Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
[or brought back those who returned to Zion]
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb!
5 May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy!
6 He that goes forth weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126 is a song of sheer rejoicing after a long and painful period as dry and despairing as the Negeb desert. In this case, the exiles have returned to Jerusalem after more than seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The Temple is being rebuilt and normal life is being restored (from 539BC, see Ezra-Nehemiah.)
They left weeping but now return with laughing and joy.
The last verse inspired the popular Gospel song, “Bringing In the Sheaves,” written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw and dedicated to American evangelist and hymn-writer A.D. Fillmore (1823-1870).
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves (x2).Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Not a bad set of lyrics for us to consider as we patiently and joyfully witness the message of the Orthodox Christian Way here in North America.
For a stirring rendition, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6y766K_3xg
The Fellowship of Orthodox Christian in America (FOCA)
As reported earlier, Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop Melchisedek, Bishop Mark and I participated in FOCA’s annual convention last weekend in Gettysburg, PA.
FOCA has been active since 1927, when Father Vladimir Prislopsky and other clergy formed what was originally known as the “Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs,” or FROC. The name was changed twenty years ago to reflect a new direction and membership. This coming year, the OCA’s All-American Council and the FOCA convention will take place together in Atlanta, and I hope that the parishes and faithful of the OCA who don’t know about FOCA, or have outdated views of who and what they are, will get to know them better.
FOCA has chapters in many parishes (mostly in the Northeast and Midwest), and the chapters vary widely according to local needs. But in every case they are organized to help clergy and parishes with organizing youth events, service projects, education and church schools, fundraising, social fellowship (especially sports events) and community outreach. The FOCA has a long history of organizational, networking and fundraising ability and can connect with other Orthodox parishes and groups for mission (OCMC), local service (FOCUS) and international charities (IOCC). A new chapter in Milwaukie, Oregon just joined because they were looking for a “structured organization for service and fellowship.”
All of this is rooted in basic commitment to Orthodox faith and life. As I stood for the opening prayer service at the FOCA convention and heard everyone saying the prayers together and singing, it was apparent that these are the core faithful, who know and love the life of the church by heart.