The Liturgy of Life. Parents sigh with a mixture of relief and sadness as they see the kids off to the. Holy Prophet Samuel Sunday Aug. 20 / Sept.

Transcription

1 Friday, August 31, Highway 9 Felton, CA phone (831) fax (831) office@slocc.com Holy Prophet Samuel Sunday Aug. 20 / Sept. 2 CALENDAR Sept. 6, 13, 27 Sept. 13 Sept. 16 Sept. 29 Sept CONTENTS 7 p.m. Catechism 7 p.m. Board Meeting 11:30 a.m. Clergy Meeting 9:30 a.m. PRC Walk for Life Youth Group Monastery Trip Liturgy of Life cont. 2 Person to Person 3 Hear Ye, Hear Ye 4 The Liturgy of Life Summer s end, back to school, back to routine Parents sigh with a mixture of relief and sadness as they see the kids off to the first day of school. High-schoolers part ways with their younger peers after a summer of fun. College students head back to their studies. Those employed outside the home return from work to help with their children s homework rather than watching the kids play outside until dark. The nights are cooler, and many begin the process of settling into a routine that will last until spring. Human beings are creatures of routine and habit. Good or bad, spiritual and material, it s routine habits that either raise us up or tear us down. Whether speaking of a rule of prayer or an addiction, that cup of coffee in the morning or attending Wednesday vespers, the underlying truth remains: humans are liturgical beings. In a sense, mankind was brought into existence to do the same thing over and over again, for eternity: to know and worship God, to live in communion with others and creation, and to form families through which new humans come into existence and experience the same fulfilling life. True being, satisfaction, love, joy, and peace all flow from a life of worship and communion. Therefore, the establishment and practice of regular worship daily, weekly, annually, and both privately and corporately is essential for authentic human existence and experience. As Orthodox, when we speak about a liturgical life, we don t mean our short liturgical offering in the church, but the whole of our life, which, starting with the liturgical actions in the church, becomes one of continuous liturgy and worship (Abbot George Kapsanis, Gregoriou Monastery, Mt. Athos; + June 8, 2014). Prayer at home, at church, on the great feasts of the year, and in the rhythm of our daily routine must be a greater priority than anything else: money, homework, sports, hobbies, exercise, socializing, and the rest of our competing habits. Orthodox Christians can t be Orthodox unless they live liturgically. Unless the Divine Liturgy and worship are not merely oortunities or part of their A Parish of the Ecumenical Patriarchate continued on page 2

2 FROM THE PARISH ACADEMY CORNER Welcome Back! Sept. 3 Sept. 4-7 Sept. 10, 17 & 24 NO SCHOOL Labor Day Nature Camp 4th- 8th Grades 2:45 p.m. Youth Choir cont. from page 1 timetable, but are, instead, the life-giving shoot grafted on to their lives and transforming them, the center, the basis, the beginning and the end (Abbot George). Now in order to enter into private and corporate prayer, one must enter into both experience and understanding. We pray and go to church to experience an authentic liturgical manner of existence. But we must also go home and study the same. It is this alternation between experience and understanding that propels us into the liturgy of life, or better said, liturgy as life. If we are not experiencing anything attractive in prayer and services, it is usually our own fault. As Father Stanley Harakas puts it in his helpful book Living the Liturgy, If you really expect to get something out of Church attendance and prayer, you must give. It is not enough just to sit there. You must take an active part in worship. You must learn to participate personally. Regarding children, Father Alexander Schmemann encourages us, saying, As a general rule, children like to be in church, and this instinctive attraction to and interest in church services is the foundation on which we must build their religious education. When parents worry that the children will get tired because services are long, they usually subconsciously express concern not for their children, but for themselves (Liturgy and Life). So this fall, take the time to meet, discuss, contemplate, study, take advice, and make a commitment to authentic human life through private prayer and corporate worship. Pray at home every day. When, where, and for how long are details to be worked out over time. But let s get ourselves to the place of asking, Did I pray today? And answering, Yes! Commit to being at church every Saturday night and Sunday morning. Then commit to a service during the week and all the major feasts as well. Let us sacrifice the competing priorities that keep us from prayer and submit to the reality that without God life is meaningless. And without prayer, we do not know God. With heartfelt desire for our spiritual renewal, First Day of School Newly installed drinking fountains on the patio side of the church. Just in time for the new school year! A big thank you Dn. Michael and Mr. Price! HOMILIES ONLINE! An easy way to prepare for Sundays and feast days throughout the year is to listen to the previous year s homily at www. slocc.com/audio. Take a listen! Blessing of the Academy students and classrooms, Aug. 29, p GRAPEVINE AUG. 31, 2018

3 PERSON TO PERSON FROM THE PARISH Feast Day Thank You All rise and give a standing ovation for all those who helped make our feast day (last Sunday) such a pleasant and convenient celebration! Brunch and desserts, set-up and clean-up, and fun for the kids: all was very good, enjoyable, and a blessing. It was wonderful to simply be together and share a common meal. May our devoted veneration of Saint Lawrence continue to bless and protect all in our community and valley! In the Shade When you use the patio area and the shade umbrellas please lower the umbrella at your table when you leave. This will help prevent them from being blown over and broken when more gusty breezes start in the autumn months. NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES Orthodox Studies Online: Enroll Now! The academic year is about to start at the Great Martyr Euphemia Orthodox Theological Academy. Online classrooms opened August 27. But it s not too late to enroll. With over 100 alicants for this Fall, the GMEOTA student community is blossoming into an international fellowship of faith; Orthodox Christians doing their best to enliven their own spiritual life and give back to their home church through convenient online study. Grow spiritually and combine knowledge with zeal! The GreatMartyr Euphemia Academy is making it easier for our students to achieve their goals, complete their educational journey, and add to their knowledge of the Orthodox faith. Visit Bread Baking Are you interested in making the Altar bread one Sunday a month, or would you just like to know the process of baking it? All those interested please give Pres. Nancy ( ) or Molly ( ) a call and we will set up a hands-on class. TRADING POST TRADING POST Sound Financial Advice Joseph Mendes is back from Greece and available to offer you his sound financial advice on matters related to: 1) Helping you buy & sell real estate, 2) mortgage lending including refinance and purchase loans, 3) drawing up real estate documents (trust and grant deeds & notes), and 4) assisting you with all your property management needs. Please contact him at (925) Comfy Chairs The two leather swivel rockers in the nursery are being replaced, they are available for free. Call Dn Michael, , if interested. Reception of the Relics Great Music! Bounce houses for the kids! TRICKS OF THE TRADE A Place of Transition It is in the narthex that we slow down our thoughts and begin our prayer. The narthex is a place of preparation for our entrance into another reality, the heavenly worship of the Church. Pause in the narthex when entering the church. Take a breath. Put away cares. Acknowledge in your heart that you have entered the house of God. Saint Lawrence Feast Day 2018 Folk Dancing and some strange creatures. GRAPEVINE AUG. 31, 2018 p 3

4 SHOP THE ABBOT S! New This Week Mini Tiaras Croquet set Exercise mats Kitty bookmark Fun w/beading kit Child s work bench Steam canner, in box Iced tea maker, in box USA super-size puzzle Shelves: wood & metal Eddie Bauer high chair Dolls: ballerinas to rags Bird cages: sm. to super! Digital photo frame, in box Camping: tents, pads, chairs Cotton rope hammocks, new Make Your Own Mud Clock kit Balls: basketballs, bouncing, soccer ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH 6192 Highway 9 Felton, CA Return Service Requested HEAR YE, HEAR YE! SERVICE SCHEDULE Fri. Aug. 31 (18) Sat. Sept. 1 (Aug. 19) Sun. Sept. 2 (Aug. 20) Mon. Sept. 3 (Aug. 21) Tues. Sept. 4 (Aug. 22) Wed. Sept. 5 (Aug. 23) Thur. Sept. 6 (Aug. 24) 7 p.m. Great Vespers 7:30 a.m. Matins 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy SCRIPTURE READINGS For Sunday, September 2 (Aug. 20) 2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4 Matthew 22: p.m. Vespers 7 p.m. Vespers BIRTHDAYS Nikki Adams August 25 (belated) Dionysius Dingman September 5 Grace Kirkpatrick September 5 Milt Silver September 5 Luke Somerville September 5 CLEANING TEAM September 1 Peter F., Vasiliki M., Mary P., Pres. Lucia R. CONTACT THE GRAPEVINE newsletter@slocc.com Phone: (831) Fax: (831) Submissions by are preferable! Deadline for announcements: Tuesday noon for Friday s issue Please specify how long you want the announcement to run. Default is 2 weeks.

5 Prayer for the Beginning of the School Year O Lord our God, who honored us with Your own image, who taught Your elect, so that most wise are they who give heed to Your teaching, who reveal wisdom to children: open the hearts, the minds, and the lips of these Your servants, that they may receive the power of Your Law, and successfully arehend the useful precepts which shall be taught to them, to the glory of Your Holy Name, to the profit and up-building of Your Holy Church; and that they may understand Your good and perfect will. Deliver them from every hostile oression: preserve them in Your Holy, Apostolic Faith, and in all uprightness and purity all the days of their life, that they might advance in wisdom, and in the fulfillment of Your commandments; that being thus prepared they may glorify Your most Holy Name and become heirs of Your Kingdom; for You are the God of mercy; and to You we give glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer of a Student Christ my Lord, the Giver of light and wisdom, who opened the eyes of the blind man and transformed the fishermen into wise heralds and teachers of the gospel through the coming of the Holy Spirit, shine also in my mind the light of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Grant me discernment, understanding, and wisdom in learning. Enable me to complete my assignments and to abound in every good work. Deliver me from every hostile oression: preserve me in Your Holy, Apostolic Faith, and in all uprightness and purity all the days of my life, that I might advance in wisdom, and in the fulfillment of Your commandments; that being thus prepared I may glorify Your most Holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.