Sunday, Mar. 27 – 4th Sunday of the Great Fast
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Mar. 28 – Hilary and Stephen, Venerables
No Services
Tuesday, Mar. 29 – Mark, Cyril, and Others, Martyrs
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Wednesday, Mar. 30 – John Climacus, Venerable
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
6:30 PM Presanctified Divine Liturgy
7:30 PM Firepit Social
Thursday, Mar. 31 – Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
Friday, Apr. 01 – Mary of Egypt, Venerable
6:30 PM Presanctified Divine Liturgy
Saturday, Apr. 02 – Akathist Saturday
8:30 AM Akathist Hymn
5:00 PM Ventura County Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Vespers
Sunday, Apr. 03 – 5th Sunday of the Great Fast
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Please remember the following people in your prayers: Estella Biedenbender, Ken Bosak, Fletes Family: Alicia, Frankie, Layla, Lupita & Veronica, Victoria Flores, Larry Goodwin, Holly Garlow, Michelle Grana, Virginia Harrington, Jeanne Hart, Michael Hefferon, Nicole Hefferon, Rob Hooper, Chris Johnson, Mary-Jo Koman-Keogh, Patricia Kurczak, Irene Lehman, Elizabeth & John Mallas, Dylan Mancia, Toni Martin, Marg Mauro, Juan Gabriel Martinez, Pedro Medina, Mina family: Mila, Diana, Rev. John & Mike, Shannon O’Neill, Denise Painter, Austin Pearce, Tanya Petach, Casandra Porch, Nicholas, Rodriguez Diane Romano, Paul Saucedo, Kathleen Savko, Robert Stamer, Leanne Steuer, Mary Washko, Dina & Matthew Wiggins, Carmen Zambrano, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Fr. Chris Zugger and all those who serve in the Armed Forces
Collection: $1,187.85; Candles: $64.40; Online: $305.00; VC Outreach: $2,497.00; Church Improvements: $175.00; Flowers: $5.00; All Souls: $20.00; Property Rental: $1,000.00; Married Priest Sustenance: $920.00
Total: $6,174.25 / Attendance- PSM: 65
Tomorrow, Monday March 28, at 5pm PST Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia will discuss the Ascetical practice of hospitality for God With Us Online.
Register today: EasternCatholic.org/events
In the Church services for the fourth Sunday the Holy Church offers us a great example of the life of fasting in the person of the Venerable John of the Ladder (see page 106), who, “having overcome the flesh through fasting” and “by the sweat of his ascetic efforts quenched the fiery arrows of the enemy” and “renewed the strength of souls ” and, “ascending to the height of virtues”, “received in his soul the divine wealth of the Spirit, undefiled prayer, chastity, modesty, continuous vigil”, “was deified through heavenly glory”, “was revealed as a physician to those sick through sin” and was the author of “The Ladder of Paradise”. According to the expression of the Holy Church, how the profoundly granted ascetic life of the Venerable John “gives us a pleasure sweeter than honey”, and so his “Ladder” “brings to us the ever flowering fruits of his teaching, pleasing the heart with vigilant heeding: for souls are rising up the ladder from earth to heaven and abiding in glory”. Approving fasting with the example of the Venerable John, the Holy Church offers us a new consolation in the Gospel and Epistle readings of this Sunday. In the first she shows that fasting and prayer defeats the very spiritual enemy of the salvation of man, and predicted this victory in the circumstances of suffering, the death and the resurrection of Christ; and in the second she reminds us of the inalterability of God’s will for the salvation of man, in order that we have a firm hope. Besides the hymns praising the Venerable John, during the fourth week other hymns are chanted, in which the repentant soul resembles the man, who fell into the hands of the thieves, and whom both the priest and the Levite passed by, not offering help. Testing one’s conscience the Holy Church inspires the soul to turn to the Lord with prayer: He cleans off the sinful scabs. Having concentrated in the hymns of the fourth Sunday on the diverse motives for the zealous bearing of the Lenten spiritual struggle, the Holy Church at the end of the Matins service with a tender voice appeals to her children: “Come, let us work in the mystical vineyard, making fruits of repentance work in it, let us not labor for food and drink, but through prayer and fasting let us gain virtue. And the Lord of the vineyard, pleased by our labor, will provide the denarii by which He delivers souls from the debt of sins, for He alone is rich in mercy”.
-Sergei Bulgakov
“I believe! Help my unbelief!” Our gracious Lord comes to us, and His divine grace always heals what is infirm and supplies what is lacking. Nevertheless, He uses people to be His hands and feet. Our prayer and fasting can save the world! Are you open to dedicating your life as a consecrated monastic or religious, or a life in holy orders? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Saturday, March 26 –
