St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church
From the August 2007 Newsletter
On the Ringing of Bells
For many centuries, bells have always been a sign of the presence of the Church and the triumph of Christ—so much so that in some Islamic countries, church bells are forbidden. (This is the origin of the use of the semantron—the long wooden board which was beaten as the summons into church, for it was used as a substitute for bells when their use was forbidden). Currently at time of writing (early July) we have one small bell hanging in the narthex which is rung as our summons into the church nave for services. God grant this summer we will have a larger set of bells, installed outside safely in a small bell-tower enclosure. When they are installed, they will be rung each Sunday morning, as the call to the faithful to gather for worship.
Even now, we should prepare ourselves to respond to the sound of the bell. Whenever we hear this ancient and holy sound, we should conclude our conversations and file immediately into church. The deacon lets the priest know that it is time for the Liturgy to begin by telling him, “It is time for the Lord to act.” The priest may not delay—the urgency of the holy time is upon him. The bells serve as the deacon for the faithful. When they are struck and rung, we know that it is the holy and appointed hour. Christ is in our midst, to speak to us, to feed us, to transform us. The bell calls us all to this sacred and life-giving encounter with Him.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
DEANERY CAMP COUNTDOWN ! !
CAMP DRAWS EVER CLOSER!
Thurs. August 23- Tues. August 28
The location will be Seven Springs, at
Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island.
Contact Dn. Kurt dnkurt@saintherman.org
with any questions.
Potential Staffers and Campers are encouraged to go to www.starsenycamp.ca and register... TODAY!
August Events
Sun. Aug. 5—Transfiguration Liturgy w. blessing of grapes & fruit
Wed. Aug 8—St. Herman vespers
Wed. Aug 15—Dormition vesperal liturgy & blessing of flowers,
followed by panikhida for Nonna Evans. Festal meal follows
FASTING RULES FOR AUGUST
Wednesdays & Fridays this month we follow the usual fasts and abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil with exceptions below:
Dormition Fast Aug 1-14:
On weekdays of the Fast, we abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil.
On Saturdays and Sundays of the Fast, we abstain from meat, fish and dairy, but are allowed wine and oil.
Fish, wine and oil are also allowed on:
Aug. 6 Transfiguration. We are not serving this day, but will celebrate the feast at liturgy on the forefeast Sunday Aug. 5. Father has given permission for fish that Sunday.
Aug. 9 St. Herman of Alaska
Aug. 13 St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
STRICT FAST (no exceptions to the regular Wed. fast) is kept on
Aug. 29 Beheading of John the Baptist
===============================================
WED Aug 15 Dormition: fast from noon for communion at vesperal liturgy. FESTAL meal afterward—bring food to share.
NO youth event this month
Because of CAMP! J
Watch for the next youth get-together in the fall!
aaaaaaaaaaaa
Blessing of Grapes and other harvest fruits at Transfiguration after Liturgy Sunday August 5th
and
blessing of Flowers & herbs at Dormition vesperal liturgy Wed. Aug 15th
aaaaaaaaaaaa
Pray for our catechumens:
Andrew Friesen
Lindsey Friesen
Dylan Falk
Ryan Bishop
Robyn Bishop
Meike Hall
Peter Hall
Pray for expectant mothers:
Monica Olteanu
Deanna Chattaway
For many centuries, bells have always been a sign of the presence of the Church and the triumph of Christ—so much so that in some Islamic countries, church bells are forbidden. (This is the origin of the use of the semantron—the long wooden board which was beaten as the summons into church, for it was used as a substitute for bells when their use was forbidden). Currently at time of writing (early July) we have one small bell hanging in the narthex which is rung as our summons into the church nave for services. God grant this summer we will have a larger set of bells, installed outside safely in a small bell-tower enclosure. When they are installed, they will be rung each Sunday morning, as the call to the faithful to gather for worship.
Even now, we should prepare ourselves to respond to the sound of the bell. Whenever we hear this ancient and holy sound, we should conclude our conversations and file immediately into church. The deacon lets the priest know that it is time for the Liturgy to begin by telling him, “It is time for the Lord to act.” The priest may not delay—the urgency of the holy time is upon him. The bells serve as the deacon for the faithful. When they are struck and rung, we know that it is the holy and appointed hour. Christ is in our midst, to speak to us, to feed us, to transform us. The bell calls us all to this sacred and life-giving encounter with Him.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
DEANERY CAMP COUNTDOWN ! !
CAMP DRAWS EVER CLOSER!
Thurs. August 23- Tues. August 28
The location will be Seven Springs, at
Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island.
Contact Dn. Kurt dnkurt@saintherman.org
with any questions.
Potential Staffers and Campers are encouraged to go to www.starsenycamp.ca and register... TODAY!
August Events
Sun. Aug. 5—Transfiguration Liturgy w. blessing of grapes & fruit
Wed. Aug 8—St. Herman vespers
Wed. Aug 15—Dormition vesperal liturgy & blessing of flowers,
followed by panikhida for Nonna Evans. Festal meal follows
FASTING RULES FOR AUGUST
Wednesdays & Fridays this month we follow the usual fasts and abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil with exceptions below:
Dormition Fast Aug 1-14:
On weekdays of the Fast, we abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil.
On Saturdays and Sundays of the Fast, we abstain from meat, fish and dairy, but are allowed wine and oil.
Fish, wine and oil are also allowed on:
Aug. 6 Transfiguration. We are not serving this day, but will celebrate the feast at liturgy on the forefeast Sunday Aug. 5. Father has given permission for fish that Sunday.
Aug. 9 St. Herman of Alaska
Aug. 13 St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
STRICT FAST (no exceptions to the regular Wed. fast) is kept on
Aug. 29 Beheading of John the Baptist
===============================================
WED Aug 15 Dormition: fast from noon for communion at vesperal liturgy. FESTAL meal afterward—bring food to share.
NO youth event this month
Because of CAMP! J
Watch for the next youth get-together in the fall!
aaaaaaaaaaaa
Blessing of Grapes and other harvest fruits at Transfiguration after Liturgy Sunday August 5th
and
blessing of Flowers & herbs at Dormition vesperal liturgy Wed. Aug 15th
aaaaaaaaaaaa
Pray for our catechumens:
Andrew Friesen
Lindsey Friesen
Dylan Falk
Ryan Bishop
Robyn Bishop
Meike Hall
Peter Hall
Pray for expectant mothers:
Monica Olteanu
Deanna Chattaway
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