LGBT Spirituality
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Eddie
9 months ago
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass, January 2nd: Intent: Renewal of Life
Happy New Year to All! This coming Sunday the 2nd of January at 5:00 PM, we will celebrate our monthly Chapel service especially for the GLBTTQ COmmunity of Gnostics. We hope to see you there!
Rev's John, Donna, Gerry, Amber, and our helpful Lay Server Laura
THE COLLECT
O omnipotent God, who fillest and dost govern the immensity of worlds which have come forth from Thee; Thou verily art the eternal new-born Child, and yet Thou art the Ancient of Days! Thou hast veiled Thy ineffable glory and splendor in the garment of time and the cloak of space; Thou wilt transform all things so that they might return to Thee, to Thy timeless essence. We dedicate our lives to Thee, and we resolve to so live throughout this year, that Thy glory might increase and fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Book of the Revelation of St. John the Divine:
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Behold, I make all things new.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the words of Hermes the Thrice Great Lord:
Your consciousness is in God; draw it into yourself, and it will appear; will, and it takes birth; suspend the senses of the body and the birth of the Godhead takes place. But first you must purify yourselves from the mindless torments of matter, one of which is ignorance, though there are many others, which force the man who is confined to the prison of the body to suffer by way of the passions. But these at once depart from him on whom God has had mercy, and so the body of Gnosis in man is built. This is the way of true rebirth. And now my child be still, and keep solemn silence; and thus will the grace from God not cease to come upon us.
Rev's John, Donna, Gerry, Amber, and our helpful Lay Server Laura
THE COLLECT
O omnipotent God, who fillest and dost govern the immensity of worlds which have come forth from Thee; Thou verily art the eternal new-born Child, and yet Thou art the Ancient of Days! Thou hast veiled Thy ineffable glory and splendor in the garment of time and the cloak of space; Thou wilt transform all things so that they might return to Thee, to Thy timeless essence. We dedicate our lives to Thee, and we resolve to so live throughout this year, that Thy glory might increase and fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Book of the Revelation of St. John the Divine:
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Behold, I make all things new.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the words of Hermes the Thrice Great Lord:
Your consciousness is in God; draw it into yourself, and it will appear; will, and it takes birth; suspend the senses of the body and the birth of the Godhead takes place. But first you must purify yourselves from the mindless torments of matter, one of which is ignorance, though there are many others, which force the man who is confined to the prison of the body to suffer by way of the passions. But these at once depart from him on whom God has had mercy, and so the body of Gnosis in man is built. This is the way of true rebirth. And now my child be still, and keep solemn silence; and thus will the grace from God not cease to come upon us.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
This Sunday, December 5th: The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus @ Ecclesia Gnostica Monthly Service
Second Sunday in Advent: Violet. Mass of same
Feast day of the H. Nicholas
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the writings of the Gnostic Fathers:
Cease to seek God in created things on the outside, but seek Him within thyself; and thus learn who it is that takes possession of thee and says: “My God, my consciousness, my understanding, my soul, my body.” Then learn whence is sorrow, and rejoicing, and love, and hate, and being awake, and being asleep, and getting angry against one’s will. Now if thou inquire into these things thou shalt find Him in thyself, one and many, like the atom, and thus thou shalt find the way out from thy lesser self.
We're at 3363 Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village (nearest cross street is Revere, Turn on Revere to enter parking lot from alley.plenty of parking!
Join our Facebook Group!
Feast day of the H. Nicholas
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the writings of the Gnostic Fathers:
Cease to seek God in created things on the outside, but seek Him within thyself; and thus learn who it is that takes possession of thee and says: “My God, my consciousness, my understanding, my soul, my body.” Then learn whence is sorrow, and rejoicing, and love, and hate, and being awake, and being asleep, and getting angry against one’s will. Now if thou inquire into these things thou shalt find Him in thyself, one and many, like the atom, and thus thou shalt find the way out from thy lesser self.
We're at 3363 Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village (nearest cross street is Revere, Turn on Revere to enter parking lot from alley.plenty of parking!
Join our Facebook Group!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus, Sunday October 3, at 5:00 P.M.
Dear Friends of the Gnostic Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus,
This Coming Sunday we will be holding our Monthly Sunday Evening Service at Ecclesia Gnostica 3363 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039. Free Parking. Donation to the Ecclesia Gnostica Optional.
The Collects from the Mass of the Day and intent, with links to our lectionary follows.
Hope to see you there!
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622&s=100#!/group.php?gid=286336823603
Michaelmas Sunday: White. Mass of same (p. 155).
THE COLLECT
O glorious prince of the heavenly army, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the eternal combat, which we sustain against the powers of darkness, malice and ignorance, which afflict us on this aeonial battlefield of our earthly life! Come, invincible leader of the host of heaven, guardian of the paradise of the world and wielder of the double-edged, flaming sword! Aid and sustain us in our defense against the adversary; and come to lead us finally into the presence of the Most High, into the abode of the blissful. Enlighten and purify us, O Thou great and mighty Archangel Michael, grant us to abandon the works of darkness and to love the Gnosis of the Light; so that whilst all things of this world pass away we may ever hold fast those things which abide for evermore.
Second Collect of the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity (p. 99).Intent: Commemoration of the Saints
THE COLLECT
We glorify and thank Thee, O Indwelling One, for the abiding presence among us of Thy glorious and holy saints who were and are and are to come. We humbly recognize that they indeed are the corners of our cosmos, the pillars of the perfection of mankind, and the revealers of reality. Do Thou, O Holy One, ever affirm within us Thy powers of holiness, that in the fullness of the time of our perfection we might join the ranks of thy leaders of light and become providers of purpose and helpers of Thy holy hand.
Amen.
Please join our Chapel of Serge & Bacchus FACEBOOK Group!
This Coming Sunday we will be holding our Monthly Sunday Evening Service at Ecclesia Gnostica 3363 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039. Free Parking. Donation to the Ecclesia Gnostica Optional.
The Collects from the Mass of the Day and intent, with links to our lectionary follows.
Hope to see you there!
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622&s=100#!/group.php?gid=286336823603
Michaelmas Sunday: White. Mass of same (p. 155).
THE COLLECT
O glorious prince of the heavenly army, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the eternal combat, which we sustain against the powers of darkness, malice and ignorance, which afflict us on this aeonial battlefield of our earthly life! Come, invincible leader of the host of heaven, guardian of the paradise of the world and wielder of the double-edged, flaming sword! Aid and sustain us in our defense against the adversary; and come to lead us finally into the presence of the Most High, into the abode of the blissful. Enlighten and purify us, O Thou great and mighty Archangel Michael, grant us to abandon the works of darkness and to love the Gnosis of the Light; so that whilst all things of this world pass away we may ever hold fast those things which abide for evermore.
Second Collect of the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity (p. 99).Intent: Commemoration of the Saints
THE COLLECT
We glorify and thank Thee, O Indwelling One, for the abiding presence among us of Thy glorious and holy saints who were and are and are to come. We humbly recognize that they indeed are the corners of our cosmos, the pillars of the perfection of mankind, and the revealers of reality. Do Thou, O Holy One, ever affirm within us Thy powers of holiness, that in the fullness of the time of our perfection we might join the ranks of thy leaders of light and become providers of purpose and helpers of Thy holy hand.
Amen.
Please join our Chapel of Serge & Bacchus FACEBOOK Group!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass, Sunday, June 6 at 5:00 PM
Corpus Christi: Mass of same, Procession with the Most H. Sacrament.
THE COLLECT:
O God, Holy and Ineffable, who art verily mystically present in all things, and who art yet transcending all embodiment, we thank Thee for this wonderful sacrament of the altar, which Thou givest us as a token of thine indwelling divinity. We thank Thee for this the most wonderful gift which Thou hast given unto us and we ask Thee to grant us so to venerate the mystery of this sacred body and blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves thine indwelling presence, and share Thy life with others. Amen.
The Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus is held on the first Sunday of Every Month at 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica, 3363 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90039. The Gnostic High Mass is celebrated at all Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus Services as it is celebrated at the Ecclesia Gnostica, with the exception that certain changes or additions have been made to reflect the special needs of our community and to ask for the intercession of GLBT saints such as Serge & Bacchus, Perp...etua and & Felicitas, and others, as well as to address the special issues, concerns, and needs of our community in our intentions and prayers.
What we refer to as a Mass, or a Gnostic mass Is the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. In this sacrament the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. This sacrament unites us in a very special way with Christ the Savior and through Him with the Fullness (PLEROMA). The ultimate objective of this process is the achievement of salvific knowledge (the knowledge of Salvation), as it is offered to us by the Love of God and the intercession of Divine Grace.
With the sacraments as an important aid, and the Christ within as our guide, we can be fundamentally transformed and may ultimately obtain freedom from embodied existence and return to the ultimate unity. This is possible for each and every one of us, regardless of our sexual orientation or identity. Our Clergy are ordained into recognized Apostolic and Catholic Lineages and duly qualified to celebrate Mass. The Gay, Lesbian and Bi-sexual members of our Clergy and congregation are particularly involved in and devoted to keeping the Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus an integral part of our Gnostic Community.
Communion of the Sacred Wine and/or Bread is offered to all who wish to receive it, we do not require prior confession or even that a person is a member of our church. We do, however, offer a general confession and absolution in the context of our service. It is by prayer and sincere contrition that we are purified and prepared to receive these sacraments. A brief Homily follows the mass, and we offer fellowship and refreshments for all who would like to stay for a few minutes after the service.
Blessings!
Reverends: John Goelz, Donna Owen, Gerry Szeman & Amber Tidwell
Friday, April 30, 2010
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass at Ecclesia Gnostica Sunday, May 2 @5pm
Fourth Sunday after Easter: Intent: Divine Aid toward Liberation
& Feast of the Holy Apostles Philip and James (May 1st)
THE COLLECT
O Thou single source of truth and wisdom, who hast taught us that we shall be lamps unto ourselves and islands of refuge unto ourselves, let us ascend up to the supreme light as if on the chariot of truth, bring us over all gulfs and abysses, bear us upward out of gorges and valleys; become to us a harbor of liberation so that we may repose in the arms of life everlasting. Amen.
" Truth, which existed since the beginning, is sown everywhere and many see it being sown, but few are they who see it being reaped."" (excerpt from The Gospel of Phillip, translated by Wesley W. Isenberg)
" If you consider how long the world existed you, and how long it will exist after you, you will find that your life is one single day, and your sufferings one single hour... Scorn death, therefore, and take thought for life!" (excerpts from the Apocryphon of James, translated by Francis E. William)
The Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus is held at 5:00 P.M. on the First Sunday of Every Month at Ecclesia Gnostica, 3363 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Nearest Cross street is Revere. Enter parking lot from alley @ Revere. Our Gnostic High Mass, Chanted and Spoken, is similar to an Old Catholic or High Anglican Service. It differs only slightly from our traditional Gnostic Mass, in that the special intentions of the GLBTQ Community are addressed in our Prayers, Gay & Lesbian Saints, especially Ss. Serge & Bacchus and Perpetua & Felicitas, are invoked with all Saints and Gnostic teachers, and our homilies (given after the conclusion of the Mass) will address particular concerns of GLBTQ brothers and sisters in our Gnostic community. Of course, all are welcome and invited to attend Services and receive Holy Communion at the Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus or any Ecclesia Gnostica Service. No confession or church membership required, however private appointments for confession or spiritual counseling with a Gay or Lesbian Priest are available, as well as hospital or home visits for the elderly or infirm to receive healing and communion. Refreshments and fellowship following the service. Free will donation. Please feel free to contact Rev. John Goelz at: pleroma999@hotmail.com, or Rev. Donna Owen at rev_donna@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
More information about the Ecclesia Gnostica is available at: http://www.gnosis.org/eghome.htm
Join our Facebook group!
& Feast of the Holy Apostles Philip and James (May 1st)
THE COLLECT
O Thou single source of truth and wisdom, who hast taught us that we shall be lamps unto ourselves and islands of refuge unto ourselves, let us ascend up to the supreme light as if on the chariot of truth, bring us over all gulfs and abysses, bear us upward out of gorges and valleys; become to us a harbor of liberation so that we may repose in the arms of life everlasting. Amen.
" Truth, which existed since the beginning, is sown everywhere and many see it being sown, but few are they who see it being reaped."" (excerpt from The Gospel of Phillip, translated by Wesley W. Isenberg)
" If you consider how long the world existed
The Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus is held at 5:00 P.M. on the First Sunday of Every Month at Ecclesia Gnostica, 3363 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Nearest Cross street is Revere. Enter parking lot from alley @ Revere. Our Gnostic High Mass, Chanted and Spoken, is similar to an Old Catholic or High Anglican Service. It differs only slightly from our traditional Gnostic Mass, in that the special intentions of the GLBTQ Community are addressed in our Prayers, Gay & Lesbian Saints, especially Ss. Serge & Bacchus and Perpetua & Felicitas, are invoked with all Saints and Gnostic teachers, and our homilies (given after the conclusion of the Mass) will address particular concerns of GLBTQ brothers and sisters in our Gnostic community. Of course, all are welcome and invited to attend Services and receive Holy Communion at the Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus or any Ecclesia Gnostica Service. No confession or church membership required, however private appointments for confession or spiritual counseling with a Gay or Lesbian Priest are available, as well as hospital or home visits for the elderly or infirm to receive healing and communion. Refreshments and fellowship following the service. Free will donation. Please feel free to contact Rev. John Goelz at: pleroma999@hotmail.com, or Rev. Donna Owen at rev_donna@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
More information about the Ecclesia Gnostica is available at: http://www.gnosis.org/eghome.htm
Join our Facebook group!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
He has risen
Wishing you all a Blessed Easter! The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus will NOT be held Easter Sunday @ 5:00 PM, Please come to our Morning Mass at 11:00 AM @ the Ecclesia Gnostica, 3363 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039. Hope to see you there!
Easter Day; The Festival of the Risen Light
Intent: The Inner Resurrection
THE COLLECT:
O Infinite Intelligence, in Whom all inspiration is, tell us
the truth about ourselves in whatsoever ways we best may bear without
being broken by that burden. Give us, we pray Thee, the sure and certain
witness that spirit shall finally triumph over matter, and that death
to the world is but a gateway to the ineffable splendor of eternal life
in Thee. Deal lightly with us, O Divine Directing One, that we may learn
our lessons in this life through love, yet with an unassuming air of
absolute and utter confidence in Thy complete command of Cosmos; O
never-setting sun of wisdom, goodness and truth, who livest and reignest
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
He has risen, awaken from the sleep of death and be transfigured into his likeness!
Reverends: John Goelz, Donna Owen, Gerry Szeman & Amber Tidwell
Easter Day; The Festival of the Risen Light
Intent: The Inner Resurrection
THE COLLECT:
O Infinite Intelligence, in Whom all inspiration is, tell us
the truth about ourselves in whatsoever ways we best may bear without
being broken by that burden. Give us, we pray Thee, the sure and certain
witness that spirit shall finally triumph over matter, and that death
to the world is but a gateway to the ineffable splendor of eternal life
in Thee. Deal lightly with us, O Divine Directing One, that we may learn
our lessons in this life through love, yet with an unassuming air of
absolute and utter confidence in Thy complete command of Cosmos; O
never-setting sun of wisdom, goodness and truth, who livest and reignest
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
He has risen, awaken from the sleep of death and be transfigured into his likeness!
Reverends: John Goelz, Donna Owen, Gerry Szeman & Amber Tidwell
Thursday, March 4, 2010
नेक्स्ट Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus this Sunday, March 7th at 5:00 PM
This Coming Sunday, March 7th at 5:00 PM we will be having our monthly Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus @ Ecclesia Gnostica, 3363 Glendale Blvd (at Revere) Los Angeles, CA 90039. I hope you can join us!
Join our Face book group: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=286336823603
Third Sunday in Lent: Violet. Mass of same Intent: Understanding
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O repose of the all, we give Thee glory, the Father of Greatness, the glorious King, the Sun in His Aeons, the mighty Crown-bearer, the Father of all our race, the God of all the Gods, the good tree that has given no evil fruit, the Father whose children are many, the Watcher who guards His tower, the sleepless shepherd, the helmsman who does not swoon from the drink of the world, the king and god of Truth, He of the unfading crown, who is Himself all wisdom and love, and who fills our hearts with understanding and compassion.
Amen.
"Almighty Father, your Son, by His holy love for His Disciple John, sanctified man's love for his brother, We ask You to sanctify our love for one another, and to bless all Gay & Lesbian members of our Ecclesia wherever they are..."
excerpt from our Pre-Eucharistic Prayer, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
"Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together, of Serge & Bacchus the pair filled with grace, let us sing…" excerpt from The Collect of Ss. Serge & Bacchus, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
Join our Face book group: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=286336823603
Third Sunday in Lent: Violet. Mass of same Intent: Understanding
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O repose of the all, we give Thee glory, the Father of Greatness, the glorious King, the Sun in His Aeons, the mighty Crown-bearer, the Father of all our race, the God of all the Gods, the good tree that has given no evil fruit, the Father whose children are many, the Watcher who guards His tower, the sleepless shepherd, the helmsman who does not swoon from the drink of the world, the king and god of Truth, He of the unfading crown, who is Himself all wisdom and love, and who fills our hearts with understanding and compassion.
Amen.
"Almighty Father, your Son, by His holy love for His Disciple John, sanctified man's love for his brother, We ask You to sanctify our love for one another, and to bless all Gay & Lesbian members of our Ecclesia wherever they are..."
excerpt from our Pre-Eucharistic Prayer, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
"Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together, of Serge & Bacchus the pair filled with grace, let us sing…" excerpt from The Collect of Ss. Serge & Bacchus, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NEXT CHAPEL OF SAINTS SERGE & BACCHUS MASS, This Coming SUNDAY, February 7, 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT CHAPEL OF SAINTS SERGE & BACCHUS MASS,
This Coming SUNDAY, February 7, 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica,
3363 Glendale Blvd. (nearest x-street Revere)
Rev's; John, Donna, Gerry & Amber
"Almighty Father, your Son, by His holy love for His Disciple John, sanctified man's love for his brother, We ask You to sanctify our love for one another, and to bless all Gay & Lesbian members of our Ecclesia wherever they are..."
excerpt from our Pre-Eucharistic Prayer, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
"Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together, of Serge & Bacchus the pair filled with grace, let us sing…" excerpt from The Collect of Ss. Serge & Bacchus, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
Candlemas Day: White. Mass of same (p. 119).
http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect119.htm
MEDITATIONS
Candlemas Day
Intent: Kindling of the Light in Darkness
THE COLLECT
O Lord of Light and Lady of Love, eternal, ineffable mystery of the Godhead, grant that enlightened by the flame of consciousness, we may successfully journey into the far and glorious kingdom beyond the aeons, and join the great flame as sparks flying upwards.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one. His disciples said: Show us the place where thou art, for it is necessary for us to seek it. He said to them: Whoever has ears let him hear. Within a man of light there is light and he lights the whole world. When he does not shine, there is darkness. Jesus said: Love thy brother as thy soul, guard him as the apple of thine eye.
Notes on Candlemass from THE GNOSTIC CALENDAR
A Mandala of Wholeness:
http://www.gnosis.org/ecclesia/cal_mandala.htm
"CANDLEMAS. After the darkest season of the year, 43 days after the winter solstice, Candlemas is a festival of the coming of the Light. The dark season is passing away, yet the Light has not yet triumphed. In the pagan tradition, the darkness is ruled by the Horned God, Cernunnos, a paternal and virile male deity. To the ancients, this festival symbolized the impregnation of the Goddess or feminine principle by the masculine. The Dark God lights up his house with candles to receive the Light Goddess and impregnate her.
Within the Christian tradition, this is the day when all the candles used during the year are to be blessed in the church. The candle is a symbol for the vehicle of consciousness. One can make oneself a shining receptacle for the creative and regenerative forces. Thus the power of the Dark God can greatly stimulate the personality. We may say that spiritual and intellectual fertility are available to us in great measure. By utilizing the creative force of darkness, we prepare ourselves for the regeneration of consciousness and Light in the coming season.
A flame is a great symbol of consciousness, and the presence of lighted candles serves to remind us that we are sparks of consciousness. Just as the candle's light cannot be seen well in sunlight but needs the darkness to receive the illumination, so our consciousness must be measured by the background of unconsciousness out of which we arise. So it is fitting to bless candles forty days after the darkest day of the year, and to recognize our own dark unconscious beginnings in our journey to the light."
This Coming SUNDAY, February 7, 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica,
3363 Glendale Blvd. (nearest x-street Revere)
Rev's; John, Donna, Gerry & Amber
"Almighty Father, your Son, by His holy love for His Disciple John, sanctified man's love for his brother, We ask You to sanctify our love for one another, and to bless all Gay & Lesbian members of our Ecclesia wherever they are..."
excerpt from our Pre-Eucharistic Prayer, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
"Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together, of Serge & Bacchus the pair filled with grace, let us sing…" excerpt from The Collect of Ss. Serge & Bacchus, The Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at Ecclesia Gnostica
Candlemas Day: White. Mass of same (p. 119).
http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect119.htm
MEDITATIONS
Candlemas Day
Intent: Kindling of the Light in Darkness
THE COLLECT
O Lord of Light and Lady of Love, eternal, ineffable mystery of the Godhead, grant that enlightened by the flame of consciousness, we may successfully journey into the far and glorious kingdom beyond the aeons, and join the great flame as sparks flying upwards.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one. His disciples said: Show us the place where thou art, for it is necessary for us to seek it. He said to them: Whoever has ears let him hear. Within a man of light there is light and he lights the whole world. When he does not shine, there is darkness. Jesus said: Love thy brother as thy soul, guard him as the apple of thine eye.
Notes on Candlemass from THE GNOSTIC CALENDAR
A Mandala of Wholeness:
http://www.gnosis.org/ecclesia/cal_mandala.htm
"CANDLEMAS. After the darkest season of the year, 43 days after the winter solstice, Candlemas is a festival of the coming of the Light. The dark season is passing away, yet the Light has not yet triumphed. In the pagan tradition, the darkness is ruled by the Horned God, Cernunnos, a paternal and virile male deity. To the ancients, this festival symbolized the impregnation of the Goddess or feminine principle by the masculine. The Dark God lights up his house with candles to receive the Light Goddess and impregnate her.
Within the Christian tradition, this is the day when all the candles used during the year are to be blessed in the church. The candle is a symbol for the vehicle of consciousness. One can make oneself a shining receptacle for the creative and regenerative forces. Thus the power of the Dark God can greatly stimulate the personality. We may say that spiritual and intellectual fertility are available to us in great measure. By utilizing the creative force of darkness, we prepare ourselves for the regeneration of consciousness and Light in the coming season.
A flame is a great symbol of consciousness, and the presence of lighted candles serves to remind us that we are sparks of consciousness. Just as the candle's light cannot be seen well in sunlight but needs the darkness to receive the illumination, so our consciousness must be measured by the background of unconsciousness out of which we arise. So it is fitting to bless candles forty days after the darkest day of the year, and to recognize our own dark unconscious beginnings in our journey to the light."
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass Sunday, January 3rd!
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT CHAPEL OF SAINTS SERGE & BACCHUS MASS,
This Coming SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd at 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica,
3363 Glendale Blvd. (nearest x-street Revere)
Rev's; John, Donna, Gerry & Amber
This Coming SUNDAY, JANUARY 3rd at 500 PM at Ecclesia Gnostica,
3363 Glendale Blvd. (nearest x-street Revere)
Rev's; John, Donna, Gerry & Amber
Monday, December 14, 2009
Mary Glasspool, the First Lesbian U.S. Bishop
Mary Glasspool, the First Lesbian U.S. Bishop
by Michael A. Jones
The Episcopal Church makes history again. Back in 2003, it was the ordination of openly gay Bishop Eugene Robinson that sent waves through the religious world. Now, six years later, the Episcopal Church will welcome its first lesbian ordained bishop with Rev. Mary Glasspool in Los Angeles.
Rev. Glasspool, currently an Episcopalian priest in Maryland, was elected bishop over the weekend. She'll become one of two auxiliary bishops for the Los Angeles diocese, joining Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, who was elected on Friday. The two will become the first women bishops of the entire diocese.
And now, a personal statement by Rt Rev. Glasspool:
Provide a description of your walk with God in Christ that brought you to this moment of discerning a call to the episcopate in our diocese.
And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14b, RSV)
I was born in February 1954, on a rainy Tuesday (Tuesday’s child is full of grace) in Staten Island Hospital, New York, where my father was Rector of St. Simon’s Episcopal Church and Vicar of All Saints’. Both my parents grew up in the Episcopal Church, and each modeled a profound faith in God that was given to me as gift while I grew up. We moved to Goshen, N.Y., in April of 1954 where my father was Rector of St. James’ Church for the next 35 years until his death in 1989. As with most children, I suspect, God was more transcendent than immanent, more other than palpable in community to me.
It was during my college years (1972-1976) that I began to discern a vocation to ordained ministry and concomitantly to discover my sexuality. Both these areas were sources of intense struggle for me, as I wrestled with such questions as; Did God hate me (since I was a homosexual)? or Did God love me? Did I hate (or love) myself? Was it really possible, not to mention appropriate, for women to be priests? My father’s answer to this last question was a resounding NO, and true to his own colors he never publicly supported women’s ordination, although I became something of an exception to the rule.
God was still transcendent and other to me as I entered Episcopal Divinity School in the Fall of 1976, just as the General Convention in Minneapolis was wrestling to recognize the reality of women called to be priests, the new Prayer Book, and what to do with the Philadelphia 11 and the Washington 5 as we termed them at EDS. My role models at that time represented two different ways of doing things in response to God’s call: Carter Heyward and Carol Anderson. Carter, for me, represented the courage to break through barriers – not without cost – in order to become fully the person God is calling you to become. Carol represented the sacrificial love of the Church that manifested itself in restraint, and also came at great cost. Both of these courageous women have continued to model for me the integrity of responding to God’s call with your whole person, being exactly who you are.
After my ordination to the Diaconate on June 13, 1981, I became Assistant to the Rector at St. Paul’s Church in Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia) under the tutelage and rectorship of Jim Moodey. God was beginning to be more in Christ for me, more present, closer, more a part of my daily walk. I grew a lot in three years at St. Paul’s, staying in touch with my spiritual director: Martin Smith, and being the only full-time cleric at the resource size parish when Jim was elected Bishop of Ohio and the parish moved into transition. When the next Rector of St. Paul’s was called, I accepted a call to become Rector of St. Luke’s and St. Margaret’s (SLAM, as we affectionately referred to ourselves) in the Allston section of Boston. For the next seven years I helped the Holy Spirit build up this exciting branch of the Body of Christ while simultaneously dealing with a host of urban issues such as immigration, housing as a right, the four-pronged economic justice plan that came out of General Convention in 1988 and focused on land trusts, cooperative housing, worker-owned businesses and community development credit unions. And, because the kairos appeared to be coming, I had the privilege and subsequent joy of nominating and working with Barbara Harris, as she became the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion.
It was in Boston that I met my life partner, Becki Sander, as she was studying for a dual degree in theology and social work. We have been together since 1988, and Becki has just earned her Ph.D. in Social Work, having written an excellent thesis on Restorative Justice. God has blessed us richly and continues to do so.
In something of a surprise move, God next called me south of the Mason-Dixon Line to St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland where I had the honor of being Rector for the next nine-and-one-half years (1992-2001). While striving to be honest about who I was (when asked directly about my sexuality I responded honestly and directly), it was also a time in the church when uncertainty about issues of sexuality reigned. The good people of St. Margaret’s gave me room to be myself without asking explicit questions, and I gave them room to be themselves: (at that time) a relatively conservative, but Jesus-loving parish of untapped potential. This resulted in a mostly joy-filled love affair during which the parish grew by leaps and bounds (St. Margaret’s is now one of the most exciting parishes in this diocese) and I grew profoundly in my knowledge and love of the Lord. The cost, however, was that my partner, Becki, was invisible as far as the parish was concerned, although we developed deep friendships among our different colleagues outside of St. Margaret’s.
In the Spring of 2001, the Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of Maryland accepted a call to a parish in Arizona, and I was among those who tested out whether or not God was calling me to work on a diocesan staff. Because the Bishop Diocesan, Bob Ihloff, wanted to make it clear that we were building a team ministry and I was to work with the Bishop Suffragan, John Rabb, as well, the title was changed to Canon to the Bishops. I was called, and after much laughter and countless tears as St. Margaret’s and I celebrated our time together, I began my new job on October 1, 2001.
For the first three years of my eight-year tenure (so far), I grieved the loss of being a Parish Rector, at St. Margaret’s in particular. In my heart, I believe there is a significant part of me that is and always will be a parish priest. I use that to remind myself of the kind of service a diocesan staff should try to provide for the diocese. So, for example, if I’m sending an “allclergy” e-mail, I try to imagine what it’s like to be sitting at my desk as Rector of a parish reading the e-mail. Is it clear? Does the Diocese know what it’s doing? I promote with the staff the fact that we are here to serve the Diocese, so that whenever we are receiving a phone call or e-mail we should be ready to help in whatever ways we can, and if we can’t, we should be able to refer people to someone who can.
I have come to love what I’m doing now with all its challenges and opportunities to learn. Since I have described many aspects of my current job in others parts of this application, I won’t repeat them here. The Diocese of Maryland has recently been through a search process, the election of our current Bishop: Eugene T. Sutton, his Consecration a year ago, followed rapidly by Lambeth and now, preparation for the upcoming General Convention in Anaheim. Eugene has asked me to stay on, amidst other staff changes, and this I’ve done, committed to the transition, and along with Bishop Rabb, trying to help Bishop Sutton be the best possible Bishop for Maryland God is calling him to be. Yet I find myself yearning for something new and different. In my spiritual life, I am experiencing a “holy unsettledness” - perhaps the stirrings of a new call?
When one of the clergy in our diocese asked if he could submit my name for Bishop Suffragan of Los Angeles, I went to your web site, read the material, and thought: “Wow! This is exciting! I would love to explore this new possibility and discover what God is up to now.” With respect to the episcopal part of discerning this possibility, I would say two things. One is that functionally, I do many of the ministries our bishops do without having been elected. I travel all over the Diocese of Maryland visiting a different parish each Sunday to preach and celebrate the Eucharist and support individual clergy and the congregations committed to their charge in their own mission and ministry in Christ. I represent the bishops on a variety of different committees and commissions. I do Mutual Ministry Reviews, facilitate Vestry Retreats, lead spiritual retreats, and provide pastoral care for the clergy and their families. Obviously I do not have the same authority as a bishop - but that lack comes with the advantage of knowing that some people speak to me instead of either of the bishops precisely because they don’t want to speak to the bishops!
The second thing is simply to say that it’s time. It’s time for our wonderful church to move on and be the inclusive Church we say we are. I believe that the Diocese of Los Angeles is in alignment with the kairos – ready to move boldly into the future, with a strategic plan centered in the love of God and purposed with bringing God’s Reign of Justice and Love further into being, modeling for the whole Church an episcopal team. And maybe, just maybe, God is calling me to be a part of that exciting future.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass, and Rev. Donna Anniversary Mass, Sunday, December 6, 2009.
Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus Mass, and Rev. Donna Anniversary Mass, Sunday, December 6, 2009.
Anniversary Mass at 11:00 AM, Rev’s Donnas’ 8 year anniversary of her ordination to the Priesthood !
Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus at 5:00 PM
Second Sunday in Advent: Violet. Mass of same (p 3). Second collect of the H. Nicholas (p 163).
MEDITATIONS
The Second Sunday in Advent
Intent: The God Within
THE COLLECT
Show us Thy face, O holy undefiled radiance, our true gracious physician, Thou healer of our souls! Come to us, for we are Thy sheep, and Thou art our good shepherd! O Light of our soul, the sun of our heart who givest our being the things of the Light, Thou art our witness that we have no comfort save in Thee. We have heard every voice but no other voice save Thine can please us; for it is Thou alone whom we have loved from the beginning to the end. Come to us, and abide with us, O redeeming Light, Thou who art the cross of light that gives life to the universe.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the writings of the Gnostic Fathers:
Cease to seek God in created things on the outside, but seek Him within thyself; and thus learn who it is that takes possession of thee and says: “My God, my consciousness, my understanding, my soul, my body.” Then learn whence is sorrow, and rejoicing, and love, and hate, and being awake, and being asleep, and getting angry against one’s will. Now if thou inquire into these things thou shalt find Him in thyself, one and many, like the atom, and thus thou shalt find the way out from thy lesser self.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Philip:
Those who sow in the winter reap in summer. The winter is the world, the summer the other aeon. What comes out of the winter is the summer. Let us sow in the world that we may reap in summer. But if any man reap in winter, he will not reap but pluck out.
Hope to see you there!
Rev's John, Gerry, Donna & Amber
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Re: Next Chapel of Ss. Serge & Bacchus This Sunday, August 2
August 2
Eighth Sunday after Trinity: Green. Mass of the same (p. 79).
MEDITATIONS
The Eighth Sunday After Trinity
Intent: Wisdom
Hope to see you there!
Rev.'s: John, Gerry, Amber and Donna
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O God, who art the Wisdom of the wise and the Strength of the strong, whose Beauty shines through the whole universe; may we so open our hearts to the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that we may ever be strong in Thee, and may show forth in our lives Thy divine Beauty.
Amen.
________________________________________
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians:
We speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. The natural man receiveth not the things that are freely given to us of God. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual discerneth all things; yet he himself is discerned of no man.
________________________________________
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Philip:
Those who are in the truth will be perfect when all the truth is revealed. For the truth is like ignorance; while it is hidden it abides in itself, but when it is revealed and recognized it is praised inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. The Logos said: If you know the truth, the truth will make you free. Ignorance is a slave, knowledge is freedom. When we recognize the truth we shall find the fruits of the truth in our hearts. If we unite with it, it will bring our fulfillment.
Second Collect of the Master Phillipe (p 147).
Eighth Sunday after Trinity: Green. Mass of the same (p. 79).
MEDITATIONS
The Eighth Sunday After Trinity
Intent: Wisdom
Hope to see you there!
Rev.'s: John, Gerry, Amber and Donna
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O God, who art the Wisdom of the wise and the Strength of the strong, whose Beauty shines through the whole universe; may we so open our hearts to the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that we may ever be strong in Thee, and may show forth in our lives Thy divine Beauty.
Amen.
________________________________________
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians:
We speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. The natural man receiveth not the things that are freely given to us of God. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual discerneth all things; yet he himself is discerned of no man.
________________________________________
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Philip:
Those who are in the truth will be perfect when all the truth is revealed. For the truth is like ignorance; while it is hidden it abides in itself, but when it is revealed and recognized it is praised inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. The Logos said: If you know the truth, the truth will make you free. Ignorance is a slave, knowledge is freedom. When we recognize the truth we shall find the fruits of the truth in our hearts. If we unite with it, it will bring our fulfillment.
Second Collect of the Master Phillipe (p 147).
Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day! NEXT Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus June 7th
Hello Friends of the Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus,
Our next Gnostic-Christian Eucharist Service especially for the GLBT Community will be at 5:00 PM, Sunday, June 7th, at Ecclesia Gnostica/The Gnostic Society, 3363 Glendlae Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039. Celebrant: Rev. Fr. John Goelz. All are welcome!
Hope to see you there,
Rev. John Goelz, Rev. Donna Owen, Rev. Deacon Gerry Szeman, and Rev. Amber Tidwell.
MEDITATIONS
Pentecost (Whitsunday)
Intent: Coming of the Holy Spirit
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
Eternal Spirit of Wisdom, source of love and light; thou norm of the Father and the Son, who comest into the soul of man as the balance of righteousness and truth, we hail thee! Most holy comforter, dove that deifiest mankind; thou presence most secret and adored in all the worlds, hear our prayer! Thou who art the fire of Pentecost, who movest upon the face of the waters; who comest down as a mighty wind; and who renewest the face of the earth, we glorify thee, and rejoice in the all renewing majesty of thy deathless might, now and forevermore.
Amen.
________________________________________
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Kephalaia of the Paraclete:
The fount of every blessing and all the invocations is the mother of life, the first Holy Spirit, the first mother who has come forth the father and first appeared, the glorious one who is the beginning of all emanations that have come to this world. Know that the grains of the dust of the earth can be measured, with the whole universe, one can count the grains of the dust of the earth year after year; but the length of time the Holy Spirit passed with the father, that one cannot count. He first formed her in his inner chambers in quiet and in silence; but when she was needed, then was she called and came forth from the father of greatness; she looked after all the aeons of the light.
________________________________________
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. John:
Jesus said unto His disciples: I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that She may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Her not, neither knoweth Her; but ye know Her, for She dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more, but ye see Me; because I live, ye shall live also. The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, she shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
From the Gay Saints Calendar at: http://www.otkenyer.hu/halsall/lgbh-gaysts.html#perp
May 30 ORC *St. Joan of Arc
c.1412-1431
and *La Rousse
and *Catharine de La Rochelle
An Image of Joan of Arc is available online. See also another image.
Joan, who was executed at the age of 19, lived, as Marina Warner notes, one of the most classically heroic lives of any woman in history. She is the national heroine of France. She also refused to wear women's clothes and had her hair cut in the typical male "basin" style of the day. Even during her trial she insisted on male attire, an insistence which angered her prosecutors.
from Compton's Online Encyclopedia, (AOL, Downloaded 7/22/94)
JOAN OF ARC (1412?-31). One of the most romantic figures in European war history was Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who saved the kingdom of France from English domination. She has also been called the Maid of Orleans and the Maid of France. When she was only 17 years old, Joan inspired a French army to break the English siege of the French city of Orleans and to win other important victories. Joan of Arc (in French Jeanne d'Arc) was born in the village of Domremy, in the Meuse River valley, probably in 1412. She was the daughter of a wealthy tenant farmer. From her mother she learned how to spin, sew, and cook, and also to love and serve God. She spent much of her time praying in church. For almost 100 years France and much of Europe had been fighting in what became known as the Hundred Years' War. The English occupied much of northern France and the Duke of Burgundy was their ally. Because the impoverished French king, Charles VII, had not yet been crowned, he was still called the Dauphin (See Charles, Kings of France). Reims, where the coronation ceremonies for French kings had been held for 1,000 years, was in enemy hands (See Reims). The valley where Joan lived was constantly overrun by armies and guerrilla bands.
Joan was only about 13 when she first saw a heavenly vision. She later claimed that St. Michael had told her to be a good girl, to obey her mother, and to go to church often. For some time, however, she told no one of the visions. When St. Catherine and St. Margaret commanded her to journey to the Dauphin in order to inspire his armies to clear the way to Reims for the coronation, she told her parents and others. Her father refused to let her go. Joan's visions continued to command her. Her friends, who believed that she was truly inspired, secured boy's clothing and a horse for her. Several rode with her on the long trip to the Dauphin's court at Chinon. Perhaps as a test, the Dauphin made one of his courtiers pretend to be the king. Joan, however, went directly to the true king and greeted him. The Dauphin and his councilors were not entirely convinced of her mission, however. Months of doubt and indecision followed while she was questioned. Slowly an army was gathered. The Dauphin equipped Joan with armor, attendants, and horses. A special banner was made for Joan to carry into battle. On one side were the words "Jesus Maria" and a figure of God, seated on clouds and holding a glove. The other side had a figure of the Virgin and a shield, with two angels supporting the arms of France. When the army at last moved toward Orleans, Joan was not its commander, but her presence inspired the soldiers with confidence. At Orleans, after Joan disapproved of the plans made for entering the besieged city, her own plan was adopted. From the city she led a series of sallies that so harassed and discouraged the English that they withdrew. In one of the skirmishes Joan was wounded. On May 8, 1429, the victory was celebrated by the first festival of Orleans. The army entered Reims on July 16. The next day the Dauphin was crowned king as Joan stood by with her banner. A decision was made to attack Paris, but the new monarch's hesitation and indecision prevented Joan's soldiers from concerted attack. Nevertheless, Compiegne and other nearby towns were taken. A French attack on a Paris salient was driven back and Joan was again wounded. Charles VII disbanded his army for the winter and retired southward. Through the cold months Joan chafed at royal delay. In the spring she returned to Compiegne, now besieged by forces of the Duke of Burgundy. On May 23, 1430, Joan, on a sortie into the Burgundian lines, was separated from her soldiers and captured.
Trial and Execution
As a prisoner at Beaurevoir, she attempted to escape, but was injured in the leap from the donjon tower. Later she was sold to the English, who vowed that she would be executed. They removed her to Rouen, where she was held in chains. Although the English wanted Joan's death, they desired her to be sentenced by an ecclesiastical court. The Burgundian- controlled University of Paris provided the charges of heresy and witchcraft. It also provided some of the members of the court. Other members came from areas under English occupation. Chief of the court was the bishop of Beauvais. Joan was handed over to this bishop on Jan. 3, 1431. The sittings began on February 21 and continued intermittently for months. Joan's appeal to be sent before the pope for judgment was denied. On May 23 she was condemned to be burned unless she recanted. She had been held for many months in chains, threatened with torture, and harassed by thousands of questions. In spite of all this, she had maintained her shy innocence, often confounding her oppressors with simple, unaffected answers to tricky questions. Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, she said, still counseled her.
Faced with death in the flames, she recanted, but many historians think she did not understand what was meant in the statement of recantation. As a result of her submission, her punishment was commuted from death to life imprisonment. This leniency enraged the English, however, and it was not long before she was accused of relapsing from her submission. On May 30, 1431, when she was only 19 years old, Joan was turned over to civil authority and burned to death at the stake.
Charles VII had made no effort to save Joan. Some 25 years later he did aid her family to appeal the case to the pope, and in 1456 a papal court annulled the judgment of 1431. On May 16, 1920, Joan of Arc was canonized a saint by the Roman Catholic church.
Select bibliography
Catholic Encyclopedia - entry on Joan of Arc (available online)
There is an interesting web site devoted to original texts and later discussions about Joab of Arc.
Marina Warner, St. Joan of Arc: The Image of Female Heroism, (London: 1981, pb. Penguin, 1985), esp. 149-59
Charles T. Wood, Joan of Arc and Richard II: Sex , Saints and Government in the Middle Ages, (Oxford: Oxford UP, 1988)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Next Chapel of Serge & Bacchus Mass this Sunday, May 3rd
Hello Friends,
Just a quick reminder to let you know that we will be holding our monthly Chapel of Saints Serge & Bacchus (and Perpetua and Felicity) for THE GNOSTIC SOCIETY GLBTQ Community and Friends this coming Sunday, May 3rd, at 5:00 PM. Hope to see you there!
Rev.’s: John, Donna, Gerry and Amber
The Chapel of Saints Serge and Bacchus Blog at:
http://chapelofsergeandbacchus.blogspot.com/
scroll down for Gay saints calendar entry for Friday, May 8th
ECCLESIA GNOSTICA CALENDAR
Third Sunday after Easter: White. Mass of same (p. 51). The Third Sunday After Easter
Intent: Divine Protection
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O great alone-born, hear us this day when we cry to Thee, O One-Father, almighty spirit, the firstborn of every living being and every Aeon! Help us, O holy angels! May our afflictions both within and without swiftly flee away from us, so that the benevolent powers may come to us, remain with us, and protecting us, guide us to Thine ineffable Light!
Amen.
________________________________________
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Chaldean Oracles:
The soul of man, with nothing in it subject to death, should press God closely to itself; but now it is all drunk, for it glories in the Harmony under whose sway the mortal frame exists. Seek out the channel for the Soul-Stream, whence it is that the Soul fell into slavery to the body, and to what state thou shalt rise again. Those who flee the reckless fated wing of Fate and stay themselves in God, draw to themselves the fires in all their prime as they descend out of the Father. And the soul is nourished all these aeons by the empyrean fruit which it gathered from God, who is our home, and our true Self.
________________________________________
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: Blessed are the solitary and elect, for you shall find the kingdom; because you come from it, and you shall go there again. Jesus said: If they say to you: 'From where have you originated', you say to them: 'We have come from the Light, where the Light has originated through itself. It stood and it revealed itself in their image.' If they say to you: 'Who are you?', say: 'We are His sons and we are the elect of the Living Father.' If they ask you: 'What is the sign of your Father in you?', say to them: 'It is a movement and a rest.'
From the GAY SAINTS CALENDAR:
May 8 COE/ECUSA *Julian of Norwich, mystic
1342- c. 1417
Mother Julian qualifies as transgendered for her name, if nothing else. But that is not her main interest for lesbian and gay people. Mother Julian was one of the foremost English mystics of the middle ages. As a young women she had series of intense visions, or "showings" as she said, of Jesus. She then lived as an anchoress, a sort of local hermit, for the rest of her life meditating and writing down he meditations on these visions. There is a pretty poor modern English version put out by Penguin, but the edition in the Classics of Western Spirituality Series is well worth the extra cost. Julian, although no feminist, experienced God directly as "our mother", and experienced God as pure love. She also saw Jesus as a loving mother, full of warm and care for her children. Julian's immensely attractive spirituality emphasize that God love's human beings, and that in the end "all will be well, and all shall be well, and all will be well". In her awareness of the motherhood of God, in her emphasis on God's love and manifest intention that "every kind of thing will be well", Julian's spirituality has the called many who have encountered it back to a joyful Faith. And a Faith that is not joyful hardly seems worth the effort.
Chapter 60 (from Long Text of "Showings")
"The Mother can lay her child tenderly to her breast, but our tender Mother Jesus can lead us easily into his blessed breast through his sweet open side, and show us there a part of the godhead and of the joys of heaven with inner certainty of endless bliss. And that he revealed in the 10th revelation, giving us the same under standing in these sweet words which he says: See how I love you, looking into his blessed side, rejoicing"
Chapter 31 (from Long Text of "Showings"), a passage Julian referred back to repeatedly,
"And so our good Lord answered to all questions and doubts which I could raise, saying most comfortably: I may make all things well, and I can make all things well, and I shall make all things well, and I will make all things well, and you will see yourself that every kind of thing will be well"
Chapter 11 (from Short text of "Showings")
"Thus I chose Jesus for my heaven, whom I saw only in pain at that time. No other heaven was pleasing to me than Jesus, who will be my bliss when I am there; and this has always been a comfort to me, that I chose Jesus as my heaven in all times of suffering and of sorrow."
Select bibliography
Catholic Encyclopedia - entry on Juliana of Norwich (available online)
See the Julian of Norwich homepage, which includes a link to an icon of Mother Julian, as well as much written material.
Julian of Norwich's Revelations, an online article by by Gretchen Denlinger.
Julian of Norwich, Showings, trans. Edmund Colledge and James Walsh, (New York: Paulist Press, 1978)
Just a quick reminder to let you know that we will be holding our monthly Chapel of Saints Serge & Bacchus (and Perpetua and Felicity) for THE GNOSTIC SOCIETY GLBTQ Community and Friends this coming Sunday, May 3rd, at 5:00 PM. Hope to see you there!
Rev.’s: John, Donna, Gerry and Amber
The Chapel of Saints Serge and Bacchus Blog at:
http://chapelofsergeandbacchus.blogspot.com/
scroll down for Gay saints calendar entry for Friday, May 8th
ECCLESIA GNOSTICA CALENDAR
Third Sunday after Easter: White. Mass of same (p. 51). The Third Sunday After Easter
Intent: Divine Protection
________________________________________
THE COLLECT
O great alone-born, hear us this day when we cry to Thee, O One-Father, almighty spirit, the firstborn of every living being and every Aeon! Help us, O holy angels! May our afflictions both within and without swiftly flee away from us, so that the benevolent powers may come to us, remain with us, and protecting us, guide us to Thine ineffable Light!
Amen.
________________________________________
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Chaldean Oracles:
The soul of man, with nothing in it subject to death, should press God closely to itself; but now it is all drunk, for it glories in the Harmony under whose sway the mortal frame exists. Seek out the channel for the Soul-Stream, whence it is that the Soul fell into slavery to the body, and to what state thou shalt rise again. Those who flee the reckless fated wing of Fate and stay themselves in God, draw to themselves the fires in all their prime as they descend out of the Father. And the soul is nourished all these aeons by the empyrean fruit which it gathered from God, who is our home, and our true Self.
________________________________________
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: Blessed are the solitary and elect, for you shall find the kingdom; because you come from it, and you shall go there again. Jesus said: If they say to you: 'From where have you originated', you say to them: 'We have come from the Light, where the Light has originated through itself. It stood and it revealed itself in their image.' If they say to you: 'Who are you?', say: 'We are His sons and we are the elect of the Living Father.' If they ask you: 'What is the sign of your Father in you?', say to them: 'It is a movement and a rest.'
From the GAY SAINTS CALENDAR:
May 8 COE/ECUSA *Julian of Norwich, mystic
1342- c. 1417
Mother Julian qualifies as transgendered for her name, if nothing else. But that is not her main interest for lesbian and gay people. Mother Julian was one of the foremost English mystics of the middle ages. As a young women she had series of intense visions, or "showings" as she said, of Jesus. She then lived as an anchoress, a sort of local hermit, for the rest of her life meditating and writing down he meditations on these visions. There is a pretty poor modern English version put out by Penguin, but the edition in the Classics of Western Spirituality Series is well worth the extra cost. Julian, although no feminist, experienced God directly as "our mother", and experienced God as pure love. She also saw Jesus as a loving mother, full of warm and care for her children. Julian's immensely attractive spirituality emphasize that God love's human beings, and that in the end "all will be well, and all shall be well, and all will be well". In her awareness of the motherhood of God, in her emphasis on God's love and manifest intention that "every kind of thing will be well", Julian's spirituality has the called many who have encountered it back to a joyful Faith. And a Faith that is not joyful hardly seems worth the effort.
Chapter 60 (from Long Text of "Showings")
"The Mother can lay her child tenderly to her breast, but our tender Mother Jesus can lead us easily into his blessed breast through his sweet open side, and show us there a part of the godhead and of the joys of heaven with inner certainty of endless bliss. And that he revealed in the 10th revelation, giving us the same under standing in these sweet words which he says: See how I love you, looking into his blessed side, rejoicing"
Chapter 31 (from Long Text of "Showings"), a passage Julian referred back to repeatedly,
"And so our good Lord answered to all questions and doubts which I could raise, saying most comfortably: I may make all things well, and I can make all things well, and I shall make all things well, and I will make all things well, and you will see yourself that every kind of thing will be well"
Chapter 11 (from Short text of "Showings")
"Thus I chose Jesus for my heaven, whom I saw only in pain at that time. No other heaven was pleasing to me than Jesus, who will be my bliss when I am there; and this has always been a comfort to me, that I chose Jesus as my heaven in all times of suffering and of sorrow."
Select bibliography
Catholic Encyclopedia - entry on Juliana of Norwich (available online)
See the Julian of Norwich homepage, which includes a link to an icon of Mother Julian, as well as much written material.
Julian of Norwich's Revelations, an online article by by Gretchen Denlinger.
Julian of Norwich, Showings, trans. Edmund Colledge and James Walsh, (New York: Paulist Press, 1978)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!
WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER!
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew:
As it began to dawn towards the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the Angel said unto the women: Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that he is risen from the dead. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying: All hail. And they came and took Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. http://www.gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect045.htm
“The Savior swallowed up death - (of this) you are not reckoned as being ignorant - for he put aside the world which is perishing. He transformed himself into an imperishable Aeon and raised himself up, having swallowed the visible by the invisible, and he gave us the way of our immortality. Then, indeed, as the Apostle said, "We suffered with him, and we arose with him, and we went to heaven with him". Now if we are manifest in this world wearing him, we are that one`s beams, and we are embraced by him until our setting, that is to say, our death in this life. We are drawn to heaven by him, like beams by the sun, not being restrained by anything. This is the spiritual resurrection which swallows up the psychic in the same way as the fleshly. “ The Treatise on the Resurrection, The Nag Hammadi Library http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/res.html
“What great confidence at the hour of death shall be his who is not attached to this world by any affection. But the sickly soul does not know what it is to have a heart thus separated from all things, nor does the natural man know the liberty of the spiritual man. Yet, if he truly wishes to be spiritual, he must renounce both strangers and friends, and must beware of no one more than himself.”
“…Grace is a supernatural light, a certain special gift of God, the proper mark of the elect and the pledge of everlasting salvation. It raises man up from earthly things to love the things of heaven. It makes a spiritual man of a carnal one. The more, then, nature is held in check and conquered, the more grace is given. Every day the interior man is reformed by new visitations according to the image of God.”
Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ http://www.leaderu.com/cyber/books/imitation/imb3c51-59.html
the Gnostic Chapel of Saint Jeanne D'Arc Blog at:
http://saintjeannechapel।blogspot.com/
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus Mass Sunday, March 1st @5:00 PM
Hello,
Just a reminder to let you know that this Sunday, March 1st we're having our Monthly Gnostic-Christan Mass for the Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bachhus again at 5:30 PM. Being that this is the first Sunday following Ash Wednesday, and the first Sunday in Lent and the Easter Season, we will be administering blessed ashes, for those who were unable to attend our Ash Wednesday Mass.
First Sunday in Lent: Violet. Mass of the same (p 28). [homily] Blessing and distribution of ashes may be repeated (p 27).
THE COLLECT
O loving God, look upon Thy children who have answered Thy call! Come to us with Thy mighty aid in our time of need. Cleanse us of all darkness and ignorance, let our tears be turned to jubilation, let Thy most glorious power watch over us until we enter Thy light. Let Thy great brightness come and cause the path to be lit before us, let Thy angels bring to us Thy garments, Thy crowns and Thy garlands; let our way be restful, let the door open before us into the column of glory, let us cross over in the ships of Light and rest for evermore. Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the words of the Holy Prophet Mani: The man whose mind is full of light is the one to whom belongs wisdom; as soon as he hears truth he welcomes it to himself; but he whose mind is without light, who is alien to it, does not take it to himself, nor does he listen to it. And every weak soul which has not learned the truth belonging to her is doomed to remain without any rest or happiness. God’s enlightening word is sweet when it finds ears to hear it; it does not lodge in a closed mind, makes not its way into a polluted shrine. Let us therefore examine our shrines, so that in cleanliness they may receive the Light.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:Jesus saw children who were being suckled. He said to his disciples: These children who are being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom. They said to Him: Shall we then, being children, enter the Kingdom? Jesus said to them: When you make the two one, and when you make the inner as the outer and the outer as the inner and the above as the below, and when you make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male will not be male and the female not be female, when you make eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in the place of a hand, and a foot in the place of a foot, and an image in the place of an image then shall you enter the Kingdom.
Hope to see you at Ecclesia Gnostica and the Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus Tomorrow!
Rev.'s Donna, John, Jerry & Amber
"Remember O Soul, that thy body is dust and to dust it shall return." Ash Wednesday Blessing as used by the Ecclesia Gnostica.
Just a reminder to let you know that this Sunday, March 1st we're having our Monthly Gnostic-Christan Mass for the Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bachhus again at 5:30 PM. Being that this is the first Sunday following Ash Wednesday, and the first Sunday in Lent and the Easter Season, we will be administering blessed ashes, for those who were unable to attend our Ash Wednesday Mass.
First Sunday in Lent: Violet. Mass of the same (p 28). [homily] Blessing and distribution of ashes may be repeated (p 27).
THE COLLECT
O loving God, look upon Thy children who have answered Thy call! Come to us with Thy mighty aid in our time of need. Cleanse us of all darkness and ignorance, let our tears be turned to jubilation, let Thy most glorious power watch over us until we enter Thy light. Let Thy great brightness come and cause the path to be lit before us, let Thy angels bring to us Thy garments, Thy crowns and Thy garlands; let our way be restful, let the door open before us into the column of glory, let us cross over in the ships of Light and rest for evermore. Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the words of the Holy Prophet Mani: The man whose mind is full of light is the one to whom belongs wisdom; as soon as he hears truth he welcomes it to himself; but he whose mind is without light, who is alien to it, does not take it to himself, nor does he listen to it. And every weak soul which has not learned the truth belonging to her is doomed to remain without any rest or happiness. God’s enlightening word is sweet when it finds ears to hear it; it does not lodge in a closed mind, makes not its way into a polluted shrine. Let us therefore examine our shrines, so that in cleanliness they may receive the Light.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:Jesus saw children who were being suckled. He said to his disciples: These children who are being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom. They said to Him: Shall we then, being children, enter the Kingdom? Jesus said to them: When you make the two one, and when you make the inner as the outer and the outer as the inner and the above as the below, and when you make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male will not be male and the female not be female, when you make eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in the place of a hand, and a foot in the place of a foot, and an image in the place of an image then shall you enter the Kingdom.
Hope to see you at Ecclesia Gnostica and the Chapel of Ss. Serge and Bacchus Tomorrow!
Rev.'s Donna, John, Jerry & Amber
"Remember O Soul, that thy body is dust and to dust it shall return." Ash Wednesday Blessing as used by the Ecclesia Gnostica.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Great Gay Quotes
It always seemed to me a bit pointless to disapprove of homosexuality. It's like disapproving of rain. - Francis Maude
In response to a reader who complained that a gay couple was moving in across the street and wanted to know what he could do to improve the quality of the neighborhood. 'You could move.' ~ Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby,"
The only queer people are those who don't love anybody. - Rita Mae Brown
My own belief is that there is hardly anyone whose sexual life, if it were broadcast, would not fill the world at large with surprise and horror. ~ W.Somerset Maugham
If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: "Hello. Can't work today, still queer." ~ Robin Tyler
I'd rather be black than gay because when you're black you don't have to tell your mother. ~ Charles Pierce
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines
The one bonus of not lifting the ban on gays in the military is that the next time the government mandates a draft we can all declare homosexuality instead of running off to Canada. - Lorne Bloch
You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight. ~ Barry Goldwater
Drag is when a man wears everything a lesbian won't. - Author Unknown
My mother took me to a psychiatrist when I was fifteen because she thought I was a latent homosexual. There was nothing latent about it. - Amanda Bearse
I was standing in the middle of Manhattan, and heard a man say "They ought to take all these homos and put them on an island somewhere." I said, "Merry Christmas, Bozo, you're on it." - Jim David
(and, of course, the ever famous quote:) The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.
In response to a reader who complained that a gay couple was moving in across the street and wanted to know what he could do to improve the quality of the neighborhood. 'You could move.' ~ Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby,"
The only queer people are those who don't love anybody. - Rita Mae Brown
My own belief is that there is hardly anyone whose sexual life, if it were broadcast, would not fill the world at large with surprise and horror. ~ W.Somerset Maugham
If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: "Hello. Can't work today, still queer." ~ Robin Tyler
I'd rather be black than gay because when you're black you don't have to tell your mother. ~ Charles Pierce
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines
The one bonus of not lifting the ban on gays in the military is that the next time the government mandates a draft we can all declare homosexuality instead of running off to Canada. - Lorne Bloch
You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight. ~ Barry Goldwater
Drag is when a man wears everything a lesbian won't. - Author Unknown
My mother took me to a psychiatrist when I was fifteen because she thought I was a latent homosexual. There was nothing latent about it. - Amanda Bearse
I was standing in the middle of Manhattan, and heard a man say "They ought to take all these homos and put them on an island somewhere." I said, "Merry Christmas, Bozo, you're on it." - Jim David
(and, of course, the ever famous quote:) The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.
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