Liturgy of Qurbana for the Mshikhanim
(Note: While different religious communities within Mshikhanut may use approved liturgies for Qurbana, this is the standard for all Mshikhani congregations. The celebrant is the Shamash for a local congregation, and an appointed monk or nun for a local community for renunciates.)
Celebrant: Let us all stand, facing East, to say the Lord’s Prayer.
Shamash: As the light comes out of the east, and is seen in the west, also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
All: Our Father in heaven, may Your Name be sanctified. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us the bread of our need this day. Forgive us our offences, as we have forgiven those who have offended us. And do not permit us to be brought into trial, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: We congregate in order to give thanks in this manner:
(concerning the cup: The Celebrant places their hands over, but not touching, the cup.)
We thank You, our Father, for the holy and life giving Vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Your Servant Yeshua; to You be the glory for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
(Concerning the Bread: The Celebrant places hands* over, but not touching, the bread.)
Celebrant: We give You thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Your Servant Yeshua; to You be the glory forever and ever.
All: Amen.
(The Celebrant stands before the elements with hands in a gesture of prayer.)
Celebrant: Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so may your Holy Assembly be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your Kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Yeshua Mshikha forever and ever.”
All: Amen.
(At this point, the congregation should come forward to receive the elements. Each congregant should stand in line, with heads bowed. Before they receive the elements, they should cross themselves in the prescribed manner**.)
(When the Mshikhani steps forward to receive Qurbana, he blesses that person in the prescribed manner***.)
After the congregation receives the bread and wine they should bow to the celebrant and quietly return to their seat in the congregation.
(Do not permit anyone to eat or drink from the Holy Meal unless they have been baptized in the Name of Adonai. For concerning this also Yeshua has said: “Do not hang sacred ornaments on dogs.” Instead, give to those who are not baptized in the Name of Adonai bread prepared for distribution to the unbaptized. They may come forward and receive a blessing** and partake of blessed bread. This bread is not the same as the bread used in the Qurbana.)
(The congregation receives the bread and wine. Each Mshikhani, after receiving the elements, should return to their seat. After the Holy Meal, you should give thanks to the Heavenly Father in this manner:)
Celebrant: We thank You, holy and heavenly Father, for Your Holy Name which You caused to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You made known to us through Your servant Yeshua; to You be the glory forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: You, El Shaddai, created all things for Your Name’s sake; You gave food and drink to humankind for enjoyment so that they might give thanks to You; but to us, You freely give spiritual food and drink and life eternal through Your Servant Yeshua Mashiach ben Elohim.
All: Praise be to You, O Adonai!
Celebrant: Before all things we thank You and acknowledge You as El Shaddai; to You be the glory forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: Remember, Yahweh, Your Assembly, to deliver it from all evil and to perfect it in Your love, and gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Your Kingdom which You have prepared for it; for Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever.
All: Amen
Celebrant: Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David! Adonai has come.
All: Amen.
(This concludes the Liturgy of Qurbana for the Msikhanim)
Notes
*In placing the hands over the bread and wine, the right hand goes over first, then the top of the right hand is covered with the left.
**The prescribed manner of crossing yourself in Mshikhanuth is brought to us from Mir Garendra.
It is to cross the index finger and the middle finger and to bring the thumb, together with smallest finger (or “pinky finger”) and the ring finger together of the right hand.
The meaning is: The crossed fingers represent the Cross. The thumb, smallest and ring finger represent the Three Pillars. The Sequence is to silently say, with head slightly bowed:
“Ba Shem ha’Av (Touching the forehead),
ha’Ben (Touching the abdomen)
u’ Ruakh (touching the right shoulder)
ha’Kodesh (Touching the left shoulder)
“Amen.”
***The Shamash blesses the un-baptized person who steps forward to receive blessed bread by blessing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
{Editor’s note: Edited for typographical errors, formatting and inclusion of responses, along with opening verse. — May 26, 2018}
A Mshikhani Wedding Service
(This is a modern wedding service. If, the Assembly of Jerusalem offers a wedding service, Mshikhanim are free to use any one of these.)
I.Welcome of all in Attendance
(This begins after the groom, the groomsmen and the bridesmaids are standing before the Celebrant, but before the bride comes walks down the aisle.)
We are gathered here today in the sight of Yahweh, the Miltha, the Celestial Servants, the angels, the saints, and the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to formally acknowledge the worth and beauty of the love of two believing souls, and to add our best wishes and blessings to the words which shall unite _____________and________________ in holy matrimony.
Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and Instituted by Yahweh, conveying to us the mystical union, which also rests between Mshikha and the assembly of disciples; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love.
II. The Entrance of the Bride
(As the bride is escorted by both her parents, forward to stand with the groom. The father standing to her right and the mother to her left. )
(To the parents of the bride) Who is woman to you?
(“She is our daughter.” )
And who is it that brings her here to this blessed event today?
(If both the bride’s parents are present they may answer in unison “we do” or “her parents on behalf of her family”. Both parents will place the bride’s hand in the grooms extended hands. At which point, they step back and are seated for the rest of the service.)
(To the bride and groom) ______________and____________________ , Yahweh grants each of us life. We are created as individuals, but we must learn to live together in love and harmony. Love is given to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of life’s greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life.
But a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly measures for even if worldly success is found, only love will maintain a marriage. Mankind did not create love; love is created by Yahweh. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as Yahweh’s love of us is unconditional and free.
Today truly is a glorious day the Lord has made – as today both of you are blessed with Yahweh greatest of all gifts – the gift of abiding love and devotion between souls. All present here today – and those here in heart – wish both of you all the joy, happiness and success and the world has to offer.
As you travel through this life and onward into the next together, I ask you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. Love others as you have been loved by Yahweh: Unconditionally. Make your marriage a pure reflection of this unconditional love towards one another.
Within the Holy Scriptures, nothing is of greater importance than love. We are told this important truth: “God is Love”. This means that Yahweh is the Divine Source of all True Love. We are assured that “Love conquers all”. If we honour the sanctity of true love, we will have lived honourable lives in the eyes of Yahweh.
It is true and abiding love, which brings the two of you here today, it is the union of two hearts and two spirits.
Very often, couples, due to their intense love for one another, will feel they are already married in their hearts, that the service is simply a formalization of what they already feel in their hearts. This feeling is beautiful but it is important to realize that a true marriage is not a union of two beings, but three. The two of you do not enter this union alone, Yahweh is with you. While you make this commitment before family and friends today and is a cause for celebration, it is your commitment before Yahweh that sanctifies and validates this as a true marriage.
As you walk through this world together, remember that it was love that brought you here today: the love for one another in they sight of Yahweh. It is this love that will make this a strong and blessed union, and it is this sanctified love which will cause this union to endure.
III. The Exchanging of Vows
(The couple may decide to write their own vows. If so, this would be the point in the service where they are read aloud, beginning with the vows of the groom and then the bride. After the personal vows are read, the celebrant states)
______________ and ______________, Would you please face each other and join hands.
(The couple join hands in front of the celebrant.)
(Name of the Groom) ___________________do you take _________________to be your wife? Do you make a vow this day to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her in this life?
(“I do”)
(Name of the Bride) ________________do you take_________________ to be your Husband? Do you make a vow this day to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him in this life?
(“I do”)
IV. The Exchange of *Rings
*(While it is a common practice, rings are not required for a marriage ceremony. If they are used, this is where they are exchanged. The groom places the ring on the bride and the bride places the ring on the groom.)
V. The Three-Fold Cord
(To the couple)
“Please take each others hands”
(The Celebrant shows a length of cord made up of three strings, threads or ribbon to those present.)
This cord is made up of three parts. Where one thread my easily break, the union of three threads provides strength and stability.
(The celebrant wraps the cord around their hands.)
In our Scriptures it states:
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up. Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone? And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The Threefold cord represents the Three beings who enter into this blessed union; Bride, Groom, in the sight of Yahweh. It is this three fold union which makes it a holy union in the sight of Yahweh.
VI. The Charge to the Couple
(The celebrant places his hands on the joined hands of the couple)
______________________ and ___________________ as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask you, in the Name of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and3E(Name of the Groom) ___________________do you take _________________to be your wife? Do you make a vow this day to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her in this life?
(“I do”)
(Name of the Bride) ________________do you take_________________ to be your Husband? Do you make a vow this day to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him in this life?
(“I do”)
IV. The Exchange of *Rings
*(While it is a common practice, rings are not required for a marriage ceremony. If they are used, this is where they are exchanged. The groom places the ring on the bride and the bride places the ring on the groom.)
V. The Three-Fold Cord
(To the couple)
“Please take each others hands”
(The Celebrant shows a length of cord made up of three strings, threads or ribbon to those present.)
This cord is made up of three parts. Where one thread my easily break, the union of three threads provides strength and stability.
(The celebrant wraps the cord around their hands.)
In our Scriptures it states:
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour; for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up. Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone? And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The Threefold cord represents the Three beings who enter into this blessed union; Bride, Groom, in the sight of Yahweh. It is this three fold union which makes it a holy union in the sight of Yahweh.
VI. The Charge to the Couple
(The celebrant places his hands on the joined hands of the couple)
______________________ and ___________________ as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask you, in the Name of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect.
VII. The Pronouncement as Husband & Wife
____________________ and ___________________in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in holy matrimony, you professed your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and your embrace within the Three Fold Cord, in the Divine Presence of Yahweh and all who are here with us today, I now declare you to be husband and wife.
VIII. The Benediction
May Yahweh bless you and keep you. May His Presence shine upon you, and be gracious unto you and may He give you peace.
Congratulations, (Groom), you may kiss your bride.
I am happy to present to you, in the Name of Mshikha, Mr. and Mrs. ____________________________.
(After the couple have exited, the celebrant thanks everyone for their attendance and makes any last minute announcements.)
This concludes the Mshikhani Wedding Service
**
A Mishikhani Funeral Service
(Mshikhanim are free to use this service or any provided by the Holy Assembly of Jerusalem.Note: There is no required version of interment for the deceased. One may bury a loved one, or have them cremated. It is a deeply personal choice and Mshikhanim should not insist on what they deem to be a “preferred” method of interment. Basically, if they were pious souls, they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of how the their body is interred.)
I. The Gathering
Celebrant: We meet in the name of Maran Yeshua Mshikha, who died and was raised to the glory of Yahweh, Grace and mercy be with you.We join together this day to remember and bid farewell to our beloved (brother/sister), who is with Maran Yeshua Mshikha this day.
Yahweh, your Son Yeshua Mshikha, was moved to tears at the grave of Lazarus his friend. Look with compassion on your children in their loss; give to troubled hearts the light of hope and strengthen in us the gift of faith, in Maran Yeshua Mshikha.
All: Amen.
Our Scriptures say:
“The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.
Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”- Psalm 23
(A devotional song or hymn may be sung at this point)
II. Honoring the Departed