Category: Parish News

From Deacon Ron Reno:

We were blessed to have the full Mass for All Saints Day. Thank you Father Andrews for our All Saints Mass and it was wonderful seeing Anneliese here too. We are blessed to have you both to be part of this church family. Our choir consisted of Julia and surprise singer, Jane Dahlke. It was a blessing to have Jane here; Jane is rejoining our choir as much as possible. Our choir had a wonderful prelude and our opening hymn was “For All the Saints”; Father Asperges Holy Water on our people after that. The choir finished Mass with a closing hymn “Lift Up Your Heads” and that was such a blessing to this mission church. Pray for Lynda’s continued recovery from surgery last Thursday.

We are so lucky to have these strong women amongst us. Think of all the women in the Bible, Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Hannah, Mary Magdalene and others throughout the history of the Bible. Believe me guys, we need women and especially strong women in our parishes. Some of these parishes would not survive without the women. We are blessed to have several of these strong women in our small group. Women are not merely passive supporters but really are vital leaders in our Christian faith. Writing this email kind of reminds me of in the early church, how Priscilla along with her husband Aquila became mentors in intellectual engagement and theological training in the Christian faith. Priscilla was active in collaborating with Paul in educating and guiding new believers. We need these strong women.

O ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness, keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commands; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 20.

O  ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; Grant us grace to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and Godly living, that we may may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for All Saints Day.

A homily by Father Ponec is attached. God bless, Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

God willing, we will have a full mass for All Saints Day this Saturday. Pray for traveling mercies for Father Andrews and Anneliese. We will have our usual gathering after the service for a light lunch. Father and Anneliese will be heading to Minnesota after the service to visit their son and his family. It its by the good Grace of God that we have Father consecrate the Holy elements (wine and bread) so that the Deacon can feed our people every Saturday. Thank you so much Father for all you do for this growing parish.

All Saint’s Day is also known as All Hallow’s Day. Its origin goes back to early Christianity, originally celebrated to honor martyrs on May 13th. The date was changed to November 1 in the 9th century by Pope Gregory IV. Many Western Christian denominations commemorate all saints, both known and unknown, who have obtained heaven. The Chesterton Academy, where I teach, is going to join with Saint Mary’s Church on All Souls Day (Monday). A Eucharistic Procession through the cemetery and prayer for the faithful departed will be after Mass. Mass starts at 8. I have done this at this school for the last 4 years and it is very gratifying, I will there as a participant not clergy; it is very special to honor those who have passed and a beautiful reminder that love and prayer connect us beyond this life.

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect from last week.

Let’s celebrate this weekend for the glory of God for all His Saints, known and unknown. Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

God willing, Father and Anneliese will be here November first for All Saints Day. We should pray for traveling mercies for them. Father and Anneliese will drive here from Fort Collins Colorado for the love of God and for the love of our small parish. It is always a blessing to see them and have the full Eucharist. Father will travel from here to Minnesota to visit their son and family. Let’s pray for traveling mercies for their entire journey.

Helmuth Wilhem Dahlke’s funeral was last Saturday. Thank you for all your prayers for this family. “ Eternal rest grant unto Him, O Lord; and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace”.

Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 18
From Thomas A Kempis “The Imitation of Christ” translated into English in the year 1503.

“Then his heart shall see and abound, shall marvel and be dilated in him, for the hand of the Lord is in him, and he hath wholly put himself into His hand for ever. Lo! So shall a man be blessed that seeks God with all of his heart. Such a man, in receiving this Holy Sacrament, deserveth the great Grace of the uniting in God, for he looketh not to his own devotion and consolation, but to the glory and honor of God”. May God continue to bless this small parish, God bless, Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

I am including the Trinity 16 homily along with the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity homily. Last week, life got in the way and no email was sent. I do my best to send out weekly because some of our family are home bound. God wants His children to get His message from these homilies.

Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 17

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succor, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord Lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 16

Keep Jane Dahlke and her two daughters Ayn, Rachel, and her grandchildren in your prayers. Pray for God’s armor and protection for them. Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Jane’s beloved husband Helmuth Wilhelm Dahlke. His burial service will be at the Forest Lawn Funeral Home and internment will be at the Forest Lawn Cemetery this coming Saturday at 2:00.

Prayer to honor the departed:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let the perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

Thanks to Lynda and Julia, the music in the church was much like Nick would have done it!  We miss Nick dearly, but we blessed to have to have Julia and Lynda take on leadership and continue the his work. We owe a deep gratitude to David (Skip) Sopscak and Father Kurt for helping us with the digital end of what we are doing. God is working everywhere when we choose to see and do His good works evolve. God bless, Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

Thank you Father Andrews for feeding God’s children here in Omaha, Nebraska.  It was wonderful that you offered the full Eucharist and bringing your wife Anneliese with you. We love you both for what you do for this mission church. Father offered the sacrament of the  “Unction of the Sick”  after Mass.  He anointed a few with Holy oil in the Name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The sacrament offered was beseeching for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the restoration and blessing of good health and away from sickness and pain.  One of these days after Mass, we should discuss the seven sacraments that were instituted by God, Christ and the Holy Ghost; each being an outward sign of an inward grace.

Our choir with the help of modern technology did a wonderful job. They sang all the songs that were requested by Father for this mass. God is working through our wonderful choir. Thank you Lynda and Julia for all you do for this mission church.

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us the good things which we are not worthy ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. God Bless, Deacon

A homily by Father Ponec about salvation.

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

God willing, Father Andrews and  Anneliese will be here this Saturday.  Father and Anneliese make this drive from Fort Collins, Colorado, because of their love of our small mission church.  Pray for their safe travel.

Thank you Lynda and Julia for your wonderful voices on our opening hymn, offertory hymn, and closing hymn. We had music Saturday with David’s help with a special flash drive and the organ’s amplifier. They are working on Father’s choice of music and even more liturgical music to be added to this week’s Mass. God is doing His work through our small choir. Thank you choir!

O GOD, who declares thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments may obtain thy gracious promise, and be made  partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for 11th Sunday after Trinity

O that Thou wouldst kindle me, inflame me, and turn me wholly unto Thee; that I may be one spirit with Thee by grace of inward uniting and melting of burning love!  Suffer me not to depart from Thee fasting and dry,  but work in me mercifully; as Thou hast ofttimes marvelously wrought in Thy beloved servants in times past.  What marvel were it if I were all inflamed in Thee and failed in myself; saith Thou art the fire always burning and never failing, the love purifying the hearts and lightening the understanding of all creatures. As written by Thomas A Kempis in Latin and translated into English in the year of our Lord. 1503.

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Thank you Jim, Jane, and Joanna for such wonderful treats after the ‘Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts” last week. You three are such a blessing to this mission church. The beauty of this mission church is the sense of family we have in our little community. It is such a blessing to me that we have so many “God lovers” in our group and are so willing to glorify God. Josh, holding Liam in his hand, read the Epistle for us. Josh did a wonderful job reading for us. Our job is to spread the Gospel and remember that Jesus is our teacher.

LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions’ make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Collect for Trinity 10

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word; we beseech thee, unto thy church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for Saint Bartholomew the Apostle.

We celebrated Trinity 10 and elements of the Feast of Saint Bartholomew. God bless, Deacon

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From Deacon Ron Reno:

Thank you Bishop Ashman!  Our Bishop came to console our small mission church with its loss of its beloved organist, Nick Behrens. Bishop Ashman brought his grandson, Shaun. It was so caring for this Bishop to take time from his busy schedule to bring comfort and fellowship to Saint John’s. We have a lot of new people and it was a blessing to them to meet our Bishop and his grandson. Bishop Ashman also presented to our Deacon a black scarf. Scarves have special meaning in the biblical world. We can discuss this later. Thank you again Bishop Ashman.

O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

Father Andrews suggested adding a prayer for Nick at each liturgy for the next 30 days. We will do that.

I have attached a homily written by Father Robert Ponec for Trinity 8. God bless, Deacon

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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.