Image by evag from Pixabay
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… ~ Isaiah 43:2
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. ~ Habakkuk 2:14
Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! ~ Psalm 93:4
…Accept the fountain of my tears, Thou who dost gather the waters of the sea to clouds… ~ Hymn of Kassiani
Image by ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay
🎶 …God keep our land glorious and free! 🎶 ~ Excerpt from Canadian National Anthem
…for our land, authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord… for this city, and every city and land, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord… for seasonable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord… Lord have mercy! ~ Excerpts from the Litany of Peace
Happy Canada Day! ❤️
Sunrise Over Lavender Fields
Image by Mouse23 from Pixabay
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun… ~ Ecclesiastes 11:7
Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay
“...Our place in God’s garden may be a very humble and sheltered spot; but, like the saints, we may keep our faces ever turned upward, and learn to grow, as they grew, like their Master, pure and straight and strong – fit flowers to blossom in the Garden of God...
Saints are like roses when they flush rarest,
Saints are like lilies when they bloom fairest,
Saints are like violets, sweetest of their kind.”
~ In God’s Garden Original Copyright 1907 by Amy Steedman; distributed by Heritage History 2009
Today is the special feast commemorating the 10th Century Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Axion Estin) and its Ancient Hymn, that’s so special.
Congratulations on your Saint’s Day Nathaniel… Remembering how you were baptised in a beautiful garden, beneath the warm summer sky! May God grant you many years!
In Old English, the word sky was heofan, from which we get the modern word heaven.
Our Garden’s Rosa Tropicana (Warm Coral) & English Lavender
It’s been said we may catch glimpses of the Holy Trinity’s Mystery more readily through the temple of our hearts, rather than by using our ineffective, logical minds. Beholding the beauty of God’s Creation – whether in the garden, or a child’s smile, quite simply takes my breath away. When our Heavenly Father already gives us countless aesthetic blessings to delight in, one can’t help but wonder… if this is just earth… how much more beauteous will our Heavenly Home be?! Amen!
You see the Trinity if you see love. ~ Blessed Augustine
Master how could I describe the vision of Your Face? How could I ever speak of the ineffable contemplation of Your Beauty? How could mere words contain One Whom the World could never contain? . . . suddenly You appeared from on high, shining greater than the Sun itself, shining brilliantly from the heavens down into my heart .. . . . What intoxication of the Light! What swirlings of fire! ~ St. Symeon the Theologian hymn
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the LORD and to enquire in his temple. ~ Psalm 27:4
Wedding Bread Gift represents Marriage Crowns for Michael and Laura. May God grant them Many Years!
Garden Flowers Bouquet: Golden Celebration Rose, Spirea Bridal Wreath, and Lady’s Mantle which is affiliated with the Virgin Mary.
Wedding Prokeimenon sung in Eighth Tone:
Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones. They asked life of thee, and thou gavest it them. ~Psalm 21: 3-4
Greetings on the Beginning of the Apostles’ Fast!
The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. ~ Exodus 16:31
(God Can Fill Us)
And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly. ~ Exodus 25:30.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. ~ Psalm 104:14-15
Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ~ Matthew 4:4
Give us this day our daily bread. ~ Matthew 6:11
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ~ John 6:35
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. ~ John 6:47-51
Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ~ 1 Cor. 5:8
May your Journey through the Apostle’s Fast be Peaceful and Fruitful!
Scripture Art by Juliana
Happy Sunday of All Saints!
Warm wishes and a very Happy Father’s Day to those who are so blessed!
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labour. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.~ 1 Cor. 3:7-9
The Lord grant thee according to thy heart, and all thy purposes fulfill. ~ 2nd Antiphon, Stichos 3, Sunday of Pentecost
Faithfulness in little things is a big thing. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Pink Rosé Dogwood Tree Blossoms
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ~ Luke 8:17
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. ~ John 3:8
A few days ago, on the windy Post Feast, we took three (still amazingly fresh) floral Pentecost bouquets out to the cemetery.
The grassy gravesites were dotted with mantles of snow-white daisies and great golden dollops of buttercups. Purply-blue fields of floral confetti tangled with clover… and as quail, ravens and sparrows – scooted, soared and flitted nearby, the last line of the Creed came to mind: I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the age to come.
We stood where past, present and future are tightly entwined, for… He shall come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end…
Off to the side, and distracting my reverie, a pink dogwood tree’s blossomed boughs thrashed wildly to and fro in the gusty winds. Narrowing my eyes thoughtfully at it, I noted it was not at all like its more staid and demure counterpart… the white-flowered Pacific dogwood growing beside our church.
Once, during an Archbishop’s past parish visit and upon noticing the young dogwood sapling (official flower of BC, Canada) newly planted beside our church, he recounted how the dogwood tree had a long, Christian-themed history.
While some Biblical scholars assert Christ was crucified on a dogwood tree’s Cross, Orthodox Church tradition conveys that the Cross was made from three different types of wood: cedar, pine and cypress. Regardless, and depending on the country, dogwoods are often found planted on church grounds.
I’d like to share this unknown poet’s sweet poem called:
Legend of the Dogwood Tree
When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ’s cross its timbers were chosen
Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
“Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so
Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom’s center a thorny crown.
All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of My agony.”
Surprisingly, there are at least 60 species of Dogwood (Cornus) Trees, and they grow quite quickly. In Europe, Dogwood Trees were known as Whipple Trees. The origin of of the name Dogwood comes from the Scandinavian word dag meaning skewer, because the hardwood from this plant was traditionally used to make dags (daggers). Besides being used medicinally, it was used to fashion archery bows, and continues being used in woodworking today.
Dogwood flowers represent durability and ability to withstand various challenges in life. The white dogwood in particular, is symbolic of rebirth, purity and faith… Reminding us of Christ’s Holy Resurrection and the beginning of a new Life in Him.
I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the age to come.
The end part of the Creed reminds us death is not the end.
It’s a road we’ll all travel someday, and as Christians we look forward to beyond death, the resurrection of the dead, and life with God; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
Which of course, is part of an even greater Mystery!
Poppy in Denmark, shared by Marianne
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name… ~Psalm 63
A dear subscriber has shared some brilliant reflections that I’ve found helpful.
Sometimes we feel like we’re digging channels, ever waiting for the Lord to fill them. (It takes faith to do that!)
We know God is with us, but sometimes we may struggle to feel His Presence and Love, or even pray.
Yet, there is consolation!
When we carry out our “religious duties” we are like people digging channels in a waterless land, in order that when at last water comes, it may find them ready. ~ C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms
During times of spiritual dryness, faithful perseverance in prayer is the sweetest of all our prayers to God. By clinging tenaciously to Christ’s love with prayer, regardless of circumstances, we are truly blessed.
May we persevere in ploughing our personal furrows and be ready when the Lord fills them… in God’s Good Time.
Image by Stux from Pixabay
Tree Peony Flower
The Peony is known and called the Pentecost Rose, as it always blooms around this great Feast!
Joyous Holy Pentecost greetings!
Today is the Church’s Birthday!
Over the years I’ve noticed that Trinity Sunday may seem breezier than usual! The trees, flowers and grasses sway and dance in the gentle winds. The Breath of the Holy Spirit encompasses all. Today the sun shines brighter. More golden. Birdsong is sweeter. Beauty is everywhere, rejoicing vibrantly.
Previous Bisswood Pentecost Posts
Pentecost Greetings
Greetings on Pentecost
Mosaic of Life
Day of the Holy Spirit
Like so Many Thorns
Happy Holy Spirit Day
I Believe
Pentecost Traditions
Today green vestments are worn by the clergy. Parishioners also wear a bit of white or green if they wish. Churches are decorated with greenery and flowers reflecting the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life. People bring small floral bouquets to church with them and hold them during the Divine Liturgy, to be later placed in their icon corners, or on a loved one’s grave.
Long grasses strewn on the floor may be collected after Liturgy, taken home and braided into a Grass Cross for one’s icon corner. (Loosely form two individual braided pieces and wrap/tie them together with a long grass blade.) Kids love to do this.
How to Make a Simple Floral Pentecost Bouquet
(to bring and hold at church) Materials Needed: Tin Foil, Plastic Wrap, Paper Towel, Elastic Band
To make a small floral bouquet that won’t wilt, have at least 3 flowers with some greenery (herbs or leaves).
Remove extra leaves from bottom of stems. Tie a thin elastic band up towards the top of the bouquet. Cut the bottom of stems so they are even at bottom, and they can be held easily in your hand.
Lightly dampen (shouldn’t drip) 1 or 2 squares of paper towel and wrap around the bottom, and up the stems.
Next, wrap the paper towel and stems tightly in an approximate 11 x 14 inch piece of plastic wrap. It can go up as high as you wish, but make sure it’s enclosed securely under the stems, so as not to leak.
Now tear an approximately 11 x 14 inch piece of tin foil and lay the paper-towelled/plastic wrapped bouquet on top of it. Doesn’t matter if it’s on the shiny or dull side of the foil.
Fold up the foiled bottom, making sure to enclose the the stems.
Roll the foil tightly over and over, keeping the bottom sealed. Once completely closed, scrunch the foil to tighten more if needed.
My husband holds this finished garden bouquet of foxglove, nepeta catmint, valerian, hosta leaf, lemon balm, and maiden’s hair fern. The foil looks too loose for my liking, and will be scrunched and gently twisted more tightly.
Now you have a fresh Pentecost Bouquet for church. If you make two bouquets, you can share one with someone who may not have access to garden flowers.
With love in Christ.
