February 2026
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
February 2026 from Father Tim
February has arrived with very cold weather and the Pre-Lent Gesima Days. Septuagesima (1st), Sexagesima (8th), and finally Quinquagesima (15th). This month we also celebrate the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Candlemas Day (2nd), Ash Wednesday (18th), and the First Sunday in Lent (22nd). Saint Matthias, Apostle & Martyr (24th), and the Lenten Ember Days (25th, 27th, & 28th) finish out the month. This month I’ll answer some questions about Candlemas. Why are candles distributed on the Purification of the Blessed Virgin? Because we remember the words of Saint Symeon at the presentation of our Saviour in the Temple, “To be a Light to lighten the Gentiles.” Hence the popular term “Candlemas Day.” Candles are borne in the procession because Christ was carried to the Temple; at the Gospel, because it tells of His presentation; and from the consecration to the end of the service, because He, the true Light, is there present. Is this custom of antiquity? Yes it is. The procession with candles is mentioned by Gelasius (5th c.), Saint Cyril of Alexandria (5th c.), Saint Ildefonsus (6th c.), Saint Eligius (7th c.), Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (7th c.), and other fathers in their sermons on this festival. Ælfric, 10th century Archbishop of Canterbury, in his homily for this day, tells us that the custom among our Anglo-Saxon forefathers was for each one to bring his candle to his parish church, to be there blessed and then carried in procession: “Be it known to every one that it is appointed in the ecclesiastical observances that we on this day bear our lights to church and let them be there blessed; and that we should go afterwards with the light among God’s houses and sing the hymn that is thereto appointed. Though some men cannot sing, they can, nevertheless, bear the light in their hands; for on this day was Christ, the true Light, borne to the temple, Who redeemed us from darkness, and bringeth us to the eternal light.” The Venerable Bede (8th c.) wrote on Candlemas as well, comparing all the elect to the Wise Virgins who, “with the lamps of good works burning brightly in their hands, shall go forth to meet their Spouse and King, and shall straightway enter with Him to the banquet of the celestial city.” This February I pray that your light will shine forth before all men. ~ Father Tim
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Do you know someone whose life is surrounded by darkness? If yes, please invite them to church this February, where they can repent and prepare for the Sacrament which is the true Light that will guide them out of spiritual darkness. ~ Father Tim
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When we consider that Christ is the true light, having nothing in common with deceit, we learn that our own life also must shine with the rays of that true light. ~ S. Gregory of Nyssa, 335-394, Bishop, Cappadocian Father, & Theologian
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Do you know?
Do you know Saint John’s has begun the process of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Do you know that Saint John’s made a charitable donation to the Fairhaven Rescue Mission in Covington, KY in January? Do you know the restoration of the stained glass above the altar is underway? Do you know our Book Club will be discussing Measure for Measure at our February meeting? Do you know our Bible Study will resume in February?
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Saint John February Ordo Kalendar
Sun., the 1st of Feb., at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sunday, the 1st of February, at 10:30 AM, Septuagesima Mass
Mon., the 2nd of Feb., at 6:30 PM, Purification, B.V.M. Candlemas
Wednesday, the 4th of February, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sun., the 8th of Feb., at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sunday, the 8th of February, at 10:30 AM, Sexagesima Mass
Wednesday, the 11th of February, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 14th of February, at 9:00 AM, Morning Prayer
Saturday, the 14th of February, at 9:45 AM, Bible Study
Sat., the 14th of February, at 11:00 AM, Book of Life Club
Sun., the 15th of Feb., at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sun., the 15th of Feb., at 10:30 AM, Quinquagesima Mass, Vestry Meeting
Tuesday, the 17th of February, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, Shrove Tuesday
Wed., the 18th of Feb., at 12:00 PM, Ash Wed. Mass, Imposition of Ashes
Wed., the 18th of Feb., at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, Imposition of Ashes
Friday, the 20th of February, at 11:30 AM, Morning Prayer
Friday, the 20th of February, at 12:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
Saturday, the 21st of February, at 8:00 AM, Rule of Faith Meeting
Sun., the 22nd of Feb., at 10:30 AM, Lent I Mass
Wednesday, the 25th of February, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Friday, the 27th of February, at 11:30 AM, Morning Prayer
Friday, the 27th of February, at 12:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
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While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, where there remains one dark soul without the light of God – I’ll fight! I’ll fight to the very end! ~ William Booth, 1829-1912, English Minister & Founder of the Salvation Army
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February Birthdays & Anniversaries
Blake Chancery – Birthday – February 1
Kyle Maycock – Birthday – February 3
Lincoln Bock – Birthday – February 3
Vivienne Miller – Birthday – February 9
Helena “Lennie” Fisher – Birthday – February 11
Brian Miller – Birthday – February 13
Cas Denton – Birthday – February 18
Bob Petrie – Birthday – February 23
Sarah Miller – Birthday – February 26
Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Dunn – Birthday – February 26
Sheila Myers–Birthday–February 27
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Why should we want to worship Jesus well?
When we enjoy God, we enjoy Him in His eternity without any flux… Time is fluid, but eternity is stable; and after many ages, the joys will be as savory and satisfying as if they had been but that moment first tasted by our hungry appetites. When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the Sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance; He will be so far from ceasing to flow, that He will flow as strong, as full, as at the first communication of Himself in glory to the creature. God is always vigorous and flourishing; a pure act of life, sparkling new and fresh rays of life and light to the creature, flourishing with a perpetual spring, and contenting the most capacious desire; forming your interest, pleasure, and satisfaction; with an infinite variety, without any change or succession; He will have variety to increase delights, and eternity to perpetuate them; this will be the fruit of the enjoyment of an infinite and eternal God. ~ Stephen Charnook, 1628-1680, English Puritan Divine
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Science, Knowledge, & Truth
It’s widely recognized that we live in a time when science is held in very high regard, and yet biology is often set aside with disregard when gender is being discussed. The word “science” is from the Latin “scientia”, which meant “knowledge”, and was used broadly. You could have scientia about a host of things that may not be a scientific field for us today. Over time, though, it has taken on the meaning of specifically referring to the rational investigation of the perceptible world around us, through disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology, etc. There is no problem with holding science in high regard. By science we learn more about how God has created the world, and it is the sort of thing that is only possible in a world that is able to be understood through study, a remarkable coincidence if it in fact was not intelligently designed. The problem, however, comes in when we let the tail wag the dog, so to speak, and view science as self-sufficient, or the highest form of knowledge which everything else has to fall in line with. (Knowledge is standardly defined as “justified, true, belief”; you know something if you believe it is true, the belief is in fact true, and you have justification to think it’s true. There’s often some haggling over this definition, but that’s not the point here.) There is the position known as scientism, which comes in the strong variety (science is the only way to true or justified beliefs) and the weak variety (science is the best way to true or justified beliefs). Such views are shockingly common at the popular level. Scientism, if true, would be disastrous to any prospects of a true, or rationally believable Christianity. For example, none of us were there at the empty tomb, and no science experiment will reveal God to be a Trinity. A type of scientism is often what underlies modern skepticism of miracle claims. Fortunately for us, though, scientism in both varieties is rather easily dismantled. The same kinds of issues plague both varieties of it.
For example, consider truths to do with our own mental states. You have a very strong reason to think that you exist and are reading this right now. You consulted no textbook to form those beliefs, and you did no science to arrive at them. Your experience as a self, and your experience of seeing these words provides reason to justify these beliefs you have. This is called knowledge by acquaintance. This is one category of knowledge we can have entirely without science, and is certain in many cases. There is no argument or piece of evidence that could convince you that you are not having this experience. Consider as well our belief that the past really happened; you are perfectly rational to think everything wasn’t created five seconds ago, and that we have planted memories, but no scientific investigation will lead you to that. Consider even further the results of a science experiment done by scientist A that scientist B did not do but is reading about; scientist B gains knowledge by accepting the testimony of scientist A. If scientists do not know the results of someone else’s experiments, that puts them all individually in the frantic position of having to do every experiment over for themselves! Consider historical claims such as “Julius Caesar was assassinated”; we do not gain knowledge of this claim by studying biology or astronomy, but rather by consulting the historical sources that have come down to us, perhaps ancient Roman historians. Many, many more examples could be put forward that render scientism false on its face. Such are the antidotes to naive approaches on forming rational beliefs. ~ Chris Stockman
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Thus [in heaven] they shall eat and drink abundantly, and swim in the ocean of love, and be eternally swallowed up in the infinitely bright, and infinitely mild and sweet, beams of divine love; eternally receiving that light, eternally full of it, and eternally compassed round with it, and everlasting reflecting it back again to its foundations. ~ Jonathan Edwards, 1703-1758, American Minister, Philosopher & Theologian
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The night dews of affliction and disappointment may fall thickly upon it – the storms of sorrow may beat heavily against it – the winds of adversity may howl fearfully around it – but, like those fabled lamps of which we read, that, century after century, illumined the sepulchers of the east – burning with calm and steady light, amid the desolation of all earthly things – unchanged and unextinguishable; so does this joy – this living spark struck off from the great source of light and life – outlive all deaths, all changes, until it accompanies the freed spirit of the believer in whom it dwells, back to those abodes of joy from whence it came. ~ John Ross MacDuff, 1818-1895, Scottish Divine & Prolific Author
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Let me see the pure light; when I am there, I shall be truly a man at last. ~ S. Ignatius of Antioch, 35-98 A.D., Bishop & Martyr
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The light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. ~ S. Maximus of Turin, 380-465 A.D., Bishop of Turin & Theological Author
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How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose and was now glad to reject! You drove them from me, You who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, You who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, You who outshine all light yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, You who surpass all honor though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves. At last my mind was free from the gnawing anxieties of ambition and gain, from wallowing in filth and scratching the itching sore of lust. I began to talk to you freely, O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation. ~ S. Augustine, 354-430, Bishop of Hippo Regius, Church Father, & Doctor of the Church
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God delivers us from the darkness of ignorance and sin, and hence he is greeted as a lamp in Scripture. ~ S. Maximus the Confessor, 580-662 A.D., Abbot, Theologian, & Scholar
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He bears the keys – to Him we must go for admission into heaven. He is the door – through Him we must enter. He is the Shepherd – we must hear His voice, and follow Him, if we would not perish in the wilderness. He is the Physician – we must apply to Him, if we would be healed of the plague of sin. He is the bread of life – we must feed on Him, if we would have our souls satisfied. He is the light – we must walk after Him, if we would not wander in darkness. He is the fountain – we must wash in His blood, if we would be cleansed, and made ready for the great day of account. ~ J.C. Ryle, 1816-1900, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool
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The seeking of Jesus Christ and the quest for chivalry combined lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler