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April 10, 2021

This is Fourth Sunday of Lent, Tone 3, St. John of the Ladder

Saturday, April 10 at 10:00am - Liturgy (for the Departed)
6pm - Vespers
Sunday, April 11 at 10am - Liturgy
Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30pm - Matins and Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

Readings
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20
Gospel: St. Mark 9:17-31

Reminders: During the Covid restrictions we are allowing Communions at the back door, which will be opened at Communion time. I'm assuming that those making use of this, will have read this Sunday's Epistle and Gospel (see above) ahead of time.

Two of the young men known to us in our parish, namely Spyridon, the coordinator of men's activities and Augustine, a member of St. George parish and frequent altar server at our Saturday Vesper, worked again at the Salvation Army kitchen doing things like peeling potatoes and carrots and generally helping. The third person is the chef at the Salvation Army kitchen, where they serve nourishing meals.

I enjoyed my Fish and Chips on Wednesday - delicious. The next fish day is Palm Sunday, Fish and Chips again? Perhaps Salmon with Dill and home-made chips?

There was a nice group of people for Tuesday evening Vespers; the Wednesday Morning Vesperal Liturgy for the Annunciation of the Lady Theotokos was well attended and the choir sang beautifully on both occasions.

Courage during this latter half of the Lenten Fast, don't give up now, we are almost there. I was explaining to the Catechumens about the baskets that we prepare for blessing after the Paschal Liturgies. We decorate the baskets which contain the things we don't normally eat during the Fast, things like hard boiled eggs, cheese, ham, Paska (bread made with eggs, raisins and the like, covered in icing), and garlic and horseradish (bitter herbs representing the bitter herbs of the Passover), all delicious things. You don't have to be Orthodox to have baskets blessed, it's to do with the ending of the fast, even if you haven't manages to fast - (St. John Chrysostom explains that in his Paschal Homily) - giving glory to God for all things, including what we eat. Here you will find an explanation of the Basket and its origins and a recipe for the Paska bread. If you search Google for easter cheese paska recipe you will find a number of sites that offer recipes for the wonderful cheese type of Paska, my favorite - so delicious and worth exploring. (It seems that Cottage Cheese with the moisture pressed out can be used for Farmers' Cheese.) But look it up, there are lots of recipes. I'm giving lots of notice about these things, for those who are Catechumens and others who may not be so used to Orthodox customs.

Let us pray for Her Majesty the Queen at the loss of her husband Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, and all the Royal Family at the loss of their father. May God bless them as He blesses all of us.

"Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is reckless and careless.

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated."

Proverbs 14:13, 15-17

Love, strength, and perseverance
Love In Christ,

-- Father David