Am watching now the newly released twelfth season of BBC’s Call the Midwife streaming on Netflix (and probably other sources, but this is the one I use). What a terrific show! Where else can you see a popularized, but faithful rendition of Christian monasticism alongside life-affirming midwifery care for expectant mothers?
True, the show often pays lip service to the supposed virtue of abortion, but for the most part, it champions the rights and stories of mothers in all walks of life and in all socioeconomic conditions. I really recommend the BBC in general, but this show specifically! Hope you get a chance to at least sample its wonder.
Finally most of us are in the thick of the regular fall schedule. Since we are also in the season of electing or re-electing officials in November, it is a time to think about social change. I listened to this commentary about the lack of conservatives in the political activist space and whether or not this poses a problem. The article came down on a very interesting and subtle point: that the way to change the world is not so much by directly agitating the powers that be for social change, but by building enduring institutions which promote healthy and God honoring values. In this time of great social upheaval, I would like to express my gratitude for at least two enduring institutions that have meant the world to me and my family.
I have blogged before about the Magic of Cape Cod. As the years go by, there is a particular part of the Cape that has become dear to us: Nickerson State Park. This Labor Day weekend marks the third time we have camped here this summer, setting a new family record.
Boston is truly a world class city. I was able to make it downtown tonight with my three oldest daughters and one of their friends. Have only done this late night trip into Boston 2-3 other times for fourth of July fireworks. When Tchaikovsky’s beautiful 1812 Overture begins (as I hear it now), the moment is beyond poignant.
I have blogged often here about the dehumanizing effects of Disneyland and the curious American desire to amuse themselves at the expense of sobriety, prayer, and deep peace. So one might be surprised to hear that there is one amusement park that we actually endorse enthusiastically. Storylandin Glen, NH has been a family favorite for years and today we bring our three youngest here to relish in its culture and treasures
As our family gets older, it becomes harder and harder to find a movie that will both enlighten and entertain a vast range of ages without scandalizing the younger ones (we currently range from ages 7-18). When it became clear that almost everyone would be home this Friday evening, I made an announcement that I often make when I am trying to widen the cultural horizons of our children, reduce the number of individual screens, and make watching more communal. I said, “I want to show you all a movie together, and I want you to give it 30 minutes before you decide you want to see something else.” The 30 minute rule is for us the test of a universally good family flick. The Jesus Revolutionpassed this test for all but the seven year old. Available now to rent or buy through Amazon Prime, this film will be worth every minute of your family’s time.
Meow! I am an adorable, lovable, cute kitten named Myoky in ancient Egypt. People in Egypt love cats so much that they worship them. Some cats even get to wear hoop earrings like me. In this story, my owner Cleopatra falls in love with two emperors, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Cleopatra was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 69 B.C. She was queen more than 2,000 years ago. But before she was queen, a man named Ptolemy, a general, became king after Alexander the Great died.
Cleopatra is very smart, charming, and kind, and this is how she won back her kingdom from her brother and fell in love with an important Roman General. In 51 B.C. her father died, and that left the throne to Cleopatra and her younger brother. Her younger brother was Ptolemy the 13th, and he was not interested in being king so that left Cleopatra to the throne. But Ptolemy the 13th’s advisors did not want Cleopatra to be queen, so they kicked her and me out of Alexandria. Cleopatra went into Syria. Suddenly, a Roman general named Julius Caesar suspiciously entered into Alexandria. When Cleopatra found out that Caesar was in Alexandria, she returned to Alexandria. At Alexandria, Cleopatra decided to visit Julius Caesar. But how would she get to the castle to talk to Julius Caesar? Then I Myoky, gave her an idea because of course I am the smartest, cutest, and most sneaky cat in all of Egypt. That night a friend that Cleopatra trusted rolled her up into a rug and got into Alexandria as if the rug was a gift to Caesar. Cleopatra and Caesar had a whole night to talk. Caesar understood Cleopatra’s situation and he decided to help her. He wanted to end the fight and make Cleopatra and her brother co rulers again. Caesar and Cleopatra went into war with Ptolemy. After a dreadful, downer, and defective fight, Caesar and Cleopatra defeated Ptolemy’s army and drowned Ptolemy in the Nile River. Sadly, a Roman Senate stabbed Caesar at a meeting on March 15th,44 BC and Cleopatra was heartbroken.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen. Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
I had the good fortune this last Friday to attend and sing at the funeral of our parish’s newest member: The servant of God, Lev, in the final moments of his earthly sojourn, consented to his family’s fervent desire that he be baptized and receive Holy Communion as an Orthodox Christian. At his funeral just a few days ago the church sang some of the boldest, most audacious words about our brother’s death and what most assuredly will someday be our fate as well:
Thou alone art immortal, [addressing Christ]/ Who didst create and fashion man; / but we mortals were formed of earth, and unto earth shall we return, / as Thou who madest me didst command and say unto me: / For earth thou art and unto earth shalt thou return, / whither all we mortals are going, / making as a funeral dirge the song: // Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
This is from a homeschooling mom who is a family friend. Christ is risen!
Hello! I am so excited to be a guest here on this platform. Please feel free to comment or reach out. I’d love to hear from you! I have an extensive number of topics to blab about: being a Christian, mom of three boys on a homeschooling journey, but I thought it would be most appropriate and recommended by my friend that I write about Pascha. Below is my very first Pascha basket! I dyed the eggs with my children, baked the Pascha bread which I learned is a Russian and Ukrainian tradition, amongst other European countries. I added in my culture’s famous cookies (Lebanese & Syrian) later. It is truly a beautiful season to honor our Lord while making memories with friends and family of Christ.
I was raised to revere the Holy Scriptures. God’s Word was imprinted on my soul at a very early age because my family went often and repeatedly to the divine services offered at our local church. It was important that the church we attended not be merely a place that taught good morals or provided wholesome fellowship but believed in the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. Too many churches that do not take the Bible seriously enough become mere social clubs, a place to converse with one’s fellow man, but not a place to meet God.
Like Mendicant Monks... 