Revealing Creation for What it is
Fr. Alexander Schmemann, of blessed memory, once wrote that
when something is blessed it is not made into something new, but
is rather revealed for what it truly is. When God completed the
creation of the heavens and the earth He declared, “It is very
good.” We cannot improve upon what God has already pronounced.
So what is we do when, as on the feast of Theophany, we bless
the waters? We proclaim to the world and to creation itself, the
original goodness pronounced by God. On Sunday, January 6, we will
celebrated the feast of Theophany which marks Christ’s Baptism
in the River Jordan. After the liturgy in the Church we will go
directly to the Marina in Oak Ridge and bless the waters of the
Clinch River (Melton Hill Lake).
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In doing
this we recognize and reveal to the world that our local river,
the waters of the world we live in (and which we drink), are the
same as the waters over which the Spirit of God moved in the
beginning of creation. That they are the same as the waters of the
Jordan over which the people of Israel crossed to enter the
promised land and into which Christ God himself was plunged in
Holy Baptism.
I took a trip last summer with two priests to St. Tikhon’s
Monastery in Pennsylvania. I noticed as we were driving along,
that every time we crossed a river or a body of water, one of the
priests would make the sign of the cross over the water. I asked
him why he did this. He related that his spiritual father had
taught him to do this, to bless the waters wherever he went. I
understood this in Fr. Schmemann’s sense, that everywhere we go,
God reveals the wonder of his creation. All of the waters are
blessed because God said so, because they are a means of life and
blessing. May God reveal them to us for what they truly are.
-
Fr. Stephen+
Scheduling the Blessing of your Home
Click
here to schedule the Blessing of your Home
The days between the Feast of the Theophany (January 6) and the
beginning of Great Lent (Monday, March 18 this year) are set aside for
the blessing of homes throughout the parish. Just as we ask God’s
blessing over all of creation in the Great Blessing of the Waters on
Theophany, so we ask his blessing on our homes, that they may be places
of peace and holiness, filled with His Spirit and every good
thing. |
Please make
arrangements with Fr. Stephen to schedule his visit to your home.
Earlier is better!
When the priest comes to your home you should have
A bowl filled with holy water (Father carries extra if you
have none)
An icon, a Bible, a lit candle
List of names of those whom you would like remembered in
prayer – first, those fallen asleep, then the living
Turn radios, tv’s, etc., off
Annual Parish Meeting
St. Anne will have its annual parish meeting following the
liturgy on Sunday, January 27. Everyone is encouraged to attend
and to participate.
In the meeting we will review the actions of the Mission
Council for this past year, look at the budget for the year coming
and discuss the needs for ministry in the coming year as well as
take counsel for how to organize ourselves to meet them.
As our mission family continues to grow so our needs grow and
change. By the grace of God we pray for guidance in all of our
actions that His will be done in all we do.
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The
Mission