Each week of the liturgical year, a reading from Second Advent Scripture is delivered as part of the Saturday Communion of Fellowship Service held in the Chapel of the Holy Child. This reading follows the Sacred Calendar of the Church; that is, Prophecies and Revelations that have been received by The Church on sacred dates are recalled in a liturgical context during the appropriate season each year. This reading is delivered just before the final blessings. Each service also includes a reading from the ancient scriptures, prayers, or wisdom sayings of various world religions past and present and is usually thematically related to the Second Advent Reading. This reading is delivered by the Reader right after the announcements that begin the service and is thus the first reading of the service. An audio recording of the reading from Second Advent Scripture delivered on the date above is provided here below together with a transcript of the first reading of the service that day.
Click here to watch this week’s readings on YouTube. (6:50 minutes)
SECOND ADVENT PROPHECY AND REVELATION
A Reading from The Book of God’s Revelation, Book II: The Seal of God’s New Law (pp. 169-171).
ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AND WISDOM SAYINGS
A Reading from the Gospel of Thomas (61, 62, 68, 73, 79):
(61)…Jesus said…I am the one who comes from what is whole. I was given from the things of my father….I say, if you are whole, you will be filled with light, but if divided, you will be filled with darkness.
(62) Jesus said, I disclose my mysteries to those who are worthy of my mysteries. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (67) One who knows all but lacks within is totally lacking.
(68) Blessings on you when you are hated and persecuted, and no place will be found, wherever you are persecuted. (69) Jesus said, Blessings on you who have been persecuted in your hearts. Only you truly know the father….(70)…If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you have nothing within you, what you do not have within you will kill you.
(73) Jesus said, the harvest is large but the workers are few….(75)…There are many standing at the door but those who are alone will enter the wedding chamber. (76)…The father’s kingdom is like a merchant who owned a supply of merchandise and found a pearl. The merchant was prudent. He sold his goods and bought the single pearl for himself. So with you. Seek (the) treasure that is unfailing end enduring, where no moth comes to devour and no worm destroys.
(79) A woman … said to him, blessings on the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you. He said to her, Blessings on those who have heard the word of the father and have truly kept it. (81)… Let a person of wealth rule, and a person of power renounce it. (82)…Whoever is near me is near fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the kingdom.
Click here to watch this week’s readings on YouTube. (6:50 minutes)