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The
main focus of our parish life is building a Christian community of co-strugglers
and co-laborers in Christ "...stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the Gospel." (Philippians 1:27b).
Emphasis is on such traditional Orthodox Christian spiritual practices as
daily prayer (public and private/home), study, participation in fasts and feasts of
the church, regular confession, striving to
live the commandments of Christ as written in the Scriptures. "If anyone
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me." (Matthew 16:24) and "You shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind... and to love your
neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37, 39)
Church Services
All services are open to the public. Call the church or see our
calendar for updated information,
directions, or details! The services are predominately in English and are sung
in Traditional Orthodox style. We use mostly Russian common tones with some
Greek, Serbian and Russian 'special' melodies as well.
- Sunday:
- Prayers of Preparation for Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.
- Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. (followed by Trapeza/Lunch)
- Monday — Thursday: Vespers
5:30 p.m.
- Fridays: we alternate the following
throughout the month:
- Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos for the Unborn - 5:30 p.m.
- The Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children - 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday: Vigil (Vespers and Matins) with Confessions 6:00 p.m.
- We also celebrate the Major
Feasts and Fasts of the Church, whenever they occur. All
services are celebrated according to the Old (Julian) calendar. In the
Orthodox Church the vigil service is celebrated on the Eve of the feast,
i.e., on the night preceding the feast, not on the feast day itself. For
example, the vigil service for the Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady
the Theotokos for August
28th is celebrated on the evening of August 27th. The Divine Liturgy for the
feast would be celebrated on the Feast Day itself (August 28th).
Spiritual Life and Strivings
"A rule provides direction and determines the entire journey. A rule
preserves the inner spirit of life, fervency and zeal. Without a rule, no
spiritual strength can develop." St. Theophan the Recluse
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Daily Morning and Evening Prayer
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Daily Reading of the Gospel &
Epistle
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Daily Reading from the Holy
Fathers, Lives of Martyrs and Saints
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Fasting According to the Church
Calendar and Typicon
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Bearing One Another's Burdens and
so Fulfilling the Law of Christ
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Attending Sundays, Major Feast
Days and Other Major Church Services
-
Striving with All One's Soul
Towards Union with Christ through regular participation in the Mysteries of Confession and Holy
Communion
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Supporting the Church,
Financially and Actively
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Trusting in God's Providence;
Giving Thanks to God for All Things
Parish Goals:
- Inward Building:
"Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell
together in unity? It is like the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth
down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the
fringe of his raiment. It is like the dew of Aermon, which cometh down upon
the mountains of Sion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing, life for
evermore."
- Psalm 133
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and
meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to
keep the unity of the Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is
above all, and through all, and in you all. Till we all come in the unity of
the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." - Ephesians 4:1-6,
13
- Living the Spiritual Strivings of an Orthodox Christian.
- To practice and live out the commandments of Christ: to love God, our
neighbor and our enemies.
- To build a "family-like community" grounded in repentance, prayer, fasting,
ascetic labor, study, love, forgiveness and fellowship:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And all
that believed were together. And continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with
gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily as such as should be saved." - Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47
- Outward Building:
"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it."
- Psalm 127:1
To dedicate ourselves for the raising of funds which are necessary for the
purchase and dedication of land, for the future construction of a Orthodox
Church building in Redding.
Development of celebration of feasts and festivals (music, stories, arts)
especially for the instruction and participation of families and single people.
The continuance of our ministry of hospitality through trapeza and our homes
by greeting,
welcoming and inviting new people into our lives.
To increase our adult education through: Foundations of Faith classes, guests
lectures to the parish and the public, book study groups, Bible Study Groups,
special prayer groups, etc.
To continue the building of the work of the Board of Directors in their
stewardship of the parish, to include the legal, administrative and financial
responsibilities for the building up of the parish and our responsibilities to
the Diocese.
To convert and baptize. To be laborers in the vineyard
of Christ for the salvation of our souls and those whom God sends us.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, 'All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto
the end of the world.' AMEN" - Matthew 28:18-20
God Bless You.
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