March 2018 Message From Father Peter

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Glory To Jesus Christ! Glory Forever

We are now two weeks into the Great Fast!   We have begun to stretch our spiritual muscles  and hopefully we are starting to reap the benefits of this joyful season.

To someone outside the household of the faith, it seems incomprehensible that we could describe this time of  increased spiritual effort and  fasting  as being  joyful.  Only one who walks the walk of the Lenten Disciplines of the Church can possibly understand this miraculous  reality,  that in our deprivation of food and earthly pleasures,  we are filled with spiritual riches that  warms our heart and nourishes our soul.

The journey before us while beautiful and holy is also very spiritually and physically demanding.  The Evil One – Satan – is extremely unhappy when we engage in the spiritually profitable activities of  increased prayer, fasting,  spiritual reading and doing good works. He, then, as we well know, steps up his attacks on us and does everything he can do to discourage us and cause us to fall into sin and break the  Fast. Knowing this, the Church encourages us to receive Holy Communion on a more frequent basis, giving us the Evening Presanctified Liturgy midweek to recharge our spiritual batteries.  Please make every effort to come to Confession early on in the Fast, to place you in the right frame of mind, prepared to receive the Holy Gifts and fight the good fight. 

As you will see in the March edition of the Prophet,  which has just been released,  we have a full calendar of  liturgical services,  educational opportunities,  retreats, guest speakers,  opportunities for family worship and fellowship during Great Lent.  While it may not be possible to attend all that is offered,  the variety of offerings and the varying times and days of the week has been purposefully scheduled to allow all parishioners the opportunity to participate in the communal services and activities in some manner.     

Assuring you of my prayers and support during this holy season of preparation for the Feast of Feasts, Holy Pascha, I remain, 

With Love in Christ, and Prayers

Fr. Peter