Weekly Update 12/28/2020 – Fr. Cyril Gorgy
Beloved Holy Resurrection Church family, I am praying that you are well and safe. Wishing you a Blessed New Year and a blessed Feast of Nativity.
Update on the Culver City Property: There’s good news and bad news.
Bad news: The owner is considering another offer that doesn’t include any loan contingencies, most likely a cash offer.
Good news: God has a better plan and we are anxiously awaiting it.
Kiahk Praises: Saturdays at 6pm. You can join us virtually at this link, or you can visit our YouTube channel. To read more about the month of Kiahk, check out these two articles. (Article 1) (Article 2)
Divine Liturgies: We will be celebrating the Feast of Nativity on the evening of Wednesday, January 6th. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated inside the Church, and attendance is by confirmation only. To register for the January 6th Divine Liturgy please use this link.
REGISTRATION to attend SUNDAY Divine Liturgy is required. To register, please use this link. You will receive an email confirmation with the time and date.
No registration will be required for the 7-9am Wednesday’s Divine Liturgy. All participants are expected to read and STRICTLY abide by the General Guidelines.
Last Sunday’s Sermon: Luke 1:39 “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.” We underestimate the magnitude of the effort taken in this sentence. Studying the proximity of Nazareth to Judah, we find that St. Mary, while newly pregnant, traveled approximately 80 miles and uphill of approximately 1,300’, to serve her cousin Elizabeth for three months. This was an immediate response to fulfill a need. Once St. Mary was notified that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant at her old age, she went with haste to serve. Ephesians 2:10 says “for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for “good works”. Also in 1 John 3:17 it says “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” St Mary did not shut her heart, but immediately responded to the need without calculating how much effort it will take to travel and to serve Elizabeth. What need (or good work) has God revealed for you to do?
Offering: If you plan on offering your tiding and want it to count in this year-end statement, please offer online using this link before January 1st. May the Lord bless your offering and reward you heavenly.
May our Risen Lord support and protect you, and your family by the power of His Holy Resurrection.
Fr. Cyril
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
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General Guidelines
Please review and abide by the following guidelines prior to attending church:
- Please STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK, or if you have a history or are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including FEVER or COUGH.
- If you have traveled in that last TWO WEEKS, please do not sign up to attend a Divine Liturgy until, TWO WEEKS have passed since you returned and you do not have any COVID19 symptoms, or you have been tested negative twice.
- If you were in direct contact with anyone that tested positive for COVID-19, please do not sign up or come to the church services, whether with symptoms or not, until you are tested negative.
- If you test positive please do not sign up or come to the church services until you are tested negative, for two consecutive tests, regardless of the time it takes to be tested negative twice.
- You should attend the Divine Liturgy at the church you regularly attend.
- Every church will take all the precautions necessary to ensure your safety, but your attendance is entirely your choice, and the church does not accept any liability.
When you come to church:
- Arrive on time. The church gate will ONLY be open at the beginning of the service and will remain closed for the duration. No one will be permitted to open the church door other than the church servant assigned by the clergy.
- Your body temperature may be taken prior to entering the church.
- You should wear a mask and gloves at all times during the service.
- You should sanitize your hands when entering the church.
Inside the Church:
- You must keep a minimum distance of 6 feet at all times between you and others that are not in your household.
- Each family (same household) should seated together.
- Children will stand with their parents even if they are deacons.
- Please do not touch anything or anyone inside the church including icons, relics, clergy, and deacons, etc.
- For Ologea (Al Barka), the priest will wash his hands, cut it and distribute it. You will take it with your hand without touching the priest.
- After Liturgy, we need to stagger exiting from the church as individuals or families to ensure we maintain social distancing guidelines.
Partaking of the Eucharist:
- Please bring your own head covering, corporeal (for communion) and water to use for partaking of the Eucharist.
- Each family should come forward together to receive the Eucharist. As every family is approaching please maintain 6’ away from other families.
- During communion, you will remove your mask, open your mouth wide and have your tongue lay flat so the priest can place the Holy Body on your tongue.
- When taking the Holy Blood, open your mouth wide and the priest will pour the Blood from the spoon into your mouth.