Categories
Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Letter October 30, 2016

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” – Psalm 32:8

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

Very recently I was visiting someone in the hospital and as I was leaving, the patient’s grandchild was just coming into the lobby, there to visit their grandparent with a package of Oreos in hand. Though the person in the hospital had not eaten in a few days, Oreo cookies were all that sounded good. And what’s wrong with an Oreo Diet, right?

Though there are countless varieties of cookies, Oreos sort of stand alone in their own category. The way that these delights are eaten, says a lot about the person who is consuming it at the moment. Some people take little nibbles from it; others pop the entire thing with one bite. Some twist them apart, eating the filling first on both sides, while still, others perform the same ritual with the only difference being that the practice is completely repeated with each side.

However you may eat them, the basic truth is that an Oreo has two sides and middle. This, I believe is a metaphor for life. We enjoy our youth, we live life as it comes to us in the vast space of the “middle,” then if blessed, we live our senior years.

Of course, there is no precise definition for these life-categories. There are individuals who take a long time to grow up. Some people “become older” sooner than others. And finally: the shifting, “middle years,” or filling, that we all experience between childhood and retirement.

The Church has a great interest in serving our spiritual needs, and piquing our sacred interests, no matter our individual ages. As listed in this week’s Bulletin, I highlight for you, the coming events of our St. Anna’s youth Ministry:

JOY Ministry (K-5th Grade): Following the fellowship hour today, Sunday, October 30, 2016, the children of our JOY Ministry will gather in Classroom 9 for a brief meeting before we depart for an afternoon at the Wheeler Historic Farm located at 6351 South 900 East, Murray. This will be a fun and beautiful autumn activity. Please bring $10.00 for the corn maze, hay ride, outdoor activities and a pumpkin. Fun with JOY!

GOYA Meeting (6th-12th Grade): Our First GOYA Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Mitchell and Matthew Mallas, 8373 South Stonefield Road, Sandy. Although their parents won’t allow another shaving cream fight in their living room, we will have just as much fun and will learn some things about our precious Faith and our love for Christ! Please join us.

GOYA Outing – Utes Basketball: On Monday, November 28, 2016, we will be going to see the Utah Runnin’ Utes play Butler University at the Huntsman Center, 1825 South Campus Drive, Salt Lake City. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free with a “Pass of all Passes.” Look for more information about where we’ll meet and how to get tickets if you don’t have the “Pass.”

The activities for our youth can be considered one side of the Oreo. But the other side of the cookie, the part of life which comes after many years have been lived, countless memories have been banked, and wisdom has been gained, are our senior years.

As I stated above, the middle years of our life, our “filling” if you will, is different for everyone. There are those who live as an “Oreo Thin cookie, with not much happening in the middle, and others lead the lives of Double Stuff! Exciting. But eventually, if God wills it, we reach our senior years. AARP defines these years starting at 50. Myself, reaching the half-century mark in a few months, kindly disagree.

Never the less, God, as the Psalmist writes, instruct us and teaches us in the way we should go; and will counsel us with His eye upon us for our entire lives. He does not stop guiding us at puberty or cease to teach us after high school. We are all his children. We are all children in His eyes. We are ever-youthful and in need of guidance from Him.

Therefore, we have established a Senior’s Ministry at St. Anna’s in the interest of serving the needs of those who may have some time during the day to come together in fellowship, faith and love. We are defining “Senior” any way you wish; supposing that if you think you are a senior, as early as 50, then come join us.

Our First Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 15th at 12:00 pm

If you consider yourself a Senior and would like to come and help plan our activities, set some goals, define our purpose and plot our course, please join us in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be provided.

I envision this as an opportunity to listen to speakers, plan fun field trips, engage in spiritual discussion and learning, and glorify our God who has allowed His children to reach the golden years of their lives. Carolyn Leitko has graciously offered to serve as the coordinating chairman of this group. I am ever-appreciative of her willingness to serve.

St. Anna Youth Ministry, St. Anna Senior’s Ministry and everything in-between. That’s a cookie we can all enjoy! Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8).

With Love in XC,
Fr. Anthony

REMEMBER THAT JOY WILL MEET AFTER THE FELLOWSHIP HOUR, THEN PROCEED TO WHEELER HISTORIC FARM FOR OUR FALL ACTIVITY. ALL CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PLEASE JOIN US!

Categories
Bulletins

Weekly Bulletin for October 30, 2016

Weekly Bulletin for October 30, 2016

Categories
Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Letter October 23, 2016

“We may study as much as we will, but we shall still not come to know the Lord unless we live according to His commandments, for the Lord is not made known through learning but by the Holy Spirit.”
– St. Silouan the Athonite

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The other day, I was following, then driving alongside a car marked “STUDENT DRIVER.” This proclamation, or perhaps warning was prominently placed on the back and both sides of the car. I am not sure whether this sign is placed there to caution other drivers, or to put us on our best behavior, as to not introduce bad road habits to the nervous driver behind the wheel of his or her mobile, teaching laboratory.

This young person was driving very slowly and very deliberately. I caught myself counting the seconds between his signal, and the actual lane change. He looked both directions before entering into the intersection with a clear and obvious green light. He did not go a hair over the speed limit and stopped at the next yellow light. I impatiently thought to myself, “I don’t remember driving that slow. “C’mon. Move!”

Isn’t that a shame on my part?

Why should years of driving erode my attention to detail, commitment to caution and unhurried movement? To be sure, human nature contributes to the differing behaviors of those who possess a license to operate a vehicle, and those who are still in the process of obtaining one. Sad, right?

Traffic laws are the same for all people who use the roads. There are not two sets of rules: strict guidelines for new drivers and diluted, casual suggestions for experienced drivers. This is not the case at all. So why are there two sets of rules in my mind? Shouldn’t I observe the strict letter of every law just as the new driver?

Bright red stop signs are not invitations to slow down and proceed. Rather, they are commands to do what is plainly and clearly stated: stop. Something my kids are continually reminding me as I drive in our neighborhood. The information that the new motorist receives before beginning to drive, is the same information I must recall, process and put into use today and every day.

But becoming a bit lax in that which is common, comfortable or familiar is not limited to our driving habits. Often times, we can also take our spiritual lives for granted. We begin to cut corners in our prayers, fasting, readings and church attendance so slowly, that we don’t even realize what we are doing. The knowledge we gained in Sunday School, sitting around our grandmother’s table, or listening to the sermons of our childhood are relegated to distant memories, rather than active contributions to the well-being of our souls. Therefore, I thoroughly enjoy people who are active learners in matters of faith. Especially those who are new to Orthodoxy; approaching every detail like a student driver mastering the art of parallel parking.

Just this evening, we began our fall session of Orthodox Spirituality Classes. The class was filled with cradle Orthodox Christians, who have been exposed to our church for their entire lives; and people who have only, recently been introduced to the tenants, practices, traditions and teachings of the world’s most ancient, Christian Confession.

Just like driving, there are things to learn before we “hit the road” of practicing our faith. Where are the boundaries? What are safe practices? How fast should we move? And in in what direction?!? The Faithful who take the time to learn good habits from the beginning, and who develop the strength and maturity to maintain them, are those who will share in the Kingdom. Of course, let’s also celebrate those who have been raised in the Faith, but who are aware that it’s good to refresh, renew and re-acquaint.

Please pray for the students of our Spirituality Class. Pray that the information they receive will help them acquire the blessedness of the saints, and that they will always hold dear, even years from now, the enthusiasm and fervor they now feel. While the Gospel is new to them today, let it breathe new life into them tomorrow. And also, pray for yourselves, that you may approach the Altar, the Chalice, and your personal place of devotion with the same commitment and conviction.

Keep, always in your hearts, the words of St. Silouan, reminding us that no matter how much we study, no matter how much information we receive or how many books we read, it is the Holy spirit that keeps us in the presence of the Lord. It is one thing to read about God. It is yet another to experience Him. Those who study the Faith for the first time are simultaneously accomplishing both. Let us be led by their example. Even if it is a bit more deliberate than we are accustomed to moving. Because that’s a good thing!

With Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony

Categories
Bulletins

Weekly Bulletin for October 23, 2016

Weekly Bulletin for October 23, 2016

Categories
Services

Services for Sunday, October 23, 2016

Schedule
Matins (Orthros)
9:15 A.M.
Divine Liturgy
10:15 A.M.
Location
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 3015 Creek Rd., Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093

Celebrants
The Rev. Fr. Anthony Savas and the Rev. Deacon Anatoli Kireiev

After Divine Liturgy, a fellowship hour is held. Participants in Sunday school are dismissed to go to class after Holy Communion.

Categories
Services

Services for Sunday, October 30, 2016

Schedule
Matins (Orthros)
9:15 A.M.
Divine Liturgy
10:15 A.M.
Location
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 3015 Creek Rd., Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093

Celebrants
The Rev. Fr. Anthony Savas and the Rev. Deacon Anatoli Kireiev

After Divine Liturgy, a fellowship hour is held. Participants in Sunday school are dismissed to go to class after Holy Communion.

Categories
Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Letter October 16, 2016

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” – Book of Acts 36-41

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have cherished the above-referenced portion of Scripture for many years. Within context, it helps to paint a vivid picture of the early Church, and bears witness to the power of God as expressed through the work of the disciples. Just before Peter came to Joppa and raised Tabitha from her death bed (just after she had been ritually cleansed and prepared for burial), he had performed another miracle; healing a man who had been paralyzed for some, eight years.

To be sure, the excitement of the embryonic Church, as She began to emerge on the world scene, alter the course of history and influence countless cultures throughout the world was self-evident in size and scope. But as thousands were baptized, the saints engaged in missionary journeys, the Gospel was preached and the news of the Resurrection was spread in every known language, all of these dynamic realities came down to personal relationships. Nations were converted, but individuals were saved. The Church grew in numbers, only because each of those numbers, in reality, were people who heard the Word of God and responded to their newly-received gift of salvation.

And one of those people: mentioned in Scriptures, but lost in the masses is St. Tabitha (who actually celebrates her Feast on October 25th). She was a woman who was continually working to serve the needs of the poor. Her mission in life was to engage in acts of charity and perform good works unto the glory of God. Scripture tells us specifically that she made clothes for the poor. By her own hands, she labored for the sake of God’s kingdom as she crafted, knitted and sewed.

We know that she was much-loved. Upon her death, her partners in kindness, her sisters in ministry, summoned the Apostle Peter, in order that he might perform a mighty miracle of resurrection. I understand this to mean that her companions recognized that there was no one on earth that could possibly serve the needs of the poor as she did. They saw her ministry as unrepeatable, and simply could not bear to have her acts of kindness cease to exist. It would seem that the Lord would agree with their plan!

St. Tabitha represents the dedication, kindness, empathy, generosity and love that can only come from the Lord. And through her person, and her God-crowned and precious soul, we have an example to lift up, and a life to emulate. There is no doubt in my heart, that the ladies of our St. Anna’s Women’s Ministry Team have channeled the actions of this great saint, and continue her legacy of service, sacrifice and most especially love.

When there is a need, we call upon the Women’s Ministry. When there is suffering or despair, we call upon the Women’s Ministry. When the tender hand of God is required to provide comfort, offer dignity, ease a pain or round and edge; we have, by God’s grace our Women’s Ministry, ready and available.

There function in the parish is not to bake or to serve. Theirs is a ministry; a ministry in the truest and fullness of any understanding of the word. They are generous with their time, their energies, their emotions and their resources.

But, as is always the case in any organizations which strives to serve the greater good, resources are never in abundance and always highly sought-after. This is where we all come into the picture. While St. Tabitha made the tunics, she needed others to assist her in funding her projects, perhaps organizing their distribution and weighing the needs. She couldn’t do it all alone. She, and all the women and widows gathered around her, needed support.

So it is with our own Women’s Ministry.

Saturday evening, October 15th, you will have the opportunity to help them in their mission. Their Stifatho (you’ve seen it spelled differently, this is my preference) Cook Off will be held in the foyer of St. Thomas More’s Meyer Hall. A few men, myself included, will square off in the spirit of healthy competition to battle over the adoration of your taste buds. My recipe is not an ancient, family treasure, but rather the combination of what two, favorite cookbooks have to share. Please join us…

THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY FUND RAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR.

You may not like Stifatho, that’s OK, come anyway for the pilaf and the company.

You may not like onions, that’s OK, pick around them, and join the aforementioned individuals around the pilaf table.

You may not have ever even heard of this dish (a savory meat ragout served with/over rice), but be adventurous! Pretend it’s a County Fair Chili Cook Off and join the festivities. Did I mention?…

THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY FUND RAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR.

There is still plenty of space available and there will be plenty of food, wine and laughter. St. Tabitha needed supporters and sponsors. Our women are no different. Read the flyer in the Bulletin, please participate and pretty please, be generous. I believe that we are blessed with at least one “St. Tabitha’s” in our midst. Let’s not let our ladies go at it alone. I remain,

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony

 

Orthodox Married Life (OML) Begins Friday, October 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Married and Engaged Couples, Please Join Us!

Categories
Bulletins

Weekly Bulletin for October 16, 2016

Weekly Bulletin for October 9, 2016

Categories
Services

Services for Sunday, October 16, 2016

Schedule
Matins (Orthros)
9:15 A.M.
Divine Liturgy
10:15 A.M.
Location
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 3015 Creek Rd., Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093

Celebrants
The Rev. Fr. Anthony Savas and the Rev. Deacon Anatoli Kireiev

Memorial
Reverend Father Matthew Gilbert (40 days).

After Divine Liturgy, a fellowship hour is held. Participants in Sunday school are dismissed to go to class after Holy Communion.

Categories
Pastoral Letters

Pastoral Letter October 9, 2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Given the enormity of details concerning the visit of His Eminence and the preparations for the Ordination that will take place this blessed Sunday, I ask your forgiveness for not providing a proper, pastoral message this week.

I do, however ask that you pray most earnestly for the servant of God, Gregory Jerry Floor, his family, their well-being, Godly protection and salvation. May He also, and always bless his ministry. Please keep in mind a few thoughts…

There will NOT be Sunday School Classes this weekend due to the Ordination and the presence of His Eminence.

Due to the enthusiasm of your participation in our weekly Bible Study, we have moved the class to the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday evenings. We busted out of two classrooms! Now, even more of you can participate! Please join us as we study St. John’s Apocalypse, also known as
The Book of Revelation.

Support our Women’s Ministry Team with your participation in the Stifado Cook-Off next Saturday, October 15th. Our women are able to be generous to those in need if we are generous towards their efforts. Let’s be partners in bringing comfort, joy, and assistance to those in need.

Please keep in mind that our Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality Class will begin Thursday, October 20th. Please invite your friends, family members who have fallen away from the Church, and anyone you know that is interested in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let us continue to grow this parish through the natural means of Orthodox Christian evangelism and love for the Lord. Bring someone to St. Anna’s!

Well, there you have it; announcements, rather than a sermon. God is good!

With Much Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony