Christ is Risen! The Pascal season is coming to a close in the days and weeks to come, with the great feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. We see life renewed, the weather warm, and the months of relative relaxation calling. The struggle against the bitter cold, and dreadful isolation is far behind us, the warmth of the Sun of Righteousness is meant to be enjoyed by all of us.

The authentic Christian experience consists of preparing ourselves for communion and community.

The parish family of St Vasilios cordially invites you to participate in the greatest celebration of all....Pascha (Easter). Everyone is invited! Those who struggled through Great and Holy Lent to gain spiritual food and maturity and those who only came to church one or twice this year. We must remember the words of St. John Chrysostom who called upon all of us as a loving and caring church to welcome Christ home. Yes, even to those who come only once a year are welcome. We will be good hosts, not only because we are the St

We live in a country, and in a place in history where we pride ourselves for being individuals, in being self-reliant, and capable of taking care of ourselves. One or more of these statements are untrue for several reasons.   We are not individuals, we are persons, and as such we come to know ourselves in relationship. We come to know who we are through copious efforts of parents and caretakers, we are born with semblance of personality and character and fine tune it through relational experiences

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. Psalms 33:10

When was the last time we stopped for a minute and came up with a recent inventory of all our interactions with people known and unknown and if it brought us closer to Christ, if in addition those we interact with are brought to Christ or turned off by our poor example refuse to come into His home and shun His very presence?

The psalmist David says (Psalm 86:1-7) Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

This long Journey whose planning stages began on February 9th with the start of the Triodion period, and that comes to a complete conclusion on June 7th with the Feast of Pentecost, peaks on the 19th of April when we Orthodox celebrate Pascha.

So, I urge you this Great Lent to ask yourself: How is the noise of my life drowning out the voice of God?

...of course I’ll pray for you, and you must pray for yourself also.

Christmas 2019 by Rev. Christopher P. Foustoukos, Proistamenos

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

A month into our new routines (work, school days, sports, clubs, commitments, church, ministries, bible studies, prayer, festivals, service, GOYA, dance, Greek school, and maintaining friendships) we may find ourselves very busy, still adjusting, and in all likelihood struggling from time to time

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:31-33 Well, we are all thoroughly engaged in our schedules now and the excitement of September has become the panic of October

In most recent years, we have repeatedly heard the same cry of concern from parents, teachers, youth advisors and even parish council members. “Where are the children?” Over the years it seems that desperation and concern have grown.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word and deed, do every- thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Colossians 3:16-17 September is upon us and with it comes the return to our Fall schedules. Vacations are over and we prepare to send our students off to school or college. Shortly, we will begin raking all those leaves and picking apples

…our inner self has the ability to be transfigured by God’s presence….

"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”

Pascha has come, the Feast of Feasts, and it has been a great privilege and joy for me to be able to celebrate it here with my new family at St. Vasilios.

Pascha has passed and although we are still in the Paschal Season, we are quickly approaching the time when the Risen Lord departs from us and ascends into heaven.

Great Lent and the Sunday of Orthodoxy by Rev Fr Christopher P. Foustoukos