Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

St. John’s Eastern Orthodox Church

1101 Bell Street

Amarillo, Texas, 79106

(806) 355-0683 phone

Special Announcements

Thank you’s

• Thank you to Eve for baking Prosphora for the month of February.
• Thank you to Aster for baking Prosphora for the month of March.
• Thank you to Julie for baking Prosphora for the month of April.

General

• SPECIAL REMINDER: Great Lent begins on February 27th. Holy week services begin April 7th, and run through April 16th. View calendar for fasting schedule as well.
• Josh and Allison Butler have volunteered to serve the Fish Dinner this year on Palm Sunday. That will immediately follow liturgy on Sunday, April 9th! Seeking a few volunteers to help cook, serve, or bring a few side items for the Fish Fry!
• We are also looking for as many volunteers as possible to show up at the Church on Saturday, April 1st, and Sunday, April 2nd to help clean the Church in preparation for Pascha. Any help is greatly appreciated.
• Services are being held each Lord’s Day at our Parish. Not just on alternating Sundays. When Father David is not here, come and join us for Bible Study. We have moved to the sanctuary and a readers Typica service will be offered starting at 11:00 am. This will be followed by a Bible Study lead by Rez and Tim. Come and join us as we explore in detail Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount.”
• Be watching for announcements concerning times and locations for our next Men’s Meeting!
• For details on a planned trip to the Holy Land, please reach out to Mike Yazbek. He has details of a trip to the Holy Land being planned for late July, early August departing from and returning to Amarillo directly.

Message from Father David

".... I will not reveal Your Mystery to

Your adversaries....Nor will I give

You a kiss as did Judas...."

In keeping with the liturgical season and the preparations necessary for the Great Fast of Pascha,one is frequently brought to the point of considering ones' relationship to God and the relationship to Christ's guidance as He moves in obedience to Him the Father.

As Theanthropos, (God-man), we are given the most perfect example of how we may live our lives in these fraught times of confusion,political maneuvering at home and abroad,inhumane treatment of those who are victims of war and finally a seeming confusion about the Christian vision on which we all depend ..."life, liberty,and the pursuit of happiness..."

Hopefully the Great Lent will focus our attention and offer answers to these vital challenges by engaging us with diligence to "...see my own faults and not judge my brother..."and "to grant the Spirit of wisdom, patience,humility and love.." as a basic antidote. By shifting our attention from one's own thoughts about the challenges presented; by living in these times; we have opportunities. Yet it requires following,without resistance, the path of presence in worship,striving for peace of mind,remembering our past graces received, and a sincere allegiance to Christ-like behavior.Then weare able to open ourselves to the words of revelation spoken by Christ and by His disciples. We can pursue opportunity to confess our sin.Our intellect and reasoning can create a state of soulful illumination so necessary.

By our preparation, we are more able to experience and notice more sharply our errors,our miss-takes,our closed-mindedness.our ignoring opportunities to act as enlightened people of Faith.

Christ's comforting gift of silence and solitude,the quiet moments of prayer,the excitement of giving of oneself in service to others and to the Church unselfishly are what pious people seek and pursue. Anything less than honest personal effort to follow Christ's silence,His agonizing moments,His- betrayal by friends,His humiliation- from this present historic distance -is to make our willful habits and routines to be self-satisfied. Not pursing grace through faith Much more than falling into this temptation is required...... !

As our Orthodox piety asks us..we are to reform ourselves beyond agitation, feeling overcome, judgmental. We are to find that place within ourselves....peace,the unity of faith, and a willingness to hear differently the truth.Truth that is expressed by the soulful poetry and hymns of the liturgical services by our response "Kyrie eleison..Lord have mercy' with our whole heart. Continue on back……

Message from Father David Cont.

Our fasting must also include our adapting to more quiet in our lives. Less attention to the 24/7 news cycle as an example. Less attention to our devices of distraction. Whatever they may be, Possibly, media of any form of food,drink,vain thoughts and schemes,alibis and excuses.

One must descend from our high perch of self-esteem and the strivings for that esteem. We descend to the true bottom of our personal need for grace and the love of others.It is thus ,that we are able to receive the reward of faithfulness,A faith that is deepened and a bit more perfect than being self-serving,A faith sustained beyond the comfort of skepticism and sardonic criticism, A Faith moregenerous and giving.

WE are to become humble as the Publican;self-aware and on the path of return as the Prodigal; accept our Kingdom that has been prepared for us. Finally,as Persons to offer remission of the sins of trespass against us by others.

In followingChrist, as did the disciples, we may have to"weep as Peter"for our many denials of Him and the promise of eternal Life! The Life lived daily by us in pious obedience to the Lord.Let us join with Him in His passage, His Journey tothe grave and resurrection. For our repentance is the way to salvation.

Begin,this very moment to consider,re-consider, the personal opportunities for transformation and personal change. May it be so for all as pious Orthodox Christians.

Kalo Anastasi !!

A Special Tribute to Sandra King

When you pass by 1101 Bell Street in Amarillo, look at the front doors. When I do that, I remember in 2008 the newsletter asking for donations to replace the old doors, and the car that went through the old doors three weeks later, as well as those new replacement doors which the newsletter was seeking donations to fund. What is unique about them, however, is two hanging lights outside, one either side of the doors, that were gifted by a lady that enlightened everyone who ever met her, whether by her glowing spirit, her charming smile, or her dedication to serving others to no end. She is the embodiment of those on the right in Matthew 25: 31-46, where Christ tells us when we visited him or fed him or clothed him. This is Alexandra King.

For those who knew her, Alexandra King was her own woman. I first met her in 1994 when she was visiting my father. I had just come in from Oregon with a load of wood bound for Maywood here in Amarillo, and had a couple of days off, so I went by Pop's and there was this amazingly beautiful lady visiting. "She's married," greeted me before the introduction, so a friendship was born instead. Sandra passed away yesterday, February 16, 2017, after a battle with cancer. I won't bog you down with the fight, but rather with her life. She was dedicated to visiting people and helping them when they are infirm. Pop was in declining health and she was a regular visitor to ensure he was okay while I was on the road. She was a regular at his home. At his funeral in 2004 Sandra came and gave me a hug and I her one, as well. It was because of her caring about others that I was attracted to the Orthodox Church (that, plus the fact that Pop was Orthodox, too). A few months later I began the process of being Chrismated into the Church, and Sandra was there to guide me along the way. She would explain things in the Orthros Book sometimes when I got a bit confused when we were at the chanters' stand, and I would read with her during many Orthros and Liturgies until I was called into the Altar as an attendant. Sometimes there would only be Sandra at the stand, so Father David would tell me to go out and help her on some of the longer portions. I love to be at the Chanter's Stand. I feel more useful there.

Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer some years later, not too many at all, and endured the indignity and pain of the fight, along with the doctors at M.D. Anderson in Houston. She went into remission though their combined efforts, and began to enjoy life again for a little while. She and Alan sold their lab, moved to Pensacola, Florida, and retired, as Alan's sight was failing him. Sandra endured the pain in the early 2000s of losing an 11-year-old son. And yet, this woman continued to stay and help others. I guess that helped ease her own pain. Her faith in Orthodoxy, though, never wavered or waned. She was a true believer, and a generous benefactor of St. John Prodromos at 1101 Bell Street in Amarillo, Texas. She helped in any way she could, both financially and through service to the parish and our members.

Sandra fell asleep yesterday, having run her race, and winning in the long run. She took the narrow path. I know in my heart that she is with Christ now, and her son Andrew, along with her others that preceded her. I will always look to her love and kindness with a smile and say, "Well done, Alexandra! Well done. Now rest and celebrate with the saints."

Today I look at those two lamps, lighting the way for others to come to Christ. I see how Sandra made MY life more enlightened. Sandra is always going to be with us as long as we have those lights. I know she will always be in my heart! May God keep you in his care!