CHURCH OF THE GREAT SPIRIT a.k.a. GOD's CHURCH
A Gathering Place for Spiritual Sharing and Healing
Welcome to God's Church, a universal, non-denominational, inter-faith gathering of God's children to worship God and promote spiritual healing and growth regardless of any religious affiliation or background. We use non-exclusionary language in our services and read from the Great World Scriptures of difference religious/philosophical traditions. God's Church does not ask anyone to give up their religion as there are many paths that lead to God. However, we do advocate the Law of Oneness, recognizing and accepting the holiness and interconnectedness of all life. We view all living beings as manifestations of God.
1. Prelude: "Let us worship God in God's many names and forms: Universal Intelligence or Consciousness, the Light, the Great Void or Nothingness, Yahweh, Allah, Brahma, Divine Mother, Mother Earth, etc.... or in God's many paths: Christ, Krishna, Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, etc.... Let us invite in the spirits and the little creatures, as God is in all."
"God is a Spirit and They that worship must worship Spirit and Truth. God is Sat, Chitt, and Ananda (Truth, Knowledge, and Bliss)."
2. Call to Worship: "O come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before our maker-sustainer-changer, our Mother-Father God. We are the beings of God's pasture and the sheep of God's hand.
3. Invocation: "Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for Mother-Father God will be your everlasting light." (Isa. 60:20)
4. Doxology: "Glory be to the Mother-Father Creator, the Daughter-Son Sustainer, and the Holy Spirit Changer as it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be world without end. Amen."
5. Dedication (Sankalpa): May the fruits of this worship service which belong to God give enlightenment to all living beings and alleviate the pain, misery, and suffering of the myriad sentient/feeling beings throughout the universe.
6. Special Messages or Service Theme: Christ's Last Words
7. Hymn 1 - Jesus Loves Me
8. Offertory and Three Homages: We offer the merits of today's scripture readings to All so that they may be able to obtain the Truth.
"Homage to all the Buddhas in all the Worlds. Homage to all the Bodhisattvas in all the Worlds. Homage to the Scriptures of Great Wisdom."
8. Introductions/Readings from the Great Scriptures of the World:
Passage 1:
9. Pastoral Message: The Seven Last Words
- As he gazed from the cross he said, "Forgive them God. They know not what they are doing". We can receive forgiveness through him today, no matter how great our sin may be.
- Heeding the cry of the thief, he said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." The promise of eternal life is ours today and a reality tomorrow.
- To his mother came the words, "Woman here is you son," and to the disciples he said, "Here is your mother". His concern and compassion for us is revealed through the greatness of his love.
- He shouted forth the words of the Psalmist, "Eli, Eli, lama sabach thani", "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"? His constant presence abides with us, never forgetting or forsaking us.
- In the midst of the intense pain and suffering, he expressed a human need as he said, "I am thirsty." He understands our human needs... our pain, our suffering, our misery, our hunger and our thirst.
- When his task of paying for our sins, our karmic debt, was completed, he gave the words of victory..."it is finished." His Christ Consciousness will guide us to victory as we wrestle with the temptations of life.
- He bowed his head and cried out, "God, into your hands I place my spirit." At the end of life, as we place our spirits into the hands of God, we will be guided through death... to life anew in the spirit body. Amen.
10. Affirmation: "I am free of attachments, expectations, and negative desires. I am Love; I am Peace; I am Joy; I am Gentleness; I am Courage; I am Creativity; I am Wisdom; I am Kindness; and I am Compassion from the Mind and Heart of God. I am a child of God. Christ is manifest in me."
11. Hymn 2 - Jesus Loves Me
12. Call to/for Those needing Healing: We invite you to offer the names of those who are in need of healing, to include yourselves, family, significant others, friends, members of our group and anyone else in need of healing. Let us channel healing energies to them to be used by their Higher Selves as they deem fit for their highest good (be it to stay with us or to leave this world). We will channel energy first by centering ourselves and praying. In keeping with God's will, may the fruits of our prayers be directed to those we have named and anyone else in need.
13. Silent Meditation: Let us center ourselves & focus on the God within, the inner Sadguru, the Higher Self. Realize that that God is within each of us & that we are all part of the same One. Know that we are each droplets in the Divine Ocean of God. Let us experience the Ocean. Let us be one. Let us meditate and pray to that purpose. Let us merge into the One for Eternity. Visualize it; feel it; live it; and be it.
14. Prayer and Commendation: "Our Mother-Father God, take our bodies and our minds and make them wholly yours. Let your will, not our will or desires, be done. Help us to free ourselves of attachments to people and things of this material world so that we may better love and serve you and our fellow living beings. To those who need healing at any level of their being, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically, let them receive that healing now, at this moment, and in keeping with thy will. Let those we have named this morning receive the merits of this prayer as well as the homeless, the starving, the sick, the dying, the disabled, the abused, those mourning the loss of loved ones, and the victims of aggression in all nations, the earth, and throughout the universe. Let them know and feel your mercy and love. Let peace prevail. May they be healed as we channel light, God's energy, to them. Into thy hands, our Mother-Father God, we commend our mind, body, emotions, and spirit. We are totally yours and we submit to your will. That we may suffer no more, free us from our attachments, expectations, and negative desires. Lead us from darkness to light, from unreality to reality, from death to immortality. As your humble servants, we seek to be one with you and all living beings, now and forever. Love and guide us to that end."
"Om Kara Sat Nam Sri Wahe Guru" - One sound, essence of Truth, Mother-Father Creator of the Universe, awesome knowledge that dispels ignorance, we bow to thee.
15. Universal Seal: "HUM, OM, AUM, AMIN, AMEN"
16. Offering (Love Donation): Every person give as they are able to according to the blessings of God."
17. Offering Dedication: "All things come of thee, O Mother-Father God, and of thine own have we given thee. God has given us the right to use things in external reality or the material world while we are here, but true ownership belongs to God. Blessed be God who daily gives us benefits and leads us to our salvation, to freedom, to eternal life."
18. Announcements and Invitation to New Members: If you would like to joint our Church of the Great Spirit or merely wish to give us feedback on our worship service, we invite you to send an e-mail message to "haheinz@aol.com". Thank you. Rev. Holly A. Heinz
19. Benediction: "Love God with all your heart, walk Christ's path of love, service, and devotion to God and other beings."
20. Sign of Peace - Namaste!
