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MONASTERY OF ST. JOHN
MANTON, CA
Thanksgiving 2011
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The forecast this year is for a cold, wet winter for us in Manton. So we are making hay while the sun shines. Our Cottonwood Foundation project (through the Farrah Foundation Grant) is well underway. We have built a pump house with its own foundation through which water will be pumped from our spare tanks to supply water for fire protection.
The autumnal smell of smoke is filling the air, as the local burn ban has been lifted. We are busy clearing the property of the piles of debris that have accumulated over several months of forest maintenance.
From the forest and fields nearby, our bees have been working hard to produce our latest honey harvest. This delicious honey--as well as our handmade soap--is now available in our bookstore and online.
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) Message from the Abbot
My dear Friends,
One of the things I like most about being an American is that I get to celebrate Thanksgiving.
The whole feast is full of beauty, tradition and spiritual significance. It coincides with the turning of the seasons, and the approach of the colder, less busy period of the year (both in the Monastery and in surrounding nature). This gives a space in our life for a couple of days which have an atmosphere which is almost pure 'sabbath' in the fullest sense of that word.
Our monastic tradition teaches us that prayer is essentially an activity beyond words. However, if words must be used, there are three little prayers which are indispensible and all-encompassing:
1. Lord, have mercy
2. Thy will be done
3. Thank you
This last one, at least in this country, has a holiday dedicated to it... Just think about it... a holiday dedicated to a prayer. How good is that?
With deepest thanks to God, and to all our friends,
And every blessing,
Archimandrite Meletios, Abbot
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Bookstore News
Our bookstore has made significant advances this year and has begun to bring in some much needed income for the daily expenses of our monastery. Under new management, the online store (www.stjohnsbookstore.com) keeps us busy with mail orders. Not only has this helped us, but has helped to keep our local Post Office open which was in danger of being closed down.
Our vendor's booth at the All American Council was a huge success. It has brought the monastery back into the black after a slow summer with diminished candle sales. We look forward to being able to attend more church conventions and conferences in the future.
Likewise, the bookstore has become the place to obtain heretofore difficult to procure items such as Royal Hojari Frankincense, Omani Sweet Myrrh and other new traditional resins from the Old World.
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) Soap News
Soap production has taken off and the factory is looking more like a cottage industry than the hobby corner it once was. We are constantly adding to our collection of exotic natural and artisan soaps. Favorites of the Nativity season include Three Kings Soap, with frankincense essential oil and myrrh resin, Peppermint, and Egg Nog.
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) New Property Donated
Perhaps the most exciting news of this autumn is that we received a donation of off-the-grid land in Siskiyou County near the quaint town of McCloud. A friend of the monastery generously donated the 2.5 acres.
Fr. Meletios and a couple of monks recently took a trip to survey it. At less than 2.5 hours away, the property is remote enough to serve as a retreat for us yet close enough to make the trip easy. At present, there is only pristine forest, with very few neighbors.
God-willing, we will build a small chapel dedicated to St. Seraphim of Sarov and a couple of small huts for retreating monks to stay in. Someone has also graciously offered the use of an RV, until we can build. Glory to God for all his bounty to us.
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