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570 Cesar E Chavez Ave.
Pontiac MI 48342
248-332-1186
Rites and Rituals are traditions that can be scary when you are new to a church or church is new to you. Divine Peace MCC hopes the brief descriptions you find below will ease some of those scary feelings you can get when you first attend a new church.
CommunionOne of the most confusing and least understood parts of our service is Communion. Even if you have participated in Communion in other denomination, it may appear to be very different to you here at Divine Peace.
Communion is one of the most important celebrations of our church. It is the time, when each of us as individuals, has the chance to renew our commitment to a relationship with God through Christ. We believe that anyone has the right to take communion, whether a member of our church or not. Even if you are not a member of any church, or have never been to church before, you may participate.
During the process of Communion, you will see several things. First, you will be asked to take a moment to reflect on your own life and ask yourself if there is anything you need to put aside in order to come to communion. Whatever you ask God to remove from you, we believe is removed.
Then you will hear the story retold of how Jesus began communion, when he met with the disciples at the Last Supper. After the story is told, the Bread (normally a flat wafer-like bread, but any bread may be used) and the Juice (normally grape juice always non-alcoholic) are blessed. The bread represents the body of Christ broken for us. The juice represents Christ’s blood. Both are stark remembrances of the great sacrifice of Jesus for us.
After this is done, we pronounce out loud what is called ”the Mystery of Our Faith.” Simply stated it is a statement about our beliefs as to Christ. It is that:
“Christ has Died.
Christ has Risen.
And Christ will come again.”
This very brief announcement tells the important story of Christ’s mission to come to earth, to die, and to be resurrected. It also announces our belief that Christ will return to earth to gather God’s people at a future time.
Finally, you are invited to come forward and take a wafer dipped in the juice. When you do this, you have two choices. You may either go to someone who simply says, “Receive the body and blood of Jesus and go in peace,” after which you return to your seat. Or, you may go to someone who, after giving you the bread and juice, will offer a small prayer for you to guide you in the coming week. There is nothing secret or “mysterious” about it, just unusual, if you haven't seen it before.
We hope you will feel welcome to come to the table, knowing that it is for everyone and is a very special time of love and comfort.
BaptismBaptism is both God's gift and our human response to that gift.
Baptism by water and the Spirit, as recorded in the Scriptures, shall be a sign of the faithful dedication of each life to God and God’s service. Through the words and acts of this sacrament, the recipient is identified as God’s own beloved child, who participates in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus those baptized are pardoned, cleansed and sanctified by Christ, and are given as part of their baptismal experience a new ethical orientation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Administered in obedience to our Lord, baptism is a sign and seal of our common discipleship. Through baptism, Christians are brought into union with Christ, with each other and with the Church of every time and place.
The sacrament of Baptism is available to all persons who desire to be fully initiated into the life of the church universal and into the body of Christ.
An adult person may be baptized by their own choice, or an infant or young person may be baptized as a sign of sponsors/parents’ intention to mentor their child in and according to the Christian faith. Sponsors or parents normally must be active members of Divine Peace MCC, but the Pastor may grant exceptions under unusual circumstances.
At Divine Peace MCC, baptism is offered in one of three ways, depending on the desire of the person who is being baptized or that person’s sponsors/parents. During the course of an ordinary worship service, baptized persons may be lightly sprinkled with water from a basin, or may have water poured upon their heads from a pitcher. A person may also choose immersion, the brief submersion of her or his entire body under water. Because our sanctuary does not have a baptismal pool, this means of baptism requires special planning and does not usually happen during the course of an ordinary worship service. An immersion baptism may be performed in any suitable natural body of water or swimming pool at an appropriate time of the year.
If a person has already been baptized, we do not baptize that person again. However, the pastor offers a “remembrance of Baptism/confirmation” ritual that allows persons to renew their baptismal vows or confirm for themselves vows made on their behalf by someone else.The pastor will gladly meet with those who desire baptism to plan a thoughtful and meaningful baptismal ritual.
Funerals/Memorial ServicesDivine Peace MCC believes that helping persons to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of a loved one is a very important part of our church’s mission and ministry to manifest the love of God to all people. Our pastor is normally available to conduct funerals and memorial services upon request for both members and non-members of the Divine Peace community and will also meet with family and family of choice to plan the service. Divine Peace can assist you with a referral in the event the pastor is unavailable.
What is the difference between funeral and a memorial service? The casketed body is present for a funeral service and usually concludes with a public or private committal or graveside service. Funerals usually take place shortly after the person’s death. Memorial services are conducted when no casketed body is present and may take place at any time the family deems appropriate. Sooner rather than later is recommended.
Donations made in consideration of additional time spent by the pastor and/or the use of the Divine Peace sanctuary for a service are much appreciated.
Holy Unions and MatrimonyA Holy Union is the celebration and blessing of a covenant commitment between two people, made before God and witnesses.
Our denominational by-laws state:
“The Rite of Holy Union and Rite of Matrimony are the spiritual joining of two persons in a manner fitting and proper by a duly authorized clergy of the Church. After both parties have been counseled and apprised of their responsibilities one towards the other, this rite of conferring God’s blessing may be performed.”
Rites and Rituals
