November 23, 2001
The Pastor's Page, page 2

Advent December, 2001 AD



The Season of Advent is here again. The year 2001 has flown by. It is time to bring out the family Advent Wreath and decorate for the holidays. The Church seems to be swimming up stream with its celebration of Advent while society celebrates "Christmas" with snow men, jingle bells, and such. Just when the Church begins to celebrate the Birth Of Christ, December 25, through mid-January, society is taking the decorations down. We start on December 25, and they finish on the same day. Many denominations have given up on Advent and have turned it into a four week preparation for Christmas. The reason this approach is not acceptable is the season of Advent is designed to be the four week study of Eschatology, the "last things" or the "end times" on the calendar of readings, the Lectionary. Granted, Year C has given us a lot of readings about the Kingdom Of God in the last quarter of the calendar. However, Advent is that time when we specifically look to the glorious Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. The Second Coming is the main event the Church Age is moving toward and so it is really the main point of our gospel.

As for an update on our Congregation, we are in very exciting times. During the last two months God has been guiding us to very generous people. We have received a number of donations recently which have made it possible for us to purchase two worship centers. The exact locations will be disclosed soon. Also, we are no longer holding our worship services in Syracuse at Trexx and we are very grateful to Al for hosting us. We have also concluded our Bible studies at Border's for the time being, mainly because the noise was hard to comepte with. Especially with the holiday season the noise level is sure to rise even higher. Please keep an eye on the Times and Locations pages on our website to find where we are meeting in your community.

We pray you have a blessed Advent Season.

In Christ, Br. Benedict, O.S.B.

Holy Week 2001 AD

I can hardly believe it has been a year since I last updated this page of the website. I am sorry to say this has been the pace of life this year. Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ is growing so fast and there are so many new areas that need my attention that I am constantly re-evaluating how to keep the Benedictine pillars of Prayer, Work, and Study in balance. All three areas have suffered at various times this year. There are so many people contacting us through this website and through the 1-800-FOR-1-GOD toll free line. It is a joy to be in contact with so many good people.

We have discovered an excellent book that takes apart each of the verses that are supposed to be indicators that the Bible and God is sending all people other than heterosexals to Hell and shows using the LITERAL method of interpretation this is not what God says. As you know, Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ uses the same exact resources as every fundamentalist and conservative pastor. We use their own resources to show the Bible does not judge us as the pastors say it does. The shocking truth is they have to know the Bible does not cast this on us and that of course means they are not telling the truth. The book is "Openly Gay Openly Christian: How the Bible Really is Gay Friendly" by Rev. Samuel Kader. The book is published by Leyland Publications - San Francisco, 1999. We do have copies available for sale if you email or call us.


Rev. Kader does an outstanding job of showing the verses in their original languages of Greek and Hebrew using the Strong's Concordance, and all the other conservative resources. This book supports what all the other study sources we use show, namely that the conservative Christians are not telling the truth. Conservative pastors and theologians know beyond a doubt that there is a tradition of human opinion that has enslaved the true study of the Word Of God when it comes to sexuality. Human tradition attempts to rewrite the Bible and say that any sexual orientation other than Heterosexuality is condemned in the Scripture. This is not true when you study the verses in Hebrew and Greek. We highly recommend Rev. Kader's book as well as the other resources listed on our pages on Homosexuality and the Bible. Visit our pages on this subject by clicking here: Homosexuality, Bisexuality, Transgender and the Bible - NOT CONDEMNED IN SCRIPTURE! CLICKHERE.

Pray for us at Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ as we continue to pray for all of you. Stay in touch through email and the phone lines. May God grant all of our visitors a blessed and holy Season Of The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ.


UPDATE:Sunday March 12, 2000

Lent 2000 AD

We are now in the season of Lent, 2000. For many in our congregation this is their first real experience with the season of Lent. Rather than concentrate on "giving up something for Lent" we are focusing on aligning our priorities with God's priorities. That sounds like a big order to fill in 40 days and six Sundays. However, if the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, we have a tremendous source of assistance on how to begin this conversion process. The Holy Spirit is eager to help us be more Christ-like. Therefore, at Ray Of Hope Church we are dedicating this season of Lent 2000 as a "retreat" or a "parish mission" or a "revival." We are very aware that Christians all over the globe are journeying through this season of Lent. We join them spiritually and we are supporting our brother and sister Christians world over with prayers for the Body Of Christ. We would like to encourage you read the six sermons of the season of Lent as they appear here on our Sermons page. Take time this Lent to really offer to Christ what really is God's time in your life. By that I mean, all time belongs to God who alone owns the entire Universe. We are under the wrong impression that any of it is "our" time. So, one way to begin the season of Lent is to appreciate that all time belongs to God. We could start by asking ourselves how we spend God's time. Once we realize the awesome concept that all time belongs to God we can begin to re-evaluate how we either wisely use, misuse, or squander God's time. It is really amazing to stand in awe that even all time is God's and God shares it with us for our lives. Perhaps this meditation would help you begin the journey toward further conversion into that person Christ knows you can be.

Celebration Week 5, May 1, 1999:

Please be sure to visit our new section on the Sermons of Ray Of Hope Church and our updated section on Homosexuality in the Bible. There is plenty more information to put on that page, so watch for updates on it from time to time. Also, be looking for our new page for QUEER YOUTH! That is right, we shall have a page giving youth many links to the GLBTQ Community pages designed just for them. Keep watching all of our pages as this site develops. Please remember to pray for Ray Of Hope Church. Pray that Jesus keep us closely in His Will for our church. Remember, you can always email us or call one of the phone numbers that are all throughout this site. If you call on the 800# (1-800-FOR-1-GOD 1-800-367-1463) our phone number WILL NOT appear on your phone bill. This is the best way to reach us if you need to call without others finding our phone number on your phone bill. Also, this is a toll-free call from anywhere in the world. Even if you call from a phone booth, the call is paid for by the good people of Ray Of Hope Church who care so much about you that they financially support this 800 phone service. We want you to be able to be in touch with us through this web site, email, or the phone, especially if you are still in the closet and need confidential support. God bless you!!!


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Benedictine Sisters and Brothers of Ray Of Hope Church



Another wonderful gift of God to Ray Of Hope Church is the option of living as a Professed Sister, or a Professed Brother in the Religious Life of your choice. Currently, Br. Benedict took Solemn Vows of Obedience, Stability, and Conversion Of Life in June of 1996. Benedictine Life lends itself particularly well to the charism of Ray Of Hope Church. St. Benedict brought to the Church a disciplined way of life where the Christian balances three axioms: Prayer, Study, and Labor. Benedictine Christians will find their spirituality to be very helpful when they are in Vocational Ministry at Ray Of Hope Church due to the fact that each Clergyperson has to be motivated and disciplined to do the work of God on their own. Our Clergy have to be so radically in love with Christ that they desire to do everything required of them (all the works of leading the Body Of Christ) with enthusiasm. Those interested in Benedictine Life should express their interest in becoming a Benedictine Sister or a Benedictine Brother. One can be a Benedictine Sister or Brother without being "Clergy."

The following is an introduction to the Saint Benedict Medal as has been traditionally used by the Order of Saint Benedict.

St. Benedict's Medal
The Saint Benedict Medal

St. Benedict was the father of Western Monasticism. He was born in Nursia, Italy, in 480. Beginning in 520, he founded twelve monasteries in the region of Subiaco. The foundation at Monte Cassino (529) became the cradle of his Order. His twin sister was St. Scholastica. Benedict died march 21, 542.

St. Benedict had a profound veneration for the Holy Cross and for our Saviour Crucified. In virtue of the Sign of the Cross he wrought many miracles and Christ exercised great power over the spirits of darkness through St. Benedict's faith.

In consequence of the great veneration in which St. Benedict was held from the early middle ages, it followed that a medal was struck.
Believers have worn the medal as a reminder that the Christian has exceptional powers against the demons of Hell in the Name of Jesus.

The Medal of Saint Benedict is one of the Sacramentals of the Church. A Sacramental is a symbol that is used to remind the Christian of a doctrine of faith. In this case the doctrine is "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4). The medal of Saint Benedict also reminds the person wearing it that many thousands of women and men have lived their Christian lives following the example of St. Benedict since the 5th Century. The Church has been deeply enriched by Benedictines in all cultures and times, and even in many denominations of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Description





Medal of St. Benedict



The front of the medal shows St. Benedict holding a cross in one hand and the book of his Rule in the other. Flanking him on each side are the words: Crux S. Patris Benedicti (The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict).

Below his feet are these words: Ex S M Casino MDCCCLXXX (From the Holy Mount of Cassino, 1880). On that date , Monte Cassino was given the exclusive right to produce this medal.
Inscribed in the circle surrounding Benedict are the words: Ejus in obitu nostro presentia muniamur (May his presence protect us in the hour of death).

The other side of the medal is where the real exorcistic force reveals itself. In the center is the Cross. Benedict loved the Cross and used it to drive away demons.

The vertical beam of the Cross has five letters: C.S.S.M.L., meaning Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux (May the holy Cross be for me a light).

The horizontal beam of the Cross also has five letters: N.D.S.M.D., meaning Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux (Let not the dragon be my guide).

The four large letters at the angles of the Cross: C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict).

Encircling the Cross in a circle around the right margin are these letters: V.R.S.N.S.M.V., meaning Vade retro Satana; nunquam suade mihi vana (Begone Satan! Suggest not to me thy vain things).

Around the left margin of the circle are these letters: S.M.Q.L.I.V.B., meaning Sunt mala quae libas; ipse venena bibas (The drink you offer is evil; drink that poison yourself).

At the top of the circle is the word PAX (Peace).


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Saint Francis Of Assisi




St. Francis lived from 1182 A.D. until 1226 A.D. St. Francis is considered to be a real friend of the GLBTQS Community. He was a radical reformer who listened and followed the Holy Spirit. Francis knew and believed that everyone was called to the free gift of Salvation in Christ. Francis was totally convinced that God shows no partiality. "But in every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by God." (Acts 10:34-35)

Francis was a perfect example of what Jesus meant when He said: "The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of their heart will flow rivers of living water." (John7:38) Francis was a flowing fountain of God's Love. What was his secret? Simply put, Francis loved Jesus so much that Christ was able to live through Francis. We look to St. Francis as our role model on how to accept and welcome all people in the Name of Jesus. It is true that many so-called "Christians" will not welcome us these days becuase of their pre-conceived ideas about our sexual orientations. Simply put, if the sexual orientation is different than their own, (very narrow-minded and poor presentations of heterosexuality - very unlike true and healthy Heterosexuality) it is forbidden, and the person is cast out.

In Christ, our response to this is: Though we may not be welcome in many communities today, everyone, absolutely everyone is welcome in our community. Francis showed the Church that by the power of Christ all things are possible. Francis showed the world that in God everyone is loved and equal. We thank God Almighty for St. Francis, and we ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us to follow his example of radical love for Jesus and radical yes to everyone who comes to us seeking Christ Jesus.

It is our hope that Ray Of Hope Church will be gifted with Franciscan Sisters and Brothers someday in the future when the Lord Jesus calls women and men to this charismatic vocation.




St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare of Assisi


Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-11 Aug 1253) is considered co-founder of the Franciscan Family. In 1211, after hearing Francis preach the Lenten Sermon in San Rufino, Clare began to meet with Francis to discuss her vocation. On March 28, 1211 she left her father's house to receive her habit from Francis in the Porziuncola.

Clare went to live a cloistered life in San Dominano. After Francis's death, his body was brought to San Dominano so Clare could say goodbye to him.


Clare died on August 11, 1253, shortly after receiving a Bull from Pope Innocent IV granting her and her sisters the Privilege of Poverty. She was cononized in 1255, and her feast day is August 11. In 1958 Pope Pius XII proclaimed St. Clare the patron saint of television.




St. Francis and St. Clare


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BELOW ARE THE "LINKS" TO OUR OTHER PAGES.
Simply choose the page you want to go to by clicking your mouse on the name of the page. Enjoy!




| Main Page|
| Statement of Faith|
| Statement of Purpose|
| Meet the Pastor |
| The Worship Of Ray Of Hope Church|
| Vocational Ministry Training Program|
| Homosexuality, Bisexuality, Transgender and the Bible|
| Sermons Of Ray Of Hope Church|
|QUEER YOUTH PAGE|
|CHRISTIAN RESOURCES FOR YOUR EDIFICATION|
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Email:
Brother Shawn F. Benedict

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