Greetings in Christ,
This past week we kicked off a new ministry aimed toward preparing High School
Upperclass students for life after graduation. We are blessed to have this great opportunity, and we look forward to the next of their monthly meetings! The Saturday prior to this, The Philadelphia Men's Ministry took a day trip to the Panagia Vlahernon Mens Monastery for a brief spiritual excursion. We had the opportunity to venerate in their Church, Share a meal, see their workshops and animal enclosures, and shop in their bookstore. We also had the opportunity to Chant a memorial for a parishioner of ours who was laid to rest on their cemetery grounds. Glory to God!
Coming up this Saturday, we have the great joy and honor of hosting our Second Annual Dodgeball Tournament. As well as being the second of its kind in our Parish, it is the first regional Goya event of the Eclesiastical New Year. I would like to remind anyone who has not signed their children up to do so as soon as possible by going to the Church Website, under Youth Ministry, Goya, Dodgeball Registration. We are looking forward to a great event!
My weekly challenge to all of us this week is to espouse the attitude of gratitude!
Liturgically speaking- Many of us today will have received the Divine Gifts (in greeklish - H Theia Euxaristeia). In our red Divine Liturgy books, after the divine liturgy is a section called “Thanksgiving Prayers”. It is appropriate after receiving Holy Communion, and after Divine Liturgy, to read these prayers giving thanks to God for the incomprehensible Gifts which he has allowed us to partake. Part one of this is for those who have received Holy Communion to read these prayers in appreciation to God.
Secondly, I would like all of us to wake up every morning this week and find 10 things that we are grateful for before we start the day. The goal in doing this is to increase our mindfulness toward the beauty in our lives, and give us perspective over the things in our lives that might be troubling us.