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The Lighthouse February 2018

“I will build you a lighthouse from which the light of Christ can shine.”

Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, 1070 Roxbury Road, Southbury, CT 06488 Archpriest Vladimir Aleandro, Pastor · (203) 267–1330 · www.christsaviorchurch.org

The Meeting of the Lord in the Temple: Thursday, February 2 is the date of the next Great Feast of our Lord, forty days after Christmas. We will celebrate with Vespers and Liturgy on Wednesday evening February 1, at 6:30 PM. We will bless candles and give them out. Following the Service a “Bring and Share supper” will be for all.

Thoughts on Forgiveness Sunday by a son of the parish, Fr. Theophan Whitfield

On Sunday, February 18, the Lenten journey begins. According to the calendar, the day has three names. It is known as Cheesefare Sunday, since it is the last day on which we consume dairy and eggs until Pascha. It is also called the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, on which we remember the first and decisive "no" declared by human beings in response to the good will of God. But most importantly, it is known as Forgiveness Sunday. After the celebration of the morning Liturgy, the faithful return to Church later in the day for the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers. During this service, we change the church colors from gold to purple, we begin singing in Lenten melodies, and we begin to follow the Lenten order of worship. We even change the incense used in church.

The most important part of Forgiveness Vespers is the conclusion. Before departing for home, the members of the parish approach one another and ask for forgiveness. We do this even with strangers and visitors! By seeking and granting forgiveness, we prepare our hearts for the long Lenten journey ahead, and we acknowledge that the journey to Pascha is one that we take together, as a family. And this is critical. In fact, I would say that the Paschal kiss we exchange after the midnight Liturgy on Easter Sunday is a kiss that is made possible because we first exchanged the kiss of forgiveness on Forgiveness Sunday at the very start of the Great Fast. And as a reminder that Lent is a journey to the Lord's passion and resurrection, we even sing the great Paschal Verses "Let God Arise" following the rite of forgiveness. For a few minutes on Forgiveness Sunday, we are blessed with a touch of the joy and radiance of Pascha itself. "Let God Arise" will of course not be sung again until Easter. At Christ the Savior, we will celebrate Forgiveness Vespers at 6:00 PM after a Pre Lenten meal at 5:00 PM. Please make plans to be there. It is a day that is surpassed in its spiritual significance only by Pascha itself. When we exchange forgiveness, we declare that the darkness of anger and resentment no longer has power over our hearts and minds. We declare that the darkness of hatred stops here, the darkness of lovelessness and resentment and enmity stops now. We throw our lot in with God, who freely grants forgiveness to all.

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Forgiveness Sunday February 18 Every man, woman and child needs to be present to start the Lenten Journey together. What a powerful night it will be as we hear Christ is Risen and begin our journey clean and forgiven! 5:00 PM Pre-Lenten Meal (Maslenitza), which ends the use of dairy products until Pascha. Please sign up on the bulletin board and enjoy this time of food and fellowship together. 6:00 PM Forgiveness Vespers & the start of Great Lent! Clean Week, First Week of Great Lent The intensity of the first week of Lent is matched only by Holy Week itself. The Canon of St. Andrew is a great gift, open it!

Monday, February 19 7:00 PM Great Canon of St Andrew (Part I) Tuesday, February 20 7:00 PM Great Canon of St. Andrew (Part II) Wednesday, February 21 6:30 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Thursday, February 22 7:00 PM Great Canon of St Andrew (Part III) Friday, February 23 Paraclessis to the Theotokos, we will join our neighboring parish of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in Waterbury

On the Five Sundays of Great Lent, the Divine Liturgy is of Saint Basil the Great. The Anaphora of this liturgy is a complete summary of everything we hold as our faith and life. Books will be available to help us follow the liturgy. I would encourage all to follow the Anaphora as it is being prayed aloud by the priest. During this time, from when the priest turns and says: “Let us lift up our hearts” until after we, as a community, call the Holy Spirit to: “make us one body” and then to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, there should be no unnecessary movement or distraction in church. Other times in the Liturgy when we need to be most vigilant and not distract are during the Lord ’s Prayer (Our Father), The Great Entrance, and while people are receiving Communion.

PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE JOURNEY OF HOLY AND GREAT LENT

On the Sundays of Great Lent a special afternoon Vesper Service is held in a different parish of our Deanery. This is really the beginning of Monday and so it is a Lenten Service. There is a guest speaker and Lenten Supper following it. It is an excellent way to meet other Orthodox people and experience other parishes. February 25 First Sunday of Great Lent, Triumph of Orthodoxy, St. Dimitrie, Easton March 4 Second Sunday of Great Lent, St. Gregory Palamas 4:00 PM Vespers, SS. Cyril and Methodius, Terryville March 11 Third Sunday of Great Lent, Sunday of the Holy Cross 4:00 PM FORCC Vespers March 18 Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, St. John Climacus, Holy Trinity, New Britain March 25 Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, St. Mary of Egypt, Unction Service at Three Saints, Ansonia April 1 Palm Sunday, Bridegroom, All Saints, Hartford

“If we look at the lives of the people mentioned in the Bible, we can see that each one of them is portrayed not so much as an historical personage, not so much as a personality that performed some deed or another, but more as a person standing before the face of the living God. The person’s historical services, as well as other achievements, are of secondary importance; what remains is a more important issue: whether that person stayed faithful to God or not. If we read the Bible from this perspective, we can see that much of what is being said about the ancient just and sinful people is nothing but a chronicle of our own souls, our falls and risings, our sins and repentance.” —Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)

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Presanctified Liturgies (Each Wednesday during Great Lent, beginning @ 6:30 PM) Great Lent is a season of repentance and renewal of our Baptism. We fast and pray to remind us that the needs of the soul are far more important than the needs of the body. Scripture tells us, Man shall not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4). We need God, Who provides all for both body and soul. We have an opportunity to come together each Wednesday to seek God’s help and to be healed by more frequent reception of communion. Our Sunday Divine Liturgies have a festal character; however, Presanctified Liturgies are celebrated each Wednesday during Great Lent as fitting the season of repentance, conversion, and intensified prayer and fasting.

Come, bring someone, mark your appointment book now and whatever comes up you will be able to say with confidence: “I am sorry, but my family has a very important appointment that night.”

Let us worship and break our fast together following Presanctified Liturgies.

Memorial Saturdays MEMORY ETERNAL! March 3 9:00 AM Memorial Saturday Liturgy March 10 4:30 PM Memorial Panichida for all the departed March 17 4:30 PM Memorial Panichida for all the departed On these Saturdays we remember by name all the family members who are in our Memorial Book, so please check the red book at the Golgotha for your family names. If you are not a member of Christ the Savior Parish and would like to send in names to be remembered on these Memorial Saturdays, please send them in to the attention of Fr. Vladimir.

FEBRUARY ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Steward Representative Meeting will be on February 12 at 6:30 pm. The budget for 2018 will be finalized.

Men’s Group will meet beginning with the Akathist service, on Tuesday evening, February 13, at 7:00 pm. Anthony Sica will lead us as we continue in C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. All men of every age are welcome.

Date Responsible for supper

Wednesday, February 21 Parish bring and share

Wednesday, February 28 Choir

Wednesday, March 7 Steward Representatives

Wednesday, March 14 Men of the parish

Wednesday, March 21 Women of the parish

Wednesday, April 28 Parish bring and share

Confessions

During Great Lent

Great Lent is a time to renew our baptism. Therefore, it is a time for each Orthodox Christian to make his or her first confession of the year. Father will be available for confession during the following times: beginning at 5:00 PM on Wednesday evenings, before Presanctified Liturgy, following Vespers on Saturday evenings, Thursday mornings following Matins, and by appointment. Please plan ahead for your confession. All confessions should be completed before the eve of Lazarus, Friday, March 30.

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On Sunday, February 11, 2018, Scouts will celebrate Scout Sunday. Scout Sunday is an annual event among all faiths, which recognizes the good work that is done by Scouts in our religious communities. The observance of Scout Sunday tradition was started years ago to make people in the church aware of Scouting, and to allow Scouts to live out what is pledged each week. The Scout Law says that a “Scout is Reverent”

and the Scouts of all ages promise to do their “Duty to God.” These values strengthen youth character in their family, community and faith. That is why this Sunday is set aside to honor God and to remind us that we are all His Creatures and made in His Image or more precisely - to image (reflect) Him to the world. All Scouts, adults as well, are encouraged to wear their uniforms on this Sunday.

“Souper” Bowl Sunday is February 4. Our Live Wires and Teens are registered to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. They are joining with youth across America to fight hunger and poverty in their own communities. Young people have been doing this for over twenty years. 100 % of the money collected in their soup pots will be given to OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center). They hope to fill many bags with food for the Woodbury Food Bank. Help us reach our goal of $575 and 25 bags of food. Your support in the past has always been outstanding. Thank You!!!

The Gifted Hands group will be meeting at the home of Brigid Solek on Friday, February 9th at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Brigid Solek or Pattie Kopcha for details.

“Birds on the Wire” is the discussion chapter for the Monthly Women’s Retreat, Saturday, Feb 10. All women are invited to the Akafist: Glory to God for All Things, a short meditation, quiet time, refreshments and discussion. We begin promptly at 9 and end at 11:30. This month’s chapter can be found on

pp. 115 – 121 in Being Bread by Deacon Stephen Muse. If you would like a copy of the pages, please see Evangeline Zarras, discussion leader this month, or Mat. Suzanne. This would be a positive and fruitful way to begin the Lenten season.

All are invited to join us for a Lenten recipe swap on Saturday, February 17 at 2:30 in the Parish Hall. Please bring multiple copies of your favorite Lenten recipes and or a favorite cookbook to share. Feel free to bring a sample dish for tasting. Vespers will be at 5:00 and we hope you will join us for service. Questions? Contact Brigid Solek at 203-308-0279 or vlsolek50@gmail.com.

The Pan Orthodox Youth Gathering will meet Friday, February 23 (Clean Friday) at All Saints Orthodox Church in Hartford. The theme this month is Great Lent – A Lenten Retreat. Give Father James a call to let him know that you are coming. Further info will be posted on the Teen Notice Board as it is received. Any questions?, see Fr. Vladimir.

On Sale in the Book Store, Love and Joy, a Children’s Calendar. Check it out. Every month there is an activity, recipe, saints of the month and a memory verse. These calendars make great Birthday and Name’s Day gifts.

On Saturday, February 10, 2018, 6:30 p.m., the Seminary Chorale will commence its “Orthodox Masterpieces” series by singing Great Vespers on campus in Three Hierarchs Chapel, featuring select compositions by Archpriest Sergei Glagolev. Father Sergei is noted for his pioneering work in introducing English-language musical compositions into Orthodox Christian church services—inspired hymnography with a uniquely American sound. Following the liturgical service, fellow worshippers are invited to hear an educational talk by seminary faculty and to enjoy a light reception. The on-campus event is free and open to the public.

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Understanding Love on Valentine’s Day by Fr. Luke Veronis In this month of beginning Lent, forgiveness, and reevaluating our lives, these thoughts on love seem most appropriate. FVA

Happy Valentine’s Day! Although this was a day that originally celebrated a 4th century martyred priest, St. Valentine, who obviously loved Jesus Christ above all else, even life itself, it has transformed into a day celebrating the love we have for our spouses and the dearly beloved in our lives. It’s a day of love. Of course, it has become a sentimental and expensive day of love, as one can see in

our materialistic and consumeristic American society where this year alone we will spend over 19 billion dollars in gifts (which is 3rd in holiday spending, behind only Christmas and Mother’s Day). Yet, it can also be a time to soberly reflect on our love for others, and on what love actually means.

Love is obviously the greatest and most desired virtue of life. No matter what we accomplish in life, or what we amass, all will mean very little if our efforts aren’t done in the spirit of love, and if our lives aren’t filled with relationships of love. The Apostle Paul summarized the centrality of love beautifully when he wrote: Even though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And even though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have such faith as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I sacrifice my own body, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Love is the center of life. Love is the source of life. This explains why we understand God as Love Itself, and Jesus Christ as love incarnate. He is the source from which all healthy and life-giving love springs.

Now, in the English language we really only have one word for love, and this lack of linguist depth can lead us to misunderstanding love. We say we love God, we love our spouse, we love our mother, we love a friend, we love our dog, we even love a good steak. Wow, the same word describing quite different emotions of affection. In Greek, however, there are four more precise words which explain the different loves we experience in life.

There is storge love, which is our familial love. I hope we all have experienced the affectionate love of parents and siblings and relatives. This is the first love we encounter in our lives, and is a key to all future types of love. When we experience healthy, nourishing love from our family, we receive the basis on which we can understand other loves. On this Valentines Day, let us express our gratitude for such storge love.

A second love we all experience is filia love, which is the love of friendship. How much richer and blessed our journey is when we have a few true friends, faithful companions with whom we can share the joys and challenges of life. On this Valentine’s Day, let us express our gratitude for such filia love.

Of course, the most common expression of love on Valentine’s Day is that of eros love. This is the passionate and erotic love one has for their partner, their soulmate, their spouse. How rich is life

MORTGAGE CHALLENGE UPDATE In our January Bulletin, our Treasurer, Paul Filipowich, presented a challenge. At this time, we owe approximately $277,000 on our Mortgage. If we could reduce that to $250,000 we could adjust our monthly payments by $175 - $275 a month. This would greatly help our ministry and operating budget.

WOW!!! Within a very short time of last month's mortgage challenge appearing in the monthly bulletin, people have generously responded. The challenge presented to you was to raise an additional $18,600 more than the $9,300 contributed for that purpose in the last several months of 2017. We have already received $5,945 towards that goal in the first 2 weeks of January. This is just over 30% of the goal. Don't miss out on this opportunity to help strengthen our position, allowing us to further the word of God. Bless you all!

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(Understanding Love on Valentine’s Day continued)

when one finds a person with whom to journey throughout life, sharing all of life’s joys and challenges in the most intimate way, and bearing beloved children who will be the fruit of your intimate love. Not everyone is blessed to experience such love in the healthiest way, but for those who have, they realize this priceless and eternal treasure. On this Valentine’s Day, let us express our deep gratitude for such romantic love.

All these loves surely make life more beautiful and meaningful, enriching our journey throughout the years. But the greatest of all loves is something even more than our affectionate love, our friendship love, and our romantic love. The greatest love is known as agape. This is a love that goes far beyond our emotions and is controlled by our will. We may not like someone, but God calls us to love them, including loving even our enemies. How can one love an enemy when our emotions are totally against them? Well, this is the essence of such agape love. It is an act of the will. As C.S. Lewis explains it, “Agape Love in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about other people… Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”

To love with agape love means to love with a conscious effort, regardless of how the other responds. It really doesn’t matter how the other responds, because agape calls us to treat them with kindness, goodness, and charity nonetheless. This is the divine love with which God loves each one of us, and this is the divine love with which God calls each of us to live.

So on this Valentine’s Day, let us express deep gratitude for such agape love.

Storge love, Friendship love, Romantic love, and Agape love. Today on Valentine’s Day, let us reflect on each of these loves, and let us thank all those who have offered us these different types of love throughout our lives.