NAMING CEREMONY Lev 12:1-8, Luke 2: 21-40
The eight day after birth is mentioned in both Leviticus 12:1-8 and Luke 2: 21-40.In the book of Leviticus it mentions circumcising a male after the eight day of birth (Leviticus 12: 1-8). In the book of Luke Jesus was named on the eight day and was presented to the temple (Luke 2: 21-40). This is why on the eight day after birth, every child born into Celestial Church of Christ is christened and presented unto God in a naming ceremony service. The child's name is given to a prophet in spirit that is carrying the child throughout the service. According to our doctrine, A male prophet must carry a male child and a female prophet must carry a female child. SAM FASANMI"
NEED FOR THANKSOFFERINGS
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." To show our appreciation for God's mercy and goodness, members of CCC offer thanks through a combination of praise and dance, like David, and offerings, like Abel and Cain. During thanks offering, members dance from the entrance of the Church building with usable items likes candles, food items, perfumes etc in trays until they get before some elders who will pray and receive the thanksgiving. When we bring forth these items to God, it is believed that the heart and purity of the bearer determines the ascension of the thanksgiving -like in the case of Abel and Cain where Abel's thanks offering was accepted by The Lord. "ASST SHEPHERD"
LIGHTING OF CANDLE AT THE ALTAR
Lighting of candle on the altar in Celestial Church of Christ is unique because it is done while singing an Heavenly Angelic song Yarah Sarah, Yarah Sama tah interpreted by the Holy Spirit as Kindle the Light, Divine from heaven above; which when sang in the church everyone knows where and what is happening in the worship for that day. The candle stand represents the seven spirits of God as referenced in Revelation 4 vs 5. The Rev pastor founder Papa Oshoffa interpreted the 7 stands as God the father, Jesus the son, Holy Spirit and the 4 Arch angels known as Angel Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. When the candles are lite, it’s a symbol that the spirit of God should guide us with His light through the worship and Service of the day.. "BRO BIDEMI
WEARING WHITE SUTANA
In Celestial Church of Christ we worship as believe it is done in heaven. Part of this wearing a white garment called sutanas. This garment represents the cleanliness and purity of the angels who worshiped in heaven (Revelations 7:9, Revelations 9:4 and Revelations 19:8). When an angel came from heaven to earth to remove the stone on Jesus’s tomb his clothes were described to be as white as snow (Matthew 28: 2-4). Also, Celestians wear sutanas to be uniform because we are all equal under the eyes of God. We wear this garment in all of our worship services to emulate what is done in heaven hoping that God will accept our worship. "SAM FASANMI"
WEARING NO SHOES
When an angel appeared to Moses in the form of a burning he heard the Lord’s voice tell him to remove his sandals because he is on holy ground (Acts 7: 33). In Celestial Church of Christ we do not wear shoes inside of the church, in the mercy land or while wearing our sutanas. Celestians follow these instructions because there are multiples examples in the bible of servants of Lord being asked to remove their sandal on holy ground or in the presence of the Lord (Joshua 5:15) (Exodus 3:5). Celestians are allowed to wear socks to protect their feet from the terrain or weather. "SAM FASANMI"
SHOUTING HALLELUYAH Rev 19:1-7
Celestial Church of Christ believes that there is power in shouting Hallelujah, which means praise God. In the book of Revelation, when the people in Heaven shouted Hallelujah to praise God, twenty-four elders and four beasts bowed down to worship God and it caused the presence of the devil on earth to disappear in smoke (Revelations 19:1-7). . In Celestial Church of Christ we general chant Hallelujah seven times after prayer. The number seven signifies completion and we presume that God has answered our prayers and that our worship is complete after the shouting of Hallelujah.
"SAM FASANMI"
Prophet and prophetesses
Prophet and prophetesses give spiritual messages to anybody that the Holy Sprit directs them to in and outside of the church premises. These spiritual messages are very important because they provide guidance on issues that we all face in life. Prophet and prophetesses were essential to the foundation of the church. All the hymns used in worship service in Celestial Church of Christ have been given directly by heaven through the spirit of prophets and prophetesses (C.C.C Constitution). Prophet and prophetesses are servants of God that pass on messages that He has for his people (Amos 3:7) "SAM FASANMI
BOWING BEFORE THE ALTAR
Celestial Churches altar are ordained by the Holy Spirit to be built towards the east (rising of the sun) in reference to the seat of the altar of God in Jerusalem as stated by King Solomon in 1Kings 8 vs 22-30. Bowing down is an act of worship that is done in the presence of God represented by the Altar. Altar as the place of worship is place of laying down your personal life to receive the life of Jesus (eternal life) Rom12:1-5. Anyone that misses the bowing down(worship) during any service in CCC misses the life of Jesus for that period and as such person’s appearance is not registered with God. So, our worship is the foundation upon which every other activities in the church is built on. And if the foundation is destroyed what can the righteous do? So, no work of righteousness can be done without it. Sam Fasanmi
USE OF PERFUME
USE OF PERFUME In Celestial Church of Christ, perfumes are used for different purposes such as sanctification, victory, mercy, and blessing. One of the famous use of perfume in The Bible was when Jesus was anointed on his head by a woman at Bethany. While the disciples were unimpressed by the woman's act, Jesus links the anointing as a preparation for his burial and declared her actions a blessing (Matthew 26:1-13). In another instance in the Bible (Exodus 30:34-37), God declared to Moses that the special perfume made by the perfumer is sacred and for holy use rather than for personal use. CCC's use of perfume aligns with many biblical passages to ensure the sanctification of the members. Asst. Shepherd
BURNING OF INCENSE
Rev 5:8 & 8:3-5; Exodus 30:8-9; Luke 1:9-11; Exodus 30:24-38; Exodus 40:5; Exodus 31:10-11; Malachi 1:11 The burning of incense in Celestial Church is imperative for the purification and sanctification of the house of God. As explained in Exodus 31:11, God commanded the use of incense in his holy place. We burn incense before the service to cleanse the church and to help set the stage for the Holy Spirit. The aroma of the incense invites the spirit of God to dwell in our midst. We also burn incense at the entrance possession to usher us into the presence of God. Incense burning could also serve as a bridge between heaven and earth. While we utilize incense to sanctify and invite the spirit of God, the burning of incense also lift up our prayers to God. Rev 8:4; the smoke of incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand Serah Molumo
DOCTRINES ANOINTING/CHURCH OIL
The primary purpose of anointing with the holy oil is to sanctify by setting the anointed person or object apart as holy (Exodus 30:29). In The Bible, different kinds of oils played a significant role in the everyday lives of the Hebrews; they also had a variety of uses in worship and spiritual practices. Olive oil, in particular, was used to cook and bake, applied as a moisturizer for skin and hair, used as medicine, traded as currency, and given as an offering to The Lord. Another type of oils was the fuel for lamps, including the lamps that burned in the tabernacle. Today, Celestial Church of Christ still use oil in worship services when baptizing, confirming spiritual vocation or calling, and for healing purposes. When Jesus sent the disciples out in healing ministry, Mark 6:12-13 says they anointed people with oil: “They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Additional bible references: Exodus 29:36; Numbers 10:1; James 5:13-15 Sis. Tina
