News & Events

Notes from the Second day of Family Conference (Thursday, July 13, 2023)

Prevailing against spiritual sleep
In the Devotional after Morning Prayer (English) Rev. Fr. (Dr) Timothy (Tenny) Thomas picked up the incident of Holy Transfiguration for meditation. Achen reminded everyone about the Feast of Holy Transfiguration that was to fall this year on a Sunday, which always falls on Aug 6, which is 40 days before the Feast of the Holy Cross.

We always have a battle between sleep and keeping awake in the spiritual sense, just like the 3 apostles struggled to keep awake, but because they prevailed in their struggle, they were able to behold the glory of God. Achen said that we also will be able to behold great things in God when we look to fight and prevail against our spiritual sleep, which is falling into sin.

Lois and Eunice
Rev. Fr. Mat Alexander, the Youth Minister of Dallas, in his keynote address to the MGOCSM students brought up the example of the mother(Eunice) and grandmother(Lois) of Timothy to bring attention to the faith that was already instilled in young Timothy since his childhood, which he was looking to stir up into a flame so that it glowed brightly. Similarly we have this gift of our faith instilled in us by our forefathers which we need to stir up and enflame for us to become men and women filled with the Spirit of God.

About 20 students attended the keynote address which was one among several parallel run sessions on Thursday morning, the second day of the Family & Youth Conference.

Converting Psychological experiences to spiritual ones
Rev. Dn. Shojil Abraham, the Youth Minister of the NE American Diocese, led the super session on transforming our psychological experiences into spiritual ones. Shemashen gave guidance on various ways we can turn our negative experiences in everyday life into positive spiritual ones. Imbibing an Orthodox way of life can help. Use of simple prayer rules, Jesus prayer, prayer rope can all be useful tools to guide us in our spiritual experiences. Simply asking God for help, asking God's guidance can be great aids.

Shemmashen kept the session interactive and also handed out a handbook on personal prayer rule.

Our thoughts, practices and emotions
After evening prayer in English on Thursday, Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas led a devotional where he spoke about what constitutes us as human beings. Basing his meditation on Deuteronomy 6, verses 6 and 8, Achen made the point that the three essential elements that constitute a human being are the heart which guides his emotions, the head which guides his thoughts and the hand which symbolizes his practices and behaviors. And the three are interrelated, which are to be used together to keep our focus on God as shown in Deuteronomy.

Some feedback from the youth:
"In the super-session we learned today that forgiveness is working on yourself. We were also taught to open up to others as it is a key factor in the process of healing" ~Julia

Another reaction:
"Forgiveness is working on oneself more than having any expectation from others. Humility and vulnerability are key emotions on the road to forgiveness and healing. Learning how to detach emotions from memories will help us deal with pain and anger." ~Jennifer

 
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