Fr. Lawrence’s Message to the Parish

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Herman's: Glory to Jesus Christ! Please forgive my absence from you as I recover from my second emergency retinal surgery in as many weeks. It is very difficult for me to be away from you: when the starting bell rings, an old race horse wants to bolt from the starting gate, and when Sunday morning comes, an old one-eyed priest wants to pray at the altar and preach from the ambo. But my surgeon has forbidden me to return to work for an entire month, and my bishop has ordered me to obey his medical advice.In all this enforced absence, I am consoled by three things. (Here comes the three-point sermon after all.)1. I am consoled by the hard work and dedication of Deacon Kurt, who is God's great gift to all of us. Being the interim pastor for an absent priest was /not /part of the expected job description when he was ordained, and this added burden is made all the more challenging by his extra domestic tasks during the week. Yet he has risen wonderfully to the sudden challenges and our community could not be left in better pastoral hands.2. I am consoled by the presence of my dear friend and concelebrant, Fr. John Bingham. This month has been more than interesting for him as well, and yet he has selflessly carved out the time to befriend a sick brother. I am grateful to him for his love, compassion and kindness, both to me and to our community. It is my hope that we shall yet stand together at the same altar and serve together for many Liturgies.3. Finally, I am consoled by your presence here in my absence, for it means that my words have not altogether been in vain. In all my sermons my aim has been to uplift the Name of Jesus, so that you, the holy people of God, come to Liturgy to meet, worship and exalt Him. He is our joy, the strength in our hearts, the breath in our lungs, and, (as I am discovering) the light in our eyes. You come to Church to commune with Him, as earthly members joined to our heavenly Head.That is, you do not come to Liturgy because Fr. Lawrence is there, but rather because the Lord Jesus is there and because, as His people who belong to Him, you also belong to one another. Your absence from here on Sundays would tell me that you are failing one another as fellow-members of the same body, and therefore that I have failed you as your priest. (And how could I remedy that? By starting to preach_four_-point sermons?)
Therefore, as you meet together in the weeks tocome as the holy community you are, as St. Paul says, "I am filled with comfort, I am overflowing with joy in all my affliction". You are my consolation.May God bless and keep you all.Your loving papa and fellow-servant,
Fr. Lawrence

posted by Mat. Donna Sept 28/2007. Latest newsletter items appear in the post below this one.

From the 2007 October newsletter:

October Special Events
Sun. Oct. 9 Thanksgiving

-- blessing of harvest with holy water after liturgy.


FASTING RULES FOR OCTOBER

Wednesdays & Fridays this month we follow the usual fasts and abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil.

One exception this month:

Fri. Oct. 26 St. Demetrius Fish, wine, oil allowed.



aaYOUTH EVENT THIS MONTH!aa

OUR ANNUAL VISIT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH!

For both age groups together
at Alderacres Pumpkin Patch
Sunday October 28
1:00 to 4:00 PM

Please bring along $5-10* for a pumpkin and goodies from the concession. Also bring warm comfy clothes & shoes to change into after liturgy.
*if you have any concerns about the cost, please speak to one of the youth leaders- Magdalen, Syd or Melissa.

DIAKONIA

Diakonia is a new ministry of Saint Herman's, coordinated by Angelina Hawrylyshen and Maria Campbell. It is a ministry to less fortunate people at the local, national and international levels. Our first project is to put together "mercy bags" for homeless adults. We will be collecting donations of brand new, packaged toothpaste, toothbrushes, bars of soap, deodorant/
antiperspirants, socks, disposable razors, shaving cream and treats/ goodies/candies. Please bring these items to church. There will be a big plastic bin labelled and ready to receive them. We will be accepting donations of items for all of October and November. In December, probably around Saint Nicholas Day, we will put together gift bags of the donated items and take them to a homeless shelter.
Our goal is to give 100 bags. For more information about Diakonia, check out our bulletin board in the hall.

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IMPORTANT service changes

Fr. Lawrence has asked me to post this-- please spread the word to anyone who may not see the news here. Thanks....Mat. DonnaDue to Fr. Lawrence being on sick leave from his surgery, the Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos this Sat. Sept. 8 at 10.00 am will be cancelled.The normal weekend services will continue as scheduled, with Deacon Kurt serving Great Vespers this Sat. Sept. 8 at 7.00 pm, and Obednitza (with the Presanctified Gifts) this Sunday Sept. 9 at 10.00 am. (Note: this is a Eucharistic service, so the faithful should come fasting to receive Holy Communion as usual.)The Vesperal Service for the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross will be served on Thursday Sept. 13 at 7.00 pm, with the Eucharistic Gifts. Either Fr. Lawrence will return to preside, or Deacon Kurt will serve the Presanctified Gifts in his absence.It is hoped that Fr. Lawrence will be able to return from sick leave, serving Great Vespers and Liturgy on Sat. Sept. 15 and Sun. Sept. 16.

From the 2007 Sept. newsletter:

Icons in the Home

You can tell much about a person and discern what is important to him by having a quick look at the inside of his home. Pictures of children reveal the importance of family, models and pictures of ships speak to an interest in the sea. I have even seen a large flag of the Byzantine double-headed eagle proclaiming the love and loyalty of its owner. And of course, in any truly Orthodox home, one should find the holy icons.

Icons are not simply decorations or objets d’art, to be scattered about like secular pictures as part of the decor. They are extensions of our life in the church, and as such their appearance in the home should convey a churchly sacredness. In the church temple, as well as adorning the walls, they also take a specific order on the iconostas (or icon screen). In the home, as well as being on the walls, they should form part of the icon corner.

The icon corner (or wall; it need not be in a corner) is where the family gathers for prayer, as a kind of domestic chapel. Ideally it is oriented (literally speaking!), so that one is facing east when one prays, but this is not always possible. Whatever its orientation, the icon corner functions as the beating heart of the home. Without it, and without its daily use, a house is heartless (spiritually speaking) and Orthodox only in name. The icon corner may be elaborate (with many icons), or quite simple (with only one icon), but whether elaborate or simple, it possesses unrivalled importance in the house and as such should be kept clean and tidy and used regularly. It is the place where one meets the Lord, standing in awe before Him to receive the fire that He will send down upon the human heart.

Yours in the Lord,

Fr. Lawrence


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September Special Events

Sat. Sept. 8 – 10 am
Liturgy Nativity of the Theotokos

Thurs. Sept. 13 – 7 pm Vesperal Liturgy for the Elevation of the Holy Cross (fasting food at meal afterwards)

Sun. Sept. 16 – post liturgy
Special Congregational Meeting

Sun. Sept. 30 -2-3 pm
Life Chain on 200 St.

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Congregational Meeting

A very short congregational meeting
re a budget amendment will be held after liturgy

Sunday Sept. 16th

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FASTING RULES FOR SEPTEMBER

Wednesdays & Fridays this month we follow the usual fasts and abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil.

One exception this month:

Wed. Sept. 26 St. John the Theologian Fish, wine, oil allowed.

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STRICT FAST (no exceptions to the regular Fri. fast) is also kept on Sept. 14 Holy Cross Day

We will have vesperal liturgy the evening before, Thurs. Sept 13. Please fast completely from noon before receiving Communion and bring strictly LENTEN food to share afterward

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YOUTH EVENTS THIS FALL !

Alas, the time has come to say goodbye. My friend and fellow youth leader, David Pasivirta, is off to the island, and it’s with a great sadness that we say goodbye. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you, on behalf of the whole parish, for the work you have done for the youth group. We will miss you greatly, and wish you and Laurenn all the joy in the world.

It is however, with great joy and happy anticipation that I welcome Syd and Melissa Ketel to the youth group team. They will be taking over for Dave as my partners in crime, and starting in September, will be helping me steer the youth group in new and exciting directions. We will be mentioning some of these changes at the upcoming parish meeting. Until then, parents may be assured that we are already working hard to provide fun and blessed events for their youth. We are making plans for a start-of-the-year event for both juniors and seniors, to take place mid-late September.

Thank you again, Syd and Melissa, for taking on this ministry with me. It’s going to be a great year! -- Magdalen F.

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LANGLEY LIFE CHAIN

200th St, 56th Ave-64th Ave,

Sept 30, 2007

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Please join Fr. Lawrence & other members of our parish at this brief
silent demonstration in support of Life.

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DIRECTORY UPDATE TIME!!

Muryn Jordan has taken over the directory update. She will have the draft printout at church this week or next –please check to be sure your information is current and correct