November 21st, 2021

Glory to Jesus Christ! 

Dear parishioners and friends,

I would like to wish you all a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. This message will be for this week and next week. As we begin the holy season of the Nativity Fast, I would like to remind you all of planned events and also of things that are coming up.

This weekend Fr. Christopher will be with us. On Saturday he will lead an afternoon recollection in preparation for the Nativity of Christ. We begin with a vegan soup lunch (Italian lentil soup). Fr. Christopher will then lead us through two talks (at 1pm and 2pm), followed by an opportunity for Holy Confession and 4pm Great Vespers.

I would like to remind you all that the 6pm Saturday Vigil Liturgy is specifically for our parishioners who are at high risk and facing health concerns, so out of charity we mask and distance.

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Divine Liturgy will be served by Fr. Marc at 10am. This Liturgy will be for both communities, Ruthenian and Melkite.

We offer our prayers and condolences to Fr. Marc at the passing of his uncle. Since Fr. Marc will be attending the funeral with his family, this Sunday, Nov. 21, there will be no Melkite Liturgy served at 12pm.

Volunteers are needed to help with the preparation for the feast of St. Nicholas. Please speak with Jacquelyn Smith in the hall; there is a sign-up link above in this email and on the Facebook page. We also need volunteers to help decorate on Dec. 11 after the Procession from Mater Dei Church (2-4pm). We are also still looking for white lights to use in our decoration, especially of the Temple inside and outside.

There will be no Wednesday zoom webinars for two weeks but we will resume the webinars on Dec. 8.

Please also note that the Obligation to keep the Sunday by coming to Church is  restored as of Sunday, Nov 28. Those of you who are experiencing anxiety about the pandemic and are under risk, are not under any obligation. Please try to keep the Sunday through prayer and joining us in the live stream of the Divine Liturgy. I am also available to bring you Communion to your home/or outside your home, or you can arrange to come to the Church and receive Communion.

In the hall the old non-functioning dishwasher has been replaced with a new Whirlpool donated by the Lamb family. When the dishwasher was to be installed we discovered water had leaked under the dishwasher, corner cabinet and stove. This week, through the generosity of Damien Van Der Putten (and son) and Adam Frisch, on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, all has been remediated and is now replaced and connected. The dishwasher is not in place as we are still drying out the stove and corner area from moisture. Please do not use the garbage disposal and do not put any solids into it. The dishwasher is plugged in and working.

I wish you all a blessed feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple and a happy Thanksgiving.

Fr. Elias