Pastor’s Message

APPROACHING HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we approach the most holy time of the year, the blessed Holy Week and Pascha (Easter), I hope that you will once again show the customary love you have for the Lord and His Church by actively participating in the Lenten and Holy Week worship services.

These sublime and most beneficial sacred services have as their aim our transformation and sanctification. This involves the whole person, mind, body and spirit. When we immerse ourselves in the worship experience, we receive blessings upon blessings.

Please take the time and make the effort to be present. Yes, as busy as we all are, we can and should discipline ourselves to do that which our soul longs for: to struggle for a union with God. This is our ultimate aim according to the teachings of our beloved Orthodox faith. Try to do more for your spiritual side this holy season and see the beautiful change which will occur in you.

I pray that the Lord may strengthen each and every one of you, that you may choose to do his will and not simply carry on as usual.

SHORTCHANGING OUR BELOVED CHILDREN

Our precious treasure is undeniably our children.

Today’s world is more challenging than ever for us of the Christian faith, especially for our children. An ever-increasing anti-God and anti-Christian attitudes are proliferating at the expense especially of those most vulnerable ones, our children. The militant secularism of this God-less age, is succeeding and only because we, the followers of Christ, have to a large degree been apathetic to this danger. We either ignore it or claim we are powerless to fight it. I submit that both attitudes are wrong. We can and we should do something about it.

We can start to get our own house in order. It is certainly never too late. Fidelity to our Greek Orthodox faith demands it. For the many pernicious and amoral attitudes prevalent in today’s world are challenging our beliefs and practices. Many have succumbed to a non-Christian and even a non-Orthodox Christian mind-set and have concluded that the Church is not all that important. Why do I say that? Consider the awful attendance record of our Sunday School. Parents bring their children to the Folk Dance practices, to Greek School and to Basketball, but are too busy to bring them for Religious Education. Friends, basketball is a lot of fun, and so is Greek dancing. However, the Church’s main task is to make us truly committed and practicing Orthodox Christians. Instruction in the faith is and always should be, the PRIMARY concern of every parent. We need to return to the basics of our faith. Our parents, God bless them, were acutely aware of the importance of religious education and regular attendance in the Liturgy. They did not fail, and that is why we are faithful Orthodox Christians today. Can we do less?

I implore those of you who have fallen victim to various excuses to please alter your attitudes and bring your children back to Sunday School and Church. Otherwise, there will most assuredly come a time when you wish you had done your duty. But by then it will be too late. Out of a great and abiding love for our children, I am sounding this warning, in the hope that it will not fall on deaf but willing ears.

OUR EXPANSION

In this edition of the VINEYARD we have included a section on the professional Fund-raising firm of CFS. In an easy to read, question and answer format, the questions many have been asking are presented by our priest and answered by GARY ARNOLD, President of Church Fund-raising Services. We invite you to read this section so you will understand the rationale behind the hiring of a professional consultant on Church fund-raising. For many of our members, the very concept of utilizing a firm to guide our capital fund-raising campaign elicits the question “why do we need them?” The nuts and bolts of the campaign are explained very succinctly and perhaps one will find this information useful if not convincing of the need for professional guidance. May I add that Gary has conducted several major campaigns for Greek Orthodox Churches. Three times he served St. Paul’s in Irvine. He also did work for St. Nicholas in Northridge, Holy Cross in Belmont, and most recently Holy Trinity in Portland, Oregon. He is currently being considered by the St. Barbara Church in Orange, Connecticut.

MODESTY AND THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

With Holy Week around the corner, I must caution the ladies (and gentlemen) of our parish about something that is often overlooked, especially of late.

While in the past the priest did not have to mention the word “modesty” because only few violated the “dress code” for Church, today’s culture demands it. While societal behavior is often subjected to“trends”, the Church has always countered these claims by stressing certain basic axioms. While we live “in the world” we must not be “of the world.”Our Lord reminds of the dangers inherent in following the “pied pipers” of pop culture. The Christ cautions us to be vigilant because of the hidden dangers involved in following the “ruler of this world.” Therefore, we Christians should always be guided in matters of dress and conduct in accordance with 1) respect for God and His house; 2) self-respect and 3) respect for our brothers and sisters.

St. Paul stresses the importance of proper dress for the Christian when he admonishes the Christians of his time as well as us today, that “those parts of the body,...................our unpresentable parts are [to be] treated with greater modesty”. (1Cor.12:23) However, modesty is more than no “skimpy clothing.”

Some may ask “what is modesty?” Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “propriety in dress, speech and conduct.” So to be “modest” means to observe the proprieties of dress and behavior. Fashion should not dictate in any absolute sense what we wear to Church.

Proper church etiquette requires that men and women come to church not only properly clothed but also ready and willing to conduct themselves accordingly and respecting the sanctity of God’s House. This means that our “behavior” must be acceptable to God and also not offend our fellow worshipers. After all the main reason of our presence in church is to worship God.

Something else needs to be considered. Loud, prolonged and unnecessary conversations not only during services but even before or after any Sacred Service (and this includes Weddings and Baptisms) is not proper in a Church setting. The Church is known as the “House of God” which is always a “House of Prayer.” We must RESPECT the House of God at all times.

HOLY CONFESSION AND HOLY COMMUNION

I wish to offer not only words of caution but also of encouragement to all our beloved members as the Holy Days of the Lord’s sufferings, death and resurrection are upon us.

Caution is offered to those who do not bother with addressing their sins and seeking forgiveness via the Sacrament of Penance. These same who come to receive totally unprepared are harming themselves by their actions. We should not come to receive the Lord’s Body and His Blood without preparation. To do so is to dishonor the Lord and the Holiness of His house.

Yes, Holy Communion, and frequent at that, should be the norm for all. The Lord said: “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.”(John 6:54) At the same time in the writings of St. Paul we are warned with these words. “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” (Corinthians 11:27)

On the other hand, I also want to encourage those who truly prepare for reception of the Eucharist to continue doing so and yes, to receive frequently. Without reception of Holy Communion our Sunday worship experience is incomplete. But again, heed the warning about the need for preparation. Now, when we speak of preparation in addition to Holy Confession one should include the following:

1. Keeping of the required fast days (see your priest for details)

2. Nothing by mouth from the moment of rising until receiving.

3. No smoking prior to receiving and no breakfast.

4. Read the preparatory prayers for Holy Communion at the appointed time.

5. Read the thanksgiving prayers after Holy Communion.

5. (For ladies) Please blot out your lipstick. It would be better if you refrained from using lipstick the day you plan to receive.

I pray that we all will come to these all-holy days seeking and receiving purification. To just “show up” whenever we feel like it, totally unprepared and caring even less about fasting, prayer and performing good works, is not going to get us anywhere. Please, take the time to prepare! Read God’s word, especially the Gospels! Watch your thoughts and actions! Cut back on socializing and merry-making during Lent but especially Holy Week And prepare to meet the living God.