The Diocese of the West The Orthodox Church in America St. Susanna Orthodox Church 10825 Robinwood Lane* Sonora, CA 95370 U.S.A. 209-280-8376 February 2019 www.stsusanna.com

Pastor: Fr. Joseph Ramos By Your nativity, You did sanctify the Virgin’s womb, / And (209) 280-8376 did bless ’s hands, O God. / Now You have [email protected] come and saved us through love. / Grant peace to all Subdeacon Nicolas Teshin Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man! (209) 743-7544 Kontakion — Tone 1 Natalie Teshin Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Are you a sinner? Do not become discour- (209) 984-2199 It has been a great blessing to “journey aged, and come to Church to put forward together” as we have gone to each others’ repentance. Have you sinned? Then tell homes to participate in Theophany House God, ‘I have sinned.’ What manner of toil is Blessings. This annual cleansing and sanc- this, what prescribed course of life, what tifying of our homes is an invitation to have affliction? What manner of difficulty is it to make one statement, ‘I have sinned’? God’s presence to come and dwell with us. Perhaps if you do not call yourself a sinner, It’s not too late to have your home blessed. you do not have the devil as an accuser? Sign up in the Parish Hall or contact Fr. Anti-cipate this and snatch the honor Joseph to arrange a convenient time. away from him, because it is his purpose This month we will celebrate the Meet- to accuse. Therefore, why do you not pre- ing of Christ in the Temple. We will serve vent him, and why do you not tell your sin Vespers on Friday night, Feb. 1st, at 6:00 and wipe it out, since you know that you p.m. and then the Festal Liturgy on Saturday have such an accuser who cannot remain morning, Feb. 2nd, at 9:00 a.m. silent? Have you sinned? Come to Church. This Sunday (Feb. 3rd) everyone is  Tell God, ‘I have sinned.’ I do not demand invited to the Rectory. We will have the anything else of you than this. Holy Scrip- House Blessing at 3:00 and then everyone is ture states, ‘Be the first one to tell of your invited to stay for a time of fellowship and transgressions, so you may be justified.’ watching the Super Bowl. Brats will be pro- Admit the sin to annul it. This requires vided, and you can bring something to eat or neither labor nor a circuit of words, nor drink to go along with them. monetary expenditure, nor anything else We are also happy to announce that plans whatsoever such as these. Say one word, are moving forward to have the ceiling of think carefully about the sin and say, ‘I have our Temple painted. Once the date for the sinned.’ ” +St. John Chrysostom, work to begin is finalized, we will have a On Repentance and Almsgiving, Homily 2 mini-workday (probably a couple of hours) to move items out of the Temple into the Parish Hall while the walls and floors are taped and covered. This will be a temporary inconvenience but will provide a long-term blessing in the beautifying of our Temple. May God continue to help us as we strive to serve Him here in our community! Fr. Joseph

* Please note that we are collecting cans of soup *Corner of Jamestown Rd. for our local food shelter this Sunday (Feb 3rd). & Robinwood Ln. (2 blocks north of  Please bring them to Church with you on Sunday. Racetrack Rd.) Prayer List Hours Readings/Post-Communion Prayers PLEASE JOIN US IN GIVING THANKS TO GOD: February 3 Leslie Hurst • For the skill and devotion of those beautifying our February 10 Christopher Ramos temple and gardens. February 17 Sophia Teshin • For the beauty of the Mother Lode, and for the February 24 Jessica Cooper privilege we have been given to live here. • That the Holy Mother of continues to care for Anyone who would like to read the Hours before liturgy, please contact Subdeacon Teshin at 209-743- the unborn. 7544 or [email protected] to be added to the list or • That many of our petitions are being answered. for more information. PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR GOD’S HELP: • For seasonal weather. • “St. John, please intercede for us before God. MANY YEARS • For repose of the souls of our service men and Birthdays: women who have given their lives for people of Natasha Koshelkova February 4 foreign lands. Nikolai Teshin February 11 Kailyn Vaughan February 11 • To safeguard all the troops who remain in hostile Cole Campbell February 13 lands. Frederic Everly February 23 • That many may come to Orthodoxy through our Fred Everly February 27 witness and example. Laura Vaughan February 28 • To bless our monasteries and the men and women Namesdays: who dwell in them. • For the growth of the monastery in Sonora. Jessica Cooper February 1 Felicity Ramos February 1 • For the health of Fr. Ignatius. Sue Sidney February 6 • For the health of Br. Andrew. Patsy Gonzalez February 11 • For health and strength for Anna. Leslie Hurst February 11 • For health and healing for Natasha. Mason Vitz February 18 • For health and healing for Nina. Anniversaries: • For health and healing for Violet. • For Marie for healing brain cancer. Andres & Patsy Gonzalez February 26 • For health and healing for Jeff. • For health and healing for Xenia and Cheryl. • For health and healing for Ron. St. Susanna Cleaning Schedule • For health and healing for James. Blessed are those who love To ask us to pray for you, your family, or friends, the beauty of God’s house please email Alex Teshin at [email protected] Team 1—Week of February 3rd or call 209-536-9999. Team 2—Week of February 17th

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◄ January February 2019 March ► Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6:00 pm 2 9:00 am Great Vespers Meeting of Christ w/Litya for in the Temple Meeting of Christ (Heb. 7:7-17 and in the Temple Luke 2:22-40)

6:00 pm Great Vespers

3 9:00 am 4 5 6 7 8 9 6:00 pm Divine Liturgy Great Vespers (1 Tim. 1:15-17 and Matt. 15:21-28)

Parish Council Meeting

3:00 pm Open House @ Ramos’ (house blessing & Suoper Bowl viewing party)

10 9:00 am 11 12 13 14 15 16 6:00 pm Great Vespers Sunday Divine Liturgy (1 Tim. 4:9-15 and Luke. 19:1-10)

17 Fast Free Week 18 No Fast 19 No Fast 20 No Fast 21 No Fast 22 No Fast 23 6:00 pm 9:00 am Great Vespers Publican and Pharisee Divine Liturgy (2 Tim. 3:10-15 and Luke 18:10-14) Fr. Joseph gone to Mission Deanery Retreat t

24 9:00 am 25 26 27 FWO 28 Prodigal Son Divine Liturgy (1 Cor. 6:12-20 and Luke 15:11-32)

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