A blessed Lent to all, as we begin the 40 day pilgrimage this Clean Monday. In addition to the multiple weekday liturgical services (Monday: Compline, Wednesday: Presanctified Liturgy, Friday: Salutations to the Theotokos), each Sunday during the Lenten season has a particular theme. This Sunday, the first Sunday of Great Lent, is deemed the “The Sunday of Orthodoxy,” where the Church commemorates the restoration of icons in the Church, after decades of struggle again the iconoclast heresy. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful will process around the church building holding icons—remembering the procession which took place centuries ago, lead by the Empress, Saint Theodora.
Join us at Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church this Sunday for this historic and blessed event—remember to bring an icon from your home for the procession!
Interesting blog, relating opportunities in the Orthodox Christian Church, and principles produced by a professor in the Harvard Business School.
Blog Site: http://www.argo411.wordpress.com
Specific Blog Title: “Leading Change”
I have found a new blog that has been recently created, reflecting an important topic in the life of the Christian Church—Change! Argo411 Blog claims to explore Change in the Church as a form of Stewardship… very interesting! I am reading/following this new blog, and encourage anyone interested in Church history/present/future to read as well. Again, it is new and has limited content—but I am interested!
Visit Agro411 at: http://www.argo411.wordpress.com
“The Gospel is addressed to all people, and therefore the work of the Church remains incomplete as long as it is restricted to certain geographical areas or social classes. Its field of action is universal and is active in both sectors that welcome the good tidings and those which at first may reject them. Mission was not the duty of only the first generations of Christians. It is the duty of Christians of all ages.”
The Christian experience is one of prayer, actions of love, and growth. Through prayer- fulness, Christians continually affirm allegiance, dependancy, and faith in God. The experience of prayer occurs individually, communally, with formality, and informality, answering the call of the Apostle Paul to, “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Loving acts define the very nature of the Christian pilgrimage, as they, when offered with purity of heart, manifest the presence of God, “for God is Love.” (1 John 4:8)
With prayer sustaining the motivation toward the virtue of Christian experience, geared toward the pleasing of our Father who is in heaven, we are propelled into a lifestyle that is pleasing to Him, and promotes AGAPE in daily life. Authentic love propagates a yearning for good. That which is good for our loved ones, and all others who God has created in this world, regardless of our temporary, or worldly, relationship with them. The very essence of this desire for goodness upon all of God’s people is articulated each Divine Liturgy as the priest asks, “For those who hate us, and for those who love us, that our Lord may have mercy upon their souls.” (from the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom) Recognizing that God is good, and the source of all that is good, if we truly love another, our deepest desire must be for them to receive God, who is the experience that every soul longs for in heaven and earth.
Love amongst people is most authentically experienced in the invitation one offers to another to experience God. There is no substitute, as there is nothing more valuable than the experience of God in one’s life. The experience of God can be felt anywhere at any time, as God’s presence and activity can not be limited; however, it is in God’s House, His Holy Orthodox Church, that the Mystery and experience of God is consistently and verifiably extended to those who seek Him.
Pray about your Christian lifestyle! Allow this experience of prayer to motivate your ability to authentically love those around you! With Christian love as your motivation, offer to those around you what is most good and precious for their souls — the experience and presence of God, found in His Holy Orthodox Church! Begin with your family, to your friends, your acquaintances, and those who you cross paths with in daily life!
Be a Christian missionary in San Joaquin County - Be an Orthodox Christian!
+ Fr. Luke Palumbis