The Gospel At Home is a special time set aside each week for family/household members to gather at home and jointly elevate their thoughts in prayer and study. As the name suggests, the focus of study is on the collection of moral lessons, comforting passages, and encouraging words, inspired by the teachings and examples left by our brother and mentor, Jesus, as found in the book, "The Gospel According to Spiritism". (The Gospel). During this time, family members read a passage from The Gospel and then share their comments and reflections, even relating the lesson to the events of their current lives. This is a powerful moment, not only for strengthening the moral character of the participants, but also for strengthening ties, both among the individuals and with the good Spirits that look after them.

 BENEFITS

The following are some of the major benefits of this practice:

Moral And Spiritual Fortitude-- The ethical teachings that are found within the Gospel invite participants to pursue a conscious effort toward inner reform. The educational and inspirational lessons raise their awareness of their own moral strengths and weaknesses and encourage them to resist the negative tendencies that their Spirits retain from previous lives, while instead making choices that reflect the Christian ideals and virtues with which that now they aspire to live. In addition, when they encounter difficult moments in their lives and thus find it harder to keep a positive attitude and maintain higher ethical standards, the lessons of the Gospel, when carried in their heart, will serve as a reminder and inspiration to make the extra effort necessary to follow those teachings that they studied during these Gospel At Home meetings, and other moments of Spiritist study.

Strengthened Bond between family/household members- Sharing this kind of experience and these moments of reflection helps the individuals to keep in touch with one another and to understand each other's perspectives, ideas, beliefs, etc. This helps them in cultivating understanding attitudes with one another and strengthens the bonds of their relationships.

Company and Assistance of Good Spirits- When we dedicate ourselves to morally edifying study and put into practice the lessons that educate our ethical character, thereby learning to concern ourselves with the well-being of others and the construction of harmonious relationships, we attract good Spirits who observe our efforts and desire to help us to be successful. When a family works together to assist one another and to build a strong foundation of support, love, and understanding, the results are magnified; the Spirits that are called to their aid then work in favor of the family as a whole, guiding them with positive intuitions and helping to keep harmonious energies in the home. These Spirits, when present in the home for the Gospel At Home meetings, also help by working to cleanse the fluidic (energy) environment in the home and to magnetize (impregnate the spiritual fluids of) the water that is set out during the meeting with healthy and fortifying energies.

Purification of the Home with Elevated Thoughts - The quality and nature of the energies that we emit are directly related to the quality of thoughts that we entertain. When the members of a household join together to reflect upon the moral teachings of the Doctrine, their thoughts are raised to a higher frequency, and consequently they will emit strong currents of positive, purifying energies that will replace those polluted by any negative and/or immoral thoughts entertained by family members during the previous week; this works to restore the fluidic hygiene of the environment and facilitate the work of the good sprits.

Education of Discarnate Sprits - With the regular practice of Gospel At Home meetings, the family members soon begin to host an audience of discarnate Spirits who will also be present during the meeting to learn from the readings and discussions. These are Spirits in need of moral education and/or or inspiration to step out of the shadows of despair caused by a fixation of their mind on something that caused them emotional suffering.  Just like the family members themselves, these Spirits also need to learn about the God that loves all his children, the operation and justice of the natural laws that govern our worlds (both material and spiritual), and the lessons left by Jesus as well as his love that continues with us at all moments.  Sometimes the Spirits are drawn to the meeting on their own, and sometimes they are brought by higher Spirits.  The fact that they are present is another reason for family members to be on their best behavior during the week, and especially on the meeting day for their behaviors will be observed by these discarnate brothers and sisters, and they can help them by serving as good examples.

 General Guidelines For The Meeting

• The meeting needs to be held on the same day, at the same time, each week (as chosen by consensus of family members), in cooperation with the good Spirits that make plans to be present to give their assistance as well as for the other discarnate Spirits who come to learn with them.  Occasionally, the meeting may be held at a different time when needed due to special circumstances; however, this should happen as little as possible.  If one or more members is unable to attend on the regular day, the other members can continue to hold the meeting.  If the whole family is traveling, it is possible to do the meeting wherever they are if circumstances permit. 

• The duration of the meeting should be between approximately 30 minutes to one hour.

• Participants should include family members or household members (if not all family) and friends or neighbors that are invited and wish to attend regularly. Participation should be free- strongly encouraged but not obligatory. Children are also encouraged to attend, and a special time during the meeting should be reserved for them, given their age and maturity level. If you live alone, you are also encouraged to practice the Gospel at Home meeting, and it is advised that you should read aloud so that the Spirits who come to learn with you can listen to your reading (explanation: sometimes, being unadvanced Spirits, they are unaware that they do not need to physically "hear" you, as opposed to reading your thoughts- they may not even realize that they are in the discarnate state).

• The environment should be some place inside the home, where participants can feel comfortable and which allows for the open reading of books. If a household member is sick at the time, you can conduct the meeting together where he is, if he would like. If desired, soft music can be played in the background. There is no need for any kind of special decor, candles, or other objects. The only item you are advised to have on the table, other than your books, is a jar of water to be magnetized (by the good Spirits and the elevated thoughts of prayer) and distributed at the end of the meeting. If there is someone sick in the home, a special glass of water should be set out for him, to receive special energies.

• The book to be read should be "The Gospel According to Spiritism, and as a complementary reading, you can use a Spiritist books of messages, such as "Our Daily Bread", "Christian Agenda", "World of Spirits", etc., which are available in English. The Gospel can be read by opening to a page at random or in sequence (the latter being advised for those who do not presently participate in any other orderly/systematic study of the Doctrine).  Spiritist books for children can also be included if children are present.

• Especially on the day of the meeting, participants should seek to maintain physical, emotional, and spiritual equilibrium, avoiding alcoholic drinks, heavy foods, mental exhaustion, arguments, and inappropriate behaviors. They should turn to the serenity of prayer and vigilance of attitudes for the spiritual strength that this requires.

• Once the meeting begins, it should not be interrupted (for phone calls or other activities).  However, if someone arrives late, they can be invited to join the group.

 Basic Procedure For The Meeting

1. Begin with your complementary reading (such as a Spiritist book of messages) to help bring everyone's thoughts to focus on the study you are to begin, leaving aside other concerns at that time.

2. Then someone from the group should say a simple opening prayer for all to elevate thoughts and connect mentally with one another and with the good Spirits.

3. If children are present, you may want to start their reading first, using the children's books. They should be encouraged to make comments about the reading and also to participate in prayers as well.

4. You can now begin your reading of a passage from "The Gospel According to Spiritism". Participants can take turns reading different pieces of the passage. Then, participants can offer comments according to their understanding of the reading. They should also try to relate the lesson contained in the reading to the events of their daily lives.  When finished, if you are reading in sequence, you should take note of the place where you left off to begin there at the next meeting.

5. End the meeting with a closing prayer, giving thanks for the blessings you have received, for this moment of study, and for the assistance of the good spirits.  Also, ask for assistance for friends and loved ones, as well as others who are in need or are suffering.

6. Distribute the fluidified water among participants.

7. After the meeting, maintain a vibration of inner peace, with elevated thoughts and conversations.  Many discarnate Spirits who approach a home to participate in this kind of meeting stay there for some time, observing each person's behavior.

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