Meet Jensina Marie

To settle the dispute over spelling and pronunciation (although this will probably not be the last time Jensina will have to deal with this question), we are overjoyed to finally be able to present to you Jensina (pronounced Yen-SEE-na) Marie, born at 7:19pm on Wednesday, August 30th. "Jensina" is a Scandanavian feminine form of "John" - after St. John the Theologian.

Jensina was the lightest of Matushka Sarah's newborns, weighing in at a "tiny" 8 lbs, 3 oz, but took the longest to come out, with labour starting at 3pm on August 29th. Despite the long labour, Matushka Sarah is doing well - thank you all for your prayers! - after the most peaceful labour and delivery we have ever had. Technology has its uses...

The boys are very excited - they started jumping up and down, shouting out "We have a sister! We have a sister!" when they heard the news - and have welcomed her into the family with great enthusiasm. As soon as we brought her home, Simon, following in a Hewlett family tradition, brought some toys and gave them to Jensina (Justin did the same when we brought Simon home):


We are looking forward to introducing Jensina in person after the forty days. Glory to God! And thank you for your prayers.

It's a girl!

Welcome to the world, Jansina Marie! (hopefully I spelled that right.) Both mother and daughter are very healthy and doing well.

Glory to God in the highest!!

Jensina Marie Hewlett

Glory To God!

Today, at 7 p.m. the Hewlett family welcomed little baby girl Jensina Marie (pronounced YEN-sina, meaning John in Norwegian) into this world. Matushka Sarah is officially un-pregnant!

Father Justin and Matushka thank everyone for all our prayers. (He sounds so happy!)

Glory To God!

uhhh...

Maria and Jordie's wedding

Yesterday, Maria Daphnis married Jordan Tyson at the Serbian Cultural Center in Burnaby.
Here, Maria's Dad walks her down the aisle.

This is the Orthodox portion of the ceremony.

Maria chats with Amy, Muryn, and Melissa during the reception.

God grant you many years Maria and Jordie!

A new thing

Matthew and I are two separate people, and consequently we have two separate blogs. However, we have become a part of something in which we are so entangledly mutually complicit, blessed, responsible, involved, affected, rejoiced, changed, excited and bewildered... that we've decided to start a blog together so we can share it with you.

Go check it out.

(Consider this our formal announcement)

With love,

Cheryl and Matthew

Good News!

Do you remember that movie "Kindergarten Cop" with Arnold Schwatshisname? Remeber the scene where he has a headache and some little kid says "maybe it's a tumor?" and he says (in that great accented voice) "It's not a tumor". The way he says it, it sounds like "too-mah". It's not a too-mah.

Well, that is what my Doctor said to me today. It's not a tumor. Yay! I don't have a tumor on my brain. Such good words to hear! Thank you all for your prayers - they worked!

Father Lawrence' Name's Day.

Would someone please bid dear Fr. Lawrence a happy belated name's day on our (Matthew and Cheryl) behalf? I'd appreciated that a great deal. And make sure you give him a good hug from us. Thanks.

this sunday

kurt just wanted to announce a 'pre-hockey soccer game' happening on the green this sunday after lunch. yeah, I know. I don't know what that means either. but the sign is funny, eh?

Goodbye Party for Phil and Biss

For everyone interested, we will be hosting a goodbye party for Phil and Biss at our place in Aldergrove on Monday August 21, starting at 6:00. Please R.S.V.P. if possible (although we won't throw you out at the door if you don't). So here are the details:

When: Monday August 21 at 6:00
Where: 25692 30A Ave, Aldergrove (directions below).
Why: Because we love Phil and Biss (we will have a large stock of tissues).

Hope you can make it!

-Dan

Directions from Hwy 1:
take the 264th exit South. Turn left on Fraser Hwy. Take your first right (265A). First left (30A). Our house is #26592 (on the right).

So...it's actually happening. We really are moving this time (being married to Phil, one never knows...).
This results in a number of things:
1) a VERY messy house
2) the need for a scale to weigh things we're shipping or taking as extra baggage on the plane...anyone want to lend us one?
3) last goodbye's and final visits. BOOK US NOW! We'd love to see as many people as we can, but are getting quite booked. Feel free to come to the Goodbye Party the boys and Alanna are planning on the 21st.
4) a garage sale this saturday, as mentioned below (we won't be there...). Feel free to come take our stuff.

We're going to miss you all so much!
~biss

Happy Saint Herman's Day!!

Yes, that is today!

At 7 pm we will have Great Vespers with a litya. Bring some juice and cookies along so we can be a bit festive at this feast of the glorification of our patron Saint.

We have a second parish patronal day, the feast of Saint Herman's repose on Dec. 13th. At that time, we will do an akathist to Saint Herman.

Some of you may have heard from Fr. Lawrence about Fr. Michael Oleksa, the guest speaker at the recent Archdiocesan clergy synaxis. Fr. Michael told a great many interesting things about his own experiences with Alaskan culture, as well as about the history of the Orthodox church and saints in Alaska. During one of his talks he was mentioning that Saint Herman is best known among the native Alaskans as an advocate and defender, as well as a wonderworker (mostly after his death-- only two miracles are attested in his lifetime.) Yet his akathist mostly speaks only of his exemplary monastic life.

During this talk, our Bishop Seraphim came over to Fr. Lawrence and asked if he would prepare a revised version of the akathist. As it happens, Fr. Lawrence was at that moment making notes on Fr. Michael's talk with that very intent. This akathist is now complete, but will not be published and go into public use until Bishop Seraphim is able to review and approve the final form. The new service incorporates phrases taken directly from the Life of St. Herman and other primary documents, such as letters written by those who knew the saint personally. Footnotes at the end of the service booklet will provide the textual references. (I believe Vladika asked Fr. Lawrence to do this task because previously Fr. Lawrence had done similar work regarding St. Arseny, in that case I think on the stichs for the vigil service.)

Moving Sale!!

Biss and Phil are having a Moving (don't cry) Sale Extravaganza this Saturday, August 12th, 2006 from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Don't miss out! Everything must go!

They live in Langley. Their actual address can be found in the Saint Herman's Directory. You could also call them and ask, or let them know you're wondering, and they'll get back to you.

Low low prices on everything from the kitchen sink to moist towelettes!

sorry....

some were confused by my last post.
here is the link to the women's retreat happening in february w/fmgreen.

Shave and a Hairshirt II: Razorection

DSC00866
Originally uploaded by pasivirta.

Saints, Sinners and Angels

Hi All,

My show is up at Vancouver Public Library Central Branch. Come out to the "Meet the artist"

Saturday August 12 3:30 pm

Especially you models. Would love to photograph you beside your portraits.
All paintings & prints are up on my web: www.geocities.com/judyng_art

Judy

Prayer Request Update

I got a call from my doctor's office this morning. My blood results are back and they are NORMAL! Yay! This makes waiting until August 30th to have my cat scan a little more bearable now. So they are pretty sure there is nothing wrong with me now, but I will still have the cat scan to make sure.

Thank you for your prayers. And please keep praying. I'm, not totally out of the woods yet. If you can also pray that my cat scan date gets moved up. That would be great. There's nothing like being told you are in an urgent case of emergency, and then having to wait a month for the tests.

Apartments?

The time is fast approaching when students must return to their studies. Certain students, the kind who live on Vancouver Island, need places to stay in September. Okay, I'll admit it, these 'students' are Simon (my brother) and me. And yes, we need some apartment hunting help due to the fact that there is an ocean seperating us from yonder city.
Here are the requirements:

1. Something cheap! We are 'starving artists'.
2. Has to double as an art studio (non-carpeted floors, natural light)
3. Walking distance to Emily Carr ('walking distance' in the de Bree family does mean more than just 10 minutes)
4. Something older and with character would be a plus. We like hardwood floors and basin sinks too.

If anyone has any leads please let me know. (josina(at)interchange.ubc.ca) We would really really appreciate the help, otherwise we might have to commandeer someone's living room floor for a few days/weeks/months (just kidding).

Shave and a Hairshirt

"By confusing the existing with the nonexistent, the ritualistic religious outlook was extended to ordinary objects and customs of everyday life as well: everything native and Russian seemed Orthodox and everything alien was heretical and "heathen". Russians wore beards, and the beard became an essential symbol of being Orthodox, while the clean-shaven face was a sign of belonging to the Latin heresy. The council of the Hundred Chapters forbade the celebration of funeral services for those without beards, as well as the offering of communion bread or candles on his behalf; he should be counted with the unbelievers."
(quoted by Fr Schmemann in "The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy")

update over at ....

Photos of Kai and Theresia's BBQ

More pictures of BBQ...

Phiss and Bill

So. Sadly. we must face the truth.

they are leaving.

however, we can and will send them off with a sweet-lovin' par-tay, as St. Herman's only can do.

It will be after the Dormition,

we will do it in Aldergrove at the house of many, just off 264 and Fraser Highway, where the BBQ will be in full effect, as will the fridge.


however, when is best? tuesday night after liturgy? or sunday afternoon-evening the 20th? I think sunday would be best because it is a weekend, and many people are already near church, so we can just wander to aldergrove around 4pm, and the evening will go until the ones usually last to leave are still there. thats Phil. always last to leave.

Or...any other suggestions? talk amongst yourselves, Gabe will post an update next week.

Progress

I just wanted to announce some shred of good news. I have just completed, printed and stapled my last paper for my Masters of Library and Information Science. Two years of my life for this degree are over. I still do not have a job or a place to live in Ottawa, where I want to go, but at least I can now say: it is over. I have done all the work for my MLIS degree and only have to show up to class two more times and I am done. Next week I am packing my house… (The 5th time I am packing in three years mind you).

Wanted to say also that I really appreciate all of you – without St. Herman’s I would not be orthodox today – in so many ways my life would be so dramatically different!

Speaking of this, when someone asked me in Ottawa how first came to the church, I realized my answer was faintly humorous: why did I go to St. Herman’s the first two times? Because I could not get a ride to my Anglican Church and Shannon Parker invited me along to St. Herman’s with her! : ) it seems that God uses many ways to get us on the journey we need to be on…

Prayer Request

Can I make a prayer request without really saying what it is for?

I received some alraming news from my Doctor yesterday. I might have something wrong with me. I have had some blood work done, and there are more tests set up for this week. Until we know if I have this thing, or not, I would really apreciate your prayers.

I'll keep you posted on my physical condition. My mental condition is a little worried and strained for the time being.

Thank you.

- Amy