Month: August 2025

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

St.Bart(2025)

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

Trinity_08_2017

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.