Acquiring the Spirit

THEOCUS demonstrates new commitment to growth

2006-06-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

The Eastern Orthodox Church, as the unchanged Church of the New Testament, has much to offer our country and our local communities. Jesus Christ gave us the Great Commission to go out and make disciples of all the nations. Growth is a priority of our diocese and its leadership.

In carrying out this mission, the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church of the United States is establishing a Mission Committee. This committee will be composed of volunteer laypersons from each parish or mission in THEOCUS. With the advice and support of THEOCUS clergy, the committee will serve the mission of the diocese though various activities including but not limited to Visitor Follow-up, serving as a contact point for inquirers, a liaison between potential mission plants and the Bishops, and share ideas among THEOCUS parishes.

Membership on the committee is a volunteer basis. Local committee members serve under the guidance of their parish clergy. The Mission Committee as a whole is under the jurisdiction of the Bishops.

May 28, 2006- 6th Sunday of Pascha

2006-05-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

Pascha

6th Sunday of Pascha

Tone 5

Epistle- Acts 16:16-34
Gospel- John 9:1-38

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Thurs 6/1- Ascension of our Lord
Sun 6/11- Holy Pentecost
Mon 6/12- Holy Spirit Day
Sat 6/17-Sun 6/18- Diocesan Synod Annual Convention
Sat 6/24- Birth of John the Baptist

Orthodoxy 101: Spiritual Starvation

2006-05-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Newsletter has not updated later due to technical difficulties

SPIRITUAL STARVATION

Every one of us has watched television and been moved by the images of starving people in other countries. Their starvation is highly visible and our hearts are pricked with concern for these unfortunate people. Any God loving heart will be moved to sorrow at such a horrible sight.
What if I were to tell you that an extremely large percentage of world is starving to death right before our very eyes, and it is virtually invisible! Sure, most of the world's population looks as if they are fed all too well, then how can they be starving to death?

They are spiritually starving to death! This starvation cannot always be detected with our physical eyes. This type of starvation is only clearly visible when we look at the situation with the spiritual eyes of understanding.

Constantly on the news we hear of road rage, unchecked anger, acts of terrorism, depression, murders, and every type of crime you can possibly imagine! Society today appears to be unraveling at the edges. Never has the world been more affluent, and never has the world suffered such spiritual starvation!

A common symptom of spiritual starvation is someone who cannot deal with the daily upsets and worries that come their way. They are devastated by anything negative that they encounter, and as a result their spirit dives into a depressed state. This state of mind is like falling into a well, it's almost as difficult to get out of a well as it is for a person in this frame of mind to overcome their depression and anger.

All you need to do is talk with someone about their religious beliefs to realize that the problem is far worse than we can ever imagine. People will tell you, "Oh, I don't need to go to church in order worship God, I can do that anywhere I am." Truly, you can worship God anywhere you are; however, God did not intend for us to worship alone.

"Whenever two or more are gathered in My Name, I will be in their midst!" Jesus Christ gave this wonderful promise to us! What a great reason to gather together in His Name to worship Him. The best place to gather in His Name is Church. Not just any church, but a church where the truth is taught.

You might say, well if you drive through virtually any city, you'll find churches everywhere. If churches are everywhere, then why are so many people suffering from spiritual starvation?
In order for our spirit to be properly nourished, it must be exposed to and believe the truth. We must worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Someone might ask, "What is the truth?" "We hear virtually every church proclaiming that they are teaching the truth!" Simply put, the truth can be summed up in the Nicene Creed of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church. This basic statement of belief evolved over the centuries during the Seven Ecumenical Councils. This statement of our Christian Faith spells out the truth pertaining to our salvation through Jesus Christ our God and Savior.

The Nicene Creed has been virtually abandoned in most all of the major non-Orthodox Christian religions throughout the world. Some religions proudly exclaim, "No Creed, but Christ!" They reject the Holy Spirit inspired Nicene Creed, then in the same breath claim to be teaching the truth! Many members of non-Orthodox Christian religions are offended when we refer to the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God, yet claim to worship Jesus Christ as God. How can the Virgin Mary not be the Mother of God, since Jesus Christ is God?

Many churches today teach that Holy Communion is only symbolic, and that it has no real power. This is a total departure from the truth. "I am the living bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say to you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whosoever eats My flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him on the last day." John Chapter 6, verses 51 through 54.

Further proof that Holy Communion has power is found in St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians Chapter 11, verses 27 through 29, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat of the Bread, and drink of the Cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the Bread and drink of the Cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's Body." How can something that is symbolic bring damnation if taken unworthily?

When you hear and believe the truth the Holy Spirit, bears witness to the truth and takes up His abode in your heart, He will always confirm the truth when you hear it. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you, your spirit is bathed in the uncreated light of truth, and as a result, you are given the strength to help others find their way to salvation. In other words, spiritual nourishment!

One of St. Seraphim of Sarov's famous sayings was: "Acquire the Spirit of peace, and a thousand souls around you will be saved!" Of a truth, if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, the peace you enjoy strengthens others! In order for this peace to strengthen others, you must gather with them in the common purpose of worshiping God. Draw strength from one another by confirming your faith with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you constantly eat foods that are not healthy, or refuse to eat at all, your body suffers physical starvation. You also will not have the strength to work at your daily labors. If you refuse to nourish your spirit through prayer and worship and the truth then your spirit will starve, and the result will be chaos in your mind, agitation of your spirit, and inability to cope with the slightest hardships of life gracefully.

A person with a well nourished spirit will be strong enough to realize that the evils that happen to us in our daily lives will cause us no real spiritual harm. By knowing this our spirits will remain in the light of Christ and not darkened by the evils of the world. A spirit centered in God, worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth is a balanced and peaceful spirit.

April 30, 2006- 2md Sunday of Pascha, Apostle Thomas

2006-04-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

Pascha

2nd Sunday of Pascha, Apostle Thomas

Tone 1

Epistle- Acts 5:12-20
Gospel- John 20:19-31

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Mon 5/8- Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
Thurs 5/11- Sts Methodious and Cyril
Sun 5/21- Sts Constantine and Helen
Thurs 6/1- Ascension of our Lord

April 23, 2006- Holy Pascha

2006-04-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

Pascha

Tone 1

Epistle- Acts 1:1-8
Gospel- John 1:1-17

Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Upcoming Holy Days

Mon 4/24- Bright Monday
Tues 4/25- Bright Tuesday
Fri 4/28- All Holy Theotokos of Lifegiving Font
Sun 4/30- Apostle Thomas
Mon 5/8- Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

April 2, 2006-4th Sunday of Great Lent, St. John Climacus Sunday

2006-04-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

Great Lent

4th Sunday of Great Lent, St. John Climacus Sunday

Tone 8

Epistle- Heb 6:13-20
Gospel- Mark 9:17-31

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sun 4/9- Mary of Egypt Sunday
Sat 4/15- Lazarus Saturday
Sun 4/16- Palm Sunday
Thurs 4/20- Holy and Great Thursday
Fri 4/21- Holy and Great Friday

Holy Week- Sun 4/16-Sun 4/23

March 19, 2006-2nd Sunday of Great Lent, Gregory Palamas Sunday

2006-03-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

Great Lent

2nd Sunday of Great Lent, Gregory Palamas Sunday

Tone 6

Epistle- Heb 1:10-2:3
Gospel- Mark 2:1-12

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sat 3/25- Announciation of the Theotokos
Sun 3/26- Cross Veneration Sunday
Sun 4/2- St. John Climacus Sunday
Sun 4/9- Mary of Egypt Sunday
Sat 4/15- Lazarus Saturday

Holy Week- Sun 4/16-Sun 4/23

March 12. 2006-1st Sunday of Great Lent, Sunday of Orthodoxy

2006-03-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

Great Lent

1st Sunday of Great Lent, Sunday of Orthodoxy

Tone 5

Epistle- Heb 11:24-26, 32-12:2
Gospel- John 1:43-51

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sun 3/19- Gregory Palamas Sunday
Sat 3/25- Announciation of the TheotokosSun
Sun 3/26- Cross Veneration Sunday
Sun 4/2- St. John Climacus Sunday
Sun 4/9- Mary of Egypt Sunday

Holy Week- Sun 4/16-Sun 4/23

March 6, 2006- Begining of Great Lent

2006-03-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Great Lent

Begining of Great Lent

Tone 4

Isiah 1:1-10
Gen 1:1-13
Proverbs 1:1-20

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sat 3/11- Food Pantry and Kapabilities meeting (St. Seraphim's)
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy
Sun 3/19- Gregory Palamas Sunday
Sat 3/25- Announciation of the Theotokos
Sun 3/26- Cross Veneration Sunday

March 5, 2006- Forgivness Sunday, Cheesefare Sunday

2006-03-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

Forgiveness Sunday, Cheesefare Sunday

Tone 4

Epistle- Rom 13:11-14:4
Gospel- Matt 6:14-21

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins
Sat 3/11- Food Pantry and Kapbilities meeting (St. Seraphim's)
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy
Sun 3/19- Gregory Palamas Sunday
Sat 3/25- Announciation of the Theotokos

February 26, 2006-3rd Sunday of Pre-Lent, Meatfare Sunday, Sunday of the Last Judgement

2006-02-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

3rd Sunday of Pre-Lent, Meatfare Sunday, Sunday of the Last Judgement

Tone 3

Epistle- 1 Cor 8:8-9:2
Gospel- Matt 25:31-46

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sun 3/5- Cheesefare Sunday
Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy
Sun 3/19- Gregory Palamas Sunday
Sat 3/25- Announciation of the Theotokos

February 19, 2006- 2bd Sunday of Pre-Lent, Sunday of the Prodigal Son

2006-02-19T15:45:00.000-08:00

2nd Sunday of Pre-Lent, Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Tone 2

Epistle- 1 Cor 6:12-20
Gospel- Luke 15:11-32

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sun 2/26- Meatfare Sunday
Sun 3/5- Cheesefare Sunday
Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy
Sun 3/19- Gregory Palamas Sunday

February 12, 2006-Start of Triodion, Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

2006-02-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Start of Triodion, Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

Tone 1

Epistle- 2 Tim 3:10-15
Gospel- Luke 18:10-14

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sun 2/12- Start of Triodion
Sun 2/26- Meatfare Sunday
Sun 3/5- Cheesefare Sunday
Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy

February 5, 2006- Sunday of Zaccheus

2006-02-05T15:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday of Zaccheus

Tone 8

Epistle- 1 Tim 4:9-15
Gospel- Luke 19:1-10

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Fri 2/10- Holy Martyr Haralambos
Sat 2/11- Food Bank, Kapabilities (St. Seraphim's, High Point)
Sun 2/12- Start of Triodion
Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins
Sun 3/12- Sunday of Orthodoxy

January 29, 2006-32nd Sunday After Pentecost, Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

2006-01-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

32nd Sunday After Pentecost, Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

Tone 7

Epistle- 1 Tim 1:15-17
Gospel- Matt 15:21-28

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Mon 1/30- The Three Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
Thurs 2/2- Meeting of Christ in the Temple
Fri 2/10- Holy Martyr Haralambos
Sun 2/12- Start of Triodion
Mon 3/6- Great Lent Begins

January 22, 2006- 31st Sunday After Pentecost, Apostle Timothy

2006-01-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

31st Sunday After Pentecost, Apostle Timothy

Tone 6

Epistle- 1 Tim 1:15-17
Gospel- Luke 18: 35-43

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Wed 1/25- Gregory the Theologian
Mon 1/30- The Three Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
Thurs 2/2- Meeting of Christ in the Temple
Fri 2/10- Holy Martyr Haralambos
Sun 2/12- Start of Triodion

Welcome to our Newest Parish

2006-01-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

The staff of Acquiring the Spirit would like to join our diocese in welcoming our newest parish from Jacksonville, Florida.

January 15, 2006- 30th Sunday After Pentecost

2006-01-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

30th Sunday After Pentecost

Tone 5

Epistle- Col 3:12-16
Gospel- Matt 22: 1-14

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great
Wed 1/18- Sts Athanasius and Cyril
Fri 1/20- Euthymius the Great
Wed 1/25- Gregory the Theologian
Mon 1/30- The Three Hierarchs (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom

January 8, 2006- Sunday After Holy Theophany

2006-01-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday After Holy Theophany

Tone 4

Epistle- Eph 4:7-13
Gospel- Matt 4: 12-17

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Sat 1/14- Food Pantry, St. Seraphim's, High Point
Sat 1/14- St Sava of Serbia
Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great
Wed 1/18- Sts Athanasius and Cyril
Fri 1/20- Euthymius the Great

January 6, 2006- Holy Theophany

2006-01-06T05:51:00.000-08:00

Holy Theophany

Tone 3

Epistle- Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
Gospel- Matt 3:13-17

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Fri 1/6- Holy Theophany * (See Below)
Sat 1/7- Synaxis of St. John the Baptist
Sat 1/14- Food Pantry, St. Seraphim's, High Point
Sat 1/14- St Sava of Serbia
Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great

*Service Schedule for St. Seraphim's (High Point) for 1/6Holy Theophany Service, Blessing of Holy Water 7pm

January 2, 2006- Civil New Year Observed

2006-01-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

Christmas

9th Day of Christmas, Civil New Year Observed

Tone 3

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Fri 1/6- Holy Theophany * (See Below)
Sat 1/7- Synaxis of St. John the Baptist
Sat 1/14- Food Pantry, St. Seraphim's, High Point
Sat 1/14- St Sava of Serbia
Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great

**Service Schedule for St. Seraphim's (High Point) for 1/6

Holy Theophany Service, Blessing of Holy Water 7pm

January 1, 2006- Sunday Before Holy Theophany, Circumcision of Christ

2006-01-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas

Sunday Before Holy Theophany, 8th Day of Christmas, Circumcision of Christ, St Basil the Great, Civil New Year

Tone 3

Epistle- Col 2:8-12
Gospel- Luke 2:20-21, 40-52

Upcoming Holy Days and Diocesan Events

Fri 1/6- Holy Theophany ** (See Below)
Sat 1/7- Synaxis of St. John the Baptist
Sat 1/14- Food Pantry, St. Seraphim's, High Point
Sat 1/14- St Sava of Serbia
Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great

**Service Schedule for St. Seraphim's (High Point) for 1/6

NOTE: Due to Bishop Michael's illness, the Holy Theophany Service may have to be rescheduled. Stay tuned to this website for details as they become available.

Holy Theophany Service, Blessing of Holy Water 7pm

December 27- First Martyr Steven

2005-12-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas

First Martyr Steven, 3rd Day of Christmas

Tone 2

Epistle- Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-5, 47-60
Gospel- Matt 21:33-42

Upcoming Holy Days

Sun 1/1- Circumcision of Christ, St. Basil the Great, Civil New Year
Fri 1/6- Holy Theophany ** (See Below)
Saturday 1/7- Synaxis of St. John the Baptist
Saturday 1/14- St Sava of Serbia
Tues 1/17- St. Anthony the Great

**Service Schedule for St. Seraphim's (High Point) for 1/6

Holy Theophany Service, Blessing of Holy Water 7pm

Editorial Commentary- Did I have a Good Christmas?

2005-12-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Did I Have a Good Christmas?

It is December 26th and once again I have been the recipient of the typical deluge of “Did you have a good Christmas” questions.

It’s not that I object to the honest inquiries and concerns of well meaning people, but how can I honestly answer their question when Christmas is not over yet. None of these people would ask a baseball player if he had a good game after only one inning. They wouldn’t ask a college student to summarize his college education less than one semester into his freshman year. Would they rate a work of art before the artist has completed the work? Would they start moving into a new house before the construction is completed?

Well you may ask, isn’t Christmas over? That’s what our materialistic and secular society is telling us. After all won’t we have the After-Christmas sales beginning on December 26th? Didn’t we all go back to work on Monday the 26th?

Sadly too many feel this way. Two thirds of the Christmas lights in our neighborhoods that were on a week ago will not burn past December 25th and many decorations and Christmas trees are already being taken down. Those that are still up will most likely be gone on or before the week is over.

The sad fact is that the observance of Christmas has been corrupted by our materialistic and retail driven culture. Children (and some adults) probably think the twelve days of Christmas are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the five shopping weekends before Christmas.

The truth is that Christmas is not over, and will not be over until the observance of Holy Theophany on the 6th of January. Consider that the reason for the celebration of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas has a set place, time, and length on the liturgical calendar of the Christian Church. While there are many secular symbols and traditions associated with the Christmas season, Christmas is a religious observance. The scheduling of Christmas is not in the hands of the retailers. It is not dictated by your employer. Yes they may have an after-Christmas sale on December 26th, but no one is forcing you to go. Yes it may be business as usual in your place of employment, but that doesn’t mean that at close of business you cannot cast away the business day and set your mind on a full day of Christmas afterwards. And remember that your priority during this season (like it should be all year round) is God and church first, family second, and then and only then other things like your job and recreational activities.

The news reports this year have been filled with reports of outrage over attempts by those who would remove Christ from Christmas. And I share their concerns. But many of these same people would throw away eleven of the twelve days of Christmas. By jettisoning this religious liturgical Christmas season, are they not doing in some part what they are rightly accusing the others of doing? Are they not removing a large part of the religious significance of Christmas?

Perhaps we need to also look at ourselves and make sure we are not falling down on the job on this issue too. After all we can’t expect people to know the truth if no one tells them and that’s our job. Let’s make sure we are not coming across as “do as I say, not as I do”.

So keep those decorations up and don’t take them down until January 7th (or more practically the weekend after). Keep those Christmas songs playing, they may not be on the radio anymore but that’s what CD and MP3 players are for. Attend those church services at your parish unless you are ill. Observe the full Christmas season, and receive the full blessing from doing so.

So to answer that question, I am having a good Christmas. If you wish to know if I had a good Christmas, then by all means ask me on January 7th. I’ll be more than happy to share my Christmas holiday and its joys with you.

December 26, 2005- Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos

2005-12-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas

Synaxis of the Holy Theotokos, 2nd Day of Christmas, Christmas Day Observed-Civil calendar

Tone 2

Epistle- Heb 2:11-18
Gospel- Matt 2:13-23

Tues 12/27- First Martyr Stephen
Sun 1/1- Circumcision of Christ, St. Basil the Great, Civil New Year
Fri 1/6- Holy Theophany ** (See Below)
Saturday 1/7- Synaxis of St. John the Baptist
Saturday 1/14- St Sava of Serbia

**Service Schedule for St. Seraphim's (High Point) for 1/6

Holy Theophany Service, Blessing of Holy Water 7pm