I think this went rather well Sunday, except I brilliantly forgot to mention that if one is not able to stand, or does not feel well, or something of that nature, then one of course does not have to stand. This is completely my fault and I ask everyone's forgiveness in this regard! So, please let me be very clear. There are times when we light the three lampadas and we ask everyone to stand quietly and prayerfully. If you are physically unable to stand during that time it is completely permissible to sit quietly and prayerfully.

Fr. Gregory

What are the three lampadas? Learn more here:

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/lampad ... ldoors.pdf

Yesterday we asked people to stand during the communion of the faithful. Unfortunately we did not mention that if it is not possible for you to stand you of course do not need to. This is always the case. We light the lampadas above the Royal Doors to note times when the faithful should stand quietly IF THEY ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO SO. Please do not endanger yourself if you cannot stand safely! We ask the forgiveness of all for not making this clear. Please stand if you are able. If you are not, you are welcome to sit. All are asked to be understanding of those who cannot safely stand. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions.

Our Nativity Ball is set for January 15. Find more information at the link below and please join us!

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/nativityball2016.pdf

Our Nativity Yolka/Christmas Pageant is set for January 10. Find more information at the link below and please join us!

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/yolka2016.pdf

The 2016 annual calendars have arrived from the printer. The mailing will be available for pick up on Sunday, January 3. Please plan to pick yours up then. Those calendars not picked up will be mailed to your homes. However, please know that this is a very expensive mailing so we very much appreciate it if you are diligent to pick up your calendar if you are at church - and we thank you for doing so!

As promised at last night's moleben, please find the life of Sts. Boniface and Agladia at the links below.

English:

http://oca.org/saints/lives/2015/12/19/ ... in-cilicia

Russian:

http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Life/life3145.htm

If we were in a room and the bishop entered we would stand up – and we would not think of sitting down until he took his seat. This is true of all dignitaries from the President to a Governor to a Mayor, etc. However, somehow we have developed the practice in our parish of sitting during the time when the King of All, our Lord Jesus Christ, is carried forth to His people so that they may partake of His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Of course this does not make sense – why would we stand for the bishop but not for God? The fault with this habit taking hold in our parish lies squarely on my shoulders. Honestly, I have never noticed that people sit during this time until it was pointed out to me recently. So we will begin to move, with love and understanding, towards standing during this important time of the service. We will light the two outside of the three lampadas beginning with Sunday, January 3, and ask that those who are aware that we should stand lovingly point this out to those who are sitting. It will take some time to work this through, but with God's help we will get where we need to be. Of course, as always, those who are unable to stand for physical reasons are welcome to sit.

Please forgive me for not having noticed this earlier. However, the Lord has given us an opportunity here to educate and support each other in appropriate worship practice with love for our fellow parish family members at the core. Let us move forward with Christian Love. If we do that all will progress and end with peace.

Please contact me with questions or concerns about this or any other issue.

Fr. Gregory

What are the three lampadas? Learn more here:

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/lampad ... ldoors.pdf

We wish all our parish family and friends a wonderful 2016! May this year find you drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord for your salvation!

Thank you to all for a simply wonderful 2015 at St. Vladimir's! We are very much looking forward to 2016 with our parish family – both present and future members! All are always welcome here! Please find a short letter from Fr. Gregory & Nathan regarding the upcoming year here:

http://stvladimiraami.org/flyers/newyearletter2016.pdf

See you soon at St. Vladimir's!

We congratulate all our parish family with the beginning of the yearly Lenten period preceding the feast of our Lord’s Nativity! This Lenten period begins November 28 each year and runs until January 7 – the feast of our Lord’s Nativity. This Lenten period is much less stringent than Great Lent. During this fast, as usual, we abstain from meat and dairy products. But fish is allowed on many days. Please consult our parish schedule (linked below) for more details on the culinary aspects of fasting. Of course, the culinary fast is a tool to aid us spiritually to prepare for our Lord’s Nativity – it is not an end unto itself. If you have not fasted in the past please consult Fr. Gregory or Fr. Michael for practical advice on how to be successful in fasting. Fasting a very important way that we place ourselves in obedience to the Church, the Ark of our salvation, and extraordinarily helpful in our spiritual struggle to draw nearer to our Lord at this special time of year.

http://www.stvladimiraami.org/calendars ... lendar.pdf

Please join us for our annual New Year moleben at 6:00 p.m. this evening. The new year SHOULD NOT be celebrated with gluttony in food and drink, but rather with thanks to God for the past year and with entreaty to Him that the coming year be filled with those things which are best for our salvation. Likely everyone will celebrate a bit tonight and that is reasonable. But before any celebrations begin let us first turn to God with thanks and Christian hope. Please join us!

Dear St. Vladimir’s Parishioners! We would like to urge you to consider whether making a donation to the parish before December 31, 2015 would be helpful for you as you consider your tax liability for the year 2015. Donations to St. Vladimir Church are deductible to the greatest extent allowable by law. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions in this regard. It is also very important that your address be up to date in our parish database. If you have moved this year please contact our parish Secretary, Alexandre Alexandrov, with your new address.

-Nathan (Nathaniel) Longan, Starosta (starosta@stvladimiraami.org)