The Cathedral Messenger

Transcription

1 St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral ( ( The Cathedral Messenger Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Western Pennsylvania Archpriest Michael Senyo Protodeacon Michael Wusylko Deacon Stephen Boyd March 2018 The Jesus Prayer - The Invisible Driver of Daily Life (A homily by Fr. John Touloumes) In December 2014, the Journal of Behavioral Addictions published a study titled, The Invisible Addiction: Cell-phone Activities and Addiction Among Male and Female College Students. Its purpose was to investigate which cell-phone activities are associated with [a condition known as] cell-phone addiction. While the mention of addiction may cause us all - myself included- to recoil defensively ( not me, we say), as far back as 2012 other studies have shown that mobile phone use can be dependency-forming, habitual, and addictive. Don t believe it? Here are some of the shocking numbers. Average minutes per day spent on each of these activities: Phone calls: 33.1 min.; Texting: 94.6 min; s: 48.5 min.; Facebook 38.6 min.; Browsing the Internet: 34.3 min.; Just those activities alone total up to - get ready for it minutes, or 4 hours and 9 minutes a day. It gets much worse. When all forms of usage are added up, it can reach up to 9 hours per day for college students, leading some researchers to conclude that cellphone use is possibly the biggest non-drug addiction of the 21st century. And as a priest, here is the line in the study report that grabbed my spiritual attention: Cell-phones have become inextricably woven into our daily lives - an almost invisible driver of modern life. Pause for a moment and think about that. The invisible drive of modern life. On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, we as Christians are offered a different choice, a different invisible driver, and the only thread truly and inextricably woven into our daily and eternal life. One that never becomes obsolete but constantly needs upgraded: one that always holds charge and a five-bar signal if we choose to use it. The original communication device if you will: prayer. It is the true invisible driver of our daily Christian life. Most often on the Sunday when we read this Gospel, we find ourselves comparing the This month s newsletter is sponsored by the church. 1

2 prayer of the two: the proud Pharisee at the front of the temple and humble tax collector at the back, but we re not going there this time. Instead, let s focus on developing a better understanding of the great, God-given gift we have in prayer, even if it is not perfect or poetic. After all, God has given us His private number. And He expects to hear from us. Let s learn from some others in our Orthodox Church family what happens when we open that line. From the beginning of creation to today, we can find many models and methods of prayer. One of the most treasured in the life of the Orthodox Church is know simply as The Jesus Prayer. It is: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. It has its roots in the prayer of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. God have mercy on me a sinner, and was later developed into its present form by St. Simeon the New Theologian ( ). When he was 14 years old, he had a vision of heavenly light in which he seemed to be separated from his body. Amazed and overcome with an overpowering joy, which returned to St. Simeon each time he repeated the prayer, he taught his disciples to pray likewise. What is so powerful about that simple prayer? Orthodox tradition teaches us it is so outstandingly spiritual because it is focused wholly on Jesus: all thoughts, striving, hope, faith and love are outpoured in devotion to God the Son. It not only begins with the mention of His name, but it ends with us uncovering the hidden treasure of the presence of Jesus Christ in us. Mother Alexandra, founder of the nearby Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, says this humble prayer has opened unbelievable vistas within my heart and soul. Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlahos reveals its power in this way: The ceaseless cry to God, our Savior, purifies our soul. Saint Basil the Great notes that its simplicity allows us to pour our self entirely into it: We become the temple of God when remembrance of Him is not disturbed by earthly cares. And Archimandrite George of Mount Athos affirms: The Jesus Prayer has the following advantage: because it is only one sentence it helps us to [focus our attention] more easily. Concentrating our mind, we immerse it in our heart, and then pay attention to make sure it is not busy there with other things and ideas, good or bad; that it is busy only with God. So, how can we do that? With our busy, overloaded, always-connected lives, how can we pray and not be disturbed by earthly cares and daily busyness? Would you like to put it all aside and find Christ? Know His presence in your life? For that, let s turn back to Mother Alexandra for some practical advice. 1. We can each, she says, find a few minutes to simply concentrate on Jesus, forgetting all else, both joys and sorrows. 2. Think the prayer as you breathe in and out: calm both mind and body using as rhythm the heartbeat. Do not search for words, but go on repeating the Prayer, or Jesus name alone, in love and adoration. 3. Set aside a time and place: It is good to have regular hours for prayer and to retire whenever possible to the same room or place. 4. In addition, use it everywhere: The Jesus Prayer can be used for worship and petition; as intercession, invocation, adoration, and as thanksgiving. It is a means by which we lay all that is in our hearts, both for God and man, at the feet of Jesus. It is a means of communion with God. 2

3 Life is so confusing, and we spend so much time and energy trying to figure it out by logic, by searching the internet, and by calling and texting everyone on our favorites list. But the confusion persists, and even if we try to pray it seems we are dry ground bearing no fruit. Saint Heychius advises us to keep trying: The more the rain pours down upon the earth, the more it softens the earth of our heart, and fills it with joy and delight. If we spend an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes a day on our mobile phone, a few minutes in prayer is certainly also possible. And if you just can t put it down, try setting the timer on your phone for 10 minutes to pray! Turn your main distraction into a weapon for prayer! After working so hard to connect everyone at all times, many experts are observing that the result is actually isolation and the inability to truly communicate. So let s put all aside and fill the gap with prayer. Yes, we should be always praying. But if you can t (yet) always pray, still pray when you can. The Lord is waiting for your call. As Metropolitan Hilarion says, Let us work so that prayer would reach our heart, ascend to the heavenly heights to reach God. That, beloved faithful, is the ultimate connection and tue driver of our daily life. Amen. Choir Rehearsal (at ) March 13, Tuesday March 27, Tuesday April 24, Tuesday May 8, Tuesday May 22, Tuesday June 5, Tuesday June 19, Tuesday Junior Choir Rehearsal (After Liturgy) March 4 March 25 April 29 May 6 Youth Sunday is May 20th 3

4 SANWA Announcement No meeting this month. PIEROGIE-MAKING The following is the schedule for the monthly pierogie-making. All dates are subject to change depending on parish/diocesan needs. March 8-9 May August November March June September December April July October Book Discussion Group The Group met at the Tesone home last January 25th to further discuss The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning by Kurtz and Ketchum. The discussion was led by Paul Graycar. Over the years, the group has read many books about the value of listening and learning from people's stories. This book uses stories to examine individual's search for relief from pain and failure in order to find a path to wholeness and peace. Hope and inspiration are stressed by helping the reader understand that pain and failure are inevitably a part of being human. Only the Lord is perfect. Accepting our "Imperfection" can lead us to greater faith and spirituality. "Forgiveness Sunday" is just one example of how the church can play a vital role in our journey to greater faith. The next book the group will read is Food, Faith and Fasting by Rita Madden. Date and location of the meeting have not as yet been determined. 4

5 St. Alexander Nevsky Church School Calendar 3/10/2018 Lenten Retreat 4/1/2018 Procession with Palms Palm Sunday 4/8/2018 No Church School Pascha 4/15/2018 No Church School / Egg Hunt St. Thomas Sunday 5/20/2018 Youth Sunday / Last Day of Church School ** Classes start at 9:00 a.m. Sunday mornings Please see Ann Hershey if you would like an OCMC coin box. GIFT SHOP In preparation for the Lenten and Paschal season, the following books have been ordered and should arrive soon: Great Lent: A School of Repentence Liturgy Of the Presanctified Gifts Vespers of Holy Friday Holy Friday Matins Bridegroom Services of Holy Week Matins of Holy Saturday Vespers of Pascha Holy Week Vol.1 (a larger book) Women s Choice Network Where "Choice" is "Choice for Life" Upcoming Efforts by St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral Stay tuned for more information! Following Holy Pascha - May: New Mom Bags & New Baby Bags June - July: Baby Bottle Collection 5

6 Schedule of Divine Services March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Feb. 25 Sunday of Orthodoxy (First Sunday Great Fast) Church School 9 am Hours 9:40 am Procession with Icons & Reading of the Synoikon Liturgy 10:00 am Feb. 26 Feb. 27 Choir Rehearsal Feb. 28 9th Hour & Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 1 2 Akathist 7 pm 3 Great Vespers & 5:00 pm 4 2nd Sunday of Great Fast St. Gregory Palamas) Church School 9 am Hours 9:40 am Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am 5 6 Small Compline/ 7 6:00 pm 9th Hour & Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts 8 Parish Growth Meeting 9 Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste Lenten Hours and Typika 9:00 am 10 Soul Saturday Hours 8:40 am Liturgy 9:00 am Litya for the Departed Cathedral Retreat Vigil 5:00 pm 11 3rd Sunday of Great Fast (Veneration of the Cross) Hours 9:40 am Liturgy of St. Basil (St. Tikhon s Choir) 10:00 am Lenten Vespers 5:00 pm Small Compline/ Choir Rehearsal 14 6:00 pm 9th Hour & Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts Akathist to the Precious Cross 17 Memorial Saturday Hours 8:40 am Liturgy 9:00 am Litya for the Departed Great Vespers & 5:00 pm 18 4th Sunday of Great Fast (St. John Climacus) Church School 9 am Hours 9:40 am Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am Small Compline/ 21 6:00 pm 9th Hour & Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts Akathist to the Holy Theotokos 24 Forefeast of the Anunciation Hours 8:40 am Liturgy 9:00 am Great Vespers/ Litya and 5:00 pm 25 Annunciation of the Holy Theotokos (St. Mary of Egypt) Church School 9 am Hours 9:40 am Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00 am Small Compline/ Choir Rehearsal 28 6:00 pm 9th Hour & Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts Vespers 31 Resurrection of Lazarus Hours 8:40 am Liturgy 9:00 am Vigil for Palm Sunday 5:00 pm 6

7 Clip and insert in prayer book to pray for those in the prayer list Prayer List for the Ill and Those in Need Archpriest Paul Priest Lawrence Matushka Susanne Matushka Larissa Subdeacon Gregory Anastasia Danielle Child Sophia John Lillian Rachel Gregory Claudia Omelan Olga Michael Joyce Edgar Irene Anthony Ava Ivana with Child Laura with Child Larissa with Child Damian Marina Kiprian Linda Assignments Date Epistle Hours Greeters Candle Desk Mar 4 J Pazin S Francino C Steeb, V Rennison F Balog Mar 11 D Leszunov M Wusylko E O Rourke, Lindquist Class S Romanchik Mar 18 G Pazin L Lindquist J Pazin R Glisan Mar 25 JM Pazin Romanchik Class E Glisan, O Gaykova F Balog Apr 1 D Geeza F Namisnak C Steeb, V Rennison S Romanchik Apr 8 F Balog L Nescott E O Rourke, Lindquist Class R Glisan Apr 15 L Lindquist D Leszunov J Pazin F Balog Other Assignments Date Collection Counters Fundability Mar 4 G Ribar, R Steeb T Claus, B Banosky Mar 11 J Dille, G Ribar A Lane, J Casciato Mar 18 N Tesone, K Zallow L Burek, S Radinsky Mar 25 R Steeb, R Hrodnik T Claus, B Banosky Apr 1 G Ribar, R Steeb A Lane, J Casciato Apr 8 J Dille, G Ribar L Burek, S Radinsky Apr 15 N Tesone, K Zallow T Claus, B Banosky 7

8 2018 Lenten Family Retreat Hosted by St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral Let us draw near with faith and love, and become communicants of life eternal. Guest Lecturer: Father Steven Voytovich SATURDAY, MARCH 10 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy with light brunch following 11:00 AM Lecture / Youth Activities 12:00 PM Lunch 12:45 PM Wrap-up Session for Lecture and Youth Activities 5:00 PM Vigil for Elevation of the Cross (with St. Tikhon s Choir) Please RSVP by March 4 th to Ann Hershey at abhershey@gmail.com FATHER STEVEN VOYTOVICH, Dean of Saint Tikhon s Seminary, will offer for consideration and encouragement how to use the Great Lenten season to draw nearer to our Lord. He will draw from Matthew 6, Lenten services and texts, and ascetical writings, to elevate this theme's focus from Great Lent to a lifelong journey. 8

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