This past weekend we had the first services in our new church. We blessed the church and hall as well. Many people worked for months, weeks, days, and hours to clear property, prepare foundation, move buildings, construct decking and stairs, clean, paint, connect plumbing and electricity, and move in. I can't begin to enumerate all … Continue reading Church Transformation
Orthodox
The Jesus Prayer
https://youtu.be/AiUp5ZBEBK4 Some folks have asked for the music to the hymn the choir sang last Sunday so I'm providing the PDF here. The original is available on Podoben but the choir liked the arrangement (a few minor changes) our girls came up with more. PDF: the-jesus-prayer-our-arr.pdf Images:
Preparation
Advent always seems to be a particularly busy season. This is easy to explain: it's the busiest time of year for my shop, we're beginning preparations for Christmas, there is a lot of hand-made work going on by multiple family members which requires my help, and we're still doing schoolwork, of course. This year we've … Continue reading Preparation
…and flying birds.
From this morning's kathisma: Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! [Psalm 148:7-10]
For His Mercy Endureth Forever
https://youtu.be/VfTVWHOHJcw O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth … Continue reading For His Mercy Endureth Forever
A Bruised Reed
A bruised reed He will not break... [Isaiah 42:3] We spent 7 hours Friday working on the new church and hall buildings. They needed to be prepared for painting which was actually quite a large task. The floors also had to be prepped for replacement tile in the hall and new flooring in the church. … Continue reading A Bruised Reed
Jesse Tree
Last year Elissa Bjeletich sent me her delightful Welcoming the Christ Child, a book of 40 family advent readings and matching ornaments. I loved it but felt that my youngest two were not going to appreciate it, so I saved it for this year. (You can read my review here.) One dilemma I had was … Continue reading Jesse Tree
Advent Wreath
I had been feeling sad that we didn't have an advent wreath. In Orthodoxy you need one with 6-7 candles - one for each Sunday of Advent and then one for Christmas Day. These are made but I have never ordered one. On occasion I would turn over in my head ideas for making one, … Continue reading Advent Wreath
New Beginnings
Rather than apologizing for the long hiatus and trying to update, I'll just begin again. I spent the previous few days at the Ancient Faith Women's Retreat meeting at Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania. It snowed the afternoon, evening, and night we arrived which was simultaneously a big treat for me and a big headache for … Continue reading New Beginnings
Dormition, Roses, Wool, Miniatures, and Clouds
Lately it's been busy and hot. Pretty much the usual. Cloud photography happens more days than not, and sometimes we get a bit of rain. We're in one of the few small parts of Texas that is not in a drought. I've made a few miniature sweaters. The first two went to Emily, the owner … Continue reading Dormition, Roses, Wool, Miniatures, and Clouds
Praying With My Feet 