THE ORDINATION OF JEAN PAUL

This scene takes place about midway in the story. Abbot Theodore has decided to send a bear named Jean Paul to Michael Sinsisko, an eleven year old boy dying from a genetic heart disease. Before Jean Paul can be sent, he must first be prayed over so that he is anointed for healing. But when the Sunday morning church service at The Teddy Bear Monastery™ begins, a powerful storm suddenly appears that threatens to destroy everyone and everything.

This scene begins with a bear named Nash, who is the deacon at the monastery, reading from the Bible.

Nash steps up to the front of the chapel and reads from a Bible.

NASH

A reading from first Corinthians chapter 6, verses 19 and 20: Do you not know that your body is a vessel of the Holy Spirit and that your fur is not your own?  You were bought at a great price.  So, glorify God with your fur and all your stuffing.

Nash sits down.

Theodore steps forward to address the congregation.

THEODORE

Our monastery began many years ago when God gave Abbot Anthony Wayne a vision to send out into the world legions of teddy bears, each a little vessel filled with the Holy Spirit.  Abbot Wayne and the brothers and sisters at the Fletchermont Monastery knew that we teddy bears could bring the love of Jesus to places they could never go.  That's why we were created - to be their apostles and tell the world, "Jesus Loves You".  Today, we are sending another teddy bear out into the world to be an apostle - a little vessel filled with the Holy Spirit.  The bear we are sending will minister to the needs of Michael Sinsisko, a boy who needs a life saving miracle.

(Turning to Jean Paul.)

Jean Paul do you accept this assignment?

JEAN PAUL.

I do

THEODORE

Do you swear an oath of poverty?  Will you freely give up your right to own anything, even the fur on your body and all of the stuffing inside?

JEAN PAUL.

I do

THEODORE

Do you swear an oath of silence?  Do you promise never to speak in front of humans, unless they are your fellow brothers and sisters in this ministry - because greatest sermons are preached without words.

Jean Paul is becoming a little more emotional at each stage of the charge.

JEAN PAUL.

I do

THEODORE

Do you swear an oath of unconditional love?  Will you always love any human - no matter who they are, or what they've done, or what they ask or expect you to do?

Jean Paul's emotions are beginning to get the best of him.  He is almost on the verge of tears.

JEAN PAUL.

I do

There is an aura around both Theodore and Jean Paul. The monastery begins to fill with the Skekinah Glory.

THEODORE

As the Abbot of the Teddy Bear Monastery, I declare that Jean Paul is an apostle of this monastery, and that his name shall be added to the list of bears who are numbered among the legions of teddy bears that have been sent throughout the world.

Now Theodore turns to the congregation.

THEODORE

Let us raise our paws and pray that our Daddy God will fill this little vessel with His Holy Spirit.

All of the bears, now standing, raise their arms and direct their paws toward Jean Paul.  At first there is only the sound of a light drizzle outside.  Slowly the sound of the tongues is heard and starts filling the room.  Then the entire sanctuary is filled with the sound of the tongues.

The mist of the Shekinah Glory of God become very intense.  The aura around both Theodore and Jean Paul is very apparent. On top of the altar along the wall at the front of the chapel, are flames - but the fire consumes nothing.

Finally, both Theodore and Jean Paul fall to the floor - slain in the Spirit.