Our Lady of the Woods
Why Our Lady of the Woods?
Many of us seek a real spiritual community which is loving, inclusive, spiritually lively and empowering of people of all genders, races and sexualities, both rich and poor.
The Johannite tradition represents just such a community. Guided by direct, experiential contact with the Divine, our tradition encourages personal responsibility and freedom of thought and practice.
Join us for a service or one of our social gatherings and let us help you discover your own personal relationship with the Divine. Gnosticism is real and alive in the Willamette Valley!
Gnostic.
We believe a personal, intimate relationship with the Divine is not only possible, but necessary. We delight in the freedom to choose how we understand our tradition and to explore other paths.
Esoteric.
We believe that this relationship takes conscientious effort on behalf of the individual to gain the knowledge necessary to uncover its secrets and hidden meanings.
Christian.
We fully embrace the beauty and mystery of the living Christian tradition: candles and incense, ancient rites such as baptism and the eucharist and robed male and female priests.
Inclusive.
We welcome ANYONE who comes respectfully and openly to our services. Come as you are and share our pilgrimage toward the Divine.
Who is Our Lady of the Woods
Our Lady of the Woods is listed as the patron saint of Oregon in the Roman Catholic Litany of Saints. Her Roman Catholic story can be found here. She was chosen as the patron of the McMinnville Parish because of her association with Oregon, her visionary and mystic origins, and her association with helping children.
The Johannite Church has a strong association with Mary, the Mother of God. This is because of the commandment of Jesus on the Cross: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:26-27) We at Our Lady of the Woods intend to strengthen this bond between the Divine Mother and the Apostolic Johannite Church.
Meet the Clergy
Th
e Very Reverend Monsignor Scott Rassbach
Episcopal Vicar to the Primate of the United States
Archpriest and Apostolic Prefect, Prefect of the Congregation for Liturgical Rites
Dean of the Western United States
Rector –Our Lady of the Woods Parish, McMinnville, Oregon
Scott Rassbach was born and raised in the wilds of Wisconsin, among lumberjacks, farmers, hunters and fishermen. His early years taught him the ways of nature and the land. From these earthy beginnings, he developed an abiding interest in the esoteric, religious, and mystic topics of the world.
He has taken and is pursuing degrees in Freemasonry, Martinism and the Ordo Sacrae Flammae. He’s also something of a scholar on Philip K. Dick, having studied him extensively in college while attaining his Bachelor’s of Science from UW-Madison. He’s also quite fond of H.P. Lovecraft. He is an avid reader, writer, and poet.
He was ordained a priest in the Apostolic Johannite Church on April 7, 2007.
He is currently the Rector of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in McMinnville, OR; Prefect for the Congregation for Liturgical Rites, and a member of the Apostolic Council.