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 O God of Light and Peace, We lift our hearts in gratitude for the sacred spaces that gather Your people— from quiet meetinghouses to incense-filled sanctuaries, from whispered prayers to chanted hymns, from the stillness of waiting to the joy of celebration.

Bless St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, whose icons and liturgies reflect the beauty of heaven, and whose faithful witness to tradition and mystery draws hearts into deeper communion with You.

Bless every place where Your name is honored, where love is practiced, and where truth is sought. May this week be filled with unity of spirit, purpose in action, and grace in every endeavor.

Guide our steps, soften our hearts, and make us vessels of Your mercy. Let our worship overflow into the world— as healing, as hope, as holy presence.

In Your name, O Christ, who gathers all into one Body, we pray. Amen 💕✌️🙏

 O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.  Help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will.  In every hour of the day, reveal Your will to me.  Bless my dealings with all who surround me.  Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.  In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.  In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You.  Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.  Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.  Direct my will, teach me to pray.  And You, Yourself, pray in me.  Amen. 💕✌️🙏

On October 26, 2025, the faithful at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Urbana gathered in reverent celebration of Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Streaming and the Sixth Sunday of Luke, embracing a liturgy that wove together remembrance, healing, and holy witness.

The Divein Liturgy opened with Tone 3 hymns of resurrection, calling all creation to rejoice in the triumph of Christ. The faithful were invited to contemplate the life and martyrdom of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki, pierced by spears for his unwavering confession of Christ. His fragrant relics, streaming myrrh, became a sign of divine grace and healing—a reminder that suffering borne in love becomes a vessel of sanctity.

The Gospel reading from Luke 8:26–39 recounted Christ’s healing of the man possessed by demons in the country of the Gadarenes. This dramatic encounter revealed the Lord’s authority over spiritual darkness and His tender restoration of human dignity. The man, once tormented, sat clothed and in his right mind at Jesus’ feet—an image of peace reclaimed through divine mercy.

In the homily, worshippers were invited to reflect on the power of holy presence: Demetrios stood firm in the face of imperial violence, and the healed man bore witness to Christ’s compassion. Both became icons of transformation—one through martyrdom, the other through healing. The liturgy called each soul to consider: Where do we stand in the face of fear, injustice, or despair? How do we bear witness to the One who restores and redeems?

The commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople (740) added a layer of historical memory, reminding the Church of its enduring prayers for protection and renewal in times of upheaval. The faithful lifted intercessions for peace, healing, and steadfastness in a world still trembling with uncertainty.

As the choir chanted the Apolytikion of St. Demetrios—“The world has found you to be a great defense against tribulation”—the sanctuary became a place of refuge and renewal. The myrrh of the martyr mingled with the tears and prayers of the people, sanctifying their struggles and hopes.

In closing, the faithful were sent forth with hearts stirred by the witness of Demetrios and the healing of the Gospel. May we, too, become vessels of mercy, defenders of truth, and bearers of peace in our own communities. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and heal our world. Through the prayers of Your holy martyr Demetrios, strengthen us to stand, to serve, and to shine with Your light. Amen

In the Rethinking God with Tacos podcast, Jared Scholz reflects on the idea that every day is a new beginning, not as a motivational cliché, but as a deeply theological truth. This perspective invites us to live in the present love reality of God, where grace is not just a past event or future hope, but a daily renewal.

Key Scripture Passages

• Lamentations 3:22–23“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
• Isaiah 43:18–19“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

Reflection

Jared’s insight reframes our understanding of time and transformation. In Christ, we are not bound by yesterday’s failures or tomorrow’s anxieties. Each day is a fresh canvas, not because we start over by our own strength, but because God’s mercies are renewed.

This echoes Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians: we are new creations—not someday, but now. The Spirit doesn’t wait for us to be perfect; He meets us in the moment, offering grace that transforms.

Isaiah’s call to “forget the former things” is not denial—it’s divine permission to release what no longer serves us and embrace what God is doing today. And Lamentations reminds us that this renewal is not occasional—it’s daily, dependable, and rooted in God’s faithful love.

Application

• 🌅 Begin Each Day with Grace: Let go of yesterday’s weight. Receive today as a gift, not a test.
• 🔄 Practice Present-Moment Awareness: God is not just in your past or future—He is in your now.
• 🧘 Release Regret and Fear: You are not defined by what was or what might be. You are held in what is.
• 🕊️ Live from Union, Not Separation: You don’t need to chase God—He’s already with you, renewing you daily.

Prayer

Dear God of New Beginnings, Thank You for meeting me in this moment, for renewing Your mercy with the sunrise, and for calling me into the freedom of now. Help me to live from grace, to release what’s behind, and to trust what You are doing today. Let each breath be a beginning, each step a response to Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen 💕✌️🙏

Sources: 

Apple Podcasts

Rethinking God with Tacos PODCAST – Apple PodcastsiHeartJared Scholz / Sandbox To Museum – Rethinking God with Tacos PODCAST …

Dear Holy One, Source of Light and Love, we gratefully praise your name in every place where silence is honored and song rises like incense. Bless all houses of worship this week—cathedrals, chapels, meetinghouses, and monasteries—each a vessel of your presence.

As voices gather at 10:00 AM to sing hymns in the commons, let joy ripple through the air, binding us in harmony across traditions and generations. Let every note be a prayer, every breath a blessing.

As Friends settle into the Meeting for Worship at 10:30 AM, and as the faithful at St. Nicholas bow in reverence, may your Spirit move among us—in silence and chant, spoken ministry, and sacred liturgy. Let our worship be a living offering, rooted in humility, unity, and awe.

Bless the little ones in First Day School and all children learning love and reverence. May their hearts be nurtured, questions welcomed, and joy embraced as holy.

As introductions and announcements are shared at 11:30 AM, let us recognize each other as companions on the journey—each bearing stories, gifts, and sacred worth. Let our words be seasoned with grace and our intentions guided by peace.

As refreshments are served and fellowship unfolds, let laughter echo, kindness abound, and connections deepen. Let this time nourish our bodies and spirits.

As we enter the Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, may discernment be gentle, listening be deep, and decisions be led by love. Welcome all who gather—newcomers and longtime Friends alike—in person and online, with open hearts and shared purpose.

In all things this week, let us walk in unity, serve with joy, and rest in your blessing. Let our worship be wide enough to hold the world, and our prayers bold enough to shape it with love. Amen 💕✌️🙏

Key Scripture Passages

• Genesis 2:15
• Psalm 104:24
• Micah 6:8

Reflection:

My day in Rantoul, Illinois was more than a moment of rest—it was a sacred encounter. To embrace fellowship with God is to walk with Him not only in prayer, but in presence. Like Adam in the garden, we are invited to walk with God in the cool of the day, to listen with our hearts, and to respond with reverence.

To savor nature’s joys is to receive creation as a gift. Psalm 104 reminds us that the earth is full of God’s wisdom and wonder. The breeze, the birdsong, the rustling leaves—all are invitations to worship. When we slow down and notice, we are not just admiring beauty—we are communing with the Creator.

And to protect it with all your senses is to live as a steward, not a consumer. Genesis 2:15 calls us to tend and keep the garden—not just the one in Eden, but the one we walk through every day. Stewardship is not just duty—it’s devotion. It’s a way of saying, “This world matters because it belongs to God.”

Application:

•  Practice Presence in Creation: Take walks with God. Let your senses become instruments of prayer—seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting His goodness.
•  Protect What You Love: Stewardship begins with awareness. Recycle, plant, conserve, and advocate—not out of guilt, but out of gratitude.
•  Let Nature Renew Your Soul: When life feels heavy, return to the garden. Let creation remind you of God’s faithfulness and creativity.
•  Invite Others into the Fellowship: Share your sacred spaces. Host a prayer walk, a picnic, or a moment of silence under the sky.

Prayer:

Dear Creator God, Thank You for the beauty of this earth, for the breeze that whispers peace, and the soil that holds Your promise. Teach me to walk with You in every field and forest, to savor the joy of Your creation, and to protect it with all my senses. Let my life be a living prayer— rooted in wonder, guided by love, and faithful in stewardship. In Jesus’ name, Amen 💕✌️🙏

Dear Holy and Loving Presence, we lift our hearts in gratitude for every place where Your name is praised, Your Spirit is sought, and Your people gather. Bless all houses of worship this week—chapels and cathedrals, meetinghouses and monasteries, sanctuaries and sacred spaces—where souls come to be renewed and communities are formed in love.

We pray especially for the Champaign-Urbana Society of Friends. May the hymns sung at 10:00 a.m. rise like incense, and may the silence of worship at 10:30 be filled with Your gentle whisper. Let spoken ministry be led by Your Spirit, and may each child in First Day School be nurtured in wonder and care. As Friends gather to explore the Testimony of Stewardship, may their reflections deepen our collective reverence for the Earth and all creation.

We also lift up St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, and all who enter its doors seeking beauty, tradition, and truth. May the liturgy be a balm to weary hearts, and may the fellowship shared there reflect the joy of Your kingdom.

Guide us all to approach this week with unity and purpose. Let our prayers be sincere, our actions compassionate, and our gatherings infused with grace. May we listen deeply, speak kindly, and walk humbly with You.

In stillness and in song, In ritual and in reflection, Be with us, O God.

Amen

I visited St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Anchorage, Alaska, on September 21, 2025. The service was moving, filled with tradition, and a moment of reflection. The link will direct you to full posting. May God bless and keep. 💕✌️🙏

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1784nTTp3U/

I wanted to share Thursday’s breathtaking wilderness wildlife glacier tour I took on September 18, 2025. Alaska’s vastness humbles and heals. Click the link for the photos. May God bless you and keep. 💕✌️🙏 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#label/Save/FMfcgzQcpnQhClNVSktQBLDtwTWCbGbc