everyone who attended received a wonderful meal, and we are grateful for all who brought food and deserts. Again, the response was less than expected, and we did not cover the expenses for the meal, let alone produce any surplus funds for the church. Regardless, we were able to fulfill the admonition of Christ heard in the Gospel last Sunday: “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink…” (Matthew 25:35). Likewise, Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. You have to be a sheep and actually come to the pasture in order for us to feed you! Please graze a little more frequently.
after today, those keeping the Lenten Fast are encouraged to do so with humility and sincerity of purpose, making it a spiritual exercise not a blind adherence to the rules. Feed the hungry. Watch what comes out of your mouth, just as much as what goes into it! For those keeping the fast, you eliminate all dairy after this evening (in addition to the meat eliminated last Sunday evening). This includes all days of the week, not just Wednesday and Friday. Yes, Saturday and Sunday are no meat days, as well.
if you are looking for a devotional practice for this fasting season, consider reading the scripture passages listed on the annual church calendar. If you want to do more, consider reading one Psalm, one chapter from the Old Testament, One Epistle reading, and one reading from the Gospels. This is a manageable, daily approach to the scriptures and can be very edifying if practiced consistently!
the Altar & Volunteer society recently completed a pre-Lenten soup sale. Beef Vegetable and Chicken noodle soups were sold by the quart and pint. It was advertised on our website, through individual parishioner’s social media accounts, and flyers were sent to each church in town. Unfortunately, the snow storm cancelled many church services during the ordering period, and as has been our pattern, sales were anemic. In spite of this, a gain of $530 was realized. Thank you, volunteers and patrons!
the first Lenten Presanctified Liturgy will be this Friday at 6 pm. Please make every effort to attend! Lenten confessions will be heard before each service. If you expect to receive communion on Pascha, you must be confessed during the Lenten Season. Fr. Elijah’s only request is that all confessions are concluded prior to Holy Wednesday. There is plenty of time—please don’t waste it, and please don’t wait until the last minute.
begins on Sunday, 8 March 2026. Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday evening, 7 March.