Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord.
The Dormition Fast begins in a week and a half, on Wednesday, August 1, so now’s the time to make your fasting plans. The fasting schedule is outlined further down in this edition of The Happy Priest; if you need to modify it in any way, please contact your spiritual father as soon as possible, so you won’t miss out on any of this fifteen day fast.
Our Calendar
Wednesday, July 25 and Friday, July 27
Fasting Days
Daily Services
The Schedule for the Daily Services will vary for the next few months, due to Father Aidan’s work schedule, so please check the weekly newsletter for the correct days and times. Here’s this week’s schedule:
Monday, July 23
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 24
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
- Monthly Parish Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting, but if you would like to address the council, you need to contact the council president, Chris Lewis, ahead of time.
Wednesday, July 25
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 26
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, July 27
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 28
- St. Thomas School at 4:00 p.m. – Mike Ruse will be leading a discussion of pages 129-148 from the chapter God in the Works of the Eastern Church Fathers.
- Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29
Ninth Sunday of St Matthew
- Orthros at 8:00 a.m.
- Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
- Fellowship Hour at Noon
Coming Up
The Dormition fast runs from Wednesday, August 1 through Tuesday, August 14. During this fast we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) Monday through Friday, with katalysis (a blessing) for wine, and olive oil on Saturdays and Sundays. There is also katalysis for fish, wine and olive oil on Monday, August 6th which is the great feast of the Transfiguration of our Savior Jesus Christ.
On Monday, August 6th, we will celebrate the feast day of our sister parish, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. We are still waiting for the folks there to announce the schedule for the services on the feast day, but we will offer Great Vespers for the feast on Sunday, August 5th, right after Fellowship Hour; the service will begin no later than 1:00 p.m.
During the Dormition Fast, we offer The Paraclesis to the Mother of God each weeknight at 7:00 p.m. That means, this year, there will be nine opportunities to participate in this beautiful service. Please look at your calendars now and plan on joining us as often as you can.
The Dormition Fast culminates with the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. We will offer Great Vespers with the Lamentations for the Theotokos on Tuesday, August 14 and then, on Wednesday, August 15, we will serve Orthros at 7:00 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. Be sure and join us for this greatest feast of the Mother of God.
Our Open House Weekend
As we prepare for our Open House Weekend on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, we thought it would be good to ask the Parish Council members to share their thoughts on hospitality and outreach. Here is what council member Charles Snodgrass has to say:
My view on evangelism actually involves our All-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. My wife and I were discussing the birth of Christ and our protestant congregation referred to it as a barnyard event. We were dumbfounded. We couldn't understand how the birth giver and birth of GOD in the flesh was some simple barnyard experience. We understood the Holy Angels went and announced to shepherds and kings that the King of Kings, the one born King, has entered the world. That basically absurd dialogue led us to look for a deeper understanding of the faith and led us to Holy Orthodoxy.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
Let’s be sure and leave the chairs and the benches for folks who are older and for folks who have physical limitations. Children and young people should always sit on the floor or stand. We never know who is going to come through the door of the nave, so even if it appears that there are vacant chairs or benches, children and young people should remain sitting on the floor or standing.
An unworthy priest,
Aidan