On this last Sunday before Great Lent, the last day that traditionally Orthodox Christians eat dairy products until Pascha, the Church remembers the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. God commanded them to fast from the fruit of a tree (Gen. 2:16), but they did not obey. In this way Adam and Eve and their descendants became heirs of death and corruption.

On Forgiveness Sunday Forgiveness Vespers will be served after the Liturgy. The Lord's teaching about fasting and forgiveness and enter the season of the fast forgiving one another so that God will forgive them. If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Matthew 6:14).

The Gospel reading of the day also gives advice on fasting. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:16-18).

But don't forget!

Let's start at the beginning

We start the Great Lent this week by the services offered here at St. George

The Great Canon of St. Andrew
will be read
Monday and Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

The Presanctified Liturgy will be served this and every other Wednesday during the Great Lent also at 7:00p.m.
One may receive Holy Communion that evening with abstinence from noon that day.
A Lenten supper will be provided after the Liturgy

Beginning next Wednesday we will also offering a short discussion and lecture series on the topic of "The Ladder of Divine Ascent"

St. Theodore's Saturday, March 20 Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

And finally....
     "For whom the bell tolls?"

For thee...

But happens when the
bells stops tolling?

If you got up today an hour earlier, you probably heard your alarm.  It's interesting  how bells still both ring in and ring out important moments in our lives. They warn us, awaken us and announce to us and to the world that something is happening. Church bells call us to attendance, herald life changing events and even during our services point important moments. But what happens when the bells are silent? Recently this has happened to us, the decades of service which our bells have provided our community are now silent.   

In order to continue their usage major repairs would be required not only to the bells themselves but also to the bell tower which has been effected from the many years of vibrations from the swinging of the bells. A practical solution has been proposed, this being this installation of an electronic carillon. This would  provide us with a quick and easy installation and also stop any further stress on the church structure. Because of the position and weight of the current bells they would remain in place. We were able to obtain a substantial discount on the purchase of the carillon and have begun accepting donations. 

Traditionally donations for bells are given in memory of loved ones, and as such a plaque with their names would be placed in the narthex of the church.  We are accepting donations which can simply be mailed to our address: P.O. 1725 Monroe, MI 48161. Any donation of $200 or more will be acknowledged on the plaque.  Thank you!

And how do we fast?

And a farewell to a beloved Serbian Bishop

+Bishop ATANASIJE Jevtic

Please
"click the above photo"