CHURCH SERVICES: JUNE 2009
Saturday Vespers: 6:00pm
Sunday Matins: 8:30
SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY: 9:30
June 6 - 9:30 Divine Liturgy (Saturday of Souls)
June 7 - 10:00 Divine Liturgy (Pentecost)
June 8 - 9:30 Divine Liturgy (Holy Spirit)
June 14 - 10:00 Divine Liturgy (Missions Sunday)
Followed by a Lunch from Around the World
June 24 - 9:30 Divine Liturgy (St. John the Baptist)
June 29 - 9:30 Divine Liturgy (Sts Peter and Paul)
BIBLE STUDY:
Every Wednesday
7:00 pm at the home of Fr. Luke (next to the Church)
My Dear Beloved Family of God,
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:8)
The feast of Pentecost, equal in importance to Pascha and Christmas in the Orthodox Church, describes the time when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles, enlightening them and transforming them from illiterate, even cowardly, fishermen to bold, courageous spirit-filled preachers and witnesses of the Good News. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples went into the streets of Jerusalem and Peter preached before thousands of people - baptizing 3000 on that special day.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter and John courageously stood up in front of the authorities that crucified Jesus, and told them that they wouldn’t stay silent, but answered their accusers, “We must speak the things which we have seen and heard.” And they went on preaching, even though they would be imprisoned, beaten, and eventually killed.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles proclaimed the Good News, healed the sick, performed miracles, and even raised the dead. Most importantly, though, the Spirit of God gave the early Christians the courage to love their enemies and stand up for what they believed, even when confronted with the threat of persecution and martyrdom.
We contemporary Christians must realize that the gift of the Holy Spirit is just as much a gift for us today, as it was for the disciples of the first century. If we pray sincerely and open up our hearts to the Lord, Christ will come into our lives through His Holy Spirit and change us into new creations! On Sunday, June 7, which is the feast of Pentecost, let us especially pray that the Spirit of God fill us with His ongoing presence, with His unconditional love, with His deep joy, with His unflinching courage, with His surpassing peace, and with all His gifts, so that our lives will become as fruitful and inspirational as the early Christians. This is our calling as followers of Jesus!
During this season of Pentecost, it seems like an appropriate time for us to reflect upon the theme of “Reclaiming the Sunday Sabbath.” Please read the articles on pages 4 - 8 in this issue of The Light, and think about how you sincerely try to honor the Lord. Jesus Christ told his followers “to be in the world, but not of the world.” He commanded us to be the “salt” that flavors the society in which we live, and to become a “light” shining in the darkness that is all around us.
This all means that we should not simply accept what our secular society does. Christians should not simply imitate what our neighbors are doing, but we should try to evaluate whether a particular path is one that glorifies God, and then strive to live according to what our Lord teaches us, according to His commandments, even if it makes us a little different from others.
As you read the articles in this issue of The Light, you will realize that I am challenging all our faithful to not simply believe in our faith theoretically, but to live it practically. The teachings and commandments of our Lord are directives by which we should try to live. For example, when the Lord says, “Keep the Sabbath day holy,” we should not simply look at our secular society and accept what they do, but we should try to honor our Lord’s commandment, no matter if we are going against the tide.
If others choose to go golfing on Sunday mornings, that’s their business, but it shouldn’t be ours. If others allow their children to play sports, or go to dance practice, or participate in some other activities on Sunday morning, that is their business, but it shouldn’t be ours.
Just because many people do something, that doesn’t make it right in the eyes of God. The saints were often the minority that struggled to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our Lord warned us that the path is easy and the road wide that leads to destruction. We Christians are called to take the difficult, often unpopular and sacrificial path that leads towards God.
So remember, if you have to make a decision that is unpopular, or take a stance which your children may not necessarily understand, pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten you, comfort you and empower you, just as He did for the first apostles.
St. Paul said that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). May this fruit grow in you richly as you open up your heart to the Holy Spirit!
With love in Christ our Lord,
+Fr. Luke
