St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

Good Afternoon, Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Well, we’ve nearly reached the halfway point of Great Lent, and it is my solemn prayer that you have been pleased with your growth and commitment for these past three weeks. There is no other time in the calendar year which can yield so many spiritual fruits. I also trust that your reading of the book, “Pilgrimage to Pascha” has given you daily doses of inspiration and clarity. 

As I am sure many of you have noticed, the participation in this year’s Lenten Services have increased dramatically. Especially Wednesday night Presanctified Liturgies, dinners and lectures. There were more than 70 people in attendance for the Liturgy and to hear Mark Papanikolas speak. Thank you to all who are so enthusiastically praying with us during Great Lent!

But at this point, I’d like us to turn our Lenten attention specifically to our parish youth. Though some dedicated young people have certainly been present at many of the services, especially on Friday evenings with our youth readers, there are now some very specific activities that are geared toward their Lenten experiences. I ask and implore you all to have your children, grandchildren and godchildren with us.

This Wednesday evening’s potluck dinner will be sponsored by our parish Sunday School, GOYA and JOY. Calling all Kids! Please come to Presanctified this week at 6:00 pm. Sunday School teacher, Elaina Simos will be our speaker, and I hope we can all turn out to hear her message, directed to and for our youth. 

The weekend of March 31 to April 2 will be our first stay-away retreat for our young people since before the Pandemic. The GOYA Lenten Retreat, entitled, “I am a “______” of God”” will challenge our youth to explore their relationships with Him and others. We have planned an outstanding weekend of fun activities, inspiring sessions, worship services and fellowship. Please see the attached flyer for more information. 

On Friday, April 14, Great and Holy Friday, we will offer our annual Youth Holy Friday Retreat, from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Each year I prepare an excuse letter that can be given to teachers that will excuse our children from classes. Holy Friday is the single most important weekday in the entire year, please share in our commitment to our youth. Last year, over 60 kids between kindergarten and 12 grade participated. This year’s Retreat is full of powerful imagery, hands-on creations, and critical lessons, designed to help our children appreciate the fullness of Christ’s love for them. I have also attached this retreat flyer for more information. 

Lastly, be on the lookout for Altar Boy and Myrrh Bearer schedules – two ways for our young people to be liturgically involved in the services of Holy Week and Pascha.

Wow. There you have it. There is a lot going on this time of year for the spiritual benefit of our beautiful young people. Please continue to pray for them, serve them, and guide them. 

With Much Love in XC, 

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we are in the second week of the Triodion, the preparatory period which proceeds Great Lent, I would like to call to mind a few reminders and announcements concerning the Lenten Schedule of Services and Programs during this most sacred season. I am sending the following information from now, so that you can make proper arrangements and CLEAR your Lenten Calendar from secular distractions. 

Firstly, as we have done in the past, St. Anna’s has purchased a copy of a Lenten Resource for each family in our parish. This is done so that every household can commit to a process of prayer, study, inspiration, ascetic challenge and commitment during this most sacred time of growth. This year I have chosen the lovely devotional, Pilgrimage to Pascha, giving every family and individual a daily opportunity to engage their faith and develop a deeper understanding of Lenten themes, practices and purposes. The books will arrive within the next couple of weeks and will be distributed following the Divine Liturgy within the next two weeks, in time for you to include them in your Lenten practice. Please take advantage of this gracious and blessed opportunity.

As you can see in the attached Flyer, the entire Lenten Schedule is complete. Please keep in mind, that Monday Great Compline Services and Wednesday Evening Presanctified Liturgy Services will begin at 6:00 pm. Salutations and the Akathist Hymn will remain at 7:00 pm. 

We will continue our beloved practice of potluck dinners, sponsored by the various ministry groups following Presanctified Liturgies. Speakers have also been scheduled each week during the dinners. The lineup is set and you will not be disappointed. I love each of the speakers and what they have to share. I will send the list of speakers and ministry groups responsible for each week in the near future. You know how I love to make flyers…

Also, and this is very important, please make plans to be with us during the first weekend of Lent, March 3-5 for the Hierarchical Visit of Bishop Spyridon of Amastris. We are incredibly blessed to have His Grace with us from Friday Evening Salutations to the Sunday of Orthodoxy Divine Liturgy. His Retreat will be held on Saturday. His Grace gave a retreat at Prophet Elias a number of years ago (then, known as Fr. Spencer Kezios) and was received very enthusiastically. I expect no less of a successful Retreat from him, more than a decade later. Let’s have a wonderful showing of participation, please.

Lastly, I am finalizing the details of our long-awaited and greatly-missed GOYA Lenten Retreat. We have not taken our kids to a destination, weekend retreat since the Pandemic. I cannot express in words; how grateful I am to resume this practice. Our young people always thoroughly enjoyed their time together, focusing on their relationship with Christ. 

As you can see, there will be no lack of opportunities to grow and thrive in our Orthodox Christian Faith during this year’s services and programming. While we are operating with a full head of steam to transform the interior of our church, I am equally committed to the inner transformation of our souls, minds and hearts. I hope that we can all experience the joys and benefits that only the Season of Great Lent and the practices of the Fast can provide. I remain,

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I recently had a conversation with a parishioner who was out of town for a couple weeks. He couldn’t believe the progress that’s been made on the interior of the building in that span of time. I told him I can’t believe the progress that’s been made when I come back from lunch! Things are moving and changing quickly these days.

If you take the time to walk through the space this Sunday, nothing is left to the imagination. I have spoken to several people who have had difficulty seeing the vision of our project through architectural floor plans. Now you can literally walk through the spaces in dimensional reality.  The narthex, rooms, hallways, and restrooms are all now clearly defined. If you go back there, please be careful not to trip. Pay special attention to the east wall of the narthex, which is now framed. This is the first evidence of our new sanctuary – its west wall.

Please be aware that I will not be in the office all of next week. I will be in Denver for our Metropolis Clergy Pre-Lenten Retreat. Fr. Elias will be available for pastoral emergencies. God forbid, if you have immediate need of a priest, please contact me, and I will relay the message. 

This Sunday begins the Triodion Period of the Church Calendar. Great Lent is around the corner (February 27th) and we will have much to share and many opportunities for spiritual growth and learning in the coming months. This will be the last Lent, Holy Week and Pascha in our current worship space. A setting that has been temporary but has fulfilled our needs with dignity and has adequately expressed our love for the Savior. Let us prayerfully absorb and appreciate every experience in our present sanctuary, as its use is coming to an end. Ironically, just as Pascha is completing, work to begin construction of the new sanctuary will be underway. 

Enjoy the myriad of blessings which God showers down upon us each day. Even (especially) in our greatest trials and challenges, His grace abounds and sustains. 

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter