Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Day is one of the most beloved feast days in American history. As Orthodox Christians we joyfully participate in this annual day of family, friends, and Country giving thanks to God. "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" James 1:17
We will have a Divine Liturgy on Wednesday evening, 6p commemorating this American Feast. It will be live streamed on YouTube, "stlukestream" channel. We will read the famous and last homily of Fr. Alexander Schemamann, preached at St. Vladimir Seminary in 1983 shortly before his repose in the Lord (copied below):
+ Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for having accepted this Eucharist, which we offered to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and which filled our hearts with the joy, peace and righteousness of the Holy Spirit.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for having revealed Yourself unto us and given us the foretaste of Your Kingdom.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for having united us to one another in serving You and Your Holy Church.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for having helped us to overcome all difficulties, tensions, passions, temptations and restored peace, mutual love and joy in sharing the communion of the Holy Spirit.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for the sufferings You bestowed upon us, for they are purifying us from selfishness and reminding us of the “one thing needed”: Your eternal Kingdom.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for having given us this country where we are free to worship You.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for this school , where the Name of God is proclaimed.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for our families: husbands, wives and, especially, children who teach us how to celebrate Your holy Name in joy, movement and holy noise.
+ Thank You, O Lord, for everyone and everything.
+ Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your deeds, and no word is sufficient to celebrate Your miracles.
+ Lord, it is good to be here! Amen.
Lastly, click on the below for a website that lists quotes from Church Fathers on Thanksgiving:
https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016/11/quotes-of-orthodox-saints-on.html
Inquirer & Catechism Class begins
Inquirer and Catechism Classes have begun on Saturdays 3-4p, using Zoom. No Class on Nov. 7.
Hear an audio recording of the Class by Fr. Jason by selecting the "Sermon & Class" page on the left menu.
Click to see the: pdf copy of the power point presentation of first class.
Click to see the: pdf copy of the presentation of the third class on the Holy Trinity.
On the fourth class regarding the Creation and Fall, Fr. Jason showed the following YouTube video at the end of the class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDSVU3yG4Fo&list=LL&index=1&app=desktop
In the 4th Class, the Incarnation part 1, the notes are found on this link:
'This is My Beloved Son'
At the end of the class a video by Fr. Josiah was shown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FImCbEoOzVI
In the 5th Class, the Incarnation part 2 (Iconography), the notes are found on this link:
This is My Beloved Son - Part 2
At the end of the class a video by Fr. Josiah was shown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIyeHpOCKY&ab_channel=PatristicNectarFilms
The sixth class notes on Salvation are found on this link:
'Thou Hast Turned the Punishment into Salvation' p1.pdf
At the end of the class a short video was shown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QUHzeIicF8&ab_channel=OrthodoxChurch
The seventh class on the Theotokos:
click to see notes
click to see the videos shown by Fr. Josiah on this subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b810SVzh2Nk&ab_channel=PatristicNectarFilms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COtJz5LJJEQ&ab_channel=PatristicNectarFilms
The eighth class on Holy Baptism:
Click to see the lecture notes by Fr. Jason:
"As many as have been baptized"
The class also saw the following video links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v3Id6pKqTs&ab_channel=OrthodoxChurch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i3tInnIgbw&ab_channel=GreekOrthodoxMissionofGenuineOrthodoxChurch
Next Inquirer & Catechism Class is November 28, 3-4p. It is planned to continue every Saturday by Zoom. Fr. Jason will be the main teacher, and Fr. David will assist with teaching some classes.
Next Class is Question and Answer time - send us questions. We will also talk about Orthodox fasting.
The Inquirer / Catechism class will provide information for newcomers considering becoming members, and for members who wish to “re-fresh” their understanding of our Faith and Worship. All are welcome to “log in” at the following Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83974416666?pwd=c2NaWVZWZittanZTcXpaaG54NFl3dz09
Meeting ID: 839 7441 6666
Passcode: 733244
Bible Study on Old Testament Wisdom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86153906625?pwd=TVFVUFd2NzNoNmhpdm5KaVEyL3hjZz09
Meeting ID: 861 5390 6625
Passcode: 692350
MOPS
Divine Services
At St. Luke's, the 9a Sunday Divine Liturgy continues to be live streamed on YouTube. A very limited number of parishioners who have registered for Divine Services will be present on a rotating basis, following health and safety requirements from our Archdiocese that is informed by experts. These requirements include strict "social distancing" in our temple, and face masks unless exempt for special reasons. The cleaning requirements have led us to have only the weekly Sunday Divine Liturgy without Saturday Vespers during this time. We just added a Wednesday Divine Liturgy 6p for another small group of registered parishioners.
Our Church office remains closed, and most work and church meetings happen remotely, but our priests may meet privately with people at Church or talk by phone on spiritual or pastoral matters.
Contact us if you have questions about our Church and our Holy Faith. After meeting with one of the priests, it is possible for newcomers to attend one of our Divine Services as serious inquirers. We keep a few openings available for this purpose.
We pray for the day we can welcome back all parishioners and the general public who would like to attend a full liturgical schedule of Divine Services and all parish activities that we previously did. We know that we face a "new normal" in the days ahead. We continue to use Zoom for Bible Studies, and may add some small group in-person meetings following health guidelines. An Inquirer Class to learn about Orthodox Christianity will be arranged in some form this September.
You will find on YouTube some of our past services, such as our recent Holy Week and Pascha when only five were blessed to be present in the temple. We are thankful the virus crisis situation is improving from those very restrictive days. Please continue to be patient and prayerful.
Our YouTube channel is called "stlukestream." Just click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHBtBg43HgfOd4N02UZOR4w?view_as=subscriber
A Prayer in the face of the Virus Crisis
Prayer from the OCA
Website is under reconstruction
email us at: office@stlukeorthodox.org
Phone us at: 303-665-4013
Our Church address is: 722 Austin Avenue, Erie, CO 80516
We are a parish of the Antiochian Archdiocese, under His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH and His Grace Bishop BASIL
http://www.antiochian.org/home
Fr. David Mustian is pastor.
Thank you!