by Sub-deacon Bill Clark
A Lenten Message To All Our Sunday School Children and Youth
Group, from Sub-deacon Bill Clark
May every blessing be yours this
Holy season of our journey towards Pascha.
Many years ago, when I became an Orthodox Christian, one of
the things I liked best was "DOING EVERYTHING TOGETHER". No longer did I pray alone with private
devotions. In our Holy Orthodox Church,
we attend the Divine Liturgy TOGETHER, ur morning and evening prayers we recite
at home, beginning with the "Trisagion Prayers" of the Church, then
our private prayers are said. We
Orthodox Christians are "All One In Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28).
"For we, though many, are one bread and one body". We all partake of that one bread (1 Cor
10:17). The Body of Christ is one, and
we dear brothers and sisters are one family.
Therefore, as one spiritual family, we act and share in everything
TOGETHER.
Once again, we are in the "Great Fast". Holy Lent is our time of preparation
TOGETHER, leading us on our journey to Holy Pascha. How should we prepare together?
Our Holy and wise Orthodox Church requests that ALL OF HER FAITHFUL TO
FAST, at least minimally, as there is no Lent without fasting. For healthily
people, the minimum fast is abstaining from meat. School age children who have never attempted fasting should begin
with Wednesday and Friday. You could
"give up" some television or some treats. Read the Scriptures and the lives of the Saints. Increase your prayers. For all ages, fasting will yield great
benefits, both spiritually and physically.
TOGETHER, we should attend Friday 6:30PM Presanctified
Liturgy. Endeavor to attend at least one or two.
Also, Father Alecse has the Saturday 10:00@l Memorial
Liturgy.
Let us remember our loved ones who have departed this life.
Remember, they are not gone, but with the Church Triumphant and are TOGETHER,
with us when we pray for them! But why
do all of this?!
We do these things because
"HE" Loved Us First.
Our dear Lord shed every drop of his blood for us on the
cross, for our sins. Then He rose up
from the tomb opening the gates of heaven, all for us, so that TOGEHTER we may
be saved. HE has rescued us, saved
us. No one will ever love us as Christ
Jesus does. Can we not TOGETHER show
him a little appreciation, with a little less entertainment, a little less
meat, a little less candy, a little less sinning against our neighbor, to thank
our dear Jesus for so great gift of salvation?! Sometimes dear young Christians, it is difficult for the priest
and his two old Sub-Deacons, to serve only a very few people at these holy and
beautiful services. Let us TOGETHER
show the world that we Orthodox Christians dearly love God, and His Holy Church. We must come TOGEHTER, proudly worshipping
our "KING OF GLORY", TOGETHER, in large numbers at Holy Trinity.
May Our Dear
Resurrected Lord Bless You All !
Love, Brother Bill