Holy Cross Mission Bulletin January 10, 2010

Christ is Born!!!

1.  Great Vespers, 5:00 p.m. this Saturday.  Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. this Sunday.  Reading of the Hours and the hearing of confessions at 9:30 p.m.

2.  Holy Theophany/Great Blessing of Water – January 18, at St. Andrew’s College.  6:00 p.m.  Please bring a container to take the blessed water home with you.

3.  Holy Cross is looking for a new secretary.  Sigh, in my short time serving Holy Cross I have now had to post this request twice.  And for the record, I don’t believe you when you say, “It isn’t you Father, it is me.”  I heard that way too many times in high school and university to know it is me.  Except for Chantel.  It was totally all her.

Anyway, Holy Cross needs a new secretary.  As your signing bonus, you will get a jar of jelly, a container of honey, life time supply of Holy Cross perogies and the secret to Fr. Evan’s more meat chili.

Please contact our parish president Sylvia Ptashnik if you are interested in the position.

4.  One of the parishes I used to serve is located in the Rossburn/Oakburn area.  Nice little parish located at Seech.  Sts. Peter and Paul.  On their altar, they have the words, “God is with us” carved in Ukrainian.  I always liked standing at that altar and seeing those words because they always reminded me that what we do each and everytime we come together to give worship and glory to God, to partake of the divine Body and Blood of the Son, it is not empty, it is not hollow gestures.  “God is with us”.

Take a look at the verses used during the Great Compline service served on the eve of the Nativity.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And of your fear we shall be neither afraid nor in dread.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

But the Lord our God, Him will we hallow, and he shall be fear unto us.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And if I be trusting in Him, He shall be unto me sanctification.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And I will be hoping in Him, and shall be saved by Him.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Ye that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Whose government is upon His shoulder.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And of His peace there is no end.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And His name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Wonderful Counselor.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Father of the age to come.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

God is with us.  That is the message of the Incarnation.  That we have not been abandoned.  That God has not turned His back to us.  He has given us that which is most precious to Him.  His divine Son.  God is with us.

That message is the true joy of this feast we have celebrated.

I think about that altar in Seech.  I still remember that first service I served there and I looked down and saw the wood carving that had the words “God is with us” attached to the altar.  God has blessed me with the opportunity to stand at that altar, to stand with those wonderful people, to share with them the joy that “God is with us”.

As each of us embark on this new year of 2010, it is my hope and prayer that you carry the joy, hope and peace that come from the knowledge that “God is with us”.

Answer to last week’s question:

Who as Jesus for a drink at the well?  A samaritan woman.

This week’s question:

What did Jesus say about a city on a hill?

See you in church!

In Christ,

Fr. Evan