Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center - Welcome Sign

Greetings as we approach the Nativity of our Lord! Glory to Jesus Christ!

We’re in the midst of a busy December, as we’re sure all of you are as well. Chris is wrapping up his music lessons before the break and has enjoyed playing in some holiday jazz gigs in the central Indianapolis area including a last minute surprise assistance with the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra at the Jazz Kitchen earlier this week. He also did his first oil change on his car by himself and surprisingly the car still seems to be running!

At church, we organized a community night focused on Christ as the bread of life the last Friday in November. Everyone enjoyed participating in making prosphora with a member of our congregation, and the rich discussion that followed. We’ve also been discussing excerpts of On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius after Wednesday evening prayer.

In addition to the regular hustle and bustle of daily life and of the season, Chris has been able to make contacts with a number of priests in the area to set up visits to churches to share about Mongolia and our desire to be present there as part of the Body of Christ for the Mongolian people.

We had our first speaking engagement two weeks ago and were wonderfully encouraged by the mission parish of St. Mary of Egypt in Greenwood, IN.

As regards to our own cultural learning, we were able to visit the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, called the Tibet of the West by one person we met there, in Bloomington, IN. It was a fascinating and peaceful place with lots for us to think about. Chris posted some pictures on Facebook if you’d like to peruse them.

Our next two months of Sundays are full of visits to various parishes to share in the lives of those communities. What a blessing and a joy to worship with, to do the work of liturgy beside, and to receive the Sacred Mysteries in union with, so many different parishes and fellow Christians! We’re truly looking forward to these weeks and to what God has in store.

As we move toward the celebration of Christ’s birth, may you ponder deeply on the implications of the Incarnation and remember, as Georges Florovsky writes, “From now on human nature is inseparably united with the Godhead in the indivisible unity of the person of the Incarnate Word. Everything became new. Thus was accomplished the pre-eternal mystery and council of divine love.”

May the Lord deeply bless you this Nativity season!
Chris & Jen