You guys have been holding out on me....

[ByzantineDixie]

;)

This morning I went to Great Hours. Oh my goodness!!! What a marvelous service and the perfect preparation for the Nativity Feast. The church was practically empty...a true shame. The service was so rich with Scripture covering the prophesy of the coming of Christ as well as events leading up to His birth including the arrival of the Wise Men and the murder of the Holy Innocents. It was truly a gift to have been able to attend. :crosseo:

[moses916]

Yes... i can't wait... my parish has Royal Hours tommorow morning... its wonderful! :)

[MariaRegina]

Thanks for sharing this.

It will be more of an incentive to get my husband to attend tomorrow morning.

[BabyLutheran]

the mission church I am considering attending doesn't have a GH service or weekly Vespers. Is it just too much to ask of the priest when the congregation is so small?

Egads-I might have to check out the Greek Church and I am scared! (PS-just making light of the ethnocentric thread)

[eoe]

BAH! Missed it. Only 364 more days till the next one I guess.

[Oblio]

BAH! Missed it. Only 364 more days till the next one I guess.

Actually, a few weeks, the eve of Theophany :)

[gzt]

Orthowannabe: Great Hours is only done before the Nativity, Theophany, and Pascha.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

the mission church I am considering attending doesn't have a GH service or weekly Vespers. Is it just too much to ask of the priest when the congregation is so small?

Egads-I might have to check out the Greek Church and I am scared! (PS-just making light of the ethnocentric thread)

If it is a mission parish the priest may have a "day" job which prevents him from having as many services as he would like to, or he may just come once a week from another parish.

Another reason for a limited number of services is that the parish may not be able to afford to heat/light the place for multiple services a week.

Just my .02...

In XC,

Maureen

[OrthoCanuck]

I went to the Royal Hours today as well. Man, it was AWESOME. I can't wait until the Vigil service tomorrow afternoon!


Peace.

[Kolya]

Well, 14 more days to go for me.;) No offfnce meant, but personally I won't be sorry to see the back of Gregorian 'Xmas'. Just getting the groceries is a nightmare. :eek:
Anyhow, Merry Christmas to all my NC friends. Many years!

[Anhelyna]

Argh - it's got to me - sorry folk mis- post

[Wiffey]

the mission church I am considering attending doesn't have a GH service or weekly Vespers. Is it just too much to ask of the priest when the congregation is so small?

Egads-I might have to check out the Greek Church and I am scared! (PS-just making light of the ethnocentric thread)

Please do not be afraid to go check out a GO church. Just because some parishioners at some parishes may be ethnocentric, does not mean that all parishes are like that. There is a wide range within GOARCH...and, BTW, the priests are usually very welcoming (and the archdioscese itself is pushing for more inclusion and stronger outreach)...when there is a problem it usually is due to parishioners. You never know unless you try. It might be a parish where they utilize some English and are warm.

[Akathist]

Our church doesn't have this service. We don't do Matins either. Maybe someday we will grow large enough, or at least have our skill level of our choir increase as Fr. says that is why we don't do Matins.