This is just a reminder that you can view our Holy Pascha Services on Facebook Live at 10 PM on Saturday, April 18, 2020. You can also view all of our recorded Holy Week Services there as well.
Holy Week Schedule
Message from Fr. Gregory concerning our Holy Week Schedule:
Beloved brethren,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We trust and pray that you are all well, that God is continuing to strengthen, guide, and build each one of you during this holy season.
Sadly, we will not be able to be together this week for the blessed services of the church, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Metropolitan JOSEPH has directed that no more than five people be present at the services: priest, chanters, altar server, videographer. So, we are forced to find other ways of praying together. We are going to do the best we can to live-stream the services, either on the St. Barnabas Orthodox Church Facebook page (for those services that are held there) or on the St. Catherine Orthodox Church Facebook page, for those services held at St. Catherine.
The schedule is attached. The Metropolitan has also directed that we NOT distribute any physical objects this Holy Week, so we will not distribute palms, have the Unction service on Wednesday evening, or distribute eggs at Pascha. Also, we will not be able to have our annual Paschal feast following the Agape Vespers. All of this is difficult for us, but we are still able to meet our Lord in the midst of this.
Suggestions for participation:
1. Listen, sing, and pray as much as possible as you listen.
2. Put the services on as big a screen as is feasible.
3. Try to eliminate as many distractions as possible.
4. Light a candle; burn some incense; if these are possible and safe.
I will be doing a brief homily, either in the normal place in the Liturgy, or at the end of the services for the others, to highlight the themes of the service.
Also, the Metropolitan has directed that we postpone face-to-face confession until after this situation has ended. Nonetheless, if you want to talk with me, I would be happy to do so over the phone.
Please be assured that we love you all, and that you are all in our prayers.
In the Resurrected Christ,
Fr. Gregory
Bishop NICHOLAS Live Stream From April 5, 2020
A message to the Diocese of Miami & the Southeast on YouTube
Message From Fr. Gregory
Brethren,
One thing I have discovered this week is that things are changing rapidly with regard to the COVID-19 situation. In that light, Metropolitan Joseph issued new directives today, Tuesday, March 17, regarding the response we are to make for the COVID-19 virus.
Effective immediately, all social events and business meetings at our churches are cancelled until further notice. This, of course, means that we won't have the Parish Council meeting this Sunday, nor will we have coffee hour after liturgy.
We have been directed to NOT have Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evening; so, we will not have the Presanctified Liturgy tomorrow evening, March 18.
Also, we have been directed to only have altar servers and chanters present at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 22, and in any case, no more than ten people at the liturgy. Having said that, we will not turn anyone who comes away. If you are ill, please stay home and rest. If you decide to stay home, please take advantage of internet resources available for worship, prayer, and learning.
For those who are home, the archdiocese has provided access to Typika services and other prayers for your use. Later in the week, I will send you a link to a livestream of St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis, where our son, Fr. Philip serves. You can virtually participate in services there, if you would like.If we are able to get a livestream of our services available, we will provide the link for you. Most likely, we will do it via our Facebook page.
We WILL have the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Annunciation on Wednesday, March 25, with the same stipulations as apply to Sunday's services.
Below is a link to his directive for you to read. The situation is changing by the hour, so we will do our best to keep you all updated as to what we are to do.
Please keep all of our brethren, our community, and our nation in your prayers. We love you all. By God's grace we'll get through this.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Gregory Rogers
BISHOP'S VISIT POSTPONED
Bishop NICHOLAS has decided to curtail his travel temporarily due to the corona virus situation. So, his visit to St. Barnabas will be rescheduled for a later time. We are disappointed, but look forward to having him come and bless us soon.
We will have services on Sunday, March 15, at our normal time. See you then!