JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

PRIEST'S MESSAGE:

Dear Faithful,

January 6th is the Great Feast Day of our Church commemorating the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River by John who is called the Baptist. This day is called the "Epiphany" or Manifestation of God in human flesh, or we may also call the day "Theophany". We celebrate on this day with a Divine Liturgy combined with the Epiphany service and all the faithful are to attend this most solemn of Holy Days.

As most of you know it is the tradition of our Church for the Priest to come and bless our home: with the very same water that is sanctified during this service. We bless our family, homes, possessions and pets and property, because all these things are blessings from God and by sprinkling and drinking this water we acknowledge Gods grace to come upon us in material form (by water), and we give God due worship and praise for His glory. Jesus on this day began His earthly ministry for the Gospels tell us that when he was Baptized He went to the desert and fasted for forty days then returned choosing His disciples and preaching in the synagogue, performing miracles by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and straightening crooked bodies and souls. How wonderful a way it is for us also to begin the New Year by also being His disciples and devoting ourselves with proper worship, coming to Church every Sunday, praying and proper fasting and feasting. The Epiphany of Christ is indeed a great and Holy Day and we as Orthodox Christians are to recognize it as such just as we recognize Easter and Christmas.
It will be my delight to once again come to your homes and bestow the Lord's blessing upon it and you thus asking for His great mercy for the New Year. May God be with you all.

Paternally Yours in Our Glorified Christ,

Father Chris

Sunday Bulletin

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YOU'RE INVITED!

To:                   A Grand Banquet
GIVEN BY:    Jesus Christ
WHERE:        Holy Cross Orthodox Church
WHEN:          Every Sunday morning at 9:30 am
DRESS:         Neat and clean
PS :                 Bring a friend

Wow! You're invited to a Grand Banquet! The banquet of all banquets. The Mystical and Divine Liturgy! So, are you going? I know I am.

Very often, we decline invitations given by friends or sometimes even by relatives, because we feel that we may not know anyone there or we just don't feel like going. That is understandable, but this invitation is one which we cannot afford to decline. Why? Well, Christ is expecting you to join Him at His Mystical Supper and invites you to eat and drink with Him.

There are many prayers and concepts in the Divine Liturgy which lead up to this important event which we often remain indifferent to, not understanding their meaning and significance. Because of our lack of knowledge this becomes the obstacle to our full appreciation and understanding of the Divine Liturgy and may be what leads us to decline Christ's invitation.

You may say, how can I attend the Divine Liturgy when I don't understand what is going on? This is a legitimate response but one which will help you to grow spiritually and understand the liturgy better. So, the "CHALLENGE" is how to help. You take this first step in accepting the above invitation and I will promise, through our LOGOS Bulletin, a monthly explanation whose purpose will be to explain and help you understand the meaning and significance behind the mystery of the Divine Liturgy. This coupled with a sincere prayer on your part asking God for patience and enlightenment in understanding the Divine Liturgy, will be adequate and most worthy response to our Lord's invitation.

ENJOY THE BANQUET!!!

The photos, on this page and the following, are a true testament to Faith. For without the love of the Orthodox Faith, and the sacrifices made, none of this would have been accomplished. Our gold dome and inspiring mosaic and icons were donated by some of the faithful of the Holy Cross Parish.

The wooden doors were handcrafted by a prisoner, acquainted and inspired with the church through the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church prison ministry.

We are hoping to have the building project complete by next year, the 25th anniversary of the Church.

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