2009 JANUARY NEWS ITEMS

Special events in January 2009:

Tues. Jan. 6th Theophany
7:00 pm Vesperal Liturgy & Blessing of Water

Please NOTE:

· FAST DAY (Lenten Food only) Mon. Jan 5th (day before Theophany)
· FAST From noon Tues. Jan 6th before communion
· BRING FESTAL foods to share after liturgy
· Please bring bottle to take holy water home.

Fri. Jan 9
7 PM Men’s Evening at Greg Wright’s
Sun. Jan. 11
1 PM (after lunch) Blessing Fraser River with other Orthodox parishes
Sun. Jan. 25
1 PM (after lunch) Annual Congregational Meeting


HOUSE BLESSINGS after THEOPHANY:
It is customary to have your house blessed in the Theophany season. Please arrange a time with Fr. Lawrence. Lent comes early this year, and in our growing parish it is important to try to schedule these as soon as possible. Leaflets will be available to let you know what to expect.

Congregational AGM–

SUNDAY JAN. 25th after lunch
Sun. Jan. 11 – last day for nominations to Parish Council
Sun. Jan. 18 – last day for possible additions to agenda

COMING UP IN FEBRUARY:

Our library is in the process of being entirely redone, involving transforming the room in which it is located from a kind of all-purpose junk room to an attractive, secure and useful home for our resources. This will take some time and more than a little construction work, so the room is being closed from now until the time of its Grand Opening on Sun. Feb. 1.

In keeping with such a sweeping transformation and re-organization, the library will be renamed the Three Hierarchs Library, since these saints were patrons of learning. (For this reason the chapel at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York is also named for them.) Also, interestingly, The Three Hierarchs was the name of the ship that brought Saint Herman to North America! The Sunday of the grand re-opening is timed for the Sunday after their feast day, which is January 30.

The renewed library (and the bookstore) will be under the care of Andrea Folster and Vivian Hartley. Many exciting new things are planned, including a more efficient system of book loans, e-mail reminders of due dates, and book reviews posted online. For more details, contact Andrea. What we can say now is that the new room and library will be worth waiting for!

All my love,
Fr. Lawrence

LIVING IN A BLESSED HOME

It is the custom of the Orthodox to have their homes blessed by the priest in the days following the Feast of Theophany every January 6. The rite of house blessing is brief but wonderful—it not only brings the blessing of God upon one’s home for the coming year, but also binds the domestic family together as part of the Family of God.

The preparations are easy: one simply prepares a table with

• a bowl of Holy Water,
• a leafy sprig (to sprinkle the Holy Water) (I can provide Holy Water and sprig if you do not have one available.)
• an icon
• a candle (for carrying from room to room)
• and a list of names of the living and the departed for the priest to offer to God as part of the rite.

The prayers themselves take only a few minutes, and then the family leads the priest from room to room (the head of the house carrying the candle) as all sing the Theophany tropar and the priest sprinkles the walls of each room with Holy Water. At the end, the priest sprinkles all present with the Holy Water (it is my practice to bless any animals within reach also). The whole visit need last no longer than twenty minutes—but what an important few minutes it is. For it is in this way that one consecrates one’s home and life there to the Lord for the months that follow.

It is always my great joy to visit the homes of the faithful in the parish. I am never too busy to visit, especially for such a joyful occasion. All you need do is call to arrange for a convenient time.

Yours in the Lord, Fr. Lawrence

Dec 2008 Newsletter Items

Special Christmas Service Times!!

Dec. 24 6 pm Vigil
Dec. 25 9 am Liturgy

(NO lunch after)


NB Sun. Dec. 28 after liturgy -Jan. 3: Fr. Lawrence on vacation.
In emergency a message can be forwarded from the office phone #; or see Dn. Kurt.


Moving On

Those who were aware of the crisis in the OCA of the past few years are doubtless also aware of the events that recently occurred in Pittsburgh: how the delegates of the All-American Council confronted the Holy Synod over the past, how (then) Bishop JONAH spoke in response, bluntly admitting that the past two Metropolitans were “corrupt” and the Holy Synod left leaderless and dysfunctional. He also said that the Church now needed to “let it go” or it would destroy us. The delegates of that All-American Council heeded Bishop JONAH’s words, and overwhelmingly nominated him to be our the next Metropolitan. In an amazing show of humility, the Holy Synod heeded those nominations and elected him their leader and Metropolitan, despite the fact that he was consecrated Bishop only eleven days (that’s eleven days!) previously.
What does this mean for us? That we can now begin to move on and leave the past behind us and in God’s hands (where it will end up anyway) and get on with the work of being the Church. There are more than enough challenges for the Orthodox Church in America to face, and there is no need to marinate in the problems of the past.
It also means that God is with us. Many thousands of people were praying for that All-American Council, and it appears that God hearkened to those prayers. How else could one explain what is almost a fairy-tale ending of hope and joy to what before seemed an insoluble problem?
At the end of the election and of (now) Metropolitan JONAH’s “inaugural speech”, one man (perhaps from the Pentecostal tradition?) went running through the foyer shouting, “Hallelujah! We have a leader! Hallelujah!” Indeed we do have a leader. And more than that, we have a Saviour: our Lord Jesus Christ, who has never abandoned His Church, nor failed those who reach out to Him in penitence and humility.
“Glory to God for all things!”

Yours in the Lord
Fr. Lawrence
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Don’t Forget the Women's Quiet Day

December 13, 11 am
49175 Elkview Road, Chilliwack
feel free to bring a small, interesting tidbit to nibble

DIAKONIA —
Donation bin in Narthex

Still collecting
· socks
· gloves,
· and treats (individually wrapped small candies and chocolate bars) and cough drops/throat lozenges

to be put together in goodie bags to be distributed near Saint Nicholas Day

DECEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat. Dec. 13, 11 am—Women’s quiet day 49175 Elkview Road, Chwk
6:30 pm at church– Vespers & Litya for ST. HERMAN’s DAY
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CONFESSIONS:
Please plan and arrange EARLY for your Advent confession. The usual time is after vespers, but if necessary other arrangements can be made.
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NOTE –AGM agenda
The date of our AGM (likely late in January) will be announced soon.
In the intrests of an efficient meetings, we do not take additions to the agenda from the floor. Therefore, please submit any items in writing for possible inclusion on the agenda to any parish council member no later than Jan 12th

LIBRARY & BOOKSTORE NEWS

The parish library and bookstore are going to be reorganized. The bookstore will remain open, but it will be necessary to temporarily close the library until the new year.
Our library began with several of us “donating” our books to the church to pool our resources and make them available to all our members. To clarify, “donating” your books does NOT need to mean giving them permanently to the Church. It means allowing them to “live” in the Church library and be available for other St. Herman’s people to borrow. Any books that have your name in them will be considered your property and not Church property.
Please give any books you’d like to loan the Church to either Vivian or Andrea. Books will be vetted by Fr. Lawrence. We will be keeping an inventory of all books and better track of circulating books. We will also be buying some new books that will actually belong to the library and will have display copies of many of the books that will be available in the bookstore.
The new “sign-out” book will be organized by last names, just like the Church directory. The loan period will be 1 month (shorter for “in demand” books). There will be email or phone reminders about due books.
We will also be starting a new blog for online book reviews. If you are interested in taking part, contact Mat. Donna


December fasting—
No meat, fish, dairy & eggs or wine & oil till Dec. 25 with these exceptions:
· Fish, wine & oil allowed first two weekends
· wine & oil allowed Tues. & Thurs.
· Wine & oil, no fish allowed weekend Dec. 20-21

Dec. 25-Jan 4 incl.: Fast Free
Jan. 5: strict Lenten food for Eve of Theophany

New Vespers time starts Saturday Nov. 8!

Tomorrow night Wed. Nov. 5th is the last vespers to be held at 7 p.m.

By your prayers, Fr. Lawrence will be back then.

Beginning this Saturday November 8th,

all vespers will be at 6:30 p.m.

From the November 2008 Newsletter

Glory to God for All Things!

As some may be aware from reading either the official OCA website at www.oca.org or the independent news and commentary site at www.ocanews.org, there is trouble in Orthodox paradise here in the OCA. For several years there has been corruption, lying and embezzlement taking place, and this whole mess, having come to light, is now being dealt with by bishops, clergy and laity alike. Many are saying that the Holy Synod of our bishops have been too slow to deal with the crisis, and many blame them for expressing confidence in the (former) Metropolitan where none was deserved. Much more could be said, and doubtless will be said at the upcoming All-American Council in Pittsburgh. As well as trying to sort through the pain of the past, that Council must elect a new Metropolitan. I and our official lay delegate, as well as some observers, will be attending this historic meeting, and we ask your prayers that we may join with the whole Church in seeking the Lord’s will.

For those who will not be at that Council and for whom the whole thing is bewildering, confusing and painful, you may be asking, what is the way forward?

To any tempted to be discouraged, I would offer the following: “Welcome to planet earth!” Or, to put it more Biblically, “Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to his earth and his plans perish. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations!” (Ps. 146, the Second Antiphon). The Church has survived this, and worse, and will survive the present crisis.
We must and will hold accountable those who have done wrong, and repent and forgive and be forgiven and generally muddle through as best we can. But as we do this our focus must remain on the Lord in heaven, not on what goes on in Syosset, Pittsburgh, or anywhere else on earth. If we lived in the days of St. John Chrysostom, we would be even more discouraged, watching him hounded to death by the powerful prelate Theophilus of Alexandria, and then seeing Theophilus escape all earthly censure and die with honour. But die he did, and his plans perished. St. John Chrysostom was vindicated, and the Church has judged his cause truly. Our days are not so bad as the days of St. John. Let the cry
which was on the dying lips of the saint be in our hearts as well, as we look to the Lord and take the long view: “Glory to God for all things!”
Yours in the Lord
Fr. Lawrence

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Note:

Fr. Lawrence will be away at Archdiocesan Council Oct. 30-Nov. 5 . Services will continue as normal.
Dn. Kurt will tend to pastoral needs at this time.

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Special note!!

NEW TIME FOR VESPERS

Beginning Sat. Nov. 8

Wednesday and Saturday vespers

will be held at
6:30 p.m.
as will any other evening services

Saturdays- Vespers will be followed by a study at the home of a parishioner (this month, the Wrights).

Wednesdays- there will be no formal Study, but Fr. Lawrence will be available for questions or confession.

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NOV. SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat. NOV. 1— remember to SET CLOCKS BACK one hour at bedtime!!_______________________

Fri. Nov. 14— Men’s gathering, location TBA ________________________

Thurs. Nov. 20— Vesperal Liturgy on eve of Entrance of the Theotokos _________________________

NOTE
Oct 30– Nov 5 Fr Lawrence will be away at Archdiocesan Council; for pastoral needs see Dn. Kurt.
Nov 10-14 —BOTH Fr. Lawrence & Dn. Kurt will be at the All-American Council. In emergency at this time see:

Fr. John B. 604-882-5682

All services continue as usual

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November fasting—— Wednesdays & Fridays till Advent beginning November 15th are regular fast days. No meat, fish, dairy & eggs or wine & oil.
ADVENT FASTING this month: as regular fast days EXCEPT: Fish, wine & oil allowed weekends and Entrance Feast Nov. 21; wine & oil allowed Tues. & Thurs.

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DIAKONIA UPDATE

We continue to collect new socks to be distributed to impoverished and homeless people. As the weather gets colder, please also donate gloves. Starting in November, we will also be collecting little treats (individually wrapped small candies and chocolate bars) and cough drops/throat lozenges. At the end of the month, we will put together goodie bags to be distributed near Saint Nicholas Day. Thank you for your continued support!— Maria Campbell

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Coming up—Women's pre-Christmas
quiet day in the country.
Date: December 13
Time: 11 am
Place: Theresia's (49175 Elkview Road, Chilliwack)
what to do:
· pray (Akathist to the Mother of God)
· eat (Advent food and drink)
· relax (conversation, laughter, and discussion, crafts and hobbies,
· inhale the fresh air on a walk, perhaps even roll in the snow)
feel free to bring a small, interesting tidbit to nibble, if it doesn't stress you out.

From the Oct 2008 Newsletter

FACT, FAITH and FEELING

I was lately reading an old book from my Jesus People days, entitled Evidence that Demands a Verdict, and in the appendix, as part of a little Evangelical Protestant essay “Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?” (nostalgia, anyone?) I found something quite Orthodox.
It was a paragraph urging the new convert not to depend upon feelings, but upon God’s Word, and it contained a little diagram of a train, with the engine labeled “Fact”, the second car labeled “Faith” and the caboose labeled “Feeling”. (It was a small train.) The author was trying to make the point that we must trust the fact of God’s Word, and not in our feelings.
“The train,” the author said, “will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, we as Christians, do not depend on feelings or emotions, but place our faith in the trustworthiness of God and the promise of His Word”.
Though I cannot now recommend the essay about the “Four Spiritual Laws”, I can still endorse the wisdom of not trusting our feelings and not letting our emotions be the engine that drives our life. The driving engine, the source of our decision-making, must be what Christ has said and done, as preserved by His holy Church in her Tradition. We must put our faith in Him, and let His wisdom replace our own little ‘wisdoms’; letting His will guide our own. Otherwise, our wisdom turns out to be folly.
As Solomon says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). Our feelings and emotions may or may not support such a decision, but that is irrelevant. The train will run without the caboose. Maturity and safety are often found in disregarding our feelings, and putting our faith in what Christ and His Church have said. And for this verdict too, there is abundant evidence.

Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
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Note: Fr. Lawrence will be away at Archdiocesan Council Oct. 30-Nov. 5 . Services will continue as normal.
Dn. Kurt will tend to pastoral needs at this time.

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LIFE CHAIN
This annual event of silent prayer and witness to the sanctity of human life takes place in Langley

Sunday
October 5th
2 –3 pm
200 St., N of #10 HWY

Fr. Lawrence & I have attended for a number of years and so have a few other St. Herman’s members. Unfortunately I must miss it this year myself due to another commitment., but Fr. Lawrence will be going there from the church shortly before 2 pm that day. I hope this year many of our members can join

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OCT. SPECIAL EVENTS

Sun. Oct. 12— remember to bring harvest bounty to beautify the church and to be blessed
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Fri. Oct. 17, 6:30 pm— CHANGE from Men’s gathering to Ana's 35th birthday at Wrights’. ADULTS ONLY please for wine & desserts, please dress for BLACK AND WHITE theme.

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Sun Oct 19– Baptismal Liturgy Matthew P
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Sat. Oct. 25— Memorial Trisagion after vespers
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Sun. Oct 26— St. James Liturgy


***re.: St. James Liturgy ---- On Sun. Oct. 26, the Sunday nearest the feast of Saint James, we will serve this ancient liturgy, which we do a few times a year. Some of the hymns and prayers are different, and the Body and Blood of Our Lord in Holy Communion are received separately.

For all interested, Fr. Lawrence will be giving some instruction about this service at the regular study & catechumenal sessions in the week before this service.

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New parish directory
will be available in the narthex this month!
If you would prefer an electronic copy, e-mail matdonna@shaw.ca

October fasting—All Wednesdays & Fridays this month are regular fast days— no meat, fish, dairy & eggs or wine & oil on those days

From the 2008 Sept Newsletter

Finding Healing

Since the days of the apostles the Church has always looked to her Lord to find healing. One of the ways she does this today is through the Service of Anointing. This service can be performed with only one presbyter, and is sometimes combined with the Divine Liturgy as the priest calls for all who have need of healing to come forward after the Liturgy to be anointed.

(This was the practice of our sister church in Edmonton, who made this anointing available to its faithful
four times per year.)

In many churches, the service is offered on the Wednesday of Holy Week, as the church invites her children to come forward for the healing of soul or body as part of their Paschal preparation. Classically, however, this service calls for all the presbyters of a church (or at least a symbolic seven presbyters) to gather together and anoint the faithful. Since most local parishes do not have seven priests, this classic pattern is rarely served.

Happily, we will have the opportunity to gather a number of priests together for this service when our bishop comes this September.

On Saturday Sept. 20, Archbishop Seraphim will preside at this Anointing Service at St. Herman’s at 10 AM., accompanied by a number of the local presbyters from the Deanery.

I would encourage all Orthodox who feel the need for the Lord’s healing touch to come to St. Herman’s that evening and find the healing He desires for them.

Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
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