My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When most think about what “church” is, it is either a destination for which one goes to for worship, or it is the gathering of the faithful for purposes of prayer, or both.  For those that are more greatly connected, it is a community of like believers, hopefully in communion with one another in a uniform code of ethics, conduct and beliefs. It is a gathering of like believers in faith.

Although all of the above is true, it is truly a cursory understanding of what “church” is.  It is a surface understanding that distills what “church” is supposed to be down to its simplest level. When in fact, “church” is a family, and families are complexed and nuanced—each person of the family having a unique relationship with every other member; each offering different talents and understandings to the whole.

You and I, and all of those who are in good standing in the Orthodox Church are brothers and sisters. We most often add “in Christ,” but this is merely to differentiate from those that are of blood relations.  We are “brothers and sisters” created in the image of our Father and united in thoughts, beliefs, purpose and, most importantly, love.—or at least we should be.  The “church” therefore is no longer a destination or merely a gathering place for the like minded, but our family’s generational home! By this, “church” is no longer a place or event, but we become the “Church.”

In a few short weeks, we will be gathering for Great and Holy Week.  We will come together as our Father, Creator, Savior and Lord is tortured and put to death in the flesh with only one purpose, to enter into the realm of death so that we don’t ever have to.  He “tramples down death by death” so that we may have life! He then resurrects to give us the “good news” (the meaning of Gospel) so that we may believe and receive this gift that none of us have earned or deserve.  We should be there with Him, as we are the benefactors of this divine condescension, humility and grace.

All He asks is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength; and, to love each other as we love ourselves.  In other words, be the “Church.”

A Blessed Great and Holy Lent to all of you as we prepare for His Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection!

In Christ,

Fr. Jon

Palm Sunday Luncheon - April 28^th

Adults $10—Children 7-12 are $5 (Children under 6 are free)

Sponsored by the Philoptochos

St. Nicholas Summer Camp - July 7-12!!!

Click Here for Deatails - https://stnicholascamp.org/

Are you already Kroger shopper?
Your current shopping could be benefitting the Assumption!

Kroger Community Rewards® makes fund-raising easy...all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!

______________________________________________________

TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)

· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions

· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.

· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.

· Update or confirm your information.

· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.

· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.

· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!

By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!

Philoptochos’ Charity for April: Supplies Over Seas (SOS)

SOS collects medical surplus and redistributes them to underserved or in-crisis clinics, hospitals, homeless shelters, displacement camps, and animal rescues. SOS, by supplying repurposed medical supplies and equipment, has delivered health and hope to over 1 million people, from Ghana to Ukraine, Ethiopia and Cuba to Eastern Kentucky. Since 1983, SOS has saved more than 4 million pounds of medical equipment and supplies from landfills!

Please search your home for items once used by a family member for an illness or an injury, but now just taking space in your closets.

Needed and acceptable items include:

• Opened boxes of gloves, gauze, band aids, tongue depressors, blood testing strips, thermometers, and any first aid supplies
• Braces, crutches, walkers, canes, orthopedic aids, glasses, wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors, removable casts, unopened syringes

Not accepted: medications and nutrition supplements

St. Bernadette Diaper Bank Ministry

Thank you to all that donated to this ministry. We collected 627 diapers and 900 wipes. They are grateful for our support.

The next Philoptochos meeting will be on Sunday April 14 after church.