Category: Redeeming the Time

Our parish is participating in the “40 days for life” event in Dallas, by praying at various times during a 12 hour period, October 19th, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. I endorse this event, and am personally participating in it.

I encourage (I am asking) everyone in my parish to try to participate in this event. We will be praying only with Orthodox Christians. I do not recommend or agree with participating in prayer with non-Orthodox, but we can share similar goals and collaborate in activities, such as this worthy cause.

Abortion is a cancer which kills much more than an unborn child. We must pray not only for mothers who are contemplating abortion, but also those who have had abortions and are suffering in many ways. The world tells them that they have a “right to choose”, but the soul tells them something is wrong.

I will try to make it to this rally, to hear Fr Seraphim speak. There may be some things there that we are not accustomed to and do not do in our Orthodox Christian way of life, and even some things that we cannot agree with but overall, supporting this event is the right thing to do.

Priest Seraphim Holland

Here is a flyer about the rally

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,  McKinney, Texas Electronic Newsletter September 19 / October 2 15th Sunday after Pentecost Announcements Prayer Requests Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week Fasting in the Coming week Announcements We will be holding our annual membership and pledge drive in September. If you consider St. Nicholas your parish home, please… Continue reading Electronic Newsletter September 19 / October 2

Prayer outside Southwestern Late-term Abortion Facility, 8616 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Descriptions of how to participate. I support this endeavor, which is being organized by Fr Seraphim Hipsch, of our sister parish of St Sava. Included is an EXCELLENT discussion of what sin is, a must read. Excerpt: … What is sin? This is a critical fact to bear in mind. What is sin? Sin is a parasite, thriving off the negative / death-ward choices and actions that we as mankind make. This sin, this cancer conceals the eyes of our hearts from the One who truly loves.

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,  McKinney, Texas Electronic Newsletter September 12/25 14th Sunday after Pentecost O Lord, Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance! Grant victory over adversaries, and by Thy cross preserve Thy habitation!   Tuesday, September 27th is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross. Let us come together — on Monday… Continue reading Electronic Newsletter September 12/25

Thy nativity, O Theotokos Virgin, hath brought forth joy to all the world. For from thee hath dawned forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,an annulling the curse and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting!   Joachim and Anna give birth in their old age to a baby girl named… Continue reading Thy Nativity, O Theotokos Virgin…

  St. Nicholas Orthodox Church,  McKinney, Texas Electronic Newsletter September 5/18 13th Sunday after Pentecost Announcements Prayer Requests Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week Fasting in the Coming week Announcements We will be holding our annual membership and pledge drive in September. If you consider St. Nicholas your parish home, please consider filling… Continue reading Electronic Newsletter September 5/18

The original text of this service was received in email from my father in law in an image file. The language has been changed to reflect liturgical usage, and common Orthodox hymns changed to the versions sung in our church. We did not use this service[4], but is an example of what was done in another local church on this somber day. This small supplicatory service (paraklesis) was served after Divine Liturgy

Thoughts concering the Kontakion of the feast of the beheading of the Forerunner, and the precious gift of clarity of thought sometimes given especially during the early morning liturgy. The beheading of the Forerunner and Baptist John teaches us about the transitoriness of life, and about courage and cowardice. We look at the Kontakion especially, and the actions of Herod, Herodias and Solome. ?The glorious beheading of the Forerunner was part of God?s dispensation that he might proclaim to those in Hades the coming of the Savior, that Herodias who demanded the iniquitous murder, therefore lament. For she loved not the law of God nor the age of life but rather this one, false and fleeting.”

Note from Priest Seraphim: Prayers like this brought me to Orthodoxy. This is how Orthodox Christians commemorate important events, with sober, humble, and theologically rich prayer. An aspect that particularly attracted me was how in our prayer we ?blame? ourselves. For instance, the terrorist events remind us of our condition, and we do not focus on the sins of strangers who committed these acts. To me this is just telling the truth about ourselves, and reaching out to God with no pretences, much like in the Psalter. We are never far from talking about the human condition (a condition, which always fascinates, thrills and saddens me, all at the same time), and how the incarnation, the Holy Spirit, and all aspects of God?s grace and reaching out to man heals human nature so it can be united to God. Our prayer, if experienced in all of its scope, shows clearly that we know salvation is the perfection and elevation of the human soul to God, and not only forgiveness of sins. I did not experience these feelings in the public prayer when I was not Orthodox (although I did feel it in a germinal form when I read the Psalter). The mindset in our prayers truly led me to Orthodoxy. It feels very freeing to say out loud what is wrong with me (in our prayers), and at the same time, approach God with confidence and hope. I suppose that someone reading this may be experiencing the feelings I once had, and if so, I encourage you to investigate Orthodoxy. You can read books, and learn our theology, but I think you will really find rest when you experience our prayer. Come to many services, especially our Vespers and Matins services, and give it some time, because our manner and content of prayer is very different from what is normally seen in the West.

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas Electronic Newsletter August 29/ September 11 12th Sunday after Pentecost Beheading of St. John the Baptist     The glorious beheading of the forerunner is a certain divine dispensation, that the coming of the Savior might also be preached to those in Hades. Lament then, Herodias, that thou hast… Continue reading Electronic Newsletter August 29/ September 11