Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Mt 11.28
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America His Grace Bishop Alexander
Pastor: Fr John Vazquez| fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany
Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm/Confessions: After weekly services or by appointment
Parish Council Leadership: Chair—Michella Rizk, Treasurer—Marie Barbera, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Justin Rezek
Beloved,
The Christmas season is probably the busiest time of the year. There is shopping, activities, concerts, party after party, family time and travel. Throw some Church services into the mix and each of us hardly have any time to breathe.
All of the activity and noise makes it difficult to engage with each other—let alone with God. We ought to be aware that the busy schedule and the stretching thin of each of us is not by accident. Think about it...at the time of year when we should be most silent, most contemplative, most still, activity is shoved upon us whether we like it or not. That is not to say that any of the activity is bad in and of itself but it is important that we are aware that this activity is a tool that the evil one—our adversary the devil—can and does use to keep us from preparing to receive Christ and making space for Him in our hearts.
I am not telling you to cancel all your activities but rather to be aware that this activity that the world thrusts upon us whether we want it or not can be—if we are not careful—a battle won by the enemy. BUT, if we do take time to slow our minds, to pour into our relationships, and to set aside time to be with our Lord on a daily basis—whether that is at prayer in our home or at Church—we can emerge victorious from this subtle maneuver of the devil—who is constantly seeking to distract us from the one thing that is needful for us—a relationship with our God.
May our good Lord bless and strengthen each one of you as you navigate this busy time and seek to make a place for Him in your heart.
With love in Christ,
Fr John
Services and Events
Wednesday, December 10th—8am—1st Hour and Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, December 10th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, December 12th—8am—Orthros
COMING UP
Saturday, December 13th—3pm-5pm—YOUTH DAY
Sunday, December 14th—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (St Lucia celebration with Lucia Bride(s) to follow Liturgy)
Sunday, December 21st—8:45am—M. Office, Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Christmas Pageant/Concert to follow Liturgy)
Wednesday, December 17th—6pm—Holy Unction Service followed by a meal and fellowship. The service is open to the greater Orthodox Community of Albany and we will have some other priests present to help do the service. This service is typically done on the Wednesday of Holy Week or Great Week but it can be done at any time. We will be doing this service at least once during the major fasting periods of Nativity and Dormition as a way to enter more deeply into the fast and connect the fasting that we do with the healing that comes along with the repentance and confession that we do during the major fasts of the Church. As a note—Holy Unction is a Sacrament or Mystery of the Church and—like communion—is only available to baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians.
