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Teach us the Lord's Prayer
Our Journey 

'A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit' Mt 7.18
 

We must never forget that our primary objective is to seek the union of the inner with our one GOD of all goodness, returning to our true spiritual home.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

  
GENERAL CONFERENCE CATHAR CHURCH
Where GOD's people...Experience diversity without division, 
enjoy unity without uniformity, and practice dialogue free of dictation

Worship

 

Martyr's Day Eve Celebration
15 March
 

The Celebration is attended by all Elders and Advocates, Deacons, Aspirant-Candidates and members of the public according to local custom - usually those who have attended a party to mark the end of Covenant Month.

Arrangements are as for The Sabbath or The Lord's Day Celebration.

 

The Opening Chant

As the attenders take their places the Music Officer leads everyone in the Opening Chant.

After a few minutes the Procession, consisting of Fire and Water Bearers followed by the Celebrant, enters and moves to stand in front of the Lord's Table facing the attenders. The Bearers stand on either side of the Celebrant, also facing the front, continuing to hold the Fire and Water.

(N.B. It is permissible not to have Bearers, in which case the Fire and Water remain on their stands throughout)

 

The Consecration (Fire and Water)

The Chant stops.

CELEBRANT:
This is the Fire of Purification,
The love of GOD,
Which purifies and redeems us.

And this is the Water of Life,
The Mercy of GOD,
Which invests His Life in us.

For the Fire and Water are Symbols of
GOD's Great Power
By which we heal the People of GOD.

By the Grace of GOD
And for the Glory of GOD
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Bearers place the Fire and Water on their stands and go to their places. The Celebrant moves to the lectern, if one is used, if not, from the center of the Lord's Table.

 

The Welcome and Thanks

The Celebrant delivers a short Welcome of the attenders, and then speaks briefly, covering the following points in their own words:

The task The Lord has inspired us with is great: spreading far and wide the Message of the Ending of the world as we know it,  and the coming of the King, Jesus Christ.

We thank everyone who helps in the task of winning souls to GOD
We thank the attenders for all they give

We honour the memory of the martyrs who suffered at the hand of the Anti-Christ
We pray for their perfect souls.
We pray for a unified Church purged of its corruption
And steered safely again by good Christians

But most of all we thank The Lord for calling  us to this role, and giving all gifts He does  in order to fulfill it  as it is acceptable to Him

The Celebrant concludes by delivering an impromptu prayer of thanks to GOD,
in the name of Jesus Christ or may use the following:

O GOD who is love
Among us today are people who have come to march
people who have come to search
people who have come to grieve
people who have come to weep

We have all come together to acknowledge GOD and to touch each other
To remind us to reach within  to the wellspring of light at the core of ourselves
and there,  let us find you.

In the name of Jesus Christ, perfect GOD triumphant.

Amen.

 

The Gospel
 

The Hymn of Praise

The Music Officer announces the name and number of the Hymn. The Celebrant goes to their place.

Towards the end of the Hymn, the Christian who is to give the Testimony
comes forward to the Lectern (or Lord's Table).
 

The Testimony and Offering

The elder delivers a short Testimony which should relate to an aspect of making a personal Covenant with the Lord, even unto death as witnessed by the martyrs, and may include references to the theme of Covenant Month and the massacres.

The Testimony leads into the introduction of the Offering, which is done by the same good Christian. having delivered the introduction they return to their place.

The Bearers collect the Offering. The Celebrant moves to the Lectern (or Lord's Table) to receive the Offering. Soft wind music may be played.

The Celebrant commits the Offering by reciting:

CELEBRANT:
Great Lord,
We offer You our worldly goods
In a spirit of love and joy.
Nothing can repay You fo the gifts You give us,
Yet please accept this as a token of our thankfulness,
Given in praise.
Amen.

The Bearers return to their places.
 

The Dedication

The Celebrant introduces the Dedication, inviting the attenders to come forward to stand before the Lord's Table in order to make a special Dedication or Pledge to the Lord, or to make a special resolution for the year ahead.

Soft wind music is played during the Celebrant's introductory words. This music develops into a Chant as the attenders begin to come forward.

After they have made their Dedications, standing before the Lord's Table, the attenders return to their places or remain close to the front of the Sanctum, singing the Chant, joining hands, etc.

 

The Blessing

At an appropriate moment the Celebrant comes to stand in front of the Lord's Table, facing the attenders.  The singing stops.

The Celebrant then offers an impromptu Blessing to all those present.
It should be emotional and filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Conclusion

The Celebration may end with or without a Procession out of the Sanctum, according to local guidance and custom. If there is no formal procession, the Celebrant concludes the Celebration by announcing:

CELEBRANT:
The Celebration is now ended.
GOD bless you and bring you to a good End.
Praise GOD!

ALL:
Praise GOD!