Rev. Turner:

I'm a Christian who is wondering about what a common service at a homosexual church is like? Is there any way you can describe to me what a normal morning worship service at a gay church is like?

Curious

Dear Curious,

Services at gay and lesbian churches vary, just as they do in churches that are predominately heterosexual. Many gay and lesbian churches are very liturgical while others are very "low-church" and enjoy charismatic singing and preaching. Some actually have combined the two! There is no "one way" that gay and lesbian churches worship God just as there is no "one way" that heterosexual churches worship God. Here is a sample of one of our services at Gentle Spirit Community Church as we celebrate the season of Advent.

God Bless,

Pastor Paul

GENTLE SPIRIT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
December 12,1999
7:00 PM Worship Service
6:55: Time of respectful silence, take time to get centered & prepare to worship

PRELUDE:

* CALL TO WORSHIP

*ADVENT HYMN:

"O Come O Come Emmanuel" page 211

*LIGHTING OF ADVENT WREATH

*OPENING HYMN:

"My Soul Gives Glory to My God" Page 198

GREETING AND INVOCATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
John 1:6-8, 19-28

PRAISE AND PRAYER CHORUSES

Praise Chorus "Jesus the very Thought of Thee" Page 175
Prayer Chorus "Trust and Obey" Page 467

MESSAGE: "Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks"
I Thessalonians 5:16-24 "Have joy at all times. Keep on with your prayers. In everything give praise: for this is the purpose of God in Christ Jesus for you." Vs 6-8

TITHES AND OFFERINGS -- last verse of page 682

COMMUNION HYMN

"Here O My Lord, I See Thee " Page 623

HOLY COMMUNION

* CLOSING HYMN

"Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" Page 213

BENEDICTION
"God's love has been made known among us, for God has sent Christ into the world that all people might live. My friends if God so loved us...
We also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God abides in us. Let us worship God and seek to love as God has loved us."

* Please Stand As You Are Able