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Offline Tgebar

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Lack of connection with the Church
« on: August 28, 2011, 07:02:49 AM »
Sorry to be posting a new topic so suddenly.

In my last post I made some implications as to what I'm discussing here, namely in how desperate I am to maintain some sort of connection to the Church during the upcoming fall and spring semester. I do not know exactly why, but the idea of being unable to attend services regularly for almost nine months depresses me, even though I will be returning home and attending a sort of informal class each month with the priest of the parish that I attended. I pray regularly, each morning and night, and I have an immense desire to continue this habit, but simultaneously I feel wrong for doing so, as if since I'm not really Orthodox I cannot really understand the words coming out of my mouth. I think this all boils down to me learning the virtue of patience, but more so than my impatience to establish a relationship with the Church am I disturbed by not really knowing what to do in the interim. Do I just sit on my hands and live like a normal, American, secular college student?
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 07:04:09 AM by Tgebar »
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Offline Melodist

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2011, 07:16:44 AM »
Quote from: Tgebar on August 28, 2011, 07:02:49 AM
I pray regularly, each morning and night, and I have an immense desire to continue this habit, but simultaneously I feel wrong for doing so, as if since I'm not really Orthodox I cannot really understand the words coming out of my mouth.

Keep praying. If possible follow daily readings of the lectionary. Keep fast days. Keep feast days. If you don't have a prayer book, get one to help you pray. The Orthodox Study Bible has a lectionary and morning/evening prayers in the back. An icon calendar would be good to have too if possible.

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Do I just sit on my hands and live like a normal, American, secular college student?

No.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Is there an Orthodox Church nearby?
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2011, 07:19:46 AM »
I have all of the things you mentioned, some I ordered and some were graciously gifted to me by the Church. Unfortunately, there are no parishes nearby, they all are at least two hours away. I'd drive even for two hours if I didn't have to devote all of my available funds to the university! Thank you for the strengthening words my friend.
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Offline Adela

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2011, 07:59:18 AM »
This is no substitution, but many Orthodox churches televise their Divine Liturgies. The Carpatho-Russian Orthodox on www.acrod.org have a multimedia page where you can watch the liturgy in real time.   
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Offline FrChris

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2011, 09:32:06 AM »
Is there an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter near to you?

Chapter Link
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Offline ialmisry

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2011, 10:17:27 AM »
Quote from: Tgebar on August 28, 2011, 07:02:49 AM
Sorry to be posting a new topic so suddenly.

In my last post I made some implications as to what I'm discussing here, namely in how desperate I am to maintain some sort of connection to the Church during the upcoming fall and spring semester. I do not know exactly why, but the idea of being unable to attend services regularly for almost nine months depresses me, even though I will be returning home and attending a sort of informal class each month with the priest of the parish that I attended. I pray regularly, each morning and night, and I have an immense desire to continue this habit, but simultaneously I feel wrong for doing so, as if since I'm not really Orthodox I cannot really understand the words coming out of my mouth. I think this all boils down to me learning the virtue of patience, but more so than my impatience to establish a relationship with the Church am I disturbed by not really knowing what to do in the interim. Do I just sit on my hands and live like a normal, American, secular college student?
where are planning to go to school?
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Offline Marc1152

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2011, 01:07:51 PM »
Quote from: Tgebar on August 28, 2011, 07:19:46 AM
I have all of the things you mentioned, some I ordered and some were graciously gifted to me by the Church. Unfortunately, there are no parishes nearby, they all are at least two hours away. I'd drive even for two hours if I didn't have to devote all of my available funds to the university! Thank you for the strengthening words my friend.

If your school is of any good size there will be at least a few Orthodox Christians attending. Try to find them. Go to the chaplains office and ask if they know of some Orthodox who attend the school. You could even put a small ad in the school paper.

"Looking for Eastern Orthodox Christians for fellowship and support. Contact ---------- "

You may want to start a formal youth group recognized by the Student Government......

I forget the name of the National Orthodox College Youth Association, but you could contact them and they will provide some support.

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Offline FrChris

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2011, 01:12:31 PM »
Quote from: Marc1152 on August 28, 2011, 01:07:51 PM

I forget the name of the National Orthodox College Youth Association, but you could contact them and they will provide some support.



Does anybody actually read what I post?  :P

The link to the OCF (the College Youth Association mentioned in the above) is in my earlier post.
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Offline Asteriktos

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2011, 02:33:02 PM »
If only a priest like Fr. Chris would chime in, we could get some answers. Alas, not a priest in sight.  :P
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Offline Aindriú

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2011, 02:35:13 PM »
Quote from: Asteriktos on August 28, 2011, 02:33:02 PM
If only a priest like Fr. Chris would chime in, we could get some answers. Alas, not a priest in sight.  :P

He's been so quiet lately. I hope he's not too stressed...
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Offline Marc1152

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2011, 02:41:28 PM »
Quote from: FrChris on August 28, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
Quote from: Marc1152 on August 28, 2011, 01:07:51 PM

I forget the name of the National Orthodox College Youth Association, but you could contact them and they will provide some support.



Does anybody actually read what I post?  :P

The link to the OCF (the College Youth Association mentioned in the above) is in my earlier post.

So If anyone can think of the name, please go ahead and post it. A link would be good too.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 02:42:19 PM by Marc1152 »
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Offline ialmisry

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2011, 03:38:50 PM »
Quote from: FrChris on August 28, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
Quote from: Marc1152 on August 28, 2011, 01:07:51 PM

I forget the name of the National Orthodox College Youth Association, but you could contact them and they will provide some support.



Does anybody actually read what I post?  :P
if they did, you wouldn't be the Rodney Dangerfield of oc.net, Father.
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A hasty quarrel kindles fire,
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If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
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                           and both come out of your mouth

Offline Alveus Lacuna

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2011, 03:39:08 PM »
If there closest cities are two hours away, it might be that a MegaBus that runs past where you are to where you need to be. Way cheaper than driving.

http://us.megabus.com/
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2011, 04:00:18 PM »
Thanks for your help everyone! The university I attend is Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas (not Pennsylvania! :P). I checked the chapter website, and unfortunately there is no presence of such an organization at Pitt State. I have considered looking into bus routes in order to make it home once a month, so maybe if they're cheap enough I can make it more often, or at least make it to one of the closer churches.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 04:05:01 PM by Tgebar »
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Offline ialmisry

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2011, 04:16:45 PM »
Quote from: Tgebar on August 28, 2011, 04:00:18 PM
Thanks for your help everyone! The university I attend is Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas (not Pennsylvania! :P). I checked the chapter website, and unfortunately there is no presence of such an organization at Pitt State. I have considered looking into bus routes in order to make it home once a month, so maybe if they're cheap enough I can make it more often, or at least make it to one of the closer churches.
I know someone from KS, I'll ask for advice.  IIRC, Orthodoxy's profile in KS was boosted a year or so ago.

You might also try the links Fr. Chris provided.  There may be others like you in Pittsburg (where's home, btw?).
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 04:18:46 PM by ialmisry »
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Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.
A hasty quarrel kindles fire,
and urgent strife sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out;
                           and both come out of your mouth

Offline Shiny

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2011, 04:19:48 PM »
Quote from: FrChris on August 28, 2011, 09:32:06 AM
Is there an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter near to you?

Chapter Link
Wow the one in Denver hasn't been updated since 2010, sadly.  :(
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 04:20:09 PM by Achronos »
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2011, 05:03:11 PM »
Quote from: ialmisry on August 28, 2011, 04:16:45 PM
I know someone from KS, I'll ask for advice.  IIRC, Orthodoxy's profile in KS was boosted a year or so ago.

You might also try the links Fr. Chris provided.  There may be others like you in Pittsburg (where's home, btw?).

Thank you so much! My home is in Chapman, Kansas, but I attend the divine services at the All Saints Orthodox Church in Salina, Kansas which is about a 35-40 minute drive from my hometown. My hometown is a four and a half hour drive from the city in which the university I attend is located.
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Offline FrChris

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2011, 05:11:57 PM »
I went to the Orthodoxy in America parish finder, and there must be some kind of crazy glitch going on...it listed 20 missions or parishes within 59 miles of Pittsburg, KS but that can't be right!

Maybe the program was thrown off since it could tell there was some sort of request given it, but the program didn't register the request as coming from a person that others respect. Hmm....

Anyway, here's the link

Fr Rodney
 ;)
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2011, 05:18:23 PM »
Thank you so much Father! Unfortunately, for a poor college student, a two hour drive would be well outside of the budget. I also just checked the bus routes for the nearby bus station in Joplin, MO and discovered that the bus station was destroyed by the tornado that touched down a few months ago in that city.  :-\
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Offline biro

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2011, 05:42:34 PM »
Can you carpool with anyone else?  :)
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #20 on: August 28, 2011, 05:46:29 PM »
I'm looking into that right now!   ;D I asked the priest at the Newman Center for Catholic students on campus if he was aware of any Orthodox students that attended Pitt State, and he said that while he was unaware of any he could easily imagine that at least some of the students, especially those studying abroad from Eastern Europe, are Orthodox. He also knows of an Orthodox man who lives in town and works at the local hospital, but he said he believes that this man said that he attends a local Protestant church since there is no nearby parish. That seems really strange, but the priest did say he would be put me in contact with him. Maybe him and I can split the price to make it to one of the nearby churches.
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Offline Thankful

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #21 on: August 28, 2011, 08:40:20 PM »
Quote from: Marc1152 on August 28, 2011, 02:41:28 PM
Quote from: FrChris on August 28, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
Quote from: Marc1152 on August 28, 2011, 01:07:51 PM

I forget the name of the National Orthodox College Youth Association, but you could contact them and they will provide some support.



Does anybody actually read what I post?  :P

The link to the OCF (the College Youth Association mentioned in the above) is in my earlier post.


So If anyone can think of the name, please go ahead and post it. A link would be good too.

 :laugh:
« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 08:41:00 PM by Thankful »
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Offline Ortho_cat

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2011, 12:28:09 AM »
I found this in Joplin:

http://orthodoxjoplin.org/

he has a number listed also, i'll bet he knows where the closest missions are too

« Last Edit: August 29, 2011, 12:35:30 AM by Ortho_cat »
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Offline Ortho_cat

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #23 on: August 29, 2011, 12:37:46 AM »
Quote from: biro on August 28, 2011, 05:42:34 PM
Can you carpool with anyone else?  :)

ya, i'll bet u could find at least 4 ppl to split the gas :)
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #24 on: August 29, 2011, 04:24:30 PM »
I just established contact with Marc Paine, the organizer of Orthodox efforts in Joplin, Kansas, which is about half an hour away from Pittsburg, Kansas today. He is transferring his duties to a local priest who is going to call me soon, and he said that this priest has aims to hold a weekly vespers service. He also said that the local Orthodox Christians often travel together to some of the somewhat nearby churches. I'm so happy to have found these people, and I'm so happy for all of your help here! I'll continue to post and let you know how my journey in the Church is going.
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Offline Ortho_cat

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #25 on: August 29, 2011, 07:34:48 PM »
Quote from: Tgebar on August 29, 2011, 04:24:30 PM
I just established contact with Marc Paine, the organizer of Orthodox efforts in Joplin, Kansas, which is about half an hour away from Pittsburg, Kansas today. He is transferring his duties to a local priest who is going to call me soon, and he said that this priest has aims to hold a weekly vespers service. He also said that the local Orthodox Christians often travel together to some of the somewhat nearby churches. I'm so happy to have found these people, and I'm so happy for all of your help here! I'll continue to post and let you know how my journey in the Church is going.

Glory to God! I knew Marc would probably have some answers if anyone did... ;) Perhaps you could assist him in organizing a mission church there someday! What a blessing that would be... :)
« Last Edit: August 29, 2011, 07:36:03 PM by Ortho_cat »
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Offline Ortho_cat

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #26 on: August 29, 2011, 07:35:24 PM »
mispost.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2011, 07:35:35 PM by Ortho_cat »
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Offline Tgebar

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #27 on: August 29, 2011, 07:50:21 PM »
Quote from: Ortho_cat on August 29, 2011, 07:34:48 PM
Glory to God! I knew Marc would probably have some answers if anyone did... ;) Perhaps you could assist him in organizing a mission church there someday! What a blessing that would be... :)

I would love to help him anyway I can! He and I are going to continue communicating with each other. Currently he is residing in Springfield, AR, but he said that the priest who is going to take up duties in Joplin is very dedicated to establishing a mission there.
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Offline ialmisry

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #28 on: August 29, 2011, 09:08:04 PM »
Glory to God! We'll evangelize every nook and cranny of the continent yet.
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Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything so that he may do it no more.
A hasty quarrel kindles fire,
and urgent strife sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out;
                           and both come out of your mouth

Offline Ortho_cat

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Re: Lack of connection with the Church
« Reply #29 on: August 30, 2011, 02:21:04 AM »
Quote from: ialmisry on August 29, 2011, 09:08:04 PM
Glory to God! We'll evangelize every nook and cranny of the continent yet.

that's what i'm talking about...  ;D
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