Beloved Children of God,
This past month has been a great joy and another landmark in the life of St. Lazarus. We have finally arrived in Wasilla by the grace of God. After looking at and talking about so many possibilities and plans which did not work God opened up to us a place to meet as we need to and to keep our chapel set up. All of this for free, by the goodness of the Valley Funeral Home. St. Lazarus has returned to the Valley. It seems almost appropriate that St. Lazarus begins above a funeral home.
We have been able to have a full schedule of Lenten services this year and as the calendar indicates will continue to do so through out the rest of the Great Fast. It has also been wonderful to see old friends and meet a few new ones over the past few weeks now that we don't have to make the journey across the flats. I pray this will continue in the weeks ahead.
Coming up this next month is more of the same. We have the Great Feast of the Annunciation, a feast special to us as it is the patronal feast of Matushka Mary Sara's home church. Then the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God, both in their fullness; a real spiritual boost as we continue through the weeks of Lent. And don't forget the Sunday Akathists to the Wonderworking Ikon of Our Lady of Sitka at the different parishes. These have been a wonderful time to renew and continue our brotherhood amoung the new missions of our church.
And as we draw nearer to the Holy Week I ask that we all set aside this time to reflect deeply on the gift that our God has given to us through the betrayal, crucifixion, death and the raising from the dead of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you can, begin on the Friday night of the Feast of St. Lazarus as Christ raises our Patron Saint from the tomb after a four day burial. From there let us walk with our Jesus through His last week on earth making each step and each lesson our own that we may make His voluntary sacrifice and life-giving gift meaningful to the salvation of our souls and for the hope of those around us.
If we want that Paschal Joy, that light of the never waning Sun, then we must stretch out our hands and stand on our feet bearing our Cross, putting to death that death that lives in us, the passions of self-will and pride. The joy of the wedding feast is coming, let us not falter in running the race that we may be accounted worthy of hearing "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
in Christ's love,
Fr. Christopher
"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name." (Luke 24:47)
This is the final message of the Saviour to the Holy Apostles. In these words, as in a nutshell, is contained the Gospel of God's reconciliation with man. What does God seek of men, and what does He give them? He seeks repentance and gives forgiveness of sins. He seeks little and gives all. Men have only to repent of the committing of sin and stop sinning, and they will receive all from God, all indeed! Not only that which their hearts are able to desire, but more, much more. All is promised to the sinless. The sinless will be the inheritors of the Kingdom of God, sons of God, children of light, children of immortality, companions of the angels, brothers of Christ. The sinless will have abundant life, abundant peace, wisdom, power and joy. The sinless will have all, for all is promised them. Man must only repent, and he will receive all. The beggar must only cleanse himself and bathe and clothe himself in clean clothes before the gates of the heavenly court, and he will immediately be led into that heavenly court and be met and greeted by the King, seated at the King's table, and he will have all, in abundance and flowing over. O my brethren, these are not only words, but are living and holy truth, for we know that many repentant sinners have received all that has been promised. Many have appeared from the other world and confirmed the truth of these words, witnessing how they now live as sons and daughters of the King. They repented in good time, but we have yet to repent if we want to be together with them as heirs of the Kingdom. O Merciful Lord, help us to repent before the hour of death, that we may live in eternity. To Thee be glory and praise for ever. Amen.
Basilissa and Anastasia were two pious and devout Romans. During the reign of Emperor Nero, they gathered the slain bodies of the disciples of the apostles and buried them with honor. For this, they were accused and imprisoned. After prolonged torture, during which their breasts and tongues were severed, they were finally beheaded.
Being the Son of God and Himself God, Jesus Christ took upon Himself the body and soul of a man, and became a perfect man, without sin. Being Almighty, He took the form of a slave. Being King of Heaven and earth, He was born in poverty of a poor mother, in a cave, and lay in a manger. His foster-father was a poor carpenter.
Jesus Christ, the Supreme Lawgiver, in order to fulfill what the Law required, on the eighth day after His birth shed his most precious blood through circumcision. After that, His most Pure Mother took Him into the Temple and paid the redemption for Him, the Redeemer of the world. While Jesus Christ was still in His cradle, Herod tried to kill Him and He fled from him into Egypt, a foreign country.
But do not think that Jesus Christ in His infancy could not understand what was done and what happened to Him. No! Although Jesus Christ is perfect man, yet at the same time He is also perfect God; and therefore He saw and knew everything that was done to Him.
Jesus Christ, being God and the Almighty Whom Heaven and earth and myriads of Angels obey, Himself throughout His earthly life obeyed His Mother who is His own creation. Jesus Christ Who has in His right hand all the treasures of the worlds, during His earthly life had no place on earth to lay His head. Jesus Christ, Whom all Angels and all creatures serve, Himself served men and washed the feet of His disciples who were chosen from the most uneducated and simplest of the people.
Jesus Christ suffered during His preaching a countless multitude of insults of every kind from His enemies. They called Him a sinner and a transgressor of the Law of Moses, and an idle fellow, and a carpenter’s son, and a friend and comrade of gluttons, wine-drinkers and tax-collectors. At one point the malice and fury of His enemies reached such a pitch that they wanted to throw Him down a mountain. On another occasion they wanted to stone Him to death.
In short, from His Birth till His very death, Jesus Christ suffered and saw sorrows and outrages on all sides. He suffered both from men and for men. He was grieved not only because people would not listen to Him and offended Him, but also because they were perishing and were unwilling to be saved from their perdition.
*** Please post your calendar in a convenient place so as not to miss any services.
*** After the Vesperal Liturgy on the 7th there will be a breaking of the fast with a fish wine and oil pot luck. For more information please contact Matushka Mary Sara at 357-9693.
*** I will be gone both Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th returning in time for the Vigil on Saturday night. The fathers of the Anchorage Deanery will be taking the Sitka Ikon on pilgrimage to Fairbanks. We are leaving Anchorage at 12 noon and if anyone would like to caravan up there with us you are more than welcome. You will need to provide your own transportation meals and lodging. A preist is always available in Anchorage for emergencies, please call the diocesan office at: 907-279-0025.
*** We in the Parish of St. Lazarus have two feast days through out the year. Our Patronal Feast is October 17/30 and his main feast is Lazarus Saturday. In keeping with this please make every effort to attend the Lazarus Saturday services, celebrating the feast of our Patron Saint.
*** IF AT ALL POSSIBLE please make arrangements to attend the Holy Week services. Most are in the evening but two of the most important services fall on Thursday morning, the Mystical Supper, and Friday afternoon, the Holy Saturday Vespers of the taking down from the Cross and placing into the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ. These services are halmarks of our faith and essensial to our understanding of being Orthodox Christians.
*** Just as a reminder there is church school for the children immediatly following the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. A short explanation of the Saint, feast or Bibilical event as it pertains to the day is given with a time for questions and anwsers. Some of the best questions have come from parents listening along with the class!
*** The Adult Bible study will continue after Pascha due to the Akathist services being held on Sunday afternoons.