Honoring Our Domestic Queen

Grandma Vickie attending
the birth of a grandchild

Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 23, 2023

What a whirlwind of activity surrounded the death of my mother this past Monday. The official obituary and announcement of her upcoming funeral went live just yesterday. She died peacefully in her sleep sometime early Monday and by the evening she was whisked away to the local funeral home to await her funeral and burial next Thursday as an Orthodox Christian.

Just yesterday my father and I finalized plans with the funeral home, and the director gave us the best gift: allowing us to visit with mom! She was not yet arrayed in the splendor of her maternal office, but a warm and colorful quilt was draped over her. Mom was a classy lady, so I am sure she will look smart for the funeral next Thursday. But for this more intimate visitation, I cannot think of an object more fitting for this domestic queen who lay in state before us.

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The Courage to Believe

Second Sunday of Pascha; Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

Acts 6:1-7
Mark 15:43-16:8

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.

IKOS of Kontakion after Ode 6, Funeral Service

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