From theAPRIL 2007 newsletter

A Deacon for the St. Herman’s Family

No doubt by now everyone knows the good news: on this coming Palm Sunday, April 1 (no jokes about April Fools please!), Bishop Seraphim will be here at St. Herman’s to ordain Kurt Jordan to the holy diaconate. Though he will technically be ordained “Deacon Edward” (technically he is already “Subdeacon Edward”), he has the Bishop’s blessing to be referred to in the parish as “Deacon Kurt”. Right after this joyful Palm Sunday event, our newly-ordained deacon will be thrown into the liturgical deep end, so that the first services he serves will be those of Holy Week and Pascha. God bless him!

This ordination is good news indeed, not only for me, as the presiding priest, but for all of us. The presence of a deacon emphasizes all the more clearly how the Liturgy is not a one-man show, but rather requires the liturgical contributions of many. Indeed, all of the faithful are called to add their voice, each in their own specific way, so that the Divine Liturgy is the work of the entire church body. The deacon does not just save work for the priest; he enriches the total liturgical experience for us all.

How can we express our gratitude to God for this gift, and to Kurt and his family for their willingness to take this step? We will, of course, sing our ‘jewel-encrusted Many Years’ after the service, and many will want to give the new deacon a congratulatory handshake or hug. But there is another more tangible way to show our gratitude as well.

One thing that a deacon needs to serve us is a set of vestments. And such vestments, with their different colours to reflect the varying seasons of the church year, have to be specially made. (Wal-Mart has so far not picked up on this possible niche market.) Our Parish Council has decided that a special fund should be set up to help pay for these vestments, which are very expensive, and often beyond the reach of a single person. If you would like to donate to this fund, simply write a cheque, payable to St. Herman’s, and mark on the cheque “clergy vestments”.This Palm Sunday marks the beginning of a new and joyful era for St. Herman’s church. Do keep the new Deacon Kurt and his family in your prayers as he takes his first diaconal steps in the service of God and our parish family. May God bless Deacon Kurt, Diakonissa Victoria and their children, Avery, Jonah and Christian, and grant them protection, joy and Many Years!

Yours in the Lord

Fr. Lawrence

+++++ April Events +++++

Holy Week & Paschal Services

The following services will all be at 7 p.m.

Sun Apr. 1 - Palm Sunday Ordination at Hierarchical Liturgy

Mon. Apr. 2 – Bridegroom service

Tues. Apr. 3 – Bridegroom service

Wed. Apr. 4 – Presanctified Liturgy (fast from noon)

Thurs. Apr. 5 – Passion Gospels

Fri. Apr. 6 – Service of the Shroud followed by vigil at the Tomb

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sat. Apr. 7 – 9.00 am St. Basil’s Liturgy

10.00 pm Baptism

11.30 pm Pascha! and blessing of baskets

Sun. Apr/ 8 – 4:00 pm Paschal Vespers,

blessing of baskets and Paschal feast

(Note: NO Liturgy Sunday morning at 10 am)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Apr. 19-23 -Fr. Lawrence away at Archdiocesan Council (weekend services continue as usual with Fr. Justin)

FASTING RULES APRIL 2007

Palm Sunday fish, wine & oil allowed

Holy Week Strict Lenten fast as on regular Wed/Fri—NO meat, dairy, eggs, fish, alcohol, olive oil. Allowed: shellfish and all non-animal product foods.

Holy Wednesday complete fast from noon for communion at PreSanctified Liturgy 7 pm

Holy Friday those with the strength fast completely until after veneration of the Shroud 7 pm

Holy Saturday complete fast from noon for communion at midnight Paschal liturgy

Paschaltide fast free, with the blessing of Bp. Seraphim, until the leavetaking May 16^th on the eve of Ascension