November 2017 Message From Father Peter

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Christ is in our midst!  He is and ever shall be!

It is hard to believe that Autumn has arrived and later this month, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our families around our tables.

This month (November 21) we celebrate the feast of the Archangel Michael and the Bodiless Powers of Heaven. It is a beautiful feast that reminds us of the ministry of angels within the life of the Church.  

We live in what some may pessimistically describe as dark days. Yes we are faced with unprecedented conflict in the world, with the threat of nuclear war and a looming health care crisis We are weighted down by a seemingly unending controversy over such things as refusing to stand for the national anthem at NFL games, and whether or not to remove statues from public places. And a growing intolerance for traditional Judeo Christian morality and teachings.

What is taking place today, is not new for as the preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes tells us, “there is nothing new under the sun.” From the time of the Fall of Adam and Eve , humanity has been engaged in an unseen warfare between the forces of Good and Evil, Light and Darkness.

When you feel discouraged, please remember, that as Baptized Orthodox Christians we are not alone, but have our own personal guardian angel assigned to us by God for our protection. Behind the scenes, they are fighting the good fight and protecting us from the forces of evil. This month, we are reminded of the powerful role the bodiless powers of heaven play in our lives and in the ministry of the Church in Heaven and on earth.

As we celebrate the feast of the Bodiless Powers of Heaven this month, I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in the faith.

With Love in Christ,

Fr. Peter