God's blessings on the Newly illumined Herman, Patrick and Anastasia!

Jim and Tiffany with Fr. Gary

Yes, it was a very long service this morning. We started at 10am and I didn't leave until 1:17pm.  But that's okay because we had a lot to do today!  Ben received the Sacrament of Baptism and Jim Martin and his daughter Tiffany both were Christmated! It was  a beautiful morning!  I arrived early and sat (stood) in the back. Matushka Mary came to me and, with a big smile said, it was because of my faithfulness in coming to this Church and my blog that brought these three into the Church. I said, I was happy about that.  And I truly am.

We began the service with Ben,dressed in white, in the doorway of the Nave. He is a quiet man but he had a really loud, booming voice as he proclaimed his commitment to Christ, his renunciation of Satan and his recitation of the Creed. Because of where I was situated, I didn't get to see him spit at Satan (and I couldn't really hear it either) but you have to love a Church that literally spits on Satan! When it came time for his baptism, we moved outdoors.  Tammy said that they were boiling water in the morning so the water would be bearable for Ben who took the name Herman as his patron.  Later on, when he was processing with Jim and Tiffany, he had a big smile on his face. It was a joy to see!

Ben in the Waters of Baptism!

Later on Jim and Tiffany (or Patrick and Anastasia) stood to receive the oil of Chrism.  I actually sat behind Jim Martin in the very beginning of the service and as I glanced down, I noticed he wasn't wearing any socks. I thought, "how odd" and then I remembered that his feet would be anointed with oil as well. I guess he just wanted to make it easier. It would slow down the service a bit if we had to wait for Jim to take off his socks.

Anointing of Oil!

There were a ton of Scripture readings. At first, I struggled to listen but then I settled in and did what Fr. Gary said: "Let us attend!" I especially liked the story of Jonah and the story of Elisha raising the child from the dead.  So I didn't mind all the readings. In fact, I didn't mind the length of the service. Why? Because I wasn't there to be entertained (I wouldn't want to sit through 3 and half hours at a movie) but I was there to do the "work of the people," I was there to worship!

I so loved watching my friends take the Eucharist for the first time.  I even got a little choked up! Afterwards, Tiffany made her way back to me and handed me a piece of blessed bread. I was happy about that. Later on, Jim Martin came by too with a piece of blessed bread, gave me a bear hug and said, "Here, have two" So I ate two pieces. He then asked, "How long you always going to be a bridesmaid?" "But never the bride," I finished in my mind. And later on,   I went to congratulate Ben and he said, "Maybe next Pascha, it'll be you!"

Who know? He might be right.

Post Script: I fully intended to go to service on Friday night but a family commitment prevented me. So that makes this morning's visit number 99 which means that tonight, at the Pascha Vigil, It will be visit number 100!  Can't wait to tell you all about it.

I better go rest up now; it'll be a long night!