Breakfast with Fr. Gary

a Cozy place for a meeting with a priest

 Now my wife becoming Catholic will not be a quick affair.  OCAI (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) will be a year-long process. OCAI will probably start sometimes in the fall. (Despite the publication date of this post, in "real time" when I am writing this, it is actually a week before Christmas.) That means she won't be Catholic until Easter of 2027 so she sees no reason to rush to speak our Pastor. 

I, however, wanted to not wait that long.  You see, attending Mass with my wife helped me put my protestant parish is sharp contrast to Liturgical Worship.  As much as I love the people in my protestant parish, I do not find it easy to participate in the worship service.  The songs are too emotional and, sorry to say, vapid (at least to me, anyway) - my boredom in the service is what prompted me to get involved in the "production" end of the service. That is, I operate the Video camera for the Livestream.  I fear that years of doing this has made me quite complacent in my spiritual life.  But attending Mass with my wife has reawakened my yearning for Eucharistic centered Worship and I want to become a member of the Orthodox Church sooner rather than later.

That means a sit down with my Pastor to explain what is going on. I offered to talk to Pastor Del on my own and speak for the both of us but Karen rightly said that Pastor Del has been our Pastor for over 30 years and deserves a face-to-face conversation.  So we decided we will make an appointment with him after Christmas. 

In the meantime, I wanted to speak with Father Gary to let him know what is going on. I knew that Father Gary was on Vacation, so I thought I ought to reach out to him to request an appointment for when he came back.  All this happened right before Thanksgiving, in the midst of the Nativity Fast so I wrote the following in an email to him:  

Father Gary responded quickly with this witty reply:

Hardy, Har, Har! I love a priest with a good sense of humor.  (And, no, I had real turkey on Thanksgiving:) ) To show what good shepherd Father Gary is, basically, as soon as he returned from Vacation, he didn't wait for me to contact him but rather shot me an email asking when we could meet. I recommended IHOP but he thought a place recommended by one of his parishoners was a better place to go. Sandy's Cafe turned out to be a cozier place.  

I like the small town vibe of this place

We sat down and Fr. Gary ordered a plain everything Bagel, toasted and dry and a black coffee. Even though I wasn't keeping the fast, I ordered a tea with honey and an English muffin with jelly.  I told Fr. Gary the reason I suggested IHOP was because that is where we first met to discuss my longing to enter into the Church.  (See Orthodoxy or Bust!: Breakfast in the morning ~ 35th visit in the evening! to read about that meeting) I told him about my wife's journey and her pull to Catholicism.  I then mentioned that she had said if I wasn't going to convert to Catholicism then I needed to become Orthodox because, how could I live without the Eucharist? This, of course, was a drastic change from my last meeting where I honestly had to say my wife was not on board with me becoming Orthodox.  Fr. Gary went on to say he wasn't surprised how the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of people since he's seen it all the time. He went on to say that my period as being a catechumen wouldn't have to be a long time, especially since I have been attending the parish, off and on since Pentecost Vespers in 2010. I told him I knew a lot of the doctrine of the Church but needed to learn how to live the day-to-day life of an Orthodox Christian.  He said it would be good for me to go through Great Lent before I was received into the Church.  

So all that remains is for my wife and I to sit down with our Pastor and explain to him how we have to leave the church.  I know it will not be an easy meeting. He has been our Pastor for 31 years and he has always been a faithful witness to the Love of Christ, exemplifying God's love in his words and actions.  But I am not sure he'll understand and know he will be very upset.  Lord, have mercy!

Of your charity, keep us in your prayers.

Well, I didn't See that Coming!!!!!

 

photo by Xavi Cabrera

Xavi Cabrera (@xavicabreraf) • Instagram photos and videos

     As I said in my last post (five years ago!), even though I don’t post much anymore, I still attend Vespers when I can, given my involvement in my Protestant Parish (where I’ve been a member for over thirty years.) I had not entered into the Orthodox Church, mainly because of the disunity it would have caused in my marriage.  But something happened which, honestly, I did not see coming! No, no one is dead and no one is divorced but one morning my wife Karen and I are sitting in the living room before we eat breakfast (which is our morning routine) and she quietly tells me  “I’ve been listening to Catholic podcasts in the last few months and I feel a draw towards Mary and a desire to receive the Eucharist. I have been following the Catechism in a year podcast and I think I want to become Catholic.” I was flabbergasted! This was completely unexpected and I, quite frankly, never thoutht I would hear those words. My wife was bought up very Lutheran and recoiled at the idea of praying to the Saints.  But here she is telling me she is drawn to Mary!

My wife's announcement was a surprising as this 

fictional incident in this video....Yes, I have fun with A.I

     Wait a minute, Jim. How does this help you? Roman Catholic ain’t Eastern Orthodox! Remember 1054 A.D.? I know, and I have no intentions of becoming Roman Catholic, but this is a huge shift in my former Iconoclast wife’s way of thinking.  I never heard her speak before of a desire for the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist nor had she ever spoken of honoring Mary as she does now. Her way of thinking has changed. For example,  she was visibly angry when she learned how Martin Luther threw out books of the bible because it didn’t suit him. Luther also added words to the bible that wasn’t there  so that Romans 3:28 reads “a man is justified through faith alone, apart from the works of the law” That really got her mad! .And you should have seen her when I told her that Luther almost got rid of the book of James.

     I suggested we attend Mass on Sunday, before we headed over to our Protestant Church.  Understand, as much as I love the people (and Pastor) in my Protestant parish- and they really do love Jesus -  I have increasingly been dissatisfied with the music which mostly consists of what I call “little ditties” which are chorus of little substance and a heavy reliance on emotional appeal.  So, when we went to Mass with its Liturgy and respectful worship, well, let’s just say we felt like we were at Church. 

     Over the weeks, Karen continued to study the Catechism and faithfully went to Mass, even on the days she had to work (She’d always skip our Protestant church on the Sundays she was scheduled to work but that didn’t happen with Mass.) In our discussions I told her I could not become Catholic after all I have become to believe regarding the Orthodox Church and she said:

          “If you don’t become Catholic then you will have to become Orthodox. How

          Can you live without the Eucharist?”

     So that is where I stand now.  I continue to attend Mass with her but realize I have to take the plunge and enter into Communion with the Orthodox Church.  That means I’ll have to have a discussion with my Protestant Pastor (which won't be easy) and talk to Father Gary on next steps. 

     I would love for my wife to become Orthodox, but I can see real growth in her relationship to Jesus by her attendance to Mass and her studying the Catechism. My own journey towards Orthodoxy started out with me exploring Roman Catholicism and seriously considering converting. So I understand her journey and am grateful for her growth and I would rather see her in a Catholic Church than both of us staying Protestant.  As great as these people are, we were both rather stagnant in our walk with the Lord.  But, with this turn of events, we are both growing closer to each other and to Christ -We even started praying together again. 

So, in your charity, keep us in prayer.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Going to Vespers - Pandemic Edition

It's been literally years since I've blogged about attending a Divine Service. I've posted a sermon here and there or some "Orthodox" thoughts but not my reaction to attending a service.  Even though it is my practice to still attend, (When I can given I'm still an active Protestant)  I guess I stopped my reaction blogs because I was starting to repeat myself. I mean, what else can I say about the glory and beauty of Orthodox Worship?

Well, this Corona virus has made attending a Divine Service a somewhat different experience and warrants a post.   My Protestant Parish hasn't had an in-person service since the end of March so I haven't been to any Service (Protestant or Orthodox) for over four months!  So I can tell you it was great to be in Church again, to see the Icons, to smell the incense and to light a candle.  But it was different. As you can see from the picture below, we were together but apart. Yes, we practiced social distancing (I'm really beginning to hate that phrase!)

Fr. Gary leading us in prayer

But apparently I need some more training on how to properly practice social distancing. Given that there is so much space given for a person, while standing, I must have wandered into someone else's space because a lady turned around and motioned for me to get back. At first, I thought she was giving me a greeting but then I noticed the hand gestures. Boy, was I embarrassed! But it did serve to remind me that some people remember (even as I forget)  just how serious this COVID-19 is. It is a deadly disease and some people have more reason than others  to be afraid of catching it.  Underlying conditions, can kill some people.  I'm sure everyone knows someone (even if peripherally) who has died because of this thing.  So I wandered back into my space and continued worship.  

Speaking of worship, it was, as always, beautiful. But we had no service books so if you didn't "know the words" you had to just hum along. Thankfully, I've attended enough Vespers Services to hold my own when it came to participating.  Also, when Fr. Gary incensed the Icons he did so from a respectful distance of other parishioners. And I did notice that no altar server kissed his hand when taking the censor.  

Indeed, the lack of kissing - of each other, of Icons - seemed very unorthodox to me but that's just the way it is nowadays.  I was especially sad, because I did see reader John and his wife Tami and she normally gives the triple Russian kiss (on the cheeks just in case some readers didn't know) but last night we only bowed to each other.  But it was great to see them again and to catch up.  

When I drove up before the service began I did notice a full parking lot - well, full by Saturday night Vespers Standards, a service that is not normally as well attended on a Sunday morning.  But, since 'Rona has come to town, services are strictly monitored as to how many may attend.  So many people who can't attend Sunday morning (due to space) show up on Saturday night since there is no room on Sunday morning.  I commend Fr. Gary on how he handles "crowd control." You just can't walk into the service.  For Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, it is "invitation only" and he sends out an email at the beginning of the week to selected Faithful.  Of course, he rotates the roster so all of the members eventually have a chance to attend Sunday morning and, most importantly, receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Eucharist.  For Vespers, it is "first come; first served" and you sign up on an online sign up sheet.  

my chair

When I first walked into the nave, I saw an empty chair and headed for it. It wasn't until I was there a few minutes that I realized that each chair had a name (Yes, assigned seating) and I, by chance, happened to choose the right chair because when I turned around to put my hat down, I noticed my name!  Sure glad I didn't take someone else's chair!

The Corona Virus has made going back to Church a little different but it is still a joy.  To hear the hymns being sung, to smell the incense which bring to mind the prayers offered up to God in the book of Revelation, to listen to Fr. Gary encourage the Faithful- All of this makes going to Church worth it and, God willing, I'll be back again soon!

Stay safe out there people!

The Icon in the center of the Nave - No Kissing allowed!

What's the difference between the Orthodox and the Catholics?

A friend of mine recently asked me the difference between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. I figured one of  the best resources on this subject is from Ancient Faith Radio. Here is a link to Orthodoxy or Heterodoxy podcasts:

• https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxyheterodoxy/rome_part_1a
• 
  
• https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxyheterodoxy/rome_part_1b
• 
  
• https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxyheterodoxy/rome_part_2a
• 
  
• https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxyheterodoxy/rome_part_2b

This is the best comparison between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy I've ever heard!

It's worth the listen!

Vespers ~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross!

photo by Fr Ted
used under the creative commons liscence.
check out more photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/

It's been eons since I've posted and I bet some of you thought I was dead! Well, I'm still hear and I am still making my way to Orthodox Services. Here is a homily by Father Gary which I thought very good. I hope you enjoy!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcqykxbnlN4&feature=youtu.be

My First Forgiveness Sunday Vespers and How God Tricked me into Fasting!

Nothing says Forgiveness like a hug
photo by St Peter's Theological Academy,
used under the creative commons license
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spbpda/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spbpda/12547275663/in/faves-76429786@N00/

I have been attending an Orthodox Church for six years now and, until last Sunday, I have never been to a FORGIVENESS SUNDAY VESPERS. To be sure, I was reluctant in the past because, although I've been at my parish half a decade, I really hadn't formed close ties with a lot of them until recently -attending the DEACON DISCUSSION group helped in that regard - and the thought of kissing a bunch of strangers while I bowed downed before them,  asking their forgiveness, didn't sit too well with me. It would feel...awkward.  But, this year I felt emboldened to go.

My parish cheats because, although it is a Vesper's service (which should be in the evening,) Fr. Gary holds the service immediately after Divine Liturgy. I can tell you singing, Now that we have come to the setting of the sun,... before I've even eaten my lunch is a bit disconcerting. But, Fr. Gary believes that he will get more participation if he holds the service after the Liturgy. Many in our parish are older and traveling at night is difficult for them so I'd say Fr. Gary made a good call.

The service was beautiful! I admit, I was struck with all the humility being shown in offering and receiving forgiveness from each other.  It was hard not to "choke up" as the process continued. Okay, I was crying but I tried really hard to fight it! It was especially a blessing to bow before my friend Marko, who, besides being a good Facebook friend, is also someone I especially like talking to in person. His humility when discussing the faith is an example to me. I threw in a bear hug with him at no extra charge!

But I wouldn't be me if I didn't have an awkward moment.  As we progressed down the line of forgiveness, I stood before TJ, the altar server who looks to be around 8 years old. Me, being the adult, TJ waited for me to start so I said, "Hey, kid, forgive me," and then kinda waved at him. Years in my protestant parish as a children's worker and all the training they give you that you NEVER touch a kid, kicked in. TJ stared back at me like I was nuts and he would be right! I gratefully moved on to the next person.  Maybe next year, I'll be less awkward. :)

TJ leading the Trisagion Prayer during a Vespers Service

Forgiveness Sunday is a precursor to Clean Monday and that is the day for total fasting. Now, normally, that would be a very difficult thing for me to do. Not eat anything all day, are you nuts? But weeks ago I had scheduled a very overdue colonoscopy for Tuesday February 28th which meant that the day before, Monday, I would not allowed to eat anything (except for a horrid concoction made by the devil himself- those of you who have had a colonoscopy will know what I am talking about,)  It wasn't until a few days ago that I realized that my preparation for the procedure would fall on Clean Monday. So, even though I really wouldn't have considered a total fast for that day, God made sure I'd fast anyway. Well, played, my Lord! 

That being said, I hope to participate in the Lenten Fast so that Pascha will be especially blessed!  I am glad I started out this Great Lent with Forgiveness Sunday and may God grant us all a time of Spiritual growth as we journey towards Christ's Resurrection.

Forgive me, a sinner! 

Cancelling out NASHVILLE during Prayer Time.

I started binge watching  the CMT show, Nashville a few weeks ago and I really love the story lines (I know; it's just a soap opera- don't judge me!) and I absolutely love the music. I started watching the show because I had heard that the very, Orthodox Jonathan Jackson was in the show. (Below is a video that firmly establishes Jonathan Jackson's Orthodox street cred.)

As I said, I  really enjoy the show, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea but I love the music.  But sometimes you can overdo things with music. I had been listening to so much NASHVILLE music that in my prayer time this morning, I couldn't get the background noise of my mind to quiet down. There I am sitting in my chair. ( I know, I should be standing) and the song from the show, LOVE LIKE MINE won't get out of my mind. Now it's hard to confess your sins to Psalm 50 with a country music soundtrack playing in the background, so I re-started Psalm 50 but the NASHVILLE music just wouldn't leave.

I figured to get that song out of my head, I would turn on Ancient Faith Radio and recite the Psalm with the chanting to quiet my soul. I was hoping that the chanting would be in Slavonic or Greek so that I wouldn't be distracted by the English in the chanting. But, I thought I'd take my chances. Better to be distracted by English chant than a country music break-up song.

I plug in my earphones. Here's hoping for Slavonic! Nope, it's English. Oh, well. Wait, what are they saying? It turns out I had tuned into Ancient Faith Radio just as the Monastery Choir of St. John of San Francisco was chanting - you guessed it - Psalm 50. And I had caught it at the beginning. So, as the choir chanted, I just followed along in my prayer book. It was a beautiful experience and helped me focus on the rest of my prayer time.

After my time of prayer, I thanked the Holy Spirit for helping me get back on track and I thanked St. John the Wonder-worker for his intercession.  I rely upon his prayers a lot! Okay, now I've got to go and buy that song! I hope it's on Itunes! 

Have a blessed day!

Post Script:  I know it's been months since I've blogged or podcasted. I had just got burnt out on it and needed to take a break. I don't see myself podcasting again anytime soon but I hope to start up blogging again.