Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord.
The Dormition Fast begins this coming Wednesday, August 1, and it runs through Tuesday, August 14. This is also a busy time, liturgically, with nine Paraclesis Services, the Feast of the Transfiguration, and, of course, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Please be sure and take advantage of everything that this beautiful little season has to offer.
Our Calendar
The Dormition Fast
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 25
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
- Paraclesis Service 7pm
Thursday, July 26
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers/Orthros at 3:00 p.m.
- Paraclesis Service 7pm
Friday, July 27
- No Orthros in the a.m.
- Vespers at 5:00 p.m.
- Paraclesis Service 7pm
Saturday, July 28
- St. Thomas School at 4:00 p.m. – Rebekah Galloway will be leading a discussion of pgs 148-179 in the chapter “God in the Works of the Eastern Church Fathers”
- Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29
Tenth Sunday of St Matthew
- Orthros at 8:00 a.m.
- Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
- Fellowship Hour at Noon
- Great Vespers for the Feast of the Transfiguration to begin no later than 1pm
Coming Up
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 1pm.
During the Dormition Fast, we offer The Paraclesis to the Mother of God each weeknight at 7pm. That means, this year, there will be nine opportunities to participate in this lovely service. Please 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 7am and Divine Liturgy at 9am. 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 Lindsey Bell has to say:
Something unique I've always loved about Orthodox churches is the bookstores. An Orthodox bookstore is a real life treasure trove--a place of warmth and welcome. I remember in our earliest days at St. John's, there was always fragrant tea brewing somewhere, with a gigantic jar of honey with a real wooden dipper to accompany it. The tea, the smell of beeswax, the quiet company of icons and friends, curling up in a tattered easy chair reading some beautiful little collection of holy writings...all of these things made me feel remarkably at home. Later, I would take breaks in the bookstore when I felt too pregnant to stand or socialize. Later still, we would host a "new moms" support group that met and processed in the safety of those walls. Our bookstore is in a new space now, streamlined and smaller, but that welcoming warmth will always exude from it and draw us in to rest.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
We should always remember to dress appropriately for the Divine Liturgy. It is our encounter with the Most Holy Trinity, and our clothes should reflect the importance of that encounter. If you have questions about what is or is not appropriate, you can consult the article from the archdiocese that is on our web-site. If you have specific questions that are not addressed in the article, please feel free to ask one of the deacons or myself. However, if you see someone who is wearing something that is inappropriate, under no circumstances should you say anything to that person because only clergymen have the authority to do that.
I hope the Dormition Fast is a blessing for us all.
An unworthy priest,
Aidan