Our organist and choirmaster Nick Behrens passed away Monday. We loved him dearly and his loss is and will be felt in ways we can’t adequately express in words.
Nick at the console in the choir loft at St. Cecilia Cathedral, May 2023.
From Deacon Ron Reno:
I have received more information about plans for Nick’s Requiem Mass from his family and from his friend James Pierson.
Vigil (Wake) and visitation will be 5-7pm on Tuesday August 5th at the Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Words from 1928 BCP “Order of the Burial of the Dead” will be said at 7pm.
The Requiem Mass will be on Wednesday, August 6th at 10:00a.m. The location will be the Boys Town Chambers Chapel. The Chapel has a wonderful pipe organ. Father Tom Hurley, former Dean at Trinity Episcopal Church, will preside over this Mass. Jerry Kaminksi will be the organist with many of Nick’s choir friends singing.
God willing, after Mass, Father Andrews will finish up the service from the BCP at the grave site at Forest Lawn.
Family and friends can meet at the Cultural Center at Saint Cecilia Cathedral after the graveside service
I am sure Nick would approve of all the music chosen by his family and his friend Jerry. I’m sure Julia and Lynda have a lot to say about the music chosen honoring our dear organist. Our small church family loved Nick and he made our choir great. Julia, Julie and Lynda loved Nick more than I possibly could understand. We love our choir. This earth was a much better place with Nick doing God’s work on it. This loss will be a big change for our small group. Nick was special. May he rest in peace and “we know” he did God’s work on this earth.
Did you know that the summer solstice (our summer) is when one of the Earth’s poles has it largest tilt toward the Sun? I knew it was our longest day but little more than that. Stonehenge is aligned towards sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. Even the Neolithic people of Stonehenge were leaving from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and going to farming and the raising farm animals. Just fun information; I was going to use this in some way about the light of Christ that shines within us.
things in many bad ways. We missionary disciples must take back the mission that our Lord entrusted to the apostles before He ascended into heaven. This call to holiness is the purpose of this mission church. Our job is to introduce to all who we see in personal distress and introduce or reintroduce them to the light of Christ. Keep God on your mind always. We need to figure how to wear Christ on our shoulders and spread His message.
Sunday after Trinity. We are so grateful when they take time to come here and Father doing Mass. It takes a proper priest to do the Eucharist to feed His children; Father Andrews is that priest for us. We believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of bread and wine. It is the source and summit of Christian life. The Deacon at the Deacon’s liturgy can only feed God’s children with the pre-sanctified gifts that Father provides for when he visits. We keep the consecrated elements in a tabernacle that was blessed by a Bishop. We use that when Father is not here. Thank you Father for all you do for this mission church.
O GOD, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 1.
with our people. Our choirs first hymn last Saturday was “I Bind unto Myself.” That is one of my personal favorites. The postlude “Sanctus” was especially nice. We are so blessed to have the talent of this group. We were also blessed to have Julie Sopscak singing with them. It is wonderful when David and Julie can come visit from Michigan. We miss them.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world. Without end. Amen………..collect for Trinity Sunday. God bless, Deacon
Remember the Easter season lasts until Pentecost (Whitsunday) June 8. It is the longest liturgical season and be of joyful exultation. The Deacon, his daughter and granddaughter are going hiking in Colorado and won’t be there on that date. Pray for traveling mercies.
Please note this change. The College of Saint Mary is having their graduation this Saturday morning. We are blessed to use this chapel and the fact that CSM appreciates us is another blessing.
On Easter we celebrated His overcoming death with His Resurrection. This celebration of life has led us out of the darkness back into the light that Jesus offers us and for us to accept His offer of that salvation. Holy Week and the seven days leading up to Easter is the most important week of the most important person who ever lived. Don’t forget the seven days after Easter and how that would be a great week to reflect on the actions from Holy Week and perhaps a good time for our own self reflection.