What are Agape’s Service Times?
Sunday Morning Service
10:00-10:30am Meditation
10:30-12:00pm Service
Who speaks at every service?
Gabriel Gonsalves speaks at the Sunday Service except when he is away on speaking engagements. In such cases selected guest speakers who are renowned in their fields of expertise teach and speak.
Are there services and programs for children during the adult services?
At this moment there’s no children program during the adult services. We are planning to implement one by mid-2009
Are there any Agape communities outside of Cape Town? If not, how can I affiliate and study its courses?
No, there are no other Agape communities outside of Cape Town. There are however, other New Thought Centers in Johannesburg and Durban. For more information please visit our community links.
Do I have to be an official member to attend Agape’s services, take classes and participate in special events and volunteer?
Agape does not require formal affiliation and is accessible to all individuals on equal terms. This applies to all aspects of taking classes, receiving pastoral care services, volunteering in outreach programs, and so on.
Is Agape Christian? And what about the Bible and Jesus?
No, and yes. Yes, some Agape members are Christian, and their personal encounter with the spirit of Jesus as an embodiment of the Christ Consciousness richly informs their spiritual lives. No, if by Christian you mean the acceptance of Jesus as the only savior and Christianity as the only path to God and eternal salvation. Yes, in the sense that New Thought- Ancient Wisdom history includes the Gnostic teachings of the earliest Christian mystical sects, as well as the founders of the uniquely American New Thought Movement including Emmanuel Swedenborg, Ernest Holmes, Howard Thurman, and transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and others. The Bible is referenced during the services and Agape’s classes. However, the version that is used is a metaphysical, Gnostic-inspired edition translated and interpreted from the original Aramaic, rather than the Greek translation used in traditional Christian churches such as the King James version, or the Saint Gregory version used by the Catholic church. Agape teaches that Jesus was not the great exception, but rather the great example. Classically, the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality regards Jesus an enlightened being, one who attained cosmic consciousness, or liberation from a sense of separation from the Source of all that is. Jesus is revered as a wayshower, as an exemplar of unconditional love, selfless service, and self-mastery.
Can I still practice my Judaism/Christianity and become a member of Agape?
Absolutely. Many within the Agape community maintain their Jewish/Christian faith, while others continue to practice the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, or other spiritual master teachers of past or present generations. As a result, mixed-tradition couples and families often find common ground at Agape without compromising other loyalties.
How do I become an Agape member? Does Agape proselytize, and are members expected to proselytize?
To inquire about membership you may visit our Membership & Guest Relations Table before or after any one of our Sunday services. You will receive a New Member Packet as well as information about our upcoming Events.
Is there a special protocol or etiquette I would be expected to follow during services? Is there a dress code?
Although Agape has no altar or religious icons in its sanctuary, the space itself is considered sacred and the vibration within it holy. As with all temples, mosques, synagogues and churches, Agape expects that those attending services present themselves and conduct themselves with respect and reverence for the total environment and other individuals within the space. No food or beverages are permitted in the sanctuary, but water is fine. While there is no formal dress code, we encourage respect and reverence to inform individuals about what is appropriate.
Does Agape take collections during services, and how does it support its administration?
As a non-profit organization, Agape depends upon the generosity of its members, congregants and friends. Agape provides various vehicles for the giving of tithes, gifts, legacy giving and more to support our administration, ministries, departments and humanitarian local and global outreach services. Collections are taken during its services, and you may learn about other tithing and giving opportunities by visiting the Donation page on this website.
During services mention is made of “practitioners” who pray on behalf of the congregation and with individual clients. What is a practitioner?
Practitioners are individuals licensed in New Thought/Ancient Wisdom Teachings. They function as spiritual counselors who practice a form of prayer that is in alignment with universal principles governing the universe. Practitioners are available for prayer at the end of each Sunday service.
