Saint John's Weekly e-bulletin

Dear brothers and sisters
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory forever!

This weekend we begin the preparatory period for the Great Lent, which itself is a major preparatory season for the Feast of feasts - the Lord's Pascha.
This initial period consists of four Sundays and three weeks - Sunday of the Tax-collector and the Pharisee (this weekend), Sunday of the Return of the Prodigal Son, Sunday of the Last Judgment, and Sunday of the Casting out of Adam and Eve from Paradise (also called Forgiveness Sunday).
Let us get our hearts and minds ready for the Great Lent.

Today's menu:

1. Upcoming Schedule
2. Christian education opportunities
3. Wisdom from the saints
4. February birthdays
5. Teaching Liturgy - March 7
6. LANS (Looking Ahead to Next Sunday) readings and reflection

The services are back to the regular schedule and the church is open to everyone. Physical distancing of 6 feet is required at the moment. Face coverings are recommended.

Saturday, Feb. 20 - Great Vespers at 5pm
Sunday, Feb. 21 - Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

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Tuesday, Feb. 23 - Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God, "Nurturer of Children" at 7pm & Bible Study at 7:30pm
Friday, Feb. 26 - online Book Study at 8pm
Saturday, Feb. 27 - Great Vespers at 5pm
Sunday, Feb. 28 - Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Tuesdays, starting with an Akathist service at 7pm.
The Bible Study is available both for in-person attendance and online via Google Meet.
Reply to this email for the link to the online meeting.

Join our online Book Study group, which meets every other week on Fridays at 8pm.
Right now we are reading a book by Rod Dreher "The Benedict Option, a strategy for Christians in a post-Christian nation."
A very timely book for everything that's going on in the society right now.
We meet via Google Meet; therefore, reply to this email to get the meeting link.

As all the fruits of the season come in their proper time - flowers in spring, grain in summer, apples in autumn - so the fruit of winter is conversation.

- Saint Basil the Great

Nicholas, Christopher, Irina, Raymond, Sonia, Charlotte, John, Abigail, Martha, Judy, Anatoli, Walter, Michael, Victoria, Judy, Matthew, Maria

May God grant you many years!

Looking ahead a couple of weeks, we will do a Teaching Liturgy on March 7. Unlike the previous few years, we will only do the first part - the Prokomedia - the Rite of preparation the Gifts. This little service is usually done by the priest an hour or so before the beginning of the Liturgy in the altar. And so, it is not known or seen by the people.
For the Teaching Liturgy, Father Aleksey will serve Proskomedia on the table in the middle of the church and go over what is done and why. We will begin, as always, at 9:30am.