Great and Holy Monday
We've had our first Bridegroom Matins at Holy Ascension (which we do in anticipation the evening before it's supposed to be done - it would make more sense as a part of Vigil, but till we get to the point where we're doing that we'll have to be content with half of the prayer time we could be getting (thank God - my back can only take so much of Holy Week)) and have begun discussing the baking that needs doing for Pascha :-).
Filip smoked me at chess after the agape - three times :-). It was humbling, and I'm glad he's so bright. May God prosper him! I'm sad that he's the only guy his age at our church and I hope he gets reinforcement in his walk with God somehow (through us or friends at St. Vladimir's or someone).
I'm beginning to shop for my Pascha basket, which is fairly good considering how early I've started doing that in the past :-/. It's only got one or two things, but it's already looking good. It's a good thing that the basket's over at the Keasters' - I'd look at it too much if it were here :-).
Anyway, I need to continue preparing for a presentation I'm to give in Dr. Rawson's class Monday afternoon (which is today I just realized :-) ). I wish I'd done this ages ago, but that's me. I'll never learn :-/. I'm surrounded by such good and diligent and prayerful people, but all I do is mess around and waste time and neglect my relationship with God. The hymns at the services this week will be good wakeup calls for me.
I helped read at church tonight and as part of that ended up standing in front of an icon of the Lord's Crucifixion. Glory to God He saw fit to be incarnate and to give us holy icons - the effect of that one on me during the service was such a blessing. So humbling, so challenging...
Your prayers as this Great and Holy Week progresses. You'll be in mine. Your forgiveness for my sins against you all.
Filip smoked me at chess after the agape - three times :-). It was humbling, and I'm glad he's so bright. May God prosper him! I'm sad that he's the only guy his age at our church and I hope he gets reinforcement in his walk with God somehow (through us or friends at St. Vladimir's or someone).
I'm beginning to shop for my Pascha basket, which is fairly good considering how early I've started doing that in the past :-/. It's only got one or two things, but it's already looking good. It's a good thing that the basket's over at the Keasters' - I'd look at it too much if it were here :-).
Anyway, I need to continue preparing for a presentation I'm to give in Dr. Rawson's class Monday afternoon (which is today I just realized :-) ). I wish I'd done this ages ago, but that's me. I'll never learn :-/. I'm surrounded by such good and diligent and prayerful people, but all I do is mess around and waste time and neglect my relationship with God. The hymns at the services this week will be good wakeup calls for me.
I helped read at church tonight and as part of that ended up standing in front of an icon of the Lord's Crucifixion. Glory to God He saw fit to be incarnate and to give us holy icons - the effect of that one on me during the service was such a blessing. So humbling, so challenging...
Your prayers as this Great and Holy Week progresses. You'll be in mine. Your forgiveness for my sins against you all.