Helpdesk support back in the Middle Ages with English subtitles. Original taken from the show “Øystein og jeg” on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) in 2001. With Øystein Backe (helper)and Rune Gokstad (desperate monk). Written by Knut Nærum.
Thanks to FWD from Jim.
Then there’s my friend, Erin, who has a new line of greeting cards which, thanks God, are delightfully different than all that schmaltzy stuff you find elsewhere.
Pick up a few … HERE.
From Bishop Basil’s email of last night, July 26th …
Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of the soul of our highly esteemed and well loved brother and concelebrant ARCHPRIEST JAMES KENNA, 74, of St Sophia/Dripping Springs, TX, saying, “O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant.”
Father James was fatally injured in an automobile incident earlier this evening.
UPDATE …
The schedule of divine services for Father James is as follows.
TUESDAY – JULY 28th
7:00 PM The Funeral Service for a Priest at:
St Sophia Church
225 Rose Drive
Dripping Springs, TX 68720
Telephone: 512-471-2756
WEDNESDAY – JULY 29th
10:00AM Concelebrated Divine Liturgy followed by The General Funeral Service at:
St Sophia Church
225 Rose Drive
Dripping Springs, TX 68720
Telephone: 512-471-2756
The Final Trisagion Prayers of Mercy and Burial will be at:
Onion Creek Memorial Park
11610 Chapel Lane
Austin, TX 78748
Telephone: 512-282-3893
May his memory be eternal!
Pic Source & Comment
The main reason I’m out in the desert this week is as Coordinator for the St Philip’s Prayer Discipline. The website is coming along and should be complete soon. By your prayers!
Prayer. It’s one of the three pillars of our struggle as Orthodox Christians …
Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.
It’s how we work out our salvation.
And yet, for many, Prayer presents the greatest challenge of the three.
In fact, if I may be so bold to say: Without Prayer the other two, Fasting and Almsgiving, are nothing more than Dieting and Philanthropy.
First of all, what do we mean by Prayer?
I’m always amused when others say of Orthodox: “Oh! You pray out of a book?”
Yes, it’s true, unless you’ve memorized the prayers – we do!
I’m tempted to respond: “What? Your preacher preaches out of a book?”
The chief end of Prayer is to glorify God. Now, for some, that may be a no-brainer. But, believe me, for many — it’s a new concept.
Let me state it clearly: Prayer is not simply talking to God (though it is that).
Prayer is not simply worrying in the name of Jesus. Remember? He told us not to worry. (Matthew 6:25-34)
Nope … worrying in Jesus name is not praying.
Our Prayer should give glory to God.
When the disciples came to Jesus and asked: “Master, how should we pray?”
Jesus did not respond: “Just talk to me.”
I mean, they were talking to him!
Rather, as recorded in the Gospel according to Luke: He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of his disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
And He said to them …
Listen to the Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
This reflection was originally delivered as a homily on Wednesday, January 16, 1991 on the advent of “Desert Storm”. (Which was, incidentally, the eve of the feast of St Anthony the Great, aka St Anthony of the Desert.) It has been slightly edited for the current situation. God willing, see you all in Palm Desert this week.
When I was a boy my brother and I shared a bed. I was around ten years old, my brother was three. One night I awoke to an eerie moaning sound. I turned, to my surprise, to see a white shadowy image weaving to and fro beside me in our bed. I sleepily tried to make out what it was, but the image and the moaning aroused such a great fear within me that I was petrified. I prayed to God for courage.
Eventually, filled with fear, I struck out at this ghost!
My fist ran into it with great velocity … and my arm came crashing down upon it.
For a split second, I was relieved. I had overcome my adversary!
Suddenly, I was startled by a shrill cry.
It was my brother.
My mom came rushing in to see what was the matter; when she turned on the light, all became clear. My “ghost” was a pillow — my brother had been waving it in the air as he moaned in his sleep.
This was a complex situation; I was relieved that I was no longer feeling threatened — yet I was in trouble with my mom, and I’d hurt my brother. Mixed emotions.
Recent events within the Antiochian Archdiocese have led many to mixed emotions. Fear, anger, sadness. Though there have been many prayers, people have been hurt. Some, like a frightened ten year old boy warring against a specter, with good intentions … have hurt their brother. It’s complex.
* * *
Long ago, in the Middle East, a boy lay sleeping. He was startled — not by bombs, sirens, scandal, or a moaning ghost … but by a voice: Samuel! Samuel!
The boy jumped up and ran to his teacher, thinking it had been his voice. Then it happened again. And, again a third time.
Finally, his teacher Eli, realizing that the voice may be God’s, said: “Go lie down, and if He calls you, say ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'”
* * *
Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.
Lately, some have felt passive, helpless — addicted to Internet news, gossip, and slivers of information. Chained, essentially, to worries and cares concerning the current church conflict.
If God were speaking right now, through all the clutter, would we hear? How to respond?
Oh, sure, I’ve prayed about recent events. I’ve even prayed for perceived enemies. But I’m quite sure I’ve not been expecting an answer. I’ve basically been verbalizing my worries and cares to a Higher Power. Yet, the very fact that these worries and cares have so dominated my being shows that I have been closed to God’s call. Sometimes, in a personal battle between faith and doubt, we surrender … to doubt.
* * *
If any of you have fallen into the same battle as I, rest assured! We’re in good company. For when the disciple Philip found Nathaniel and said: “We’ve found him! We’ve found the Messiah — the one we’ve been waiting for! Jesus of Nazareth!”
Nathaniel said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Philip said, “Come and see.”
* * *
Though we may be reluctant to come to God — or to hear His call — God accepts us as we are, doubts and all.
The Prince of Peace is also the Light of the world. I was afraid while in the darkness. Yet, when the light entered my room, my fears dissipated. It was only my brother. I was so caught up in fear and trembling that, without the light, I panicked. The light made all the difference. (Without Light, it’s hard to recognize your brother.)
Nathaniel doubted anything good come come out of Nazareth, much less the Saviour of the world. He doubted no more when he came to the Light.
Just as I battled a “ghost” as a child, Samuel wrestled with the voice that called his name.
We can all learn from Eli and Samuel. The next time we are plagued by sleeplessness, worry, doubts and despair, instead of getting more and more anxious —
What would happen if we were to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears”?
In accepting the call, we are told the God was with Samuel. Nathaniel followed Philip’s advice: “Come and see.”
And what of our current situation?
What are we called to do?
— Clear out the demons, the doubts, and the clutter … and listen for that still small voice.
“But,” we may say with Nathaniel, “can anything good possibly come of this?”
Come and see.
For although God accepts us as we are …
Still
we have a higher calling.
These are complex times; many have mixed emotions.
But the Light says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Come and see.
Image Source
We’d planned to hike Grandfather Mountain, from top to bottom, a fabulous 4-hour trek, but recent bear activity had closed the trails.
So we drove up.
On the way, we came to a little wayside cave. I stopped the car, we Huneycutts and my mother all got out to take in nature’s beauty. The site was a tad tarnished by some graffiti painted on a huge rock — many layers, letters and “coats”.
Suddenly, my 11-year old son, Basil said: “Look! It says Basil!”
Dubious of how many fellows named Basil, with a spray can and a mind for mischief, had traveled up the tallest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we all said, “Uhn-uh …”
He said, “Yes it does … see, B – A – S – …”
His older sister chimed in, “Basil, that’s a T not an I. That doesn’t say Basil.”
“Okay! Everybody back in the car!” Dad cried.
As he was piling back into the car, Basil said: “Dad! I thought the aliens were trying to contact me!”
He then said, “What’s spelled B-A-S-T-A-R …”
With an affected voice, building on the “alien theme”, I said: “Basil … I am your father!”
Orthodixie 