Weekly Branch Gathering Order: The Official Guide for Branches and Families structure, responsibilities and to steps to Participate in the Weekly Family Sacrament in the Home

The Branch of the Firstborn is a family-centered reflection of indigenous family values. This is an outreach to peoples of all backgrounds to be inspired to sit in unity and tolerance. We believe the Family is the first institution established by the Creator and the foundation upon which healthy communities are built. The purpose of the Branch, or a community which for us would generally be siblings from living granparents which would be our typical clan. In this structure the aunts and uncles and cousins are watching over each others children and families and through marriages multiple grandparent sets come together in community. This is what we call a Branch from the tree of life, it does not replace the Family when extended family comes together, or looks after each other, it strengthens it.

We are trying to bridge terms and understandings of differing traditions even that exist in varying degrees on both sides. We have Midew, or Priests, and they are more than simply monotonous constumes repeating patterns each week. They are keepers of knowledge on creation migration stories, the Great Peacemaker Jesus Christ Stories, and the first teacher and first Man, Nanabush who provided language from the Creator himself, and therefore the 49 roots are the sacred connection with the divine. The 35 Branches, which together are the first Sermon of a father to his children, is therefore sacred and divine to us.

We do not gather due to some membership. It does not exist. Membership is not determined by Baptism. You must see clearly. We are members of families and of Creation simply through birth, what part of you is divided from creation, and explain how!

We are not an organization, we are stewards of knowledge and prayers with focus on the Creator and the hope to promote the highest of records related to the core of the hearts, minds, and souls of our ancestors, or the portions of those who are pre-migrations and there were many migrations before the European.

We believe that strong children come from strong families, strong families create strong Branches, and strong Branches strengthen the Human Family. Therefore:

The Tree exists to strengthen the Branch.

The Branch exists to strengthen the Family.

The Family exists to strengthen the Child.

It is simple, Look after each other and start with your kids, your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. Start there, and if that means the sacred things that you must do are done with your spouse, then do it in reverence, not for the worship of the act, but instead in the spirit of doing your best with what you know or have been given to reach the Creator of all things.

Every boy and girl passes through a sacred transformation in puberty. Through this gift from the Creator, they receive the power to participate in the creation of life and are prepared for the sacred callings of Motherhood and Fatherhood, Parenthood. In this way, the Creator reveals His intention that every young woman may become a Mother and every young man may become a Father according to His design.

This sacred capacity is the foundation of Parenthood, which is the real Priesthood of Mother and Father, patterned after the Holy Order of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. It requires no earthly authorization, ordination, license, or appointment. It is bestowed by the Creator Himself through the gifts placed within His children. Therefore, the stewardship of Mother and Father is the highest expression of priesthood and authority within Creation.

Parenthood, which we will call, The Priesthood originates with the Creator and is entrusted to His children through the gift of life. When a boy and girl pass through the transformation of puberty, they receive the sacred capacity to become a Father and a Mother. Through this gift, the Creator grants them the power to participate in Creation, bringing forth life and nurturing future generations.

This Priesthood, Parenthood, requires no earthly ordination, appointment, license, or authorization. It is bestowed by the Creator. The ability to create, nurture, teach, preserve, and sacrifice for life is itself a sacred trust and the foundation of all authority within Creation.

The highest expression of Parenthood is not found in rank, office, or position. It is found in Motherhood and Fatherhood. Through family, men and women become partners with the Creator in the work of bringing forth, protecting, teaching, and strengthening life.

For this reason, every Mother and Father is recognized as an Elder in our communities. Their stewardship begins in the home and extends outward into the Branch and community, which are their extended families. Grandmothers and Grandfathers may serve as Chief Elders, offering wisdom, counsel, and care to the families of the Branch, especially for all youth, married, parents and those struggling. Presiding Elders are selected to coordinate the work of the Branch, or community spiritually, but no office is greater than the sacred stewardship of Mother and Father.

The purpose of Parenthood is not authority over others. The purpose of Parenthood is stewardship, sacrifice, service, and the preservation of life. Like the Creator, those who hold this stewardship are called to give of themselves for the benefit of others, strengthening families and preparing the next generation.

Parenthood begins with the Creator, is entrusted to Mother and Father, is strengthened through Family, and is preserved through future generations. Through this sacred order, Creation continues, families endure, and the purposes of the Creator are fulfilled.

Our relationship with God begins with Him and is first cultivated within the self and the home. The family is the foundation of faith, and the Branch, or extended family, exists to strengthen that foundation rather than replace it.

For those who ask for organization, we would say that a lodge or a branch, is formed whenever six or more people gather together, or when three couples unites in prayer, activities that could be seen as many reflections of sacrament, and fellowship together with the Creator in song and word.

Through these sacred gatherings, the Human Family grows stronger and more connected. Just as healthy branches sustain a healthy tree, healthy families sustain healthy communities.

As the Man and Woman come together in Marriage they become one full person and thus 3 full persons, or three couples, or a family of six, constitute a branch. Once established, no matter how many leaves come or go, the branch remains on the tree.

TERMINOLOGY 101

In our communities we use terms that are used in many faiths, however we have more proveable understandings of them. For example, we would say Abinoojiinh-ganawenjigewin, Parenthood, caring for children, when you say Priesthood. For Priest we would relate to Midew of the Midewiwin who could be male or female and are those that facilitate the health and wellbeing of the family and community, which are extended family and longstanding connections. They would be teachers of medicines, of plants, songs, histories, record keepers, lodge chiefs, ceremonial keepers.

So all of these are Elders, as they associate to Mothers and Fathers, so if we are asked if there is one thing a family can do each day, we would say, Pray with your families as one at least once per day. We know the world, life, is hard right now, do your part, pray.

Every Mother and Father is an Elder by virtue of their stewardship as parents. No ordination, appointment, or authorization is required. The Creator bestows this responsibility through the gift of life and the care of children.

Elders are responsible for strengthening their families, teaching their children, preserving family traditions, participating in the Sacrament, supporting the Branch, and caring for one another. They serve as examples of faith, service, stewardship, and remembrance within the home and community.

The focus of the Parent is the home. Their first responsibility is to their spouse, their children, and the strengthening of family relationships. By caring for the family, they strengthen the Branch; by strengthening the Branch, they strengthen the Human Family.

Chief Elders are patterned after the sacred roles of Grandmother and Grandfather. Their stewardship is not to rule over families, but to watch over them with wisdom, experience, and care.

A husband-and-wife couple who are Grandparents serve together as Chief Elders. They function as one stewardship, not as individuals.

In our communities, Chief Elders, or "Uncles" and "Aunties", regularly visit with and inquire after the families within their stewardship. They seek to understand and help address concerns relating to:

• Illness and health concerns

• Food and household needs

• Employment challenges

• Transportation needs

• Family concerns

• Prayer requests

This is normal for us, so it must be understood that this was normal for your ancestors as well.

When needs arise, Chief Elders communicate with each other so that families may work together to provide support. They help preserve traditions, offer counsel, strengthen relationships, and ensure that no family stands alone.

Chief Elders do not replace the authority of Mother and Father. Their role is to support, unite, and strengthen the families under their care.

In our communities there are Spiritual Leaders from Lodges, these are called male and female, as one, Presiding Elders. Initially they are selected from among the traditional doodemag "clan" traditional system where a grandmother of a clan, its leader, would select from her children, grandchildren, any generation, her leaders or representatives of the Creator for the Mother, and serve through the confidence and trust of the community.

Reflecting on our lives of those families that stick together, the grandparents circle took care of the parents circle who also did a great job of taking care of each other and the communities that also prayed together are still doing so today.

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HOME SACRAMENT PROTOCOLS

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We are often asked about sacraments or activities that resemble a sacrament, ordinance, or remembrance ceremony. Through our research and experiences, we have found that different faiths may perform similar actions and use similar materials, yet those actions can carry very different meanings, purposes, and intentions.

As a result, we strive to show respect for any faith tradition or belief system connected to a record associated with our sacred history, especially records tied to figures as significant as Maamin, or Mormon. We believe he was a real individual whose name was impressed into copper plate records over 1,500 years ago. Those records preserve the memory of who he was, what he did, why he did it, and where the events of his life and work took place.

In addition, three other independent sets of physical records, in the Midewiwin High Priest Language, deciphered, contain accounts from later record keepers who were aware of the existence of many records. Recognizing that only a portion of those records might endure or be brought to light, they carefully preserved and highlighted what they considered most important. In doing so, they repeatedly returned to Mormon, emphasizing both him and the record he preserved. They sought to explain why it should remain a matter of the highest importance and why future generations should understand its significance.

In each of these accounts, the record buried by Mormon is repeatedly identified as a central and deeply significant point of remembrance. Its preservation and future discovery were considered important enough to be mentioned again and again by different record keepers across different records.

For us, this consistent testimony matters. We believe Mormon was a real person, and that the record he preserved was real. Its memory has endured because generations of record keepers considered it worthy of remembering and recording.

If you must meet and want to know how we are going to be praying at The Grand Teaching Lodge, it is this, we offer a prayer and we say these words:

We sing songs and a lot of them. So if you gather try enjoying music together.

Music may be offered in any cultural tradition, language, or style that honors the Creator and strengthens faith, family, peace, and gratitude. The purpose of sacred music is not performance, but worship and unity.

Some of Midegah's favorite songs:

Ask someone in your family or gathering to say a prayer.

If you are in our communities you will experience smudging with sage beforehand, so if indigenous are in your home this is the normal protocol symbolic act of purification, gratitude, and good intention. The purpose is not to confer authority or worthiness, but to encourage a mindful spirit and a heart centered on peace as the prayer is offered.

We do share meals together and in some stories when Christ walked the Americas he made bread from corn, corn bread, and was called the Lord of Maize. These meals are kept by the sacred fire in the lodge, or branch, and a separate plate or spirit plate is left for the ancestors. We consider the flesh of food, such as the bread, as maternal, and so it is prepared by the Mother, preferably cornbread, in remembrance of the first Sacrament, which was performed with cornbread.

Generally the food, the sacrament, is saged by an Elder, or a parent. The family, gathering, can sit or kneel, and the Mother offers the blessing upon the bread.

The bread serves as a remembrance of the sacred flesh and life given by the Creator. From the Creator's light came Creation, and from Creation came the plants, animals, waters, and earth that sustain all living beings. The bread reminds us that our bodies are gifts, formed from the substance of Creation and nourished through the continual sacrifice of Mother Earth and all living things.

As we partake of the bread, we remember that life is received through sacrifice. The earth gives of herself. The plants give of themselves. The animals give of themselves. Our ancestors gave of themselves that we might live. The Creator gives so that we may live. We remember with gratitude the sacred exchange through which all life is sustained.

In receiving this gift, we renew our commitment to give back to Creation. We seek to care for the earth, honor all living beings, serve our families and communities, and leave the world better than we found it. As Creation continually gives to us, we covenant to give in return through stewardship, respect, gratitude, and sacrifice.

The bread is therefore a remembrance of the Creator, Mother Earth, the gift of mortal life, and the sacred responsibility entrusted to each of us to preserve, protect, and strengthen Creation for the generations yet to come.

Bleached or Chemically altered Bread is not authorized. This includes bread made with bleached flour, enriched bleached flour, bromated flour, or other chemically treated grain products. Examples include Wonder Bread®, Sunbeam Bread®, Bunny Bread®, Sara Lee® White Bread, and similar commercially produced white sandwich breads made from bleached flour and are not permitted for Sacrament use.

The Mother reads:

Some use wine, others Grape juice or spring water, in many of our lodges spring water is sacred and preference on juices is towards grape. These things would be prepared by a Father or Elder for the sacred feast, or Sacrament.

A Copper cup in the lodge, filled with the liquid, serves as a remembrance of the sacred life given by the Creator and shared among all living things, the spirit and light. Just as blood flows through every living being, the breath and life and light of the Creator flow throughout Creation. By partaking of the cup, the Family and Lodge or Branch remember that all living things come from the same Source and are connected as one family, flowing in us equally. This is what we do.

This remembrance calls us to show respect for one another, care for the earth, help those in need, honor our relationships, and walk in balance with Creation. As we drink, we remember the sacrifice of Christ, the gift of life, and our responsibility to live as good relatives to all people and all living beings.

The cup is a witness that the Creator is present throughout Creation. As we receive it, we renew our commitment to live with gratitude, humility, kindness, and reverence for the sacred life that has been placed within all things.

Tap water is not permitted, other natural fruit juices can be substituted.

The Father reads:

Following the Sacrament, the Presiding Elders or Parents of the Lodge, or Branch, invite all into a period of Sacred Silence.

If water is continually stirred, its depths cannot be seen clearly. Likewise, when our lives are filled with constant activity, noise, and distraction, it becomes difficult to recognize the peace and wisdom that the Creator freely offers.

In stillness, we listen.

In silence, we remember.

For several moments, participants are invited to quiet their hearts, set aside their cares, and simply be present. In this sacred stillness, we seek to hear the voice of the Creator, feel gratitude for life, and remember our place within Creation.

The purpose of Sacred Silence is not merely the absence of sound, but the restoration of harmony within ourselves. As we become still, we become more aware of the peace, guidance, and love that flow through all Creation.

Someone can share a message from the Sacred Records, family histories, teachings of the ancestors, or other words of wisdom that strengthen the Family and Lodge or Branch.

These messages are offered to encourage remembrance, gratitude, peace, kindness, stewardship, and faith. Just as a tree grows through good soil, water, and sunlight, people grow through wisdom, experience, and the teachings of those who have gone before them.

The purpose of these messages is to strengthen our roots, nourish our hearts, and help us walk more closely with the Creator, our families, and one another.

The Lodge or Branch Keepers invite the Family or Branch to stand together and renew their commitment before the Creator and one another. Together they repeat:

We will remember The Christ. We will honor the Creator. We will strengthen our families. We will care for one another. We will preserve what has been entrusted to us. We will seek peace. We will walk in harmony with Creation. We will walk in remembrance.

The gathering then responds with one voice:

We will.

As the gathering comes to an end, participants are encouraged to carry the peace, teachings, and spirit of remembrance they have received into their homes and daily lives, walking in gratitude, service, and harmony until they meet again.

Before departing, the Family and Branch of our lodges exchange a sacred greeting as a reminder that all people are children of the same Creator and members of one Human Family. As hands are joined, one says:

“I am another you.”

The other responds:

“And I am another you.”

This greeting reminds us that what we do for another, we do for ourselves, and what harms another also harms ourselves. It is a witness of kinship, respect, and unity. Through this simple exchange, we acknowledge the Creator within one another and depart in peace, committed to walking as good relatives until we gather again.