Thursday, July 12
Monday, July 9
House Tour: Hallway Bathroom...
Something that I find interesting about this house is that the two and a half bathrooms that we have are all within steps of one another. Honestly, this bathroom gets little to no use (unless we have a guest). I imagine that it would get more use if we had older children who bathed themselves and brushed their own teeth. However, since I still do all of that for our little ones, it makes more sense to me for everyone to use the master bathroom (which is on the other side of the wall with the sink). This bathroom is situated at the end of the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
House Tour: Sugar Plum's Bedroom...
Sugar Plum's room is the second door on the left as you walk down the hallway towards the bedrooms. We are hoping to purchase a twin bed for her within the next few months!
House Tour: Little Man's Room...
Little Man's Room is the first door on the left as you walk down the hallway towards the bedrooms. Within the next few months, Button will join Little Man in this bedroom and use Sugar Plum's toddler bed.
House Tour: Half Bathroom...
This is the first door on the right as you walk down the hallway towards the bedrooms.
Friday, July 6
House Tour: Front Door and Entrance...
The Front of the House
The View from the Front Door
To the Left of the Front Door
The Hallway Leading to the Bedrooms and Bathrooms (the Half Bathroom is the First Door on the Right)
To the Right of the Front Door with the Hall Closet and Father John's Office
Looking through the Office Doorway to the Playroom
House Tour...
Thursday, July 5
Saint Elisabeth the New Martyr...
- Causing meekness, humility and love to dwell in thy soul,
- Thou didst earnestly serve the suffering,
- O holy passion-bearer Princess Elizabeth;
- Wherefore, with faith thou didst endure sufferings and death for Christ, with the martyr Barbara.
- With her pray for all who honor you with love.
- +++
Saint Elisabeth's life can be found here.
Wednesday, July 4
Monday, July 2
Festal Learning Basket: Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco...
Commemorated July 2nd
Books
Activities
Wear your best to liturgy today
Display an icon of Saint John
Sing the troparion of the feast before meals
Eat Chinese Food
Try using chopsticks to eat with
Add a vase of flowers to your icon corner
Make Russian Tea Cakes for dessert
+++
Like a spiritual daystar in heaven's firmament,
thou didst encompass the
whole world and didst enlighten men's souls.
Hence, thy name is
glorified in the East and West.
For thou didst shine with the grace of
the Sun of Righteousness, O John, our beloved shepherd. Wherefore cease
not to entreat Christ, that He may have mercy on our souls.
Sunday, July 1
Reading...
If you have a child with a reactionary character, whatever you want to say to him, say to God first. Kneel before God and though the grace of God, your words will be conveyed to your child...
Another child may listen to what you say, but though he hears he wasily forgets. Therefore, you will kneel and ask for God's grace again, so that your fatherly words will fall upon good soil and bear fruit...
Don't pressure your children. Whatever you want to say to them, say it with your prayers. Children don't listen with their ears. They'll only listento what we want to tell them when divine grace appears to them and enlightens them. When you want to say something to your child, say it to the Mother of God instead and she will do all the work. Your prayer will become a spiritual hug, which embraces your children and captivates them."
Father Porphyrios of Athens
Saturday, June 30
Outreach...
By Father William DuBovik
What do we do now? It’s a question many may ask when assessing their parish and its direction as they seek to witness for Christ in their parish and in their local community.
Desiring to respond to the call of Christ, to Baptize all nations, and with a love for all of our sisters and brothers in Christ to bring them to the fullness of God’s call, we have begun to implement parts of a program that helps us visibly witness for Christ, sharing His message with others. We share these ideas, not as new, earth-shattering revelations, but as an outline that might be of use in helping to further enliven our parishes.
Outreach, with the goal of bringing more people into the true faith as expressed in the historic church of Orthodox Christianity, is accomplished in many ways. We do this, or seek to do this, so that others may be transformed and may come to know God in the fullest way possible-the only true and fruitful motivation for such efforts. Of course, each one of us must grow ourselves as Christians so that we can reflect Christ in our lives to others. This is a true missionary effort. Still, it is good to make efforts to give our Church greater visibility and to let people know what the Orthodox faith can offer.
Studies show that of those who join a Church, from 70 to 90 percent come because of family or a friend. We need to keep this in mind in any efforts we make to share our faith with others. Even with this statistic, we are left with some 20 percent who come for other reasons-moving into an area, attracted by programs, seeking a new faith, looking for truth, church school, etc., and we need to find ways to appeal to them.
Outreach For The Right Reasons
Ideas and the voluntary efforts to carry out Outreach programs are welcome as long as they are consistent with our Faith. Traditionally, through parish bazaars, special programs and activities that are publicized, people in the community learn of our presence. We need to do more, however, and a parish needs to decide, prayerfully with the Father’s guidance, the Son’s love and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, in what direction we want to go. Let us be careful as we embark that our goal is to share Christ’s truths and not just to share our budgetary expenses with others, seeking persons to fill seats and to pay their fair share or dues. Why would God guide us in growth if our motivations are not out of love, but are selfish?
The following are proposals for Outreach, some of which our parish has attempted, others to which we are aspiring:
Outreach-Car-Pooling: There are people who cannot come to church because they do not drive, or no longer drive. Forms can be distributed to find those who need and would like a ride, and to identify others who would be willing to drive someone from their area to church.
Outreach-Advertising: A society that a couple of years ago got excited over a stuffed red animal that produces an electronic laugh when you press on its stomach-otherwise known as “Tickle Me Elmo”-is a society that attests to the effectiveness of advertising. Our parish has allocated funds and earmarked contributions to increase advertising in the local newspapers-not just that we are here, but with messages of who we are and what we believe. We have seen some fruits from this effort, at least as far as having persons visit us for services, even if they have not yet joined the parish.
Outreach-Community Relations: How can we relate to the neighborhoods in which we find ourselves? Will we become just commuter churches? Some say the latter is impossible to sustain over a long period, and that a church needs to reach out to its neighborhoods. Don’t we have an obligation as Christians to do just that-taking Christ’s message to all people?
Outreach-Liturgical Life: Our liturgical life is the reason for our being, and if we enthusiastically come to as many services as possible, we are in a position to invite others and encourage others to come. Lukewarm adherents will not attract others. Only those with a passion to worship will. Imagine creating a traffic jam, not for a tag sale or bazaar but for Liturgy! For major feast days and special church observances, we should make a statement by taking the day off from work and by keeping our children home from school to attend the Liturgy… Overall, liturgical life must be renewed, and this does not involve a committee or a meeting, but each person making a commitment to Christ. This is of utmost importance for our lives as well as our witnessing for the Lord. Will some lead the way and encourage others to follow their example?
Outreach-Flyers: Distributing flyers about the church is another possibility. Parishioners can go door-to-door, post them on store bulletin boards, give them out on corners and at stores.
Outreach-Libraries: Are there books on Orthodoxy at all libraries in the region? Let’s check and see what libraries will accept in donations of books on Orthodoxy as well as Orthodox newspapers and periodicals. Can we sponsor the appearance of an author who has written about Orthodoxy at a library or bookstore?
Outreach-Telephone: Many people enjoy talking on the telephone. How about calling someone who has not been seen in church lately, or someone who comes sporadically whom we may feel is in danger of falling away? How about calling a non-Orthodox friend or acquaintance, inviting them to come and see?
Outreach-Welcoming: Our parish does have greeters who do a good job of welcoming guests. They provide mini-forms for the guests to fill out so they can then receive follow-up contact. Greeters wear nametags and move out to welcome guests. They do not wait for guests to approach them. One consideration is to have a “Nametag Sunday” periodically, on which each person wears a nametag. There are people at church, new and not so new, who may not know everyone’s name, or who perhaps have forgotten it.
Outreach-Special Activities: Our parish’s “Russian Tea Room” and Bazaar, while a fund-raiser, is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people. We hold church tours throughout the event.
Outreach-Education: We are beginning a library, and have offered opportunities for adult education. Most importantly, we learn through our worship as we listen to the hymns and prayers, especially from the verses for the appointed feast days. Our icons also tell us about the meaning of what we commemorate. In our worship, God speaks to us in many ways and feeds us – body and soul.
Outreach-Computer Age: We need good access to the internet. We need to study how we can best utilize our own website to reach out in this advanced age of technology.
Outreach-Other Publicity: Our parish sends a schedule of our services each year to the colleges, universities and hotels in the area, welcoming all. If one sees a calendar without Orthodox holy days, one can write to the company. School systems can be notified about holy days, but at least a year in advance. Significant church information can be sent to television and radio stations as well as newspapers. Making a "pest" of oneself can be fruitful. We also can correct erroneous statements. We can write letters to the editor.
Outreach-Ministries: Perhaps there is a special ministry in which a parish would like to be involved, such as a ministry to recovering alcoholics, to widows and widowers, to the abused. This is an excellent form of Christian compassion that can result in outreach. Our parish has begun to develop a relationship with an organization that assists pregnant women and newborns.
My sisters and brothers in Christ, these are a few ideas that come to mind when we think of Outreach. You may want to add more, or eliminate some. What is important is that we do not just talk about ideas but that we act to bring them to fruition. How bold and determined will we be? What small mustard seeds of ideas are awaiting our nurturing so they will sprout and grow into huge trees?
We need with openness and most importantly with faith in the power of God to look at our parish-where it is and where it is going. Whether any or all of these projects results in even one new member will be according to God’s will. Just as importantly, with the Grace of God, trying some of these ideas can reinvigorate us, and be a response to any lurking stagnation or backsliding that threatens. We know, too, that an individual or family that focuses only on itself is one in danger. So, too, is a parish. Projects such as these will turn us outward. And, finally, we do need to try to respond to our Lord’s command to “Go and Teach All Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Friday, June 29
Saints Peter and Paul...
O Leaders of the Apostles and teachers of the universe,
Entreat the Master of All,
Grant peace to the world and to our souls, great mercy.
:::::
Thursday, June 28
Creating a Child-Friendly Environment: Gardening Tools...
I found big old flower pot from our shed and use it to corral all of our gardening tools together and at the ready for my little ones to grab as soon as they need them. It is so much easier to clean things up at the end of the day with this method, too. It is nice to see the children reaching for these things over and over again. They are truly useful items that have allowed our little ones to discover and learn many new things as they wander and play on this bit of earth!
Wednesday, June 27
Tuesday, June 26
Herbs...
A few weeks ago, we bought a little purple basil plant at the farmer's market. It has been happily sitting on our step since then and tonight I added it to my pasta sauce. Yum! At the last minute, I garnished everyone's plate with a little bit of the basil and it really added something special. I think that I am going to move the basil to my kitchen counter so that I can be sure to use it more frequently. I'm also going to keep an eye out for some cilantro and flat leaf parsley to round out my kitchen herb garden! I think that they will really add something to my cooking that my jars of dried herbs don't.
Do you use fresh herbs in your kitchen?
Monday, June 25
Overnight...
We dashed away after Liturgy yesterday for an engagement party for friends of ours. My mother and father hosted the lovely party for the sweet couple and we enjoyed our time there so much. We slept at my father-in-law's house last night and just before leaving we stopped for delicious bagels! It was a quick trip that gave us a little respite and some much needed time with our family and friends. How was your weekend?
Sunday, June 24
Reading...
Goodness, Topaz is actually putting on eggs to boil! No one told me the hens had yielded to prayer. Oh, excellent hens! I was only expecting bread and margarine for tea, and I don't get as used to margarine as I could wish. I thank heaven there is no cheaper form of bread than bread."
Dodie Smith
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