O Ganana - Linda George

Poem by Marta Núñez Pouzols

the first young person to die
is the teen who works at the convenience store
it happens on the very first morning of the year
after the party recedes
into a low tide exposing
everything that is stuck
tragedy zooms into a small town
population 3,545
a bridge collapsing because the earth
is holding too much water
a bridge where my great-grandmother stands
as a young girl
charging a fee to anyone who crosses it
*
the boy goes to a new year’s
party with his friends
resaca means both hangover and undertow
in this way
not going back home becomes an
existential principle
anything but going back home
a feral commitment to extend the night
as much as humanly possible
when he stretches the night into days
he ties dusk and dawn to diverging horses
he makes a task of it
shuffling sysiphus’ hours
but the punishment is to have fun
when I go to the store
I am eleven and he is fourteen
he is funny in a way
only shy people can be
he makes a joke and laughs
anyone laughing may be laughing at me
but he is just trying to
trick boredom
by any means necessary
your hometown: population 1,885
I’m writing about this boy
because I can’t write about you
*
to know someone who died
is to be old
each death making the world
smaller and dumber
now one has to adapt
one morning I wake up
and a part of my brain
is obsolete
I can’t visit
your place, which is already filled
with strangers
at work I ask AI to describe
a drawing of someone missing a hand
in front of a mirror
which reflects the hand
as if it was still there
but AI doesn’t understand the mirror
it describes it as a square
that could be a frame
or a window
*
finally you irrupt into my dream, radiant
where have you been?
you say you’ve been gone
on vacation

doris dana - hangover&undertow (ft. Marta Núñez Pouzols)

Holy Lent - Share Efnouti - الصوم المقدس - شارى افنوتي

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

This album was produced by St. Gregory American Coptic Orthodox Church in Orange County, CA with original instrumental accompaniment. May God bless all who labored in this service.

To support this service, donations to St. Gregory's can be sent to P.O. Box 986 Lakewood, CA 90714.

12. Lent Doxology

Ευλογιμενος - Blessed is the Coming One - Live 2017

His Grace shares with us words from St. Ephraim the Syrian about struggle.

St Ephraim the Syrian said:
"We do well to admire the blessedness of the saints and desire to be crowned as they are, but we are unwilling to imitate their labors and combats. Do you think that they were drowned without labors and afflictions in the same manner as you desire to be? Will you hear what kind of rest the saints had in this life? Some of them were tortured, others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, even more of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted and tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Lo, you have heard a few particulars out of many. Such were the accommodations and repose of the saints in this life; and they bore these things with all joy because they looked for those eternal good things which are laid up for them in the heavens, which eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither have they entered into to heart of man.”

Series also posted on
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

ABBA Give me a WORD

Abba Give me a Word: The Comfort of the Saints: Struggle by HG Bishop Gregory

lyrics : https://tasbeha.org/hymn_library/view/182

2nd hoos lobsh- marenounh

His Grace shares with us words from St. Macarius of Egypt about repeated sins.

"Nevertheless, to root out sin and the evil that is ever with us, this can only be accomplished by the divine power. It is not possible or within a man’s competence to root out sin by his own power. To wrestle against it, to fight against it, to give and receive blows, is thine; to uproot is God’s." - St. Macarius of Egypt. St Macarius the Great, Homily #3 from the Fifty Spiritual Homilies

Series also posted on
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'

Abba Give me a Word: Repeated Sins: Will I ever Stop? by HG Bishop Gregory

Abouna Gregory Bekhit Gregorian Agios in Coptic

Coptic Basilian Fraction - Fr. Kyrillos Said

"Our hearts were created for God, they remain restless until they rest in Him". Often we have infinite longing for something that is limited, and are never satisfied. Listen to this amazing sermon as Fr Dan encourages us to question the real reason why we seek Jesus.

Downloads

Seeking Pleasure (Fr Daniel Fanous)

The mission of this church is to serve those English-speaking Coptic individuals and families, as well as serve those who have converted to Coptic Christianity by offering only English and Coptic service. By God’s hand, we strive for an organized and thriving church that will nurture a sense of fellowship within its congregation, and focus on raising its youth with diligence, so that future generations may understand and fully appreciate the beauty of the holy sacraments and enjoy an intimate relationship with God.

12. Lent Doxology

Saint Gregory OC

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