The Joy of Life
Douglas Girard
Christ is Risen! We are finally back to a normal pace after the wonderful celebration of Pascha. I hope you were able to relax with family and friends and find peace in knowing that Death was trampled down by Death. After the intensity of Holy Week, the release and joy of Pascha is unparalleled. This Paschal joy is something that I’d like to talk about today while also inviting people who are interested in enrolling their students for the coming year to experience the Academy.
We are, by our very calling, called to be joyful. Christ’s victory over death calls for joyful celebration not only around Pascha but through the entire year. Unfortunately, American Christianity is not known for being joyful. Many people experience judgement and confinement, finding that Christians are more focused on telling them what not to do, than experiencing the joy of the Risen Lord. The God they experience is one of wrath and hellfire. The quintessential expression of this in America is Johnathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” This expression of Christianity is widespread and is also the complete opposite of what we experience here at the Academy.
When I speak to others about the Academy, the word I use most often is joyful. Our faculty and staff really do work to create an environment of joy and fellowship, something that is felt by all our families and students. Everyone who walks through the doors and sees the faces of the students and teachers walks away believing me. Many parents may be on the fence as to whether they should send their kids to the Academy. My response is always, “come and visit, and after visiting just once, make your determination then.” The environment we have created is truly unique and an expression of the joy we feel during this Paschal season.
I see this joy now as we return from break. Students are embracing each other and reconnecting through tall tales and stories of what they did over break. Even if they say they didn’t miss school—as students are wont to do— their actions show they really did. This joy permeates the very fabric of who we are as an Academy and is the reason we are continuing to grow and prosper. If you are considering sending your student to Chrysostom Academy, our enrollment for the 26-27 school year is open and we invite you to come and tour SJCA with your students so you can see for yourselves what I am talking about. I look forward to meeting you!
John W. Heitzenrater, II A.B., M.H.M.
Headmaster
jheitzenrater@chrysostomacademy.org
610-427-2758