Now it begins

Tonight began what is known as Pre-sanctified Liturgy. It takes place on Wednesday during lent. It has been our custom to partake of this Liturgy with the neighboring church, St. Nicholas. It is customary after receiving Communion, to share a light meal with our Orthodox community. They will come to our church next week, and we will host. The number of people in attendance was mostly from St. Michael's due to illness which has struck this area. A stomach bug.

This service is called to be long and drawn out to make us, in a busy world, stay still long enough to try to see the error of our ways. Changing our path, our direction, from what we are to what we can be, called to be just a little different by Pascha. A gentle overhaul if you will. Only through adversity sometimes can you find the reality of what really matters in life. So it will tough and in the end "joy filled."

If you haven't changed, then you need to do it all over again. Just kidding! There is a prayer that reminds us all that we are slothful, and judgemental of our brother. Because when we have our eye on him, we don't have to look at our own shortcomings. Giving just a little effort is all it entails. It begins, from the Prayer of Saint Ephraim of Syria, "O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power and idle talk"
....because we can't do it alone. We need to be changed by our Maker and Fashioner. And...We must ask and desire to be changed.