Online Services and Fellowship

As a way of reaching out and helping others maintain there liturgical life we have been asked to serve services online.    This is in addition to our current limited capacity services.
Schedule​​​
Please check our schedule on our site to find services
  • Most weekday services will be streamed by the following zoom link
  • Most liturgies will streamed  via Facebook
​Note that these are meant to strengthen our community not to start an online ministry. 

Other Online Services
Tips for Participating
  • Opening the conference link 10 mins prior to starting is a good idea so you are on-time
  • Remember this isn't Netflix, there will be time over the next weeks for plenty of films and popcorn in your PJs — participating in these live-streamed services is not it.
  • Make sure that your connection is muted (that is, turn off both your camera and microphone in the Zoom application)
  • Stand in front of your icons, alone or with other family members, and pray along with the service, as far as possible as if you were standing in church .  Rather than sitting in front of a desktop computer or laptop, take a portable computer or mobile phone to your icon corner or use a speaker.  Only the audio is needed
  • Light candles and even a small hand censer if you have one
  • Make the sign of the cross, bow, or prostrate at all the normal times.  
  • Or go for a walk, and pray as you listen. The point is to not engage with a service the way we passively engage with media. 

Resources for Prayer

We would like to offer a few online resources and texts for you to use at home. These are not meant to replace the liturgical offices but to provide parishioners who are at home a way to stay connected to the prayers of the Church. We are all on this journey to Christ's Pascha together, wherever we may be. ​

Following a Rule of Prayer at Home

Picture
While we are always called to pray.  In a world full of fear and hopelessness we need prayer more than ever.   This is a great opportunity to be with God, we have only ourselves to wrestle with.  
​
Know when you will pray.   The ancient custom is to pray “day and night” meaning as we begin the day and as the day ends.  But do remember to "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Praying the Jesus Prayer in the in-betweens can help calm you, what is your handwashing prayer rule?  Say the prayers before and after meals.

Know where you will pray. "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) The answer to the questions of where and how you will pray is something that is timely. As we are unable to gather together for our usual services the space in which you pray,such as your icon corner, should be a place you pray when the Church would usually be gathering. It is in times like these that we should become even more familiar with these places in our homes and they probably shouldn’t be very dusty. 

Know how you will pray.  Standing, kneeling, prostrations, icons, candles, incense and a prayer rope are all good tools and can certainly be helpful and beneficial. 

Know what you will pray It is important  There is a myriad of resources available online if you do not already have a prayer rule.   Our Diocesan website contains morning and evening prayer texts as well. 

The key is to balance what is achievable knowing you and your families limits.   Young children do especially well with familiar hymns, such as the ones from vespers.   The following prayers are great starting points for a prayer rule, combine them with the Trisagian prayers, and during Lent, end with the Lenten prayer of St Ephraim. 

Morning Prayer of St. Philaret
Lord, give me the strength to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely on Your holy will. Reveal Your will to me every hour of the day. Bless my dealings with all people. Teach me to treat all people who come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unexpected events, let me not forget that all are sent by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the physical strength to bear the labors of this day. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray in me. Amen.
​
Evening Prayer from Compline. 
And grant rest, O Master, to our souls and bodies as we sleep; preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin and from the dark passions of the night. Calm the impulses of desires, quench the fiery darts of the evil one which are craftily directed against us. Still the rebellions of the flesh, and put far from us all anxiety and worldly cares.   Grant us, O God, a watchful mind, pure thoughts, a sober heart and a quiet rest free from every vision of the devil. Raise us up again at the hour of prayer, strengthened in Your precepts and holding within us steadfastly the thought of Your commandments. Grant that we may sing praises to You through the night and that we may hymn, bless and glorify Your all-honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

What Else Can I Do?

Is there anyone in the parish that is unable to get groceries or essentials for themselves, whether because they are elderly or immuno-compromised? If so would you please reach out to Father Paul directly  Go a be Christ to the World!​
Come and See!
© St. Silouan's Orthodox Church