Eventually we will have an illuminated sign where our "old rugged cross" is! That cross is a parish relic – we prayed in front of it every week for over a year before we broke ground. This was taken Oct 29, and is the way a yard *should* look on Halloween! Taken Oct 16/29, the night of the visit of the Kursk Root Icon.
O Lord, I am weak. Thou knowest this.
In fear I seek the way to Thee. Despise me not. Forsake me not in my fall.
Draw near even unto me, who am of no account, yet I thirst after Thee.
Take up Thine abode in me and do Thou Thyself perform in me all that Thou hast commanded of us.
Make me Thine for ever and ever, in love unshakeable.
Elder Sophrony of Essex
That's a beautiful picture. Simple but beautiful. I love it: The Cross, the church, the two trees, the autumn grass and the night sky.
And the comment about Halloween says it all. We don't even give out candy now anymore on Halloween. Not a trace of Halloween in our household.
Also, the prayer by Elder Sophrony of Essex is a perfect prayer. I'm adding it to my daily prayers.
May our Lord Jesus Christ and His All-Holy Mother, the Theotokos, always bless your church and your parish.
Thank you for sharing this prayer, Father.
A simple but sweet prayer and thanks Fr. for sharing your golden nuggets as usual. Speaking of Halloween, here is a link to a very interesting article by Bishop Alexander (Mileant):
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/halloween_e.htm
Beautiful photo. I totally love your "old rugged cross." Please don't remove it completely, it is really quite inspiring in my mind.
yes, I agree, please don't remove it completely. Even tho I am not there. I'm a thousand miles away. It is, as you said, a holy relic now, a part of your church, a reminder of early days.