this mass destruction was attempting to broadside the entire globe. That is why all of us, every nation in the world, must stand together to combat these insane people. And we do agree with the President: anyone who has sheltered these madmen, anyone who has aided them, is just as responsible as the monsters themselves. For they stand just as guilty.
We, all of us, dare not let this go unpunished. Now is not the time for the forgiveness of Christ. Now is the time to, as our Savior Himself did, fashion whips and drive the madmen from our presence. We thought that they had learned their lessons in earlier attempts that were thwarted. Obviously they have not. But who are they? Who are these cowardly men? Why must they remain silent? Why must they hide? Aren’t they proud of what they have done? Why do they creep in the shadows? Where are they not lifting up their voices in jubilation? Or are they afraid to take credit for their well-planned and executed insanity? Ashamed of their cowardly, despicable acts?
We will find out who they are. Make no mistake about that! It may take us awhile but we will find out. And when we find out we will retaliate with everything we have. Because if we don’t... there will only be more attacks. The only way to stop a bully dead in his tracts is to talk to him in language HE CAN UNDERSTAND.
But stand up we must! As Apertarians we are called to stand up for 1) our faith, 2) our Gayness, and 3) our nudity. And if we treasure our salvation we must stand up for them. Yet we must also stand up for our nation. Because without this wonderful nation we would not have what rights we do have. Just as we expect our nation’s allies to support us from the outside, we must also support it from within. We Apertarians, whether we like it or not, have been called to war. This is a holy war, just as surely as a jihad! Did not our Savior stand up for what was right? Did He stand there and debate the situation? Did he raise His hands, bless everyone, and forget the incident? NO! HE KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT!!! And He would not stand for anything less. He knew evil when He saw it.
And certainly if anything could be classified as evil the attack on the World Trade Center should certainly qualify. Let anyone who thinks that evil doesn’t exist stand before the twisted wreckage of those two once proud buildings and say that to the broken bodies that lay there. The blood of thousands of innocent victims cry out in defiance.
Armageddon has begun!
The battle lies are drawn!
Where do you stand? For all of us must now answer the question. “Chose ye this day whom ye will serve.” Will it be infamy? Insanity? Slaughter? Wickedness?
Or will it be righteousness?
No one - repeat: NO ONE - will be allowed to sit on the fence on this one.
At no other time in history have the battles lines been so clearly drawn.
We know that good will prevail. But for it to do so will require all of our strength, our hope and our prayers. We ask that God will assist us in our war here on earth.
Amen!
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.]