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Sundays:  Pastor's Class 9:00 AM (Ephesians)
               Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

Wednesdays: Pastor's Class 10:00 AM (Psalm 119 deep dive)
                    Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM

Holy Week:

    • Maundy Thursday Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM

 

    • Good Friday Tenebrae 8:00 PM

 

    • Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 8:00 PM

 

    • Easter Sunrise 8:00 AM

 

  • Easter Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

 

 

                

 

A Time To Sew

Solomon, inspired by the Spirit of God, said 3,000 years ago that there is, "A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." (Eccl. 3:7)

The last several months have proved themselves "a time to tear". Some have torn, and we have all been torn. But we will not engage in either the politics or the science of viruses. Only in the Christian response.

Fundamental to Christian existence is St. Paul's saying, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21). St. Paul learned this from Jesus himself who says, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Mt. 16:25) Indeed, the church's real work is to prepare people to die, and to rise again through faith in Christ who is "the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:25)

That has always been the theory, anyway. But when faced with the reality the church has shrunk from it from the top down.

Solomon also says in Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." Your pastor has kept silence. Many Christians feared leaving their houses to worship God, which is a Christian's chief duty.

He has kept silence, and more than that has given dispensation to Christians who considered themselves "at risk". Not because he wanted to, but because governmental, medical, media and even ecclesiastical authorities "induced panic" in the world. And when people are panicked, especially the whole world at the same time, it is impossible to reason. And so following the admonition of Solomon it was necessary to keep silence for a time.

But the time for tearing, and keeping silence is over. It is time to begin rebuilding, and speaking.

Not because the emergency is or is not over. That is a topic that we will not engage. But based on reason alone let every Christian ask himself this question: Do I eat?

If you do then reason dictates that Divine Worship is no more of a health risk than food provided by other hands. Or in the words of Jesus: Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) That is why the baptized assemble. To hear Christ. To obtain his absolution, sing his praises, and eat his Word which is sweeter than honey, and "the medicine of immortality".

And so your pastor calls upon you, if nothing else, to think rationally and act accordingly. To come God God's house. To begin to sew, and to keep silence no longer.