During this difficult time of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic we should never forget that "God is with us," as we chant at the Great Compline during this Lenten season. This is an opportunity for us to feel the love and care of the Church, as the Church is a place of sanctification and healing of the body and the soul, and also to show our love and care for each other. I ask you that you join me in praying for all those who are impacted by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), those who have perished due to it, and those who perhaps are impacted by the economic turmoil and hardship that this has caused. 

Following up with the guidelines that we, the clergy, have received by our Archbishop and our Metropolitan, and taking into consideration the local county impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we will postpone, effective immediately and until Pascha, all types of gatherings outside the Liturgical cycle of our parish life. More specifically, until Pascha, the following gatherings of our parish will be put on hold:

  • Pot-lucks after Pre-Sanctified Liturgies

  • Sunday Coffee Hour

  • March 25th Celebration (scheduled for March 22nd)

  • Greek School Classes

  • Sunday School Classes

  • Dance Practices

  • Zumbekiko 

  • Philoptochos Lenten Retreat

  • Palm Sunday Luncheon

  • Holy Friday Retreat & All Youth Events

  • Basketball Practices and League Games

WILL WE HAVE CHURCH SERVICES?

YES! We will NOT put on hold any of the Liturgical Services (Liturgy, Great Compline, Salutations, Vespers, Paraklisis, Holy Week, Resurrection), which will remain as they are scheduled.

SANITIZING THE PEWS AT CHURCH

I am grateful to our Parish Council for helping with sanitizing the pews every Saturday and also for keeping the directives we received from the Archdiocese last week.

GREEK FESTIVAL

A separate communication will be sent out about our Greek Festival. 

IS IT SAFE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION?

During this time we all need to overemphasize the importance of receiving Communion. Father Nebojsa and I will be constantly teaching and reminding you the theological explanation of this as it is written below in bold. Please take it as an opportunity to remind yourselves and your families, and use it for dinner discussions. 

In our churches, we shall continue with the celebration of all our Services, Customs and Traditions, and above all, the Sacrament of the Sacraments, Holy Communion. No genuinely believing Christian can for one moment accept that the Holy Communion might bring or be the source of sickness, by no means! We believe that viruses, germs, and other diseases are not transmitted through Holy Communion. During this 2,000 year old history of the church no clergy or faithful have ever become ill because of Communion. The Body and Blood of Christ are the true medicine of our souls and bodies, and bring nothing but Life — and Life eternal. 

Do not be afraid! God is merciful and loving, quick to hear and heal and save. Please approach the Holy Chalice "with the Fear of God, with Faith and Love," for this will be "for the remission of your sins and life everlasting.”

WHAT ABOUT IF I CANNOT COME TO CHURCH?

In case you have elderly people at home, or anyone who for any reason will not come to Church Services, Father Nebojsa and I will make every effort to bring them Holy Communion at their places. Please call the church office to coordinate with the requests. 

A DAILY PRAYER

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

I pray that God helps us all with strength, patience, compassion and, above all, hope; and of course that He extends His mighty hand to help us manage and overcome this in the most timely manner.

In Christ,

Father Demosthenes