Pixoto Award

I was quite fortunate and lucky to capture the beauty of this meadow in the golden hours - the lighting was spectacular. The photo recently won an award on a photography website which I post some of my work. You can view the photo here: http://www.pixoto.com/images-photography/landscapes/prairies-meadows-and-fields/autumn-gold-74895212

New Post to Ex Vivo

http://exvivomaddie.blogspot.com/2012/10/im-so-glad-i-live-in-world-where-there.html

New Post to Ex Vivo

http://exvivomaddie.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-setting-of-summer.html

A Place of Life and Love - The parish of St. Catherine

The Parish to which I belong, St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, holds a very special place in my heart. The grace, love, and support that I have witnessed and personally received among my fellow parishioners is overwhelming. The beauty and majesty of Christ's Kingdom is so present in this place. The realms open wide and Heaven itself seems to descend upon us. It is in many ways my second home, my hospital, and my shelter. I love this place. 


Prayer Upon Entering Church:

I rejoiced when they said unto me, "let us enter into the house of the Lord". I will come into Your house in the greatness of Your mercy: and in fear I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify You forever, One Divine Power worshiped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 "Lord we pray You, hear us and have mercy ..."

"Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God."

 The Homily

 

 The Great Entrance 

 "May the Lord our God remember you in His Kingdom ..."

"Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess ... Christ is in our midst."

The Anaphora - The Lifting Up

  "...thanks, worship, praise to God, the ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible...who brought us from nothingness into being; who after we fell, raised us up again, who did not cease doing everything for us...leading us to heaven and granting us God's future Kingdom. For all this we give thanks, for all things known and unknown, all benefits manifest and hidden... and also this Liturgy, which God deigns to accept from our hands, though before Him stand thousands of archangels and myriads of angels, cherubim and seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed soaring aloft on the wings, singing, crying out and shouting the triumphal hymn..."

 "With the fear of God and love draw near"

The Final Benediction

 The "Liturgy after the Liturgy" - The Agape Meal or AKA Coffee Hour

 Prayer Upon Leaving the Church:

Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

A glimpse into the "Little Church"