December 2006 Newsletter

Getting to Know Saint Herman

St. Herman’s Alaskan contemporaries knew him primarily as their advocate, defender and friend. Along with the others of the original Alaskan mission which arrived from Russia in 1794, St. Herman won the trust of the Aleuts among whom he lived by pleading their cause before the powerful and by striving to defend them from exploitation by the Russian fur-traders of the region. He not only preached the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and sealed his words by his holy life; he also won their hearts by the love he showed them. He nursed them and their children when they were sick, defended them by his prayers when they were in danger, and buried them after they died. Though he was a great monk, it was not his monasticism nor his asceticism which impressed them the most. What impressed them was the fact that he identified himself with them, and sided with them, even against his own Russian people. As he opened his heart and gave himself to them, they knew that a saint lived among them, and in 1970 they insisted that the newly-autocephalous Orthodox Church in America canonize him.

We who are the heirs of the evangelism done by St. Herman and the others of that original mission also know that a saint has walked among us. And, more importantly, we know that a saint still supports us by his prayers. St. Herman stands before the throne of God as our patron and our friend. Our church in Langley is blessed to house one of his holy relics, which we venerate every time we come to church. I would urge you to get to know our patron more deeply, and to ask for his holy intercession.

To help in this task of getting to know St. Herman, I have written, at the Bishop’s request, a new Akathist to St. Herman, which Bishop Seraphim has blessed for liturgical use in our Archdiocese. We will pray this service together on the feast day of his falling asleep, December 13^th. You may also download the text from our website for use in your private prayers. Through his prayers, may Saint

St. Herman of Alaska help us to draw closer to Christ our God, that we may glorify Him, our Saviour and King, the One who is wonderful in His saints.

All my love in the Lord,

Fr. Lawrence

Special events & services this month:

Sat. Dec. 2—10 am Children’s St. Nicholas Day

Wed. Dec. 6 – 7.00 pm Akathist to St. Nicholas

Wed. Dec. 13 – 7.00 pm Akathist to St. Herman

Sat. Dec. 16—11 am Women’s Quiet Day at Theresia’s

Christmas services:

Sun. Dec. 24 – Liturgy 10.00 am

Sun. Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Vigil 6.00 pm

Mon. Dec. 25 – Christmas Day Liturgy 9.00 am NO lunch

Wed. Dec. 27 –NO Vespers

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-Fr. Lawrence away in Comox for dedication of St Barnabas chapel Dec. 9-10 (Fr. Justin fills in for all services while Fr. Lawrence away) Fr. Lawrence will be present as Dean for the service in the new chapel and will present an icon of St. Herman on behalf of St. Herman’s Church to our sister parish in Comox

Fasting Rules December 2006

The rest of Advent all days this month we abstain as usual from meat, fish and dairy, with these exceptions:

Wed Dec 6 St. Nicholas, Wed Dec 13 St. Herman and

weekends Dec 2-3, 9-10, 16-17: fish, wine & oil permitted

All Tuesdays, Thursdays, and last weekend before Christmas Dec 23-24: Wine & Oil Only, no fish, permitted

NO fasting Dec. 25 to Jan. 4 inclusive