Tast & See Cookbook Now for Sale!Another exciting month transpired at Holy Apostles.
As usual, Great Lent was challenging as it always is (or should be) but the unmitigated joy of the midnight Paschal service once again allowed us to participate in the glory of our Risen Lord. We need to be especially grateful to our Readers and Cantors who labored mightily with the full roster of services that our Church provides. Special thanks of course should go our lovely Choir which makes Pascha Pascha. Speaking for myself, I live for the Paschal liturgies and when they sing "Shine, Shine New Jerusalem" it makes it all seem worth it. For me, it captures the triumphal mood that we Orthodox Christians have come to expect from this glorious season.
Pacha this year was definately cold and wet and dreary but we still had a very well-attended Agape Vespers picnic. Special thanks to the men of Mars Hill who labored mightily in the cold and the rain to cook the lamb on the spit and the burgers and dogs. Of course thanks to all who prepared the kitchen and worked to make the picnic the success that it was.
Our parish continues to grow thanks to the efforts of Reader Robert (Leo) Bearer who heads up Inquirer's Classes, Hayden (Moses) Brewer who continues to cast a wide net, and of course the wise counsel of our priest, Fr Ambrose. (A word of thanks must also be given to our lovely young mothers who blessed us recently with John Byrid, Junia Hanson, Patrick Teague III!)
Special thanks as well to Reader John Sames who commissioned the beautiful lectern for the choir, which because their growing numbers, was desperately needed.
Congratulations to Tim Yates who was recently ordained a Deacon by His Beatitude Metropolitan +Jonah. AXIOS!
Not all was good news howeveer, our cemetery project is still on hold because of the lawsuit filed by one of our neighbors. Our legal defense fund had been depleted but was more than replenished when Fr Ambrose made an appeal to the faithful. Thanks to the heroic efforts of Reader Robert, this may come to a conclusion soon, let us pray for a positive outcome.
On a sad note, Harold Harmon fell asleep in the Lord last month. Harold was one of the sweetest men we knew and helped make possible the purchase of our land in Bixby. May his memory be eternal!
Please pray for Tatiana and Basil Onesky, and Fabian Ledbetter from Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Hartshorne, who have all recently suffered health problems. Please also keep Carl Mindeman in your prayers. He is Joyce's son and is living in Indiana.
Congratulations to our graduates.
Receiving Communion
Fr. Ambrose Arrington
The Church is a holy place, a building set apart by consecration for the worship of the One True God. When we approach the Church, we draw near to the throne of God; God who is awe-inspiring, “terrible” in the ancient sense of the word, and yet at the same time gentle and infinitely near. When we approach to receive Holy Communion, this same awe-inspiring, “terrible”, and gentle God comes to dwell in us, to take up His habitation in us, and to purge and burn away our passions and sins. How often do we forget this! How often do we become careless in the temple, careless in our approach to the Mystical Supper, and ultimately careless with our own lives! Knowing this weakness of ours, the Church like a good mother gives us guidelines, rules of etiquette, not so that we can be encumbered by rules, but so that we can be mindful of the holiness of the God that we draw near to.
First we must state emphatically that what we receive on the spoon from the chalice is nothing other than the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus we show the utmost reverence and respect when the Chalice is brought out into the Church with the proclamation “With fear of God, with faith and love draw near!” We do not sit in the presence of the Lord. Even if we are not prepared and do not intend to receive communion, or if we have already received communion, we do not take this occasion to take a break. We are in the presence of the Lord! We should, all of us, stand devoutly until the end of Liturgy.
If we are prepared to receive communion, we should approach reverently with our arms crossed on our breast, the traditional posture of humility. Stand close enough to the priest so that he does not have to stretch to place the spoon in your mouth. When the spoon is placed in your mouth, you may close your mouth on the spoon. This is the easiest way to ensure that the Lord’s Body is not accidentally dropped. It also conveniently cleans the spoon for the next person in line. If you prefer, you may open your mouth widely so that the priest can turn the spoon over and deposit the Coal on your tongue. Wait until the server has wiped your lips before stepping back, being careful not to step on the next person in line. After partaking of the zapifka (bread and warm wine), return to your place and stand reverently until the end of Liturgy, remaining conscious of the fact that now, not only are you in the Lord’s presence, but He has entered into your very body!
Parents with small children should approach carrying them on their right arm. This makes it easier for the priest, who is administering communion with his right hand. If the children prefer and are old enough, they may approach the chalice standing on their own – this is not a problem. Do not pick children up right in front of the chalice – this creates a situation in which the Mysteries can easily be spilled. Infants should be given time to swallow before having pacifiers replaced in their mouths. Children who may not be fasting should nevertheless not be eating or chewing gum when approaching the chalice.
Even though at this point in the Liturgy people are moving around a great deal, we should avoid the temptation to use the occasion for visiting – that is for Coffee Hour! If you notice visitors, it is appropriate to take them a piece of antidoron, but do not use it as an occasion to get to know them – again, that is for Coffee Hour. You may introduce yourself discreetly, then return to prayer.
If we observe these simple guidelines, then we can retain our reverence for the precious mysteries of the Lord, and avoid the slippery slope of treating the sacred things of God casually and with familiarity.
Fr. Ambrose Arrington
