Christmas Time around the Seminary

Silouan pretending to be a Christmas present.

Our first Christmas here at seminary has come and gone. We were not expecting much, but we were completely overwhelmed with the love shown us through several unexpected avenues. 

First, for St. Nicholas Day, back on December 6th, an Orthodox organization hepled coordinate sponsor churches and seminarian families to provide Christmas presents for the kids. The church which adopted us is out in Minneapolis; we have never met any of them face-to-face, but are so very thankful for the love they have shown to us. Each of the kids opened up a couple of gifts on St. Nicholas Day itself, but we saved the rest for Christmas. We are still slowing opening gifts, intentionally spreading out the joy till Theophany (Epiphany) on January 6th. The kids have enjoyed being able to open a new something each day, and we still have a few more surprises to come.

What we did not know is that our home parish back in Oregon was also putting together something for us. We are still opening some of their gifts, too, but we immediately opened up all the cards, notes, pictures, and such which they sent along. There was much joy...and maybe a few tears, as we sifted through the tokens of their love which covered our table.

With both churches, the one that has never met us and still goes to so much trouble and expense to show their care for us here, and also the one who has raised us in the faith, we have had quite an unexpectedly touching Christmas.

Christmas around St. Tikhon's also means choir concerts. Several choir configurations of adult, children, men, women, seminarian and non, performed a wonderfully diverse collection of songs just a few days ago. The children have been practicing in their choirs for at least a couple months now, and were very excited to finally get up there and sing. We were joined by one of the monks, a trained organist and pianist, who came to lead us in a few Christmas hymns. It was beautiful.

The Christmas holiday wrapped up with a visit from my mother. We played plenty of card games, watched the new Star Wars movie in the theater, sang some Christmas carols for a parishioner in the hospital, told old family stories, enjoyed many meals together, and she even worked with Elena on Elena's first project on her new sewing machine (which you can see in the bottom-left of this photo). It was wonderful to have her here.

My mother carried with her the thoughts and prayers and love from all our friends and family down in Texas and Oklahoma. The box of gifts and notes assured us of our other home in Oregon. And a surprise box of love from Minneapolis just reaffirmed that we truly are strangers in this world and that nowhere and everywhere is home, all at the same time. We love you all and thank you for your prayers and support as we begin our time here at seminary.

Christ is born!