What We Believe
The heavenly pattern of worship, rooted in Scripture
Leviticus 12:1-8 · Luke 2:21-40
On the eighth day after birth, every child born into Celestial Church of Christ is christened and presented unto God in a naming ceremony service, following the pattern of circumcision on the eighth day and of Jesus being named and presented at the temple. The child's name is given to a prophet in spirit carrying the child throughout the service — a male prophet carries a male child, and a female prophet carries a female child.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
To show appreciation for God's mercy and goodness, members offer thanks through praise and dance, like David, and offerings, like Abel. During thanks offering, members dance from the entrance of the church with usable items — candles, food items, perfumes — in trays, until reaching the elders who pray and receive the thanksgiving. The heart and purity of the bearer determines the ascension of the thanksgiving.
Revelation 4:5
Candles are lit on the altar while singing the heavenly angelic song Yarah Sarah, Yarah Sama tah — interpreted by the Holy Spirit as “Kindle the Light, Divine from heaven above.” The seven-candle stand represents the seven spirits of God: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the four archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. When the candles are lit, it is a sign that the Spirit of God should guide the worship of the day with His light.
Revelation 7:9 · 19:8 · Matthew 28:2-4
We worship as we believe it is done in heaven, wearing a white garment called the sutana. This garment represents the cleanliness and purity of the angels who worship in heaven — when an angel came to remove the stone from Jesus's tomb, his clothes were described as white as snow. Celestians also wear sutanas to be uniform, because we are all equal in the eyes of God.
Exodus 3:5 · Joshua 5:15 · Acts 7:33
When the Lord appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He told him to remove his sandals, for he stood on holy ground. In Celestial Church of Christ we do not wear shoes inside the church, on the mercy land, or while wearing our sutanas, following the many examples in the Bible of servants of the Lord removing their sandals in His presence. Socks may be worn to protect the feet.
Revelation 19:1-7
There is power in shouting Hallelujah, which means “praise God.” In Revelation, when those in heaven shouted Hallelujah, the twenty-four elders and four beasts bowed down to worship God. In Celestial Church of Christ we chant Hallelujah seven times after prayer — seven signifies completion, and we trust that God has answered our prayers and our worship is complete.
Amos 3:7
Prophets and prophetesses give spiritual messages to anyone the Holy Spirit directs them to, in and outside the church premises. These messages provide guidance on the issues we all face in life. All the hymns used in worship in Celestial Church of Christ were given directly from heaven through the spirit of prophets and prophetesses. They are servants of God passing on the messages He has for His people.
1 Kings 8:22-30 · Romans 12:1-5
Celestial altars are ordained by the Holy Spirit to be built toward the east, the rising of the sun, in reference to the altar of God in Jerusalem. Bowing down is an act of worship done in the presence of God, represented by the altar — a place of laying down your personal life to receive the life of Jesus. Our worship is the foundation upon which every other activity of the church is built.
Matthew 26:1-13 · Exodus 30:34-37
Perfumes are used for sanctification, victory, mercy, and blessing. Jesus was anointed on His head by the woman at Bethany, an act He declared a blessing; and God declared to Moses that the sacred perfume of the perfumer was holy, set apart for sacred use. Our use of perfume aligns with these passages to ensure the sanctification of the members.
Revelation 8:3-5 · Exodus 30:8-9 · Luke 1:9-11
The burning of incense is imperative for the purification and sanctification of the house of God, as He commanded in Exodus. We burn incense before service to cleanse the church and set the stage for the Holy Spirit, and at the entrance procession to usher us into God's presence. As the smoke rises, it lifts our prayers to God — a bridge between heaven and earth.
Exodus 30:29 · Mark 6:12-13 · James 5:13-15
The primary purpose of anointing with holy oil is to sanctify — setting the anointed person or object apart as holy. In the Bible, oil played a role in daily life, worship, and healing; when Jesus sent out the disciples, they anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. Today the Celestial Church of Christ still uses oil in baptism, in confirming spiritual callings, and for healing.
Ezekiel 43:7-10
It is an abomination to present a corpse in the sanctuary before God, for the Lord commanded that dead bodies be kept far from His holy house. Instead, the church holds an Amissa Service on the 40th day after burial to remember the departed and intercede for their soul, that it may be freed from bondage and receive grace as it awaits the rapture.
Washington Luli Parish
8723 Ashwood Drive
Capitol Heights, MD 20743