If you'd like to find out what is going on with the youth movements in
Orthodox Churches throughout the world, check out the SYNDESMOS
link on our youth page. Orthodox youth and young adults across the globe
are involved in issues from ecology to international exchanges. Check
it out!:
FYI -- SYNDESMOS is the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth
and is currently the largest Christian youth fellowship in the world.
Mk 10:43,45 (from the Gospel on the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt):
As is so often true in the words of Christ, once again all the usual
ways we think get turned upside down! Society tells us that to be a
servant (imagine being a maid or butler, or a SLAVE even!) means being
on the lowest rung of the ladder. These people who serve are not
considered people of honor or importance. To be honest, they really
don't usually matter much at all: they are ignored, or pitied, or even
an object of disgust - not respected, valued, and treasured.
But Christ comes and reminds us how it can be if we follow God's plan;
that the things we consider to be undesirable or unimportant actually
deserve the most honor. Christ reminds us that if we loved God with
all our hearts, we would love His children (and that means all of
them!). And if we were on fire with love for all those around us, we
would want to serve them, help them, reach out and place our needs
aside and make their life just a bit easier.
Especially those who are invisible and right next to us!
Each of us has people in particular need of our love and service,
right now.
We don't usually have to look for elaborate service projects to make a
difference in the world and spread a bit of Christ's love.
Something to think about:
Radiohead's latest release, OK Computer, is catching people's attention
across the alternative music scene. Critics are applauding it and concert
goers are selling out shows all over the country. For fans of alternative
music it is clearly an amazing collection of songs with a unique sound and
serious message.
As with most music of our time, OK Computer is as much a hard core social
commentary as a new hit cd. The CD explores the role of God in a world
that is out of joint and addresses the question: how can there be a God
when there is so much pain in the world? It expresses anger about the
condition of the world and a desire to escape to a new world even if it's
somewhere else in the galaxy. Feelings of emptiness and powerlessness, a
loss of faith in the political system, and the desire for a simpler way of
life are recurrent themes in this collection of songs designed to get us
thinking.
On the up side:
On the down side:
Professor Vuchic's frequent trips to the homeland to conduct research
or consult on traffic engineering problems have thoroughly familiarized
him with the perspectives on the ethno-religious conflicts in Bosnia,
Croatia, the Kosovo region of Serbia, and Macedonia that never seem to
be reported in the American media. This promises to be an enlightening
-- and controversial-- presentation. Lenten refreshments will be
provided. Everyone is welcome.
For more information on either of these events contact the Penn OCF chaplain
ChapAlex@aol.com or call him at home in
Virginia: 703.670.0867
To announce your event here send information to
youth@oca.org
For more information see:
http://www.lacancha.com
When comparing the various incidents over the past two years very few
of the factors are consistent in every case. Some of the shooters have
been part of loving homes, involved in school and extracurricular
activities, and well-liked among peers. Others have been loners,
members of broken families, or considered "problem kids." It is clear
that the usual pre-conceived notions are not helpful in detecting a
potential problem.
Among the root causes attributed to last week's tragedy have been gun
accessibility, video games, violent TV shows, and inadequate male role
models. Perhaps a more significant issue is the fact that the accused
shooters in Jonesboro have only recently even seemed to understand what
it was they did. A day after successfully shooting and terrorizing an
entire school body, they are reported as turning back into frightened
little boys, crying in their cells for their mothers and requesting, as
if they were eating at home, to exchange their chicken dinner for a
pizza. Golden, one of the shooters who seemed thoughtless and
completely unconcerned at his court appearance, is said to be sobbing
in his cell and wants to sit on his grandmother's lap when she visits.
While it is clear that there are many issues involved in why elementary
school students would want to open fire on their peers, perhaps first
we should look at what we as a society are doing that would make it
difficult for a pre-adolescent boy to realize that, unlike movies or
video games, pointing and firing a gun at someone has a permanent and
tragic effect.
Some statistics about youth, guns, and violence:
Q.
(from KD in VA, a high school student)
So then some of my friends asked me why we (Orthodox Christians) have
an altar, with a curtain (most have curtains). They see this as a
separation from God.
How do I explain this? I know we can become close and near to God, so
why do we have an altar? Thanks!
A.
The altar, therefore is not a reproduction of the Last Supper (as some
think), but is the table upon which Jesus Christ, as the Word of God
and the Lamb of God, is present with us. It is the place where the
Holy Spirit descends to make the bread and wine the actual Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ. It's interesting that, while to some Americans
this may seem as separating us from God, the altar table has been the
sign to millions and millions of Christians since the early Church that
God is actually here with us on this Earth.
The Church has also understood that this is not something to be taken
or approached lightly or casually. God is still God and we are still
His creatures. Even though we can now be His children, to approach Him
in any way other than with respect, honor, adoration, and with a
certain sense of awe, would be sacrilegious. For this reason the early
Church erected a low rail around the altar area (this has now become
the icon screen or iconostasis) with a curtain that clearly
demonstrated that this was not a place to enter casually, but with
respect and love by those called to lead and assist the people of God
(the Church) in worship.
Hope this helps! For more information on the purpose and meaning of Church
architecture follow the Orthodox Faith link to the Worship section on the
OCA web page: http://www.oca.org/Orthodox-Faith/Worship
Hope this answers your question. If something is still not clear, let us
know!
If you have a question, or know a friend who does, send it to us at
youth@oca.org. We'll give you a direct
and concise answer!
In connection with last issue's In the News feature, our first question to
you was:
Here are your responses plus some comments about a couple of our movie
reviews. Feel free to share your opinions on the question, someone's
comments, or something else in YO-Mail. This is the place for your
thoughts and ideas.
Just remember our only rule: NO FLAMING! If you want your opinion in an
issue, keep it short and to the point.
OS from KS writes:
Thanks for listening and keep up the good work. Just don't pay
attention too much about sex in movies.
MA from PA writes:
LD from PA writes:
Don't forget! If you have an opinion about something in YO-mail or
something going on at school, in the Church, or in society, send it in!
Send it to youth@oca.org Don't worry! All entries will be treated
anonymously unless you tell us otherwise.
From the Office:
Interested in What's Going on Around the World?
Food for the Soul
"... whoever desires to become great among you shall be your
servant ... for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but
to serve..."
"God, show me just one opportunity today for me to serve - to act out
of unselfishness and relentless kindness and do one act of service for
someone in need in my life. Let me not look for recognition or
praise, but do it only because I love You. Amen."
An Orthodox Look: Radiohead: OK Computer
On the Calendar
University of Pennsylvania: Distinguished Guest Lecture Series
Tuesday, April 7, 7:30 PM
Dr. Vukan Vuchic, UPS Transportation Professor of Engineering,
University of Pennsylvania, will speak on "What's Really Happening in
the Former Yugoslavia" at the Penn Newman Center, 3720 Chestnut Street.
Wednesday, April 22, 7:30 PM
Dr. Paul Watson, Professor of Art History, University of Pennsylvania,
will speak on "Byzantine Hieratic Art Versus Renaissance
Representational Art" at the Faculty Club Building, 36th and Walnut
Streets. Professor Watson, an authority on the Italian Renaissance and
devout Roman Catholic, will assess the spiritual and artistic values of
these two styles of painting, one quintessentially Orthodox and the
other generally considered the apex of Western art. Refreshments will
be provided. Everyone is welcome.
In the News
Orthodox Priest-Monk delivers powerful message at World Cup 1998 game
in France
Violence and death have been regular occurrences at past World Cup
Soccer games. For the first time in history, during the World Cup 1998
games, an Orthodox Priest-Monk offered a prayer on behalf of all
participating nations and the entire soccer world, both players and
spectators, calling for peace, control, and remembrance of Our Lord
Jesus Christ during this, the world's greatest sporting event.
Youth, Guns, and Violence: Looking for Answers
Over the past two years, boys as young as 14 have gunned down
classmates and/or teachers in Paducah, KY; Pearl, MO; Moses Lake, WA;
Bethel, AK; and now Jonesboro, AR. This most recent incident left four
students and a teacher dead after two young boys opened fire as the
school responded to a fire alarm at their school. Fearing that these
incidents may represent a growing trend, our society is now calling for
a cause or reason for these tragedies to insure that they never happen
again. It appears, however, that the situation is a bit more complex.
Real Questions, Real Answers!
Why do our Churches each have an altar and curtain?
I know this seems kind of rudimentary, but why do we have an altar?
I go to a Presbyterian youth group, and at our last meeting, the youth
minister was reading to us that when Jesus died and rose the curtain of
the tabernacle was torn in two, therefore making us able to approach
God, and be nearer to Him.
Good question, KD! Often we take many things for granted without
really looking at what their purpose is. You are right in saying that
the tearing of the curtain at the time of Jesus' death was the sign
that the separation between man and God was destroyed and that we can
approach God since He approached us in the person of His Son. For this
reason, from the earliest period of the Christian Church, the Church
building has been designed to express the sincere belief that God is
actually with us. It is actually patterned after the image of God's
Kingdom described in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
Readers Write ...
Readers share their opinions on sex and the role of music on our beliefs
Does the music to which a person listens tell other people something
about his/her personal beliefs and lifestyle?
I like reading your newsletter, but I have a few things to complain
about (well not exactly complain, but whatever).
Yeah I'd say so but not completely, it depends on who it is, if you
dress like them talk like them etc ... then it's too much but if you
just listen to their music then it's alright and you understand the
lyrics and know what the difference between right and wrong is your ok
I think. ... Also depends on the group, if it's one with Death Metal
stuff in it then I think there's a big problem but on the other hand if
it's like just about anything else except gangster rap it's usually ok
but not always.
While some people may form an impression about you based on what music
they hear you listening to, the music that you listen to really only
tells people "what music you like to listen to." Some people may only
listen to a particular style of music because it's trendy -- everyone
else is listening to it, so they do too, even though they may not
particularly care for it. I'm one of those people who listens to
everything BUT the words -- I'm more interested in melody, rhythm,
orchestration, etc. than in the lyrics. Indeed, I don't even hear the
lyrics to most songs I listen to. However, I WILL say that where
lyrics are offensive to one's sense of taste and decency (for those who
listen to them), one should feel compelled to boycott the music and the
group who performs it.