What happens to that routine when someone is in need of our assistance? Are we prepared to help others as well as ourselves? How does reaching out to others help us? The word hospitality comes from the word hospital--a place of healing. Our loving hospitality provides nurturing toward other children of God, but in return we receive healing for our souls. This month we provide you with hospitality resources and resources for the family.
Hospitality & Worship - Preparing for the Feast
The Lord extends His hospitality to us in church every Sunday. He invites us to feast at His banquet--He gave His life so that we may partake of this feast. Our greatest communion with our fellow Christians comes when we attend the Divine Liturgy and partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion. God has prepared a feast for us to attend, but it requires us to properly prepare for this mystic event through prayer, fasting, and confession. As a family, take time to prepare for communion by reciting the pre communion prayers and prayers of thanksgiving after communion. Talk to your priest or spiritual father for direction. These prayers can be found in their entirety in Daily Prayers for Orthodox Christians published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press. You can also find some of the preparation prayers from OCF and the thanksgiving prayers. For a wonderful article from Fr. Thomas Hopko on preparation, visit this site.
Fellowship - Hospitality Dinner
Do you have an elderly relative or neighbor? Perhaps you could invite them over for dinner. Creating a welcoming environment will warm the heart of your guest, and your children will experience the satisfaction one feels when showing love and hospitality to others. Another possibility is to consider talking with your parish priest to learn if there is someone in your community who could use a meal prepared for them. Does your priest think that children can visit with you to deliver the meal? Sometimes elderly people will light up when seeing young people. When planning this meal, include a few extras such as a bouquet of flowers or a delicious tray of brownies (make sure to be aware of any dietary restrictions they may have before you go). Take time to visit with the person. Try to engage them in a conversation. Your hospitality might be just what they need.
Witness - The Baptism of our Lord
On January 6 we celebrate the Theophany (or Epiphany) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Explain to your children how Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Forerunner in the Jordan River. Define the word Theophany (shining-forth and manifestation of God) for your children. Read the Holy Bible with your children and together learn about the Baptism of Jesus in John 1:20, Luke 3:21, and Mark 1:35. Visit this site and/or this one to review the icon of the Theophany and learn the prayers that are said on this important day in our church.
During this time of year we Orthodox Christians have our home blessed by the parish priest. It is an honor to have the priest come into the home for the blessing. If the priest’s schedule permits, invite him and his family to dinner. By welcoming your priest and family you are inviting Christ into your home. This act of fellowship and worship will help your children to establish a better relationship with your priest and presbytera.
When you have your home blessed by the parish priest, make sure everyone in your family is available for this important event. In preparation for the event, have the entire family share in the responsibility of having the home ready to be blessed. Explain to your children that the priest will be entering their bedrooms and all their possessions will be blessed. Prepare a prayer list of the names of those living and deceased for the priest. On your dining room table or family altar, place a lighted candle, an icon of Christ, and a wide bowl for the Holy Water.
Parents should make small empty bottles available for their children so the Holy Water used in the blessing of the home can be saved. Children should be encouraged to keep this water next to their icons and use this water when they are in need of the Lord's blessings. As Fr. Coniaris states in his book Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home, the Holy Water represents "the Lord's healing and loving presence with them constantly as does the family icon." Visit this site for more information about preparing your home to be blessed.
Service - Little Acts of Kindness
Take time to talk with your children about how important it is to help one another. Explore the phrase "little acts of kindness." Get them to think of ways they can do little acts of kindness for other people both within and outside the family. Could you help your sibling pick up their toys even though you didn't make the mess? Can you give your father or mother a hug and tell them you love them for no reason? How about writing a thank you note to your teachers just to let them know you appreciate them? Could you be kind to a new student or someone that doesn't have many friends? When we help others, we are reminded of the importance of being a "cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Discuss what this means in the context of helping others. In the Philokalia, adapted by Haines and Yaggy, we are instructed to be the "sunshiny member of the family, who has the inestimable art to make all duty seem pleasant."
Education - St. Zacchaeus
As a family read the Story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) from the New Testament, which will be read on January 27, the Sunday of Zacchaeus. In the Orthodox Story Bible, we learn that Zacchaeus was a tax collector, who had a history of not being of pure heart. However, when he meets Christ he changes his ways and welcomes Him into his life. Talk with your children about how Christ changes us when we open our hearts to Him like Zacchaeus. When we act in a hospitable manner to others, we are allowing Christ to enter our hearts. For more information and activities about the Story of Zacchaeus, please visit this site.
LINK DISCLAIMER: The links included above, and the content of all linked sites, are not monitored or endorsed in any way by the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries or the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Department believes some of the information on these links can be relevant to youth ministry today; however, we do not bear responsibility for the accuracy, timeliness, or content of the sites.
Youth Worker Pulse is a weekly e-newsletter written by the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. This information has been re-published by the Orthodox Christian Network, an agency of SCOBA, with permission. You can subscribe to the Department's weekly e-newsletter here. The suggestions contained in this week's "Youth Worker Pulse" come from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Center for Family Care.
