January 2016 Message From Father Peter

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

I  great you with much joy as we begin our celebration of the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ!

During the time of the Nativity Fast, we  labored to prepare ourselves for this beautiful and holy feast,  through  increased prayer, fasting and the performance of  acts of kindness and generosity.

This year, as an additional spiritual discipline, we were encouraged by Bishop Gregory to add a special intention to our prayers – world peace.  Through His Grace’s Nativity Fast Prayer Challenge, we were united with our fellow parishioners, the members of our Diocesan Family and  hundreds of other Orthodox Christians and friends in praying, each day for peace – for the world, and our own families.   

How fitting it was that we were  given this challenge, with all of the violence that has erupted in our nation and throughout the world in the last few weeks.  Together, we invoked the name of our Saviour, the Prince of Peace,  to grant us and the world,  His Peace which passes all understanding.  I pray that this Holy Season, and this additional discipline of prayer has brought you, even if only in some small way,  the gift of peace in your hearts

As we celebrate this feast together as a Parish Family,  let us give thanks to our newborn Saviour for  His coming into the world to save us from the tyranny of sin.    May we  show our thankfulness to our Lord, by ourselves, being agents of peace and love in our own personal  arenas of life.,

I look forward to praying with you at the Divine Services of the upcoming Holy Days.  I encourage you to make every effort to attend all of the festal services of  Christmas and Theophany. If your family does not observe the tradition of the Christmas Eve Holy Supper  please join us for supper at the parish hall at 6:30 pm on January 6h.   I ask that all parishioners come to Holy Confession so that once again, this year,  we will receive Holy Communion together as an entire community at the Christmas Divine Liturgy.  

As a small token of   our appreciation for the love and support you offer our family  throughout the entire year, Pani Carol and I cordially invite you to join us for  some light refreshments in the Church Hall  following the Christmas Divine Liturgy.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Nativity and a happy and healthy new year,  I remain

With Love in Christ, and Prayers

Fr. Peter