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After escorting the group of newborn pilgrims to the banquet hall’s entrance, the Receivers departed, exhorting their wards to enjoy the remainder of the day, and to be ready early tomorrow for Orientation.
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The hall is an immense low-walled enclosure that can seat up to a million, but open to the sky as are most other mansion world structures. Inside they found the artistry, the sculpture, the interwoven colors and decorations to be more beautiful than anything they had yet seen. Entering the massive room with its diverse and ornate refinements was literally breath-taking.
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As the many groups filtered in, everyone began to feel hunger in earnest, helped significantly by the aromas drifting throughout the hall. The smells of this place flooded their minds with multiple sensations, stimulating appetites and interest in the nature and preparation of morontia viands.
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The seats were reserved in order that language groups could sit together and have a translator always available. Guides were placed at every turn who knew where each language group was situated. The hall filled with sounds of talking and laughter as the pilgrims found their ways. Once all were in and seated, the Chief of Mansion I Morontia Companions ascended the raised stage at the center of the huge arena. She lifted an arm calling for everyone’s attention, then the other arm, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
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Suddenly a great burst of beautiful sounds seemed to fall from the sky. Morontia music emanated from everywhere. It thrilled the ears and hearts of every pilgrim in the hall. Above the stage word images slowly appeared in mid-air, one after another. Watching them, Kala and Saro soon discovered the word was WELCOME, after several Urantian versions of the word appeared with which they were familiar. This went on until everyone was thoroughly entranced by the mixture of music, aroma, and an artistic welcome in their own language. The whole assembly was taken up in this awe-inspiring auditory and visual experience. They felt like babies; God’s babies.
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The music softened and the Companion on the stage gave another sign. Immediately circular openings appeared inside each ring of tables. Out of the openings service islands slowly arose from beneath the floor, complete with servers. One island was located at the center of each ring.
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Then, more music, low, sweet and melodious, filled the great room. The Companion bowed her head reverently. Without a word’s instruction, all the banqueters and the staff did the same. The sounds harmonized well with the pilgrims’ feelings of gratitude and humility. All this was being done for them. Never are there groups more appreciative of life than humble planetary survivors emerging into eternity.
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After a period of thankfulness the music stopped and a truly heavenly chorus closed the prayer with divine intonations. These rich voices harkened minds and filled souls. When the chorus stopped and heads lifted, a low rumble of over two hundred thousand chattering diners began filling the air.
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Before too long, the Companion once again drew their attention, and signaled the staff to prepare to serve the first course. The music resumed, and in strains that seem to fit this occasion perfectly. Saro and Kala were especially appreciative of the quality, power, and complexity of the music they had heard here, and at the worship service they attended after their resurrection. They wondered what sort of cello might Saro find here, and whether Kala’s piano skills would be adaptable to Mansion world instruments.
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During this pre-banquet prayer on their second day these pilgrims, fresh from many worlds, rose mightily on the wings of spirit uplift. And now, they could feel a great appetite for morontia sustenance growing in their new bodies. It was a good hunger. All of them had tasted only water, and not felt any hunger—until now.
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“Kala, this we will remember”. They toasted the occasion with water that was already set on their elegantly inlaid table, then gazed into each other’s loving eyes until two staffers arrived with the first course on large, beautiful trays, which they handled very skillfully. When all at their circle of tables were served, the staffers withdrew, indicating they should begin the feast. The aroma was simply exquisite. The Agondonter pilgrims from Urantia were really ready to begin their first Morontia meal.
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Richard E Warren