St.Vladimir Orthodox Church

November 27, 2020

This is the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 8

Readings
Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel: St. Luke 10:25-37

Next services
Saturday December 12 at 9am - Liturgy
6pm - Vespers
Sunday December 13 at 10am - Liturgy

Faith gatherings have been "paused" for two weeks by the provincial government. This means that we shall not be holding any services or meetings and certainly no parties, until this "pause" is lifted. Please make sure you institute a prayer regime if you do not already have one. The local church may be "paused" but God and the Orthodox Church isn't - this is not a holiday but an opportunity to pray even harder.

Sunday was a great time and a good meeting. Please make sure you get your Membership forms in to either Leslee, me, or to one of the Parish Council. Membership must be renewed yearly. Some parishes have a membership fee, we don't so please get them in.

Were you there when I read my report to the congregation? If you were not, here it is:

Rector's Report to the Annual Meeting
St. Vladimir Prince of Kiev Parish
Halifax Nova Scotia
November 2020

I want to say something really important and special; I want to say "Thank You" to David, Colin, Oksana, Leslee, Ryan, Heather, Crystal, Alina, and the two Members at Large, Jessica and Yan, for the incredible support they have given me and the parish during this difficult year, and for the leadership and advice they have offered during this Covid filled time. Thank you also to Crystal for the decorating and organizing that she does so well. Even now Crystal is making sure we are well decorated for Christmas, before she and Eric leave for the West. Thank you also to those faithful whose faces I love to see Sunday by Sunday; you are loved and appreciated greatly. Thank God our church is filled with the sound of children. I also want to thank Father Alexander for his support, his encouragement, his advice, and his involvement in the life of this parish; it is very much appreciated by all of us.

I've been here just over a year now and have had the honour of being made Rector of the Parish. The year started in a very promising way, we had our Christmas celebrations on the eve of January 7th and we managed, against the odds of a storm, to bless the Atlantic Ocean; let's face it, the Atlantic is just down the road from us but there had been a storm and it was difficult to get to the shore. We had to clamber over lots of snow. The women's group met, the men's group met and then we met the Covid virus and had to go into hibernation. There were some services conducted via the internet but that was costly in terms of the data used considering we had to use David's mobile data and that, as you know can be expensive. We don't have WiFi in the church so had to use a cell phone. I can still see the blessing the baskets at Pascha. Everyone at home held up their basket full of the things we didn't eat during Great Lent and the blessing was done over the internet. We had a couple of baskets in the church. Nance came and joined in with Ryan making a glorious sound unto the Lord for the Pascha Liturgy.

Colin replaced the doors at the front of the church and distributed the new keys. He is looking to finish the surround of the doors within a few days. He and David finished the leveling of the downstairs floor for which we thank them both. There may have been others involve in that also.

We started to have outdoor liturgies which had to be set up each Sunday morning. I remember that when I arrived at the church, David was already there setting it up, making the altar ready for the service. That was a job, the table that became the altar is cast iron and heavy. I enjoyed the outdoor liturgies, even when it was cooler and the wind was a little busy. I hope we can do that again in the spring and summer. Then the setting up and dismantling will be a joint effort.

We now have 17 Catechumens distributed throughout the province: Jeff and Seamus in Antigonish; Jeff and Krystal in Halifax; Holly, Trevor, Hilary, Noah, Isaiah, Selah, Elijah, Lahelah, Apphiah, Ysabellah and Obadiah in Goshen; Carol Ann in Sydney; and Cameron the doctor in and around Nova Scotia. Please remember to pray for them. I hope that by the end of 2021 that all the Catechumens will be received into the Church but that is up to God.

Crystal and Eric's new baby Evangeline was baptized and is becoming more and more lovely.

During the summer we baptized Braidyn who took Spyridon as his patron saint, which was to happen in a lake but that day there was thunder and lightning!

We went to Pictou to the home of Crystal and Eric and met with our parishioners Will and Mary Pemberton and the others of the Pemberton family, who had to go to Toronto rather suddenly. At that time the baby Eleanor was baptized and Will and Hugh were Chrismated, thus joining their family who were already Orthodox. Will senior received unction before starting serious treatments in Toronto.

Kristen and Colin's new baby Lydia Elizabeth Evangelia arrived just in time to be announced at the end of the Sunday liturgy. She too is becoming more and more lovely, babies do that. We are certainly blessed to have such beautiful children in our parish.

All during this I have had the support of my colleague and fellow priest, Father Alexander to whom I again direct my hearty thank you for his support and encouragement plus his knowledge of how thing should be done. We learn from each other and that's good.

There are many things going on in the parish at the present time; things that not everyone may be comfortable with. I have been negligent in insisting that we distance ourselves as the Government of Nova Scotia prescribes. We have become used to the wearing of masks, probably because going into any building requires the wearing of a mask. Nova Scotia has been very good at protecting us from Covid but Covid will increase as it has everywhere. We have had to endure the separate spoons; the red wipes; registering as we enter the church in case we have to be contacted to warn of exposure to Covid; sterilizing our hands as we enter the church, which I know is a pain but we must do it to protect ourselves and each other (Eric has given us a case of hand sanitizer and is giving us an air purifier, thank you Eric. We are blessed to have so many coming to church Sunday by Sunday. The building is small and distancing is impossible and so I have decided to offer a Saturday liturgy each week. Some may find that easier to attend. The only problem will be for the bread makers who will have to make double the number of Prosphora each week. The Saturday Liturgy will start at 9 instead of 10. "Blessed is the Kingdom . . ." etc. will start at 9, with Hours before. The early start will allow whatever we usually do on a Saturday, to precede as usual, well just a little later perhaps.

May God bless each and every one of you.

In Christ,

Archimandrite David
Rector

Please forgive if I have omitted anything.

Remember that we may be "paused" but I'm here and you can contact me with any concerns or any need that you may have, and I'll try to find appropriate help. Prayer for protection against the Covid virus: please use it:

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in thine ineffable goodness, look down upon thy people gathered in thy name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who lovest mankind deliver us from the impending threat of the Corona Virus. Send thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians, and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve thee in peace and glorify thy most honourable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Боже Вседержителю, Господи небесе и земли, всея твари, видимыя же и невидимыя, по неизреченной благости Твоея призри на люди Твоя, к Тебе притекающия. Буди нам Помощник и Защититель в сей день скорби. Веси бо немощи наша, слышиши глас покаяния и умиления сердечнаго. Господи Человеколюбче, избави нас от напасти коронавируса на ны движимыя. Ниспосли ангела Твоего призирати на ны и избавити ны. Страждущим от болезни здравие и исцеление подаждь. Руки врачующих направи. Здравых в здравии сохрани, да в мире поработают Ти и да прославят пресвятое и великополепое имя Твое, Отца и Сына и Святаго Духа, ныне и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Love in Christ,

-- Father David

PS Crystal and Eric. We'll miss you and your family; may God Grant You Many Years, safe journey, and Blessed Nativity Feast. Visit!