MORE ABOUT THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL

Sometimes it happens that as I struggle over just what I'm going to submit for the monthly newsletter, something arrives through the mail (snail or e-) that settles all my worries-those kinds of things that I don't want to spoil with my own musings, that I know I cannot improve upon myself.  

And so it has happened this month.  Another priest has sent to his mailing list excerpts from a new book, MYSTERY OF FAITH by a Russian bishop in Western Europe, Hilarion (Alfevev).  My friend the priest says it is one of the best introductions to Orthodoxy he has read in a while and that he is adding it to the reading list in the college class on the Church which he teaches.  The other is from the latest issue of THE VEIL, the newsletter of Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Colorado. Both deal in topics very pertinent to the Lenten season, in which we find ourselves til the end of this month.  Indeed, they address one or another of the three "basics" of our Lenten observance--prayer, fasting and almsgiving--to which I so often refer as the "three-legged stool" of Lent (kick one leg out, and what happens to the whole stool?). First from His Grace:

  Faith is a path on which an encounter takes place between us and God.  It is God who takes the first step:  he fully and unconditionally believes in us and gives us a sign, an awareness of his presence.  We hear the mysterious call of God, and our first step towards an encounter with him is a response to this call.  God may call us openly or in secret, overtly or covertly.  But it is difficult for us to believe in him if we do not first heed this call.

    Faith is both a mystery and a miracle.  Why does one person respond to the call while another does not?  Why is one open to receive the word of God, while another remains deaf?  Why, having encountered God, does one immediately abandon everything and follow him, while the other turns away and takes a different road?...

  It has never been easy to hear the message of faith.  In our day we are usually so engrossed in the problems of earthly existence that we simply have no time to listen to this message and to reflect on God.  For some, religion has been reduced to celebrating Christmas and Easter and to observing a few traditions for fear of being 'torn away from our roots.'  Others do not go to church at all because they are 'too busy.'  'He is engrossed in his work;' 'work is everything to her;' 'he is a busy man.'  These are some of the best compliments that one can receive from friends and colleagues.  'Busy people' are a breed peculiar to modern times.  Nothing exists for them other than a preoccupation which swallows them up completely, leaving no place for that silence where the voice of God may be heard... 

  And yet, however paradoxical it may seem, in spite of today's noise and confusion, it is still possible to hear the mysterious call of God in our hearts.  This call may not always be understood as the voice of God.  It may strike us as a feeling of dissatisfaction or of inner unease, or as the beginning of a search.  For many, it is only after the passing of years that they realize their life was incomplete and inadequate because it was without God.  'You have made us for yourself,' says St. Augustine, 'and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.'  Without God there can never be fullness of being.  It is therefore crucially important for us to be able to hear and to respond to the voice of God at the very moment when God is speaking, and not years later.  If someone identifies and responds to the call of God, this may change and transfigure his or her life whole life... 

How happy are we Christians!  What God is ours?  How much to be pitied are those who do not know God ...  O, unhappy, erring peoples!  They cannot know what true joy is ...  But our joy is Christ.  By His sufferings He has inscribed us in the Book of Life, and in the Kingdom of heaven we shall be with God forever, and we shall see His glory, and delight in Him.  Our joy is the Holy Spirit, so pleasant and delectable.  He bears witness to the soul of her salvation.

And now, from an anonymous one of the good sisters in Colorado:

At a women’s' retreat a number of years ago, the subject came up about helping others...As the conversation went on, the retreat leader said "We all have a 'Lazarus' sitting at our doorstep.  Let's each of us find out who it is and do something about it."

  The retreat ended on that note. Three years later...one of the women wrote this letter:

  "At that retreat you told us to each find our 'Lazarus.'  I spoke to my husband about this and we were very enthusiastic to do it. As we contemplated who the 'Lazarus at our door' might be, we fought against the reality that presented itself-our 'Lazarus' is my mother-in-law. She is a very difficult person... We did not want her to be our 'Lazarus' but there was no denying the fact that she needed help.  So, reluctantly, we began doing things for her, giving her more attention, repairing things at her house, taking her shopping, calling her for no other reason than to say hello and that we were thinking of her. What a change came over her! What we were formerly reluctant to do with and for her, we are now joyously hurrying to do and to be with her!

  Yes, there is a "Lazarus" at everyone's door.  Sometimes that Lazarus is vocal and obvious, and other times silent and unobtrusive...do we step over the needs right in our own back yards?

  We all have a Lazarus and, like the woman who wrote the letter quoted above, most of us do not want to admit who that might be either because we do not believe that person needs help, or we simply do not like the individual.  We would rather do a good deed in a far off place [like, just sending money to an appeal--DB] so that we can get that nice "warm, fuzzy" feeling, than to spend a few hours helping in our back yard--or lying at our front door...

  ...go and do good deeds and help others, but do not step over the needs that are right in front of you.  Give the Lazarus at your door a few crumbs! 

Father Dennis Buck

CLASSES ON THE CREED ARE NOW BEING SCHEDULED Regional groups (Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Frederick, etc) in local homes are being formed.  It is a one time a week, 8-week class, offered day or evening, on the use of the Creed for spiritual growth and development.  This class is for both new and mature Christians offered by Alison Cloonan as part of her participation in the St. Stephen’s Course.  Please contact Alison at 301/432-0230 or aacloonan@hotmail.com for more information and/or to offer your home for use.

If anyone has pussy willows growing in their yard and would like to make them available for Pascha, please see Gene Aleshin. 

LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE

Wed, April 9, at 7:30  – Great Canon of St. Andrew

Thurs, April 10, at 7PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts;  Lenten Dinner and Discussion Group

Fri, April 18, at 7PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Sat, April 19, at 10AM – Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday

Sun, April 20, at 10AM – PALM SUNDAY

Holy Mon, April 21, at 7:30PM – Bridegroom Matins

Holy Tues, April 22, at 7:30PM - Bridegroom Matins

Holy Wed, April 23, at 7:30PM - Bridegroom Matins

Holy Thurs, April 24, at 10AM – Vesperal Liturgy

            7:30PM – The Passion

Good Friday, April 25, at 3PM – Vespers; 

             7:30PM – Matins of Holy Saturday

Holy Sat, April 26 at 10AM – Vesperal Liturgy

            11:30PM – PASCHAL VIGIL AND LITURGY

                        followed by Breakfast

Bright Tuesday, April 29, at 10AM – Divine Liturgy

Special Thanks To:

Everyone who gave so generously to our charity basket in March for Fr. Joseph Chupek and his family.  The generosity of this parish is truly a blessing. 

Fr. Alister and Khouria Ann for their hospitality in having the Ss Mary & Martha Sisterhood Lenten retreat at their home.

Birthdays                                                                                                  

April 4              Kathleen Chaney          

April 7              Jaron Eckhart

April 8              Dennis Powell

April 14                        Lydia Aleshin

April 18                        Lisa Eckhart

April 19                        Illia David Sexton

April 21                        Kevin Koenig

April 26                        Fr. Alister Anderson

April 26                        Adam Sexton

Anniversaries

April 28                        Mircea and Jamie Airinei

BASEMENT RENOVATION FUNDRAISERS

• The "Taste of Heaven" Cookbook is NOW AVAILABLE.  Books can be purchased at the church or contact Linda Christopher.  Cookbooks are $12each.  Please send your name, address, and phone #, along with the number of books ordered and a check  made out to St. Catherine's Eastern Orthodox Church to: L. Christopher 2010 Starlight Ln. 1-B. Hagerstown, MD  21740.  In the "memo" area of the check please write the number of books ordered and for cookbooks:  i.e.  5 cookbooks.  Contact Linda Christopher with any questions:  adonisc1@verizon.net PLEASE MAKE THESE AVAILABLE TO NEIGHBORS AND CO-WORKERS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY! 

• Martin’s/Giant Gift Card Program:  Do you buy groceries?  Are you interested in a way for the Church to earn $5 for every $100 parishioners spend at Martins or Giant grocery stores?  Gift cards are sold in $25/50/100 denominations and are used just as you would cash in purchasing your groceries.  For every $100 dollars in Gift Cards purchased, St. Catherine’s receives $5.  Savings add up just as fast as shoppers use them to buy groceries.  Participation is not limited to members of St. Catherine’s.  Grocery gift cards can be purchased by anyone at face value.  This is a great gift to college students, for Thanksgiving baskets and Stocking Stuffers! 

Please see Stacy Evanisko or Nancy Williams for more information and to purchase your Martins/Giant Gift Cards today.

• Preparations have begun for offering a Greek Glendi in September at the Airport Inn.  A promotion committee as well as servers and clean-up crews are needed to help make this our largest fundraiser ever!  Please  see Joy Chaney (301/790-0185) for more information.

Many books on Lent and Lenten cards are currently available for purchase in the BookNook.  One large size icon of St. Catherine by Nicholas Pappas is still available, with more to be available this summer.  Educational books for all ages are available and many items can be special ordered through the bookstore director, Vicki Hughes.  More copies of the new Orthodox Study Bible (Old and New Testament) will be available in the next month or so.

The women’s retreat at the Anderson’s home was a wonderful time for everyone who 
attended.  Marlene Powell’s 50th birthday was celebrated and she received a gift certifi-
cate to the spa in Berkeley Springs for her and a friend.  We also reviewed items for a 
fundraiser we will be having in August.  
Our next meeting is April 20th after Coffee Hour in the Fellowship Hall at 12:30

The Church School children are collecting money for the OCMC during Great Lent for the annual Mission Coin Box Program.  In 2007, over $59,000 was raised by the coin boxes.  In past years this money was used to support the ministries of Orthodox missionaries, mission priests, and missions.  Each family will receive one coin box which is to be returned at Pascha or as shortly thereafter as possible.

The address for the children’s pen pal is:

Eastern Orthodox Foundation

8715 Rte 422 East,

Indiana, PA  15701

Attn:  Pen Pals

           Angel Shaffer

Saturday, May 17, 2008 - Odyssey Dinner & Dance Cruise ($15 person) from 8-11p.m $15/person includes:

- one "Free drink ticket"

-a Free Odyssey 'Boarding' Picture - a $20 value!!

- OUR own private room, bar & DJ - bring your favorite ethnic music for the DJ to play!!!!

- "Buttlered Appetizers"  plus a 3 Course buffet dinner.

- all taxes, fees, gratuities, coffee, tea & iced tea.  If you desire another beverage beyond coffee, tea or iced tea (whether alcohol or non-alcohol), they will be available during the Cruise, but to be paid by the individual Single who is ordering a different beverage.

PLEASE USPS your $15 check for the Odyssey, payable to the "Pan-Orthodox Christian Singles" to Diana Haverlack,

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

Dear Family and Friends,

I've decided to take action against cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event right here in my community.  Relay For Life® is about celebration, remembrance, and hope.  By participating, I am honoring cancer survivors, paying tribute to the lives we've lost to the disease, and raising money to help fight it.  Please help support me in this important cause by making a donation.  It is faster and easier than ever to support me by making a secure, tax-deductible donation online using the link below.  If you would prefer, you can send your contribution to the mailing address listed below.

American Cancer Society,

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up!  I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.  To make a donation online, visit my personal page:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeSouthAtlanticDivision?px=5001491&pg=personal&fr_id=9318

Sincerely, Alexandra Aleshin-Guendel   

REACH CAREGIVERS - SPECIAL NEEDS REQUEST - The Faith In Action program is currently providing transportation services for a gentleman whose needs have temporarily outgrown our ability to serve him.

 This gentleman needs radiation therapy at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center,

 If you are able to help, please call me at 301-733-2371, ext. 100, or e-mail kevin.collins@myactv.net A.S.A.P.

Washington County Hospital is offering a Medbank Program to Washington County residents.  This free program helps those without prescription insurance and those that do not qualify for assistance through any State of Maryland program.  Please contact the Western Maryland Medbank Program, Phone: 301.393.3441.

HOSPICE of Washington County is offering training classes on Apr 22 – May 8 (T&Th) 6:30pm – 9:30PM At

OCMC MISSION TEAMS are now forming.  See the bulletin board for the flyer and for more information and applications contact 1-877-463-6784 Teams@ocmc.org and see www.ocmc.org/teams

Depression in the Aging Population

Friday, April 25, 2008   Registration 8:00 am  Seminar:   8:30 am - 4:30 pm Kepler Theater, HCC Campus

FRIDAY, April 4, 2008 at St. Andrew's in Baltimore Fr. Dennis Buck will be speaking 
on the topic "The Little Books of the Bible, Pt I:  The Minor Prophets" following Liturgy of
 Presanctified Gifts at 6:30pm. 

SATURDAY, April 5, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.~ Annual Lenten Retreat at 
Annunciation Cathedral, Baltimore. Featured speakers will be Rev. Stanley Harakas and
Dr. Gayle Woloschak, PhD.  Topic swill include the Orthodox position on bioethics, 
including genetics, cloning, stem cell research, euthanasia, and end-of-life care.  The 
cost for the event is $30.00 and includes continental breakfast and catered lunch. 
Contact Jeanne Tsakalos, 1-410-252-6021, or Email jeannetsalakos@hotmail.com

SUNDAY, April 6 is our Annual Lenten Soup Fundraiser.  Adults/$5; 
Children/$3.  Please bring a soup, salad or bread to contribute to the luncheon!

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008 Fr. Peter Gilchrist will speak on "The New 
Orthodox Study Bible - How the OT is used in the Church - Liturgically and Personally".
  Seminar from 9-3.  St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church 
3149 Glen Carlyn Rd, Falls 
Church, VA  22041

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008 at 1pm – 6pm St. Andrew Orthodox Church, Baltimore, MD Lenten Retreat with guest speaker V. Rev Paul Lazor on the topic of “Our Journey to Pascha..”  Email jlmagruder@verizon.net  for information and to register.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008, 10am - Divine Liturgy of Lazarus 
Saturday followed by the ANNUAL SPRING CHURCH CLEAN AND 
BRUNCH.  A sign-up sheet is posted in the Parish Hall with a list of jobs 
needed to be done.  If you are not able to attend on the day of the 
church clean you can still sign up for some items to do on another day 
at your convenience.  If there is a job that you have noticed that needs 
to be done, please add it to the list!  See Gene Aleshin for questions or
 information.

SATURDAY, May 10, 2008 - The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew will be consecrated 
with the celebration of their 20th year as a Parish.  Divine Liturgy at 9 am & banquet at 1 pm at 
"Ten Oaks Ball Room" in Clarksburg, MD (junction of Rt. 32 & 108).  More details as we receive 
them.  

SATURDAY, May 17, 2008, Pan Orthodox Singles River Dinner/Dance Cruise 
from 8-11 p.m. Cruise the Potomac on the Odyssey.  PLEASE RSVP dianahav@earthlink.net 
703.759.1551 & USPS mail your $15 check, per person, payable to "Pan-Orthodox Christian 
Singles" to: Diana Haverlack, 
9716 Lindsay Blake Lane, Great Falls, Va. 22066
 no later 
than Monday, May 12.

SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2008 - Church School and Newcomers Picnic 
following Liturgy at Vicki Hughes home        

MAY 28 – 31, 2008 – Beginning Byzantine Chanting 2008:  Workshop at Antiochian Village.  For more information call 724/238-3677

SUNDAY, June 8, 2008 ~ Please reserve this date!  We have a great celebration.  
June and Gene Aleshin will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Their relatives, 
old friends, and marrying priest, will attend.  Let us, as a parish, celebrate with them.  
After Liturgy, a dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall.  All are welcome.  More 
details to follow as we learn them.