ANNOUNCEMENTS
We offer a reminder that this year Western Christians begin their Great Lent this week with Ash Wednesday, February 14, while the Orthodox Church will begin our Great Lent on Monday, March 18. Because of this our Holy Pascha will be Sunday, May 5 this year.
Next Sunday, February 25, we commemorate the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and the beginning of the Lenten Triodion. This begins the several weeks of our Pre Lent season of preparation for Great Lent and consists of the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, Sunday of the Prodigal son, Sunday of the Last Judgment( Meatfare Sunday) and Sunday of Forgiveness ( Cheese fare Sunday). Following the Triodion Great Lent and the Great Fast will begin on Monday, March 18 and Holy Pascha will then be on Sunday, May 5. Please pick up the special flyer on the Pre-Lenten and Lenten Sundays on the candle table in the Narthex.
Also as we prepare to enter this Pascha season you can use a wonderful resource on the Archdiocese website. Click on each day of the Triodion, Great Lent, Holy Week, or Pentekostarion to see a detailed explaination of the day and on many occasions it's respective icon. Go to https://www.goarch.org/lent. See the bulletin insert for a screenshot of the website.
As we prepare to enter our Pre Lenten preparation, we offer a reminder that we will have our three Lenten Soul Saturday services on March 16, 23 and 30. Please make sure the names of your departed family members and friends are handed in so that we can pray for them all at these special Memorial Services.
Other than The Feast of Feasts, Great and Holy Pascha, there are 12 Major Feasts in the Orthodox Church. They are: Epiphany, Nativity of Christ, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Ascension, Transfiguration, Presentation of Christ, Nativity of the Theotokos, Entrance of the Theotokos, Annunciation, and Dormition of the Theotokos. Go to the website https://www.goarch.org/feasts for an explaination of each feast.
This week we celebrate the Feast of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna on February 23- he was a discipline of the Holy Apostle Saint John the Theologian - and also the Feast of the 1st and 2nd Findings of the Head of Saint John the Baptist. Come and join us as we celebrate these Holy Days in prayer and so honor Saint Polycarp and Saint John the Baptist!
BIRTHDAYS
This week we extend our best wishes and congratulations to Malama Trasivoulou as she celebrates her birthday today on February 18 and to Nataliya Molsbee as she celebrates her birthday on February 19. May the Lord our God bless His servants, Malama and Nataliya, and grant to them many more blessed and happy years!
If we missed your anniversary or birthday it means we don't have you information listed on our roster. Please let us know so we can make the updates.
MEMORIAL
On Sunday, Fev 18, we offer the 1 year Memorial Service for the departed servant of God, Bassem Nectarios Elmarakshi. May the Lord our God grant a blessed repose to His departed servant, Bassem, and may his memory be eternal.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND RECOVERING
Pray for Saidi Maalouf, Niki Arnold, Karen Henderson, Tristan Freeman, Demetri Vlahos, and Angelo Hagicostas as they recover from their illnesses. May the Lord our God quickly heal His servants. Get well soon.
Please let Father Paisius know of any parishioner who is sick so we may pray for them.
ORTHODOX STEWARDSHIP
Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs. As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him. Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which they have been blessed. See bulletin insert for 2024 Stewardship Pledge Form.