Six Things to Remember for Lent

Last year in the first weeks of Lent, our priest offered a homily with 6 guidelines for Lent and for life.  I still have the bulletin with my scrawled notes, (which I happened to come across in the many stacks of papers I have been digging myself out from underneath), so I thought I would share his words from last year as a good beginning for this Lent.  This are just bullet points, daily reminders to help us walk through the days of this journey with the goal of coming closer to the fullness of God.  So, what can you do this Lent?

1. Show up.  It is not just "going to church."  We are changed through the liturgical life and Eucharist. During Lent we are offered some of the most beautiful services of the year, don't turn down the opportunity to be present.

2. Contribute something.  Invest in something within the life of the church.  Believe in it.  Make it a part of your life.  Bring something to God.

3. Be nice.  Be kind, courteous to one another.  Everyone is created in the image of God, let the love of God show through you.

4. Get over yourself!  Everything is not about you.  Die to yourself.  Stop thinking in terms of how does this affect me.

5.  Pray.  Go into your closet and pray.

6. Be thankful.  Every breath, heartbeat, moment is a gift from God, thank Him continually.

Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall no enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Matthew 18:3

     Thus speaks the Lord, and His word is holy and true.  What advantage do children have over adults?  They have three advantages: in faith, in obedience, and in forgiveness.  The child asks his parent about everything, and no matter what his parent replies, the child believes his parent.  The child is obedient to his parent and easily subordinates his will to the will of his parent.  The child is forgiving, and even though he provokes easily, he forgives quickly.  Our Lord requires these three from men, faith, obedience and forgiveness.  He desires that men believe in Him unconditionally, as a child believes in his parent; that they be unconditionally obedient to Him, as a child is to his parent; and that they be forgiving in relation to one another, not remembering evil and not rendering evil for evil. 
    Faith, obedience and forgiveness are the three main characteristics of a child's soul.  Purity and joy are in addition to these.  A child is not greedy, a child is not lustful, a child is not vainglorious.  The child's eye is unspoiled by vices, and his joy is unspoiled by worries.
    O brethren, who can make us over again into children?  No one, except the one Christ.  He can make us over into children and help us to be born again by His example, by His teaching and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
    O Lord Jesus, perfect in obedience and meekness, Eternal Child of the Heavenly Father, help us to become as infants by faith in Thee, by obedience toward Thee, and by forgiveness toward one another. 
To Thee be the glory and praise forever. Amen

January 30th, homily from the Prologue

Identity Crisis

I have crossed over, to the dark side.  I am a Mac.

This video is worth the time - seeing the faces of the people react to the destruction of Orthodoxy under communism - may none of us forget these lessons from history, nor the men and women who died for the faith.

St. Barbara Day

Another St. Barbara Day come and gone, and this was the best one yet.  The crowd almost doubled this year, with over 85 people attending (and at least 50 of those were under the age of 13)  A huge storm was coming in, and all day people were asking what the rain plan was.  Well, I don't have room for 85 people inside, so I really didn't know what we were going to do.  We moved the party up an hour earlier, hoping to at least have a little fun before the rain hit - but St. Barbara was looking out for us, and the storm heading our way broke up and slowed down, and didn't really hit until this morning.  The only lightning around was from the fireworks and over 150 giant sparklers!  We had unusually mild temperatures, it was 60 degrees - so no hats or gloves needed this year.  We had a lot of trees come down this year, so my husband saved a bunch of logs for seating around the bonfire and we ate lots of vegetable chili and roasted hundreds of marshmallows!Several people who came this year asked why a bonfire and fireworks? 

Well, St. Barbara was the beautiful young daughter of a wealthy pagan in Heliopolis.  Because of her beauty, her father locked her up in a tower, where she spent her time looking out the window and contemplating creation.  She came to understand that the idols of her father must be false, for all of creation proclaimed the truth of the One True God.  While her father was gone, she had a third window added to his bath house, to symbolize the trinity, and she cut a cross into the marble with her finger.  Upon his return, her father became enraged when he found his daughter had become a Christian and drew his sword to kill her.  Barbara prayed and was miraculously transported into the mountains.  A shepherd there betrayed her and she was taken before the emperor where she was tortured, including attempts to burn her body.  To the frustration of the emperor her wounds would heal overnight, and torches used to burn her went out when they came in contact with her body.  Finally she was beheaded by her own father, who was then struck down by lightning, his body completely consumed by flames.  St. Barbara is considered a patron to those who die a sudden death, and as well as patron to artillerymen, miners, those who work with explosives and others with hazardous occupations. 

Please say a prayer for Matushka Anna and her family, as they are dealing with the loss of another precious unborn baby.

Cyber Monday Top Pick: April Cornell

Well, my order has already been placed, and if you are looking for great deals on sweet little girls dresses that harken to days gone by, then look no further than the April Cornell Cyber Monday Sale with prices 30-60% off!  This is the one sale of the year that I look forward to, and the deals are not to be missed.  My top picks?  The basic petticoat dress is a staple - layer it under dresses that are getting too short, use it as a night gown for a girl's sleep over, or my personal favorite, the perfect late night Pascha dress, simple, comfortable and easy to bleach!  No kidding, we have it ranging in size from 12 months to 10 years, and all have seen lots of wear.  The new favorite for this year - this dress, a gift from Grandma for Christmas  :)  And yes, I bought something for me, a dress I have had my eye on all season - so happy to get it at such a deal!  (Sale prices don't show until you put something in your cart, but most dresses are half off, even the clearance dresses - we stocked up for next summer at an average of $12 per dress)