CONTACTS:
To message Archimandrite Kyril or to arrange a baptism or wedding please email the Parish Priest@bristol-orthodox-church.co.uk (Tel. 01179706302 or 07944 860 955).
For more see: CONTACTS
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Every Saturday: 5.30 p.m. Vespers Every Sunday: 10.30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
WEEKLY SERVICES & INFORMATION (Note: our Parish follows the “New” (Revised Julian) Calendar.)
Sunday 28th April. PALM SUNDAY – The Entry Into Jerusalem (FISH, wine and oil) 10.30 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Readings: Philippians 4: 4-9 John 12: 1-18 6.30 p.m. Matins of The Bridegroom (for Monday)
(Note: FASTING IN GREAT AND HOLY WEEK All days this week are strict Fast Days in preparation for Pascha, except for an allowance of wine and oil on Great Thursday. On Great Saturday we are allowed wine (for strength) , but no oil (which is for joy). In principle, we fast until after Vespers each day Monday – to Thursday (because in principle we should be receiving communion); on Friday we fast if at all possible until after Vespers; on Great Saturday again until after the Vespers and Liturgy. The concession allowed by our bishops is that should this discipline be beyond our strength, then we should fast for at least six hours before communion. Note: The Prayer of St Ephrem is read on the first three days, ending with the Ninth Hour on Great Wednesday. Similarly the singing of the Lenten melodies ends with the Ninth Hour on Wednesday.)
Great and Holy Monday, 29th April: Commemoration of The All-Righteous Blessed Joseph. The Cursing of the Fig Tree by the Lord. 6.30 p.m. Matins of The Bridegroom (for Tuesday)
Great and Holy Tuesday, 30th April: Holy Apostle and Martyr James, the Son of Zebedee, brother of John the Theologian. parable of The Ten Virgins. 6.30 p.m. Matins of The Bridegroom (for Wednesday)
Holy and Great Wednesday, 1ST MAY. Commemoration of The Sinful Woman who anointed the feet of The Lord with Myrrh. 6.30 p.m. Matins of Holy Thursday, and Short Anointing service
Holy and Great Thursday, 2nd May (wine and oil). Celebration of the Washing of the Feet, The mystical Supper, the prayer in Gethsemane, and the Betrayal. 12.00 noon Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great 6.30 p.m. Matins of Holy Friday (“Service of the Twelve Gospels”)
Holy and Great Friday, 3rd May (strict fast). Celebration of the Holy and Redeeming Passion of The Lord. 4.00 p.m. Vespers (Service of Christ’s Winding Sheet) 6.30 p.m. Matins of Holy Saturday (The Burial of Christ)
Holy and Great Saturday, 4th May. Christ’s Descent Into Hades, the Realm of the Dead, to bring them Life. 12.00 noon Vespers and Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great for Pascha Eve 3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Church open for the blessing of Paschal Food Baskets 11.00 p.m . Midnight office 12 midnight Procession and Matins of Holy Pascha
Sunday 5th May HOLY PASCHA 10.30 a.m. Paschal Hours and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Parish Paschal lunch. 2.00 p.m. (or as soon as we are ready!) Paschal Vespers (2nd Tone) NOTE: This week is Fast-free. Wednesday, 8th May 6.30 p.m. Paschal Vespers (5th Tone)
Saturday, 11th May. Bright Saturday. 5.30p.m. Vespers
Sunday, 12th May. Second Sunday of Pascha. St Thomas Sunday. 10.30 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
LAZARUS SATURDAY AND PALM SUNDAY: Prayers “Behind the Ambo” after Communion: Saturday of Lazarus: O Christ our God, by your voice you loosed Lazarus from the chains of death, and brought him to life. Bring to life us who have been killed by our sins, and give us a life that cannot be taken away; give unending life to those who hope in you, and make us your heirs, for you are our life and resurrection, and to you is due glory, together with your Father, who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Palm Sunday – the Entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem: Christ our God, we sing of your humility beyond our understanding, for though you sat on a throne in heaven, and had the earth for a footstool, you did not think it beneath you to take flesh from a holy virgin, to be made man, and to lie unnoticed as a new-born babe in the manger. Indeed, you sat on a colt, and by your own will endured suffering for us. Before, by inspiration, the heavenly powers sang hymns to you fitting for your Godhead, but now a new hymn is sung to you on earth. You taught the troublesome crowd by perfecting praise from the mouths of infants and children. You taught them how to tell of glory in heaven and peace on earth. With them accept the songs of your unworthy servants, who sing to your victory over death. Bless those who proclaim: “You come in the name of God, yet not entirely abandoning the glory of the Father, for you will come again to judge the whole world in righteousness.” Make us worthy to receive you as you come, arm us for a victorious struggle against passions, and crown us with virtue in return for our palms and branches, so that we may meet you with joy as you come on the clouds in glory, and so that we may become heirs of your Kingdom. For you are the Lover of mankind, and are glorified together with your Father, who is without beginning, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. REMINDER – FOOD BANK: As we reduce our food intake in Lent we increase our prayer – and also refocus our charity. DON’T FORGET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. Bring contributions please. Can we fill the box twice over during Lent? |
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PARISH NEWS ADVANCE NOTICE Sunday 19th May Parish lunch to say farewell to Claudia Behr.
BUILDING WORK: The masons have finished the restoration work in the Church Altar (Sanctuary). The stained glass window has been cleaned! Thank you all for your generosity to the building fund,. We have spent the money we had in hand for this project, but there is more to do: The lower walls need to be re-plastered and repainted, so please continue to give generously to the building Fund! THANK YOU for your generous donations. Without this, we would not have a space to worship in. We are extremely blessed to have our own space that does not need to be shared with other users. If we look after it, the building will be sure to last a few more hundred years and serve our community for many generations to come. GIFT AID |
It is good practice to have phones turned off or in aeroplane mode during services .
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Some selected saints (AND FEASTS) of the coming days).
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For those who wish to donate to our Parish online, our Facebook fundraiser can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/453504039824339/?fundraiser_source=external_url
Sermon for Palm Sunday
Archimandrite Kyril Jenner
Philippians 4:4-9
Saint Paul tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
This echoes the teaching found in the Prophets. At Vespers last night we read from the Prophet Zacharias, “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, just and bringing salvation. He is meek and riding on a beast of burden, on a young colt.” (Zacharias 9:9)
The people who welcomed our Lord on his entry into Jerusalem will have been aware of these words. They were happy because their king was coming. He was marked out from other kings by what he did. He did not ride on a cavalry horse, like the leader of an army. Instead he rode on a donkey, a humble beast of burden. Riding, rather than walking, showed that he had some importance. But he showed his humility by his choice of animal on which to ride.
The people welcomed him as their king. But most of them were looking for the wrong sort of king. They were looking for a king who would release them from the oppressive rule of the Romans, and restore their old kingdom, such as was ruled over by David.
Instead Christ came to release them from the burden of their sins, which oppressed them spiritually. Instead of a temporary earthly peace in the absence of war, he came to give them an eternal peace, which comes through the mercy and love of God.
Christ came in humility to be raised up in glory. As the Son of God he showed his humility by being born as a human. In his life he showed his humility in his patient teaching of his disciples and of the wider crowds that followed him. Above all he showed his humility in giving up his earthly life on the Cross.
In this coming week we shall focus on the last events of our Lord’s life on earth. For his followers these events seemed at the time to end with his death and burial. But we can now see that in being lifted up on the Cross he was lifted up in glory. Only through his sacrificial death could he lead us to the fulness of the true life with God.
The consequence of this is, as Saint Paul tells us, that “the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Whatever we seem to suffer in this life can be relieved through Christ. The way is open to us through prayer. But our prayer should not just be asking for things. Saint Paul says “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) We can do this because “The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)
Saint John Chrysostom reminds us: “he wills that our prayers should not simply be requests, but thanksgivings too for what we have. For how should anyone ask for future things, if they are not thankful for the past? But in everything by prayer and supplication. Therefore we ought to give thanks for all things, even for those which seem to be grievous, for this is the action of the truly thankful person. In the case of good things the nature of the things demands it; but with apparently evil things thanksgiving springs from a grateful soul, and one earnestly affected toward God. God acknowledges these prayers, but others he does not know. Offer up such prayers as may be acknowledged; for he disposes all things for our profit, even though we do not know it.” (Homily 14 on Philippians)
Concerning the “peace of God,” Saint John Chrysostom says this: “The peace of God, which he has wrought for mankind, surpasses all understanding. For who could have expected, who could have hoped, that such good things would have come? They exceed all human understanding, and not just speech. For the enemies of God, for those who hated him, for those who determined to turn themselves away, for these he did not refuse to deliver up his Only Begotten Son, so that he might make peace with us. This peace then, that is the reconciliation, the love of God, will guard your hearts and your thoughts.” (Homily 14 on Philippians)
So, as with our palm leaves we welcome Christ, and as we prepare to commemorate his Death and Resurrection, let us open our hearts to his love, repent of our sins, and each day turn our thoughts to how we can serve him. Let us follow the instruction of Saint Paul: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
Like all small communities we rely on the generosity of friends and well-wishers. If you would like to contribute to the continuation of our parish and the upkeep of our historic church building, you can make a donation here:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/679204386685133/?fundraiser_source=external_url
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