Autum Book Club Post 1

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Over on Magdale’s Blog there is a discussion beginning about the book we are reading. The post is about God and weather or not God is the mover of things here on Earth. I responded as a comment but thought I would comment here as well.

In my minds eye, God is the Creator of all that we see. God created all but does not control all. God gave us free will to choose our own destiny. Yes God wishes that all of us choose the path of salvation but God does not push us, or cajole us in that direction. God puts people in our path to help us make the right decision but the decision is still ours to make.

Creation works the same way. As I mentioned in a recent sermon God does not control the weather or anything else that happens on the earth. Some small minded person commented on a post I made about Gustav that it was God’s retribution for rebuilding the French Quarter before churches. If God was in control why would churches be destroyed in the first place. I would think God would be able to make surgical strike and wipe out just what God did not like and not destroy all. After all during Passover, God asked the Hebrews to put blood on their door so God would know where they were and pass them by.

Just my 2 cents. Now to read the book and comment more.

Primary Election Day

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If you live in Massachusetts today is primary election day. As Christians we have an obligation to participate in the process of electing our leaders. We have to make our voices heard or others will speak for us. Take the five minutes is takes to vote and go and vote. If you are not registered to vote, shame on you, go and register so you can vote in November. We have a very important choice to make this year and we need everyone to participate. You cannot complain about the government if you do not exercise you rights and help elect the government!

Stewardship

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday after church I gave the first stewardship presentation here at the church. Until this year parishioners have been support the church through the use of dues. Each person is asked to pay a set amount to “belong” to the church. Stewardship asks each person to give from the heart and to think about church membership from a different perspective. This is a big task for any church that has been doing things the same way for years.

Part of the presentation asks questions to think about:

First, our youth, our future generation are leaving the Church. Make no mistake we are competing for the mindshare of our youth, and statistically we are being challenged. Marriages and Baptism are trending lower. We all want to see our children and grandchildren marry and baptize their children in the Church and stay connected to the Orthodox way of life. Are we doing enough to provide ministries and programs to meet the needs of our youth?

Our spiritual foundation is tested everyday with the challenges of modern society. Are we doing enough to meet the spiritual needs of His people?

We have a shortage of Priests, are we encouraging our youth to enter the Priesthood?

Are we serving the needs of the sick, the elderly, and the forgotten?

I wish to draw our attention to the question about priesthood. Are we doing all we can to encourage the young men in our parish to consider the priesthood? Vocations to the priesthood come from the parish and need to be nurtured. In this life we want the best for our children. Make as much money as you can, drive a big car, get a big house, etc. How about the church? If we as Orthodox ever hope to attain an American Orthodox Church then we need to start growing our own priests. Talk to your children about it and pray for vocations.

monastic life is another part of church life we often overlook. We need monastics in the church to pray for all of us and for the mission of God’s church. Support the monastics that you know, and if you do not know any leave me a comment and I will try and find some for you to help out.

Autum Book Club

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today begins the reading of the book Roots of Christian Mysticism. Huw has posted updated information on this project and at the present time we have 8 bloggers participating. I will be posting as I read as will the others and I will try and figure out a way to keep all of the others in the feed. If you wish to read along please join us.

Ike

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Let us continue to remember those who are affected by Hurricane Ike and the aftermath. From what I have read 7 are dead and millions are without power. No idea if I will be called upon to assist but one never knows when the phone will ring.

Weekend Round Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So where have I been you ask? What a weekend this was. It began on Thursday with the 9/11 ceremony and a wake service and then a funeral and mercy meal on Friday. After that much running around for the golf tournament on Saturday.
Saturday was the golf tournament and meal after that. Then office work that I should have done before yesterday and did not do so it was my own fault.
Sunday will bring Liturgy and the annual stewardship presentation during coffee hour. Well it is a little more than coffee hour this week as we end the summer season. After all of that I think I will crash and watch the patriots game at 4pm. GO PATS!

Facebook

Posted on by Fr. Peter
For those of you who wish to follow the blog on Facebook, as I asked a few days back, go to Facebook and friend me and I will send you an invite. That seems to be the easiest way.

Thanks!

Visiting Scholar

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The faculty at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts has voted to grant me Visiting Scholar Status for the 2008-2009 academic year. This is a research position that grants me library privileges and access to other faculty. I will begin a project on the Theology of Suffering and Trauma and work to develop a course that could be taught in seminary to prepare ministerial students to deal with Trauma and Recovery in a much better way.
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