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Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
The Messenger February 2012
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory
Colossians 3:1-4
St. John Maximovich on repentance
Repentance is expressed by the Greek word, metanoia. In the literal sense, this means a change of mind. In other words, repentance is a change of one's disposition, one's way of thinking; a change of one's inner self. Repentance is a reconsideration of one's views, an alteration of one's life.
How can this come about? In the same way that a dark room into which a man enters is illumined by the rays of the sun. Looking around the room in the dark, he can make out certain things, but there is a great deal he does not see and does not even suspect is there. Many things are perceived quite differently from what they actually are. He has to move carefully, not knowing what obstacles he might encounter. When, however, the room becomes bright, he can see things clearly and move about freely.
The same thing happens in spiritual life.
When we are immersed in sins, and our mind is occupied solely with worldly cares, we do not notice the state of our soul. We are indifferent to who we are inwardly, and we persist along a false path without being aware of it. But then a ray of God's Light penetrates our soul. And what filth we see in ourselves! How much untruth, how much falsehood! How hideous many of our actions prove to be, which we fancied to be so wonderful. And it becomes clear to us which is the true path.
If we then recognize our spiritual nothingness, our sinfulness, and earnestly desire our amendment — we are near to salvation. From the depths of our soul we shall cry out to God: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy according to Thy Great mercy!” “Forgive me and save me!” “Grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother!”
As Great Lent begins, let us hasten to forgive each other all hurts and offenses. May we always hear the words of the Gospel for Forgiveness Sunday: If ye forgive men their debts, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their debts, neither will your Father forgive your debts (Matt. 6:14‑15).
Service Schedule for February 2011:
Every Sat. Vespers 5:30pm, Sun. Hours & Divine Liturgy 9:10am
Please see the calendar for other service times, there are some wonderful saints being celebrated this month, please come and honor them!
Matins is served every Wednesday at 7:30am, unless a Liturgy supersedes it.
Great Lent begins Monday the 27th. It is Christian practice to make an “extra effort” during the great fast, most of all during the first week and Holy week. You will see that during the first week of lent we are doing everything possible to make services available everyday, morning and evening, for the first week. Please take advantage of this and make that “extra effort.”
It is also Christian practice to abstain from meat, eggs and dairy products during the great fast.
Please check the calendar for other services and times.
Solar Roast fellowship: Thursday the 9th & Tuesday the 21st (moved due to Div. Liturgy).
Wayside Cross ministry: 1st Monday of the month, contact Judy for more information.
Bible Study: Wednesday the 1st 8th 15th and 22nd at 6:30pm. Bible Study is preceded by Vespers at 5:30pm. We are in the Gospel of John. There will be no Bible study on the 29th due to the first week of Great Lent.
Upcoming Great Feasts: The Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, Thursday the 2nd.
Memorial Saturday: The commemoration of the departed, Hours and Div. Liturgy Saturday the 18th at 8am. Also this day the catechumen James will be baptized at 11:30.
Iona Brigid Perry will be baptized on the 25th at 2:30pm.
“Monasticism is a cross, and married life is no less of a cross. But without the cross we will not see Christ. You have taken up your cross and it is blessed; now you need to learn to carry it unto salvation, helping yourself and your close ones with sensitivity and prayer.”
Fr. John Krestiankin 20th centuryParish notes
+ Father is blessing homes up until the beginning of Great Lent, please contact him and set up a time to have your home blessed.
+ Congratulations to the Perry's on the birth of their new little girl, Iona Brigid Perry!
+ Parish Council welcomes two new members: Judy Morley and Emilia Shepherd. Thank you to our out going members for your service, Philip Orton and Lisa Budisvaljevic.
+ Bookstore makeover: Thank you to everyone who has donated things for the bookstore, it is looking very nice! Nicholas (Frank) & Milica: arm chair and love seat, Ray and Lisa: area rugs, Barbara: coffee table, Pavel: hard work, shutters and rug. We are still looking for a nice standing lamp.
+ You are invited to donate olive oil for the lampadas in our Church. Our lampadas are not just for aesthetics but also prayerful offerings to our Lord and His saints.
+ Splendid large bees wax candles are now available for church or home use. The cost is $3 each.
+ Green? We are now recycling. Please make sure that you put any recyclable materials in the recycling bin at coffee hour.
+ Book suggestions and bookstore notes:
Father George Calciu (1925–2006) was one of the great confessors of Christianity in the twentieth century. Having survived the diabolic prison experiments of Communist Romania, Fr. George went on to become an apostle to spiritual seekers in Romania and, eventually, throughout the world. He was able to speak authoritatively of God’s love and forgiveness because of his own experience of God’s mercy. As a priest in America, Fr. George maintained a strict ascetic life of fasting and prayer, while at the same time pastoring his flock as a joyful and loving father.
Here we present a collection of his interviews, homilies, and talks. In them he shares his thoughts on his imprisonment, how to pray, his own experience of God’s Uncreated Light, and the Orthodox Christian’s battle against temptations in America. Included in this volume are the “Seven Homilies to the Youth” that he gave in Bucharest in 1978. These homilies, in which he fearlessly called Romanian youth to turn from atheism and materialism to Christ, led to his second imprisonment by the Communist regime. Here, as in his other writings and talks, the common thread of God’s mercy and forgiveness is woven into the fabric of man’s need for repentance and union with his Creator (from St. Herman's Press web page). This book is available in our bookstore!
We have some very nice prayer ropes in the bookstore, please take a look!
+ Every year millions of babies are murdered through abortion. Our local Pro-life group in Southern Colorado is looking for support. There will be information on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall for those who would like to help. If we as Christians do not speak up who will?
+ Treasurer's Report for December (Unofficial)
Will be included in March's bulletin upon presentation and approval by Parish council.
“Therefore if we ask the Lord to forgive us, then we ourselves ought to forgive, for we are in full view of the eyes of the Lord our God, and we must all 'stand before the judgment seat of Christ,' and 'each one must give an account of himself. So, then, let us serve Him with fear and all reverence, just as He Himself has commanded, as did the apostles, who preached the gospel to us, and the prophets, who announced in advance the coming of the Lord. Let us be eager with regard to what is good, and avoid those who tempt others to sin and false brothers and those who bear the name of the Lord hypocritically, who lead foolish men astray.”
Hieromartyr Polycarp of Smyrna, 2nd century. (His feastday is the 23rd and a Liturgy will be served).
Archangel Michael Orthodox Church Newsletter and Calendar
Service Schedule and times for February 2012:
Every Sat/Vespers 5:30pm - Sun/ Hours & Divine Liturgy 9:10am
Click the Calendar button below to view Archangel Michael's monthly Calendar. It includes weekday services, Bible studies, fellowships and more!
Latest updates
House blessings are underway, if you would like your home blessed please contact Fr. Zechariah
The MESSENGER is now available in PDF format monthly by email. To sign up: email "pdf messenger" in the request space using the request form below.
Click here to read a blog by Fr. Zechariah
