During our family visit to San Diego, we admired the surfers on the beautiful Pacific Ocean waiting on their boards for their ideal wave to ride. Waiting for the right timing to hit the wave. Waiting for the right height and force of the water. I marveled when the surfer and ocean worked together for that perfect and--I'm sure--exhilarating ride.

At the same time I marveled at God's creation. I often take God's power and creation for granted, but this time the rhythm of the waves, the beauty of the sunset, the illumined full moon, reminded me of God's power and faithfulness. Those waves kept coming in and going back out. I was reassured and comforted by God's rhythm and pattern found in His creation. Subsequently, I was reminded of our Church and her rhythm and patterns.

During the month of August we are reminded that our church year began in September with the Nativity of the Theotokos and the church cycle comes to an end with the Virgin Mary's Dormition or falling asleep. It is in this month that we celebrate also Christ's transfiguration.

We are reminded that God, the Word, dwelt in the Virgin's womb, and the fire of His divinity did not consume the members of the Virgin's body, but protected them carefully. He dwelt in the Virgin's womb and God incarnate came forth from her to save us.

Listen to the words St. Romanos the Melodist uses to describe the Panayia, the first human to accept Jesus, the first human to say "yes" to Christ, the only human who became that bridge between heaven and earth.

"As the Archangel beheld you, pure one, a living scroll of Christ which the Spirit had sealed, he cried out to you: "Hail, vessel of joy, in whom the curse of Eve is lifted!"

"Hail, O Lady, fiery chariot of the Word, living paradise holding in your midst the Tree of Life, the Lord Himself!"

"Hail, O Lady, unique gateway through whom the Lord alone has passed! Hail, O you who, through your maternity, have shattered the locks of Hades!"

We are reminded that we too are to physically say "yes" to our Lord. That we too are to have a relationship with Jesus as did the Virgin Mary. That we too are to accept Christ with all our strength and love. That we too will be taken care of by God as He took care of His mother.

It is a tremendous blessing to belong to a church that honors the Virgin Mary since indeed she was the first human to accept Jesus. We celebrate her entry into the world and we rejoice in her dormition. May we actively participate in the Paraklesis services this month, doing our very best to fast, pray, and give of ourselves to others throughout this fasting period.

This month, our community is also invited to patiently "wait for the right wave and timing" regarding the purchase of the Stevens property. We need to trust in God who is faithful and will continue to guide Holy Apostles to make the proper and necessary decisions as we plan for our future. Our Real Estate Evaluation Team and parish council plan to give us an update on the progress and developments on Sunday, August 7th during coffee hour. Please plan to attend. Let us remember that the lessons we learn now help us to get one step closer to securing our church home.

"Let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God."

Fr. Tom