Sisters and Brothers,<div><br></div><div>As you'll recall, the parish meets this Sunday for our monthly service of Holy Eucharist a service of prayer, thanksgiving and blessing.</div><div><br></div><div>On this particular Sunday, I have a couple of extra responsibilities to carry out as well as celebrating the service. Roughly a year ago, Trish Nowland offered her vows as a nun in the Order of St Esclaremonde - a lay monastic order of the Apostolic Johannite Church. Every year on or near Montsegur Day, on which we remember the sacrifice of Cathars during the Albigensian Crusades, monks and nuns in the OSE are required to reaffirm their vows.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The Cathars were a large community of christians in the Languedoc Region of France who followed a strict moral rule and engaged in deep spiritual practice. They were renowned throughout Europe as holy and compassionate people, but were also rumoured to hold unorthodox beliefs. The movement was violently repressed by military forces sponsored by the Pope of the time. Their last stand was at a mountain fortress called Montsegur, hence "Montsegur Day".</div>
<div><br></div><div>Esclaremonde of Foix was one of the most beloved and saintly leaders of the Cathar people and she gives her name to the OSE. If you've attended a Eucharist before, you'll have noticed her name among the list of saints and adepti we give thanks for.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The other church who sponsors the OSE is the Gnostic Church of Mary Magdalene. The GCMM and the AJC are sister churches in our approaches, though we take slightly different twists on a few things. They have recently opened a formal formation programme to admit new priests to their church and this seems to have inspired Trish to begin the process of formally investigating a vocation to the priesthood.</div>
<div><br></div><div>That journey begins ritually this Sunday. During the Eucharist service, I will invest Trish as a "Lay Server", the first of several Orders in the church and the beginning of her journey toward the priesthood.</div>
<div><br></div><div>So, it's a big night. Please come offer Trish your moral support in her ongoing journey of dedication to service and join me in prayer and thanksgiving.</div><div><br></div><div>We'll offer tea and snacks in the hall after the service. All welcome.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Service of Holy Eucharist for Montsegur Day</div><div>6pm, Sunday 15 March 2009</div><div>Unitarian Centre</div><div>15 Francis St, Darlinghurst.</div><div><br></div><div>Rev Father Tim Mansfield</div>
<div>Rector, Parish of St Uriel the Archangel</div><div>Apostolic Johannite Church</div><div>Sydney, Australia</div>