Today we remember the stories of all those (even some notorious ones) who make up the family tree of Jesus
and the illustrious heroes of the faith that led the way toward Him...
and we contemplate the possibilities of our own stories when WE become our Lord's continuing family tree.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
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«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Twinkle, twinkle, little stars... and shepherds, sheep, and wise ones too! In a world full of busyness, this pageant is a gentle reminder that the greatest gift arrived in a humble manger: Emmanuel, "God with us." It's a cute celebration of little voices proclaiming big truths, inspiring us all to open our hearts to the light of Christ's love.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
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«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

_________________
«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

_________________
«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

The Theophany (the appearance of Father, Son, & Holy Spirit), celebrating the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and His sanctifying of creation…beginning with the waters of the Jordan River. This service concludes with our own Blessing of the Waters and a blessing of you with Holy Water.

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

Chinese Evangelicals Are Discovering Orthodox Christianity. (с)

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

The beauty of woman is the greatest snare. Or rather, not the beauty of woman, but unchastened gazing! For we should not accuse the objects, but ourselves, and our own carelessness.
Nor should we say:
Let there be no women,
but Let there be no adulteries.
We should not say,
Let there be no beauty,
but Let there be no fornication.
We should not say,
Let there be no belly,
but let there be no gluttony; for the belly makes not the gluttony, but our negligence.
We should not say, that it is because of eating and drinking that all these evils exist; for it is not because of this, but because of our carelessness and insatiableness. Thus the devil neither ate nor drank, and yet he fell! Paul ate and drank, and ascended up to heaven!

St. John Chrysostom

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«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин

We may often say, “I’m not ready to receive Holy Communion,” as though we are waiting for a time when the heart will be perfectly pure, when all the storms within us will be stilled, and every shadow of sin will disappear. But if we wait until we are perfect, that time will never come.
The Eucharist is not a crown of the sinless, it is the medicine of the broken. It is not a reward for our progress, but the mercy of God that makes our progress possible.

Each Sunday, the voice of Christ calls us quietly but persistently: “Take, eat… Drink of it, all of you.” He calls us not because we are pure, but because we are hungry; not because we are perfect, but because we are loved. To approach with trembling faith and repentance is not presumption, it is trust in His mercy. The most honest preparation for Communion is not to say, “I am worthy,” but to whisper, “Without You, Lord, I am lost.”

And so, our entire life becomes a continual preparation. Every prayer, every act of humility, every tear of repentance is a small clearing of the heart, making space for Christ to dwell. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, grace reshapes us: pride gives way to gratitude, fear to faith, and sorrow to peace.
Holy Communion is both our journey and our destination. It heals what is wounded and sanctifies what is still incomplete. It is the pledge that our true homeland is not this passing world, but Paradise where Christ Himself awaits us. Until that day, we continue to approach the Chalice, yes, imperfect but loved, offering all that we are to the One who is mighty.

Friends, Holy Communion is not a gift exclusively for those who have conquered sin, but it is for those who thirst for mercy and hunger for forgiveness and for all those who receive it “for the remission of sins and the life everlasting.” (c)

_________________
«Русскому человеку лучше всего удаётся невозможное!»
***
«Родиться русским – слишком мало… Им надо быть. Им надо стать!»
И. Северянин