Sacraments

Sacraments are sacred rituals or rites and ceremonies that are used to invoke the power and spiritual force of the Holy Spirit into the lives and situations of individuals. These mystical rites are used as energy of renewal and revitalization for the life, lifting it in potency and awareness. At The Wisdom Center, Rev. Brenda conducts sacred rituals as a way to serve others and God.

Baptism: A Christian sacrament invoking spiritual forces and guardians – both physical and nonphysical – to assist us as we encounter life’s challenges. The celebrant blesses the water and oil, charging it with blessings from the divine presence, to raise the spiritual potency of the recipient. The rite opens the aura to environmental influence. Parents and godparents commit to consciously assist the soul in its growth. In baptism, as the aura (our natural protective covering) is ruptured, the ritual invokes grace to foster spiritual awareness.

Confirmation: A public rite in which one bears witness that he or she is knowledgeable and courageous enough to defend the faith. It consists of a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given to the recipient as soon as he or she is able to receive it understandingly, and is capable, to a certain extent, of thinking for him or herself. Anointed with blessed oils, the candidate is lifted in spiritual potency and is clothed with the armor of God, strengthened by love to be of service to the world.

Confession: A Christian sacrament in which errors or offenses are acknowledged and the grace of repentance is sought. Also known as the ‘sacrament of reconciliation,’ though known as ‘confession’ for centuries, it is a rite of forgiving and invoking healing and new life force to help the person proceed on the spiritual journey.

Marriage: This holy ceremony is conducted by a minister or priest as God’s representative. Two who have prepared spiritually for a conscious, committed relationship take vows of love and dedication to each other before the community of which they are a part. Marriage is an intimate relationship, legal and spiritual, wherein each party pledges to both physical and non-physical levels of union. The mystical union that occurs during the sacrament of Marriage creates the foundation and is meant to profoundly deepen through the life of the couple – together walking a spiritual path in order to further gain greater spiritual insight and growth.

Holy Communion or Eucharist: In this Christian rite, we experience the sacred meal, often called the Lord’s Supper, by those committed to oneness with the Lord Christ and oneness to each other. The celebrant stands as the representative of the Christ and blesses the bread, wine, and water. Words of power are spoken, and accordingly the substance is changed. This is believed by some to be the science of sacred contact; transubstantiation will be to the degree acknowledged by the receiver. The grace of this particular ceremony is purification. Communion becomes a stepping-up in consciousness. The Latent Christ, the Divine Spirit and the human Soul are united. Out of this inner experience comes a conception of regeneration which increases with each highly received Communion.

Healing: Anointing the sick and the dying with holy oil is now referred to as the sacrament of healing. It was formerly known as Last Rites. There is an invocation of life force to be used for right action and a blessing to benefit the soul and body. The anointing assists the indwelling consciousness to proceed toward right action, which may manifest in renewed health or easy transition. The Christian ritual of healing is felt to bring physical and spiritual healing to those in need. For the dying, these “last rites” may include holy communion, use of holy oils and holy water, candles, blessings and prayers to assist in the creation of a sacred atmosphere. The deceased are anointed in preparation for reuniting with God.