St Mary Magdalene Orthodox Christian Mission

Services in February, 2009 February 8, 2009

Services at: Elimbah Uniting Church, Coronation Drive, Elimbah.

7 February: Vespers, 5:30-6:30pm
8 February: Divine Liturgy, 10:30-11:50am

21 February: Vespers, 5:30-6:30pm
22 February: Divine Liturgy, 10:30-11:50am, followed by BBQ

This weekend, 7-8 February 2009, we celebrated Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, commemorating the Publican and the Pharisee and the Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord, at our usual worship location at the Elimbah Uniting Church, Coronation Drive, Elimbah.

Fr James celebrated the Vespers service at 5:30-6:30pm, when the chanters sang of the Resurrection (in anticipation of Sunday morning), of the Publican and the Pharisee (the feast in the Lenten Triodion) and of the Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord.  Fr James gave a sermon on how, traditionally, Orthodox were taught theology, not through studying books (as we often do today), but through song (much like the Wesley’s did), and gave numerous examples from the hymns of the service.  After the service, we had a bring-and-share dinner, followed by an Introduction to Orthodoxy, which focused on what one did within a church (such as venerating icons), and the experience of God that fulfills the knowledge that we read from theological study.

The next day, Fr James celebrated the Divine Liturgy from 10:30-11:50am.  The Scripture readings were of the Publican and the Pharisee, and Fr James delivered a sermon on how this reading could equally be told today, and how the Pharisee’s prayer – ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner’ – was brought into the Liturgics of the Church as the proper way to be before God.  Prior to the Divine Liturgy, an infant and mother were brought into the church; and after the Divine Liturgy was a Bring-and-Share lunch.

The next services will be in a fortnight’s time on Meatfare Sunday, 21-22 February 2009.  On the Saturday night (21/Feb), there will be a Vespers service at 5:30-6:30pm, followed by a Bring-and-Share dinner and a session of ‘Introduction to Orthodoxy’; and on the Sunday morning (22/Feb), there will be a Divine Liturgy at 10:30-11:50am, followed by a Barbeque to celebrate the final day of eating meat before the beginning of Great Lent and the Resurrection of Christ (celebrated this year, in the Orthodox Church, on 19/April).  The faithful are reminded that Anesti will be giving a short presentation on this day, after which will be sold prayer ropes and other devotional products as a fundraiser for their group.