|
Category: Announcements
Corpus Christi
This Sunday we give thanks for the Body of Christ. This can mean many things, but the major aspect is the mystery of the Eucharist and the blessing of the Divine made present through the sacrament.
In my experience, the more deeply one looks into the mystery of the Eucharist, the more one is astonished by its sweetness and power. The service contains within itself much of the history of Christianity and, although understood differently by gnostic and orthodox christians, is treasured by all.
If you’ve never participated in the Eucharist as an adult or haven’t had a chance to really rest in the blessings of the Mass – the only way you’ll be able to make sense of what I’m saying is to come along and bring your refined, mature senses to bear on the Divine encounter in person.
See you on Sunday!
Service – 6pm
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.
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.
Conversation, hot drinks and snacks follow the service. Please stay and mingle.
The congregation at St Uriel’s meets every Sunday at 6pm at:
The Unitarian Centre
15 Francis St
Darlinghurst, NSW
Map
Rector: Father Tim Mansfield
email blog
Apostolic Johannite Church
Services this week.
The One has brought forth the One and then One and these three are but One: The Father, The Word and The Thought.
Although a constant engagement with the trinitarian character of the Divine is a part of all Christian praxis, both Orthodox and Gnostic, Trinity Sunday is the day we focus in particular on developing and deepening our understanding of that particular paradoxical doctrine of Unitas in Trinitas – three in one and one in three.
For non-Christians who encounter it, the concept of a Trinitarian Divine is either bizarre or evidence of the irrationality of Christians. For many Christians, it’s skipped over without truly understanding it. But when made a focus of contemplation, the doctrine of the Trinity can yield up a deeper understanding of the mysterious and deeply relational character of the Divine.
The Trinity describes an experience of divinity which is utterly ineffable, transcendant, all-encompassing, all-loving, but at the same time human, evident in the eyes of our neighbours, in the helping hand of a stranger, in our own direct, human experience and for all that mysterious and intimate, never seen yet immanent, a driving force for which we are the form.
Each Person of the Trinity: The Father-Mother or Source or Origin, The Son or Logos or Christ and the Holy Spirit or Sacred Breath expresses a different aspect of everyday experience where we can most clearly notice the Divine-in-action. But each dyad also expresses ways in which these aspects of experience relate to each other.
Christianity is often referred to as a Monotheistic religion and, in some sense it is, but in other senses its trinitarian character makes it quite distinct from other Monotheistic religions.
These ideas aren’t simple, but accept my offer to make them a focus of contemplation this week. Read over the prayers and readings for the week and do some reading about the Trinity. Sit quietly for a few minutes and search the content of your own experience to see how each Person of the Trinity shows up for you.
Service – 6pm
The service this Sunday will be a “Sophianic Eucharist”. The service praises Sophia or Holy Wisdom as the immanent, feminine face of the Divine and celebrates the sacred marriage between the immanent and transcendent aspects of Spirit. The service features prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
The service this Sunday will be a “Sophianic Eucharist”. The service praises Sophia or Holy Wisdom as the immanent, feminine face of the Divine and celebrates the sacred marriage between the immanent and transcendent aspects of Spirit. The service features prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
Sophia Café – 7pm
Sophia Café follows the service – stay around for tea, snacks and conversation. Each week starts with a short talk by someone from the community followed by open discussion.
Topic: Simon Magus – the founder of Simonianism. Great teacher or unholy shyster?
Presenter: Lynette Watters
The congregation at St Uriel’s meets every Sunday at 6pm at:
The Unitarian Centre
15 Francis St
Darlinghurst, NSW
Map
Rector: Father Tim Mansfield
email blog
Apostolic Johannite Church
Pentecost
Pentecost Sunday recalls the story of the disciples gathered and the Holy Spirit descending, not in the form of a dove as we see at the baptism of Jesus, but as tongues of fire. This flame alights on the heads of the disciples and they begin to proclaim the good news of liberation in a way that every person there understands.
The Holy Spirit is the outrush of breath from the Divine heralding the coming of the Kingdom. All of us have access to this divine connection as part of our natural condition. If we allow ourselves to be moved by the sacred breath and to become, in our own flesh, the utterance of the Name – great things are possible. We see the fire of God in the eyes of everyone around us, we are lifted into the Kingdom and liberated into its radical state of freedom.
Which all sounds very grand, but this journey begins very simply by making time each day to sit in stillness, and practice drawing attention to your breath. Allow your awareness to sit like a feather on the breath and for a few minutes, lighten your load. When you arise, you may find yourself looking at a different, bright, freer world, peopled by your brothers and sisters and lit from within by joy.
Last week, the plan was to celebrate the Eastern Rite Eucharist, but a perfect storm of things went wrong and so we kept the service simple. So, this week it’s all systems go. Come and see the AJC’s most mysterious and ceremonial service.
Service – 6pm
The service this Sunday will be an “Eastern Rite Eucharist”. Modelled on the style of service celebrated in Eastern churches like the Greek or Syrian Orthodox, the service is ceremonial and contemplative. It features silent prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
Sophia Café – 7pm
Sophia Café follows the service – stay around for tea, snacks and conversation. Each week starts with a short talk by someone from the community followed by open discussion.
This week we will discuss the components of the Eucharist, based on the experience of the service we’ve just had.
Presenter: Father Tim
The congregation at St Uriel’s meets every Sunday at 6pm at:
The Unitarian Centre
15 Francis St
Darlinghurst, NSW
Map
Rector: Father Tim Mansfield
email blog
Apostolic Johannite Church
Ascension Sunday
This week we’re asked to meditate on the results of the process of reunion – the return to the Light. To mark the day I will be offering the new Eastern Rite liturgy – which brings some of the beauty and mystery of the Syrian tradition to our rather Roman-looking church.
Two altars, secret prayers and a deeply contemplative mood. Come, try!
Service – 6pm
The service this Sunday will be an “Eastern Rite Eucharist”. Modelled on the style of service celebrated in Eastern churches like the Greek or Syrian Orthodox, the service is ceremonial and contemplative. It features silent prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
The service this Sunday will be an “Eastern Rite Eucharist”. Modelled on the style of service celebrated in Eastern churches like the Greek or Syrian Orthodox, the service is ceremonial and contemplative. It features silent prayer and chant and the sharing of the Body and the Blood in the form of bread and wine.
Sophia Café – 7pm
Sophia Café follows the service – stay around for tea, snacks and conversation. Each week starts with a short talk by someone from the community followed by open discussion.
Topic: The Odes of Solomon
Presenter: Sister Trish Nowland
The congregation at St Uriel’s meets every Sunday at 6pm at:
The Unitarian Centre
15 Francis St
Darlinghurst, NSW
Map
Rector: Father Tim Mansfield
email blog
Apostolic Johannite Church