With the setting of the sun last evening and the beautiful Vespers of Forgiveness, we entered the blessed season of Great and Holy Lent. Whether as a catechumen who is preparing to be received into the Church or a faithful steward of the Orthodox Church, let us pray that these days be marked by our repentance before God, our brothers and sisters, the forgiveness of others, a thoughtful fast, a generous giving of alms, and fervent prayer.
Below is a beautiful reflection on how to prepare for the Risen Lord on Pascha, from Fr. William Weir. As always, I thank him for his love, prayers, priestly example, and efforts on behalf of the faithful at the Serbian Orthodox parish and our community.
Our liturgical schedule through next Sunday is as follows:
Monday, February 23 Holy Unction, 6 PM
Tuesday, February 24 Canon of St. Andrew, 6 PM
Wednesday, February 25 9 th Hour/Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 5:45 PM
Thursday, February 26 Canon of St. Andrew, 6 PM
Friday, February 27 9 th Hour/Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, 8:45 AM
Salutations to the Theotokos, 6 PM
Saturday, February 28 Orthros/Liturgy, 9 AM (Saturday of Souls)
Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, March 1 Orthros /Liturgy 8 AM
Great Vespers, 6 PM @ Saint Anna Parish (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
You will also see a photo of our catechumens from yesterday’s Liturgy. Each of these individuals has a unique story that brought them to Christ and to His Church; thank you to those who stayed in our fellowship hall yesterday for their introductions. Please pray for them and their families, asking that they be prepared for Holy Baptism and Chrismation. Also, please consider serving as a godparent.
Most Resp.,
With prayers and love in Christ,
And asking for your forgiveness,
+fr. christopher
PS. I also ask for your prayers for our southern neighbors in Mexico. Pray for their citizens and for those from our land (and parish) who are working or visiting Mexico at this time. May the Lord hear our prayer, bring peace to the country, and keep safe those in harm's way.
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As we begin this year's season of Great Lent, we should make spiritual plans. We have read the prescribed Gospel lessons and other readings during Divine Liturgy and Vespers over the past four weeks leading up to Lent. These Gospel lessons and readings help prepare us for this “Journey to Pascha.” The time is now upon us, and we must answer the question: “What should I do during Lent?” More importantly, the question is: “How shall I prepare myself to greet my Risen Lord on Pascha?”
We understand that the Church guides us on fasting requirements, as well as other changes and activities we should participate in. Our main goal and focus is to grow closer to God in our personal relationship with Him. Everything else is meant to support us. For example, one reason we fast, including the type and amount of food we eat, is to weaken us physically so that we can learn humility. We also develop obedience and moderation through fasting. The reason we avoid dancing and festive activities is also to learn obedience and moderation, helping us shift our focus and prayers toward spiritual matters and communicate with our Savior, Jesus Christ.
No one has said that the Lenten Journey is easy, but it is ultimately enriching and rewarding. One good way to experience Lent is by using a guidebook. There are many options to choose from. We don’t need to be fully immersed in deep theological study; rather, it’s enough to find a source of daily inspiration and insight. That’s why we encourage this small addition to our daily routine. The following paragraphs will offer some suggestions. I’ve identified some of our Orthodox Lenten Classics, as well as a recently released family guide of readings—any of these will certainly be helpful to each of us.
The recent release is *Tending the Garden of Our Hearts - A Daily Lenten Meditation for Families*. This series offers daily short readings aligned with the weekly themes of Lent. Most are based on the life of a Saint and are suitable for family reading, often accompanied by brief discussions among family members. The book is available through www.AncientFaith.org.
The “Classics” are listed below without additional details. Such information is easily found online. You can also find plenty in our Church Library to use. This is not heavy theological reading that’s hard to understand. Each of these books is straightforward and easy to read, with the authors aiming to share knowledge and inspiration with you, not make you feel inadequate.
§ Great Lent-Fr. Alexander Schmemann
§ The Lenten Spring-Fr. Thomas Hopko
§ The Power of the Name: The Jesus Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality-Met. Kallistos Ware
§ Becoming Human-Fr. John Behr
§ God’s Many- Splendored Image-Sister Nonna (Nonna Verna Harrison)
§ The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection-Edited and translated by Benedicta Ward.
§ The Ladder of Divine Ascent-St. John Climacus
In my opinion, these are the "Classics," but many other books and resources are available from most Seminary Press publishers or bookstores, including the Archangel Gabriel Bookstore at the parish. If, for some reason, you cannot use one of these resources, remember that the PRIMARY reading source is Holy Scripture. There are daily prescribed readings from the Old and New Testaments, especially the Psalter (Book of Psalms).
Whatever you choose to do is up to you. It is most important that you take an affirmative step in this direction. If you start a program of reading and contemplating a daily meditation, don't get frustrated if you miss a day or two and feel the need to “catch up." It's like what doctors tell us about prescriptions: it's better to just let it go and keep going, one day at a time.
Reading a daily meditation is a good practice. We should also remember to be diligent in attending the Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, Vespers, and Divine Liturgy as often as we can. It is especially helpful to attend every evening during the first week of Lent when we read the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. You will encounter many thoughts that inspire you. Intensive participation in the first week will make the rest of Great Lent feel less burdensome. When we reach the mid-Lent Veneration of the Holy Cross, you will feel a strong sense of accomplishment and spiritual reward that will continue to motivate you for the weeks ahead. Attending all the Holy Week services and engaging in constant prayer will lead you to the glorious day of Pascha. Your personal reward will be a true celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection. You will also experience an inner Resurrection. May God help us all to feel the rewards and positive transformations in our spirits and in our relationship with Him during Great Lent, and grant us the physical and mental strength to undertake this journey properly.
