Saint Martin of Tours Narthex Newsletter, Sept 2025

September 2025: Wow! The summer season flew by way too fast. A recap of sorts for everyone. I was ordained to the Diaconate in May, started ramping up my seminary studies in June, got to work setting up the virtual Saint Martin’s Narthex and the altar space (at my home) throughout July, coordinated a social outing for anyone interested, and held our first Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts and in August. The outing doubled the amount of people I thought would show, from one (me) to a total of two people. Discussions were wide-ranging and engaging. A total win in my book. Our first virtual Mass had 7 people participate, which was a nice surprise. The Collect, Lesson, Gospel, and Homily celebrated the Feast of Saint Bartholemew, emphasizing how his historical anonymity serves as a powerful teaching about discipleship focused on faithful witness rather than personal recognition or fame. “Leadership through Service” was heavily emphasized, which anecdotally is half of my personal motto: Ducatus per Ministerium et Servitium or Leadership through Ministry and Service. The service touched on how Bartholomew’s transformation from skeptic to believer exemplifies the journey from seeing Jesus as merely a worldly messiah to understanding him as the divine Logos, incorporating both traditional Christian theology and Gnostic insights about direct spiritual knowledge and inner transformation. Near the end, I introduced the concept of “kenotic discipleship” or servant leadership modeled after Jesus’s teaching that true greatness comes through humble service rather than worldly power, emptying oneself so that you can be filled with the Spirit in service to others.  

Our September events are following the template of progress that the Narthex established in August. I’m again coordinating a social outing for anyone that wants to meet and eat and drink and discuss anything that comes up – less any divisive topics. As always, I’m primed for any topics from early Christianity, Gnosticism, Greek philosophy, western esotericism, first century Judaism, or anything else folks want to discuss. IN time, I hope to work with the Narthex community in developing a reading list or “book club” or sorts where we can pick something to read a month prior, and then discuss it at the upcoming outreach. 

For September 2025, the Saint Martin of Tours Narthex and other AJC community activities are:

• 4th September: Please join me again at 7:00 PM for a social outing at “R House “ in the Remington Neighborhood in Baltimore. 
  • R House is a community food hall consisting of 10 pop-up food stalls of some of the best up-and-coming chefs in Baltimore. Food is wide-ranging from Creole to Lebanese, Mexican and Egyptian Street Food; and Korean, Classic Southern Fried Chicken, Italian Brick Oven Pizzas, and more. 
  • As they say, “This is your gathering place, your kitchen table, your office, and your front stoop. This is your house, our house, R. House.”
  • R House is located at 301 W. 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211. 
• Our next virtual Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts is on September 28th  . We will be celebrating the Eve of the Holy Archangel Michael or Michaelmas. For virtual Masses, I humbly ask everyone to provide their own wine (sacramental, mustum, or equivalent N/A red wine or purple grape juice) and unleavened bread or a simple wheat or GF cracker. More details are included below.

Upcoming AJC Virtual and In-Person Liturgical Ceremonies and Social Gatherings: Below are the Apostolic Johannite Church events for the Eastern Atlantic and Central United States for September 2025: 

• Georgia: Several events throughout August: The Parish of John the Baptist (Atlanta, GA and surrounding areas), multiple events to take part in throughout the month:
  • All are welcome to join Reverends Subdeacon Ms. Olivia Riley and Mr. Jeb Boone for in-person theurgy and Neoplatonism study groups, contemplative prayer sessions and a Logos Liturgy.
    • email: baptist@johannite.org 
    • web: johannite.org/baptist/ 
• Massachusetts: Sunday, 7th September. Saint Sarah the Egyptian Parish (Boston, MA and surrounding areas) at 5:30 PM EST (in-person):
  • All are welcome to join Rev. Subdeacon Cherry Russell and Rev. Mr. Clark Aitkins at St. Sarah’s Parish in-person Logos Service followed by fellowship and a potluck meal.
  • Please visit Saint Sarah’s for more details: 
    • email: stsarahs@johannite.org 
    • web: boston.johannite.org 
    • social media: https://www.facebook.com/stsarahs 
• Illinois: Sunday, 14th September: Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel (Chicago Area) at 10:00 AM (virtual)
  • All are welcome virtually for Mass celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration celebrated by His Grace Mar Thomas (Bishop William Behun) 
  • Please visit Saint Michael’s for more details:
    • email: st.michael@johannite.org 
    • web: https://johannite.org/stmichaels/ 
    • social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064739736751 
• Virginia: Sunday, 21st September: Our Lady of the Woods Parish (Southeastern Virginia) at 10:00 AM (virtual): 
  • All are welcome virtually (and in-person upon contacting OLOTW) for a Eucharistic Celebration celebrated by His Excellency Mar Iacomus (Bishop Scott Rassbach).
  • Please visit OLOTW’s for more details: 
    • email: woods@johannite.org 
    • web: buffalojunction.johannite.org/ 
    • social media: https://www.facebook.com/LadyOftheWoodsMcMinnville 
    • virtual Eucharistic Celebration: Join Zoom Meeting (If you can, please furnish your own wine and unleavened bread)
      • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89862047625?pwd=PVfvX9YP3stjaQZ2f6MBualbb0rzbu.1 
      • Meeting ID: 898 6204 7625
      • Passcode: 487447
      • Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799 ; 89862047625# ; 487447# 
• Maryland-DC-NoVA: Sunday, 28th September: Saint Martin’s of Tours Narthex (Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia) at 10:00 AM (virtual): 
  • All are welcome to join me, Reverend Deacon Brad Rees, at Saint Martin’s of Tours Narthex virtual Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts.
  • Please visit Saint Martin’s for more details:
    • email: saint.martin@johannite.org 
    • web: baltimore-dc.johannite.org  
    • social media: https://www.facebook.com/stmartinajc 
    • virtual Mass: Join Zoom Meeting (If you can, please furnish your own wine and unleavened bread)
      • https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83578871329?pwd=kLKSD4PBWXlNiX4ONobfawrGJYr0D7.1
      • Meeting ID: 835 7887 1329
      • Passcode: 055340
      • One tap mobile
        • +13017158592,,83578871329#,,,,*055340# US (Washington DC)
        • +13092053325,,83578871329#,,,,*055340# US

Lastly, my humble thanks to all the AJC clergy and the others that joined in last month’s Mass of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. And, to my fellow seminarians, laity, family, friends, and those interested in the Apostolic Johannite Church: I’ll see you at R House or on the net. 

Yours Before the Sacred Flame and
Ducatus per Ministerium et Servitium 

Reverend Deacon Brad Rees
Narthex Leader
Saint Martin of Tours Narthex
Apostolic Johannite Church
Baltimore-DC-NoVA Area