Community Intercessions

Brothers & Sisters, this month we ask that your raise your voices in prayer for the following:! All who are dwelling in sorrow, that they may nd comfort in the light and warmth of the Sacred Flame. ! The repose of the soul of Elijah Wheat and comfort for his grieving family.! The repose of the soul of Kurt Grebe and comfort of his wife Carol and his sister Kathy Eichinger.! The repose of the soul of Arwed Ueker and comfort for those he has left behind.! Strength and healing for Kira, the daughter of Sister Catherine Deidrich, as she begins a battle with Type 1 Diabetes and for Catherine as she supports her.! Healing for Brother Gregory Singleton in the wake of surgery.! Healing for Edward Dunfee and Joseph Mladnick.! Continued success for Phoenix Bridegroom in her battle with cancer.! A positive outcome for one of our Sisters in some upcoming medical tests.! Strength, healing, and comfort for Marjorie and Adam Backus.! Health and stability for Steven Arlington & his family.!

MONTHLY EUCHARIST

LUXAETERNA

The Apostolic Johannite Church

Initiated by the Baptist, transmitted by the Apostle, and restored in the modern era, the Apostolic Johannite Church enacts the Johannite Tradition through an esoteric, Gnostic and Christian path of spiritual understanding and self-discovery. Ignited in community, nurtured by individual practice, and fed by service, the Sacred Flame of Gnosis embodied in the tradition of the Holy Saints John, lives anew through the work of the Apostolic Johannite Church.! Standing at the forefront of this path in the modern age, the Apostolic Johannite Church has centres and activities in numerous cities and countries, with lectures, workshops, articles and educational resources online. ! May the light of the Sacred Flame illuminate your path!!

ST. JOHN THE REVELATOR ! MISSION HUGUES DE PAYENS!

APOSTOLIC JOHANNITE CHURCH!

February 2014!

StJohnRevelator.org

Does sorrow have a purpose?

And everybody hurts sometimes. R.E.M.
Suffering is an inescapable and inherent part of our human experience. By virtue of our very birth, each of us will feel pain and experience death at some point. Suffering does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, culture, color, or even socio-economic class. We cannot hide from or buy our way out of it. The most each of us can do is hope, pray, and do our best to minimize the presence of suffering in our lives. But no matter how much care we take of ourselves or others, it catches up with us sooner of later.! Part of our human nature is also to simply ask why. Why do we hurt? Why do we cry? Why must there be suffering? I cant even pretend to have an answer. Anyone who claims to know with any certainty is foolish at best. We can point our ngers at the biblical fall of man or put the blame squarely on our biological make-up. But are either of these satisfactory? ! Do we want to believe that an all-powerful God leaves us to suffer - or worse, wields pain as a weapon against those who fail to uphold his commandments? Biologically, with all of the pills and tests and surgical interventions, youd think we would have gured this out by now. Yet there is suffering all around us. No one avoids suffering forever. Perhaps it is best to stop asking why we suffer and focusing on how to handle the experience.! My late father, who battled and died of heart disease at a young age used to always tell me that it was our saddest moments that remind us to savor each and every joy that life brings us. He would say that it was only through loss that we learned how to truly live. Though he was sick for so long, he certainly lived his short life to the fullest.! I like to think too that sorrow helps us to realize that everything in this life is eeting. Sorrow does not last. Neither does joy. Nothing does. All that we have here is temporary as we make our way back home to that Fullness and Light from which we came. We are not meant to get too cozy here. Sorrow is that sign post that lets us know that better things are ahead and that we need to keep our eyes on the destination while enduring the journey. This is the Divine promise and our birthright. The challenge is not letting our sorrows distract us from that beautiful truth.! - Rev. Deacon John

This Months celebration

Celebrant: Rev. Dcn. John DiGilio! Reader: Matthew James Backus! Call to Worship: Song of Sophia by Dead Can Dance! The Collect: Champions, Bestowers of Joy! The Lesson: Words from the Holy Prophet Mani on overcoming hardships and sorrow.! The Gospel: Selections from the Gospel According to John (16:20, 16:19, 16:24, 15:12)! Homily: Welcome & Thanks to Mission Hugues de Payens by Rev. Deacon John DiGilio! Preparation for Eucharist: My Soul Magnies the Lord by Sergei Rachmaninoff! Sign of Peace: Prayer of St. Francis by Sarah McLachlan! Dismissal: Sanctus by Capella Gregoriana!

In Times of Sorrow
John Psalms Matthew
Revelation

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The Power of Sorrow

Sorrow is certainly a powerful emotion and a feeling to which none of us looks forward. Yet can it have a positive side? Is there a teachable moment every bout of sorrow we face?!

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James