January Schedule of Services and Other Events

THE PARISH NEWSLETTER APRIL 2008

The Nativity of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church

A parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad 518 869-3932

Mitred Protopriest Wsevolod Drobot The Rev. Fr. Michael Fritz

Deacon Michael Soloviev www.albanyrocor.org

THE SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND MEETINGS FOR APRIL

Saturday Vigils: 6:00 p.m. Vigils of Feasts: 6:30 p.m.

Sundays and Feasts: 9:30 a.m. Hours 9:50 a.m. Divine Liturgy

April 6 St. John of the Ladder

The Sisterhood will meet following lunch.**

April 7 Annunciation

April 13 St. Mary of Egypt 8:30 Church School**

April 20 Palm Sunday

The Parish Council will meet following lunch

April 24 Great and Holy Thursday.

April 25 Great and Holy Friday

April 27 Pascha ( Midnight)

**Dates so marked are tentative until confirmed. APRIL NAMES’ DAYS May God grant them all many years!

1 Daria Gonyea

5 Lydia Miller Lydia Yeramakova Lydia (Linda) Levsha

8 Larissa Davis Larissa Miller Larissa Turaev

14 Maria Hauf Mary Fritz Mary Boitchenko

28 Anastasia Frantsov

OUR TREASURER REMINDS US THAT IT’S INCOME TAX TIME, SO…

The I.R.S. has gotten strict about its rules, so Margo Beighy MUST comply with their standards of record keeping; therefore, anyone who needs a receipt for donations in the collection baskets or for prosphora or candles must pay by check. (Candles and prosphora may be on one check for both.) Your canceled check is your receipt. Margo cannot legally give receipts for any unidentified loose cash contributions.

Remember that, to vote at our annual parish meeting or hold office, you have to be a dues paying parish member up-to-date. Monthly dues are: adults over 21and employed $20; retired persons $10; students and non-working adults $5. Questions—call Margo Church Treasurer at 371-7758.

DEADLINE FOR THE MAY ISSUE: Thursday, April 24

Please submit items by e-mail or in writing. Thank you.

Charlie/Vas Murn [email protected]

Our annual parish meeting will be held Sunday, May 18.

IN HOLY REMEMBRANCE OF METROPOLITAN LAURUS

I echo these words of Protopriest George Larin, for I believe that they truly underline our emotions and relationship with our dear departed Metropolitan Laurus. His death, so abrupt, so sudden, yet so appropriate, coming on the day of the Triumph pf Orthodoxy, has left an ache in all our hearts. This was not a regular man leading a normal life: he was the metropolitan who was approached by a patriarch, a bishop who was sought after by the president of an entire nation. Yet those of us who knew him did not see him as a leader, or a bishop. We knew him as a monk, one especially gifted with a great sense of Christianity, devoted to God, obedient to Him even though that obedience frightened him to the core. We knew him as a father. And we were his children.

I first came to this parish as a visiting seminarian with his Eminence for the feast day. Right away I had had sense that this was more than an “official” visit: it was a personal visit. Vladyka was coming to spend time with his family, with his old friend Father Wsevolod, to enjoy himself and the company. I had the sense it was a like a family reunion at Christmas, every one together to celebrate the day and each other. No matter where I had the privilege to travel with the Metropolitan, I never experienced a similar feeling.

Through our pain let us not forget how humbly and how honorably our beloved Vladyka reached his end. In the monastery the first week of Lent is particularly strict: the monks and seminarians spend more then ten hours a day in prayer, prostrations, and chanting. Yet Vladyka was always there alongside the monks, praying with them and leading them in their prostrations. As is the custom in the monastery during the first week of Lent, as the abbot he read the teachings of the Church Fathers. He ended his life in the most pious of ways: first, by asking forgiveness of all his brothers, then by immersing himself with the brotherhood in intense prayer and by partaking of the Holy Mysteries both on Wednesday and Friday. Finally, as if by the hand of God, he read his last teaching to the brotherhood, that of St. Ephraim of Syria, on love, which ended: “I implore you, my beloved brothers, to remember me, an unworthy servant, in your prayers…”

Thus did the archpastor step away from the altar of God to stand before the Throne of the Lord. Thus did an abbot part with his brethren. Thus did a father bid farewell to his children. Forgive us, dear Valdychinka! Memory eternal to you! And thank you always for what you have taught us.

Subdeacon Andrew Podymow

ST. VLADIMIR’S BOOKSTORE ANNOUNCES…

New selections—lives of the saints, CDs, incense, and Pascha cards. Step in to nourish mind and soul. For appointments outside of coffee hour, contact Tania Taylor at 399-1183. ALL proceeds are for the Church.

ADULT RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Father Michael Fritz teaches and answers questions about our faith on the first Wednesday of each month at the hall from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Please contact Julianne Bouton [email protected] (356-3263) with your e-mail address and telephone number. If class is cancelled, she will notify you between 4:30 and 5:00 on that day.

NEWS FROM THE SISTERHOOD

The Sisterhood needs people to gather pussywillows. They are out now! Please contact M. Cecelia Soloviev at 765-2871 to coordinate delivery.

Thank you to everyone who donated their time and assistance to make the sale a profitable event. We will exceed $5,000 net profit, and monies are still coming in.

Reminder: Paschal Sale Pick-up is Holy Friday, April 25, 2008 (n.s.) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the church hall.

Limited quantities of Onion and Sauerkraut Vareniki are available. The new price: $6.50 per dozen. Please contact RaeLynn Gonyea at 695-6865 or see her at coffee hour.

ABOUT DONATIONS FOR THE PLASHCHANITSA

Monia Welsh and Xenia Drobot ask that, if you wish to donate towards the Plashchanitsa flowers, do so as soon as possible. They will be making the floral arrangement for Good Friday’s service (April 25). Please see either of them with your donations. Also, please don’t forget to bring a potted floral plant to Church for Friday’s service. The flowers in our new church have looked especially beautiful in the past couple of years, thanks to the generosity of ALL parishioners and to our monthly floral arrangers, Tania Taylor, Barbara Nikiforov, Shura Sinkevich, Xenia Drobot, and Monia Welsh.