Bishop's Council
What a blessing it is for me to be on the Bishop's Council. Our job is to be an adviser to the bishop. Members are elected by the delegates at a diocesan convocation.We received copies of the new statute for the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States as well as discuss important business, including financial. This lowly deacon was awed to be in the presence of a bishop and all these archpriests. We also received a copy of the official portrait of our bishop. He signed most of them for us.
I was also impressed with the lovely little church upstairs. Like most Russian churches, this church is not full of pews. It has two upfront for those who have to sit. We stand for our services in the Orthodox Church because we are in the presence of the King of King and Lord of Lords. Although not related, when President Abraham Lincoln went to church, he always stood because he said that when people come to the Oval Office they stand. How much more should we stand in God's house?
I took MTA to Penn Station and Amtrak to Newark. Getting out of Newark was a nightmare. Fr. Gregory picked me up at the train station there. After the meeting, he drove me back to Philadelphia where I took Amtrak back to Baltimore and a cab home. I use a special program for taking cabs when I need to do so. Generally I do only when it is really cold and miserable or late. I also take a cab if I have done some serious shopping and have too much to carry home on the bus. But I have not done this yet.
One of the many things that I like about being on the Bishop's Council is that I get to know some of the key clergy in the Church and also the bishop. Most people do not have an opportunity to get to know their bishop. They see him only once a year at the most. I see mine much more often. Even if I do not talk with him, I have an opportunity to observe him and to listen to him and to appreciate what a wonderful man he is. We are truly blessed.
Bishop JOHN signs his portrait.
Philadelphia skyline.
