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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Father Peter Gillquist, well-known and respected in the Eastern Christian community, retired earlier this year from his long-time position as Director of Missions and Evangelism of the Antiochian Archdiocese. About 2 weeks ago, Father Peter was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma, a disease with which he has twice previously been afflicted. Since retiring, Father Peter has been attached to All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bloomington, IN, where his son is pastor. Presently, he is hospitalized and very ill. Please keep Father Peter, Khouria Marilyn, and their family in your prayers as they deal with this. The cancer is particularly aggressive and has already spread to his vital organs. Treatment options were being evaluated but the latest news is that none of these are viable and the emphasis will be on palliative care and prayer. Father Peter's family are currently traveling to be with him. Updates on Father Peter's condition can be found and messages to him can be left at the parish website [allsaintsbloomington.org]. Please keep Father Peter in your prayers. May the Holy Unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian, give wisdom to Father Peter's doctors, and may the Lord, the Great Physician, look with love and kindness on Father Peter, bringing peace to him and spare him from pain and discomfort. May Khouria Marilyn and all of his family be comforted in their love for him, knowing that, as he loves God, God too loves him.
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Prayers for Fr Peter, and also for all his family as they accompany him on this journey.
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Today's update from the parish website: Fr. Peter is sleeping more and more each day. He will be transferred to a hospice facility this afternoon, where his family will continue to participate in his care and comfort management, together with a 24-hour nursing staff. Your continued prayers for a peaceful journey are appreciated more than you know. Prayers for Father Peter as he draws closer to the Holy Table at which he will celebrate for eternity.
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Joined: Oct 2009
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Prayers for Fr Peter and his family. At church this evening, we kept him and his family in our intentions as we sang the Paraklesis.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Prayers for Father Peter.
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Joined: May 2009
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May the angels lead him into paradise.
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Lord Jesus, Divine Physician, grant mercy to Your servant, Father Peter, as he draws near to the day when he meets You face to face. Bless his family and hold them close to You during this difficult time. Amen.
theophan
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Fr. Gilquist was first nurtured by Lutheran Pietism, which in some ways resembles Eastern Theosis.
This 19th century pietist hymn might well summarize his past, his present, and his future journey in Christ:
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain
Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
Refrain
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
Refrain
There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Refrain
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O Lord,
support us all the day long of this troubled life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy,
grant us a safe lodging,
and a holy rest,
and peace at the last,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
--Richard of Chichester, 13th Century
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From today's update at the parish website, it appears that Father Peter's mission here on earth is very near its close: July 1, 2012 – Saints Cosmos and Damian
These are holy days. God is so merciful, loving, and compassionate.
After the Liturgy of Ss. Peter and Paul Thursday night, Fr. Peter asked for prayer at the Hospice House. Fr. Peter Jon arrived around 10 p.m. and asked, “Dad, would you like to receive communion tonight or tomorrow?” Fr. Peter stated clearly that he would like communion right away, so we began to pray and sing. Although it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to speak in complete sentences, Fr. Peter recited all the prayers by heart and sang perfect harmony with the communion hymns. Then he went to sleep. That is the last food he has consumed — the Bread of Life, and thr Fountain of Immortality.
Fr. Peter didn’t awaken again until the following evening at 9:00 p.m. (Friday), when the wheels of Fr. Gordon Walker’s car hit the driveway. Fr. Gordon had driven six hours to be with his friend of 50 years in his time of need. They talked a while, smiled a lot, and then Fr. Peter went back to sleep following evening prayers.
The following morning (Saturday), we all gathered in Fr. Peter’s room for morning prayers, as he slept. Around 3:00 p.m., Fr. Peter awoke and asked if Fr. Gordon would hear his confession, which he did. Then a call was placed to Fr. Jon Braun, and the three old friends shared a few minutes together, talking about heaven. Then Fr. Peter fell asleep again.
Since that time, his vitals have changed dramatically, and he appears to be making the final sprint for the finish line. “Finish the race” is what his family members whisper in his ear. We are gathered by his bedside in prayer, Scripture-reading, and song. Finish the race, dad. We love you so much. Lord, Thy servant, the Priest Peter, has served You well in this life and is prepared to serve with You in the hereafter, unto ages of ages. Give rest and peace to him, O God, for You are All-Merciful and the Lover of Mankind.
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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Prayers for Fr. Gillquist and family continue...
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