A New Beginning

Begin This Year With God

September has a special feeling.

The days begin to change. The mornings are cooler. Children and young people return to school. Teachers return to their classrooms. Parents return to busy schedules. Our homes, workplaces, schools, and churches begin to come alive again.

September feels like a new beginning.

For us as Christians, September brings an even deeper beginning. September 1 marks the beginning of the new liturgical year in the Byzantine Christian tradition. The Church gives us a new year not simply so that we can turn another page on the calendar, but so that we can turn our hearts again toward God.

It is an invitation to begin again.

Begin Again

Perhaps this summer was wonderful for you. Perhaps it was difficult. Maybe you are returning to September full of energy and hope. Maybe you are tired and carrying worries that no one else can see.

Perhaps during the summer you prayed more—or perhaps you drifted away from prayer. Maybe you came to church regularly, or maybe you missed more Sundays than you intended. Maybe there are things you are proud of, and other things you wish you could do differently.

September gives us a beautiful message:

You can begin again.

God does not simply say, “You should have done better.”

He says, “Come back to me.”

A Summer of Life and New Beginnings

When I look back at this summer, I see many reminders of how precious life is and how God continues to work among us.

We experienced the sadness of losing a dedicated parishioner, Adolf “Ed.” His faithful presence among us was a gift, and his passing reminds us that our time here is precious. We give thanks to God for his life and entrust him to the Lord.

At the same time, we experienced the joy of new life in the Church as a young priest, Fr. Peter Pichko, was ordained in our Eparchy. One generation passes on the faith, and another generation steps forward to serve the Church.

And, God willing, in just a few weeks I will experience another kind of new beginning in my own family. For the first time, I will become a Дідо (Grandpa). Some of you will be experiencing that same joy in your own families.

Life continues.

One generation leaves us. Another is born. Young people answer God’s call. Families grow. The Church receives new servants.

And through all of this, God continues to give life.

God Gives Life

The Bible begins with these words:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

God gives life.

He creates because He is good. He gives because He loves.

Your life is not an accident. You are wanted. You are created in God’s image. You have been given a mind to think, a heart to love, hands to serve, and a life to offer back to God.

God did not create us simply to exist.

He created us to know Him, love Him, and live in communion with Him.

That is why the Church matters.

The Church is not simply a building where we come on Sunday. It is a family where God gathers His children. Here we hear His Word, learn to pray, receive His mercy, encounter Christ, and receive His life in the Holy Eucharist.

God does not simply want to give us a good life.

He wants to give us His own life.

What About Adam and Eve?

From the very beginning, however, we see what happens when we stop trusting God.

God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed. But they reached for what God had not given them. They wanted to take life into their own hands.

Sin entered the world, and immediately they hid.

Isn’t that still what we do?

When we sin, we sometimes hide from God. We stop praying. We stop coming to church. We become ashamed. We think, “I have gone too far.” “God must be disappointed in me.” “Maybe I don’t belong anymore.”

But God did not abandon Adam and Eve.

He called to them:

“Where are you?”

God knew where they were. He was not asking for their location.

He was asking about their relationship with Him.

Where are you?

Where is your heart?

Where is your faith?

Where is your hope?

Where have you been hiding?

Perhaps September is the right time to answer that question.

Come Home

If you have been away from the Church, come home.

If you have stopped praying, begin with one prayer.

If you are carrying anger, ask God for the grace to forgive.

If you have fallen into sin, don’t run away from God. Run toward Him.

Come to Confession. Come to Divine Liturgy. Come to the Eucharist worthily. Come among your brothers and sisters in faith.

Bring your children. Bring your grandchildren. Bring your questions, your worries, your joys, and even your struggles.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you come to God.

Come because you need Him.

A New School Year

To our children and young people, I want to say something very simple:

This year, don’t search only for good grades. Search also for God.

Learn your subjects. Work hard. Do your best.

But also learn how to be kind. Learn how to forgive. Learn to tell the truth. Stand up for someone who is being bullied. Notice the person who is lonely. Learn to pray.

And remember: God goes with you.

To parents, your children need many things. They need food, clothing, education, activities, and opportunities.

But one of the greatest gifts you can give them is an example of a life that has room for God.

Let them see you pray.

Let them see you forgive.

Let them see you come to church.

Let them see that your faith remains strong even when life is difficult.

To our teachers: thank you. You are not only teaching subjects. You are helping form human beings. May God give you patience, wisdom, strength, and joy for the year ahead.

And What About Us Adults?

September is a new beginning for all of us—not only for children.

Perhaps this year we can make one simple decision:

“I will make more room for God in my life.”

Not tomorrow, when life becomes less busy.

Not when everything is finally under control.

Now.

Make time for Divine Liturgy. Make time for daily prayer. Open the Gospel. Go to Confession. Receive the Eucharist worthily. Take a few quiet moments to speak with God and listen to Him.

Our faith is not something separate from Monday morning.

God belongs in our work, our families, our farms, our schools, our businesses, our friendships, our bills, our celebrations, and our difficult days.

God wants to be present in all of our life.

A New Beginning at Saint Nicholas

There are also signs of new beginnings right here around our parish.

On Monday, August 31, our new sidewalks and newly paved roads around the church were completed. This summer, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the men who were working on the construction. Many of them were young men from Ukraine.

I found myself thinking about how often God places people right at our doorstep.

The road that brings us to our church has been renewed.

Perhaps that is a little reminder for us:

A renewed road invites us to take a renewed step toward God.

This summer also brought us plenty of rain, flooding, and smoke. Hay was cut later than usual. Now autumn is arriving, and in the woods we begin to see підпеньки (honey mushrooms).

Soon, perhaps in a week or two, the combines will be out in the fields and the harvest will begin.

This is the rhythm of creation.

We plant. We wait. We grow. We harvest.

Sometimes our spiritual lives are like that too.

We pray and do not immediately see results.

We try to change and nothing seems to happen.

We plant a little seed of faith in a child. We say one more prayer. We forgive someone. We come back to Confession. We make one small step toward God.

And we wait.

But we should never forget:

The Creator has not stopped creating.

He is still bringing life out of what seems empty. He is still renewing hearts. He is still calling people. He is still giving new beginnings.

I did not have as much time this summer as I had hoped for fishing or camping. Perhaps there will be some time this fall. And if not, perhaps January will bring an opportunity for ice fishing!

Even that reminds me that we live through different seasons. We do not always get to do everything we planned. But another season comes, and with it comes another opportunity.

God gives us time. God gives us seasons. God gives us life.

A New Beginning in Our Faith

This coming Tuesday, September 8, we celebrate the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

This feast reminds us of the fulfillment of God’s salvific promise. God’s people waited and prayed, and in the birth of Mary we see another beautiful step in God’s plan of salvation.

God is faithful to His promises.

Sometimes we have to wait. Sometimes God works quietly, in ways we cannot yet see.

But God does not forget.

The birth of Mary prepares the way for the coming of Christ.

And once again, the Church reminds us:

God is bringing new life.

New Life in Our Parish

We also see new life beginning right here in our parish.

On September 1, our own parishioner, Alex Kusche, officially began his journey in the seminary.

What a beautiful sign of hope for our parish and for the Church.

God is still calling.

Let us pray for Alex as he begins this journey. Let us pray for all our seminarians and for young people who are discerning God’s call. A vocation is God’s gift and a person’s journey of discernment, and our role as a parish is to encourage, pray, support, and accompany.

We also have opportunities this year to grow deeper in our faith through Bible studies and catechetical formation, including opportunities led by Seminarian Marko Koval, as well as COR formation that I will lead.

These are not simply more activities to put on a busy calendar.

They are opportunities to grow, learn, pray, ask questions, and deepen our relationship with Christ.

We Are Beginning Again Together

This is the kind of parish I hope we can continue to build together.

A parish where children are welcome.

Where young people know they have a home.

Where parents find support.

Where our seniors know they are valued and never forgotten.

Where newcomers are truly welcomed.

Where those who are struggling find compassion.

Where those who have wandered away know that the door is still open.

We do not want newcomers simply to find help here.

We want them to find a home.

A home where they can pray and worship. A home where they can build friendships, raise their families, and become active members of our parish community.

The young men from Ukraine who worked on our roads this summer can remind us of something important: sometimes God brings people right to our doorstep.

Let us notice them.

Let us welcome them.

Let us invite them.

And let us remember:

There is a place for you here.

There is also a place for each of us to serve.

Some sing. Some teach. Some cook. Some organize. Some visit the sick. Some work quietly behind the scenes. Some give generously. Some simply pray. Some offer a smile or a word of encouragement.

Every gift matters.

God Is Not Finished With Us

Perhaps this is the most important message for this new beginning:

God is not finished with you.

Your past does not determine your future.

Your failures are not the end of your story.

Your age does not disqualify you.

Your weaknesses do not frighten God.

Your questions do not scare Him.

Your wounds do not make you unworthy of His love.

The God who created you continues to call you.

He called Adam.

He called Abraham.

He called Mary.

He called the Apostles.

He called saints throughout history.

And Jesus continues to say:

“Come, follow me.”

One Small Step

You do not need to change your whole life in one day.

Start with one step.

Come to church.

Say a prayer.

Open the Gospel.

Go to Confession.

Forgive someone.

Call someone who is lonely.

Bring your family to Divine Liturgy.

Take your child by the hand and walk through the doors of the church.

And simply say:

“Lord, I am here. Begin again with me.”

A New Year. A New Beginning. The Same God.

The school year will end.

The seasons will change.

Leaves will fall.

Snow will come.

Another year will pass.

The harvest will be gathered.

Children will grow.

New children will be born.

New families will arrive.

New priests will be ordained.

And some of our loved ones will leave this earthly life and return to the Lord.

But God remains.

His love remains.

His mercy remains.

His invitation remains.

The liturgical year is a journey toward God. As we walk through it, we walk with Christ—through His birth, His teaching, His Cross, His Resurrection, and the gift of new life.

The story that began with creation leads us toward new creation.

So perhaps this September we should ask not only:

“What will this year bring me?”

but:

“What is God inviting me to become?”

Come out of hiding.

Come home.

Begin again.

Begin with God.

Новий початок — з Богом

Вересень приходить тихо.

Після літа стає прохолодніше, діти повертаються до школи, поля готуються до жнив, а природа нагадує нам: кожна пора має свій початок.

Так само і в житті.

Кожному з нас іноді потрібен новий початок.

1 вересня Церква розпочинає новий церковний рік. Це добра нагода не тільки перегорнути сторінку календаря, але й подивитися на своє життя та запитати:

Куди я йду?
Що сталося з моєю вірою?
Чи є в моєму житті місце для Бога?

Можливо, минулий рік був добрим.
Можливо, був важким.
Можливо, ми наблизилися до Бога, а можливо — непомітно відійшли.

Але Бог дає нам новий день.

І з Богом завжди можна почати знову.

Святе Письмо починається словами:
«На початку Бог створив небо і землю».

Бог є Творцем життя.

І Він не перестає творити.

Він дає нове життя нашим сім’ям, нову надію втомленому серцю, силу тому, хто переживає труднощі, і світло тому, хто вже не бачить дороги.

Цього літа ми побачили багато таких початків: хтось народився, хтось відійшов до Господа, хтось почув покликання, хтось зробив перший крок у нове служіння.

Життя змінюється.

А Бог залишається поруч.

Можливо, саме тому ви сьогодні відкрили цю сторінку.

Можливо, ви давно не були в церкві.

Можливо, приходите лише кілька разів на рік — на Різдво, Великдень, хрестини, вінчання чи похорон.

Можливо, минуло багато років.

Не бійтеся повертатися.

Бог не питає:
«Чому тебе так довго не було?»

Він просто говорить:

«Я чекаю на тебе».

Не потрібно знати всі молитви.
Не потрібно спочатку все виправити.
Не потрібно бути досконалим.

Зробіть лише один маленький крок.

Прийдіть.

Постойте в храмі.

Помоліться.

Поговоріть зі священником.

Відкрийте Святе Письмо.

Поверніться до Сповіді.

І дозвольте Богові почати щось нове у вашому житті.

Цієї осені ми також оновили дорогу і тротуари біля нашого храму.

Дорога стала новою.

Можливо, це добра нагода і для нас зробити новий крок до Бога.

Бо іноді ми не знаємо, куди йти.

Але не обов’язково бачити всю дорогу.

Достатньо зробити перший крок.

Наша парафія хоче бути місцем, де людина може прийти такою, якою вона є.

Місцем для дітей і молоді, для сімей і старших, для тих, хто давно в Церкві, і для тих, хто тільки шукає дорогу.

Якщо ви нові в нашій громаді — ласкаво просимо.

Якщо ви давно не були — ласкаво просимо додому.

Ми не хочемо бути лише місцем, куди приходять за допомогою.

Ми хочемо бути домом.

Домом, де можна молитися, знайти друзів, виховувати дітей у вірі, поставити запитання і знову відчути Божу присутність.

Для вас тут є місце.

Цього року в нашій парафії будуть нові можливості для молитви, біблійних зустрічей, катехизації та формації.

Не для того, щоб просто додати ще щось до нашого календаря.

А щоб допомогти нам краще пізнати Бога і наблизитися до Нього.

А 8 вересня ми святкуємо Різдво Пресвятої Богородиці — свято, яке нагадує нам, що Бог здійснює Свою обітницю спасіння, навіть тоді, коли люди ще не бачать її здійснення.

Можливо, і у вашому житті Бог уже готує щось нове.

Тому не бійтеся нового початку.

Бог ще не закінчив Свою працю у вас.

Цієї осені зробімо один маленький крок.

До храму.

До молитви.

До Сповіді.

До Божого Слова.

До Христа.

А може, просто скажімо:

«Господи, я тут.
Допоможи мені почати знову».

І цього буде достатньо.

Нова пора.
Новий церковний рік.
Нова дорога.
Новий початок.

Почнімо з Богом.