Vespers with Litiya for Meeting of the Lord in the Temple.

Divine Liturgy for feast day.  Meeting of the Lord in the Temple - Kontakion - (Tone 1) By Your nativity, You did sanctify the Virgin's womb, And did bless Simeon's hands, O Christ God. Now You have come and saved us through love. Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!  

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy  -  Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee -  

Sunday Divine Liturgy - Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee   The Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee is the first pre-Lenten Sunday.  It follows the Sunday of Zacchaeus.  The story of the Publican and Pharisee is told by Jesus in the form of a parable or story, which is the way Jesus taught His teachings so that the people hearing would understand.  The two men went in to pray and one of them, the Pharisee, says to God, “God I thank You that I’m not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast two times a week and I give tithes of all that I possess.”  The other man, a Publican who was a despised tax collector, did not even look up to heaven but, bowing his head cried softly, “God be merciful a sinner.”  Jesus asked, “which one was forgiven and who was condemned?”  Jesus tells us  “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  The Publican was saved because of his humility.

Please give Barbara Kary articles for the Enlightener today.

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy - Sunday of the Prodigal Son 

General Confession will follow Great Vespers.

Sunday Divine Liturgy - Sunday of the Prodigal Son   The third Sunday before Great Lent is called the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.  This is also told as a parable and it describes the actions of two sons.  One stayed with his father and the other asked for his inheritance, received it and left to live a wasteful life.  When his inheritance was gone and he was in need, he was given a job feeding swine.  When he remembered that his father’s servants were treated well and with respect, he decided to go home.  When he was still far off, his father was told that he was coming home.  The father was so happy, he arranged for a welcoming feast and ran off to greet the son.  The other son was saddened by the festivities since he had always obeyed his father.  But the father, gently and with great love, told him that he would always be with him but that now his brother who was dead is alive again, he was lost but is found.  Having acknowledged our sins, we need to return home to God, our Father, Who willingly and lovingly accepts us if we make the slightest motion to return to Him

Annuial Parish Meeting following Divine Liturgy.  In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be held February 19 instead.

Please check with the weekly bulletin concerning service.

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy.  Sunday of the Last Judgment.

Sunday Divine Liturgy - Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meatfare Sunday)   This Sunday is the signal to begin the meat fast.  Read Matthew 25:31-46.  Here is an account of the universal judgment.  The needy are the intimate brethren of Christ.  When you help “the least of these” you help Christ.  Jesus identifies Himself with the poor and the outcast and invites all who are filled with love for others to join Him in His glory by helping those in need.  The standard of judgment is uncalculated mercy toward the needy.  The works produced by faith are very important, for a saving faith produces righteous works.  It is possible to fool ourselves about whether we truly believe, but what we do reflects our true inner state so that we will need no other evidence before God’s court.

Meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Great Vespers for Sunday Divine Liturgy - Forgiveness Sunday (Cheese Fare Sunday)

Sunday Divine Liturgy - Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese fare Sunday)   The Sunday of Forgiveness is the Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent.  This Sunday is also known as Cheese fare Sunday and reminds those who are fasting from dairy products that dairy is not eaten today and throughout the Great lent until the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Read Matthew 6:14-21.  Jesus directs each of us to pray for the Father’s forgiveness of all, and for all of us to forgive each other.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matt 6:12).  We request God to be to us as we are to our family members, friends and neighbors.  Jesus insists on mutual forgiveness between people as a precondition of God’s forgiveness.  Those who do not forgive are not forgiven.  This teaching is repeated by Jesus in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:23-35), which ends with the same words.  

Forgiveness Vespers will follow Divine Liturgy.

Today begins the Great Lent.

Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.