This lent I have tried to focus on 1. The Prayer of St. Ephrem and 2. Finding balance, peace, and looking inside at what I need to change. As I have prayed the Prayer of St. Ephrem over and over and over again this lent, I have been quite convicted with regards to the last… Continue reading Grant me to see my own transgressions.
Author: Susan
I am an Orthodox Christian, a deacon’s wife, a mother, and an aspiring Kindler of Joy.
I believe I’ve begun to understand (finally), by the grace of God, where we can begin to find happiness. True happiness. My heart longs for a deeper connection to those around me and to creation. I want to feel joy not only in myself but to see it on the face of people I love and those that God brings my way.
Thus, begins my journey to become a Kindler of Joy. It is a journey, a path of learning and growing. So I’ve created my blog as a reminder to myself, daily, to open my eyes and find the beauty and joy around me. I long to share this joy, to spread this joy and to inspire others to become Kindlers of Joy. When we kindle joy in others we spread a light throughout this dark world. A light that is desperately needed.
Won't you join me in spreading this light, this joy?
This Week’s Hymnography
Thursday evening we gathered together in Church to sing, to worship, to give thanks to our God Who has come into the world through the Virgin. This day we honored Mary who gave her entire being in service to our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, our Savior. She never hesitated. She said yes to the… Continue reading This Week’s Hymnography
New 2022 Pascha Cards!
I finally have our new Pascha cards in stock in my Etsy shop! Take a look below or go to my Etsy shop! NEW CARDS: The artwork on this card was created by my daughter, Kelsey Anna. All Pascha cards from previous years are also available again this year. And then back in stock are… Continue reading New 2022 Pascha Cards!
Anger and Meekness
During Great Lent this year I have endeavored to read a few different books. First, in order to make this happen I had to give up my slothful evenings of TV watching. And even still, I will probably not complete all the books I hope to. The one book, I will not read cover to… Continue reading Anger and Meekness
“Pilgrimage to Pascha”
Yesterday Great Lent began. I love Lent because I feel like I am given a do-over every year. A time to refocus my mind, body, and soul back on Christ. Really focus on Him! I try to stay focused on Him daily throughout the year but let's be honest, it isn't easy with all that… Continue reading “Pilgrimage to Pascha”
Forgiveness Sunday
Today, in the Eastern Orthodox church, it is designated as Forgiveness Sunday. It is the day before we enter Great Lent and we think about forgiveness, we ask forgiveness of each other and go into Great Lent with repentance on our minds and hearts. Last night we sang some beautiful hymnography in preparation for this… Continue reading Forgiveness Sunday
We Have All Been Healed
This post is from Meatfare/Last Judgement Sunday in 2020. I reread this yesterday and am grateful I came across it.
May you have a blessed Sunday!
This Sunday, a Sunday set aside for preparing our hearts and minds for Great Lent, we read in Matthew 25: 31-46 the parable about the last judgement. The OCA website says,
It reminds us that while trusting in Christ’s love and mercy, we must not forget His righteous judgment when He comes again in glory. If our hearts remain hardened and unrepentant, we should not expect the Lord to overlook our transgressions simply because He is a good and loving God. Although He does not desire the death of a sinner, He also expects us to turn from our wickedness and live (Ezek. 33:11).
OCA.org on the Last Judgement Sunday
And further,
As Father Alexander Schmemann reminds us in his book GREAT LENT (Ch. 1:4), sin is the absence of love, it is separation and isolation. When Christ comes to judge the world, His criterion for judgment will be love…
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Publican and the Pharisee
I am traveling right now so I thought I would quickly repost what I wrote last year about the beginning of the Lenten Triodion and the Publican and the Pharisee Sunday at Church. I love these pre-lenten Sundays as we begin to think about Great Lent approaching. And Pascha! Blessings to you all!
On Sunday, as I mentioned then, we in the Orthodox Church found ourselves on what we call the Publican and the Pharisee Sunday. Each year as we prepare for Great Lent, three weeks prior to its start, we are reminded of this parable.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who…
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The End and the Beginning
Yesterday, just before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy we heard the choir sing Alleluia and the Reader read "Come let us rejoice in the Lord! Let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior!" The choir sings again, "Alelluia" and the Reader responds with "Let us come before His face with thanksgiving;… Continue reading The End and the Beginning
Blessed Sunday!
Hello dear friends! I pray this Sunday finds you all well. I find myself at home this Sunday. We've been battling covid in our household and though we are feeling much, much better we thought we'd wait one more Sunday before heading back to the crowds. I've missed being at Church. Reading through the hymns… Continue reading Blessed Sunday!
Kindler of Joy! 