All are welcome at St. Vladimir's! Please join us this Sunday! More information can be found at this link, and we encourage you to share this with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers!

DIVINE SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022

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St. Anatoly of Optina said that it is better to come late and stay to the end of Liturgy than to come early and leave early. As a parish we are rather consistent at the come late part. :) But that is not what this little instruction is about. Oddly, in the last couple of months we have picked up the bad habit of leaving immediately when Holy Communion is brought forth if we are not communing, rather than staying to the very end of the Divine Liturgy, on Sundays. It is not clear where this practice came from. In the 40+ year history of our parish that has never been a problem. Until now. So let us kill this weed immediately by supporting each other to stay until the end of the Divine Liturgy. That is, until the Thanksgiving Prayers after Communion have concluded and the Royal Doors are closed.

There are only two types of people that need to listen to the Thanksgiving Prayers: those that communed should thank God for the great gift that He has given them as they listen to the prayers, and those who did not commune should ask God to help them to partake at the soonest opportunity as they listen to the prayers. All others may ignore these prayers and talk as much as they like. :)

Let us be diligent to stay until the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the blessing of having fully participated in our community worship on Sunday morning. Yes – undoubtedly there will come a time when you have to leave early. But that should be the exception and not the rule. Let us make our rule to stay until the very end of the Divine Liturgy!

Fr. Gregory

Friends,

One of the longest serving priests of our diocese, Archpriest Ioann Sykaluk, reposed on Saturday evening. We ask your prayers for Fr. Ioann and for his grieving family, especially his wife of 70 years, Olga.

Due to some complications with the burial, the funeral will be held only this coming Saturday, November 19. As the Secretary of the Diocese I need to participate in the funeral, and that means we’ll have to be a little flexible this weekend at STV. Here is the updated schedule – no services will be missed, but there are a few adjustments that we ask you to take note of:

Friday, November 18: Vespers & Matins (Reader Service) – All English Cycle 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 19: Divine Liturgy – All English Cycle 9:00 a.m. (NEW TIME)

Saturday, November 19: Vigil (Reader Service) 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 20: Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. (Confessions begin at 8:30 a.m.)

Changes are: Readers Services for Friday and Saturday nights, and Liturgy at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. on Saturday. And we’ve added an extra 30 minutes of Confession on Sunday morning before Liturgy.

Please spread the word to those whom you know, or even suspect, were planning to attend this weekend.

See you soon at STV!

Fr. Gregory

Please plan to join us for the feast of the Martyr Menas on Wednesday, November 23 at 6:00 p.m. for Evening Services and on Thursday, November 24 at 9:00 a.m. for Divine Liturgy.

Eucharist literally means “Thanksgiving”! Thursday, November 24 is Thanksgiving Day. Please join us to mark this most Orthodox Christian of all secular holidays, for as Orthodox Christians we should always be thankful people, 365 days per year. Start off the Thanksgiving feast with the Divine Service of Thanksgiving – partaking of the Holy Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy!

Each year around the Thanksgiving Holiday we have two special collections in our parish to assist those in need. We thank God prayerfully for His bounty towards us, and we thank Him materially by helping those who are struggling in this life.

On the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving (this coming Sunday, November 20) we have a collection to support International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). IOCC is the clearinghouse charity for all Orthodox Churches in North America. They provide help to all in need in North American and throughout the world – regardless of their confession of faith.

On the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving (Sunday, November 27) we have a collection to support our Diocesan Fund for those in Need. Archbishop Peter is often approached for help – this fund allows him to help those who are appealing to him in their time of difficulty.

Both these collections will take place in the church at the end of the Liturgy, as we receive the antidron. If you would like to support either of these collection you can do that here (please specify the reason for your donation):

ST. VLADIMIR'S DONATE PAGE
If you would prefer not to use the on-line tools please contact our Treasurer, Mikhail Fisenkov, at treasurer@stvladimiraami.org.

We present here a short educational offering for both children and adults on the upcoming Sunday's principle Gospel reading so that all can better prepare for the Divine Services. Parents are asked to review the children’s portion with their children. It is very important for us to attend the Divine Services on Sundays and whenever else we are able, but in addition it is our spiritual responsibility to educate ourselves and our families in the faith. It is our hope that this mid-week offering will be an aid in this regard. Please contact Fr. Gregory with questions or suggestions.

For Various Ages: from the Antiochian Archdiocese

We are pleased to announce that on Sunday, January 8, 2023 the Michigan Deanery Youth Choir will sing the Divine Liturgy at St. Vladimir Church in Ann Arbor. Following the Divine Liturgy will be a meal for all present at which the Youth Choir will give its Nativity Concert. ALL ARE WELCOME! A free will offering to support the Youth Choir will be taken up at the concert. For those who would like to support the choir now, please visit the link below.

SUPPORT MICHIGAN DEANERY YOUTH CHOIR

Perhaps it has been some time since you came to Church – maybe even since your childhood. Please know that we WELCOME you at St. Vladimir’s. The Church is here for you – our Lord became incarnate for the salvation of all. If you have been away for a while please consider this your invitation: we WELCOME you at St. Vladimir’s! Please contact Fr. Gregory at 734-649-5746 or ogrisha@stvladimiraami.org with questions or concerns. Rest assured – you will be welcome as a part of our parish family!

FIND YOUR GROUP AND MORE INFO ON YOUR MEETING HERE

“Ascesis, my son, requires deprivation. You cannot obtain virtues through luxury and the easy life. It takes a struggle and much labor. It takes crying out to Christ day and night. It takes patience in all temptations and afflictions. It takes suppressing your anger and desires.”

Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Venerable Joseph the Hesychast