Sunday, August 10, 2008
Continued blogging
I have, with encouragement, restarted blogging at my new location. Find me at Orthodox Northampton
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Fare ye well
I have just celebrated my last Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of Saint Drostan. As my family and I prepare to move to England for new jobs and new pastoral work, I would like to thank especially Nan and Fr John Ross (of blessed memory) for being there with Claire-Marie and I as we explored the riches of the Orthodox Christian faith. We were received into the Church by Father John, and I served my first Liturgy in that beautiful little chapel in Fetterangus.
We leave behind a small group of dedicated folk and I ask you all to pray for Rachel, Jeff, Yerasmimos, Nicola, Alexei and Olga, and (especially) Nan as they continue to pray together and meet in fellowship. I pray that a new priest can be found who can take the community on to new horizons.
I will keep this blog going, and hope to draw others into contributing and I hope to be reporting from Northampton in due course. We will be celebrating a last Liturgy in the Chapel of the Transfiguration at Rathen (which, unfortunately will have to be closed) on the 10th of May 2008, after which we will have a garden party to say goodbye to our friends.
May God be with you, now and always
Fr T
We leave behind a small group of dedicated folk and I ask you all to pray for Rachel, Jeff, Yerasmimos, Nicola, Alexei and Olga, and (especially) Nan as they continue to pray together and meet in fellowship. I pray that a new priest can be found who can take the community on to new horizons.
I will keep this blog going, and hope to draw others into contributing and I hope to be reporting from Northampton in due course. We will be celebrating a last Liturgy in the Chapel of the Transfiguration at Rathen (which, unfortunately will have to be closed) on the 10th of May 2008, after which we will have a garden party to say goodbye to our friends.
May God be with you, now and always
Fr T
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Extra's for Homilies
My friend, Katherine, over on Lamp of Beauty has passed on this extract from Orthodixie. I must remember to use some of these in my homilies!
....
I have a few announcements to make before today’s sermon.
First of all, if you see my daughter, or any child for that matter, acting up in church, teach her – them – how to pray. We come to church on the Lord’s Day to pray. There’s a whole week in between to learn behavior and behave. Here, let’s pray. (The same thing goes for adults.)
If you see me with a frown on my face, forgive me. It speaks more of my sins than it does our relationship. If you’ve time, help me out. A smile alleviates a frown every time.
If you want more things in church: more activities, more fellowship, church school supplies, carpet – whatever it may be – give more money. That’s just the way it works.
Want more people in church? Invite them.
If you see me sinning, don’t encourage me. Like a child in need of attention, I’ll often show off in a rather ill manner. Perhaps your loving me, in spite of myself, will help to exorcise the demons with whom I’m all too familiar. Besides, if you join me in sin, we’ll be doubly miserable.
If you catch me entering gossip, stop me. For I pray each day "forgive me, O Lord, the same way I forgive others.” You’d be a great help to me, yourself, and everyone if you’d lovingly hush me up.
If you see me feasting on Wednesday, Friday, or during Seasonal Fasts ... forgive and reprove me with love. For in so doing, I show my kinship with Judas and those who crucified the Lord Jesus. Yet, with your help, I can repent and experience the God of Resurrection and Light.
Please don’t sit throughout the Liturgy unless you have a physical ailment that requires it. We’re a lazy people in this modern age, but true prayer has always been hard work. All able bodies should stand in remembrance of the Resurrection & the Day of Judgment. Let us attend.
By all means, if you hear me speaking heresy – please, quail my tongue with love. For the Saviour has sacrificed too much for me and my salvation for me to forfeit the Kingdom with lying lips. God forbid that I should drag you with me.
If you observe me being patient in a time of trial, give thanks to God for it is His Spirit that guides me.
If, however, you see me being impatient, forgive me. I come by it naturally, even from Adam and Eve.
If my way of life is not the same as yours, it does not mean that we are not of the same Christian family. It just means that God in His wisdom has fashioned us in a unique manner – yet, with the same Lord as God and Father of all.
If you know that I’m in need, help me. For God surely will bless those who bless Him.
If you find my attitude, my words, my every way of life leaves you cold, please don’t abandon me. I’m lonely. Perhaps your presence, love, forgiveness, and long-suffering will help to melt my frozen heart.
If you think you have sacrificed enough, it is often at that very moment that God asks the most of you.
If you’re not tithing to the church [giving at least 10% of your income], please don’t complain. Because God Himself answers our plea with a challenge “Give me 10%, and I’ll fill your storehouses.” (By the way, for some reason, those who tithe complain less.)
If you make a mess, clean it up. Otherwise you manufacture enemies as well.
If you notice someone absent from church, call them. They may need you.
Most of all, if you see me walking on water, help me back into the boat. For, by myself, I shall perish.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
....
I have a few announcements to make before today’s sermon.
First of all, if you see my daughter, or any child for that matter, acting up in church, teach her – them – how to pray. We come to church on the Lord’s Day to pray. There’s a whole week in between to learn behavior and behave. Here, let’s pray. (The same thing goes for adults.)
If you see me with a frown on my face, forgive me. It speaks more of my sins than it does our relationship. If you’ve time, help me out. A smile alleviates a frown every time.
If you want more things in church: more activities, more fellowship, church school supplies, carpet – whatever it may be – give more money. That’s just the way it works.
Want more people in church? Invite them.
If you see me sinning, don’t encourage me. Like a child in need of attention, I’ll often show off in a rather ill manner. Perhaps your loving me, in spite of myself, will help to exorcise the demons with whom I’m all too familiar. Besides, if you join me in sin, we’ll be doubly miserable.
If you catch me entering gossip, stop me. For I pray each day "forgive me, O Lord, the same way I forgive others.” You’d be a great help to me, yourself, and everyone if you’d lovingly hush me up.
If you see me feasting on Wednesday, Friday, or during Seasonal Fasts ... forgive and reprove me with love. For in so doing, I show my kinship with Judas and those who crucified the Lord Jesus. Yet, with your help, I can repent and experience the God of Resurrection and Light.
Please don’t sit throughout the Liturgy unless you have a physical ailment that requires it. We’re a lazy people in this modern age, but true prayer has always been hard work. All able bodies should stand in remembrance of the Resurrection & the Day of Judgment. Let us attend.
By all means, if you hear me speaking heresy – please, quail my tongue with love. For the Saviour has sacrificed too much for me and my salvation for me to forfeit the Kingdom with lying lips. God forbid that I should drag you with me.
If you observe me being patient in a time of trial, give thanks to God for it is His Spirit that guides me.
If, however, you see me being impatient, forgive me. I come by it naturally, even from Adam and Eve.
If my way of life is not the same as yours, it does not mean that we are not of the same Christian family. It just means that God in His wisdom has fashioned us in a unique manner – yet, with the same Lord as God and Father of all.
If you know that I’m in need, help me. For God surely will bless those who bless Him.
If you find my attitude, my words, my every way of life leaves you cold, please don’t abandon me. I’m lonely. Perhaps your presence, love, forgiveness, and long-suffering will help to melt my frozen heart.
If you think you have sacrificed enough, it is often at that very moment that God asks the most of you.
If you’re not tithing to the church [giving at least 10% of your income], please don’t complain. Because God Himself answers our plea with a challenge “Give me 10%, and I’ll fill your storehouses.” (By the way, for some reason, those who tithe complain less.)
If you make a mess, clean it up. Otherwise you manufacture enemies as well.
If you notice someone absent from church, call them. They may need you.
Most of all, if you see me walking on water, help me back into the boat. For, by myself, I shall perish.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunday, December 09, 2007
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY
The Feast of the Nativity will be celebrated from 7pm on December 24th at the Chapel of the Holy Transfiguration, Rathen. Directions are here
All are welcome.
The next Liturgy in Aberdeen will be on the 15th of December at St Ninian's Church, King St, Aberdeen at 10am. There will be an opportunity to make your confession from 09.30. In addition, there will be a community supper at St Ninian's from 5pm to 8pm. There will be some teaching for the children on the Nativity and an opportunity for the grown-ups to investigate the Liturgy in more detail. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to make your confession before the Nativity.
We will also be celebrating the Liturgy in Inverness on the 22nd of Dec at the RNI Chapel in Inverness. Confessions from 10.00 and Liturgy starts 10.30.
The feast of the Theophany will be upon us soon, so please start maiking your preparations for the blessing of the homes. Please let me know if you would like a visit and when.
A happy, holy and restful Nativity to you all!!
Fr T
All are welcome.
The next Liturgy in Aberdeen will be on the 15th of December at St Ninian's Church, King St, Aberdeen at 10am. There will be an opportunity to make your confession from 09.30. In addition, there will be a community supper at St Ninian's from 5pm to 8pm. There will be some teaching for the children on the Nativity and an opportunity for the grown-ups to investigate the Liturgy in more detail. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to make your confession before the Nativity.
We will also be celebrating the Liturgy in Inverness on the 22nd of Dec at the RNI Chapel in Inverness. Confessions from 10.00 and Liturgy starts 10.30.
The feast of the Theophany will be upon us soon, so please start maiking your preparations for the blessing of the homes. Please let me know if you would like a visit and when.
A happy, holy and restful Nativity to you all!!
Fr T
New Media
This reminds me, talking of the new media. I got a 'shout' recently from a new friend and fellow priest in the US. Fr Michael Preble and I are both on Facebook and have been skyping each other about various things. He and Fr Greg Christakos have a podcast here.
If you listen to episode 11, I get a mention! Hopefully, Fr Michael and I can set up a transatlantic podcast in the near future.
He mentioned us living in the Highlands, so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the real Highlands (Aberdeen is in the highlands, but not very 'Highlands' if you know what I mean!). I recently went to Cannich, north of Inverness to see Sister Petra-Clare. I was there for a couple of days of silence and rest, so I went for a hike up a hill!! In typical Highland winter weather- cold, wet and dreich! I had fun, despite the rather pained look on my face!
Feast of St Nicholas
It's been a long time since I have blogged, but today we have just finished celebrating the Feast of St Nicholas. We had a carol service last night, organised by Lucia and Virgil, which brought many people from the Romanian community in Aberdeen together for carols in Romanian and English.
My mobile phone camera is not very good, but here's a few photos.
We had a really nice time, with plenty of Romanian food and the singing was so good that I hope that they will all come back to swell the church choir!!
I did try to do a little video of the choir, but it didn't work- I'm not so clever with computers as I think I am!
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