Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I joyfully communicate with you on the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.
The cross is a symbol of surprising contrast and incredible power. What was once a vicious instrument of execution by the state in ancient Roman times was transformed into an invincible weapon of peace and a symbol of everlasting life. This transformation of the cross from a symbol of death to a symbol of life would not have been possible were it not for the redemptive work of Jesus, the “theanthropos” (God-man), Who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
We should keep this awesome concept at the forefront of our minds as we strive to emulate Jesus through renouncing our attachments to the material things of this world, and through rendering selfless service to our neighbors by sharing in their burdens. Here, we are guided by the demanding words of Jesus, Whosoever would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mark 8:34). the cross is an instrument of identity that confirms our belonging to a Christian community of believers; a community whose members share in their obedience to Jesus Christ, in their denial of selfish interests, and in their commitment to building up one another as members of His body. Our Christian identity is reinforced every time we behold the symbol of the cross, each time we make the sign of the cross, and, most notably, through selfless acts of service to our neighbors.
The exaltation of the Cross is a visible pronouncement of peace and victory over what at times may seem to be chaos and despair, particularly in the midst of strife among nations and ominous threats of terrorism in our world today. The exaltation of the Cross on this day, our willful obedience to Jesus Christ, and our desire to follow Him through selfless service to others, brings us closer to understanding the comforting words of St. Paul, if we have been united with (Christ) in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:5).
As Orthodox Christians, we acknowledge the extraordinary work which we must inevitably undergo in our approach toward an everlasting communion with God. In our contemporary society the challenge to take up one’s cross bears a special relevance, and raises critical questions concerning the nature and extent of our commitment to Christ. What are the crosses which we are called to carry today? How do the multiple burdens of a complex society such as ours impact our ability to follow Jesus Christ, the Crucified Lord?
In considering these questions, one is drawn to a particularly dominant trend within our contemporary society, namely, the tendency for the quality of our relationships with others to decline in terms of the level of personal interaction. This tendency may be seen particularly in instances where communication with others takes place solely via electronic means, or in instances where society refers to the identity of a person by means of a number rather than a name. The declining of the personal dimension within human relationships represents yet one example of a contemporary cross which each of us must carry in our sacred task of preaching the Gospel.
The psychological stresses that many of us experience in our daily lives also represent crosses that each of us must carry. This stress is seen in tensions that inevitably arise as we try to balance the conflicting demands of work and family. Financial difficulties and problems in our relationships with others also complicate our lives with considerable anxiety. These heavy crosses may at times be further weighted down by personal or family health concerns, or by problems with our children or loved ones who may be afflicted with addictions such as the abuse of alcohol or drugs.
Despite such burdens, the beauty of the Feast which we celebrate today rests upon the comfort of knowing that the exaltation of the Cross signifies an overcoming of every handicap which inhibits our ability to attain an everlasting communion with God and with one another. The exaltation of the Cross invites us to consider the manner in which Christ has overcome our own burdens and struggles, the loving ways in which He has elevated us from a fallen state to a state of grace. It is an event which brings us to a closer comprehension of the reassuring words of St. Paul, “if we have been united with (Christ) in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His” (Romans 6:5).
May our Lord who endured the Cross and is now reigning in glory and honor bless each of you with His holy and life-giving presence today and tomorrow and to the limitless future. Amen
September and October Schedules:
Sept 13 Forefeast Of The Elevation of the Cross ( Memorial of founding Holy Resurrection Of Christ Church In Jerusalem)
Services are going to be held at theChapel Of Metropolitan Methodios Heritage Center In Contocook , NH check the link for directions
8:30 AM matins 9:30 AMDivine liturgy All services are presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios assisted by the New England Orthodox Clergy.A luncheon to follow for all attendees and a full day of activities and fellowshipto follow.
Sept 14 Exaltation of The Holy Cross
9:15 AM matins For the Holy Cross Feast
10:00 Am Divine Liturgy
11:15 Am Holy Cross procession ( please bring red and white carnations for the Cross Tray to bedecorated early on Sunday for the procession . Donationsof Carnations wil be very appreciated we need 2 dozens one dozen each color. )
Sept 28First Sunday of Luke
9:15 AM Orthros (matins)
10:00 Am Divine Liturgy
October 2008 :
October 11 : 6 pm vespers followed by Orthodox Bible Study on The Gospel Of Matthew
Everybody is encouraged to attend and share .
October 12:
9:15 AM Orthros ( Matins) Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical council
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
October 26 : Sixth Sunday Of Luke Feast Of St Demetrios The Myrrbearer.
Announcements:
-Sunday School and Choir:
On October 12,we will inaugurate the Sunday School year and the choir rehearsals, therefore, we would like the parents interested to enroll their kids to register them during the month of September since we are going to order special books and we need to know the number of attendees and their ages.
The Choir rehearsals will be held immediately after liturgy.
The Sunday school classes will be held after communion.
For registration please contact : Katie at or Presbytera Nissrine @ 508-753-1101
-Sound System:
Father Anastasios in cooperation with the Parish Council have launched “St Vasilios Special Projects fund” which consists of raising funds separate from the regular donations in order to perform special projects to enhance the spiritual life in the parish.
The first project is the sound system; we will be installing microphones and speakers. We have already raised $600 so far, therefore we will be collecting a second tray during every service and until we raise the total expenses for that project which was estimated for $3000.
Parishioners who are not always attending services are also encouraged to participate in donating for that special project by sending their checks by mail but make sure to reference in the memo line: “sound system”.
Your generosity is very much appreciated; we thank all the donators until now.
May the Lord reward you all. Amen.
-Sacraments:
Due to the expenses that the church is incurring during sacraments (wedding, baptism….), the parish council has set up a fee of $500 for non-members and $300 for members.
If the person requiring the sacrament service is living a financial hardship, please speak to Father Anastasios or somebody in the parish council for arrangement. { please note that the sacraments will be scheduled only during the weekends where we have Liturgy and the notification has to be at least 3 months in advance.) May The Lord Bless you all.