Doctrine preserved in the Church

 

By the tradition of the Fathers, doctrine has been preserved by an unbroken sequence of memory down to our own day. 

 

Purity of heart

 

Purity is corrupted more speedily than corruption is made pure.  So it goes with the container which is our heart.  St. John Cassian



 





Sign of the season

 

This sign was created some years ago at my request by Brittany Michelle in Portland, OR.  It has faded a bit over the years, but the message is still good and it makes its yearly appearance on our door.  In short, our family will be happy to treat you (with gold foil covered chocolate coins) on St. Nicholas Day if you come knocking at the door.  

 

Pres. Candace

QUESTION:  DO KIDS COME BACK FOR CANDY ON DECEMBER 6?

 

To date, I haven't had anyone come back of their own accord...but if they do, I'll be ready to give them gold foil covered chocolate coins.  Best bet--get your child to go out and round up his or her friends--they'll be so glad if you do! 

I think the sign is a gentle way to “put off” and not get involved in the Halloween trickery stuff.  I am happy to give kids candy on other days—St. Nicholas is a very good day to do that as he put gold in the stockings of impoverished young women so they would have a dowry to marry rather than be sold into slavery.  So there is a correlation.  There may also be an opportunity to talk a bit about the Saint’s life on that day. 

Another day to laden kids with goodies is during the Twelve Days of Christmas when they can sing carols—or as the Greeks say, “kalanda.”  Traditionally, kids go door to door and sing the carols and receive treats.  At our church, rather than go door to door, the kids perform the kalanda using triangles that are actual musical instruments (sweet sounding) and we have a fellowship hour where parishioners bring treats to put in kids’ decorated boxes in appreciation. The kids love it and so do the parishioners!  So it’s not necessary that kids go door to door at Halloween to get treats.  They can know there are other days for that.   

Hope these ideas are useful.

 

Pres. C.

Spiritual nourishment during education

If we should be involved with profane teachings during our education, we should not separate ourselves from the nourishment of the Church’s milk. 

 

 





How to describe the Living God?

No matter what kind of language is used, it will be unable to speak of God as He is and what He is.  The perfection of learning is to know God in such a manner that, although you realize He is not unknown, you perceive that He cannot be described. 

On the expulsion from Paradise

 

God drove them out of Paradise, separating them from the Tree of Life—not because He wanted to protect the Tree of Life from them, as some teach, but because God pitied them.  He did not want them to continue to live forever as sinners, or for the sin which had engulfed them to last forever, or for evil to have no end or remedy.  So, God set a bound to sin by interposing death, thus causing sin to cease (Rom 6:7). 

 





What is the best treatment?

 

Nothing is more forceful and effective than treatment which is gentle and kind.