Deared Beloved in the Lord,

Pascha 2012

“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.” Pascha is the day of universal joy and peace. The entire world, every breath and all creation, triumphs and rejoices. For the Lord has conquered and destroyed death, abolishing the “dominion of death” – the power of death.

With the Resurrection of Christ, the dawn of the coming general Resurrection has already begun to break over all creation, for we hope in “the life of the age to come.” Paschal joy is boundless, dissolving every sorrow and doubt. “Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.” All offences and distress are forgotten: “let us forgive all things in the Resurrection.” Not a single cloud of grief and dark memories should obscure the luminous and light-bearing Paschal night. Christ is Risen!

Along with that joyous proclamation and rejoicing there is a debt of gratitude owed to so many people who made Holy Week 2012, a truly spiritually uplifting experience:

• The Parish Council renewing itself made sure that they were there at each service and all was in readiness. They welcomed one and all and made them feel quite at home.
•  The Church Choir presented the hymns on each of the nights with solemnity and beauty unparallel. The love they showed for the service and the hymns was surpassed by the emphases given to the words, which proved to be inspiring to all.
•  The chanters followed the rubrics and thus the services were chanted in a timed honored manner. They kept to the order and the mode and thus, their presentation was familiar to one and all.
• The Philoptochos Ladies, ever alert to the floral needs and arrangements came forth with unmatched decoration of the Epitaphion.
• The Sunday School presented to the children a Retreat on Holy Friday, which proved once again our children listen and learn their Orthodox faith.
• The Altar Boys served with dedication and attentiveness to what their role is in the service of Holy Week. They are all varied and thus, they showed the thoughtful care to see that by their movements they enhanced and spiritually strengthened the services.
• Two meals of outstanding delicacy were served. The one on Palm Sunday and the other on Pascha after the Resurrection Divine Liturgy. Both were a delight to the palate and were a labor of love from both gourmet chefs.
• And you the faithful, with your love for the Church, your devotions and prayers added dramatically to the spiritual atmosphere that pervaded all of the service.

I am grateful to all for their stewardship of service to make this year’s Holy Week a very special one which was spiritually edifying to all and me in particular.

Christ is risen!

In Christ, Fr. John