This Sunday, we will commemorate the destruction of the public form of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ as the Martyrdom of the Knights Templar (Oct 13) and take time to acknowledge the saints of our church, in recognition of All Saint's Day (Nov 1).
At first glance, it might be difficult to see what the notoriety that lives on in witness of the chivalrous and virile Knights Templar has in common with the commemoration that we ascribe to those that lead the way in gnosis, the saints of the Apostolic Johannite Church.
But it may be no accident that the intent for the readings this week, the week in we will recognise both in liturgy, have at their heart 'Perseverance', as a focal point.
On Templar Sunday, we recite the full litany – the name of every grandmaster of the order – as well as the Insititutional Narrative, the grand story of the lineage which we inherit from the Johannite Church of Primitive Christians found in the 19th Century, as a part of the French Gnostic Restoration. We light memorial candles to recall the perseverance with which they followed their witness, to the truth of gnosis.
We recognise the saints of the Apostolic Johannite Church similarly, each less likely to be commemorated for tales of conversion, intercession or posthumous miracle, than in honour of their perseverance, in accounting for their observance of the deeper wisdom, of gnosis.
Please join us for this haunting, solemn service which illustrates a core aspect of our spiritual lineage.
If you are planning to come along on Sunday, and would like to bring any saints relics or icons that you might have to the service, this is the perfect opportunity to have them blessed by Fr Tim+.
The service this Sunday will be the "Johannite Gnostic Divine Liturgy". The service alternates engagement and stillness, provoking a meditative attitude and the cultivation of deeper perceptions. The service features prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
We follow the service with some conversation, hot drinks and snacks. Please stay and and share some time and company.
Just a reminder too that Fr Tim+ will be presenting a one-day workshop, 'Introducing Integral Christianity', next Sunday, October 31, 2010.
Please register here to come along and be a part of a delightful day of exploration into the individual stages and collective shape of the Christian tradition:
http://integralspiritualitysydney.eventbrite.com/
If you'd like to attend, but can't register straight away, please drop us an email at contact@st-uriels.org to record your interest, and we will be in touch.