The 2:00 a.m. full lamb dinner

Well the next service started at midnight, called Rresurrection service and Divine Liturgy. Father Tim had a wonderful sermon which included his mention of something that happened to him that very night. Their church is located in a part of Duluth where there are sometimes people who are in need, or wandering looking for help, or even intoxicated. There was a person who broke a bottle in front of the church right before all this culmination of 1 or 2 services per day during Holy Week- so father Tim could have had no time for this “problem” person. Rather, Tim saw the face of Christ in the person and told us we are always called to live lives of love- caring for those in need.

This midnight service now filled w light. Many people kept their candles lit during the whole service. Church full of people of all ages- young and old together. Their holy communion liturgy includes all the same basic parts we Lutherans have and I’m pretty sure, the Catholics have. The main difference is that they do the longest version of everything. To my awareness, it is close to unheard of to ever alter or shorten anything. I could be wrong, but I think that’s what I heard- that in orthodox priest training they are taught that there is only one way to do things. For many of the parishoners, this sameness is holy and helps them go deeper into their faith. A worship service that has different prayers or occasional new music- I’m guessing here- that kind of newness doesn’t happen very often.

The one area that can always be new and fresh is when the priest gives a sermon.