St.Vladimir Orthodox Church

October 25, 2024

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Saturday October 26 6 pm Vespers
Followed by General Panikhida
Sunday October 27 10 am Divine Liturgy
Tone 1

The Archbishop has granted permission for me to be away from the parish for most of the month of November. I shall be visiting friends in BC and my Niece and her family in Cochrane, Alberta.

St. Catherine Discussion group led by Dan Wilband will meet in the basement at 4:30 pm on Saturday.

We should be aware that there are parish shut-ins and some who need things like transportation to and from hospital appointments. Father Alexander has been silently doing this. It really is time for the parish to undertake these tasks. I'm not going to put the names of those shut-ins here but there are several folk you can ask: Father Alexander, Heather and Alina, who will tell you who and where these important parishioners are. There are some shut-ins who speak only Russian or Ukrainian. They must all be cared for by us, they are a part of us. I ask for a volunteer to be the coordinator of shut-in visits. I would like a volunteer please. This is a very worthwhile ministry to the parish and to the shut-in.

What an impressive Annual General Meeting. I think it was a good idea to have the Pizza and coffee before the meeting. We will continue that practise, God willing. The weather was good so the children were occupied outside, thanks to the supervision of Yan and Michelle and perhaps others.

Don't forget that on the evening of the 31st, (that's a Thursday), we will be having a party. Children of all and any age are welcome. Even those children that may be receiving pensions are welcome.

Just around the corner:

• October 26 - 4:30 pm Society of St. Catherine
• October 31 - Youth group at the church - there will be lots of goodies.
• November 2 - St. Demetrius Saturday
  • Friday November 1 - Vespers
  6 pm
  • Saturday November 2 - Liturgy
  10 am

Way - Way ahead

• November 28 - Nativity Fast begins (there's a binder of recipes at the back of the church and lots of recipes on line).
• December 4 - Entry of Theotokos into the Temple
  • Tuesday December 3 - Vespers
  6 pm
  • Wednesday December 4 - Liturgy
  10 am
• December 19 - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
  • Wednesday December 18 - Vespers
  6 pm
  • Thursday December 19 - Liturgy
  10 am
• December 25 - St. Herman of Alaska

Rector's Report October 2024

Can you believe that another year has sped by? This year, instead of going directly from the Liturgy to the Parish Meeting, we have paused for pizza and coffee. Now the business of the parish is almost complete

No decision will be made regarding the future of this building or parish without you. You are the people of this parish and you must know and vote - that I can promise you

I asked the people of the parish to tell me their inmost thoughts and feelings about the future of the parish and its relationship to this building. If you look around you will see the incredible work of the Holy Spirit. We are never without catechumens. Why is that? We have people who are really ready and willing to work. You put up with me week in and week out. You tolerate my inability to walk well. You put up with my forgetting things and I do forget things. But look around. Look at all the things that say that this is St. Vladimir Prince of Kiev Orthodox Church. You it was that made this Anglican stone church, with its stone, indicating that it was built by people of a Masonic Temple, into an Orthodox Church. It was you, who gave it, the building, courage, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to attract people, older - and children, to call this building 'A Church,' a place for Baptism, Panikhidas, Liturgies, Icons, Security, and Love. And it has been successful, it has attracted lots of people and children and visitors. All of that success has meant that we have outgrown ourself and we must do something about it.

No decision will be made regarding the future of this building or parish without you as the people of this parish knowing and voting - that I promise you.

There are three things open to us:
1. We could completely revamp this building - add on to it - drill a well and septic system - install a toilet - completely reinvent the electrical system - switch the altar to the east end of the building - fill the surrounding areas with rocks for parking.
2. We could continue to look for church properties in the surrounding communities that are for sale. The closer those properties are to Halifax, the more expensive they become. We've looked at Tantallon, an Anglican Church for sale - not exactly conducive to becoming Orthodox, but a lot of space and a lot of money. There's another church at Lake Echo, that the Catholics gave up on but its further away and much less cost. The question here is, who would we lose by moving further out? I don't wish to lose anyone, each of you is far too special to God and to me.
3. We buy a piece of land and build a purpose-built church - to our specification - that would be a real Orthodox Church right from the beginning. It could start with a basement to serve as a Proto-church. There are great advantages to a community coming together to build. Have you ever heard of 'Barn-Raising?' As I said, the decision will eventually be yours. Think and pray really hard for an answer to this. What shall we do? I know what I think - but, I'll not reveal that - yet.

As I stand before you Sunday by Sunday, I look at the people gathered in front of me and I see their love for me and this parish and each other. I am reminded of that evening in Florence Italy when I texted Archbishop Irene, added some pictures of the various paintings or sculptures I had seen that day and told him how nice it would be if he could have joined me in Florence. His reply came back almost immediately explaining to me that although he would love to be in Florence, he was far too busy fixing a problem in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then came my big and brave move, a move that gave the Holy Spirit a big chance to work, not for the first time in my life I might add, I lifted my finger and texting back, I uttered that phrase 'Is there any way I can help?' And so, I had to give notice to my Ottawa apartment people and say goodbye to my apartment, say good bye to my niece and her husband, and goodbye to my friends Father Stelian and his family, and head to Halifax, arriving on November 1st 2019. Have I looked back since? Yes! But not very seriously. Believe it, the whole of my life has led me to this parish, at this time, and it is not by accident that I am here. Do you know the work of the Holy Spirit? It has pushed me twice that I know of - and neither time did it do what I wanted. Not only did it push me into Orthodoxy forty years ago, it pushed me to be here amongst you.

Now, The Holy Spirit is pushing you, all of you, to decide where this parish goes from here. Can you believe it, the Holy Spirit is actually pushing you and you must listen to it. Eventually there must to be 80% agreement as to what must happen - not today - but soon. You and I have time to pray, and that is of even more importance.

Now I want to thank people: There is Father Alexander who has supported me since November 1, 2019, and Matushka Ksenia with their four children. Thank you and love to you. There's Father Stelian, full of ideas, and Matushka Lena who has taken the choir, so successfully, in hand, (and alters my vestments!). There is the newly ordained Deacon, Michael with Matushka Maria and their four and a bit children. There are the Sub-Deacons - David and James, there are the choir members, the altar boys, the ladies who look after and arrange the flowers, those who bring food, those who clean up the basement and the church, there are those who come to 'clean-up Saturdays', there are those who repair and look after linens, and the building itself, there are the People of the Mission of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and then, of course, there are the faithful who come Sunday by Sunday - that's you, all of you, and that's me, too. Thank you and may God bless you and the Holy Spirit fill your lives with joy.

Now I want to turn my attention to one of the founders of this parish. Leslee Mansour, who has been part of the parish since it was founded. She has held most positions on the Parish Council. We are not saying goodbye to Leslee but we are recognizing the contribution she has made to this parish. I received a little note that says 'Retired!' and although one does not want to accept that, if that is what Leslee wants - that is what Leslee gets and we will continue to love her and look out for her. Thank you, Leslee for all that you have done over the years. May God bless you and Grant you Many, Many Years.

Love in Christ,
Father David

Saturday October 26 - 10am Baptism of Nathan Eliot, Julie and Ben's son.

May God bless us all,
Love in Christ,
-- Father David