Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Holy Week
Wow. This Great Lent has flown by for me. Happy Easter to all of those who are "Western Christians". It is not yet Easter for me. I am not a Western Christian. I'm an Eastern Orthodox Christian. Just for information's sake, Western Christians are Roman Catholics and all Protestants that evolved from the Reformation.
The reason for the difference in dating Western Easter and Eastern Pascha are complicated. In response to my original post here, someone commented that I was wrong about the dating and how the dates were determined. They were correct and rather than post their comment and make the blog seem like a "point, counterpoint", I decided to do a little more research and edit my original post, which had been written in somewhat of a hurry anyway.
From wikipedia:
Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. Easter falls at some point between late March and late April each year (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity), following the cycle of the Moon. After several centuries of disagreement, all churches accepted the computation of the Alexandrian Church (now the Coptic Church) that Easter is the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first moon whose 14th day (the ecclesiastic "full moon") is on or after March 21 (the ecclesiastic "vernal equinox").
Still, that doesn't explain why Western and Eastern Easter continue to frequently fall on different dates. Basically, it has to do with the fact that the Western Church uses the Gregorian Calendar, and the Eastern Church uses the Julian Calendar.
So....today is Palm Sunday (also known as Willow Sunday, as we bring Pussy Willows to church that day). Several weeks ago, "Great Lent" began. Even 2 weeks prior to that, we began easing into the Great Fast. Two weeks before Great Lent, we gave up meat, and then the following week we gave up dairy. Sunday of Great Lent is called "Forgiveness Sunday" as we seek forgiveness from anyone we may have offended, knowingly or not. We all lined up around the inside of the church and asked each and every other member of the congregation personally to forgive us. And of course, we are encouraged to do the same in our private lives as well.
It is a very beautiful and appropriate way to begin something as serious and awe-inspiring as Great Lent. Throughout this season of Lent, I have had different people ask me what I'm giving up. But Eastern Orthodox Lent is different. We do not decide individually what we will give up for Lent. Instead, the entire Church across the globe fasts together. We fast from animal products, essentially eating a vegan diet. I struggle with it every single year, but I keep trying just the same. Of course, vegan is the "rule" but it is not legalistic. In collaboration with our spiritual fathers, we flex that rule to derive the most benefit for each of us in our Christian Lives.
Today is the end of Great Lent "proper" and the beginning of Holy Week. Today is Palm Sunday for us, though it is Easter for Western Christians. Tonight is the first of three "Bridegroom Matins" services. One tonight, one tomorrow night, and one on Tuesday night. Wednesday night is "Holy Unction" where we seek healing from anything that may ail us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. During the Holy Unction service, we will each be annointed with a special mixture of oil and wine. Due to my work schedule, I have not been able to get to a Holy Unction service since my conversion 3 1/2 years ago. I plan to go this week though, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Thursday night is the night in which we go over the Gospels, re-living the last few days/hours of Christ's life. And it *is* a re-living. I honestly feel transported back in time, walking alongside Christ and His disciples. The music and the readings really take me back, and I feel like I've got one foot in the past, and one foot in the present.
Friday is the crucifixion, death, and burial. I have not been able to make it to the morning and afternoon services, but at night, we literally bury Christ in the tomb by burying an icon of Christ in a "tomb" in the center of the church, and adorning the grave with flowers. Throughout the night at least one person stays by the grave, "gravewatching". Saturday morning we have services again, and catechumins are received into the Church by Chrismation (anointing with oil). I remember when I was received. It was the week before Christmas. What a special time. Even now, 31/2 years later, I still feel like I am part of something SO MUCH BIGGER than myself, something even bigger than the Universe. There is so much to learn and I still feel that I've only scratched the surface!
Finally, after the build up of sad and yet joyful anticipation, we arrive again at the Church on Saturday at 10:30pm. The church is dark, and we light candles and sing hymns. It is 3 services rolled into one, so it generally takes 3-3 1/2 hours. The last part of the service is Divine Liturgy, and celebrates the resurrection of our Lord. Before we start that service, we proceed outside the dark church, walking in a procession around the church while singing quietly. The bell tolls several times, (we warn the neighbors every year so they will not be startled). And as we walk back into the church, the church is all lit up and we begin joyful singing and shouting "Christ is Risen!!!" and "Indeed He is Risen!!" in the many different languages that are spoken by present day Orthodox all over the world.
Divine Liturgy begins and we share in the Eucharist. And after the service ends, we all gather in the parish hall where a feast has been waiting for us. The feast and the people are blessed, and we finally break the long Lenten fast with foods we refrained from for 40 days. Someone plays music, and we sing songs and shout "Christ is Risen!!!" again and again.
The Orthodox sure do know how to have a party. And they know how to do Pascha. Its better than commercialized Christmas! (Orthodox Christmas is better than commercialized Christmas, and for much the same reason!) It is so hard to describe all the emotions one feels throughout Holy Week as we recount, and relive the last days, and then the resurrection of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ. I look forward to it every year. And every year, I promise myself I will try to become even more involved with the parish and with church life. There are so many special services, feasts, and fasts throughout the year. It is true that Orthodoxy is not a religion, it is a Way of Life. Every day has some significance to it. And we participate in all of these feasts and fasts and special occasions in so many ways. The saints are ever before us, instructing us, each and every day, as we celebrate one or more saints' days. We name ourselves and our children after saints. We celebrate those name days and the day we are received into the church is like an annual birthday. We strive to imitate saints, as we grow to become more like Christ.
And no matter where I am, I know I can attend an Orthodox Church somewhere, and the Liturgy will be the same as the one being celebrated at home. We are all interconnected, all across the globe, throughout the universe. During Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist, we truly exist as the Church in its "wholeness", those who have gone before us, those of us struggling through life right now, and those who will come after us. We are all together in the Eucharist. The icons in the church truly are "windows into heaven" and I can feel the presence of the Church Triumphant and all the angels all around us. The Whole Church is a living organism, dynamic and alive. Its not just an exercise we go through on Sundays and Wednesdays. it is a living, dynamic, Entity that we align ourselves with, that extends into all of my life, in every detail. No other "denomination" has given me such a feeling of being alive.
And there is a security,a knowing, in being Orthodox.
Life and death and the universe is like a category 5 hurricane, and being Orthodox is like being inside the Ark that Noah built, instead of flailing around in a rowboat trying to survive. Before Orthodoxy, I had a lot of tough questions that needed answers, and my protestant pastors could not answer my questions. Those pastors became visibly uncomfortable with me and my questions. I sensed that I was touching on questions they themselves weren't sure of, and I could visibly *see* the doubt they had in their own faith. It was all over their faces. That was a scary time for me, to see my spiritual leaders visibly shaken. I even left the church for awhile and sought out Orthodox Judaism. I knew there had to be one church that had it right, and that one church had to be continuous with Judaism. I wanted to find some historical continuity. Christ had promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, so I knew it had to exist somewhere.
Studying Orthodox Judaism answered a lot of questions for me, and helped me put things together that I hadn't understood before, but it wasn't enough by itself. I knew I still believed in a supernatural and mystical God and I believed that a supernatural God could become incarnate, so I still believed in Jesus and who He said He was. But having been involved with much of mainline Christianity, from fundamentalist groups to Roman Catholicism, I knew I couldn't go back to those denominations and the insecurity I felt there. And then "Russian Orthodox Church" popped into my mind. I knew absolutely nothing about Orthodoxy, but had seen a clip of the Russian Church on tv one time. I had heard of the Orthodox Church. So I started there. Its going on 4 years now, and I haven't looked back.
So tonight, I am off to the first of the Bridegroom Matins. And I extend an invitation to anyone else who is curious about what Orthodoxy is. I invite anyone who isn't completely satisfied with their Christian experience thus far. Come and see!
The reason for the difference in dating Western Easter and Eastern Pascha are complicated. In response to my original post here, someone commented that I was wrong about the dating and how the dates were determined. They were correct and rather than post their comment and make the blog seem like a "point, counterpoint", I decided to do a little more research and edit my original post, which had been written in somewhat of a hurry anyway.
From wikipedia:
Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. Easter falls at some point between late March and late April each year (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity), following the cycle of the Moon. After several centuries of disagreement, all churches accepted the computation of the Alexandrian Church (now the Coptic Church) that Easter is the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first moon whose 14th day (the ecclesiastic "full moon") is on or after March 21 (the ecclesiastic "vernal equinox").
Still, that doesn't explain why Western and Eastern Easter continue to frequently fall on different dates. Basically, it has to do with the fact that the Western Church uses the Gregorian Calendar, and the Eastern Church uses the Julian Calendar.
So....today is Palm Sunday (also known as Willow Sunday, as we bring Pussy Willows to church that day). Several weeks ago, "Great Lent" began. Even 2 weeks prior to that, we began easing into the Great Fast. Two weeks before Great Lent, we gave up meat, and then the following week we gave up dairy. Sunday of Great Lent is called "Forgiveness Sunday" as we seek forgiveness from anyone we may have offended, knowingly or not. We all lined up around the inside of the church and asked each and every other member of the congregation personally to forgive us. And of course, we are encouraged to do the same in our private lives as well.
It is a very beautiful and appropriate way to begin something as serious and awe-inspiring as Great Lent. Throughout this season of Lent, I have had different people ask me what I'm giving up. But Eastern Orthodox Lent is different. We do not decide individually what we will give up for Lent. Instead, the entire Church across the globe fasts together. We fast from animal products, essentially eating a vegan diet. I struggle with it every single year, but I keep trying just the same. Of course, vegan is the "rule" but it is not legalistic. In collaboration with our spiritual fathers, we flex that rule to derive the most benefit for each of us in our Christian Lives.
Today is the end of Great Lent "proper" and the beginning of Holy Week. Today is Palm Sunday for us, though it is Easter for Western Christians. Tonight is the first of three "Bridegroom Matins" services. One tonight, one tomorrow night, and one on Tuesday night. Wednesday night is "Holy Unction" where we seek healing from anything that may ail us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. During the Holy Unction service, we will each be annointed with a special mixture of oil and wine. Due to my work schedule, I have not been able to get to a Holy Unction service since my conversion 3 1/2 years ago. I plan to go this week though, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Thursday night is the night in which we go over the Gospels, re-living the last few days/hours of Christ's life. And it *is* a re-living. I honestly feel transported back in time, walking alongside Christ and His disciples. The music and the readings really take me back, and I feel like I've got one foot in the past, and one foot in the present.
Friday is the crucifixion, death, and burial. I have not been able to make it to the morning and afternoon services, but at night, we literally bury Christ in the tomb by burying an icon of Christ in a "tomb" in the center of the church, and adorning the grave with flowers. Throughout the night at least one person stays by the grave, "gravewatching". Saturday morning we have services again, and catechumins are received into the Church by Chrismation (anointing with oil). I remember when I was received. It was the week before Christmas. What a special time. Even now, 31/2 years later, I still feel like I am part of something SO MUCH BIGGER than myself, something even bigger than the Universe. There is so much to learn and I still feel that I've only scratched the surface!
Finally, after the build up of sad and yet joyful anticipation, we arrive again at the Church on Saturday at 10:30pm. The church is dark, and we light candles and sing hymns. It is 3 services rolled into one, so it generally takes 3-3 1/2 hours. The last part of the service is Divine Liturgy, and celebrates the resurrection of our Lord. Before we start that service, we proceed outside the dark church, walking in a procession around the church while singing quietly. The bell tolls several times, (we warn the neighbors every year so they will not be startled). And as we walk back into the church, the church is all lit up and we begin joyful singing and shouting "Christ is Risen!!!" and "Indeed He is Risen!!" in the many different languages that are spoken by present day Orthodox all over the world.
Divine Liturgy begins and we share in the Eucharist. And after the service ends, we all gather in the parish hall where a feast has been waiting for us. The feast and the people are blessed, and we finally break the long Lenten fast with foods we refrained from for 40 days. Someone plays music, and we sing songs and shout "Christ is Risen!!!" again and again.
The Orthodox sure do know how to have a party. And they know how to do Pascha. Its better than commercialized Christmas! (Orthodox Christmas is better than commercialized Christmas, and for much the same reason!) It is so hard to describe all the emotions one feels throughout Holy Week as we recount, and relive the last days, and then the resurrection of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ. I look forward to it every year. And every year, I promise myself I will try to become even more involved with the parish and with church life. There are so many special services, feasts, and fasts throughout the year. It is true that Orthodoxy is not a religion, it is a Way of Life. Every day has some significance to it. And we participate in all of these feasts and fasts and special occasions in so many ways. The saints are ever before us, instructing us, each and every day, as we celebrate one or more saints' days. We name ourselves and our children after saints. We celebrate those name days and the day we are received into the church is like an annual birthday. We strive to imitate saints, as we grow to become more like Christ.
And no matter where I am, I know I can attend an Orthodox Church somewhere, and the Liturgy will be the same as the one being celebrated at home. We are all interconnected, all across the globe, throughout the universe. During Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist, we truly exist as the Church in its "wholeness", those who have gone before us, those of us struggling through life right now, and those who will come after us. We are all together in the Eucharist. The icons in the church truly are "windows into heaven" and I can feel the presence of the Church Triumphant and all the angels all around us. The Whole Church is a living organism, dynamic and alive. Its not just an exercise we go through on Sundays and Wednesdays. it is a living, dynamic, Entity that we align ourselves with, that extends into all of my life, in every detail. No other "denomination" has given me such a feeling of being alive.
And there is a security,a knowing, in being Orthodox.
Life and death and the universe is like a category 5 hurricane, and being Orthodox is like being inside the Ark that Noah built, instead of flailing around in a rowboat trying to survive. Before Orthodoxy, I had a lot of tough questions that needed answers, and my protestant pastors could not answer my questions. Those pastors became visibly uncomfortable with me and my questions. I sensed that I was touching on questions they themselves weren't sure of, and I could visibly *see* the doubt they had in their own faith. It was all over their faces. That was a scary time for me, to see my spiritual leaders visibly shaken. I even left the church for awhile and sought out Orthodox Judaism. I knew there had to be one church that had it right, and that one church had to be continuous with Judaism. I wanted to find some historical continuity. Christ had promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, so I knew it had to exist somewhere.
Studying Orthodox Judaism answered a lot of questions for me, and helped me put things together that I hadn't understood before, but it wasn't enough by itself. I knew I still believed in a supernatural and mystical God and I believed that a supernatural God could become incarnate, so I still believed in Jesus and who He said He was. But having been involved with much of mainline Christianity, from fundamentalist groups to Roman Catholicism, I knew I couldn't go back to those denominations and the insecurity I felt there. And then "Russian Orthodox Church" popped into my mind. I knew absolutely nothing about Orthodoxy, but had seen a clip of the Russian Church on tv one time. I had heard of the Orthodox Church. So I started there. Its going on 4 years now, and I haven't looked back.
So tonight, I am off to the first of the Bridegroom Matins. And I extend an invitation to anyone else who is curious about what Orthodoxy is. I invite anyone who isn't completely satisfied with their Christian experience thus far. Come and see!
Composting the Garden
Well, its been a long while since I've posted. Just to update, I've got 2 compost bins. Both are full of nice moist dark dirt that is loaded with earthworms. We didn't do the compost exactly right, but it seems to have turned out pretty well anyway. So last Sunday, I decided I would do something about it, since we need a new empty compost bin to begin for Fall, if not for Spring next year.
My first realization was that I'd wished I'd moved the compost bins closer to the garden! Shovelfull by shovefull, I loaded up a wheelbarrow and took the compost to the garden, wheeled it into the garden and dumped it in a pile. It probably took me about 20 trips to empty out one bin. (I still haven't gotten around to the other bin). After it was all dumped on our garden, I remembered it was supposed to rain on Monday, so I decided I'd probably better turn the soil. All I have is hand tools. So, once again, one shovel-full at a time, I turned the soil over. Its a week later, and I STILL have a blister on my thumb....whaaaaa :o). But at least 2/3 of the garden is primed for planting.
My first realization was that I'd wished I'd moved the compost bins closer to the garden! Shovelfull by shovefull, I loaded up a wheelbarrow and took the compost to the garden, wheeled it into the garden and dumped it in a pile. It probably took me about 20 trips to empty out one bin. (I still haven't gotten around to the other bin). After it was all dumped on our garden, I remembered it was supposed to rain on Monday, so I decided I'd probably better turn the soil. All I have is hand tools. So, once again, one shovel-full at a time, I turned the soil over. Its a week later, and I STILL have a blister on my thumb....whaaaaa :o). But at least 2/3 of the garden is primed for planting.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Our electric bill at a record low!
I forgot to mention this in the last post, but in January I think it was, our electric bill was $60.00. That's the lowest it's been in a LONG time, several years in fact.
Just as a review, here's what we do, and we're not altogether consistant with it, so we're still working on it. And by the way, my son started using the dryer the following month, and it DOUBLED!
+ We switched all light bulbs to compact fluorescent.
+ We unplug absolutely EVERYTHING at night, except the refrigerator and freezer (that includes the mirowave, both TV's, cable boxes, the computer, toaster, coffeepot, etc).
+ I keep the microwave, toaster, and any other small kitchen appliances unplugged except when directly in use.
***Remember!!! These kinds of electric appliances draw phantom loads of energy even when they are turned off. You must either plug them into a power strip and turn the strip off, or unplug them from the wall.***
I think I read that if you don't unplug them, they still draw up to 85% of the energy they use when they are turned on. So you are only saving 15% by turning them off.
+ We stopped using the dryer and started line drying our clothes all year round. In winter, we hang the clothes in front of our woodstove, which sits in what passes for a foyer. So, I try to wash clothes at night and put them away during the day.
+ We turn off all lights that are not directly in use.
+ We don't use hair dryers except for about less than 60 seconds that it takes to fluff my now getting very long hair and style the bangs.
+ The girls *do* use hair straighteners, but they keep them unplugged when not in use.
Just as a review, here's what we do, and we're not altogether consistant with it, so we're still working on it. And by the way, my son started using the dryer the following month, and it DOUBLED!
+ We switched all light bulbs to compact fluorescent.
+ We unplug absolutely EVERYTHING at night, except the refrigerator and freezer (that includes the mirowave, both TV's, cable boxes, the computer, toaster, coffeepot, etc).
+ I keep the microwave, toaster, and any other small kitchen appliances unplugged except when directly in use.
***Remember!!! These kinds of electric appliances draw phantom loads of energy even when they are turned off. You must either plug them into a power strip and turn the strip off, or unplug them from the wall.***
I think I read that if you don't unplug them, they still draw up to 85% of the energy they use when they are turned on. So you are only saving 15% by turning them off.
+ We stopped using the dryer and started line drying our clothes all year round. In winter, we hang the clothes in front of our woodstove, which sits in what passes for a foyer. So, I try to wash clothes at night and put them away during the day.
+ We turn off all lights that are not directly in use.
+ We don't use hair dryers except for about less than 60 seconds that it takes to fluff my now getting very long hair and style the bangs.
+ The girls *do* use hair straighteners, but they keep them unplugged when not in use.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tribal Spirituality
I've been perusing the Homestead Forum. I love that place, there are so many nice, generous, and helpful people, with great senses of humor.
One of the latest posts was called "The Red Road" and it got me thinking. I've always admired the Native American tribal way of life. Nomadic. Giving more than they take. Taking only what they need, and ALWAYS being thankful....to the Great Spirit, to Mother Earth, to the animal that gives its life so that the family can eat.
I wish we would get back to this way of living. There is something about "community" that we are lacking today. I think this is also why our children have gone astray and have so little respect for their parents or elders in general. Theres way too much "disconnect" with this ever widening chasm between the younger of our generations and the older generations. There is no community anymore where people actually LIVE to help others, because nobody *needs* anyone else anymore.
Children and youth don't think they need their parents or their grandparents, because its so easy to "make it" on their own (or so it appears to them). After all, groceries are one store away. TV is instant entertainment that does not require interaction with anyone else. The computer offers faceless communication where too much is shared on a public forum, friendship is defined as "someone I met on myspace", and instant messaging allows for "friendships" with those we've never even seen.
When we don't NEED each other, we don't CARE anymore. That is such a selfish way to live. Maybe its better to NEED each other, because it brings out the best in all of us. Perhaps if we led lives that created the NEED for each other, we'd be taking a big risk that our needs might not be met. But the payoff would be the building of solid friendships, based on real trust in others that live next door to us.
When we live the life that gives more than it takes, and takes more than it needs, I suppose that sets everyone up for needing each other....and that creates a community based on giving to and serving others.
In this day and age, it is just way too easy for anyone to get lost in the crowd of facelessness. One need never leave his own home, and still all his needs can be met. But how fulfilling can that be? Isolation breeds loneliness for most people. Loneliness breeds depression and anxiety. Could this be why so many more people are depressed and anxious than ever before? Could this be why children suffer from burnout and depression? Because instead of building solid and trusting and REAL relationships with REAL people, they are oversheduled, and their lives are overstructured. I mean really...every hour of the day is spent with someone our kids only know by their last name (Mrs. Teacher, Mr. Coach), who tells them what to think and do all day. How is that a relationship? And with their time filled with activities and homework to do, when do children have the time to build real relationships with real people?
No wonder this world is inundated with depression. Really, how much more awful can it get? Its time to get back to the simpler life, where we NEED and SUPPORT each other.
One of the latest posts was called "The Red Road" and it got me thinking. I've always admired the Native American tribal way of life. Nomadic. Giving more than they take. Taking only what they need, and ALWAYS being thankful....to the Great Spirit, to Mother Earth, to the animal that gives its life so that the family can eat.
I wish we would get back to this way of living. There is something about "community" that we are lacking today. I think this is also why our children have gone astray and have so little respect for their parents or elders in general. Theres way too much "disconnect" with this ever widening chasm between the younger of our generations and the older generations. There is no community anymore where people actually LIVE to help others, because nobody *needs* anyone else anymore.
Children and youth don't think they need their parents or their grandparents, because its so easy to "make it" on their own (or so it appears to them). After all, groceries are one store away. TV is instant entertainment that does not require interaction with anyone else. The computer offers faceless communication where too much is shared on a public forum, friendship is defined as "someone I met on myspace", and instant messaging allows for "friendships" with those we've never even seen.
When we don't NEED each other, we don't CARE anymore. That is such a selfish way to live. Maybe its better to NEED each other, because it brings out the best in all of us. Perhaps if we led lives that created the NEED for each other, we'd be taking a big risk that our needs might not be met. But the payoff would be the building of solid friendships, based on real trust in others that live next door to us.
When we live the life that gives more than it takes, and takes more than it needs, I suppose that sets everyone up for needing each other....and that creates a community based on giving to and serving others.
In this day and age, it is just way too easy for anyone to get lost in the crowd of facelessness. One need never leave his own home, and still all his needs can be met. But how fulfilling can that be? Isolation breeds loneliness for most people. Loneliness breeds depression and anxiety. Could this be why so many more people are depressed and anxious than ever before? Could this be why children suffer from burnout and depression? Because instead of building solid and trusting and REAL relationships with REAL people, they are oversheduled, and their lives are overstructured. I mean really...every hour of the day is spent with someone our kids only know by their last name (Mrs. Teacher, Mr. Coach), who tells them what to think and do all day. How is that a relationship? And with their time filled with activities and homework to do, when do children have the time to build real relationships with real people?
No wonder this world is inundated with depression. Really, how much more awful can it get? Its time to get back to the simpler life, where we NEED and SUPPORT each other.
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