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February 28, 2021

This is the 38th Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 5, Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Saturday, February 27 at 6pm - Vespers
Sunday, February 28 at 10am - Liturgy

Readings
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Gospel: St. Luke 15:11-32

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.

Don't be frightened by the word "Xerophagy" which is the word describing the fasting we do on Wednesdays and Fridays and all of the days in Great Lent, except for certain feast days. It means "Dry Eating". I'll share a download from the Internet with you: On weekdays (Monday thru Friday), beginning with Clean Monday, a strict fast is observed without wine and oil. Furthermore on Wednesdays and Fridays, according to one's strength, unprocessed foods are consumed, (such as fruit and nuts). This is called Xerophagy or "dry-eating". The first week of the Great Fast, Clean Week is kept as strictly as possible. On Saturdays and Sundays, the partaking of wine and oil is allowed. On the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (25th of March) fish is allowed. The week after Palm Sunday, Holy Week is kept as strictly as possible. Holy Friday especially, if possible, is kept with total abstinence from food until after the Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday when bread and wine are blessed for consumption in the church. As the Lord said to the Pharisees: "The days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast" (Matt. 9:15) (Lenten Triodion in English pp. 611, 660). During all these days, an effort should be made to eat once a day in the evening, if possible. This is the ancient practice of the Holy fathers, if and when they ate at all during Great Lent or Holy Week.

I'll also point out an important condition in this statement "according to one's strength". People who are on medications and children may not fast. Remember, fasting is for us to come closer to God, it is not a torture. We observe what we are able and thank God for what we can achieve.

I was contacted by a Romanian priest in Scotland, Father Christopher. He asked to use a sermon from our website. We have continued to correspond from time to time and discovered many things we have in common, for example, his being at Durham University, as I was; his being a teacher as I was. I asked him to send photographs of him and his people, and he did. I thought I would share them with you so you could pray for this small community.

From Father Christopher's note: "We had Saint Columba's well just a few miles away which never ever froze or ran dry. Our church was dedicated to Saint Columba's abbott: Saint Finnan; who lived on an island in the loch near to our home." May God bless them.

Lenten Recipes are coming in. Thank you to everyone who has supplied simple and easy recipes for our use. There are some really interesting ones which will contrast my Baked Beans on Toast recipe which is simply Baked beans on Toast, and my bread with, for me Crunchy Peanut Butter (no additives) with Banana, both delicious and filling. At a push one could always put Hummus onto a plain or toasted Bagel. I think we should be careful not to be too searching about ingredients. I used to ask restaurants if their vegetable soup was made with chicken stock. I think that is going a little too far. I seldom look at ingredients now, unless it is for health reasons.

During this week, Father Alexander and I will meet and make a plan for the services we intend to serve during Lent and Pascha. The Military Padre, Peter who comes to Vespers from time to time, has suggested that we hold our Pascha night service in one of the military chapels. Subdeacon David and I went to view the church which would be ideal for us but way too far away for the comfort of our parishioner. That really is too bad. I could see us serving a wonderful Paschal Liturgy there; thank you Padre Peter for suggesting that chapel, and taking us to see it. I want to again make sure that the people who do things for the parish know that they are appreciated greatly. To that end I would like all the Parish Council members to please be at Liturgy this Sunday - we must have an induction ceremony which will take place before the blessing at the end of the Liturgy.

Following the Liturgy, Catechumens may remain behind and any question could be asked and hopefully answered. This is a continuation of sessions that became dislodged over the Christmas celebrations. The men's group will be meeting at my apartment after the Liturgy on March 7th; talk to Spyridon if you wish to be included. I expect they want to organize another meeting with a fire and hotdogs (vegetarian ones!). A Parish Council meeting, I believe, is on March 11th at 7pm, undisclosed venue but likely at my apartment.

Prosphora: I notice that the recipe on the St. Vladimir website contains sugar and I remember Archbishop Irйnйe explaining with some force, that we never put sugar in Prosphora. It will rise quite well without it. Flour, Salt, Yeast, and warm Water is all it takes; the flour itself contains enough sugar for the yeast to feed on.

May God bless us and protect us, and enfold us in His loving arms.
Love in Christ,

-- Father David