Tomorrow we begin the Fast of Great and Holy Lent, putting our earthly cares and distractions aside to journey with Christ, to be with Christ. We fast and pray as He did before facing and defeating the Devil so we may do the same. We make the most of this ‘spiritual hospital’ so that we can take several steps forward in faith, growing in the knowledge and love of God in union with Him. We do so to focus on Him and the healing of our souls. Our tools are prayer, fasting, the giving of alms, the divine services—particularly the Presanctified Liturgies on Wednesdays, in addition to Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy on the weekends, and the Prayer of St. Ephraim. We struggle vigorously with our passions, making the most of the Sacrament of Confession to give our sins over to Christ, learning to trust Him more and experiencing His forgiveness, restoration, the cleansing of our souls. So that we may purify ourselves inwardly as we begin the Fast, Christ has as our starting place for the Fast, forgiveness. We acknowledge before God and before one another the spiritual pollution our sins cause. We ask forgiveness, so that we, in turn, may find forgiveness from our Lord. It does us no good to fast and pray and journey through Lent if we are not prostrating our hearts before God AND our fellow man. Metropolitan Kallistos Ware says, “The fast without mutual love, is the fast of demons!” So, we hope, we pray, we struggle, we worship, we fast, so that we may arrive at Holy Pascha changed, transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ. In Christ’s Love, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS (all services at our church home—47 Spa Rd):
- Today: Sunday of Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise, Cheesefare Trapeza, followed by Forgiveness Vespers, Rite of Forgiveness (liturgical start of Lent)!
- Mon, Feb. 27, Clean Monday, strict fast, beginning of fast for Great and Holy Lent.
- Mon, Feb. 27, 6:00 p.m., Great Compline of St. Andrew of Crete (traditionally prescribed service of repentance for each day of the first week of Lent)
- Wed, March 1, 6:30 p.m., First Presanctified Liturgy, New Bible Study: “The Ten Commandments in the Life of the Faithful Christian” during our soup suppers.
- Thurs, March 2, 6:00 p.m., Great Compline of St. Andrew of Crete (traditionally prescribed service of repentance for each day of the first week of Lent)
- Sat, March 4, 6 p.m., Great Vespers, Sunday of the Last Judgment, Confession following
- Sun, March 5, Sunday of Orthodoxy followed by Annual Meeting ALL are welcome and encouraged to attend (Voting members are those who have confessed and received at Holy Archangels in 2016, contribute financially, and are 18 or older).
Looking Ahead: Mark your Calendars!
- March 10-18, Robert leading ten OCF students for National OCF Realbreak Mission to Romania. Fr. Ignatius will serve in Father’s stead on Sunday, March 12.
- Saturday, March 25, Annunciation Retreat: Gheorghe Calciu’s “Seven Words,” film, discussion, dinner, testimonies from his spiritual children, others. More details TBA.
Confession and Reception: In keeping with OCA Guidelines, it is the discipline at Holy Archangels to practice monthly confession. If you wish to receive Communion and a month has passed and you have not made confession for good reason, or, are visiting, please talk with Fr. Robert prior to the service and before approaching the Chalice to ask for a blessing to receive.
YOUCARING—Expanding the Mission: Our Mission has the opportunity to move into the much larger space with a large front window on West St. to expand our bookstore and outreach efforts and make more room for new families and individuals. We’ve been offered a $5,000 matching grant to be used for this purpose. Please share the YOUCARING opportunity with your family and friends on social media. Also, we need an additional $400 (at a minimum) in monthly pledges to be able to sustain the move. Please see Fr. Robert and/or Rdr. Zenon if you can help.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission & ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- Forgiveness, memory eternal: Marie (Paul’s Aunt), victims of St. Mark Cathedral terrorist attack
- Metropolitan Isaiah of Georgia, Archpriest George, Rdr. John, Gov. Hogan, Benedict, Daniel, Mat. Janet, Eric, Daniel, Noah, Norm, Svetlana, Alex, Gary, Timothy, the Church in Georgia & Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our persecuted
brethren in the Middle East, a peaceful resolution in Syria.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice! // Let the earth be glad!//For the Lord has shown strength with His arm. He has trampled down death by death.//He has become the first born of the dead.
He has delivered us from the depths of hell//and has granted to the world//great mercy.
Troparion (Angels) Tone 4
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 3
On this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One, //leading us from the gates of death.
On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; // with the Prophets and Patriarchs//
they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Thy power.
Kontakion (from the Lenten Triodion) Tone 6
O Master, Teacher of wisdom, // Bestower of virtue,
Who teachest the thoughtless and protectest the poor,
strengthen and enlighten my heart! // O Word of the Father,
let me not restrain my mouth from crying to Thee:
Have mercy on me, a transgressor,// O merciful Lord!
Kontakion (Angels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies//and ministers of the divine glory, // princes of the bodiless Angels
and guides of mankind;//ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//
O Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
Holy Archangels Orthodox Church
www.OrthodoxAnnapolis.org
Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017
Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4
Gospel: Matthew 6:14-21
Rev. Fr. Robert Miclean, Rector
443-256-3767/262-844-2369 Fr.RobertMiclean@gmail.com
