December  2005
 
Chrismation

Jan Warrilow will be received into the Orthodox Church by Holy Chrismation on Saturday 17^th December at 5.30pm.

Some of us will remember our own Chrismation ten years ago in Tittensor Village Hall, suitably decked out to be an Orthodox church, when Fr.Gregory, Fr.Stephen and Fr.Jonathon came and allowed us to become new born babes.

At that moment of our chrismation we were enabled to feed on heavenly food to nourish us in our life of Faith. It was only the beginning of becoming Orthodox Christians. We are all still learning and struggling to love God and our brothers and sisters. We are all still trying to rely on God for all things rather than our own selves.

When we seriously want to be Christians the fight is very great against the world, the flesh and the devil. We have indeed taken up our cross to follow Christ.

Let us remember that we do not fight alone but we are supported by the prayers of the Theotokos, our patron saint, our brothers and sisters in the church, and strengthened by the very Holy Spirit of God.

Please pray for Jan and ask the prayers of her patron saint, the holy forerunner, prophet and baptist John that she may be given health, strength, salvation and Many Years.

Welcome to our two newest members!

Antonios Harvey and Sophia Bartholomew were welcomed into the church family in the last couple of months through baptism. We wish them, together with their families every happiness and look forward to enjoying more loud singing voices on Sunday mornings!

Marriage

Marriage is a wonderful mystery if you persevere!

Several members of our congregation have celebrated significant wedding anniversaries this year. What great fortitude and patient endurance they all have!

Stefan and Betty Kinnersley will celebrate their anniversary with us by receiving the church's blessing on their marriage on Sunday 18th December.

The Lord has richly blessed their union over the years, may He continue His mercy to them in the years to come.
 

Christmas

In our fasting and prayers, we are preparing ourselves all the time to become the dwelling place of God. Especially at this holy time may we be prepared to receive Christ Himself and not turn Him away because we have left no room for Him.

Many of you ask how to prepare for the reception of the Holy Gifts. The real answer is "with your life". Every day we should be looking forward to the day when we receive into ourselves the true Life which is Christ Himself.

Make sure that you make your confession on one of the evenings before Christmas so that you can more worthily receive Him Who, for our sakes, became a little child.

Christmas is not anything at all without Christ Himself.

Realise how little room you have left for Him, confess, repent and start again, a new-born seeking to be fed and nurtured by God.

CHRIST IS BORN!  GLORIFY HIM!