March 2011
PRIEST'S MESSAGE
Dear Faithful,
This year the entire month of March is dedicated to Lent which is in part a Spiritual Journey toward Holy Week and Pascha. It is a time of reflection of God's wonders and our dependence on Him. Lent is further a restoration of our true humanity and purpose of life that should be as God-like as it could be. For this reason, I encourage all of you to fast to the best of your ability and if practical for you with the entire family.
We wish to remind you also of Lenten Services that are celebrated on Monday (Compline Service), Wednesdays (Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy), Fridays (Salutations to the Theotokos) and other Holy Days. Set time aside to attend some or all of these services as an enhancement towards this Lental preparation. Lent for us Orthodox is not primarily considered a Sacrifice or the giving up of anything, but rather a restoration of soul and body through fasting and prayer. Our Lord can want only what is good for us. He could not bring us any harm or injury, and therefore, He prescribes for us a formula of self discipline. Fasting and prayer according to the guidelines of the Church are therefore medicines of the soul, mind and body.
This Lent and coming Holy Week offers us the opportunity of uplift our Christian life and spirituality by embarking on this Lenten journey. Through our own weakness, God gives us strength. Through our shortcoming, God gives us character. Through our sins, God gives us Grace if our hope is in Him.
May our Lord bless all of you this Lenten season.
Paternally yours in our Lord.
Father Chris Orthodoxy
PRIEST'S MESSAGE
Dear Faithful,
With this message I would like to speak about our Orthodox faith and impart to you the true meaning of "Church"
its authority and foundation on earth. Each Christian denomination shares in some basic truths, yet there are
differences and these differences stem mostly (if not always) from segments of the church teaching a new
doctrine causing a break off from the body of Christ "The Church".
For over one thousand years the Church has been one. A living and growing entity in the world struggling towards a likeness of God and therefore salvation of our souls. The Church itself is perfect and does not err, but the human factor does. That is why we struggle, because often we do not agree, and always the enemies of the church would try to confuse and confound the faithful. Hence if we do not stay together in one mind, one heart and one belief in Christ then we break away and either leave the faith or create another church.
Christ came into the world and established one Church, not two or more, and that Church was anointed with fire
on the of Pentecost. Two pillars of the church had been established from the beginning and they are the Holy
Gospels and Holy Tradition. The Orthodox Church has never strayed from this structure of "Church". Today
unfortunately many of our Christian brothers and sisters have throughout the past 700 years wandered into error
by either creating new and strange teachings without the wholeness of the church, or they have completely
abandoned Holy Tradition altogether and stand on one foot, the Gospels.
Orthodoxy holds steadfastly to the truth of faith and Church because it holds close and dear to its heartbeat the
faith of the Apostles and those (The Church) who follow in their teachings. We should know these things not in
pride, but humility. If we are the custodians of God's truth on earth then we bear the greater responsibility to the
world and to the Church. We do not boast of these things nor put down the other, but rather live in Christ through
His Church.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
Father Chris
Sunday BulletinRead our weekly bulletin online and keep up-to-date with this week's parish news and events. Register here and create and link to your own parish bulletin online.
Online Chapel
Read today's prescribed Epistle and Gospel passages and learn about the saints commemorated by the Church on this day
Orthodox Calendar
Our online calendar listing the major saints, feasts, and fasting periods in the Orthodox Church for this month
Featured Video
Enjoy a weekly video feature by GOTelecom on our Church's faith and life.
Iconograms
Send electronic icon greeting cards to your family, friends or loved ones on their name day or any special occasion.
(You can use the menu items above as a guide, or remove it and create your own)
