The sky is falling!

no...just our ceiling.

The heavy rains of February was too much for the roof and ceiling of our church to bare. We often came into the church with it flooded by overnight rain. A part of the ceiling that always leaked for an unsolvable reason, fell to pieces. 

Fortunately, as mentioned in the last post, we had a blessing come along, who was able to solve the Church's roof dilemma. The pews have been removed and put back into church for service for 2 weeks now, allowing the patching up of the ceiling and its repainting. With Gods grace, we will have a restored and better than new ceiling for our celebration of Easter at St Gerasimos.

work in progress

 

there is always something being made

more beautiful...

As you might of noticed, there has been a lot of work being done to the church's interior lately. Last week, the new doors that were put in late last year, were stained to match the pews of the body of the church.

Unfortunately with the rain last week, the ongoing problem with the leak in the ceiling (and now ceiling damage) became much worse. We are hoping that we will soon be able to find out how the water is getting in and also find a permanent solution for St Gerasimos Parish.

all done

and you can see (and feel!) the difference

who God brings...

a generous donation

When attending this Sunday's Liturgy you will see the new addition to St Gerasimos.

God brings people the Church's way, who see Her beauty and want to help. The carpet occupying the center aisle, leading up to the altar and within the altar, has been uncleanable for some time. The marks and the wear and tear of its history showed. The picture below, is a work in progress, of someone donating their time to measure, cut, overlock, place the new cherry red carpet donated and organised for our Church. 

You really have to sit back and say "wow" at people's generosity and kindness.

The work in progress - 2nd day

 

a new year

of hope

2011 seemed like a very tough year for many of my friends and for myself. If there was nothing going on personally, the world offered its own sadness. This time last year the rains of Queensland were starting a disaster, that I wonder if we remember in our busy lives, since the media coverage died. Starting on home soil, it triggering a domino effect throughout the year of human suffering from nature.

While the 12 minutes of fireworks introduced it, a single prayer caught my hope for the new year. Father read it today at the end of service, the 1st January 2012 and I thought about all the promises I didn't keep since hearing it exactly one year ago. I thought about how quickly I forgot that the Lord governs and is beside us in all things. But I remembered a feeling, and that was of a fragile hope of the heart, that our loving Father can only know and hold in His hands. Here is the prayer that reminded me, I have a new page I can start on from today:

"O Lord our God, who have placed times and seasons under your own authority; Who, in your infinite compassion and goodness, have counted us worthy to enter a new year of your loving kindness, bless it and keep us in peace.

Loose, remit and forgive any sins that we have commited during the year that is past, and keep us free from sin in the new year.

Enlighten us with the light of your truth and your divine commandments. 

Establish in our souls your holy will, and guide us to every work that is good and pleasing to you.

Guard well our holy Church with your divine grace.

Remember, Lord, our nation; train up the youth; protect the elderly; encourage the faint-hearted; gather the scattered; bring back those who have gone astray, and reunite them to your holy Church.

Overshadow our land with your might, and grant it gentle rain and abundance of the fruits of the earth.

Speak of goodness in the hearts of your rulers; support and strengthen them, together with our armed forces by land, sea or air.

Let your kingdom come upon us, O Lord; the kingdom of love, goodness, peace and justice; and make us worthy to praise and glorify, with one mouth and one heart, your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen. "

the doors the doors!

in wisdom let us attend.

Anyone who visited our church for the feast day of Saint Gerasimos on October 20th would of noticed the new wooden doors that have been built and put in place. The yet to be varnished doors, have replaced the old glass wall and doors that have been there ever since I remember (and therefore the very noisy slamming door was replaced too)! Bishop Seraphim commented himself upon his visit, that every time he comes, something has been added, done or improved to the church, proving that at St Gerasimos there is love for the beauty of God's house. 

feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

our side chapel celebrates

We invite you to come and join us on September 7th Vespers @ 7pm and September 8th @ 8am,  when our side chapel dedicated to Panagia Iamatiki (Healing Mary) and the Birth of the Theotokos celebrates.

"Today the Bridge of Life is born. Through her mortal men, fallen into hell, find their way up again, and they glorify in song Christ the Giver of life."
(taken from Matins hymn on this day)

 

 

children's resources

online and interactive

In our previous post we shared the trial that is online of the 'Children's Bible' @ http://cbr.goarch.org/. But did you know there was more out there on the world wide web? Yes, there sure is...

Saints Alive is another resource by the American Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. You have a helpful host and three sections to explore with puzzles and games. It explores stories from the Old Testament, the Church and New Testament. There are different levels for each game to meet to each child's ability.

 

There is also (for the older kids) a interactive site on 

Environmental Balance: Learning to become stewards of God's World. It is set up by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and challenges the players to think about how they can be responsible for the world they live in.

Build a world, a sustainable community, learn about God's intention for the earth and then what is currently the situation in the world.

 

Have a browse and play and let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

 

cruising the harbour

a night out organised for Orthodox youth

Click image for larger view

work @ Church

paint job, additions and progress...

 

online bible children's learning resource

thought we might share

We came across this great initiative by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the department of Internet ministries. We don't know if you have all seen it already, but for those who haven't, this is a great and fun way for our kids to learn the works, words and life of our Lord!

Jammed packed with different topics, kids can choose their own level in each game and activity. The interactive games include, colouring-in pictures, puzzles, find a words, quizzes, picture book stories and more. 

The site initiative is currently under a testing period, but invites everyone to test the site by exploring the many sections and then leaving feedback to make this effort more improved. The address to go and check it out on is: http://cbr.goarch.org/

Let us also know what you think! And enjoy! 

enlighten my five simple senses

sunday july 24th: matthew 9:1-8

 

Jesus heals the paralytic man and some of those who saw this miracle said, "This Man blasphemes!" What Jesus says next is very important in our Tradition, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

Jesus for the first time brings thinking to the heart and feeling to the brain. Our bodies is our freedom. We must use all our facilities to approach God: our eyes, our mouth, our taste, our smell, our hearing, our thinking, our feeling. That is why in the baptismal service we bless the body and its faculties.

If you don't feel with your brain and think in your heart, our Tradition says, you're not human. You are not who you are meant to be. There is a saying in society, "that person is self-absorbed" or "self- centered." But in reality, when you lose your "self", you are absorbed. You are human, with the right mind. Those who are self-centered are in fact the opposite of who they are meant to be.

In an age where we identify with soul less objects, we must seek to identify and become more human with God. This movement towards your humaneness, is found in the Liturgy. In the life of Jesus Christ.