On the fourth Sunday of Great Lent we commemorate St. John Climacus (of the Ladder).
Read about this Sunday here and here.
Coffee Hour this Sunday: L through Z
Memorial Liturgy and Parish Cleaning Day
On Saturday, April 2nd, we will celebrate a Memorial Divine Liturgy. If you can’t attend, but would like to have loved ones remembered, submit your list by email to saintanneoffice@gmail.com.
Following the Liturgy and a light meal, we are having a cleaning day. Come and help us prepare the church for Pascha!
Reminder: Confessions during Lent
We are given 40 days of the Lenten Season before we enter Holy Week. We are about to hit the half way point with this Sunday of the Cross. Please make your confession during this Lenten season. I am available for confession by appointment as well as after Vespers on Saturdays. I will not be hearing confessions after the Unction service on Holy Wednesday, unless there is a particular need (distance, illness, etc.). If you have any questions please let me know!
Also, be mindful, Unction given during Holy Week requires a recent confession, i.e. given during the Lenten season.
Akathist to Sts. Joachim and Anna
We have begun a weekly Akathist to Sts. Joachim and Anna. Our intention in praying this Akathist is to ask for their heavenly intercessions for our current property concerns and future building project and for the health and thriving of our community. If you cannot join us in person, please be thinking around this time to pray to Sts. Joachim and Anna for us all!
Presanctified Liturgy, meal, and Lenten Class Series
On Wednesdays during Great Lent we celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Following the service we break the fast together with a Lenten meal of soup, salad, and bread.
Sign-up here or in the narthex to bring food .
As we finish eating, we will have a series of presentations on Modern saints and a few other topics.
Spring Lenten Catechumen Classes
The Catechumen classes continue on Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. Catechesis will be taught by Fr. Daniel, Fr. Dn. Raphael, and other catechists in the parish. Recordings are available here.
We will be producing another podcast to upload current and historic catechism classes.
Great Lent Resources
Looking for some good Lenten reading? An explanation about the services? fasting? something for children?
It’s all here: Preparing for Lent
Prayer List
Departed: Priest Antonios, Walter
Shut in: Frances, Suzie
Health & Misc: Archbishop Paul, Priest Ioann, M. Yulia and Ilaria, Jasmine, David, Jonathan, Maci - Matrona, Scott, Christina, Daniela, Katherine, Zinaida, Dymphna, Norah, Oakland, John, George, Daria, Terry, Lynne, Polycarp
Pregnant: Kayla, Stina
Catechumens: Isaac (and Worth), Karen, Arnold, Joshua, Kayla, Joshua, Kelli, Harmoni, Jordan, Tim, Andrew, Michael
OCA Synodal Statement on Ukraine
Witnessing the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the consequent humanitarian crisis developing there, no Christian can remain impartial or lukewarm in the face of the suffering or remain silent when confronted with such evils as are being perpetrated. As such, we, the bishops of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, condemn the war which is causing death and devastation affecting millions of innocent people. We particularly grieve the killing and violence committed by Orthodox Christians against other Orthodox Christians.
Orthodox Christians abhor all forms of aggression, repeating the condemnation of the holy prophets against all those who “make haste to shed innocent blood” (Is. 59:7). Joining our voice to that of other Christian leaders, who also decry the invasion of Ukraine, we call on the Russian authorities to end the hostilities. Furthermore, we exhort the international community to condemn the war against Ukraine and use all diplomatic means to achieve an expeditious resolution.
We proclaim our solidarity with the suffering Orthodox Christian brethren of Ukraine, with the entire Ukrainian people, and the civil and religious leaders who bear the responsibility of caring for their people at this time. In particular, we express our continuing support for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
We call the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to join us in interceding on behalf of Ukraine, praying to our merciful God for an end to bloodshed, beseeching Him to comfort the afflicted, the displaced and wounded. We also beseech Him to bless Ukraine with peace, healing, and rebuilding. We are mindful of the hardships being borne by the people of Russia, many of whom oppose this war, and who are suffering the loss of loved ones sent to the front, economic ruin, and social damage.
The Holy Synod of Bishops affirms the letter sent by Metropolitan Tikhon to Patriarch Kirill, imploring His Holiness to do whatever possible to end the war in Ukraine and the suffering and death of countless victims.
As we celebrate this Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross, which is the only weapon of peace, we beseech our flock and all people of goodwill to do whatever lies within their power to aid the suffering and war-displaced. Those to whom God has given the means: we urge you to make material contributions to assist those affected by the war, especially refugees, who now number in the millions. Finally, we remind all of the words of the Lord who tells us that, though we may have tribulation, we always find our peace in him who has overcome the world (John 16:33).
In the love of Jesus Christ, who is the Peace and Power of God,
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America
(source)