Newsletter: September 2004

Our Parish Web-site

Our parish has its own web-site, thanks in no small measure to the hard work of our own Fr. Justin. On this web-site is not only a parish history, but also many articles by Fr. Lawrence and Fr. Justin, and links to other sites (such as our official O.C.A. web-site). For those who have not yet visited our church but are finding us on-line, there are directions to the church and information on some of the books available from our Bookstore. More importantly, there are prayer requests and other news, posted by members of our Parish Council. Being a family in Christ is difficult for a community as geographically diverse as ours, and this web-site is one more tool to help us keep in touch.

All my love in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence

Community Annoucements

1. Saturday Vespers, at 7.00 pm, on September 4, 11, 18, and 25

2. Sunday Liturgy, at 10.00 am, on September 5, 12, 19, and 26

3. Note: there are no Bible Studies for the month of September; they will resume in October

4. Vesperal Liturgy for Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Wednesday September 8, at 7.00 pm. Fast from noon onwards in order to receive communion.

5. Vesperal Liturgy for The Elevation of the Holy Cross, Tuesday, September 14, at 7.00 pm. Again, the pre-communion fast begins at noon. This also is a strict fast day, with no meat, fish or dairy; but with wine and oil allowed.

6. Bishop Seraphim to visit St. Herman’s for Great Vespers, on Saturday, September 4, at 7.00 pm, with a time for coffee and fellowship afterwards.

7. Bishop Seraphim to preside at Hierarchical Liturgy at St. Herman’s on Sunday, September 5, greeting the Bishop at 9.45 am (note the earlier time).

8. Fr. Lawrence to take his annual vacation, leaving Thursday September 16 and returning Thursday September 30. Vespers and Liturgy will both continue without interruption while he is away, with Fr. Justin filling in for those services.

9. Sunday School starts on Sunday, Septemer 12th, at 9:00am.


Choir Corner – September 2004

Welcome to our new choir singers! It will be great to have a full bass section again. September is a busy month with Bishop Seraphim’s visit and two Great Feasts (Nativity of the Theotokos and Elevation of the Cross), all of which have special music to review or learn. There will be choir practices every Sunday except for Sept. 5th (Bishop’s visit). This month we are starting a new melody for “One is holy…”, the short “hymn” which precedes the Communion Hymn verse.

The workshop day which I mentioned in last month’s newsletter has been rescheduled for SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13th. At 4:00 pm we will be having a WORSHIP WORKSHOP for everyone (not just choir). Afterwards we will have dinner and then Great Vespers at 7:00 pm as usual. This will be a fun and informative session so please plan to attend. If you have any questions or topics you would like addressed at this workshop, please speak to Fr. Lawrence or me (preferably by mid-October to allow for planning time). There will also be two music workshops that day for the choir, one at 10:00 am and the other at 1:00 pm with lunch in between. Of course, everyone is welcome to attend these workshops as well.

If you have any questions or comments regarding choir, please feel free to speak to me at coffee hour or phone me at 604-591-6326 or email me at davidcolin{at}telus.net (replace "{at}" with "@").

Choir Director, Andrea Folster

St. John Chrysostom

September 14 is not only when the Church celebrates the discovery of the True Cross by Ss. Helen and Constantine, but also the repose of St. John Chrysostom. So is should seem appropriate to consider some of St. John’s thoughts on the Crucifixion of Our Lord.

‘Successes have terrible power to cast down or draw aside those who take not heed. Thus the Jews, who at first enjoyed the influence of God, sought the law of royalty from the Gentiles, and in the wilderness after the manna remembered the onions. In the same way here, refusing the Kingdom of Christ, they invited themselves to that of Caesar. Wherefore God set a king over them, according to their decision. When then Pilate heard these things, he delivered Him to be crucified.

‘And now they laid the cross upon Him as a malefactor. For even the wood they hated, and endured not even to touch it. This was also the case with the type, for Isaac bore the wood. But then the matter stopped at the will of his father, for it was the type; while here is proceeded to action, for it was the reality.

‘The women stood by the Cross, and the weaker sex then appeared the manlier; so henceforth were all things transformed.

‘The soldiers when they came, broke the legs of the others, but not those of Christ. Yet these to gratify the Jews pierced His side with a spear, and now insulted the dead body. The things these men did from a wicked will, fought on the side of the truth. Since there was a prophecy, saying “They shall look on Him whom they pierced” (John 19:37; Zechariah 12:10). And not this only, but the deed then dared was a demonstration of the faith, to those who should afterwards disbelieve; as to Thomas, and those like him. With this too an ineffable mystery was accomplished. For “there came forth water and blood”. Not without a purpose, or by chance, did those founts come forth, but because by means of these two together the Church consists. And the initiated know it, being by water indeed regenerate, and nourished by the Blood and the Flesh. Hence the Mysteries take their beginning, that when you approach to that awesome cup, you so approach, as drinking from the very side.’

Taken from “Homilies on the Gospel of St. John: Homily LXXXV”, in The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. XIV. Trans. by the Rev. Philip Schaff, DD. Reprinted 1989, Grand Rapids, MI.