This beauty was ours to take in and dwell upon for four days of vacation with our dear church family! We spent 4 days and 3 nights camping at our First Annual Parish Camping Trip at Mt. Rainier National Park this past week and it was indeed a very blessed time of togetherness. A time… Continue reading Good and Pleasant to Dwell in Unity
Tag: church
Gladness
My last post, Psalm 100, really got me thinking. My deepest desire is to seek joy. To mindfully live my life with the joy of the Resurrection in my heart. Joyfully live my life. Psalm 100:2 says, Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. This verse jumps out at me when… Continue reading Gladness
Every Single Day
Christ is Risen! In my first post, That Feeling, I proclaim that what I truly want in life is that feeling of joy that one feels on the night of Pascha/Easter as we sing Christ is Risen! I want it all the time! We spend 7 weeks + walking with the church to this glorious… Continue reading Every Single Day
The Spirit of Joy
A couple weeks ago I happened upon David Drillock’s My Life in Church Music which was a talk he gave at the St. Vladimir’s Summer Institute 2004. I was searching for information about church music of some kind, I can’t remember exactly what or why, when I happened upon this incredibly fascinating article. It is… Continue reading The Spirit of Joy
Maxim # 12
Welcome to Maxim Monday and Fr. Thomas Hopko's 12th Maxim! Fr. Thomas said on his podcast: Go to Confession and Holy Communion regularly. Participate in the Church’s sacramental life. As St. John Chrysostom said sixteen centuries ago in Antioch: Repentance opens the heavens, takes us to Paradise, overcomes the devil. Have you sinned? Do not… Continue reading Maxim # 12
Maxim Eleven–Go to Church!
Yesterday we celebrated a wonderful Feast in the church--Holy Pentecost! And we sang: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, glory to Thee! What… Continue reading Maxim Eleven–Go to Church!
Cheerfulness is not a sin!
St. Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most inspiring Christians for me. If you don't know anything about St. Seraphim you can read about him here. When I read his story to my Sunday school class one year ago, as I talked about it in Radiant Joy is Mine back in March, I really… Continue reading Cheerfulness is not a sin!
…and no one will take your joy from you!
In the Orthodox Church during Passion Week leading up to Pascha we have a service on Thursday evening called Matins of Holy Friday. During this service the priest reads 12 Passion Gospel Readings. Each is from one of the 4 gospels and we walk with Christ, step by step, from His last talk with his… Continue reading …and no one will take your joy from you!
Guest Post
Today, the Orthodox Church celebrates the joyous feast of Palm Sunday, the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Today, my husband, Dn. James, gave the homily. As I listened to him I realized how perfectly his sermon fits in with this blog.… Continue reading Guest Post
That Feeling
That feeling as the lights dim to darkness. The clergy begin to sing “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing. Enable us on earth to glorify Thee in purity of heart.” The first candle is lit in the altar and the clergy continue to sing. That feeling as the light spreads… Continue reading That Feeling
Kindler of Joy! 