THE WORD OF GOD
Ruth 1:6-18
BCP p. 782
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:3-9
The Holy Gospel John 20:11-18
The Sermon
Prayers of the People
Litanist With all our heart and with all our mind let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
For the whole creation, of which Christ is the Life and the unquenchable Light, let us pray to the Lord.
People Lord, have mercy.
Litanist For the Church of God, that it may be sanctified in the truth and healed of its brokenness and division, so that all may be one, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who serve the Church as its leaders, especially James our Superior, Alan and Carol, our bishops; and Rob our Bishop Visitor, let us pray to the Lord.
For all those whom Christ has made his friends, who abide in him as the True Vine, that they may bear much fruit, let us pray to the Lord.
For all those who have been led by the Spirit into monastic life, that they may bear faithful witness to Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, that we may be inspired by the life and words of the Beloved Disciple to live in intimacy with God, in
brotherly love, and with zeal for the good news of freedom and life, let us pray to the Lord.
For our brother Lain who now seeks to dedicate his life as a Brother in our Society by professing the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, let us pray to the Lord.
For his family and friends, and for all those who have taught and encouraged him in the Christian way, and helped to nurture his vocation to the religious life, let us pray to the Lord.
For those whom he serves in our ministry of preaching and in our corporate offering of worship, by the power of the grace given to him, let us pray to the Lord.
For all the departed, especially those who have gone before us as members of this Society, for our own forebears, and for those who have none to pray for them, let us pray to the Lord.
For the gift of the prayers of the saints and angels to uphold us, especially the prayers of the ever-Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Beloved Disciple who cared for her, Mary Magdalene, Richard Meux Benson, our founder, and all the saints, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may all come to be with Christ where he is, may see his glory and share his life for all eternity, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.
People To you, O Lord our God.
Presider O Lord Jesus Christ, you became poor for our sake, that we might be made rich through your poverty: Guide and sanctify, we pray, those whom you call to follow you under the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, that by their prayer and service they may enrich your Church, and by their life and worship may glorify your Name. Amen.
The congregation is seated.
THE PROFESSION
Novice Brothers, I present to you Randolph Chamberlain Wilson, who has Guardian completed his novitiate in our community. We have tested his vocation to the religious life and believe that God is calling him to be a Brother in our Society. We have confirmed by election that we are ready to allow him to profess the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Thanks be to God for the graces we have received together in these years of testing and discernment.
Superior Lain, the whole community rejoices when a new Brother is ready to make these vows. Our joy comes from the Holy Spirit who lives and moves among us, the Spirit whose grace and power enables us to give ourselves wholly to Christ. The same Spirit by whom you were born again is leading you to express your baptismal commitment through the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Listen as we bear witness to their meaning.
First Lain, the poverty we profess springs from the heart of God, who is selfBrother giving Love. It is not a barren emptiness, but a living expression of the mind of Christ in us. In the vow of poverty we renounce personal ownership, holding all things in common and seeking to make our life together a reflection of the life of the Trinity and the Communion of Saints. We bind ourselves to simplicity of life, cherishing the essential gifts of life and rejoicing in the goodness of ordinary things and the beauty of creation. We pledge ourselves to be faithful and generous stewards of God’s gifts and to be the allies and servants of those who endure the hardships of material poverty and exclusion. In the vow of poverty we deepen our commitment to the way of the cross, knowing that grace upon grace is hidden in the experience of darkness, suffering, loss and death.
Lain I believe that the Father is calling me to offer my whole self in this way.
Brothers Thanks be to God.
Second Lain, through our vow of celibacy we offer ourselves as members of this Brother community to be completely available to Christ. We commit ourselves to remain single forever. In our vow we offer our creative energy for relationship and union, our power to love, and our sexuality, to Christ, trusting that he will bless, shape and use these gifts. We do not turn away from the loss that renunciation of marriage or partnership brings, but we do open ourselves in prayer to the joy of union with the Lord who dwells in our hearts, and to the graces of friendship among the members of his body, especially our Brothers in the community.
Lain I believe that this is the way Christ is calling me to follow him.
Brothers Thanks be to God.
Third Lain, in our vow of obedience we pledge to unite in a common response Brother to God by embracing and fulfilling the Rule of the Society. We promise as a body to work together to discern God’s will and act in concert to God’s glory. The vow binds us to cooperate with the Superior in carrying out our mission. It is a pledge to listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking within the heart and to respond to God’s invitations to self-surrender. Obedience is only possible because Christ dwells in us and we dwell in him through baptism. His obedience is active within us, drawing us into union with the Father.
Lain I believe that the Spirit is moving me to commit myself in this vow.
Brothers Thanks be to God.
Superior Lain, God calls us into an enduring fellowship in this Society by giving us the courage to make lifelong vows. A community of men who pledge to stay together until death is a powerful sign to the world of the grace that enables those who love Christ to abide until he comes. So great is the gravity of the choice of life commitment that we wait upon God until we are certain that a Brother has indeed been given the grace to freely make this decision. As you pledge to live by these vows for three years is your heart set on the further goal of life commitment?
Lain Yes, it is. I pray that in these years of initial profession Christ will give me the freedom and courage to choose life-long commitment.
Superior The years of initial profession are dedicated to further formation in the religious life. Are you ready to develop your gifts for ministry through study and training? Will you seek to intensify your self-offering in daily life and work?
Lain Yes, this is my desire.
Superior Will you seek to develop personal responsibility for your own growth, and a strong sense of accountability, so that you can play a full part in the life of the community? Will you take responsibility for the greater role you will play in the community’s decision-making as a member of the Chapter?
Lain Yes, I gladly accept these new responsibilities.
Superior Certain Brothers will be appointed as companions on the way to help you make progress and discern the action of grace in your life. Will you accept their support faithfully?
Lain Yes, I will rely on their companionship.
Superior Lain, what do you seek from us, your Brothers in the community?
Lain Brothers, will you open your heart to me as I make these vows and support me as I go forward in this life with your prayers?
Brothers We will.
Lain Will you share with me your experience of service so that I can fulfill my gifts as a minister of the New Covenant?
Brothers We will.
Lain Will you bear with my failings and forgive my sins, and help me grow to maturity as a living branch of the True Vine?
Brothers We will.
Lain Will you love me as a friend and Brother given to you by Christ?
Brothers We will. This is Christ’s commandment, that we love one another as he has loved us.
Lain turns towards the people to express his readiness for profession and bid the prayers of the whole congregation.
Lain Friends, I believe that God has given me the grace to dedicate my life to him as a member of this brotherhood, and I freely choose to embrace the Rule of the Society and commit myself to the life of poverty, celibacy, and obedience for the coming three years. As I prepare to make these vows, will you all join with me and kneel in prayer to call upon the Spirit of Truth, the Advocate, who gives us the power to be faithful to our promises?
Congregation We will.
All kneel in silent prayer.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire Hymnal 504
All stand, except Lain who remains kneeling. He recites the form of profession.
Lain Before the whole company of heaven, and in the presence of this congregation, I, Randolph Chamberlain Wilson, give myself to Almighty God and promise to him and to you, my Brother, the Superior of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, and to your successors in this office, that I will live throughout the coming three years in the observance of Poverty, Celibacy and Obedience, according to the Rule of this Society, in readiness for life commitment.
After reciting the form of profession, Lain and the Superior move to the altar to sign and date it. Lain then returns to his place, removes his scapular, and gives his novice cord to the Novice Guardian.
A Brother Lain, receive this cord tied with three knots that signify the vows you have in Life made. As you gird yourself with the cord, this ancient sign of readiness, Vows these three knots will remind you of your vows and your commitment to abide faithfully until Christ comes.
The newly professed Brother girds himself with the new cord, puts his scapular on, and then kneels for a blessing. The Superior begins a benediction in which the whole community joins.
Superior May God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, bless you.
Brothers May God confirm your heart’s desire to abide in Christ always; may he fill you with gifts for worship and service, bind you to our brotherhood, and make you a blessing to those around you, to the glory of his name. Amen.
The newly professed Brother stands.
Superior The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The newly professed Brother exchanges the peace with all the Brothers in turn, beginning with the Superior. Then all exchange the peace with those around them.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving Sanctus
Setting: Missa Aquilae, Carson Cooman
Fraction Anthem Jesus, Lamb of God
Setting: Missa Aquilae, Carson Cooman
Invitation to Communion
Presider Behold what you are. People May we become what we receive.
A Note about Holy Communion
We welcome you to Holy Communion.
Gluten-free bread is available; please indicate to your server.
It is not our practice to intinct (dip) the bread into the wine. If you wish to abstain from receiving from the Chalice, remember that the Church catholic has always taught that the fullness of the Sacrament is received even when only one form is received.
Communion Hymn Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest Hymnal
Words: George Wallace Briggs (1875-1959), alt. Music: Sursum Corda, Alfred Morton Smith (1879-1971)
Prayer after Communion
Presider Almighty Father,
All we thank you for feeding us with the holy food of the Body and Blood of your Son, and for uniting us through him in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for calling Lain to devote himself to your glory in this community, and for giving him the grace to make the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience for three years. May the holy gifts we receive in this Eucharist nourish us with the grace to persevere together in your service, so that we may remain steadfast until the coming of Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Blessing and Dismissal
Postlude Toccatina
Reiner Gaar
Br. James Koester, Presider & Preacher
Br. Keith Nelson, Deacon
Br. Jack Crowley, Subdeacon
Br. Jonathan Maury, Litanist
Mr. Carson Cooman, Monastery Organist
Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net: #A-725463
Cover: Icon of Christ and St. John
The Monastery as Sanctuary
We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission.
