Liturgy Dates through Epiphany and Lent

This is the dates, readings and intents for regular services between today and Ash Wednesday. Note that we've shifted to a slightly earlier time of 6pm.

This early season of the year is full of ritual and drama. If you want to gather support for your private prayer and spiritual practice, the festivals of Epiphany, Candlemas and Lent are the ideal way to fortify yourself.

All welcome!

Epiphany

The month of January has been mostly occupied by the festival of Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6 the twelfth day of Christmas. Epiphany (which means "revelation" in Greek) among other things recalls the arrival of the Three Wise Men at the nativity of Christ.

In the season of Epiphany (which lasts from The Epiphany up to Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas) all Christians recall the events of the life of Jesus in which he progressively revealed himself as Divine.

As Gnostics, this is a season in which we celebrate our own Epiphany. Some of us have had clear experiences of noticing the Divine Presence in everyday life, some of us may still be hoping for such a moment though we're not certain we've had it. So this month is a time to engage in spiritual practice in a mood of both dedication and thanksgiving.

27 Jan Fourth Sunday in Epiphany
Intent: The Overcoming of Sorrow
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect019.htm

Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with meditation. All Welcome!
Liturgy followed by tea and discussion of chapter 1 of "Inner Christianity" by Richard Smoley.

Candlemas

February begins with Candlemas, the fortieth day after Christmas. For exoteric Christians, this is a commemoration of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The name of the festival comes from the tradition of blessing the church's candles on this day.

For us, the festival is a recollection of the presence of the Sacred Flame in even the darkest places and the power of the Flame to illuminate the world. Bring along a candle and we'll collectively ask for a blessing on them, so that you can take it home for use in private meditation.

3 Feb Candlemas Sunday
Intent: Kindling of the Light in Darkness
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect119.htm

Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with The Christ Practice (a guided meditation intended to fortify one's intent for spiritual practice). All Welcome.

Note: Bring along a candle and we'll collectively ask for a blessing on the candles.

Lent

Lent is the solemn period leading up to Easter and is characterised by a process of turning inward, of "giving up" what stands between you and the Divine and of purification. Fortified by the joy of the Incarnation, strengthened in our practice of prayer and meditation by Epiphany and Candlemas, we turn our attention to purifying our selves to better see the Light.

This is an ideal time to engage in emotional cleansing practices like psychotherapy, Focusing, various kinds of Vipassana meditation, journalling and so on. We enter this period in humility, but not grimly, determined to do what needs to be done.

The first day of Lent is always Ash Wednesday, in many churches ash is blessed and a priest signs the sign of the cross on each person's forehead in ash with the words, "Remember Thou, O soul, that thy body is dust and unto dust it shall return." We don't yet have a priest, so we won't be able to observe this tradition, but we will have a moment to dedicate our attention to the purification of Lent for those who'd like to join in.

6 Feb Ash Wednesday (Note Irregular Service Time)
Intent: Purification
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect027.htm

Service: 7.30pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's. All Welcome.
For those who wish to take part a silent dedication to purification will be held.

10 Feb First Sunday in Lent
Intent: Self-examination
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect028.htm
Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with meditation. All Welcome.

17 Feb Second Sunday in Lent
Intent: Yearning for God
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect030.htm
Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with meditation. All Welcome.

24 Feb Third Sunday in Lent
Intent: Understanding
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect032.htm
Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with meditation. All Welcome.

2 Mar Fourth Sunday in Lent
Intent: Spiritual Refreshment
Readings: http://gnosis.org/ecclesia/lect034.htm
Service: 6pm - Logos Liturgy at St Uriel's with meditation. All Welcome.

Thanks for your continued support of our community. I hope to encounter many of you at Sunday liturgy through this fascinating and important season.

With Love,

Rev Mr Tim Mansfield