13th Visit - not at all unlucky!

something like this happened at Vespers tonight - read below

Great time at Vespers last night. I’ve been away for two weeks as already noted on the blog and it was great to be back.

Something great I noticed last night. Ten minutes into Vespers, a young couple walks in with a baby, I’m guessing around two years old. They, at an appropriate time, approach the icons and venerate, crossing themselves and kissing the icon. Then, the mom lifts up the baby, the little one crosses herself and mom leans her towards the Icon to kiss it. Besides rating a ten on the Adorable scale, it was also a very teachable moment. Protestants, at least in the Evangelical world, have a special room for babies; it’s called the nursery and babies and young children are separated from the worship experience so that they don’t become a bother to the adults. In Holy Orthodoxy, the family that worships together enters into Salvation together.

I guess it makes sense in an Evangelical’s mind to provide nursery care during the worship service. After all, the highlight and zenith of any Evangelical Service is the Sermon, which can go on anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the local church. And since, the sermon requires intellect; it makes no sense to subject little ones to that. But in Orthodoxy, where God uses matter (i.e., the Eucharist, the waters of baptism, icons) to feed spiritually, all can benefit from Worship. See what the Evangelicals are missing out on? No doubt, it is great to listen to God’s Word expounded upon and the Holy Spirit can move an individual through it (for example, me) but there is so much more available than that. I guess that is why Orthodoxy is called the “Fullness of Faith.”

Later on, the mom brought the little one to light a candle.

Father Gary spoke about St. Athanasius of the 14^th century. (I think I am getting the name correct- it’s not the Athanasius of the great creed. If I am wrong, someone please correct me) Anyway, this man wanted nothing more than to be left in solitude to pursue his monastic life but God kept calling him to Pastoral work. He kept withdrawing and God kept bringing him back- Sort of a Jonah-ish reluctance, eh? In fact, towards the end of his life Christ appears to him and rebukes him for not pursuing the pastoral calling he had. Father Gary made the point we are all to follow our vocation. Good advice and May God help me be faithful.

After Vespers, as Deacon Ken recommended on my facebook page, I had Father Gary give a blessing over my car. I opened the door so he could, after some prayers, sprinkle holy water on it. A little group gathered around to pray with us which was nice. My wife had said make sure you have the priest say a prayer for the driver as well as the vehicle. Well, as Father Gary sprinkled the car, saying "This Vehicle is sanctified through the Holy Spirit." (or something like that)- some Holy Water splattered just below my eye. So I guess that counts as a blessing on the driver!

I mentioned to Deacon ken how I was enjoying the book "Cloud of Witness". Hopefully, my next post will include some of my impressions of that book.

Here's the Car that Father Gary blest! It's a sweet ride!

No Vespers tonight!

We ended up visiting our son in Quincy, Mass...It is great to see him....vespers next week, God willing....my son went to this school and stayed around the area after he graduated.

12th Visit to Vespers.

Last Saturday (3 October) was a great time at Vespers. I am getting to the point when I am not looking around to see how others are “doing it” but rather trying to enter in to worship as “the Spirit moves me.” – crossing myself when appropriate, raising my hands in the armon prayer position during the psalm that mentions raising your hands, bowing and kneeling as it is called for. This is very freeing for me.

A man brought a visitor to Vespers last week. He would, from time to time, whisper what was going on to explain. It wasn’t too distracting. At the end when all went around to venerate the icons, he stood in front of the Icon of the Mother of God with Jesus in her heart and explained all that meant. So we had to skip that one to venerate.

We also had a general confession service. This is my second one. The first time I remember Fr Gary launched right into it without explaining that it was happening so I was perplexed as to why we were saying the Lord’s prayer again since we had said it already. I soon caught on. This time he explained it, perhaps for the benefit of the “new person.”

Speaking of confession, participating in a general confession makes me long for the sacrament – actually all sacraments, especially the Eucharist. But I am a long way from that. What is holding me back is my family really doesn’t want me to “desert them.” In fact, my son said “I am glad you are going to Vespers Saturday nights AND with us to church on Sunday mornings.” …What’s a catechumen-wanna-be to do?

The above picture is of my protestant church van in the parking lot of the Orthodox Church. My church let me borrow the van for a few days while I figure out getting my own set of wheels, since my car was totaled. I wonder if people passing by thought there was mass conversions going on? J

couldn't go to Vespers last night because there was a concert at my church my whole family went to...next week, though.

Post about 12th visit coming soon

I am blogging from my iPod touch... Soon I will write about last night's visit... Stay tuned

Eleventh visit on Saturday and Car Crash on Monday!

It was dark so you can't the dent too clearly but the accident totaled the car. Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a used car?

Thank God I am okay.

I was driving very safely on my way to pick up my son from work and someone coming from the opposite direction made a left hand turn right in front of me. We crashed. Her air bag deployed; mine did not. Thankfully, I was just a bit shaken up, feeling a little sore but otherwise okay. She, however , was taken out on a stretcher. I just heard from Allstate today and they are going to total the car which means I have to go find another one now. But, all in all, I am grateful to be in one piece, even if my car isn’t. I don’t know how the other driver is doing; I hope and pray well. Even though it was clearly her fault, I hold no animosity towards her. It was, after all, an accident not “an on purpose.”

Now about Vespers last Saturday- I walked in a saw an icon of a saint in the middle of the church. He had a beard and had a book below him. I honestly had no idea who we were honoring on that day until the Hymnography started. I have to tell you I had chills go up and down my spine as the choir chanted about “The Word” becoming flesh (It is one of my favorite mysteries!) and I knew I was hearing about one of my favorite saints, John the Theologian, as I have now learned to call him. (In the west, he is simply the Apostle John). His Gospel is my favorite.

The church has started something new by making a service book for Vespers which has most of the hymns, psalms and prayers written down for people to follow along. I go back and forth as to whether I should continue to use it or not. I did last time (for the first time) but I know myself. Whenever there is something written in front of me I tend to read it or read ahead and, thus I am not paying attention to the service. Perhaps I should come early to the service, read the entire thing though to become familiar with it and then put it back in the narthex for other’s to use. I believe I will be able to pay attention more if I am not distracted by the book. After all, when Father Gary says, “Let us attend,” I take that very seriously.

I kissed an icon or at least came close. I was so moved by St John’s hymnography; I leaned down and kissed, although I think I missed! – just came an inch before the Icon but I am getting closer!

Deacon Ken wasn’t there but I hope to see him next time.

10th visit and being distracted by books.

I made my tenth visit to an Orthodox Church last Saturday night. (And it was great to be back after a two week absence- Labor day weekend and some family obligations made my absence regrettably necessary). I walked in (in uniform because I came from performing my two week annual tour) right around 7pm and sat in the back left side. Of course, I venerated the Icons first but the seekers way- cross myself, quick silent prayer and a bow- no kiss.

Immediately, I began being plagued by annoying thoughts. You see, I am reading a book by Frank Viola and George Barna called “Pagan Christianity” which debunks the whole idea of the Institutional Church as being legitimate in terms of worship and practice because, not only does it depart from the New Testament model, but it actually adopted pagan ideas and rituals from the very beginning. Of course, I know all the arguments against this line of thinking and if I were in a discussion around a cup of coffee with an evangelical I would be able to soundly refute “all the charges” but while in the midst of Worship, these thoughts bombarded my mind. I am happy to say that I combated these thoughts by totally ignoring them and attending to Worship which is why we gathered in the first place.

Fr Gary gave a homily about our need to show Christ to the outside world. This we did by the special events of the last two weeks. (40^th anniversary of the parish and 9/11 commemorations). It was an Evangelical message using Orthodox terminology.

As I was leaving to pick up my son from work, Bill the altar server whom I gave the military New Testament to, talked to me right after I was mulling about in the vestibule. “I am not allowed to let you leave until my father talks to you.” You never want to go against the orders of an altar server, so I hung about a minute until Deacon Ken could come to the vestibule. As I saw him, I said, “Are you okay?” because before, as he was serving with Fr Gary, he fell after losing his balance arising from a prostration. He said something that I want to put into my book of quotes- I will have to ask him if it’s original or if he got it from someone else – “You can’t learn humility unless you are humbled.” Now that is pretty profound, only because it is so simple!

Deacon Ken immediately produced not one but four books for me to read! It was almost as if the Holy Spirit was saying to me, “I noticed you were troubled by something you were reading, try these.” I started reading one called, “Cloud of Witness” which is a short introduction to the development of Christian Doctrine. By the way, it does mentions pagan influences on the Church but when you think about it, “God is everywhere present and fills all things.” so why shouldn’t He use whatever He wants to? And thinking about it, isn’t the idea of the Logos, mentioned in the Gospel of John, a Pagan notion? Please correct me, dear blog reader, if I am wrong.

I have every intention of finishing the book “Pagan Christianity” (recommended to me by a Nazarene Pastor), even though it will probably get me mad when I get to the chapter on the Eucharist but now I have four books to edify me on my journey towards Orthodoxy. I will be making special blog entries on my thoughts as I read these books.

As I was walking to my car, rushing to pick up my son – Reader John had detained me for a bit because he was anxious to tell me about the special events of parish mentioned above- and I love him for it because he really wanted to share a part of his life with me!- Anyway, as I walked to the car, I saw this girl run past in the parking lot, she was wearing a Life Guard T shirt and, I guess, shorts and I for the life of me have no idea where she came from. She climbed into this big box truck, started it up and drove away. I wonder what that was all about?

Ninth Visit - Great experice and getting gifts!

My Ninth visit to an Orthodox Church was wonderful!

Today I sat in the back on the left side of the church, instead of my usual front on right side. I did this because I did not want to get into a rut. I arrived early and noticed that Litya was on the table. In past visits, I was too afraid to go up front to receive it and, instead, Tammy would graciously bring some to me. Well, I determined I was going to participate so I went outside where I saw Deacon Ken, who was making some business calls, and I asked him about the proper protocol for receiving the oil upon the head and the bread of fellowship, ect. He explained, I listened and I returned to my seat.

Before Worship began, Ken came in and sat down, his business call done and said he noticed on my blog an entry from Maria had posted in response to my question, how could I incorporate the Liturgy into my daily life…

Maria said...
into daily life? How about the Jesus prayer? Perhaps you can ask
for a chotki/prayer rope?
August 25, 2010 1:01 AM

So Deacon Ken handed me a chotki, (pictured above) and explained how to use it. He says he himself uses it during the Divine Liturgy - listens to the sermon with his mind and prays with his spirit. He said he gives me this chotki “with my blessing”…A blessing from a Deacon from a church that spans 2000 years! Not too shabby.

When the service began, I was really able to enter in. I was less self-conscience and more concerned about worshiping the Triune God. It was this that made Worship so wonderful. Not being concerned on how I look or what others are doing can really help a person have Communion with God.

This wonderful worship experience happened despite three mistakes that transpired during the service. At one point when Fr Gary was reciting a long list of saints, (asking for their intercession) he paused, evidently losing his rhythm but he quickly recovered. At another point when the altar servers were chanting The Trisagion Prayers, they fumbled when they were not sure who was to take the next part, but again, they quickly recovered and lastly a young lady in the choir (who, by the way, has the most beautiful, sweet voice I have ever heard! and when she chants a psalm or a reading, her melodious voice really helps expound the text for me...) Well, she belted out a “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” but evidently it was a mistake because she stopped before the entire Trinity could be praised. She had an embarrassed smile and the choir director had a smile that says, “Oops, things like this happen.” Again, they all quickly recovered and Fr Gary continued with the prayers.

So why didn’t these mistake distract? I believe it is because I am beginning to be less of an observer and more or a worshipper. It is, in fact, endearing that people can stumble but quickly recover and continue on with worship. I have been to some services where mistakes like that would destroy the whole mood of the congregation but not so here!

A word about the choir before I end. I stand in awe that a group of only six people can produce such a quality, euphonious sound! They are wonderful.

When everyone else went up to receive the Oil from Fr Gary and the Litya from the Altar Servers, I went up, too. I was a bit nervous but as Fr Gary anointed my head with the words "Enjoy the Feast" (or something like that), I kissed his hand which is something that takes getting used to.

After the service ended, Tammy greeted me and asked how I liked the jam. I told her I couldn't open the lid. She told me to bang it with a hammer because it was sealed air tight to preserve it. so I guess I have to find my hammer....

I had to pick up my son from work so I could not stop to chat with everyone.

Now, I have to start using the chotki.