FROM THE PASTOR
I give thanks to God for everyone who helped to make this the best Pascha ever. Thank you to all those who helped build our new church building, to our webmaster, Brett, for keeping our web site updated. Thank you to Timothy, Dan, John, and Isaac who have served at the altar and chanted the beautiful services of lent, Holy Week, and Pascha.
The Ladder of Divine Ascent
Today is the Sunday of the Great fast in which we commemorate St. John the Divine and his famous spiritual manual known as the Ladder of Divine Ascent. This classic book is often called simply “the Ladder.”
(Read biography of St. John from the Prologue)
As we read in today’s gospel, there are some evils in life that can only be conquered through prayer and fasting. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate obviously prayed and fasted in his human nature thus bringing His human nature into complete submission and cooperation with His divine nature.
The Great Fast is like a really well written novel full of complicated plots and fascinating characters. The early chapters of the novel give clues and signs and themes which all work together to lead up to the final conclusion of the story.
If the fast is like a novel, then Holy week is like the final chapter where the pace of events accelerates and the suspense builds and all of the loose ends are tied together into an exciting and inspiring conclusion.
(In addition to the usual services)
FORGIVENESS VESPERS MARCH 9 AT 7PM
Sunday March 9 in addition to the usual services we will have Forgiveness Vespers at 7PM. This is one of the most important services of the church year as we enter the Great Fast making sure we have forgiven each other of any and all grudges and offenses.
NO SERVICE MONDAY NIGHT
THE GREAT FAST AND CANON OF ST. ANDREW BEGINS MARCH 11
