Prez to Prez

 
Prez to Prez was created in November 2006 to encourage and support Presvyteres of the Holy Orthodox Church in faith, in love, and in relationships with their husbands and families. We had a hiatus from January 2012 through September 2015. We welcome your feedback. Feel free to write with your comments or ideas. Click here for archived issues of Prez to Prez.
 

Prez to Prez February 2024 

Quote for the week: "Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honor your patience.” St. John Climacus

Scripture for the week: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12  

Thought for the week:  St. John Climacus offers a comforting reminder: "Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honor your patience."

Life's challenges may seem daunting, and often, balancing family and parish life can feel like an uphill climb. Amidst our many obligations and commitments, it's easy to overlook the call to prayer and our need to seek Christ, who knows our heartbreaks, struggles, worries, and concerns.

We are invited to stand courageously in faith and take small steps to grow in our relationship with Christ. When reading about the saints, it's easy to proclaim, "I'll never be like that!" However, remember that they persevered through small steps—little bits of wills, little denials of self, and little inward victories. By being faithful in very little things, they became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps; they only witness the accomplishment. Even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph or sudden spiritual maturity; it is the work of the moment, one step at a time.

Question for the week: What are some small steps that l have taken that have made an impact in my spiritual life? My relationships? My well-being? Take time to acknowledge, give thanks, and celebrate!

With much love,

Your Prez to Prez Team
Pat, Donna and Michelle
 
January 2024 - Prez to Prez

Scripture for the day: “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.”  Psalm 98:1Quote for the day: "To be Orthodox means to have the God-man Christ constantly in your soul, to live in Him, think in Him, feel in Him, act in Him. In other words, to be Orthodox means to be a Christ-bearer and a Spirit-bearer." St. Justin Popovich

Thought for the day: It is dawn. I look out the window. A bright fan of orange and yellow hues illumines the horizon and frames the roofs of the neighboring houses which are dusted with white snow. All is quiet early in the day. It feels warm and cozy indoors. It is a perfect moment for reflection, prayers and meditation.  

“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…”

In this New Year let us rededicate ourselves to turning daily to God. 

The Orthodox Church just observed the Feast Day of Theophany. We are reminded that just as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ sanctified and blessed the waters of the Jordan River at His baptism, he sanctifies and blesses all of us through the Church through holy water, the sacraments, prayers, hymns and icons.   The grace of God is there for us. Our part: turn to our Lord and be always repenting “for the Kingdom of God is at hand”.

Question for the day: How often do I fully embrace God’s gift to “greet the coming day in peace”?  How would it shift my life if this became my daily reality?

With love your Prez to Prez teamPat Tsagalakis, Donna Pappas, Michelle Triant and Zoe Denas

 
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December 2023 - Prez to Prez
 
Quote for the day: "When the blameless Virgin saw the magi bringing new and radiant gifts and worshipping, the star showing him, the shepherds praising him, she implored the Maker and Creator of all these, saying, “Accept, my Child, a trinity of gifts, grant her who gave you birth three requests. I pray to you for the seasons and for the fruits of the earth and for those who dwell on it. Be reconciled to all, because through me you have been born a little Child, God before the ages." St Romanos Melodist
 
Scripture for the day: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:32-34
 
Thought for the day:  It was a Christmas like none other I had celebrated.  We were being transferred to our first “solo” parish and we were to start the day after Christmas.  The movers had packed up the apartment and on our last night, we curled up in sleeping bags on the floor with our ten-month-old son. We were traveling, I was in the throes of morning sickness with our second child, we had just what we needed for the trip, and when we arrived at our new home, we discovered that the heater was not working and the house was at a chilling 39 degrees. I took the baby and stayed with my parents (who just so happened to live in the city to which we had been assigned - glory to God!). 
 
Each day, I kept thinking of Mary and Joseph setting out for Bethlehem and what that must have been like.  I mean, we had a car (they only had what would fit on a donkey) and when they arrived, there was no option to stay with family, and so they made their way to a stable. For anyone who has had to “muck out” a space inhabited by livestock, it is not anything close to the sanitized depictions rendered in today’s porcelain, crystal, or wood figurines.  It is smelly, the straw isn’t necessarily going to stay “fresh”, and there is no temperature control.  Yet, this is where Our Lord chose to make His entrance into this world:  fully human and fully divine. 
 
This is Christmas: it is the miraculous occurring in the midst of the everyday.  The humility of Christ’s entrance foreshadows the humility we will witness as we follow Christ’s steps through Holy Week. This humbles us and brings a new perspective to Christmas far beyond the decorations, the newsletters, the gifts, and the food...it brings us to a smelly, musty stable within our hearts where Christ enters and takes up residence: the miraculous happening in the midst of the everyday and we are forever transformed because of it.
 
Question for the day:   How do I connect with the humility of Christ’s birth? Is there a tradition I could establish that might provide the miraculous in the midst of the everyday for someone else?  (We’d love to hear your ideas!)
 
With all our love for a joyous Nativity and a glorious new year. 
Christ is soon to be born!  Let us glorify Him! 
 
Your Prez to Prez Team
Donna Pappas, Michelle Triant  and Pat Tsagalakis
 
If you would like to write an entry for Prez to Prez, please send it to us: p.tsagalakis@comcast.net
 
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November 2023 - Prez to Prez
 
Scripture verses for the week: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45
"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." - Micah 7:7
Quote for the week:  Despair not, but be meek, and humble, and thankful to the Lord in all things." St. Silouan the Athonite
Thought for the week:  As we begin this sacred journey of the Nativity Fast, I am reminded of the wise counsel shared by Sarah Wright in her insightful article on "Ways to observe the Nativity Fast when overwhelmed." Inspired by her parish priest, she emphasized three pillars to guide our approach during the Nativity season: Gratitude, Service, and Anticipation.
Gratitude: During these final weeks of November, let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Consider starting a gratitude journal, noting down three things each day that you are thankful for. Immerse yourself in passages from the Bible that speak of gratitude and let your prayers be infused with heartfelt thanks. Extend your appreciation to others by writing thank-you notes, offering extra tips for services, or simply expressing words of thanks to those around you.
Memorize the scripture:  "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Service:  Transitioning into December, let us draw inspiration from the life of St. Nicholas, whose devotion to God was manifested through love for his neighbors. Around St. Nicholas’ feast day - (December 6th)  try to actively seek practical ways to increase your service to others. This could involve family projects, visiting those in need, or contributing to local food banks.
Anticipation: As we approach the culmination of the Nativity Fast, let our focus shift to anticipation. Embrace the art of waiting with patience rooted in expectation. Reflect on how you and your family can live in this season of anticipation and prepare your hearts for the precious gift of Christ.
"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." - Micah 7:7
May this Nativity Fast be a time of deep reflection, spiritual growth, and the joyous anticipation of the miraculous birth of our Savior. Let us navigate these weeks with hearts full of gratitude, hands ready to serve, and minds attuned to the faithful anticipation of Christ's arrival.
Questions for the week:   What is one way I can honor the example of Saint Nicholas during this Nativity fast? Who can I invite to join me in this undertaking: my children/grandchildren/godchildren, my spouse, a friend, a sister presvytera? Doing so is guaranteed to multiply the joy and knit us closer together!
 
With love,
Your Prez to Prez team
Pat, Donna & Michelle
 
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October 2023 - Prez to PrezScripture for the Week: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 4:10-11 
Quote for the Week: "What is more beautiful than the love of a husband and wife? The love between a man and a woman is a reflection of the love between Christ and His Church." St. Augustine of Hippo
 
Thought for the Week: This past week, we had the privilege of coming together with our cherished sisters at the National Sisterhood Retreat in Richmond, Virginia. It was an extraordinary weekend filled with fellowship, both renewing old friendships and forging new ones. We shared stories, songs, laughter, prayers, and experiences that have left an indelible mark on our hearts. The outpouring of hospitality extended to us by our gracious hosts in Richmond exceeded even our wildest expectations. From the welcome medley led by the dynamic and warm-hearted Pres. Vivian to our guest presenter, Phoebe Farag Mikhail, to the intimacy and depths of our small group interactions we were blessed with a truly remarkable weekend together. 
 
Notably, the Metropolitan of New Jersey graciously took time from his busy schedule to joyfully address his "beloved presvyteres and diakonisses." His words touched on the significant aspects of service and sacrifice that we, as clergy wives, often encounter while being married to priests. Some of his stories were, at times, difficult and heart-wrenching to hear, as he shared instances of reaching out to certain priests who found themselves unable to fulfill their parish responsibilities due to unforeseen pressures from their wives.
 
After the Metropolitan's message, some of our discussion groups were filled with heavy hearts as we rallied in support of our sisters who frequently feel abandoned and isolated when their husbands prioritize the needs of the community over those of their own family. Simultaneously, seasoned presvyteres shared their own stories of the sacrifices inherent in the priesthood, much like the patience and understanding required of a physician's wife who must relinquish family time due to the demands of her husband’s life-saving work. Some may say that these responsibilities and expectations are generational and should be shared by both husband and wife. In today's world, more than ever, presvyteres find themselves needing to work both outside and inside the home.
 
The Metropolitan's words were not meant to offend or discredit, but rather to serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in the realm of married life and ministry. Often, we passionately advocate for healthier boundaries for our overworked husbands, but it is also essential for us to step back and evaluate our own expectations and how our actions as a spouse contribute to the joy of ministry or cause discord within the parish. If healthy boundaries are an issue, we must address and attend to them. If you find yourself grappling with challenges in your marriage, please know that there is hope and assistance available. The Family Wellness Ministry, as well as the Center for Family Care, offers access to clergy and therapists who can work with you and your husband in strict confidence to navigate these difficulties.
 
One unifying belief we all share is that the "Big Church" cannot truly thrive unless the "Little Church" of our home is healthy and peaceful.  May we ask for the intercessions of the holy family (Panayia and Joseph) to intercede to Christ our God, and may we seek to live thirsting for righteousness. The words of St. John of Kronstadt reminds us: 
"The most perfect image of married life is the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This model of love, obedience, and self-sacrifice should be the inspiration for all Christian families."
Question for the Week:  What is my ideal of “balance” between the demands of parish and the demands of family?  What is my reality?  (Bonus:  Pass these questions to your husband and listen to his response with an open and curious heart). 
 
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MAY 2023 - Prez to Prez - Mother's Day Edition
Quote for the Week: "For a woman to be a presvytera is something great and wonderful.”- St. John Chrystostom
 
Scripture for the Week:  "She shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever she does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3
 
Thought for the Week: A Mother’s Day Poem for our Presvyteres (written by your prez to prez team along with help from AI.chat) 
Thank you Presvytera, you are cherished, and adored, For your selflessness and love, forever outpoured.
In joyous moments, your laughter resounds, As our priest wife, your love abounds. In times of sorrow, you are a comforting light, Embracing our families, in darkness or light.
Through sleepless nights and endless care, You tend to souls with a gentle prayer. With arms wide open, you embrace each heart, Guiding us forward, always doing your part. 
To our presvytera, our mother so dear, On this special day, let your heart clearly hear, Our gratitude and love, heartfelt and true, For the sacrifices made, we honor you.Through the joys and trials that life may bring, With faith in God, you will chant and sing. Presvytera,  we thank you from the depth of hearts For you are generous, kind and oh so smart
Happy Mother's Day, dear presvytera, so true, May your heart be filled with blessings anew. Know that you are cherished, loved, and seen, A guiding light led by Panagia, our Mother and Queen.
 
Question for the Week: How do I see my relationship to our parish? Has God given me a mother's heart? a sister's heart? a daughter's heart? a third cousin twice removed heart? How do I feel about my answer? (Bonus: Call another presvytera and share your answer!)
 
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MARCH 2023

Scripture of the Week
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:7, 10

"Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16

 Quote for the Week
“Everything that you gain in your inner battles will be reflected in your life in God. Struggle against every passion which arouses in you critical thoughts about others. Do not accept what the enemy suggests to you against someone who is unjust towards you. Whether you are alone in your room or in company, every critical thought, every negative inner movement, create a crack in your spiritual fortress and in that of your community. No thought is born or passes without consequence. With good thoughts, you will be able to see in every person that you meet someone very beloved. With negative thoughts, on the contrary, your facial expression and your psychological energies will spoil your relationships and affect the environment around you. When grace is with us, we do not see the defects of others; we only see the sufferings and the love of our brethren. 

- Archimandrite Sophrony

Action for the Week
Sisters - we need to make time! Make an appointment to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confession.

We are designed for confession. Burdens on our hearts are hard to carry, and, if they are not confessed, rarely go away of their own accord. Rather, they have a way of making life harder, heavier, and unbearable as time passes. The Apostle James (5:16) wrote: "Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” 

Thought for the Week
In the pre-communion prayers, there is a final prayer by St. John Chrysostom which begins, 

“I stand at the door of Your Holy Temple, yet I do not put away my grievous thoughts…”

Lent is a purifying time. We seem to see around us the ‘chaff being separated from the wheat,’ faithful people making great efforts to attend the services and confess their sins, and we wonder in our hearts, “Am I the chaff or the wheat? Will the Lord accept me into his kingdom? Or will I be shut out like the maidens with no oil in their lamps?” We see how we are progressing through this sacred Lenten period, how we are growing, but perhaps more glaring, we see how we are falling short, and instead of focusing on the glory of the Lord, we may focus on our own personal failures. This is the time to raise our chin and look to the Lord for His great loving kindness and mercy and to say, “I have sinned like the harlot and I am not worthy to gaze on Your Holiness!” None of us is worthy, and if we can come away from Lent with this sense alone, we actually have a clearer understanding of our perpetual need for God. 

This week, are at the mid-way point of Great Lent - and have an opportunity to receive the gift of forgiveness through the Sacrament of Confession. We get a chance to re-boot, and begin again to recommit our lives to wholly embrace Him, our Lord and Master, and to realize that without Him our life is barren and without purpose. As Presvyteres there is so much to distract us from this vision, this high calling, so many temptations to forget that after all, we are simple servants of a great and wondrous King. Let us receive forgiveness,  finish the course of this race with our eyes firmly set on the Lord: His humility and kindness, His strength, mercy and forgiveness, His power and love, and His Glorious Resurrection and Kingdom without end. Let our “Christ is Risen!” come from a humble and unpretentious heart which bows down to the King of Glory who will raise up our unworthy souls and bodies and bring us into His Heavenly Kingdom to live with Him forever. 

Question for the week:
What steps am I taking to prepare myself to receive the Bridegroom? Is my lamp filled, so-so, or closer to empty? What can I do to ensure I am ready?

If you are interested in contributing an entry to share for Prez to Prez - please contact us!

Much love - Your Prez to Prez Team

Pat (p.tsagalakis@comcast.net)
Donna (presdee@att.net)
Michelle (michelle.triant@gmail.com)

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JANUARY 2023

Quote for the Day: May the severe winter winds become tranquil air,the gusty storm become a pleasant breeze,the misgivings of fear become great confidence,the meting out of punishment turn into bliss,the perils of grief become spiritual rejoicing,the tossing waves calm into placid water,the arm-wrenching helm turn toward a safe harbor,the harvest of heavy sin be transformed into a stipend of grace. ~ St. Gregory of NarekScripture for the day:  “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:24-27 

Thought for the day: Living in the Pacific Northwest, we get our fair share of rainy, blustery days. It’s fascinating that amidst the rain pouring down, how small little hummingbirds will find their way to our feeder to experience the sweetness awaiting outside our kitchen window - especially during the windy and rainy days of winter. 

It seems like they don’t even notice the impending danger of the elements swooping around them. Seemingly, they aren’t impacted by the large water drops or the whipping of the wind that could knock them all to the ground. Instead, we notice that they don’t seem phased by anything that might keep them from the simple delight of the sweetness brought by our bird feeder.We as presvyteres face many storms through our life in ministry and sometimes feel it’s best to retreat inside hoping it will all pass. It’s especially hard when trust is broken and we experience betrayal or hurt from those in our church family. The struggles experienced are real and test us beyond what is comfortable.  

Let’s keep in mind how Jesus calms the winds and waves of the storm for His disciples. We read in Matthew:“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:24-27 

Christ not only calms the physical storms, but He can also calm the seas within our minds, hearts and souls. Do we call on Jesus when the waters of anguish begin to fill our ship? When we are being tossed so hard that we feel like we can barely hang on do we stop, approach our prayer corner and recite the Jesus Prayer? “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me!” Sometimes in life, we just try to outlast the storm, forgetting to call on the One who can calm it.

Let us keep our hearts, eyes, and hopes focused on Jesus. Let us be like hummingbirds, seeking the nectar of love and encouragement from the scriptures, prayer, and divine services with an open heart and humble spirit. Seek what is joyous and sweet – even amidst the storms. 

Question for the day:  What is one storm I have weathered when I experienced God “calming the waters” and setting things right?  What did that feel like?  How did it impact my life then?  How does it impact me as I look back?  Extra credit:  Share your story with a friend who needs the encouragement of knowing God will sustain us and carry us through. 

With much love
Pat, Donna and Michelle 

Your Prez to Prez team 

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Quote for the Week:  Joy destroys sadness, in tragedy it gives patience, in prayers it gives grace, in labors and struggles it gives delight, in obedience it gives merriment, in hospitality it gives shelter, in hope it gives recourse, in mourning it gives comfort, in sorrow it gives assistance, in love it gives decoration, and in patience it gives reward." ~ Abba Nilus

Scripture for the Week: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Thought for the Week: JOY by Donna Ashwort

Joy does not arrive with a fanfare, on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life.
Joy sneaks in, as you pour a cup of coffee, watching the sun hit your favorite tree, just right.
And you usher joy away, because you are not ready for it. 
Your house is not as it must be, for such a distinguished guest.
But joy cares nothing for your messy home, or your bank-balance, or your waistline, you see.
Joy is supposed to slither through the cracks of your imperfect life, that’s how joy works.
You cannot invite her, you can only be ready when she appears.
And hug her with meaning, because in this very moment, joy chose you.

Question for the Week: When was the last time joy chose to visit you? How did you react? How do you feel as you think back on this? Bonus: Find someone with whom you can share your story.

There is still time to register for the upcoming Clergy Couples retreat.  We hope you will join us!  https://www.goarch.org/2022-clergy-couple-retreat

Love,
Pat, Donna, and Michelle 
Your Prez to Prez Team 

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AUGUST 2022
 
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Dear Sisters,

Quote for the Week: “There is nothing more precious than to love a wife and to be loved by her” - St John Chrysostom

Scripture for the Week:  “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 

Thought for the Week: Prioritizing Time Together with Your Husband (Pat Tsagalakis) The first week of October we have an opportunity to attend our first National Clergy Couples Retreat. Priests and presvyteres throughout  the Metropolis of San Francisco have experienced first-hand, the power, joy and connections made through these retreats especially tailored for clergy couples. Taking time out of our busy schedules to reconnect without distractions or interruptions strengthens us as a couple and helps us to deepen our understanding of one another.  

You might say, “We already have a great marriage” or “We are really struggling right now.” Wherever you may land on the scale, attending this retreat could be an opportunity to build greater connection, healing and reconnection. Don’t let time restraints, money, or parish obligations override your determination to grow your marriage  - Make it a priority and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to connect with your husband while sharing fellowship and fun with other clergy couples.  Taking time to nurture your marriage sets an important example to all in your parish family, that will have a lasting impact on your ministry.   Make this upcoming Clergy Couples Retreat a priority and register today! You won’t regret it! Here is the link to find out more! https://www.goarch.org/2022-clergy-couple-retreat

Question:  How do I feel when I think about taking time to focus on our marriage? (Extra Bonus: Ask your spouse to answer this same question. Spend time sharing your answers.)

With love - your Prez to Prez (Pat, Donna & Michelle)

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JUNE 2022

Quote for the week:  “No matter what bitterness or disappointment has befallen you, no matter what unpleasantness has happened to you, say, “I shall endure this for Jesus Christ!” and it will be easier for you. For the name of Jesus Christ is powerful. Through it all unpleasantness is calmed, and demons disappear. Your disappointments will also be calmed and your pusillanimity will be quieted.” ~ St. Anthony of Optina

Scriptures for the week:  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” ~ Psalms 30:5

Thought for the week:  (by Presv. Donna Pappas) 
Sometimes, God has other plans. We had been offered the opportunity to be a part of IV Next at Ionian Village this summer.  We prayed, prepared presentations, laid out our travel plans, bought our tickets, and secured time off from work. I even left my work computer at home vowing to take a total break from the merry-go-round we had been on for far too many months to focus on the IV experience and connect with the participants.  We made it through the first leg of our trip with a planned 2-day layover to visit our son.  It was so good to have that precious time with him! At the end of the two days, we had all the bags re-packed and ready to meet up with the IV crew and participants and fly to Greece. But when my husband woke up feeling a little “off”, we decided to test for COVID before heading to the airport.  With the appearance of those two lines, our plans dissipated, and instead, we found ourselves quarantining in an apartment in Connecticut.  

I think each of us can recall a time when our plans have been derailed and the disappointment threatens to overwhelm us, but when we look back (and sometimes in the midst of the disappointment), we see God’s hand and feel His love more keenly. There have been beautiful moments these past days:  FaceTime check-ins with our kids, virtual delivery of our sessions with the IV Next participants, extra time with our son and walks in the woods. Are we still disappointed? Certainly! Have we been able to experience God’s mercy in the midst of this? Indeed!

Question for the week: 
Let us each consider a time of great disappointment in our past.  As we look back at that situation, in what ways did God exhibit His mercy during that time?  Share your story with someone - it may be exactly what they need to hear! 

With love,
Your Prez to Prez Team
Donna Pappas, Pat Tsagalakis & Michelle Triant

 

MAY 2022

CHRIST IS RISEN! Christos Anesti!
Quote for the week: “The oldest and shortest words ‘yes’ and  ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought.”  – Pythagoras
 
Scripture for the week: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 
 
Thought for the week:  When can we say “YES”? 
So often, we hear, “We, presvyteres need to learn to say “NO”:
“No” to volunteering too much; “NO” to every invitation; “NO” to feeling pressure to please everyone. YES, we need to create healthy boundaries. It might be wise to refrain from raising our hand to chair a church committee or volunteer to run the Philoptochos fundraiser. But, it is in giving that we receive.  So, let’s take a moment to reflect on when we CAN stretch ourselves to say, “YES”. 
Here are few to ponder. 
Can I say “Yes” to: 
• an opportunity to connect with a friend, a loved one,  a shut in?• a commitment to morning prayer and/or showing up for Sunday Orthros? • a gym membership and/or commitment to exercise?• accepting help to clean and organize our home? • finding time to create? 
• sending a note of thanks to someone who has made a difference?• making a few “giving bags” with granola bars and bottled water to hand out to homeless we encounter?• focused time with your husband? your kids? (Ex:  spontaneous picnic/game night/campout in the backyard/attending the upcoming clergy couples’ retreat/etc.)• an afternoon of self-care ~ massage or a pedicure?
 
The above is not a checklist, but our humble attempt at providing enough variety of possibilities in hopes of finding at least one “YES” that will resonate with each of our readers.  Let us each find one, and make it our “YES”, and do it our way.  When we connect with God, with others, and with ourselves, we find that it nourishes both the spirit and the soul.  A soul that is filled with love is far more resilient than one that is drained by an unrealistic list of to-dos.  We would love to hear where God leads and what resulted! 

Questions for the week:  What is my one “YES” and what led me to select it?  How do I want to make it mine?  

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MARCH 2022

Dear Sisters in Christ, 

We offer our thanks to our Prez to Prez team for continuing to lead and inspire us through this mid-point of Lent! Praying you and your families are well!

Quote for the week:  “A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about to say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds of good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.” ~ St. Nektarios, Wonder-worker of Aegina 

Scripture of the week:    “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” ~ Matthew 5:7 

Thought for the week: We are now at the mid-way point of Great Lent.  The Church beautifully reminds us of the adoration of the Holy Cross and to keep our eyes focused on Christ and His mercy.
Many of us have had the opportunity over the last two weeks to see the exquisite film ,“Man of God”, which gives us an intimate view of the life of St. Nektarios, wonder-worker of Aegina. There is no doubt, that St. Nektarios, like some of our husbands, faced persecution and unfounded accusations during his ministry. We weep reflecting that St. Nektarios, like some of our modern-day priests, was exiled unjustly, convicted without trail, and slandered without cause. Yet, despite all of the obstacles and persecutions, our beloved St. Nektarios persevered in seeking and serving the Lord. He is an example for all of us of forgiveness, faith, hope and love. 

The movie also shares a very troubling and ugly side of the hierarchy during his life-time. We all recognize that there are those within the walls of the Church who have caused hardships to the faithful. Yet, there are also many holy men amongst our hierarchy who are trying to live a life in Christ and many who are filled with the Holy Spirit. During these turbulent times of war and unrest, it is indeed a wake-up call for us to pray more diligently than ever for our hierarchy. Please consider taking a moment this week, to write a letter of encouragement to any member of the clergy. Send a note to your Metropolitan, your spiritual father, or anyone in need of a kind word. Above all, let us pause and pray for all those in Church leadership. May the Lord continue to guide and protect our clergy and their families, now and forever.  

Question of the Week: 
Do I take time to acknowledge the honorable qualities of the clergy in my life? A few written words about the qualities we see in them that are worthy of respect can have positive repercussions beyond what many may realize.

During this Holy Season of Great Lent, let us also remember the many who are also suffering from the conflict in Ukraine. Countless people have lost loved ones and homes, escaping to another country with only their lives. Those who have been "refugee-d" are enduring very bitter crosses right now and would benefit from our prayers. Please consider taking a moment now, to pray. 

Prayer for Peace
Almighty God and Creator, You are the Father of all people on the earth. Guide, we pray, all the nations and their leaders in the ways of justice and peace. Protect us from the evils of injustice, prejudice, exploitation, conflict, and war. Help us to put away mistrust, bitterness, and hatred. Teach us to cease the storing and using of implements of war. Lead us to find peace, respect, and freedom. Unite us in the making and sharing of tools of peace against ignorance, poverty, disease, and oppression. Grant that we may grow in harmony and friendship as brothers and sisters created in Your image, to Your honor and praise. Amen.

With love
Your Prez to Prez Sisters, 
Pat Tsagalakis, Joy Corona, Donna Pappas and Michelle Triant

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FEBRUARY 2022

Scripture for the Week: "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:5-8

Quote for the Week: Humility and Love, there you have it. This is everything” – St Paisios

Thought for the Week: Have you ever left a conversation wishing you handled it differently? Our words, interactions, facial expressions, and the curiosity we bring to each interaction can impact all involved, especially when we may not see eye to eye.

As presvyteres, we often hold a safe space for people to share their thoughts and feelings. It can get a little tricky when we disagree with their strong opinions and ideas. How do we step back in the moment, think and pray before responding? Jesus clearly invites us into self reflection and pause.

"Get the log out of your own eye before you start pointing at the speck in your sister or brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5)

In those hard conversations, before we utter a word, let us sincerely invite God to mediate the conflict / conversation and moderate our emotions.  Pause, take a breath, and try to listen carefully to his/her point of view. Then, during the conversation, stay mindful of three things:
self awareness, other-awareness, and God-awareness.

  • Other-awareness - How am I affecting others? What do others seem to be feeling? Am I truly listening and trying to understand things from their perspective?  What do they seem to need? How can I demonstrate genuine love and forgiveness?
  • Self-awareness - What’s going on in my own heart? What am I feeling? Why? How am I inclined to respond? What will I do instead?
  • God-awareness - Am I inviting God to be with me during this conversation?  Am I acting in faith or unbelief? What words that I speak would glorify and honor Him.  

At the start of Great Lent, our Church offers the beautiful prayer of St. Ephraim to anchor us in awareness of ourselves, others, and God.

“Lord and Master of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power and idle talk.

But rather, give to me your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not judge my brothers and sisters, for You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

Question for the Week:  How do I typically react when I find myself in a conversation where I do not see eye-to-eye with the other person?  Do I retreat? attack? probe to understand? other?  How do I feel after my "typical" reaction?  Are there adjustments that God might be inviting me to make?

May we begin Great Lent cultivating the spirit of peace, humility and love.

With much love,
Your Prez to Prez Team - Pat, Joy and Donna

OCTOBER 2021 (Loving Your Enemies)

Quote to ponder: “Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love our enemies in such way that we pity their souls as if they were our own children.” (+ St. Silouan the Athonite)

Scripture to ponder:  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:14-21

Thought to ponder:   Loving  Your  Enemies

In the Christian catacombs of Rome, the following story was found:

A rich man named Proculus had hundreds of slaves. The slave named Paulus was so trustworthy that Proculus made him the steward over his whole household. One day Proculus took Paulus with him to the slave market to buy some new workers. Before the bargaining began, they examined the men to see if they were strong and healthy. Among the slaves stood a weak, old man.

Paulus urged his owner to buy this slave. Proculus answered, "But he is good for nothing." "Go ahead, buy him," Paulus insisted. "He is cheap. And I promise that the work in your household will get done even better than before."

So Proculus agreed and purchased the elderly slave. And Paulus made good on his word. The work went better than ever. But Proculus observed that Paulus now worked for two men. The old slave did no work at all, while Paulus tended to him, gave him the best food, and made him rest. Proculus was curious, so he confronted Paulus, "Who is this slave? You know I value you. I don't mind your protecting this old man. But tell me who he is. Is he your father who has fallen into slavery?"

Paulus answered,
"It is someone to whom I owe more than to my father." 

"Your teacher, then?" 

"No. Somebody to whom I owe even more."

"Who then?"

"This is my enemy."

"Your enemy!"

"Yes. He is the man who killed my father and sold us, the children, as slaves." Proculus stood speechless. "As for me," said Paulus, "I am a disciple of Christ, who has taught us to love our enemies and to reward evil with good."

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Our Lord instructed us in the Gospel to Love our enemies. And where this appears in the Bible (Lk. 6, Mt. 5), there is no caveat. That is to say - our Lord does not specify who our enemies are. He does not give us “permission”, as it were to consider any person an “enemy”. 

Perhaps we already know who our “enemies” are - whether it’s someone we’ve had disagreements with, or someone with whom we just don’t see “eye to eye”. It could be someone who has hurt us deeply, or who has avoided or neglected us. Regardless, our Lord’s command stands, “Love your enemies”.

While it may be very difficult to summon feelings of love for someone who has hurt us, we can start by asking our Lord to help us refrain from critical thoughts and words about the other. We certainly can appreciate that we probably don’t “know their whole story”. Additionally, we can also choose to pray for the other. It can be as simple as taking a minute to offer daily the Jesus Prayer, “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on _____”. By God’s grace, this may soften our heart at least a little bit for the other.

Finally, the fruit that this whole exercise produces in us is that of self-examination. While we certainly know what the other person’s offense was, perhaps we can come to realize that we ourselves have also failed in love towards others.

All of this is possible only by God’s grace, and the Gift of His All-Holy Spirit. As St. Silouan the Athonite said: “The soul that has not known the Holy Spirit does not understand how one can love one’s enemies, and does not accept it.”

Let us cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to heal us from within and help restore us in our relationships with others, even those who we might even at one time have considered our “enemies”.

Question to Ponder: Who, in my life do I need to forgive?

With all our love,

Your Prez to Prez Team
Joy, Pat, Donna and Michelle

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SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
 
Scripture for the Week:  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Quote for the Week:  “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love. Where there is injury, let me offer Your healing and pardon. Where there is sadness, let me bring Your Presence filled with joy. Where there is despair, let me  bring Your hope. Where there is doubt, allow me to plant seeds of faith. Where there is darkness, let me shine forth Your light. Yes, Divine Master, help me not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving, that we receive. It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.  - St. Francis of Assisi

Thought for the Week:  It’s September. Many of our sister presvyteres are sending their children off to school, going back to work (in person) and joyfully celebrating the new liturgical year.  After the last year filled with pandemic fatigue, uncertainty and turmoil, we had all hoped this fall we could make a fresh start filled with hope and healing.

Unfortunately, much uncertainty remains. During this time when opinions, memes, division, and passions are soaring – we come face to face with many of the faithful in our churches who are divided, anxious, and quick to defend his or her point of view. It’s tricky as a presvytera, because often we are the person who hears the complaints and worries out of the mouths and hearts of those in our parish. It doesn’t matter what stance we hold – we all are faced with the opportunity of HOW we will respond to those who are not like minded or who aggravate us with their words, actions, or opinions. How can we be that “instrument of peace” to which Saint Francis refers? 

One great piece of advice we were given while raising our teenagers was, “Remember the duct tape”. (referring to duct taping our mouths closed so that we listen instead of talk).  Oftentimes, we are so quick to respond, share our point of view, or assert our solutions or opinions that we forget what is most needed:  an inquisitive peace-filled heart and willingness to stop and listen. “Remember the duct tape”. Yes, it’s a reminder that what our children, friends and parishioners need most is a listening ear as we try to navigate these complex conversations with an open heart.  We may not be able to change minds or steer people in our direction – but if we can let go of judging and instead value love and connection above all else, we will be able to be a true instrument of God’s abiding peace.  Let us remember - even amidst differences in practice and political opinion,  we are ONE in Christ. This is a very important thing to remember, and that which can and does unite us, even though we can all be very different.

Question for the week:  How can I find the peace to pursue connection at a time when so many are polarized within our communities?  

Here are a few book recommendations:  

        Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Pompouras
        High Conflict by Amanda Ripley
        Soul Mending by Fr. Dn. John Chryssavgis 
        Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein
        The Hype Machine by Sinan Aral

With all our love, 
Your Prez to Prez Team 
Pat Tsagalakis,  Donna Pappas, Michelle Triant,  and Joy Corona 

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AUGUST 10, 2021

Scripture of the week:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Quote for the week:  “Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who bestowed glory on His immaculate Mother Mary Theotokos, will also bestow glory on those who glorify her. Those who call upon her… will receive the forgiveness of their sins, both here and in the age to come. For He has shown her to be His Cherubic throne on earth, an earthly heaven, the hope and refuge and confidence of our race, so that if we celebrate, with the sacred mysteries, the festival of her Holy Dormition, we might find mercy and grace in the present age and in the age to come.” – St. John, Archbishop of Thessalonica’s sermon on the Dormition of the Theotokos

Thought for the week:  This is a very blessed season of prayer and fasting, in which we commemorate the Dormition of the Theotokos. Her faithful, God-centered life and Christ-filled death – or “falling asleep in the Lord” – are given to us to contemplate especially during these first 2 weeks of August each year.

When one thinks of the Life of Our Holy Mother, and indeed as well her Falling Asleep in the Lord, it is especially her intercessions that come to mind. How many times in every Divine Service, in the services of the Paraklesis which we celebrate this season, and, really, in almost every prayer of the Church – how many times do we ask for Her intercessions?!

A familiar Kontakion often chanted during the Small Entrance of the Divine Liturgy supplicates her, “Be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid who in faith cry unto thee. Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee!”

Truly, we have a POWERFUL and FAITHFUL intercessor on our behalf! She is the “Mother of All Christians”, who we believe is constant in her intercessions for all of creation.  As well, the Theotokos is a Model, an Inspiration, and a Prayerful Guide for us presvyteres, whose calling is to be prayerful “Mothers” in our little corners of the world – our families, both nuclear and extended, our spiritual families, our parishes, our work, etc.

It may not be easy to be as “Mother” to those around us, in imitation of the Theotokos. Being faithful to Christ, regular in prayer, honest, humble, self-effacing, obedient to our Lord, filled with His Divine Spirit – these at times may seem rather unattainable. Truly, many, many moments in our lives may actually feel that they parallel the sorrow our Holy Mother felt when she saw her Son hanging on the cross. “A sword shall pierce through your own soul” were the words prophesied to the Theotokos by St. Symeon the God-Receiver, an absolutely perfect description of what “Mothering” involves. We have to see our loved ones suffer, we feel powerless at times to help those around us. We weep, we petition with tears and deep sighs, we struggle to understand the many “Why’s” in our lives.

And yet… And yet, our Holy Mother both illustrates and intervenes. She guides us in how to live a faithful life in Christ, and very importantly, she is so near, interceding for us. For, having “trampled down death by death” in her own Life-filled death by God’s grace, she is always ready to help and near in her intercessions.

Let us resolve this season to draw a little bit closer to Our Holy Mother. To sing her praises in the Paraklesis services, to ask for her intercessions and help with the problem situations and people in our lives, to become more like her in our “Mothering”. As we sing during this season, “After God, do all of us for refuge flee unto thee; a firm rampart art thou and our protection.” 

 
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JULY 20, 2021
 
Dear Sisters in Christ,
Scripture for the Week:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  ~  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Quote for the Week: "It is through our broken, vulnerable, mortal ways of being that the healing power of the eternal God becomes visible to us.  We are called each day to present to the Lord the whole of our lives—our joys as well as sorrows, our successes as well as failures, our hopes as well as fears. We are called to do so with our limited means, our stuttering words and halting expressions. In this way we will come to know in mind and heart the unceasing prayer of God’s Spirit in us. Our many prayers are in fact confessions of our inability to pray. But they are confessions that enable us to perceive the merciful presence of God.”  ~ Henri Nouwen 

Thought for the week:  A number of years back, I came across an old illustrated card from the 1970s that showed a sketch of a short, troll-like figure with warts, blemishes, and a beatific smile of crooked and missing teeth.  Across the top of the card, it proclaimed:  “God doesn’t make junk!” I know it was meant for humor, but that image has stayed with me.   

So many of us adopt such a harsh self-perception that we could easily see ourselves as “flawed” as the little caricature on that card.  Yet, when we examine the Psalms, the psalmist proclaims that he is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).  “Fearfully” in this passage means made with reverence, and “wonderfully” means set apart.  The psalmist further acknowledges that he was “skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” and that God saw and knew him even when he was “yet unformed” (Ps. 139:15-16).   

How readily we rush to defend the beauty of God’s creation when we hold a newborn, encourage a teen who is navigating an “awkward” phase, or embrace a friend who is reeling from a failed relationship.  But, are we willing to extend ourselves that same grace?  So many of us have been raised with messages about who we are “supposed” to be, and those messages are so deeply ingrained that all we see are our deficits rather than God’s imprint on who we are.  We are called to be holy, but somehow we’ve translated “holy” to mean “perfect”.  This is not what “holy” is.  Holy means to be set apart for God’s purposes.  I love this perspective.  God formed us, God sees us, God will use us for His purposes especially with our  flaws and imperfections.  He seems to delight in doing so!  

Let us extend the same grace to ourselves that we extend to others.  Let God be glorified in His handiwork: God doesn't make junk!

Question for the week:  How do I feel about extending grace to myself?  If I am able to do this, what may occur as a result?     

Reflection:  Spend five minutes today writing down what you consider to be your greatest gifts from God. Strong arms to hold loved ones? A voice that lifts in song to God? Courage to face challenges with an open heart? Carry the list with you as a reminder that the beauty of God's creation exists in many forms!

With love from your Prez to Prez Team
Donna Pappas, Pat Tsagalakis, Joy Corona, Michelle Triant, Faye Stylianopoulos
 
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JULY 1, 2021

Quote for the Week:
 “Do not neglect then the least of those belonging to you, look after the salvation of all your household with all vigilance.”  

St. Augustine of Hippo, 

Scripture for the Week:  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. - Matthew 11:29

Thought for the week:   Clergy couples immersed in ministry can often find themselves facing some difficult challenges and struggles through various seasons of life. We can feel faced with endless demands and expectations on our time. 

Steve Jobs once said, “My favorite things in life don’t cost money. It’s clear that most precious resource we have is time.” Theophrastus, the Greek philosopher, shared, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” 

Hopefully, this summer, you will be able to get a chance to take some needed vacation TIME to rest, relax and renew. Prioritizing time both together and on our own is vital for our mental, physical and marital health. We as clergy families need to remember the Oxygen Mask Rule: “Secure your mask before assisting others.” Let’s make our vacation time intentional and life-giving!  It’s for us to reboot, reconnect, and attend to our own needs and that of our families so that we can better serve others. 

Questions for the week:  How full is your tank?  This is a great way to gauge your need for a vacation.  Are you feeling full and topped off, ready to tackle whatever comes your way?  Great!  Are you half full or getting low?  A refill is a good idea.   Are you running strictly on fumes?  Stop what you are doing and block out vacation time right now.  God is waiting to refill and renew you in His love.

Love,
Your Prez to Prez Team
Pat, Donna, Joy, Michelle & Faye

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JUNE 16, 2021

Scripture for the Week:  "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." Psalm 116: 1-2

Quote of the Week:  “Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.”  Bernard of Clairvaux 
 
Thought for the Week:
The feastday of Sts. Martha and Mary was recently celebrated in the beginning of June. (June 4th) We were asked from now on, on the Sunday closest to June 4th, to remember Sts. Martha and Mary and to honor all our presvyteres. 

Our sisterhood of presvyteres  has Sts. Martha and Mary as our patron saints, and at one of our retreats a while back each of us was given an icon of these sisters together with our Lord. Some of us framed our photo, and we remember it daily.

St. Martha and St. Mary are very appropriate patron saints for us.  We remember how different they were from each other, as is so often the case with sisters. This tells us that there is no ONE way to be, as sisters, as presvyteres, as Christians. Some are outgoing, serving in countless ways in their church. Others might not miss a single one of our biennial retreats. Some presvyteres are quieter, spend more time at home with their families, or are busy with work and other responsibilities.

There is no "one size fits all" in being a presvytera. 

So throughout the month of June - let us continually be reminded of Saints Martha and Mary - and celebrate all of our beloved presvyteres.
 
Question for the Week: Is there a presvytera who has made a positive impact on your life as a presvytera?  Is there a widowed or retired presvytera who may be feeling the impact of the past year's isolation?  Is there a young presvytera who is trying to find balance between church, career, and raising a family?  Identify at least one presvytera that you can reach out to this week:  make a phone call, send a letter or card, pay a visit...be creative!  Celebrate the gift of sisterhood.
 
This month - joining our Prez to Prez team is our beloved Faye Stylianopoulos from Massachusetts. 

Wishing you much joy! 

Pat, Joy, Donna, Michelle and Faye

LENTEN REFLECTION March 26, 2021

Quote for the Week:  
“Do you know what a great gift it is that God gave us the right to speak to Him every hour and every moment? We can turn to Him whenever we want, and He will listen to us. This is the greatest honor that we have. For this reason, we must love God and be grateful to Him.” + St. Porphyrios
 
Scripture for the Week:  
"Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:12-13)
 
Thought for the Week: 
Often, because we may be married to a priest, those around us expect or believe that we jump into this Lenten period committed to fasting, prayer, and almsgiving with little struggle, and breeze into this Lenten journey.
 
Truth be told, this past year has been increasingly challenging for many of our sister presvyteres.  Many are exhausted from the difficulties brought on by this never ending, unexpected world-wide pandemic.  We may find ourselves busily trying to keep up with our jobs, home schooling,  juggling the world of small children, teenagers in crisis, or elderly parents from afar. Many are feeling anxious, lonely, and bereft, and are craving community. Wherever you find yourself, know that you are not alone.  
 
Lent offers us an opportunity to slow down, breathe, reboot, and rediscover our connection with God. Oh how far away we can feel some days. 
 
One thing might help nudge us  back to connecting with God is putting into practice the 5-5-5-1 prayers shared by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis. 
 
Take time to stop in quiet and stillness inviting God to still your heart. 

Pray: (5-5-5-1)

•  Five things for which I am thankful.
•  Five people in need, for whom I choose to lift up in prayer.
•  Five things I need today (peace, patience, strength, etc.).
•  One  person that God will place in my path today whom I can help. 

Let us do our best to take time out of busy schedules to stop and rediscover the love of the Lord! “Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and merciful!”
 
Question for Week:  When was the last time I stopped and took the time to sit in quiet and stillness? (No soundtrack, no multitasking, etc....just absolute stillness and quiet). Can I give myself 5 minutes each day this week to do so? Warning: This could become a daily habit.
 
 
Question for the Week: When was the last time I stopped and took the time to sit in quiet and stillness? (No soundtrack, no multitasking, etc....just absolute stillness and quiet). Can I give myself 5 minutes each day this week to do so? Warning: This could become a daily habit.

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MARCH 2021

Dearest Sisters,
 
I want to thank you all for your encouragement and prayers, as I went through NH Lymphoma cancer treatment last year. Gratefully, I’m recovering well, back to work, and now in full remission. 
 
The gift of going through a critical illness (and mostly like this pandemic) we GET to choose what areas of life we want to jump back into. Prez to Prez is something which has now been placed deeply within my heart and our whole team is excited to continue bringing forth this ministry to our sisterhood.   
 
We welcome your input and invite YOU dear sisters, to submit “a thought for the week” that we can publish together with our quotes and questions. Please feel free to email me directly p.tsagalakis@comcast.net

With love,
Pat 
(alongside our Prez to Prez team Donna, Michelle, and Joy)
 
PREZ TO PREZ REFLECTION: Listening to the Inner Voice of Love

What a treasure we experience as we walk through Great Lent! It’s our opportunity to reboot, rebuild, reconnect, and rediscover our faith and relationship with Christ. Year after year, through the gifts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we choose to surrender our time and energy towards developing a deeper connection with our Lord and one another. Lent allows us to stop and truly listen to the inner voice of God’s love.

Let’s face it. We are in the midst of difficult times and tough circumstances. Many are still home-schooling, working, and trying to juggle so many tremendous challenges. What is God calling us to be the amidst these tumultuous  times? 
Hopefully, we can be women of God who seek all that is lifegiving, lovely, and affirming. Let us grasp a little silence each day to listen to the inner voice of His LOVE and push away the outside voices of despair, division, darkness or worry.  
 
In humility, let us walk towards the beginning of Great Lent with an attitude of gratitude and to do our best to show up to seek light and joy amidst the struggles we are facing. Try beginning each new day listening to that inner voice that whispers -  “Stay close to Jesus.” “You are enough.” “My beloved presvytera – stay close to Christ and live today in joy, light and goodness.” 
 
SCRIPTURE TO MEMORIZE: "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light." ~Psalm 36:9
 
QUOTE TO PONDER: "Do not fight to expel the darkness from the chamber of your soul.  Open a tiny aperture for light to enter, and the darkness will disappear." ~St. Porphyrios

REFLECTION QUESTION:
What do I need to surrender as I enter into Great Lent?  Is there something that is weighing upon me (over which I have no control)?  Why do I think I am I holding onto it?  What would be the result if I finally let it go and surrendered it to God?
 

JULY 2019

Quote for the Week:  
We are blessed in order to bless others.
We are forgiven in order to forgive others.
We are loved in order to love others.
We are comforted in order to comfort others.
We are saved in order to help others find salvation.
Christ came to serve in order to teach us to serve others.
We are His people. He is in us and we are in Him.
May the Divine Liturgy continue after we leave the Church.
We return into the world as other “Christs” and the Liturgy we experienced in Church continues 
when we make His love real through our acts of mercy in this world.
In the name of the Lord, go forth in peace into the world! Amen. - Fr. Anthony Coniaris
 
Scripture for the Week:  Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.Hebrews 12:14 
 
Thought for the Week:  As presvyteres, most of us navigate through life with a deep desire to be ambassadors of God’s love. Sometimes we succeed, and other times we fail. But, through the years, I’ve learned that when I follow a prompting from deep within to move away from my narrative in order to embrace and act out of compassion and love, I have the overwhelming peace of Christ. I do not need to understand, I simply need to respond. This is agape love in action - a way of life which often does not make sense but does require a response. 
 
We have these holy moments of opportunity. To go out of our way to visit someone who is suffering. To dare to encourage and simply listen to a parent struggling with their child. To acknowledge the humanity of those who are homeless. To say a kind word to a parishioner who isn’t always so kind in return. Sometimes when we spend too much time analyzing and qualifying a brief moment of opportunity, the moment is lost. If I ignore God's prompting and proceed on my way with my own agenda, God will raise up another to perform His will - and agape slips through my fingers.  
 
These acts of service bring us close to the heart of Christ - allowing the Holy Spirit to be fully alive within each of us. As surely as breezes from the water flow around us, so does the Spirit of God. 
 
This summer, let’s practice embracing holy moments - to be the person God created us to be, and doing what we hear God calling us to do in each moment.   
 
Questions for the Week:   Has God called me into a holy moment of opportunity this week? If so, how did it feel? If not, how can I open my heart to hear and accept God's invitation into a holy moment this week? (Holy moments can be transformative to your spiritual well-being...feel free to experience more than one!).

JUNE 2019

Quote for Today:  And I, a sinner, have been trying to love God for more than forty years, and cannot say that I perfectly love Him. If we love someone we always remember him and try to please him; day and night our heart is occupied with that object. Is that how you love God? Do you often turn to Him, do you always remember Him, do you always pray to Him and fulfill His holy commandments? ‘For our good, for our happiness at least let us make a vow that from this day, from this hour, from this minute we shall strive to love God above all else and to fulfill His holy will.' St Herman of Alaska

Scripture for Today:
 “Know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

Prayer for Today:  Grant to me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I may face all that this new day is to bring. Grant to me to dedic myself completely to Your Holy Will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things. Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day, teach me to accept with tranquility of heart, in the firm conviction that all will fulfill Your Holy Will. Govern my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say. When things unforeseen occur, do not let me forget that all comes from You. Teach me to behave sincerely and peacefully toward all people, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to none. Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in all its passing events. Guide my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love. Amen.

Thought for Today:   Give Thanks and Write It Down

Remember those days when you kept a diary or journal for your most private, or at least your most uninhibited, thoughts and ideas? Or even for the more mundane, like a shopping list or exercise log? Eventually that was likely replaced by a blog, your Facebook account, or your fitbit, right? It’s easier, faster, and more accessible these days to type everything into the Cloud.

Except that studies show it’s actually more therapeutic—and more mindful—to write things down. The physical act of putting pen to paper forces you into a focused position with few distractions.  You can’t simply tab over when your email or social media dings. Writing requires you to slow down, to be more thoughtful—after all, it’s harder to delete, and the paper doesn’t correct your misspellings for you. It’s also much more satisfying to check things off a tangible checklist; indeed, scribbling through an accomplished task with a force you control somehow makes it more pleasurable and final. It’s a technique prescribed by therapists everywhere—keep track of what you eat, whom you see, what you feel, what you do and when.

Imagine if we could reconnect with our Lord, through writing down Scripture, thoughts, prayers, petitions and focus especially on gratitude?  This month your Prez to Prez team sets forth a challenge to all our sister presvyteres  - to begin the summer engaging in the practice of keeping a gratitude journal.  Each day, write down anything that is heavy on your heart.  And, then, write down two things you are grateful for. And while you do, ignore your phone and give your eyes a break from all electronics. Even better if you can take your paper and pen and sit outside briefly, to soak up the summer sunshine.  The effect should be centering, calming, and should allow you the kind of regrouping you’re always striving for when practicing mindfulness with gratitude.

No doubt, we all struggle. Life is messy, complicated and can throw us many curve balls.  Hopefully, keeping a gratitude journal will help us to see our world through a fresh lens and begin to mold and shift our focus to thanksgiving and gratitude instead of stress or worry or anxiety.  Let us slow down more instead of always rushing so much, and in doing so, find more moments to be thankful for.


Question for Today:  When was the last time I took up a pen and committed my thoughts to paper?  How did it feel?  How do I think a gratitude journal might impact me?  How do I think it might impact my relationship with God and my relationships with my family and others?  

**Lovingly compiled by your Prez to Prez Team 
 Joy Corona, Donna Pappas, Pat Tsagalakis and Michelle Triant**

APRIL 2019

Quote for the Day: If you indeed call God your Father, then trust in Him as in the one Father, the most merciful, all powerful, most wise, ever loving and ever perfect One. Trust in Him in respect to the blessings of this temporal life, but above all, in respect to the future blessings that shall be granted you in Christ Jesus. This saying is full of trust and power: “The Lord is everything to me.” This is the priceless treasure, which if we possess it, we can be calm in every circumstance, whether in poverty or wealth. The Lord is everything to you, and you must be everything to the Lord. As all your treasure is in your heart and your will, God asks of you to give your heart, saying, “My child, give me your heart.” Therefore, in order to fulfill God’s perfect will, renounce your own egocentric, wayward will, and seek only God’s will. “Not my will, but Your will be done.” St. John of Kronstadt

Scripture for the Day: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

Thought for the Day: Shake it up a bit!

We’re always following rules and routines —social, lawful, business, familial, religious, personal. That’s just what mature faithful presvyteres do. We stick to the guidelines necessary to maintain harmony, to avoid getting in trouble, dutifully attend services and to keep the organized, consistent patterns we as human beings crave. We love our routines, and generally shy away from change or spontaneity.

But sometimes we can get too accustomed to our everyday. Do you remember brushing your teeth this morning? Do you remember last Sunday’s sermon? We become so ingrained in our habits that we find ourselves operating on autopilot, which is the death of mindfulness. If you’re like me, you keep roughly the same daily schedule, traveling, praying, eating, working, relaxing at around the same times, and performing the same tasks over and over again in about the same ways, so that before you know it, another week has gone by, then another month, and so on. Of course there are occasions here and there to break the monotony, but if we’re lucky, this is the kind of contented, predictable way we go about things. This is our normal. There’s nothing wrong with that—but what if we could appreciate it more, and take less for granted? What if we could inject more Christlike mindfulness into our rote actions? Imagine, during Great Lent, if we can challenge ourselves to expand out of our “comfort zone” a bit and try new things, being more open to others’ needs and opinions.

We want to suggest stretching routines/introducing some flexibility or "breathing room" to allow the Holy Spirit to work in new ways. Let’s challenge ourselves this week to shake it up a bit - so that we can come to recognize with more awareness our loving God in our day to day. More awareness for Christ. More awareness for YOU, His beloved daughter. Great Lent offers us countless opportunities for prayerful reflection. But, are we truly taking time to mindfully engage?

If you normally take the bus/train or drive to work or on your way back from dropping your kids off from school, try getting off at a different stop or parking on a different street and walking that route to your destination. Take in the beauty of spring in the air. Take time to appreciate the storefronts, greenery, people, etc. that you don’t even see anymore. Take time to make a coffee date with someone outside your parish, and reach out to a new friend. Go to bed an hour earlier and give yourself a few more minutes time to read Scriptures and pray in the morning. What activities will you fit in during that extra time? Forget your lunchtime regimen—eat popcorn in the park while reading Lenten Reflections until you have to go back. Don’t –gasp!—set your alarm. Stretch a few of your rules. Doing so will allow you to look at your world with a renewed sense of consciousness, and it could even inspire you to make some changes in your spiritual routine. The ultimate goal is to increase your connection with God and be mindful even through the most mundane moments, so that you can be fully present to living a life in Christ.

Question for the Day: What is one way I can "shake it up" this week? If more than one possibility comes to mind, why not live "dangerously" and sprinkle them out over the next few weeks? Who knows, it may inspire us to find additional ways of shaking it up!

We are thrilled to welcome Presvytera Michelle Triant as a new member of our Prez to Prez Team!

If you are interested in submitting a “Thought” for the day - please email us at p.tsagalakis@comcast.net. We welcome your input and feedback.

MARCH 2019

A blessed Lent to you and your families, our dear sisters in Christ!

Quote for the Day:  
“A strange illness has appeared in our days – the passion for distractions. Never before was there such a desire for distractions; people have forgotten how to lead a serious life for the good of others; they have no spiritual life and are bored. They exchange the profound content of a spiritual life for distractions! What madness! We must re-introduce into life its lost meaning and give back to the people the knowledge of the true purpose of life.”  St. John Kronstadt 

Scripture for the Day:   
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Thought for the Day:  
Isn’t it amazing that St. John Kronstadt wrote about the “passion for distraction” over 100 years ago?  Imagine what St. John would say today if he thought people were getting distracted 100 years ago! How much more are his words a serious warning and challenge for us today about distractions. 

As we prepare to fast during the beautiful journey of Great Lent, let’s do our best to UNPLUG and lessen our attention to our cell phones. Often, if we forget to bring our phones on a quick trip to the grocery store, or leave it behind before heading off to work, we feel a sense of panic.  “What if I miss a call?  What if I don’t check my texts for the next 4 hours?”  It’s amazing how tied we are to our devices!  

During the start of Great Lent, let’s UNPLUG and wean ourselves from our normal sites on Social Media and the distraction of our phones and computers.  Instead, let’s focus on connecting more intimately with our Lord and Savior.  May we begin to slow down, unplug, and plug in time with our Lord instead of time checking facebook posts and our newsfeed.  Making an effort to prioritize prayer and reading of scripture will bring us closer and closer to Christ.  If you are on line, choose opportunities to grow in your faith, along with your family!  

Questions for the Day: 

What distractions have the greatest foothold in my life?  (Try asking your loved ones for their input as well...sometimes they see our distractions far more clearly than we do!) Am I willing to hand these distractions over to God?  How would God have me use the time I will regain?

If you are a momma with young children, and interested in many great activities to help your children focus on Lent - check out the San Francisco Metropolis’ Family Wellness Ministry website.  http://www.familywellnessministry.org/lent/ 

If you are a mamma with kids in the home, we encourage you to also join the Love@Lent Project hosted by Presvytera Michelle Triant   https://www.facebook.com/LoveatLent 

Let us work this Lent to grow in stillness!  “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

JANUARY 2019

Happy New Year!!

Quote for the Week:  You cannot be too gentle or too kind with others. Never allow yourself to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of the One who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. Share this joy with others. St Seraphim of Sarov

Scripture for the Week:   “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Thought for the Week:  by Pres. Lisa Goussetis

This past year, a theme for me has been relationships.  In particular, it has been a season in which there have been some very difficult and complex relationships in my life.  In speaking with some sister presvyteras, I discovered that we clergy wives may be drawn into difficult and complex  peoples’ orbits simply because of our leadership status.  So:  how do we approach the suffering that is caused by “relationships”?

While many of life’s struggles and/or losses are common to all, “relationship” pain can seem intentional, or at least, personal.  It may include unkindness, rancor, or even competitiveness or deceit from someone we are in close contact with, from colleagues to family members to friends.  Popular self-help literature isn’t much help here:  most of the “expert” advice in this genre tells us to steer far away from the energy-draining person and simply turn our attention to positive influences.

There’s a problem with that.  Christ didn’t model it.

I will admit to you that, this past year when reading the 9th hour, I sometimes felt a pang in my heart if it fell to me to read,…”but it was you, my equal, my familiar friend….”

In our lives as priest’s wives, we do, I believe, become more comfortable over the years with the practice of walking with others in their suffering.  We learn to trust God for His presence and comfort, within the experience of suffering.

We may even have witnessed some unexpected blessings and incredible beauty that arises out of struggle.  This beautiful effort on our parts does, however, require our own willingness to be vulnerable, on behalf of another. And that very vulnerability which is a strength in many situations, can leave us feeling unprotected with interactions with difficult people.

I have discovered that I must consider how to place some healthy boundaries. An ongoing struggle can become depleting for us, for example.  And our willingness to be vulnerable does not mean that we allow a progression of ugly behaviors to overtake us.  To be clear, I’m referring to wounded people who may lash out, and not to truly abusive situations.

So, here’s what I’ve discovered through reading, confession, and prayer time, that’s been so helpful to me that I humbly offer it to you:

  1. Of course, we pray for our “difficult person”.  They are unhappy and wounded and not at their best.
  2. We can and should step back, and take care of ourselves physically, getting enough sleep, exercise, and nourishing food.  We can also take time for our own positive relationships, those that glorify God.
  3. We can seek after Stillness.  Isaiah 30:15 says,” in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”  Stillness, I have become totally convinced, is the key to Christian identity.  We regain our hope via His daily love for us!  We find ourselves much more stable if we re-prioritize our daily time with Christ, and defend this priority fiercely! 
  4. We can practice Gentleness.  Yes, Gentleness!  This was such a revelation to me.  St. Seraphim of Sarov says:

“You cannot be too gentle, too kind.  Avoid even appearing harsh in your treatment of each other.  Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives…..Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace.  Keep silent, refrain from judgement.  This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.”  Wow.

These two treasures, stillness and gentleness, are so countercultural and yet so very powerful.  And I have found, they truly can work wonders, in these difficult relationships.  So, unless the Lord places me in a broken elevator with my difficult person, I have learned to wait for the tempest to subside, or to refer the person to the true authority, the priest.  While Christ offered many examples of firm correction, He also knew people’s hearts and thoughts; we do not.

May the Lord shine his light upon our lives!  May this year be one in which we offer ourselves to God with joy, knowing that we have such a beautiful privilege before us as the wives of Orthodox priests!

Question for the Week:  How am I seeking stillness and practicing gentleness in my daily life?  What are some steps I can take to cultivate these actions and make them part of my daily walk?


APRIL 2018

Quote to ponder: “The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and there are also lions; there are poisonous beasts and all the treasures of evil. But there too is God, the angels, the life and the kingdom, the light and the apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasuries of grace—all things are there” St. Makarios

Scripture to ponder:  “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.”  Psalm 119:36

Thought for the Month (submitted by a sister presvytera) 
Life is full of unexpected discoveries.   Sometimes I wake up in the morning and feel virtuous. That is, I feel good and kind and charitable. All is calm and I am at peace. Oh how bitter it is to be suddenly splashed with the cold water of reality. A child defies my instructions. Another ignores me. Suddenly the thin veneer of patience is stripped away and the ugliness inside rears its menacing head. Indignation, anger, then rage! Sin. I frantically tread water in the onslaught of despairing thoughts. It’s not me! It’s them! Why do I have to bear this! I don’t deserve to be treated this way! But with each passing idea, I am drifting farther away from the safe shores of humility. Now I am in the sea of misery. 

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. There is no other way back. The hardest part is accepting this ugly root of pride in me. I don’t want to face it as my own. But everything I do to reject the presence of the sin only pushes me away from my healing. I flail miserably in a swirling ocean, refusing let go of my self. Miserable, yet trapped—it seems there is no help for me. 

Suddenly, something nudges me--is it a prayer of a treasured saint? Is it the intercessions of a loved one? Something sheds a ray of light on my heart and I cry out, “Help me, Lord! I’m drowning!” And like Peter, I feel a hand, pulling me out of peril. And I am saved.

 “The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and there are also lions; there are poisonous beasts and all the treasures of evil. But there too is God, the angels, the life and the kingdom, the light and the apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasuries of grace—all things are there” St. Makarios

Question for the Month:  As I come forward to receive the "Light" on Pascha, what is it that I need most for Christ to illumine?  Is there a darkness to be conquered by His perfect unending light?  Let us all run with full hearts toward the Resurrection to receive Our Risen Lord and allow His light to illumine our hearts:  “The Light of Christ Illumines All! 

Would you like to write an entry “thought” to share with our Prez to Prez sisters?  If so, please contact us: at p.tsagalakis@comcast.net 
Wishing you a blessed Holy Week and Joyous Pascha! 
 

MARCH 2019

A blessed Lent to you and your families, our dear sisters in Christ!

Quote for the Day:  “A strange illness has appeared in our days – the passion for distractions. Never before was there such a desire for distractions; people have forgotten how to lead a serious life for the good of others; they have no spiritual life and are bored. They exchange the profound content of a spiritual life for distractions! What madness! We must re-introduce into life its lost meaning and give back to the people the knowledge of the true purpose of life.”  St. John Kronstadt 

Scripture for the Day: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Thought for the Day: Isn’t it amazing that St. John Kronstadt wrote about the “passion for distraction” over 100 years ago?  Imagine what St. John would say today if he thought people were getting distracted 100 years ago! How much more are his words a serious warning and challenge for us today about distractions. 

As we prepare to fast during the beautiful journey of Great Lent, let’s do our best to UNPLUG and lessen our attention to our cell phones. Often, if we forget to bring our phones on a quick trip to the grocery store, or leave it behind before heading off to work, we feel a sense of panic.  “What if I miss a call?  What if I don’t check my texts for the next 4 hours?” It’s amazing how tied we are to our devices!  

During the start of Great Lent, let’s UNPLUG and wean ourselves from our normal sites on Social Media and the distraction of our phones and computers.  Instead, let’s focus on connecting more intimately with our Lord and Savior.  May we begin to slow down, unplug, and plug in time with our Lord instead of time checking facebook posts and our newsfeed.  Making an effort to prioritize prayer and reading of scripture will bring us closer and closer to Christ.  If you are on line, choose opportunities to grow in your faith, along with your family!  

Question for the Day: What distractions have the greatest foothold in my life?  (Try asking your loved ones for their input as well...sometimes they see our distractions far more clearly than we do!) Am I willing to hand these distractions over to God?  How would God have me use the time I will regain?

If you are a momma with young children, and interested in many great activities to help your children focus on Lent - check out the San Francisco Metropolis’ Family Wellness Ministry website.  http://www.familywellnessministry.org/lent/ 

If you are a mamma with kids in the home, we encourage you to also join the Love@Lent Project hosted by Presvytera Michelle Triant   https://www.facebook.com/LoveatLent 

Let us work this Lent to grow in stillness!  “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

 
JANUARY 2018
Quote for the Week:  You cannot be too gentle or too kind with others. Never allow yourself to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of the One who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. Share this joy with others. St Seraphim of Sarov
 
Scripture for the Week:   “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
 
Thought for the Week:  by Pres. Lisa Goussetis 
This past year, a theme for me has been relationships.  In particular, it has been a season in which there have been some very difficult and complex relationships in my life.  In speaking with some sister presvyteras, I discovered that we clergy wives may be drawn into difficult and complex  peoples’ orbits simply because of our leadership status.  So:  how do we approach the suffering that is caused by “relationships”? 
 
While many of life’s struggles and/or losses are common to all, “relationship” pain can seem intentional, or at least, personal.  It may include unkindness, rancor, or even competitiveness or deceit from someone we are in close contact with, from colleagues to family members to friends.  Popular self-help literature isn’t much help here:  most of the “expert” advice in this genre tells us to steer far away from the energy-draining person and simply turn our attention to positive influences. 
 
There’s a problem with that.  Christ didn’t model it.
 
I will admit to you that, this past year when reading the 9th hour, I sometimes felt a pang in my heart if it fell to me to read,…”but it was you, my equal, my familiar friend….”
 
In our lives as priest’s wives, we do, I believe, become more comfortable over the years with the practice of walking with others in their suffering.  We learn to trust God for His presence and comfort, within the experience of suffering. 
 
We may even have witnessed some unexpected blessings and incredible beauty that arises out of struggle.  This beautiful effort on our parts does, however, require our own willingness to be vulnerable, on behalf of another. And that very vulnerability which is a strength in many situations, can leave us feeling unprotected with interactions with difficult people. 
 
I have discovered that I must consider how to place some healthy boundaries. An ongoing struggle can become depleting for us, for example.  And our willingness to be vulnerable does not mean that we allow a progression of ugly behaviors to overtake us.  To be clear, I’m referring to wounded people who may lash out, and not to truly abusive situations. 
 
So, here’s what I’ve discovered through reading, confession, and prayer time, that’s been so helpful to me that I humbly offer it to you:
  1. Of course, we pray for our “difficult person”.  They are unhappy and wounded and not at their best.
  2. We can and should step back, and take care of ourselves physically, getting enough sleep, exercise, and nourishing food.  We can also take time for our own positive relationships, those that glorify God. 
  3. We can seek after Stillness.  Isaiah 30:15 says,” in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”  Stillness, I have become totally convinced, is the key to Christian identity.  We regain our hope via His daily love for us!  We find ourselves much more stable if we re-prioritize our daily time with Christ, and defend this priority fiercely! 
  4. We can practice Gentleness.  Yes, Gentleness!  This was such a revelation to me.  St. Seraphim of Sarov says: “You cannot be too gentle, too kind.  Avoid even appearing harsh in your treatment of each other.  Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives…..Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace.  Keep silent, refrain from judgement.  This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.”  Wow.
 
These two treasures, stillness and gentleness, are so countercultural and yet so very powerful.  And I have found, they truly can work wonders, in these difficult relationships.  So, unless the Lord places me in a broken elevator with my difficult person, I have learned to wait for the tempest to subside, or to refer the person to the true authority, the priest.  While Christ offered many examples of firm correction, He also knew people’s hearts and thoughts; we do not. 
 
May the Lord shine his light upon our lives!  May this year be one in which we offer ourselves to God with joy, knowing that we have such a beautiful privilege before us as the wives of Orthodox priests!
 
Question for the Week:  How am I seeking stillness and practicing gentleness in my daily life?  What are some steps I can take to cultivate these actions and make them part of my daily walk?
 
DECEMBER 2017

Merry Christmas to all!

Quote for the Week:  What shall we offer you, O Christ, because you have appeared on earth as a man for our sake?  For each of the creatures made by you offers You its thanks; the Angels, their hymns; the heavens, the Star; the Shepherds, their wonder; the Magi, their gifts; the earth the Cave; the desert, the Manger; and we, a Virgin Mother.  God before the ages, have mercy on us.  – Christmas Eve Vespers

Scripture for the Week: The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 

Thought for the Week:  by Fr. John P. Angelis 

CHRISTMAS! GOD'S PEACE!

Christmas! We glorify the Merciful God!
God the Father sent to us His Beloved Son.
Christ was born as God-Man from Virgin Mary,
And He fulfilled all the promises of His Father.

Angels brought the good news to the shepherds.
God’s Light and their songs enlightened their minds.
A wondrous star led the Magi from the East to the Child.
In a dream, God told them to ignore Herod the King.

We hymn and honor the Birth of the Son of God.
We joyously glorify God the Father for His great love.
Although we were stumbling in darkness, as sinners,
He saved us through His Son, with His compassionate love.

Our words are inadequate to express our thanksgiving.
Great respect , glory and adoration are due to our God,
For His many blessings to us and indescribable compassion.
Let us welcome and worship Him as the innocent children.

With our Choir let us triumphantly, joyously sing,
“Christ is born, glorify Him…! Alleluia! Glory to Thee!
Let us proclaim the angelic message, Peace and Joy!
Our earth needs His peace--His healing and Blessing.

Christ is born! Be compassionate and joyous, Brethren!
God’s Word is Incarnate on earth. Believe and glorify Him!
May our humble prayer with thanksgiving reach God.
May He bless us as He blessed the innocent children.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Question for the Week: As we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, how can I be more compassionate and joyous this week?   

AUGUST 2017
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:  
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5 - 6
 
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:  
 
“Without the health of body, material things are of no benefit to you. Without streams of prayer, what you have sown will not be watered. Without the help of prayer you shall not reap what you sow. Without the mercy of the Creator, there can be no good, no blessing. Be earnest then in prayer, and your barns will overflow. Winter and summer be earnest in prayer; for winter and summer prayer is necessary for us.” (St. Ephraim the Syrian)
 
 
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: by Pres. Alexandra Chakos
 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5 - 6
 
When in the throes of a crisis or perplexing problem, it is sometimes difficult to remember the above proverbial dictum.  I can say with confidence, as I look back on my life, that it is absolutely true.  In my 7th decade of life, 5th decade of marriage, and 4th decade of service as a Presvytera, hindsight is a commodity that I have in abundance.  I could fill volumes with my life’s stories to prove my faith in this proverb.  At this time, I will share one.
 
Not long after the birth of my third child in 1976, I began to experience severe dizzy spells.  Undergoing many medical tests failed to provide me with any explanation.  Eventually, the dizziness went away and I was able to immerse myself in the duties of parenthood and parish life.  Through the next many years, mysterious physical pains and maladies came and went without explanation.  My children were convinced that it was all in my head, that I was a hypochondriac.  I knew otherwise.
 
The course of our lives and ministry eventually took us to Guatemala in 1999 to celebrate the marriage of our son at the Hogar Rafael Ayau orphanage in Guatemala City.  (That is another long story.)  It was there that we met Jenny, an 11-year-old orphan who stole our hearts.  Although we were already grandparents, and in fact, old enough to be Jenny’s grandparents, we adopted her the following year.
 
A few months after bringing Jenny to the U.S., I began to have more strange symptoms.  My doctor thought I was having mini stokes and hospitalized me for testing.  After many tests, including MRI and a spinal tap, the verdict came back that I had multiple sclerosis.  The doctors felt that the onset had been 25 years earlier, explaining all my previously unexplained symptoms.  How would this affect my newly adopted motherhood of Jenny?  I decided to trust in the Lord and to not lean on my earthly understanding of medical matters.  There was a reason that God had kept this information from me.  If I had this diagnosis earlier, I would not have had the courage to adopt and raise a young, emotionally needy child.  God would make this path straight for me.  It was, after all, a path that He had chosen for my life.  And now, Jenny has grown into a beautiful, successful womanhood, is married to a wonderful young man, and recently blessed us with her first child — our 13th grandchild.  
 
God continues to bless me and make straight my paths.  At my last visit to my neurologist, he studied the most recent MRI of my brain and said, “You’re fascinating!”  Of course, what is fascinating to a doctor is not necessarily a good circumstance for the patient.  He continued, “There’s so much wrong with you, but you’re functioning so well.”  To this I responded, “With God’s help.”  Five years ago, my husband retired from parish ministry and we are currently devoted to mission work in Guatemala with the Mayan people.  It is a great blessing to be a part of this historical development, where Orthodoxy is growing by the thousands of faithful.  The paths that God places in our lives might not always be easy, but He WILL make them straight for us.
 
May God bless you, my Sister Presvyteras, and make straight your paths, and may my story give you hope.  
 
QUESTION FOR THE WEEK:  When in my life have I had to trust in the Lord to make my paths straight?  As I reflect back on that time now, how does it make me feel?  Have I shared this story with someone else?  Is there someone in my life who is struggling and would benefit from hearing the message of God's faithfulness?
 
APRIL 2017

Thought for the Week: The Journey (by Presvytera Harriet Pepps Wilson)

Christ is Risen!! We have just passed the finish line of our 2017 Lenten Journey…the journey that brought us to Pascha…the most important time of the year! St. John Chrysostom says of in his Catechetical Homily read at the Liturgy of the Resurrection: “Let all of you enter into the joy of our Lord…. The table is richly laden. All of you, fare sumptuously on it,” let’s take a moment to reflect on the journey that has gotten us here.   As Orthodox Christians, we travel this road annually but each time it is different. It is like the annual vacation trip. Each year we see there are new things to discover on the road and because it has been a year, even the old things are new again.  It is supposed to be that way.  Our journey through Great Lent should be fresh and new each year.  Like Lamentations 3:22-23 says: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness.”  God does not change but we do. 

 

Depending at what season we find ourselves in will determine a lot of how our journey goes.  As a single woman, I often enjoyed a more focused and disciplined Lenten journey and had time to participate in services and read spiritual books and meditate on spiritual things.  Later when I married and was blessed with children the Lenten season changed.  I couldn’t be as focused on services and had no time to read books, yet the journey was still there for me.  My focus was more on my young children. I found that for the “mommy” season of my life, my job was to help my girls experience their personal Lenten Journey along with me.  You and I also have another job, one that does not end and one that impacts our journey.  That is the role of Presvytera.  Though each of us may treat this role differently it still is part of us and still makes a mark on our journey.  In thinking back over my many journeys to Pascha, I now realize those “mommy” years were just as important in my spiritual growth as the ones when I was single. Of course, many years and even now, I felt and feel like a failure.  I struggle maintaining my fast and disciplines and to tell you the truth, I was and still am a failure… but the journey wasn’t and isn’t a failure.  Each year is new and different and fresh and regardless of my poor attempts of maintaining a spiritual discipline, God still reveals Himself to us! 

 

We are constantly learning about ourselves and God’s mercy, maybe more so in the failure years. It is at the end of these difficult journeys that we cherish even more the words of St. John Chrysostom: “You who fasted, and you who did not, rejoice today. The Table is richly laden. All of you, fare sumptuously on it.  The calf is a fatted one; let no one go away hungry.  All of you enjoy the banquet of faith.  All of you enjoy the riches of His goodness.”   I am now, again, at a new and different season of my life.  My girls are grown and gone. My journey now is more of what I had when I was single.  I have more time.  However, I am a different person today than I was then.  We grow through all the nuances that the seasons of our lives bring. 

 

Yes, each of us experience a personal journey depending what season of life we are in. Yet, we also share this journey.  We share it as women and as Presvyteres.  Let us walk beside each other.  Let us be there for one another.  Let us support and help each other.  Remember the journey is not for our awesome God … He doesn’t need it, but WE do and often we need each other’s help to find our way to the destination.

 

Rejoicing with you, as a fellow traveler on this journey to Pascha where we eat together from the richly laden Table of Life! Christ is Risen!!!

 
FEBRUARY 25, 2017
Scripture for the Week:  
“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:5-7
 
 Quote for the Week:
“If at some time you show mercy to someone, mercy will be shown to you.  If you show compassion to one who is suffering (and of course, this is not a great deed) you will be numbered among the martyrs.  If you forgive one who has insulted you, then not only will all your sins be forgiven, but you will be a child of the Heavenly Father. 
If you pray from all your heart for salvation – even a little – you will be saved. If you rebuke yourself, accuse yourself, and judge yourself before God for your sins, with a sensitive conscience, even for this you will be justified.
 If you are sorrowful for your sins, or you weep, or sigh, your sigh will not be hidden from Him and, as St. John Chrysostom says, ‘If you only lament for your sins, then He will receive this for your salvation.'” + St. Moses of Optina 
 
Thought for the Week:  Compassion (by Presvytera Roxanne Louh)
We are all equipped with the innate ability to feel compassion and altruism toward others, right? If that is the case, why is it so hard to feel this supposed natural emotion when someone hurts us, or someone that we love? It’s as if compassion can be turned off in our hearts just like a switch, the moment we get offended. Although, this is has been a controversial issue, it is generally accepted by scientists that we are born with benevolence. But as we age, and gain an increased awareness about people and their motivations, we make assumptions that we don’t even realize we have made. We learn that everyone doesn’t always have our best interest in mind and, with this realization, it becomes increasingly more difficult to express these types of positive feelings. It almost feels threatening! Try attempting to feel compassion towards someone this week when you don’t feel that compassion and benevolence is being reciprocated towards you. It’s hard, right?

When someone is hurtful toward us, our minds seem to naturally get stuck on negative thought patterns that leave us reasoning that the person who hurt us simply doesn’t deserve our compassion. What is the result? We fight (or hurt) back or we distance ourselves emotionally as a means of protecting ourselves from those who hurt us. But is this defensiveness really protecting us? Does fighting back to teach someone their wrongs really help? Do we actually feel better? Do others who have wronged us really see that their ways are flawed?

Researchers and spiritual leaders assert that violent, aggressive or otherwise offensive people are really just people whose compassion and benevolence was never developed. Compassion, they say, is really no different than language acquisition. We are all born with the propensity to learn and develop this skill, if placed within an environment that nurtures its development. It would seem then, that people who offend us and/or act with aggression and hostility are people whose sense of compassion was never nurtured and therefore lays dormant, just waiting to be activated.

Ghandi said it best when he said, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” Offer compassion even when it is not being received. Set your mind on good things when it’s going down a dark path. Practice compassion with the same kind of discipline that you use to accomplish other challenging goals in this life.

To cultivate compassion when you are having trouble feeling it, set your mind on positive thoughts. “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Let your attention be drawn toward other positive aspects of your day, other positive relationships in your life, other positive aspects of that person and/or other positive moments that exist in your life. Unstick your mind from the righteousness you feel that really only serves to keep you feeling bitter. It is not your job to make others see their wrongs and change their ways. Sometimes, practicing compassion can have more of an impact in this world than any other response you might give in the hopes of seeing change. Most people change when they gain self-awareness. Self-awareness occurs for most, when other people don’t add to the mix. In this way, others may see themselves and we may maintain the peace that has been granted to us by the almighty Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:2-6
 
Question for the week:  To whom in my life do I have difficulty showing compassion?  Am I willing to cultivate compassion towards them as part of my Lenten journey this year?  How do I think it will impact my life and the lives of those around me?
 
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OCTOBER 2016

Scripture for the Week:  “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.  Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:5-7

 
Quote for the Week:  It seems that we do not understand one thing: it is not good when we return the love of those who love us, yet hate those who hate us. We are not on the right path if we do this. We are the sons and daughters of light and love, the sons and daughters of God, his children. As such we must have His qualities and His attributes of love, peace, and kindness towards all. Elder Thaddeus
 
Thought for the Week:  Compassion by Presvytera Roxanne Louh
We are all equipped with the innate ability to feel compassion and altruism toward others, right? If that is the case, why is it so hard to feel this supposed natural emotion when someone hurts us, or someone we love? It’s as if compassion can be turned off in our hearts just like a switch, the moment we get offended. Although, this has been a controversial issue, it is generally accepted by scientists that we are born with benevolence. But as we age, and gain an increased awareness about people and their motivations, we make assumptions that we don’t even realize we have made, we learn that everyone doesn’t always have our best interest in mind and with this realization, it becomes increasingly more difficult to express these types of positive feelings. It almost feels threatening! Try attempting to feel compassion towards someone this week when you don’t feel that compassion and benevolence is being reciprocated towards you. It’s hard, right? 
When someone is hurtful toward us, our minds seem to naturally get stuck on negative thought patterns that leave us reasoning that the person who hurt us simply doesn’t deserve our compassion. What is the result? We fight (or hurt) back or we distance ourselves emotionally as a means of protecting ourselves from those who hurt us. But is this defensiveness really protecting us? Does fighting back to teach someone their wrongs really help? Do we actually feel better? Do others’ who have wronged us really see that their ways are flawed?
 Researchers and spiritual leaders assert that violent, aggressive or otherwise offensive people are really just people whose compassion and benevolence was never developed. Compassion, they say, is really no different than language acquisition. We are all born with the propensity to learn and develop this skill, if placed within an environment that nurtures its development. It would seem then, that people who offend us and/or act with aggression and hostility are people whose sense of compassion was never nurtured and therefore lays dormant, just waiting to be activated.
I think Ghandi said it best when he said, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” Offer compassion even when it is not being received. Set your mind on good things when it’s going down a dark path. Practice compassion with the same kind of discipline that you use to accomplish other challenging goals in this life. 
To cultivate compassion when you are having trouble feeling it, set your mind on positive thoughts. “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Let your attention be drawn toward other positive aspects of your day, other positive relationships in your life, other positive aspects of that person and/or other positive moments that exist in your life. Unstick your mind from the righteousness you feel that only serves to keep you feeling bitter. It is not your job to make others see their wrongs and change their ways. Sometimes, practicing compassion can have more of an impact in this world than any other response you might give in the hopes of seeing change. Most people change when they gain self-awareness. Self-awareness occurs for most, when other people don’t add to the mix. In this way, others may see themselves and we may maintain the peace that has been granted to us by the almighty Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:2-6
 
Questions for the Week:  Who is one person in my life with whom I struggle to show compassion?  What does it "cost" me to withhold compassion from this individual?  How could extending compassion to this individual affect me?  Am I willing to be a tool of God's compassion for this person?
 
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September 7, 2016

Quote for the week:  O my Christ, rekindle my little lamp, and shine on me once more. - St Gregory the Theologian

Scripture for the week:  Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Thought for the week:  This summer, we had the opportunity to travel to Greece.  As a priest and presvytera, it is always a joy to visit churches and attend services in new parishes especially in an Orthodox Christian country.

While on the island of Naxos one evening, we drove by a beautiful church and stopped when we saw crowds of people gathered around the entrance. We found out that they were celebrating the feast day of St. Nicodemus (July 14) who is from the island of Naxos and canonized in 1955.

When I walked into the glorious church covered with spectacular iconography and many people praying together, I was overtaken by the smell of beeswax and the hundreds of candles lit by the faithful who had entered the vespers service before me.  I began to reflect on all the candles I had lit in my years as a presvytera.  Countless prayers have been lifted up, inviting Christ to fill me and those in my church family, with His peace and light. 

My husband is always the first to enter the church and light the first candle.  Often times, when I walk in through the doors of Holy Apostles Church on Sunday morning to sing Orthros, there is just one lone candle ablaze. I stand grateful that my husband faithfully leads me and others along this journey of faith. I know it is sometimes a thankless and difficult job to be priest.  I am able to "receive the light" because he first, has ignited the initial flame.

Being a clergy couple, we are often called upon to diligently keep the flame of faith lit and to encourage others to follow and seek the light of Christ. At times, we can feel alone and unsure. Yet, as the faithful enter one by one, to light their candles the blaze grows bigger and bigger.  We are a community - who together, walk this sacred path towards salvation. We are not alone. Each candle lit, reflects our common need for Christ and our willingness to show up and seek Jesus together.

Next time you enter the church, say a prayer and light an extra candle for your priest "who offers the light of Christ to all. May you - a beloved diakonessa or presvytera, be encouraged to stay faithful, bright and strong, together we can all strive to be "radiant as the stars in heaven" ablaze with joy so to become shining examples of love and peace in this broken world. 

Question for the Week: If I had a candle that represented the fervor of my faith right now, how would I describe the strength of the flame?  Is it fully ablaze? Is it struggling as the winds of life buffet it or the shadows threaten to overtake it?  Has it been snuffed out?  If so, how can I allow the Lord to re-ignite me with His perfect fos