In this email
Message from Fr Alexander — The man born blind
Create an online forum?
Covid-19 Response
Live stream information
News of Future Services
Patron
Resources
Saints and Feasts — 21st–28th May
Offer of help
Dear Friends
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
We are, already, coming to the end of the Paschal season: for forty days we have lived in the Paschal joy and we, like the Disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, can say, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” And yet, as on the Mount of Transfiguration, our own story must take a new turn — Christ discussed with Moses and Elijah, the journey, the new Exodus (see Luke 9:31) he would accomplish and likewise we prepare to take up our own crosses daily that we may follow the Lord (Luke 9:23).
Before, though, departing on our own journey, our own cross-carrying, the Church sets before us a great miracle — a sign as St John the Theologian calls them — performed by Christ: the healing of the man born blind (John 9:1–38). The Lord, as at the creation of humanity, takes clay and sets right the blind man’s creation. This would not have been a nice thing, a pleasant thing, for the blind man to have gone through – a stranger came before him and spat on the ground, made clay and smeared it into his eyes. And the Lord does this to you and to me. He stands before us and heals our infirmities, he washes away our sins and gives us new sight, spiritual sight. Yet all too many of us are unlike the the man born blind – we squirm and squeal, we protest, we shout out crying for release from the Lord. And when it is all over, when we are sent to wash and be made whole, we scrape off the clay from our own eyes because it was not what we wanted – like a child throwing the toys out of the pram.
My dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, let Christ make you whole, let him restore in you his likeness. Our own Exodus, departure, from death to life is upon us – Christ has given us the example, the prototype, now we have the opportunity to be made whole, to take up our own crosses daily, and journey with him that his death may be ours and his resurrection ours also.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Create an online forum?
Would you be interested in meeting online? One-to-one or as a group? We could make use of technology to create an online community, ask questions, read together, pray together?
Let me know! Email [email protected]
Covid-19 Response
We should follow government advice whenever we can. We are not being asked to give up or deny our Faith, but many are being told to stay socially isolated and this will last, perhaps, for many months.
How can you respond? Pray. We pray because we love and because we know the power of prayer. We pray not as a last resort but as a first response.
Is there anything you need or anything you can offer? Let me know — my telephone number and email address are on each of the emails: please get in contact if you are feeling isolated: I am here for you.
Are you willing to contact isolated people via email or phone? Let me know! It would be good to match up those who need help with those who can offer it.
Live stream
The Monastery of Saints Antony and Cuthbert, Shropshire, is live-streaming its services for all who are unable to go to their own churches. These are over YouTube and can be accessed here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfWMaefJYqFEZkYiK2WmeEw
Usually Vespers on Saturday evenings at 5 pm and Matins and Liturgy on Sunday mornings from 7.30 am.
News of Future Services
Given the current situation in the UK, and throughout the world, about the Covid-19 (Corona) virus it would be prudent to wait for our plans to meet together as a worshipping community. I hope and pray this will pass soon.
This is an invitation for us to repent and to pray.
Patron
We need to be praying, too, that the patron of our new community will identify himself, herself or themselves to us. I believe it will not be so much that we choose, rather we need to pray that the choice be revealed to us.
Resources
Have a look at our website — orthodoxeastleigh.uk
If you click on the “Blog” link, or directly here, you will see all past emails as well as sermons etc.
Our Facebook Page, facebook.com/orthodoxeastleigh, too, has daily additions during the week as well as on feast days. Please do like and share our page and content so we may reach a wider group of people.
Do you receive the weekly (on Fridays) text message? If not, then let me know.
Saints and Feasts
Thursday 21st May — Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine (337) and his mother Helen (c 330).
Friday 22nd — Martyr Vasiliskos of Comana (c 308).
Saturday 23rd — St Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synada (826). Myrrh-bearer Mary the wife of Cleopas (1st).
Sunday 24th — 6th Sunday of Pascha. Sunday of the Man Born Blind. St Symeon Stylites of the Wonderful Mountain (592). St Vincent of Lerins (c 450).
Monday 25th — Third Finding of the Honourable Head of Forerunner.
Tuesday 26th — Apostles Carpos and Alphaios of the Seventy (1st). St Augustine of Canterbury, Apostle of the English (c. 605).
Wednesday 27th — Leavetaking of Pascha. St Melangell, Hermit at Pennant Melangell in Wales (c 590). St Bede the Venerable (735).
Thursday 28th — The Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Can I help you?
I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.
Can you help the mission?
Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.
I ask your prayers for me.
With love in the risen Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]