Lampada, New Lampada - St. Nicholas Orthodox Churchstnicholasorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/.../LampadaLent2015TextRevpdf.pdf · rives from evil choice” (Theodoret of Cyrus, Dialogue

Lampada, Lampada, Lampada, Lampada, March 2015 p.16

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

P.O. Box 6981

Charlottesville Virginia 22906

Address Correction Requested

Next Lampada Next Lampada Next Lampada Next Lampada ---- May 15, Theme: PaschalMay 15, Theme: PaschalMay 15, Theme: PaschalMay 15, Theme: Paschal----Pentecost SeasonPentecost SeasonPentecost SeasonPentecost Season

NewNew WebsiteWebsite

Now Online!Now Online!

Check out our newly updat-ed website. This is the first effort to make our website not only more intuitive, but having more current con-tent and resources. We also hope to leverage some so-cial media capabilities in the near future, as well.

Special thanks to Karen Bowman and our web com-mittee for their work - and to our web designer Andy Patzig for their fruitful ef-forts.

May the website be a May the website be a May the website be a May the website be a blessing to countless people blessing to countless people blessing to countless people blessing to countless people seeking the saving truth of seeking the saving truth of seeking the saving truth of seeking the saving truth of

the Gospel. the Gospel. the Gospel. the Gospel.

March, 2015March, 2015March, 2015March, 2015 ““““Your Word O Lord is a Lamp to my feet, a light to my path.Your Word O Lord is a Lamp to my feet, a light to my path.Your Word O Lord is a Lamp to my feet, a light to my path.Your Word O Lord is a Lamp to my feet, a light to my path.

African Christianity Series Underway!African Christianity Series Underway!

On Friday, February 27th we commenced our parish outreach series exploring the History of African Christianity, on the UVA Grounds. Dr. Bill (aka Reader Joseph) Black told the story of the early centu-ries of Christianity in Africa, focusing on the amazing story of the emergence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as a result of the grace of God working through the life of two Syrian slaves. He also touched on other fascinating moments of Ethiopian Church history, from the initial biblical account of the ‘Ethiopian’ eunuch, and the emergence of the Nicene faith. On Friday, March 6, Brian Siebeking will explore the relationship between Christianity and Islam in Africa. We will have a presenta-tion on the Holy Men and Women of Africa the following Friday, and on March 20 we will conclude the series with a review of the state of the Church in Africa in recent years. These sessions will take place at St. Nicholas Church at 7pm.

Please be sure to attend these sessions, and plan to bring a friend!

Continued, p.14

LampadaLampadaLampadaLampada

CATECHETICAL HOMILY CATECHETICAL HOMILY CATECHETICAL HOMILY CATECHETICAL HOMILY ---- At the Opening of Holy and Great LentAt the Opening of Holy and Great LentAt the Opening of Holy and Great LentAt the Opening of Holy and Great Lent

BARTHOLOMEWBARTHOLOMEWBARTHOLOMEWBARTHOLOMEW

By God’s grace Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch

To the Plenitude of the Church: May the Grace and Peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you, Together with our Prayer, Blessing and Forgiveness

“The arena of virtues has opened; let those who wish to compete enter.” (Triodion Sticheron, Cheesefare Sunday)

Beloved brothers and sisters, dear children in the Lord,

Our Lord Jesus Christ grafts us into His body, inviting us to become saints, “just as He is holy.” (1 Peter 1.16) Our Creator wants us to be in communion with Him in order to taste His grace, which is to participate in His sanctity. Communion with God is a life of repentance and holiness; whereas estrangement from God, or sin, is identified by the Church Fathers with “evil of the heart.” Sin is not natural, but de-rives from evil choice” (Theodoret of Cyrus, Dialogue 1, Immutabilis, PG 83.40D) or from the evil spirit, since “no one sins, who promises faith,” according to Ignati-us of Antioch, the “God-bearer.”

Inside this Issue

Patriarch’s Epistle - Great Lent · p.1

Parish Service Schedule ············· p.2

Parish Ac�vity Review ·············· p.3

Financial Report ························· p.4

Pastor’s Report ·························· p.5

From the Parish Board Chair ·· p. 12

Service Group Reports ············· p.12


V. Rev. Robert Holet, Pastor

Leadership Board

Chair: Vladimir Gavrilovic

Vice Chair: Randy Brogan

Treasurer: Karen Bowman

Secretary: Cynthia Patzig

At Large: George Dilendorf

Service Group Leaders

Hospitality: Megan Duncan

Liturgy: Bryan Alexander

Charitable Works: Brian Siebeking

Evangeliza�on: Basil Finnegan

Greeters: Karen Gavrilovic

Buildings/Grounds: Dean Gakos

Liturgical Music - Pani Matka

Chris�ne Holet

Webmaster - Karen Bowman

Community Care - Elaine Brogan

Library-Bookstore - David Murphy

Parish Office - 434-973-2500

Phone at Church: (540)-456-6981

Address: 7581 Rockfish Gap

Tpk (US 250), Greenwood, VA

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6981,

Charlo?esville, Va. 22906

Email: [email protected]

Pastor: [email protected]

Web: www. stnicholasorthodoxchurch.org

To reach Fr. Robert – First call the

rectory phone: 434-973-2500 and leave

a message. If you are unable to reach him

at that number, leave then try the cell

phone: 434-987-8170. The cell phone is

used only on travel trips.

Liturgical Services ScheduleLiturgical Services Schedule Subject to ChangeSubject to Change

Sunday, March 1 First Sunday of Great Lent - Sunday of Orthodoxy

8:45am Matins 9:30am Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

Wednesday, March 4 6:00pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

Friday, March 6 6:00pm Lenten Vespers 7:00pm History of African Christianity Series (St. Nicholas Church)

Saturday, March 7 8:00am Divine Liturgy - Memorial Litiya (Faithful Departed) 4:00pm Great Vespers

Sunday, March 8 Second Sunday of Great Lent - St. Gregory Palamas





Sunday, March 15 Third Sunday of Great Lent - Veneration of the Holy Cross





Sunday, March 22 Fourth Sunday of Great Lent - St. John Climacus


Parish Leaders

Contact Informa/on

A Parish of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony

Presiding Hierarch


• Special condolences to John Sweigart and his family on the passing from this life to eternity of his sister Kathy. Let us pray for the repose of her soul and for the family in their grief. Memory eter-nal! (Funeral will be Monday, March 1, in Lebanon Pa.

• For the repose of the 21 Coptic Christians killed by Muslim extremists in Libya this week, and for all who suffer persecution at the hands of religious extremists and for peace in the Middle East and Africa.

• For God’s blessing upon our History of African Christianity series being offered during Great Lent.

• For restoration of peace in Ukraine and and the repose of the ‘Heavenly Hundred’ who were killed during the Maidan - peaceful transition of power in Ukraine one year ago.

• For Dorian and all who are in prison.

• For God’s blessing upon the holy work being offered to Christ by Frannie, Joe, Debbie, Lois, Charlotte, Gertrude, Junior, Jerry, Randy, Rayburn and all who serve those in need in SW Virginia.

•For those who participate in local ministries to help those in need, and those who serve with LOVE, Inc.

Please Remember in Your PrayersPlease Remember in Your PrayersPlease Remember in Your PrayersPlease Remember in Your Prayers

Special Intention (death

of child)

Nicholas (holy orders)

Basil (health)

Andy and Sue

Special Intention

Lauren (missionary)

Frannie (healing)

Fr. Thomas

Calder, David & fam.

Fr. Nestor , Fr. John

(health)

Mrs. Ventre, husband

and family

Phyllis and family

General Inten/ons

Nathaniel and family

Niki, Karen, Annie and

family

Riley Cole and Family

Charity Fund At Work - A Le2er from Uganda

(A letter to Troy Hamilton who forwarded the Charity Funds to Uganda)

Dear Troy, and Father, I hope this will find you well. Troy my Brother, I want to thank you so much for the Money You and Father have given us, the Money has really given help to many situation here with me.

As I told you some time back when I received this money from western Union that part of it shall go to help the Pupils in our New St. Anthony Primary School under our new Orthodox Christian Community in Nwoya District, in the Attached Pictures you will be able to see how this money was put to help putting up corrugated iron roof on some part of the Class room, part of the money I use it to pay fees for mine and some of the children I am taking care, again part of it has been in use to help in the Ecclesiastical services including our struggle in the North. Troy, I want you to forgive me for this information I am sending to you again begging for more help, as you can see from the pictures we ran out of the corrugated iron which made some part of the Class room which we worked on still left open and the two Class room Block on the other side is still without roof. We had before roofed it using thus grass but the terrible wind came and blown it off. Wet- season which is a raining season is about to begin and we are afraid if it find us in that situation, learning process will be very much distorted. We are begging you and Father to try to talk to some people who can accept to help us as they did help with the first money you send. Troy and Father, I know you are getting tied of my continuous begging but please i am a poor priest with many issues under my care, may you please do not ignore my humble begging on behalf of this children you see in the pictures who really need to study but are having many worries in their heart as far as the existing situation in the school is concern May you please accept to join hand with me by sacrificing the little you have and talk to other who will accept your call and sacrifice also the little they also have to help this children and their school. With humility,

Fr. George Gulu


Holiness is a quality that belongs to the Lord as “the one, who offers and is offered, who receives and is distributed.” The celebrant of the Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist, by divine grace offers to the faithful “the holy things for the holy people,” the body and blood of Christ; and he immediately receives from the Orthodox faithful the response to this offering: “One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, “who is eaten but never consumed; who sanctifies those who participate.”

In our struggle to achieve “likeness” to God, for which we were created, namely holiness, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Or-thodox Church, which aspires exclusively and solely to our salvation, “rightfully proclaimed” one season as a period of special prayer and supplication in order to calm the passions of our soul and body.

This season commences tomorrow as a salvific preparation for the “great and most sacred Pascha of Christ.” We are referring to Holy and Great Lent, which we must live “by offering prayer and seeking forgiveness,” in order truly to taste Pascha “with all the saints,” by becoming “saints,” by confessing before God and people that we are “clay vessels” that are shattered on a daily basis by the evil one, always “falling and rising.” That is to say, we must admit our human imperfection and failure, as well as our insignifi-cance before God, by repenting and repeating day-in and day-out, at all times and in all places – even as we are made “holy” through baptism – that “one is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.”

Therefore, we call upon all Orthodox Christian faithful – clergy, monks and nuns, as well as all our brothers, sisters and children in the Lord – to transform our life at all times, but particularly during this period of Holy and Great Lent, into a loving effort of prepa-ration before our neighbor so that we might share more vividly from now in the Lord’s Kingdom, the “new Pascha,” whose light never sets. We invite everyone to a life of holiness and spiritual struggle so that the possibility of transcending sin may be granted to the whole world and to us as a “good gift” and “perfect gift.” For “everyone that is born from God does not sin . . . and cannot sin, for that person is born of God.” (1 John 3.9-10)

Let us enter, then, with all our soul, without sorrowful faces but instead rejoicing and delighting, into this spiritual arena of virtues; and let us arm ourselves “with the brightness of love, the splendor of prayer, the purity of chastity, and the strength of valor” in order to journey with the Lord, even as we pray that “He may not overlook us when we are in danger of alienating ourselves form Him.” (Hymn from the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross) Rather, may He render us worthy “to reach His holy resurrection on the third day, which shines incorruption through the world.” (Poem by Theodore, Service on Monday of the 1st Week of Lent)

Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord,

Holy and Great Lent is a period of preparation and repentance as the voice of our conscience, which is internal and inexpressible, our personal judgment. When it finds us doing wrong, it protests vehemently inasmuch as “nothing in the world is more violent than our conscience,” according to the experienced her-ald of repentance, St. Andrew of Crete. Thus, each of us must be at peace with our conscience in order that “we may offer a mystical sacrifice in the fire of our conscience,” surrendering our passions and offering them as an oblation of love toward our fellow human beings, just as the Lord gave Himself up “for the life and salvation of the world.” Only then will for-giveness rise from the tomb for us as well; and only then shall we live in mutual respect and love, far from the horrific crimes that we witness plaguing the entire world today. In this struggle, we have as our allies and intercessors all the saints and especially our all-holy Mother of God, who through her prayers “washes our conscience.”

Wherefore, we urge and beseech you, as the spiritual father of all our Orthodox faithful throughout the world, to run with eagerness the race that opens up before us tomorrow in the arena of virtues, “neither think-ing nor practicing sinful things.” Let us rather walk with God’s grace in order to cleanse our conscience “with the good option” of repentance in the conviction that heaven and earth, as well as all “things visible and invisible” will ultimately emanate the light of our Lord’s resurrection.

If we stand and behave righteously “before the doors of the Lord’s tem-ple,” then we shall be vested with the bright robe of Christ’s imitation and be rendered worthy of the “new drink” that comes from the source of incorruption. Then we shall taste the joy of the radiant tomb of the Lord and be swept inside the Church “to the very depths of the altar,” where “the awesome mysteries are celebrated.” May it be so.

Holy and Great Lent 2015 - Your fervent supplicant before God

+ Bartholomew of Constantinople

Hospitality Notes

The Hospitality Service Group is gearing up for a busy Lenten sea-son. Our biggest event will be welcoming Metropolitan Antony when he visits on Sunday March 29. Please plan to attend Liturgy and stay after for a special coffee hour. We will be be preparing the social hall Saturday the 28th, please contact Pani Christine if you would

like to help with the preparations.

After Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesdays, we share a potluck meal, please bring a Lenten dish to share. We also continue with sharing coffee hour duties, the sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the

hall. Sign up if you are willing to host/clean up one Sunday soon.

We continue to update our social hall, soon new tablecloths will be coming to brighten the room. Feel free to share any ideas with a

group member. May we all have a blessed Fast.

Megan Duncan, Coordinator

Continued, from page 1 Patriarch’s Lenten Message


Liturgical Services (cont.)

Wednesday, March 25 Feast of the Annunciation 6:00pm Vespers - Divine Liturgy of St. John 8:30pm Matins - Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete (time approximate)

Friday, March 27 6:00pm Akathistos Hymn 7:00pm History of African Christianity Series

Saturday, March 28 No Saturday Liturgy this week 4:00pm Great Vespers

Archpastoral Visit by Metropolitan Antony

Sunday, March 29 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent - St. Mary of Egypt 9:30am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (of St. Basil) followed by Parish Luncheon

Wednesday, April 1 6:00pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

Friday, April 3 6:00pm Vespers for Lazarus Saturday

Saturday, April 4 Lazarus Saturday 8:00am Divine Liturgy 4:00pm Great Vespers for Palm Sunday

Sunday, April 5 Palm (Flowery) Sunday - Triumphal Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem 8:45am Matins 9:30am Divine Liturgy

Monday, April 6 Great and Holy Monday 6:00pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts (2 hrs)

Tuesday, April 7 Great and Holy Tuesday

7:00pm Bridegroom Matins (1.75 hrs)

Wednesday, April 8 Great and Holy Wednesday - The Anointing

6:00pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts (1.75 hrs) 7:45pm Service of Holy Anointing (1.5 hrs)

Thursday, April 9 Great and Holy Thursday - The Mystical Supper

5:00pm Vespers - Liturgy of St. Basil (2.5 hrs) 7:30pm Great Friday Matins - Reading of Passion Gospels (2 hrs)

Friday, April 10 GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY - THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD

8:00am Royal Hours for Great Friday (2 hrs) 6:00pm Great Vespers with Procession of the Holy Shroud (1.5 hrs) 9:00pm Jerusalem Matins (2.5hrs) followed by All Night Vigil at Tomb

Saturday, April 11 GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY - DESCENT INTO HADES

12:00n Paschal Vigil: Vespers - Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (2.5 hrs)

Many Blessed Many Blessed Many Blessed Many Blessed Years!Years!Years!Years!

Birthdays

Saints Days

Confessions for Great Lent:

Are offered a7er all Lenten ser-

vices or by appointment.


SUNDAY, APRIL 12 HOLY PASCHA - THE FEAST OF FEASTS: THE GLORI-OUS RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

11:45pm Midnight Office 12:00mn Procession - Resurrection Matins 1:00am Divine Liturgy of Pascha (2 hrs) followed by Blessing of Paschal Foods/ Fellowship Meal 9:30am Paschal Vespers (not Divine Liturgy)

Monday, April 13 8:00am Divine Liturgy - Bright Monday

--- Additional services/activities for Bright Week to be announced ---

Saturday, April 18 7:00pm Great Vespers for Thomas Sunday

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 THOMAS SUNDAY - Second Paschal Sunday

8:45am Matins 9:30am Divine Liturgy

Liturgical Services Schedule (cont. from page 1) 3) Sunday of Sunday of Sunday of Sunday of Orthodoxy Orthodoxy Orthodoxy Orthodoxy

VespersVespersVespersVespers

Sunday, March 1

St. Andrew the Apostle OCA

Church Ashland, Va

5pm

Rides may be

available. Please contact Fr. Robert for more

information if you plan to attend.

Let us rejoice in the Holy Faith

that we received and share!

Archpastoral Visit by Metropolitan Antony - Sunday, March 29th

We look forward to the visit of His Eminence to our parish, the weekend of March 29. Since Metropoli-tan’s schedule is quite busy during Great Lent, we have not yet been able to confirm whether he will be with us on Sat, March 28 as well.

Our Service Groups will be making special preparations for this event, including Liturgy preparations for the Hierarchical Liturgy, Hospitality arrangements for the post-Liturgy meal, meetings with/presentations by parish leaders and other activities that will enable His Eminence to better come to know the people of our parish and help us engage in the ministries and activities that will be fruitful to God’s purposes.

Hopefully, we may have the opportunity to do a short presentation to His Eminence about the various activities of our Service Groups and the goals of the Parish Board for the year. If timing permits, this will serve as part of the Parish Meeting itself.

More on this will be presented next week when confirmed with His Eminence ….

Iconography Project Update

We are now reviewing the work of various iconographers in the region, regarding their style approach, availability and costs for the anticipated iconography project. If you know of any iconographers who are experienced and may be inter-ested in serving in this capacity, please contact Bryan Alexander or Fr. Robert.

Parish Activities

Evangelization-Outreach Service Group 6:00pm Tuesday, March 2

Liturgy Group Meeting 7:30pm Wednesday, March 11

Parish Board Meeting 2:00pm Saturday, March 14

Parish Work Party 10am - 3pm Saturday, April 4

Note: The Hospitality Service Group will offer time on one Saturday each month to clean the kitchen and social hall. Helping hands are welcome! Contact Megan Duncan if you can help.


St. Nicholas Charity Fund Report St. Nicholas Charity Fund Report -- 20142014 The St. Nicholas Charity Fund puts the financial resources of our parish to active use in alleviating the needs of those suffering, and promoting the charitable outreach efforts of partner organizations to provide assistance to those in our parish (Community Care), the local Community and region, our special ministries (SW Virginia), UOC of USA charities, and other Orthodox and non-Orthodox charities active nationally and around the world! All of this work is made possible because the first portion of our church offerings are dedicated to charitable purposes through the Charity Fund - and our parishioner add to those contributions through special donations when possible. The Fund serves as a ’clearing house’ to address these many needs in a comprehensive fashion, despite our limited size and resources. Because the fund sometimes addresses sensitive or per-sonal matters, it is administered directly by the pastor, but this is done in conjunction with the advice of both the Chari-table Works service group and the Parish Board. We maintain a file of ‘thank yous’ and other acknowledgements that we hope everyone is able to review to see how these charitable donations are put to work. I think that many of our parishion-ers are familiar with the SW Virginia ministries and charitable efforts, but there are others that are also important, including those less well known, that hopefully you can come to appreci-ate.

In terms of the management of the funds, we entered the year with a balance of $7288, which represented funds held in reserve for a major project anticipated in 2014 to assist local families. This project was executed, hence the expenses for 2015 exceeded the income. Also you will note that a similar situation occurs frequently, as the end-of-year expenses included the offering of $5000 representing our St. Nicholas Charity Award to OCMC and the ministry of missionary Bill Black. These funds were not actually expended until January 2015, when additional funds from the parish were received and deposited, enabling the full Charity Award to be sent

Looking Forward - 2015

In addition to funding the ongoing ministries with which we work coop-eratively (SW VA, Community Care, LOVE Inc., Pregnancy Centers, individual requests, UOC charity requests, etc.) we will continue to sup-port Dr. Black and his OCMC ministry. In 2015, we have already sup-ported an Orthodox ministry outreach in northern Uganda, through the contacts that Troy Hamilton has ‘on the ground’ there. The local church there, through the ministry of Fr. George Gulu, works tirelessly in providing education and medical care in addition to the spiritual care of the flock. (See Fr. George’s letter on the next page.)

These are your offerings to God and his people, and we as a parish en-deavor to be good stewards of these funds always. If you have any questions regarding the Charity Fund, or suggestions for how the fund might address a need, please contact Fr. Robert.

Summary - 2014

Checkbook Balance Jan. 1, 2014 $7,288.07

Bank Balance (1-1-2014) $12,076.00

Less Prior yr checks $4,787.93 Income - Contributions YTD $20,286.07 Expenses/Charity Distri-butions 2014 $26,250.26

Misc. Expenses

Acct Balance $1,323.88 Plus Outstanding checks $5,003.97

Less Uncredited funds -

Bank Balance (calc) $6,327.85

as of 12/31/14

Community Care $ 5,888.93

Golf Ou�ng Exp/Dona�ons $ 3,586.35

Individual $ 2,823.85

Local Charity $ 1,250.00

Orthodox Charity $ 6,252.00

SW Virginia $ 5,449.13

Charity Fund Alloca�on


Charitable Works Service Group

Continued, from previous page

The Christian is constantly called to charity by Christ, by St. Paul, and by the Church Fathers. However, charity some-how always seems to be one of our lowest priorities. We always have the excuse that we are too poor, and need the money for ourselves, our family, our bills, our plans, projects, etc. But Christ did not say, “Feed the poor with the lefto-vers you neither need nor want”, or “Only feed the poor if you are very wealthy, and can afford to”. Rather, He said to love our neighbor as ourselves; moreover, that we are responsible for our neighbor: to feed him when he is hungry, to clothe him when he is naked, to visit him when he is in prison, to care for him when he is sick.

According to St. Basil’s interpretations, this means that we are not the real owners of our property in the sense that it is ours; rather we are stewards, given blessings by God, to share equally with our neighbor. To feed, clothe, visit, and care for him as we would feed, clothe, visit, and care for ourselves. But how do I share my car, my va-cations, my diamond ring? Is St. Basil asking us to get everyone a car, a vacation, and a diamond, that we might be equal in that sense?

No, not only is that impossible, but it is also unhelpful.

Instead of seeking to preserve a high comfort of living, we ought to be able to priori-tize what is really important in the world: our salvation in the next world. St. Basil makes a particularly biting comment on our obsession with material wealth in his homily To the Rich, asking “…what benefit do you acquire by waving your hand about re-splendent with gems? Should you not rather blush for shame, having this strange desire for pebbles, like the cravings of pregnant women?” Instead of valuing our material possessions so much, we ought to have a generous and charitable heart, in which we place our love for God and our neighbor higher than our love for our possessions.

There are many opportunities for charity here at St. Nicholas, from volunteering at our local food pantry to joining our service trip to southwest Virginia; from supporting right to life efforts to addressing the various needs of our own pa-rishioners. For more information about how you can get involved please talk to a member of the Charitable Works Ser-vice Group. While we all have demands on us, we need only remember the widow who “out of her poverty put in all that she had” (Mark 12:44). She is an example of the generosity and trust in God that we should all strive to achieve.

Rene Saur, Charitable Works Group

what they hear twice. Ancient Faith Radio has an excellent series called “The Gospel re-told for Younger Children” that families can listen to.

� Sing hymns for the services beforehand so that the child is familiar with them and can participate more fully. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a toddler belt out, “Christ is risen from the dead!”

And, finally, give yourself grace. No parent can do it all. We can, however, help our children to feel welcomed in and a part of this Home we share.

Sarah Wright Church School Coordinator

Family Corner


CirclesCircles

How do we foster growth in the Church? Well, we have been focusing a lot lately on trying to create outreach events and efforts like the African Christianity Series and the radio ads. But growth is needed internally as well. When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, communities had a kind of internal integrity. People’s lives were relatively stable, and friendships were built by neighbors literally talking across the fence, sharing neighborhood and church events, or simply walking the streets and visiting at night. This stability was reflected in the churches as well - as people really came to know each other, spent time together, visited and helped in times of need, and helped to bury each other. This is not the reality today.

Rather, ours is a young, mobile and widespread community. Yet the need for us to experience Christianity as communi-ty is still deep and profound. Christianity is the koinonia or fellowship of believers, who know, love and serve one anoth-er. These are not just nice words, but a reality which either exists, or it doesn’t. Churches where it exists are places of dynamic love, worship and faith. Where it’s not present, there’ a cold, unsettled atmosphere.

Social dynamics today are such that people readily make quick associations - and share certain things (even intimately), but a long-term commitment is often lacking. Sometimes people are just too busy to extend themselves. Those not particularly ‘religious’, may not think the church is comprised of the kind of people who are like them, or who they would like to be around. This is a particular challenge in ethnic parishes, where the ethnic identity, while drawing many into the community, also may drive ‘outsiders’ away. So how do we deal with these social realities?

Well humanly speaking, we overcome this simply by a certain openness to the fellowship of believers who do show up at Church. To start, extending a hand in self introduction at Coffee Hour is a hard thing for many to do, but can break down barriers and help people to get to know others. Participating in services, meetings and ministry opportunities al-ways provides ‘down time’ where people who don’t know each other get a chance to change that. In fact, working to-gether is probably one of the best ways to get to really know who a person is. (Hint - guys if you’re dating a girl and want to really get to know her, invite her to Work Party!)

With a little effort though, I believe we can intentionally foster this dimension of social growth in the parish. What is envisioned is to simply identify Circles - groups of people who are already in the parish who quite evidently have some-thing in common. As I reflect upon how our parish is currently comprised, there are about a half dozen social circles that are evident or could be formed:

Young Families (25-35) College Students (OCFs) Teachers

People who lived elsewhere (like Pa) Medical Care Personnel People from Ukraine/Russia

Common interests (academic/history) Locality The Babushka Ladies (Who dat?)

Ex-military The Musically Gifted Etc.

Examples - If you have young children, you are easily identifiable, and there is a table in the social hall for you, where such families routinely have their coffee/bagel together - you can identify it by the high chairs encircling it. The Ukrainian/Russian circle is identifiable because, despite the fact that they speak English well, they will identify each other because they speak another language, and that language serves as a point of connection of something important. These circles are important because they help people to find an identity not only with the Circle, but also with the parish. Historically, women’s groups like the quilting groups offered wonderful fellowship opportunities.

The Circles have much potential to be supportive to spiritual life. The fact that young families often can support one another, and even become godparents for one another’s children serves as a deepening level of commitment, love and shared resources (like children’s spiritual books). OCF students can form friendships that last long beyond their years in Charlottesville or Harri-sonburg - sometimes real long term relationships like marriage! When such circles are not only social, but spiritually supportive, their potential to be a positive force grows dramatically. Sarah Wright’s article in this newsletter is an example how this commonality can be shared and supportive to others.

So, as I look at the how our parish is comprised, there are other Circles which have not yet formed. The ‘Medical Care Personnel’ have not yet formed a ‘circle’ even though there at least a half dozen or so parish members and friends spend the vast majority of their day in clinical settings. By mentioning this, it’s my hope that those who

Continued, page 9


Financial Report Summary for 2014

In our parish, the stewardship of our resources tells a story. Under Fr. Robert’s guidance, we have a long experience of growing in our prac-tice of right stewardship of our resources. The story of 2014 is one of thanksgiving for God’s bountiful provision. He has honored our sacri-fices by allowing us to meet our obligations and exceed our goals. As is our practice from the beginning of our parish’ history, we tithe 10% of our income to Charitable Works. With additional specified donations, we were able to transfer a little over $26,000 to our Charity Fund in 2014. What a blessing to be able to share God’s bounty with others.

We set our sights high when we budgeted for 2014 as the Parish Board based the budget on a projected income of $142,000. In 2014, we actu-

ally collected a total of $161,796. We were able to meet our ex-penses of $131,466 and further develop our Contingency and Project funds. Our poli-

cy is to keep three months of ex-penses in a Con-tingency fund, and once that account is fund-ed, we begin moving any amounts not needed for on-going expenses

to our Project Fund. Thank-fully, we have been able to fund our Con-tingency fund this year as it now has a bal-ance just over $30,000. Addi-tionally, we have been able to begin building our project fund with individual donations to the Iconography Project and

INCOME

Collection $ 132,037.98

Candles $ 2,182.42

Charity $ 1,879.35

Collection (misc) $ 69.00

TOTAL Charity $ 1,948.35

Iconography Project $ 16,641.00

Other $ 8,939.71

TOTAL Collection $ 161,749.46

Interest Income $ 46.78

TOTAL INCOME $ 161,796.24

EXPENSES

Buildings and Grounds Operations

Electricity $ 3,818.30

Exterior Maintenance $ 2,572.80

Interior Maintenance $ 1,027.31

TOTAL Bldgs/Grounds Operations

$ 7,418.41

Sacristy Windows $ 847.32

TOTAL B&G Projects $ 847.32

Charitable Works

Charity Contributions $ 26,126.86

Charity Project $ 291.89

Evangelization Outreach

Advertising $ 1,625.50

Conference and Training $ 630.00

Miscellaneous $ -

Printing & Publications $ 419.50

TOTAL Evan/Outreach Operations

$ 2,675.00

Evang/Outreach Projects $ 750.00

Hospitality

Coffee Hour Food

Event Food $ 173.68

Event Supplies $ 204.72

Kitchen Supplies $ 194.68

Miscellaneous $ 100.00

TOTAL Hospitality $ 3,901.44

Liturgy Group

Candles $ 1,729.61

Flowers and Palms $ 204.51


Publications & Subscriptions $ 146.31

Sanctuary Supplies $ 11.30

Vestments & Altar Covers $ 155.10

TOTAL Liturgy Group $ 2,490.40

Projects - Liturgy Group $ 119.92

Iconography Project $ 575.00

TOTAL Liturgy Group Projects $ 694.92

Library - Bookstore

Acquisitions $ 598.05

Lib. Op- Miscellaneous $ 31.04

TOTAL Lib. Op $ 629.09

Parish Administration

Compensation $ 46,738.37

Conference, Training & Sobor $ 175.20

Consistory Assessment $ 10,819.41

Event Expense $ 246.22

Insurance $ 1,465.00


Office Supplies $ 81.72

Retirement Contribution $ 8,720.00

Telephone $ 1,721.74

Web Upgrade $ 722.74

Mortgage interest $ 13,202.74

TOTAL Administration $ 84,083.14

Religious Formation

Conference, Training & Camp $ 229.00

Festival of the Book $ 1,312.00

Retreats $ 17.00

TOTAL Religious Formation $ 1,558.00

Financial Report - 2014

Continued, next page


Continued, next page

The Parents’ CornerThe Parents’ Corner

I remember my first ever Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha in the Orthodox Church. The reflection and anticipation of Lent, with its dogged mission to bring my sins and need for repentance to the forefront of my mind each day; the solem-nity of Holy Week, with its invitation to completely enter into the cosmic events that changed humanity forever; and Pascha, oh Pascha, with its unabashed joy in the proclamation that “Christ has risen from the dead, trampling down death by death”—all of these confirmed to me that I had truly come Home.

And this is the Home that I am raising my children in.

As parents we want to help our children understand and experience Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha; however, daily life can get in the way and make the task seem too large, the burden too heavy. We rationalize, “We go to Liturgy. They’ll get it at Church School.” Or, “My children are too young to really understand, anyway.” And we, I mean I, miss an oppor-tunity to share in the mysteries of Christ and the Church with our children.

Here, then, are a few ideas (gained from my limited experience, from the much more helpful advice of other parents, and from the wise counsel of various spiritual fathers) of simple, yet profound ways to involve our children in Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha:

Prayer

� If you are not already doing so, begin a time of family prayers in the evening, morning, or both.

� During evening prayers, pray the Prayer of St. Ephraim. Young children, especially, seem to intuitively understand that the entire body should be involved in prayer and enjoy the prostrations. I was surprised and amazed when my (then) three-year-old son was able to learn this beautiful prayer through nightly repetition.

� Conclude your time of prayer with a Lenten hymn. We have often sung “Having Suffered” together, which, again, has prostrations that appeal to children.

Almsgiving

� Bring your children along with you to the grocery store and invite them to pick out food or health items to bring to Church on Sunday. Let them place the items in the donation basket.

� Set up a family change jar. Watch it grow throughout Lent and then decide as a family how best to donate it.

� Volunteer together at a local charity (be sure to ask in advance about the policies regarding children). Add that charity to your prayer list in your icon corner.

Fasting

� There are many different views about how and at what age fasting is appropriate for children. Speak to your spiritual father about this matter first.

� Children can fast from certain excesses such as ice cream, soda, etc.

� Speak to your children about why you are fasting. Read passages in the Scriptures and from the Church Fathers about the importance of fasting.

Repentance

� Bring your child with you to Forgiveness Sunday Vespers. This ser-vice is extremely powerful to children. The prostrations and the repetition of asking others to forgive them can make a deep and lasting impression on a young heart.

� Discuss confession as a family. You can even bring young children with you when you come to confess. One par-ent can remain in the fellowship hall with the child and answer questions while the other parent confesses.

Services

� Listen to or read Sunday’s Gospel before coming to Church. Children are more likely to pay attention to and retain


Liturgy Service Group

Liturgical Music or Singing is Believing!

The music of the Orthodox Church is an integral part of worship services. St. Athanasius the Great, a Church Father of the 4th Century, summarizes for us the roles and responsibilities of those who use their voices in worship during the services of the church:

“When chanters chant with the tongue and also with the mind, they greatly benefit not only themselves but also those who want to hear them. To recite the psalms with melody is not done from a desire for pleasing sound, but it is a manifestation of har-mony among the thoughts of the soul. And melodious reading is a sign of the well-ordered and tranquil condition of the mind.”— St. Athansius the Great (PG XXVII, 40)

As such, the intent of music and melody is to add to the Liturgy, not distract from the prayerful environment of wor-ship. While the role of the clergy is to lead the dialogue to create “heaven on earth,” it is the responsibility of those who stand in awe of the “dread mysteries that are set forth,” to attentively represent the angels surrounding the eternal Throne of God. St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians in his first letter, suggests the Orthodox “phronema” – mindset or outlook - for congregants in their role during divine ser-vices:

“I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind also.” 1 Corinthians 14:15, NASB

St. John Chrysostom writes, “When we sing church hymns, we must be careful that we do not pronounce only the words with our tongues while our hearts wander elsewhere.”

Uh oh.

Why do I write this?

Great Lent is a time for reflection and examination; I submit that it is also a time of action. I would ask that each of us use this period of time for a little experiment. Make a conscious effort to increase your level of participation during the ser-vices. If you sing well, volunteer at the Chanter’s Stand. If you sing, sing with more energy. If you do not sing, try. If you see someone who seems to be lost or wandering, move beside them to encourage them (a group effort sometimes helps!). If a child of the age to be able to participate does not seem to be en-gaged, take the time to show them the place in the service book and encourage them to sing by your example.

Make no mistake – each of you serves as an example by your very presence among us (and your absence from us!). Even if we are not allowing others to distract us, our humanity dictates that the actions of others make imprints on our minds and hearts.

So….Use this time of the Great Fast wisely. Re-visit your presence and your participation, and lead by example, so that we all can join in the Angelic Choir during our short time together!

More later.

With love, prayers and hopes for renewal for all of us during this Season,

PaniMatka Christine Minister of Music

You should be pleasantly

tired – and ready for post-

Liturgical refreshment -


2014 Parish Financial Report

additional funds from our income stream. The Project Budget now has a balance of $22,362.

We have some big dreams in our Master Plan for our parish here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. In ways we could not predict or imagine, God has shown that we can trust him to provide for our needs and for our growth. It is His plan for our parish. May He continue to bless the work of our hands.

Karen Bowman, Treasurer

Religious Formation

Conference, Training & Camp $ 229.00

Festival of the Book $ 1,312.00

Retreats $ 17.00

TOTAL Religious Formation $ 1,558.00

TOTAL INCOME (above) $ 161,796.24

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 131,466.47

NET INCOME $ 30,329.77

TRANSFERS

FROM General $ 12,650.00

TO Contingency $ (10,000.00)

TO Project $ (2,650.00)

TO Mortgage Principal $ (9,493.47)

TOTAL TRANSFERS $ (9,493.47)

OVERALL TOTAL Net $ 20,836.30

Notes:

• Assessment responsibility to the UOC represented a

fixed 8.5% of gross income, based on consensus of

2014 budget and Parish mee�ng in March 2014.

• The 2015 budget is being prepared and will draw on

resources already in the Project budgets.


From the Parish Board Chair

Wishing you all good strength as we enter Lent, it is a good time to reflect on this season that the fathers have called our bright sadness and our joyful sorrow. It is the season when we practice the triple effort of PFA – Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving; the season of frequent services, of self-examination and confession, of obsessing about what we shall eat, and finally ending by not being very interested in food at all. It is the season of those beautiful dusky Liturgies of the Presanctified gifts as the cold winter sun sets on the wor-shippers bending low to the floor. Most importantly, it is a season of great expectation, the expectation of the Resurrection, which becomes more palpable with each passing week.

What does this Lent mean in the context of our parish life? For the parish board, in the midst of the day to day business of running the parish, we have also been reflecting in the past few months on the whole topic of service and volunteerism in the church. In fact, I would venture to say that the issue of service in our parish is almost a theme of this particular board and of the coming year in particular. In our February meeting, we considered all the service groups’ budget requests and assembled them into a draft annual budget for the parish as a whole. We will ask for the parish’s affirmation of this budget at our parish meeting in March. It is important to see these service group budgets and the parish budget as a whole as our offering to the Lord. It brings together not only our financial gifts, but the gifts of time and talent that each of us will give that are embodied in each of the service groups’ budgets, plans and projects for the coming year.

As we enter Lent, the idea of service takes on new meaning and importance. As Saint John Chrysostom said, God de-sires golden souls more than golden chalices, and the service that we give to Him through the church makes our souls

shine more brightly than any worldly service we can give. Indeed, we all have family and other obligations, and we need to take care of those lest we burden others with them, but we also know that the service we give “through” the church has been particularly blessed by her Bridegroom, Christ Himself. By offering our service to the parish, whether we shovel snow from a path, balance an account, wash a dish or chant an Epistle, we are offering these gifts to Christ through His Holy Church and doing what we should be doing, at all times, but more than ever at this time of joyful sor-row!

So, please remember that when you kneel to wash the floor in church, or even pick up that stray crumb a child has left, you are honoring Christ as much as when you kneel to recite the prayer of Saint Ephraim that rings out this time of year. May God grant you the grace to bring your gift of service within His Holy Church and may He grant us all good strength and a blessed Lent as we serve him with all our hearts in the coming weeks!

Vladimir Gavrilovic, Parish Board Chair February 25, 2015


Cont. from p.5

share this interest can form such a circle, by getting to know each other, share the unique stores common to your experience, and maybe, eventually, support each other in prayer - and support others in the parish in this dimension of their life. There is something reassuring when you go to the hospital and are plugged into its ‘mechanical inhu-manity’ when you see a warm smile from a parish member who by their presence is reassuring and reminds you of who you really are. If such a circle was formed, I would inform those in it (with permission) of people who are in

the hospital who would appreciate such a quick hello, maybe over lunch break or something.

There are other ‘circles’ that could be really cool if they came together. One is the Biker Circle. Yes there are probably four or five in the parish who ride motorcycles. Maybe a road rally is in order some Sunday afternoon? (Ask about Bp. John Abdullah’s address to a biker group visiting the 911 Memorial in Pa. printed in the Word magazine last month). One good thing about such circles is that

they are self-sustaining. They do not, and cannot be organized and coordinated from on high (well from On High - yes) but not administratively in the parish. Still, a circle of friends/parishioners can do great things - together, and for others. No agendas, not business, just being with each other with a Christian agenda.

Circles in the parish, to be effective, must not be closed. If they are closed circles they will, in time, stifle fellowship and spiritual life, not foster it. One of the goals of addressing this, and encouraging this in the parish is so that indi-viduals in the circle can simply open the door to others, and foster communication and participation. That much we can do - identify circles and key contacts who can serve to invite others to join in. Such persons can also foster connections between the circle and the parish - like having informal youth activities. We can inform our greeters to know who is serving in this way so that new people can make the connection more easily.

So consider this - what circles are you currently in? Which ones are you on the outside looking in? Which would you like to enter? Which would you like to form?

Share some of your thoughts with others, and allow the Spirit to bring forward the love and peace of the Christian fellowship more powerfully.

Fr. Robert

Adverse Winds Blowing in Southwest Virginia

Winter has been tough in SW Virginia….

As you know, our parish has offered a ministry to the people of Buchanan County in South-west Virginia for several years, working on projects such as home repairs in conjunction with local ministries in the area. Recently, there have been many adverse forces at work there – not that they needed anymore! The coal industry, the strongest employer in the region, is collapsing. The coal processing (coke) plant which was also a good employer is having severe cutbacks. This will continue to impoverish the residents of the area, and the ministries that endeavor to serve them. In addition, the leaders of some of those ministries have experienced personal health challenges, and being stretched thin already, it be-comes difficult to continue at the prior levels of activity.

It is our desire to maintain, and even strengthen our outreach there – the question is, ‘How would the Lord have us do this?’ We will hopefully be able to set up a visitation group to travel again en masse to work on projects again in July. But there may be other ways that we can minister – perhaps setting up a ‘vacation bible school’ type of ministry for a couple of days, supporting the local thrift shops, and maybe most importantly, supporting those who are ‘in the trenches’ there daily.

Several of us may venture to Grundy some time in March. If you would like to join us for this quick visit, contact Cyn-thia Patzig, Brian Siebeking or Fr. Robert.

And please continue to pray for the wonderful people of that region!

Pastor’s Message

Documents

Lampada, New Lampada - St. Nicholas Orthodox Churchstnicholasorthodoxchurch.com/wp-content/.../LampadaLent2015TextRevpdf.pdf · rives from evil choice” (Theodoret of Cyrus, Dialogue