I was blessed beyond measure to join my daughter and our priest to serve the full Canon of St. Andrew Wednesday evening. This was bittersweet. It felt so good to be there in the place I have missed so much but it was empty.These days have been so difficult. And the reality closing in that …
Author: Susan
I am an Orthodox Christian, a deacon’s wife, a mother, and an aspiring Kindler of Joy.
Over the last year or so, I believe I’ve begun to understand, 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.
What about Pascha?
In my last post I shared my husbands thoughts on the very real potential of us not gathering for Holy Week and Pascha. Earlier this week I wrote an article for our Church newsletter that what titled, as this post is titled, "What about Pascha?" in where I share my thoughts and our hopes on …
The Resurrection is Not Canceled!
Wow! We are certainly living in some crazy times, aren't we? How are you all doing? Are you working from home? Essential? Or maybe life hasn't changed all that much for you. The phrase, "This is the lentiest lent I've ever lented" is making it's way around the interwebs. It is so true! One thing …
Time for a Sale!
Today through Friday, March 27th, we are offering a sale for the entire shop, but most especially our Pascha/Easter cards. Today is the "middlemost point" of the great fast. Look what the hymn at vespers says: "The Fast that brings us blessings has now reached its middlemost point: it has helped us to receive God's …
The True Nature of Fasting
From one year ago, I thought it worth sharing again.
This past week I decided to read the Introduction to the Lenten Triodion, a book used when we put together our services during the weeks leading up to and through Great Lent. It is where we get our hymnography for these special services, scripture reading assignments and more. I’ve used this book for years when helping put the choir books together but I’ve never read the Introduction. It is pretty incredible. As I’ve read I’ve found a deep joy in approaching the fast. Let me share some points from this Introduction that is titled, The True Nature of Fasting.
“We waited, and at last our expectations were fulfilled”, writes the Serbian Bishop Nikolai of Ochrid, describing the Easter service at Jerusalem. “When the Patriarch sang, ‘Christ is risen’, a heavy burden fell from our souls. We felt as if we also had been raised from the dead. All at once…
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Leaping Up With Joy
As I mentioned in my last post, I have been reading the Lenten Triodion a bit each day. It is a rich resource of beautiful hymns and verses. Today it proved to be ever so rich yet again. We have come to the end of our first week of Great Lent. It was a beautiful …
Lenten Triodion
Have you ever heard of the Lenten Triodion, the book? This is a book that holds all the hymns and special verses for all services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (four Sundays before Lent begins) all the way through Holy Saturday, the day before the Resurrection of Christ. Mostly it just …
Set Out With Joy
Those of us in the Eastern Orthodox Church begin the Great Fast tomorrow. We started today with a service called Forgiveness Vesper. You see, this great fast, Great Lent, is all about repentance and change. Changing me. We recognize we are sinners, we pray and fast and work towards communion with God. Lent is about …
Today’s Readings
My scripture reading today brought to me by the lectionary specifically for this Saturday before Great Lent begins. It never ceases to amaze me the wisdom of the Church in the perfect readings for each season throughout the year. It really is beautiful. The epistle reading: Romans 14:19-23, 16:25-27 Therefore let us pursue the things …
Purpose
This post has been sitting in my drafts since January 9th. I just let it sit and I haven't looked at it until today. I'm glad I let it be for a bit and I'm glad I happened to open it up today. As we draw near to Great Lent, the time of repentance and …
