The Lenten spring shines forth.
The flower of repentance!
Let us cleanse ourselves from all evil, crying out to the Giver of Light:
“Glory to Thee, O Lover of man!” (Monday Matins of Cheesefare)
The hymnody of the Church given to us as we cross over into Lent is one of joy, soberness, but ultimately of hope and promise. During the 40 days, we’re committing ourselves, if we are willing, to the hope of healing, increased growth in the knowledge and love of God. We gird our loins to run into battle with Christ, to meet our foe, the Deceiver, who speaks lies to us, telling us and the world around us, that we don’t need God, or, even more crafty: we need God only on our terms. Lent truly is a “spiritual hospital” for us. We may not relish the treatment, but it is desperately needed, if we are to continue to make forward progress in the life that is God alone and is in God alone. In the Fast, we learn to be more vigilant over the ‘inputs’ we bring into our minds, our hearts. We learn to protect ourselves from spiritual harm, we learn to hunger and thirst more after Christ God, that He may be our all in all, “the One thing needful” (Lk. 10:32). As Christ Himself says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). We’re not to fear the disciplines and asceticism of Lent; we remember that they are tools that have proven themselves through the ages, to help countless before us, to fight the passions and acquire an increase in the virtues that unite us and grow us further in our communion with “the only Lover of man,” Jesus Christ. To do so, we take Lent seriously, we strive, we struggle to prioritize the divine services, our time together as we journey with Christ in the desert to meet Satan and defeat him! We keep our focus on Christ! This is the goal of Lent, to gain the victory with Christ. Glory to Him and may this Great Lent be your most fruitful yet!
This week at Holy Archangels:
- Today Forgiveness Sunday, CHEESEFARE, shortened Vespers & RITE of FORGIVENESS.
- Mon., March 3, “Clean Monday,” GREAT LENT BEGINS—Strict Fast through Wednesday!
- Mondays, Fr. Robert’s Day Off (please contact only for pastoral emergencies)
- Tuesday, Feb. 25, 12:50-13:20, Sixth Hour prayers, USNA
- Wed., March 5, 6:30 pm, FIRST PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, Lenten potluck, St. Martin’s (Sign-Up Sheet for all Potlucks for the Presanctified Liturgies is located at Entrance Table).
- Saturday, March 8, 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers. Confession following.
- Sunday, March 9, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy for Sunday of Orthodoxy
Save the Dates:
- Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m., Divine Liturgy of LAZARUS SATURDAY
- Sunday, April 13, PALM SUNDAY. HOLY WEEK BEGINS!
$5,000 Matching Grant Update
We’ve been offered a $5,000 matching grant by an anonymous donor, the goal of which we must reach by Pascha. So Far $2,010 has been given.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Ed, Patricia, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria, the nuns and orphans of St. Thekla Monastery abducted by Syrian terrorist rebels, our brethren in Ukraine.
- The newly-departed Reader Michael
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 (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
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 (from the Lenten Triodion) Tone 6
O Master, Teacher of wisdom, // Bestower of virtue,
Who teaches the thoughtless and protects the poor, // strengthen and enlighten my heart!
O Word of the Father, // let me not restrain my mouth from crying to You:
“Have mercy on me, a transgressor,// O merciful Lord!”
