March  2006
 
In this Issue

Memorial Saturdays in Great Lent
Photini Philippa Pearce – In Memoriam
Orthodox Youth Festival

Memorial Saturdays in Great Lent

Our Church Calendar provides many occasions when we are asked to face up to the fact of death, and at this time of year there are "Saturdays of the Souls". We pray for the dead especially on Saturdays because it was on the Sabbath day (Saturday) that Christ lay dead in the tomb, "resting from all His works and trampling down death by death".

Praying for the dead is an expression of love. We ask God to remember our departed loved ones because we love them. The relationship of love survives, and even transcends, death. There is an inner need to continue to express our relationship with a loved one even after death. Often even more so after a loved one has died since physical communication is no longer possible. The Church encourages us to express our love for our departed brethren through memorial services and prayers.

The Orthodox Church prays for the dead to express her faith that all who have fallen asleep in the Lord, live in the Lord; their lives are "hidden with Christ in God" (COL.3:3). Whether on earth or in heaven, the Church is one family, one body in Christ. Death changes the location but it cannot sever the bond of love.

Just as we pray for the dead, so we believe they continue to love us, remember us and pray for us now that they are closer to God. Death can only be properly understood in the light of Christ's Resurrection from the dead.

"TRAMPLING DOWN DEATH BY DEATH, AND UPON THOSE IN THE TOMBS BESTOWING LIFE”

Photini Philippa Pearce – In Memoriam

By Nina Chapman

Nicholas and I had the joy of Philippa's friendship for 15 years. She was a generous spirit and a tremendous encouragement. I remember her leading the choir at the church in Shrewsbury and her hospitality at each visit. She sewed and tackled the project given to her to learn to make vestments. Then in typical Philippa fashion taught others the skills she learned. She played the piano, was interested in felt making, weaving, and handicrafts in general.

I remember her care and love for her father and their joint concern for ecology. She encouraged recycling, was concerned about carbon emissions but was willing to help me improve my driving skills during the lunch hour. At work for OCB both her Greek and her Norwegian came in handy! She was such a support. She prayed for each person whose parcel she packed; those parcels were part of her service to God and every job was well done. When we pray for "Thy servant Photini..." I know she really was His servant. She did "pine for His eternal truth and holiness." May her soul be borne aloft. May she sing a song of deliverance and rejoice in the sweetness of Paradise.

14-17 April 2006
ORTHODOX YOUTH FESTIVAL
Dovedale House, Ilam, Derbyshire

A residential weekend for young people aged 18-35

Cost: GBP £75 (day rates are negotiable)

For further information contact: Clare Victoroff

(tel: 01248 370359)

clare.victoroff@heneb.co.uk

(If you are interested and wondered what last year’s festival was like, speak to Simon Harvey)