Just a few things:

1.  No Vespers this Saturday.  Why?  Because we are all at the superfun Pan-Orthodox Basketball tournament being held at Calvin Christian Collegiate at 6:00 p.m.  Heck, Fr. Evan might even get out there on the court and remind everyone why his basketball nickname in high school was “Ukrainian Thunderstorm”.  Why did they call him that?  Because all I did was rain three-pointers, my moves on the court were faster than lightning, and dunks were like thunder.  Whoooo!!!

2.  Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.  Reading of the Hour and the hearing of confessions at 9:30 a.m.

Holy Cross will be donating it’s January 31 collection to relief efforts for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  Whatever you can give helps.  ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’   Matthew 25:35-40

3.  Holy Cross is still continuing its winter clothing collection.  Please bring your donations to church with you or contact a member of the parish if you need to drop your donations off.  We would prefer them to be brought to church.  Come on, don’t be shy.  We are very friendly.  Heck, some might say we are the friendliest parish you will ever find.

4.  This Sunday is the beginning of the Lenten Triodion.  I know, I know.  You are all going, “What?  We just finished the Nativity Fast and now we are beginning the Lenten Triodion?  What is up with that?”  Actually, I think it is pretty awesome.

We just finished the Nativity Fast and we celebrated the Incarnation of the Son of God as man.  Awesome.  We just finished celebrating Theophany, the revelation of the Divine Trinity.  Awesome.  And now we are beginning the Lenten Triodion, beginning that journey that will take us to the joyous and glorious moment of our Lord and Saviour’s resurrection.  Awesome.

There is no way we should have any feeling of dread in our hearts about Great Lent.  We should still be ecstatic over the celebrations that have just finished celebrating and spur us to enter Great Lent with joy in our hearts.

A lot times you will hear a group, an organization, your church itself talk about sustaining momentum.  By the grace of God, we have that opportunity to do that.  On Nov. 28 we started our Nativity Fast that culminated in the birth of our Lord and Saviour.  We then celebrated His baptism.  And now we are beginning the Lenten Triodion.  We are looking at about 4 months of sustained spiritual momentum.  I think that is awesome.  Some might say, “I need a break from it all.”  Holy Orthodox is not about breaks, it is about being constant in your faith, in your spiritual devotion, it is about sustaining momentum.  We have been blessed with an amazing opportunity, with everything falling so close together.  Sustained spiritual momentum.  Moving ever forward towards God.

Answer to last week’s question:

True or false?  Jesus spoke more about heaven and hell than anyone else in the Bible.  True.

This week’s question:

To whom did Jesus say, “…with God all things are possible”?

See you in church!

Fr. Evan