We invite you to join us this Great Lent as you light the lamp of your soul, preparing yourself to meet the Bridegroom. Our goal is to provide you with opportunities to grow in your relationship with God. Below you will find ways to do this.
Our Lenten theme this year is Tools to prepare us to meet the Bridegroom. Throughout Lent, we invite you to keep a vigil lamp lit in your home as a reminder of the journey to meet the Bridegroom of your soul. Our journey to Pascha includes prayer, fasting, and especially charity.
Download a copy of the Eleos Project document for more information about keeping a vigil lamp in your home by clicking HERE.
Pre-Lent helps us prepare to enter our Lenten journey. During the Triodion period which begins February 21, we will examine four themes: humility, repentance, the Last Judgment, and forgiveness. Additionally, we invite you to join us for our pre-Lenten retreat, Ethics of Beauty, on March 5 and 6 with Dr. Timothy Patitsas.
There are many services in Lent: Great Compline each Monday at 4 pm, Pre-Sanctified Liturgies on Wednesdays at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm, and the Akathist to the Mother of God on Fridays at 9:30 am. After the Akathist on Friday mornings, please join Fathers Evan & Gabriel for tea and a book discussion. We will be reflecting on selected readings from Fr. Evan’s book, Toolkit for Spiritual Growth.
We have other special events planned for this Lent. On March 20, the Saturday of Souls, we will host a teaching liturgy at 9:30 am. Afterward, we will hold a special memorial for our loved ones who have passed from this life. In-person Bible Study will resume every Tuesday morning at 9:30 in our sanctuary, and we will also have a liturgy on March 25 for the Feast of the Annunciation. See our online calendar for a full schedule of services.
Download a printable calendar for Great Lent by clicking HERE.
Each Sunday of Great Lent focuses on a unique theme, and we hope you will join us every week. In particular, we invite you to join us on March 21, the 1st Sunday of Great Lent, and to bring your favorite icon for a special procession. And again on April 4, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, we will have a special procession for the Feast of the Cross.
We also have a “Godparent/Godchild Sunday” planned for March 28. Please make sure to attend with your godparent or godchild and receive Communion together. There are many other events planned for our community and youth. Please make sure to subscribe to our online calendar at saintspyridon.church/calendar.
Finally, Lent is not Lent if we do not pay special attention to our brothers and sisters in need. Our Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor) will be sponsoring its annual Lenten Food Drive, as well as opportunities to serve at the Community Kitchen and more. Don’t forget to add your monetary contributions to the poor box located in the Narthex. Alternatively, you are able to give to the many charitable causes supported by the parish by going to our website at: http://saintspyridon.church/common/give.php
Our Lenten Journey concludes on April 24 and with it, we enter into the Feasts of the Raising of Lazarus and the Triumphal Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. That weekend we will celebrate and decorate our church and host our annual missions fundraiser. Details about services will come out as we draw closer. Please mark your calendars to be with us during Holy Week, April 26-May 2, and join us for our annual Pascha Picnic the afternoon of May 2.
Becoming a healthy parish requires each member of the Body of Christ to take seriously their commitment to our Lord. We do this by focusing first on our relationship with Him and by placing our spiritual formation first. Being healthy means our commitment to Christ has a positive impact on our daily life. Because we believe in and serve God, we operate on a daily basis as faithful members of the Church. A healthy parish also invests in the community. We value our relationships with one another and we seek to build new ones with those in our community. Finally, we commit to doing all that we do with excellence.
We look forward to this year’s journey to Pascha as we focus on Tools to prepare us to meet the Bridegroom. To view all our services and events please visit our calendar at saintpsyridon.church/calendar
You may download a printable copy of this post by clicking HERE.
