The BCS Handbook.

THE SACRAMENT OF BROTHERHOOD AND CROSS

AND STAR This New Kingdom has eight Sacrament namely

1) Child Blessing

2) Baptism

3) Baptism of the Holy Spirit

4) Love Feast

5) Marriage Blessing

6) Confirmation of membership

7) Feast of Faith

8) Feast of Hope

(1.) CHILD BLESSING: Child blessing is mandatory for any child born into Brotherhood of Cross and Star. The child blessing can be done either during morning prayers or evening prayers or even Sunday service but has to be on the eighth day of the child’s birth and the parents are expected to provide a fruit feast.

(2.) BAPTISM OF HOLY SPIRIT: Everybody seeking the Kingdom of God, should be baptised into Brotherhood whether he/she has been baptized before in any other church organization. (This is stated in Ephesians 4:5).

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism”. People can be baptized in all parts of the world. One needs not come to Calabar to be baptized.

Philip baptized Ethiopian Eunuch while he was going somewhere and he received the Holy Spirit and was saved.

Child Baptism: The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star has no age limit for baptism. As adults need salvation, so do the little children.

PROCEDURE FOR BAPTISM: The form of our baptism is by emersion, we do follow the steps as laid down by our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John 3:5.

Jesus answered, verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Once baptized and anointed a person becomes a member in the fold and become part of the one body and one spirit with other members being membership in one Lord, one faith and one baptism. Eph. 4:4-5 Our belief is so strong that as m any of us as were baptized into Christ must put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 For there are THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these THREE are One.

“And there are THREE that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, st the Water, and the Blood and these THREE are One. “1 John 5:7-8 “Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 28:19. Note: Nobody should be coaxed or intimidated or threatened or begged to accept baptism into Brotherhood. Before anyone is baptize, he/she must believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Son of man and God Himself. He must confess all his sins, accept to denounce and resign his membership from all secret societies and cults, do away with all charms talisman, ring, and occult bodies and practices in order to benefit from the baptism. It is necessary for people to know what they are baptized into. The day anybody is baptized into Brotherhood is the most important day in the person’s life and he/she should not fail to celebrate a feast. It is a day of salvation, a day of joy and a day of peace.

3). BAPTISM OF HOLY SPIRIT:

We are being purified through the Word of God. By hearing HIM and putting same into practice, then we are made clean.

John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” s1 1 Peter 1 :23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”

4) LOVE FEAST:

This is taken generally and commonly by every member of the fold irrespective rank at anytime. Love feast in Brotherhood is very sacred and can accomplish almost everything. Love feast can be celebrated with any amount because there is no price tag on feast.

It is not something to be taken gluttonously. Thus a small slice of bread, banana, paw-paw, pineapple, orange, a few grains of groundnut and a small quantity of rice is enough for any participant in a love feast.

Feast is of two types:

(a) FRUIT FEAST

Fruit feast may consist of but not limited to the following items:

(n) Banana

(b) Paw-paw

(c) Ground nut/Pea nut

(d) Bread

(e) Garden eggs

(f) Coconut

(g) Apple

(h) Pears etc. etc.

(b) FULLFEAST: Full feast may contain all the above mentioned Items in addition to the following:

(a) Rice

(b) Yam

(c) Plantain

(d) Garri/Ground rice etc. etc. Love feast should be bought, prepared and eaten with the utmost reverence and respect. Nobody should struggle or fight for feast. When the feast is being served kneel down in humility and partake of the feast. Take only one piece as the tray is passed round.

st 1 Corinthians 11 : 20-34 “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lords Supper For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry and another is drunken. What! Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, take,eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying.

This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthy, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.”

5) FEASTOFHOPE:

To commemorate the Passover or last supper, during which Our Lord and Saviour changed Bread to His living Body and Wine to His priceless Blood. This feast is taken by those who have love, hope and faith especially those who have mortified the flesh as written in (Gal. 5:22 -24).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.”

6) FEAST OF FAITH

This is taken only by those who have love and faith.

7) BLESSING OF MARRIAGE

Marriage is recommended to all brethren of the fold if they so wish but on one condition that a man be husband to one wife and that woman be wife to one husband. Solemnization to marriage in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is the highest thing anybody can desire because it is done by the Holy Spirit. The Father, therefore, advised that all brethren have their marriages blessed. Even if you were married in the court or church before your baptism into the fold, you are still advised to have your marriage blessed. If you cannot remain faithful to one man or one woman then celibate. Trial marriages are not allowed in Brotherhood.

ORDER OF MARRIAGE BLESSING

Marriage Blessing in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star has a far-reaching effect on couples spiritually than any such one solemnized either in the court or in churches.

Such an occasion is always preceeded by a full service. Part 2 is conducted in the following order:

1. Bride, bridegroom and relatives are seated

2. Bible reading: St. Matthew19 vs 4-9

3. Prayers by 4 members, two sisters and two brothers

4. Special song by the choir: during the song, the officiating minister comes down from the throne to sanctify the couple by offering silent prayer.

5. Washing of the couple’s feet, while the congregation sings the song Amayom ndisanga ye Ami… continuously until the end of washing of the feet.

6. Anointment: during the anointment the congregation sings Ami mme yet ubok mi, ntonghontak nyet ukot mi…

7. At the end of the anointment, the congregation sings the blessing songs Akamba (greatest) doctor, akwa atubom ekon…. Father send down thy power…, while the officiating minister prays over the couple.

8. The Lord’s prayer

9. Benediction by the officiating minister st 10. Feast blessing and citations:St John 6 vs 51 and 1 Corinthians 10vs 16-17. The feast is served to the couple, choir continues to sing until the feast is over.

11. Reading of Bible portions, Eph. 5:22-27, John 13:13- 15, 1st Corith. 7:1-5, 1st Corith 7:39, 1st Corith. 11:3, 1st Peter 3:1-12, 1st Tim. 2:8-12, Heb. 13:17.

12. Presentation of Holy Bible to the couple

13. Presentation of Marriage Certificate to the Bridegroom who after reading, hand it over to the Bride.

14. Signing of the Marriage Register by the couple and their families

15. The officiating minister returns back to the throne for admonition and closing.

Note: Marriage in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is not like the orthodox churches as such, brethren should avoid the use of cola and other strange things during marriage blessing. And must ensure strict adherence to the foundation laid by the Holy Father regarding marriage blessing.

Marriage is recommended to all members of the Brotherhood of the. Cross and Star who so desire but this must be on the basis of one man one wife one woman, one husband, or one should remain a virgin. Trial or casual marriage is not allowed. All those whose marriages have been blessed have to comply strictly with Romans 7: 2 and 1st Cor Once your marriage is blessed you cannot marry again except: –

(a) Apartner is caught in adultery

(b) Apartner dies The occasion of marriage blessing is preceded by a full service