Newsletter/Announcements
FEBRUARY 2010
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Sat. Vespers and Confession 6pm
Sun. Divine Liturgy 9:30am
Church School following Liturgy
Wed. Vespers 6pm,
Bible Study 7:30pm (alternating weeks between Fr. Justin on Divine Liturgy and Fr. Paisius Intro. to Orthodoxy.)
Thur. Choir Practice: 7pm.
Other weekly events:
Troost folks: Thur 7:30pm
Friday night meal 5-7pm
THIS MONTHS EVENTS:
Feast days:
Feb.14th –Meeting of the Lord (will be celebrated on Sunday 14th vs. 15th)
Feb15th Lent Retreat-HolyTrinity (9am-2pm)
Namesdays:
(actual day not liturgical date)
6th Xenia’s (St. Xenia of Petersburg)
10th Isaac (St. Isaac the Syrian)
14th Mother Brigid (St. Brigid of Kildare)
16th Carol/Anna (Anna the Prophetess)
27th Raphael (St. Raphael of Brooklyn)
Birthdays:
11th Xenia (Rainbow)
15th Caleb(John)
27th Joachim
SCHEDULE OF SERVERS:
Altar Server schedule:
7th Raphael, Cornelius
14th Antonio, Elias
21st Peter, Isaiah
28th Joachim, Asher, Beniam
Prosphora Schedule:
7th Andrea
14th M.Katherine/Jodi
21st Mother Nicole
28th Theodosia
Greeters:
7th Glen
14th Ignatius
21st Kifle
28th Andrew
PASCHAL SEASON
Feb 7th Meat-fare Sunday
Feb.8-13th-Cheese-fare week
Feb 14 Cheesefare, Forgiveness Sunday and Meeting of the Lord.
Mar 28 – Palm Sunday
Apr 04 – Great and Holy Pascha
Apr 28 – Mid-Pentecost
May 13 – Holy Ascension
May 23 – Pentecost – Trinity Sunday
May 30 – All Saints
Future dates: African American Conference:
May 14-16th Anniston, AL
2010 LENTEN SCHEDULE:
First Week
Feb. 14, Sunday
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
11:30 a.m. Forgiveness Vespers
Feb. 15, Monday
9:30 am – 2:00 pm Clean Monday Retreat: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
6 – 8:30 p.m. Great Compline; Great Canon
Feb. 16, Tuesday
7 – 9 am Matins
6 – 8:30 p.m. Great Compline; Great Canon
Feb. 17, Wednesday
9 – 11a.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy
6 – 8:30 p.m. Great Compline; Great Canon
Feb. 18, Thursday
7 – 9 am Matins
6-7:30 p.m. Great Compline; Great Canon
Feb. 19, Friday
7 – 9 am Matins ,
6 – 7 p.m. Small Compline
Feb. 20, Saturday
8-10 a.m. Matins
6-8 p.m. Vigil
Weeks Two-Six (schedule subject to change)
Sundays
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 6 – 7 p.m. Vespers
Monday
7 – 9 am Matins, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Great Compline
Tuesday
7 – 9 am Matins, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Great Compline
Wednesday
7 – 9 am Matins 6 – 8:00 p.m. Pre-sanctified Liturgy
Thursday
7 – 9 am Matins, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Great Compline
Friday
9 – 11 am Pre-sanctified Liturgy,
6 – 7 p.m. Small Compline
Saturday
8-10 a.m. Matins,
6-8 p.m. Vigil
GREAT LENT
There’s so much to look forward to when it comes to Great Lent. It is easy to think only of what we have to give up; meat, dairy products as well as other distractions. When our focus is on what we are sacrificing, Great Lent becomes something to dread and each day drags on. By the time Holy Week comes around we’ve probably not kept the fast faithfully and perhaps will try to pull it together to make it Pascha, or we abandon the fast and even end up skipping Pascha altogether.
Instead of thinking about what we are giving up however, we can focus on what we are gaining in the Fast. By fasting we are able to open our souls to God. By praying we are able to put ourselves into the perspective of eternity. By giving alms we extend the love of God beyond ourselves and our families.
Great Lent can be and is a powerful time for the Church. The beauty and grace of Pascha awaits us at the end of this short time. We are invited to partake of it with our cup empty or full, yet it will come and it does transform the earth whether we partake of it or not. It is our choice to work at it and become as ready as we are able to receive all we can.
May God bless your Fast!
On Entering the Diaconate
by Fr Dcn Theophan
The diaconate is a unique ministry in the Church and one of the oldest. It is in the 6th chapter of the book of Acts that we see the apostles calling for the selection of the first seven deacons, including the protodeacon and first martyr Stephen. They were called to the service of administering to the needs of the community, that is the distribution of goods and care for the poor, so that the apostles could continue in their ministry of the gospel as the Church was growing quickly and the apostles were unable to minister to all. Indeed, the word for deacon in the greek means literally, servant. The deacon is to be the eyes and ears of the bishop. His role is to bring to the bishop’s attention and to report to him the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the people . He is also to assist the priest(s) in the divine services and other ministries of the Church. Deacons are icons manifesting the Church’s essential role as servant in imitation of Christ himself who came “to serve and not to be served”. In this sense, they represent the call to the work that all members of the Christian community share.
Our parish is growing with new converts and new “cradle Orthodox” too. With new growth comes new needs and more opportunities to serve. It is my hope that in the days ahead we can join in meeting those needs and those of the local community and be the light of Christ.
Since our decision to commit ourselves to Christ many years ago, Diakonissa Sofia and I have always felt the need to serve His Church. We are humbled and grateful that we are able to serve this little community for which we have so much love and from which we have received so much love. It is our prayer that in this new role we can work together with all of you in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to us as the suffering servant for our salvation. Pray for us.
Congratulations to Elijah Like and Seth/John on their baptisms!
Medal (by Peter Adkins)
Father deserves a big medal because he helps people in need, and we feed the poor. I think he is a good roll model. This is what he does, good to God, faithfully, a great priest, nice, and smart, etc. I can’t describe Father. He is awesome.
Reconciliation Services has completed another amazing year. In 2009 we served 1,466 families through the pantry. Most of the food distributed is bought at a great discount through Harvesters food bank. The money for that purchasing is donated by St. Mary’s. The other Orthodox churches help, as well, by continuous food drives. That helps to supplement our purchases. Friday night meal program supplied 14,266 meals for the neighborhood. ‘God is with us’ Isaiah 7:14
Thank you all!
From a Corner in the Desert by Robert Garrett
Recently I purchased two books from the Desert Wisdom Bookstore. The books are authored by Archimandrite Zacharias who is a spiritual son of Elder Sophrony . Archimandrite Sophrony reposed in the Lord in 1993,but was able to witness the canonization of his beloved spiritual father St. Silouan of Mt. Athos. Originally, both books were a series of presentations given to Orthodox Clergy at conferences held in Wichita, Kansas. The first book consists of the presentations given by Archimandrite Zacharias in 2001.The second book comes from the conference in 2007.
Several years ago a young friend of mine gave me a set of audio cds from the 2001 conference. Try as I might, however I have never gotten past the introductory lecture. I attribute this to what is evidently my style of learning. I love to read, but I am not much of a listener.
I did, however, read both of these books in the last couple of months. Like a moth drawn to light, like steel drawn to a magnet, I could not put these books down. I’ve also purchased and begun reading Christ, Our Way And Our Life. This book is based on Archimandrite Zacharias’ doctoral thesis, entitled The Actualization of the Hypostatic Principle in the Theology of Archimandrite Sophrony. Let me tell you though, this is book is not merely academic. It is easily as rich as My Life in Christ by St. John of Kronstadt. I do not plan on letting any of these books gather dust, like the cds did. These books, what beauty, what spontaneity (in the question and answer sections), what Love and Life for and in Christ!
For quite a while I have read and studied the teachings of Archimandrite Sophrony. They have given me much insight inspiration and consolation. Many things, however, were just over my head. I would find myself wishing that I might meet someone who also loved Elder Sophrony as much as me that I could relate my impasse to. It has been pure joy to find this person in Archimandrite Zacharias. He has disseminated Elder Sophrony’s teachings, in such a manner that they are broken down for modern mentality (like mine) but not watered it down at all. In fact I feel that I have once again been able to experience the freshness of Holy Tradition, and embrace with renewed vigor the Ancient Christian Path, the Holy Fathers and Our Holy Mother Church.
Now for the fun part. (to be continued)
Broken by Faith Boldt 12-17-09
Some deride me, mock me, point their finger at me.
Others entice me, invite me, bid me,
to join them in their schemes.
But I, I can’t stand to be pulled in such a way.
Humiliation on both ends and nothing solid in between.
My heart is broken for what I could have been,
for what I should have been even for what I might yet be.
Freedom is a dream far, far, away a gulf I cannot cross.
Reality is clearer nearer and nearer to me each and every day.
The chains get tighter. They restrict me, confine me, choke me, until I can’t breathe any longer.
And so I get down on my knees and break this
alabaster jar of my life, a jar of sweat of tears and fears
of dashed hopes and broken dreams.
And I pray I pray that this defiled vessel when it is shattered upon the ground will emit the aroma of life, the aroma of forgiveness and repentance.
And then with joy will I soak my hair in this blessed perfume.
Only then will I be worthy to wipe the dust off the feet
of my Savior who travelled so far to bring me back to him.
Only then will I block out those that jeer me, who call
me unworthy.
And my eyes, my eyes will be on the Glory of the Uncreated Light
