St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

“O marvellous wonder! The noble Anna who wondrously conceived the wellspring of life who alone is blessed and pure among women, is translated from perishable life to life everlasting, being taken up from the earth to the heavenly places. She rejoices today with the companies of angels, and we now celebrate her holy festival.” – Vespers Hymn on the Dormition of St. Anna

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A week from this coming Sunday, our parish will celebrate our first opportunity to hymn and praise our matron saint, and protectress, St. Anna, as we commemorate her Dormition. Though there are several opportunities in the calendar of the Church to commemorate St. Anna, the 25th of July is the day we recognize her falling asleep in the Lord.

I am sure that many of our St. Anna families have created long-lasting traditions as God-fearing and patriotic Utahans, reaching back into our “history” and appropriately celebrating Pioneer Day every July 24th. Only in this state, do the sellers and providers of fireworks get to hang around for another 20 days, capitalizing on a unique market and extending their season.

But now this day is most sacred in our calendar, together with our local neighbors and friends who acknowledge their past and the eventual formation of our state. Each year, we will gather on the evening of July 24th to celebrate Grate Vespers for the Feast of St. Anna. We chose the time of 6:00 pm, earlier than our typical evening services so to not conflict with the evening activities you may have been conducting for years. Now is the time for new traditions and commemorations. Now when your co-workers ask you, with excitement what your plans are for the 24th, you can answer with equal interest and authentic enthusiasm.

I pray that all of us who may have the 25th of July off of work can join us for the Divine Liturgy in celebration of the Dormition of St. Anna. We have the unique and most-sacred responsibility to come together as a Christian family and lift up the Name of St. Anna in the partaking of the Eucharist. This year will obviously be the first time we come together as a parish and celebrate the Divine Liturgy in honor of our matron saint. Let’s please, not miss out on this precious opportunity.

Of course, what should be attached to any Orthodox Feast is a proper celebration or party. Perhaps anywhere in the world, it would be easy to find a park, recreation facility, blank space on the map, or even an abandoned softball park to picnic for the Feast of St. Anna. Not so easy, to find such a place on the 24th and 25th of July here in Utah. This is why our picnic plans are on hold until the end of August.

Now that our name has been given to us as a parish, and we know when our commemoration is to be held, we can plan much further in advance. This year was just too late to book a place on or around our desired weekend.

Let us look to the Mother of the Theotokos with wonderment and awe, for her unrepeated place in the history of our salvation. Her fruit bore the fruit that was to grant everlasting life to a fallen world. I look forward to sharing these events with you, our St. Anna family!

With Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony

P.S.

I also want to thank all of the faithful who participated in this week’s Paraklesis Service for the health of Fr. Matthew and for the peace of his family. As I am sure many of you know by now, it has been determined that the cancer has not spread to his brain, giving him the opportunity to enjoy the love and company of his family.

We will continue to pray that this victory will be the first of many healing miracles that the good Lord sees fit to bestow upon His faithful presbyter, Fr. Matthew.

Many of you have offered your financial assistance to the Gilbert Family through the St. Anna Altar and Benevolence Fund. That is much appreciated. Please feel compelled to offer your participation if you are able. This was a swift and violent force that came upon the Gilberts suddenly in a manner, in which no family could possibly be prepared to absorb. Please be generous.

Holy One heal him! God comfort his family! Lord have mercy!

“Refuse to listen to the devil when he whispers to you: give me now, and you will give tomorrow to God. No, no! Spend all the hours of your life in a way pleasing to God; keep in your mind the thought that after the present hour you will not be given another and that you will have to render a strict account for every minute of this present hour.”
– Unseen Warfare: The Spiritual Combat and Path to Paradise
(Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain)

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

For the past 17 years, Fr. Matthew has taught the area Greek Orthodox faithful, primarily through a ministry of love and commitment. This humble man of God shown most brilliantly (though his gifts are deep and varied) as he sat at the bedside of those who were anguished, sick or dying. Fr. Matthew’s visits to the sick were never fleeting, obligatory or casual. He encountered Christ in the person of those who profoundly suffer. And today, at this hour, Fr. Matthew’s family finds him not in support of the seriously ill, but lying in that bed itself.

For only the past few days, the news of Fr. Matthew’s challenges with cancer are really penetrating the core of those who love him and who have been served admirably through his priesthood. As I said after the Divine Liturgy last Sunday, there are few members of our parish who have not received blessings, prayers, support, guidance or the Sacraments from Fr. Matthew. Earlier this week, many people received the following email from Kristen Bruskas, Presbytera Denise’s sister, and a close, personal friend. Please read her words, and learn directly from Fr. Matthew’s family how they are asking for our participation in praying for Fr. Matthew:

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you all for your love, concern and prayers for my brother-in-law, Father Matthew Gilbert. He and my sister Denise are with me in Phoenix where I am helping them navigate the world of oncology.

We have started a Caring Bridge site to keep you updated on Father Matthew’s progress, and also to provide a way for you to send messages to the family. They are so appreciative of everyone’s phone calls, texts and emails, and it is hard to find time for them to respond. This Caring Bridge site is a quick and efficient way for the family to be uplifted by your thoughts and prayers. Please fee free to pass this information along to others….the more that know and join us in prayer, the better!

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/fathermatthewgilbert

For those of you in the Phoenix area, we will have a Paraklesis Service on Monday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Cathedral to pray for Father Matthew’s health. We would love to see as many of you as possible.

To access the Caring Bridge site, you will need to create a free log-in with your email address, but I can tell you from personal experience, they do not add you to any other lists or fill up your in-box with advertisements.

Many thanks again for your prayers, love and support!

Love,
Kristen

With Kristen’s message (and beyond) taken to heart, I implore the kind, generous and faithful parishioners of St. Anna’s to help Fr. Matthew and his family in the following ways:

1. Please establish your connection to Fr. Matthew’s Caring Bridge Site and leave your messages of prayer, support, friendship and gratitude. He has been there for you. We will be there for him.
2. Just as the faithful surrounding Fr. Matthew in Phoenix will gather this coming Monday evening to chant the Paraklesis Service in supplication for his health, comfort and well-being, we will also have a Paraklesis service on Monday, July 11th at 7:00 pm here at St. Anna’s. And just as Kristen suggested concerning the service in Phoenix, we would love to see as many of you as possible. With Arizona currently on Pacific Time, our parishes will be praying together in support of Fr. Matthew, and asking the Theotokos to encourage her Son for a miracle of healing.
3. Though it was not requested in her email, or through any other message, I am also asking that you consider financial assistance for this family as they face sudden and mounting challenges. Fr. Matthew and Presbytera Denise will be made aware of anyone who contributes to the St. Anna Benevolence Fund in their honor. Think of the countless hours he spent in the rooms and corridors of our area hospitals and nursing facilities, serving with love and humility. And the Sacraments, Liturgies and homilies he prepared with care and dedication. Praising God for the comfort He rains down upon us through His priests, let us give thanks to Him now, acting with love and generosity, to our suffering brother and father in Christ.

These words are not easy to write. This topic is hard to comprehend, as a young family faces challenges of this incredible magnitude. But Fr. Matthew told me last week that he will not fall apart, as he faces what others have experienced throughout his years as a priest. He said “If I do, then my ministry was a lie.” He is faithful. He is prepared. He is obedient. Fr. Matthew continues to teach and inspire. Let us show him and his family, that we are still willing to learn. I remain,

With Love in our Merciful Lord,

Fr. Anthony