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SACRED READINGS ARCHIVE

UNIVERSAL WORSHIP 3/12/03

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

 

Theme:

The Children of Abraham

There is but One God

 

Toward the One,... (after lighting taper)

 

To the glory of the Omnipresent God, we kindle the light symbolically representing the...Hindu Religion, Buddhist Religion, Zoroastrian Religion, Native American Religion, Divine Feminine, Jewish Religion, Christian Religion, Religion of Islam (lighting each candle with the word kindle.)

 

To the glory of the Omnipresent God, we kindle the light symbolically representing all those who whether known or unknown to the world, have held aloft the light of Truth  through the darkness of human ignorance. (lighting the Spirit of Guidance candle)

 

Let us pray.  Saum   Praise be to  thee...(while facing the God candle)

 

We will read from the World Scriptures

 

We read in the Hindu Scriptures

 

He is the one God, hidden in all beings, all-pervading, the Self within all beings, watching over all works, dwelling in all beings, the witness, the perceiver, the only one, free from qualities.

 

 Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.11

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Wisdom.

 

We will read in the  Buddhist Scriptures

 

When appearances and names are put away and all discrimination ceases, that which remains is the true and essential nature of things and, as nothing can be predicated as to the nature of essence, is called the "Suchness" of Reality. This universal, undifferentiated, inscrutable Suchness is the only Reality, but it is variously characterized as Truth, Mind-essence, Transcendental Intelligence, Perfection of Wisdom, etc. This Dharma of the imagelessness of the Essence-nature of Ultimate Reality is the Dharma which has been proclaimed by all the Buddhas, and when all things are understood in full agreement with it, one is in possession of Perfect Knowledge.

 Lankavatara Sutra

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Compassion

 

We will read in the Zoroastrian Scriptures

 

This do I ask, O Lord, reveal unto me the truth!

Who is the first begetter, father of the Cosmic Law?

Who assigned orbit to the sun and the stars?

Who causes the moon to wax and again to wane?

Who other than Thee? This and else I wish to know!

 

Who is the upholder of the earth and of the sky?

Who prevents them from falling down?

Who maintains the waters and also the plants?

Who yoked speed to winds and clouds?

Who is the creator of the creatures?

 

Who is the architect of light and darkness?

Who created sleep and wakefulness?

By whom exists dawn, mid-day and night,

Which monitor the duties of men?

 

 Avesta, Yasna 44.3-5

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Purity

 

We will read in the Jewish Scriptures

 

 Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

 

Deuteronomy 6.4

 

I am the Lord, and there is no other,

besides me there is no God.

 

Isaiah 45.5

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Law

 

We will read in the Christian Scriptures

 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 

1 Corinthians 12.4-7

 

We know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

 

1 Corinthians 8.4-6

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Self-Sacrifice

 

We will read in the Scriptures of Islam

 

" Say, He is God, the One!

God, the eternally Besought of all!

He neither begets nor was begotten.

And there is none comparable unto Him.

 

 Qur'an 112

 

To Him belong all creatures in the heavens and on the earth: even those who are in His very Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they ever weary. They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit. Or have they taken gods from the earth who can raise the dead? If there were, in the heavens or in the earth, other gods besides God, there would have been confusion in both! But glory to God, the Lord of the Throne; high is He above what they attribute to Him!

 

Qur'an 21.19-22

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine  Unity

 

We will now have a few minutes of silence (three minutes)

 

Let us pray Salat Most gracious Lord, Master Messiah,...(facing the God candle)

 

There is but one Teacher, God Himself

 

Hazart Inayat Khan, Bowl of Saki

 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the Light of the Divine Truth

 

Sermon The Children of Abraham drawing upon Bruce Feiler's book, Abraham

 

 

Let us pray  Khatum  O Thou, Who art the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty... (facing the God candle)

 

Benediction (facing the congregation)

 

May the Blessing of God rest upon you; may God's Peace abide with you; may God's presence illuminate your hearts now and for evermore.  Amen