We are now in the season of Lent. The Church has kept Lent for a very long time indeed, going back certainly to the third century if not earlier. It was a time when candidates for Baptism were prepared, but later was adopted by everybody. So we can all renew our spiritual lives and once again remind ourselves that we too are baptised, are within the household of Faith, and are inheritors of Eternal Life. For this reason we should all make the most of the opportunities that are offered by the Church to renew our own spiritual endeavours this Lent. These are the special services that are available:
Liturgy of the PreSanctified Gifts: This will take place on the Fridays of 2nd, 16th and 30th March. It is a very beautiful, reflective service, giving us the opportunity to receive Holy Communion more often. (N.B. Keep a fast of at least six hours before the service)
Akathistos Hymn: This will take place on the Fridays of 23rd February and 9th and 23rd March. It is a joyful service honouring the Theotokos and meditating on the Incarnation.
At Home: There is much that we can and should do at home. Lent is a time to renew our spiritual lives and our families. Let Great Lent be a time of simplicity and training, mental, physical and spiritual – stay in, eat less, drink less, take more exercise. Lent is a time when we actually give more time to God, when we fast, use the readings that are set us from the Bible (there are three Old Testament readings daily) and reflect on the condition of those who are less well off than we are. It is also a time for almsgiving. Fr Stephen
Let’s meditate on some of the prayers and thoughts of St. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (Died. 107)
Singing to the Father 38 Your Presbytery is one with its bishop, as the strings are one with the lyre: that is why in your concord and in the harmony of your love there is praise for Jesus Christ. And you have all been formed into one choir, to sing God's song together and praise the Father with one voice through Jesus Christ, that when he hears you he may realise from what you have done so well that you are of his Son's members.
Christian Prayer 39 You ought all to behave as God does and respect one another; none of you should look at his neighbour in a merely natural light: no, you must love one another in Jesus Christ whatever happens. Do not tolerate anything that may divide you, but stay united round your bishop and your leaders: that will be a sign and token of the life you will lead in eternity. Do not imagine that any good can come of acting on your own, in opposition to the community. You should all be as one in
your prayers and petitions, one in outlook, one in relying on love, which will bring you wholesome delight. Then you will be as the one Jesus Christ: there can be nothing better than that. Lose no time in gathering together in God's one temple, round its one altar - the one Jesus Christ, who, coming from the one Father, was still one with him and now has gone back to Him.
Prayer 40 I am God's wheat. May I be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts until I become the fine white bread that is Christ's. My passions are crucified; there is no heat in my flesh. A stream flows murmuring inside me; deep down in me it says: Come to the Father.
LENTEN GIVING
The Children’s Home of Hope, Albania
The Board has chosen to donate our Lenten gifts this year to the above Children’s Home situated in St. Vlash, a village in Albania. Archbishop Anastasios of Albania gave his blessing for this work.
Since 2003 as many as 30 children at a time have been cared for in the purpose-built house in the grounds of a monastery and seminary. Some are orphans, others have required foster care for a period before returning to their own home or to a foster family.
Your gifts will help to provide essentials, such as medical care, education, food, clothing and play equipment for the children.
Please put aside some money each week during Lent (perhaps the money you would normally spend on your meat, fish and dairy produce) and slip it in an envelope, marked ‘Lent Offering’. If you are a taxpayer, remember to use a gift aid envelope. Hand in your gift to Gregory Baker at Pascha.
Our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Albania are just emerging from a prolonged period of communist rule and are rejoicing in their newly-regained Faith. Let us be generous in our giving to this good work.
If you would like to find out more about the Orthodox Church in Albania, you could use your search engine to look up Orthodox Christian Mission Centre or ask Presbytera Mary any questions you have.
