Rev. Lakis Ordination Speech 01 May 2010
My dear friends
Children they always make you cry, but the tears that filled my eyes a few minutes before were tears of happiness and joy and for that I would like to thank my daughter Paola, my son Michael, my daughter Rosie and my son Albert.
They say that when you accept a public responsibility you loose your privacy; I did not expect to loose mine so early in the piece!
(during the service our children presented Mara and I with flowers and a present as we were also celebrating today our 40th wedding anniversary)
Now back to the original plan, to the original speech!
I would like you for a moment to consider the word “Church” what that word really means? We all understand that it means a building of Christian prayer but could there be another meaning to that word? So, I decided to look it up and I found that it also means a group of likeminded people assembled in order to pray. Yes my friends what that definition really tells us is that it is the people who make the church and not the other way around. Judging from what I see in front of me now it gives me courage, it gives me strength to confidently say that “Together we are going to start a new and vibrant Spiritualist community in this area and for that I thank you all.
Some of you do not know me so please allow me now to introduce myself. My full name is Evangelos Joannou but everybody, friends and relatives, call me Lakis. So please you too just call me Lakis. I am of Greek origin. My father was Greek from Cyprus and my mother, the lady over there in the wheelchair, is Greek from Greece. I was born and raised in Alexandria of Egypt. I was educated in the Greek schools of Alexandria. I lived in Egypt for 18 years, then I went to London where among other things I met a beautiful Italian girl who is today my wife. After London I lived for a short period of time in Cyprus and since 1975 my family and I we call Australia home. In 1985 and just before Christmas I bought a book to read over the holidays; it was called “The Andronicus Tapes”. I read the book in two days flat, I liked what I read, I agreed with the philosophy behind the book so much so that from that moment I read only spiritual books. In 2000 my wife and I we started going to spiritual circles and it was in 2006 when I joined a circle in Berwick. There I met some new lovely people. One day and after the proceedings we were having a cup of coffee when I noticed on the table a copy of the Andronicus Tapes book. I turned and I said to those there “Guys this is the book that started me off in my spiritual path”. Everybody turned and pointed the finger to this gentleman. Yes my friends the Rev. Dr Ian Gordon is the author of that book. Coincidence? Of course not, just perfect planning from a common friend of ours, Andronicus himself.
So please allow me now to thank Andronicus and all his friends up there for their love, for their support, for their help, for their guidance, for putting me here today. I also would like to take this opportunity and thank all our loved ones from the other side of the veil who came here today to join us in this celebration and I can assure you there are quite a few of them around.
I would like to thank all of you for coming here today to show your support to this new church and to help me take my first official steps in my new pastoral path.
I would like to thank also all my personal friends for their love, for their support and their encouragement. Your help made my path of preparation so much easier, so much lighter! Whichever door I knocked upon I was not received with open arms, but with WIDELY open arms.
My thanks go also to all my family who always supported me in whatever decision I made in my life. My special thanks to one particular person who for many years now stood by my side and never questioned any of my decisions. I am talking of course about my wife Mara. Without her help none of this would have been possible.
And now I come to the difficult part. How do I say thank you to these lovely people? Especially to Rev Jennifer Valls and to Rev. Gordon McKenzie who did not only come all the way from Melton, but he brought also with him his electronic organ. There are no words really that can express what I am feeling at this moment. In all my life I felt really privileged because I always was surrounded by love, and loving people. I especially remember my God Father and my God Mother. They were really two lovely people who gave me lots of love and support throughout my life. Today I feel the same type of love coming from these people here, I feel that I have gained once more new God Parents! For all that I really thank you my friends.
My dear friend Ian, words do not come easy. Although our friendship is just a few years old you have influenced my life, in a positive way, for many, many years, since 1985 to be precise and for that I truly thank you. You know that I always find a lot of wisdom in proverbs and at the moment there is one particular proverb that comes to mind. It is a common proverb, common to many languages and many cultures and it comes to me in its Italian version. It translates as “There is no two without three”. My dear friend Ian with your book you put me in my spiritual path, with the ordination today you put me in my pastoral path and now I am eagerly waiting to see in which other path you are going to put me next. Whichever that path may be I truly thank you
At this point I was planning of saying a few words on what my beliefs are and what my vision for this church is, but when I was putting the Hymn book together I came across one particular hymn which says it all. Please allow me to share with you this hymn, it is hymn No 34 and is called “The place where I worship”. Most of it is recited so please remain seated and join in if you want but please pay special attention to the words as this is hymn is my mission statement to you.
Hymn No 34 “The place where I worship”
The place where I worship
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Filled by the hand of the Lord
Where the trees of the forest are like pipes of an organ
And the breeze plays an amen choir
All the stars are the candles and they light up the mountains
Mountains are altars of God
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Where the sun warms the peaceful sod
The place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Yes filled by the hand of the Lord
He's given it to you and me for the world to see
There's no doors no bars and all men're free
There in the air a life of joy is prayer you can hear him say
This is your country this is your home keep it splendor in guardian's glory
The song of freedom coming from the valley to the hilltops and it never, never stops
And all the birds on their wings are like the choirs
You can hear them sing you're free to worship here
All creeds all races of wonderful God
As you rest beside the silver screen the pause in your soul
Of feeling of peace and quiet and you give thanks to him
For making the eyes and your hearts either heritage he has given to you and to me
And your heart take a good look if you follow the Good Book
You surely find your reward
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Built by the hand of the Lord
You have heard my mission statement and now I would like to make one small addition:
Please remember that I am not here to be the minister, but I am here to minister.
Thank you all for your attention, your patience and
God Bless You all.
Rev. Cara Fry's Ordination Speech 27 August 2017
I'd like to start with a poem by Henry Rohr that l came across, that encapsulates my story, my progress and my promise:
I know that l am called
The message was quite clear
And yet l cannot see
The how, the why
I feel so small, so weak
So ill-equipped
For such a task
And yet, l am prepared
To say my YES
and undertake the risk
and enter the unknown
Responding to the call.
Trustfully, treading my way
the only one
that leads to life
To love
Little did l know ... Spirit has been preparing me for this moment all my life!
I have always had a strong pull to serve Spirit, but never imagined it would be in such an important capacity!
My passion for this philosophy started in 1999, when l heard one word "clairvoyant" which, I now know, was given to me by Spirit!
This started my search for answers to all of the experiences that I've had in my life. Spiritualism answered all those questions and more!
I don't take this responsibility lightly. l am prepared and honoured, to put the needs of this Church and its Spiritual Family to the forefront of my own life.
I know how much of a healing experience a Church can be, whether from a medium on platform, energy-healing, or over a cup-of-tea with friends.
l am committed to carrying on with Rev. Lakis' vision of having a spiritual place to call home.
I have been fortunate enough to have the help, encouragement and guidance of many people, walking their own path, that lead me to my ordination.
I would now like to mention and to thank all those who have made it possible.
I would like to thank Rev. Gordon and Rev. Jenny, for giving me the opportunity to serve this Church as an Ordained-Minister.
I would also like to thank Rev. Dr. Ian Gordon and Rev. Lakis for initially recognising in me, what l didn't see my-self.
A very special and heartfelt thank-you must go to Rev. Lakis and his beautiful wife Tamara, for believing in me and for their constant support and guidance.
I make a promise to you all, and to Spirit, to always serve, guide and help those in need.
Thank you.
My dear friends
Children they always make you cry, but the tears that filled my eyes a few minutes before were tears of happiness and joy and for that I would like to thank my daughter Paola, my son Michael, my daughter Rosie and my son Albert.
They say that when you accept a public responsibility you loose your privacy; I did not expect to loose mine so early in the piece!
(during the service our children presented Mara and I with flowers and a present as we were also celebrating today our 40th wedding anniversary)
Now back to the original plan, to the original speech!
I would like you for a moment to consider the word “Church” what that word really means? We all understand that it means a building of Christian prayer but could there be another meaning to that word? So, I decided to look it up and I found that it also means a group of likeminded people assembled in order to pray. Yes my friends what that definition really tells us is that it is the people who make the church and not the other way around. Judging from what I see in front of me now it gives me courage, it gives me strength to confidently say that “Together we are going to start a new and vibrant Spiritualist community in this area and for that I thank you all.
Some of you do not know me so please allow me now to introduce myself. My full name is Evangelos Joannou but everybody, friends and relatives, call me Lakis. So please you too just call me Lakis. I am of Greek origin. My father was Greek from Cyprus and my mother, the lady over there in the wheelchair, is Greek from Greece. I was born and raised in Alexandria of Egypt. I was educated in the Greek schools of Alexandria. I lived in Egypt for 18 years, then I went to London where among other things I met a beautiful Italian girl who is today my wife. After London I lived for a short period of time in Cyprus and since 1975 my family and I we call Australia home. In 1985 and just before Christmas I bought a book to read over the holidays; it was called “The Andronicus Tapes”. I read the book in two days flat, I liked what I read, I agreed with the philosophy behind the book so much so that from that moment I read only spiritual books. In 2000 my wife and I we started going to spiritual circles and it was in 2006 when I joined a circle in Berwick. There I met some new lovely people. One day and after the proceedings we were having a cup of coffee when I noticed on the table a copy of the Andronicus Tapes book. I turned and I said to those there “Guys this is the book that started me off in my spiritual path”. Everybody turned and pointed the finger to this gentleman. Yes my friends the Rev. Dr Ian Gordon is the author of that book. Coincidence? Of course not, just perfect planning from a common friend of ours, Andronicus himself.
So please allow me now to thank Andronicus and all his friends up there for their love, for their support, for their help, for their guidance, for putting me here today. I also would like to take this opportunity and thank all our loved ones from the other side of the veil who came here today to join us in this celebration and I can assure you there are quite a few of them around.
I would like to thank all of you for coming here today to show your support to this new church and to help me take my first official steps in my new pastoral path.
I would like to thank also all my personal friends for their love, for their support and their encouragement. Your help made my path of preparation so much easier, so much lighter! Whichever door I knocked upon I was not received with open arms, but with WIDELY open arms.
My thanks go also to all my family who always supported me in whatever decision I made in my life. My special thanks to one particular person who for many years now stood by my side and never questioned any of my decisions. I am talking of course about my wife Mara. Without her help none of this would have been possible.
And now I come to the difficult part. How do I say thank you to these lovely people? Especially to Rev Jennifer Valls and to Rev. Gordon McKenzie who did not only come all the way from Melton, but he brought also with him his electronic organ. There are no words really that can express what I am feeling at this moment. In all my life I felt really privileged because I always was surrounded by love, and loving people. I especially remember my God Father and my God Mother. They were really two lovely people who gave me lots of love and support throughout my life. Today I feel the same type of love coming from these people here, I feel that I have gained once more new God Parents! For all that I really thank you my friends.
My dear friend Ian, words do not come easy. Although our friendship is just a few years old you have influenced my life, in a positive way, for many, many years, since 1985 to be precise and for that I truly thank you. You know that I always find a lot of wisdom in proverbs and at the moment there is one particular proverb that comes to mind. It is a common proverb, common to many languages and many cultures and it comes to me in its Italian version. It translates as “There is no two without three”. My dear friend Ian with your book you put me in my spiritual path, with the ordination today you put me in my pastoral path and now I am eagerly waiting to see in which other path you are going to put me next. Whichever that path may be I truly thank you
At this point I was planning of saying a few words on what my beliefs are and what my vision for this church is, but when I was putting the Hymn book together I came across one particular hymn which says it all. Please allow me to share with you this hymn, it is hymn No 34 and is called “The place where I worship”. Most of it is recited so please remain seated and join in if you want but please pay special attention to the words as this is hymn is my mission statement to you.
Hymn No 34 “The place where I worship”
The place where I worship
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Filled by the hand of the Lord
Where the trees of the forest are like pipes of an organ
And the breeze plays an amen choir
All the stars are the candles and they light up the mountains
Mountains are altars of God
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Where the sun warms the peaceful sod
The place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Yes filled by the hand of the Lord
He's given it to you and me for the world to see
There's no doors no bars and all men're free
There in the air a life of joy is prayer you can hear him say
This is your country this is your home keep it splendor in guardian's glory
The song of freedom coming from the valley to the hilltops and it never, never stops
And all the birds on their wings are like the choirs
You can hear them sing you're free to worship here
All creeds all races of wonderful God
As you rest beside the silver screen the pause in your soul
Of feeling of peace and quiet and you give thanks to him
For making the eyes and your hearts either heritage he has given to you and to me
And your heart take a good look if you follow the Good Book
You surely find your reward
Oh the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Built by the hand of the Lord
You have heard my mission statement and now I would like to make one small addition:
Please remember that I am not here to be the minister, but I am here to minister.
Thank you all for your attention, your patience and
God Bless You all.
Rev. Cara Fry's Ordination Speech 27 August 2017
I'd like to start with a poem by Henry Rohr that l came across, that encapsulates my story, my progress and my promise:
I know that l am called
The message was quite clear
And yet l cannot see
The how, the why
I feel so small, so weak
So ill-equipped
For such a task
And yet, l am prepared
To say my YES
and undertake the risk
and enter the unknown
Responding to the call.
Trustfully, treading my way
the only one
that leads to life
To love
Little did l know ... Spirit has been preparing me for this moment all my life!
I have always had a strong pull to serve Spirit, but never imagined it would be in such an important capacity!
My passion for this philosophy started in 1999, when l heard one word "clairvoyant" which, I now know, was given to me by Spirit!
This started my search for answers to all of the experiences that I've had in my life. Spiritualism answered all those questions and more!
I don't take this responsibility lightly. l am prepared and honoured, to put the needs of this Church and its Spiritual Family to the forefront of my own life.
I know how much of a healing experience a Church can be, whether from a medium on platform, energy-healing, or over a cup-of-tea with friends.
l am committed to carrying on with Rev. Lakis' vision of having a spiritual place to call home.
I have been fortunate enough to have the help, encouragement and guidance of many people, walking their own path, that lead me to my ordination.
I would now like to mention and to thank all those who have made it possible.
I would like to thank Rev. Gordon and Rev. Jenny, for giving me the opportunity to serve this Church as an Ordained-Minister.
I would also like to thank Rev. Dr. Ian Gordon and Rev. Lakis for initially recognising in me, what l didn't see my-self.
A very special and heartfelt thank-you must go to Rev. Lakis and his beautiful wife Tamara, for believing in me and for their constant support and guidance.
I make a promise to you all, and to Spirit, to always serve, guide and help those in need.
Thank you.
© Copyright 2010, Pakenham Spiritualist Church
