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Blessed Lent to All!
I continuously entreat you and will not cease entreating you to persevere continually in reading the divine Scriptures. Do not let anyone say to me those vain words, worthy of heavy condemnation, “I cannot leave the courthouse, I administer the business of the city, I practice a craft, I have a wife, I am raising children, I am in charge of a household, I am a man of the world; reading the Scriptures is not for me, but for those [monastics] who have been set apart, who have settled in the desert, who keep this way of life continuously.” How can you say that attending to the Scriptures is not for you since you are surrounded by a multitude of cares? Rather it is for you more than for the monks. They do not need the help of the divine Scriptures as much as those who are involved in many occupations. The monks, who are released from the clamor of the marketplace and have fixed their huts in the wilderness, who own nothing in common with anyone, but practice wisdom without fear in the calm of the quiet life, as if resting in a harbor, enjoy great security; but we, as if tossed in the midst of the sea, driven by a multitude of sins, always need continuous and ceaseless the aid of the Scriptures. The monks rest far from the battle and so they do not receive many wounds, but you stand continuously on the front lines, and you receive continual blows. So you need more remedies.
Your spouse provokes you, your son grieves you, your servant angers you, your enemy plots against you, your friend envies you, your neighbor curses you, your fellow worker trips you up, often a lawsuit threatens you, poverty troubles you, loss of your property gives you grief, prosperity puffs you up, misfortune depresses you, and many causes of discouragement and grief, of conceit and desperation surround us, and a multitude of missiles falls from everywhere. Therefore, we continuously need the full armor of the Scriptures. Recognize that you go through the midst of traps and walk on the battlements of the city. The designs of the flesh attack more fiercely those who live in the midst of the world. A handsome face, a splendid body strikes us in the eyes; a shameful phrase piercing our ears troubles our mind; and often an effeminate song weakens the strength of our soul.
But why am I saying this? That which often seems the slightest of all these attacks, the scent of perfume has captured and taken us away as prisoners by a mere accident. And there are many things like these that besiege our souls. Therefore, we need the divine medicines to heal the wounds which we have received and to protect us from those which we have not yet received but will receive. We must thoroughly quench the darts of the devil and beat them off by continual reading of the divine Scriptures. For it is not possible for anyone to be saved without continually taking advantage of spiritual reading. – St. John Chrysostom
Church Announcements:
- We are fundraising for the purchase of the neighboring church. To donate, click here.
- Sermon:
- Lent Schedule:
- See the schedule below for Midweek Lent Liturgy Schedule
- Men’s Meeting:
- The next meeting will be this Thursday, March 9th at 7:30 pm with Sherif Toma
- The financial presentation has been postponed
This Week’s Schedule:
- Monday:
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Midnight Praises: 8:00-9:30pm
- Tuesday:
- Bible Pleasure: 7:30-8:30 (In-Person and on Facebook)
- Wednesday:
- No Liturgy
- Thursday:
- Liturgy: 9:00am-12pm
- Men’s Meeting: 7:30-8:30pm
- GYP Meeting: 7:00-9:00pm
- Friday:
- No Liturgy
- Youth Meeting: 8:00-9:00pm
- Saturday:
- Hymns: 5:00-6:00pm
- Sunday School: 6:00-7:00pm
- Vespers: 7:00-7:30pm
- Midnight Prayers: 7:30-9:30pm
- Sunday:
- Liturgy: 8:00-11:30am