Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Beloved in Christ,

This weekend is the dual Feast of our Lord's Triumphant Entrance into the Holy City of Jerusalem. Our Lord, Jesus Christ begins His way to the Cross and His victorious life-giving Death. Tomorrow is the anticipation of the empty tomb. It begins with His words to Martha, the sister of Lazarus in Bethany: "I Am the Resurrection and the Life!" (John 11:25). It is followed by the miracle of raising Lazarus from the grave and the gathering of a great crowd on the Feast of the Passover who welcomed our Lord with palms and branches as He rode on a colt into the city.

We don’t have any way of knowing what tomorrow will bring. However, in Christ we have the complete demonstration of God's love for us in the supreme sacrifice of His passion that is revealed to us in the coming week. He is our sure hope in all that we face.

Join us in our pilgrimage beginning at Liturgy for this Great and Holy celebration on both or at least one of the Liturgies. Then make every effort to participate at the services of Holy Week to prepare for the Feast of Feasts - Holy Pascha (PAAS-kah; Aramaic for the word "Passover”). Pascha is the focal point of our Christian life. It is our celebration of our new life in Christ: a life of victory over sin and death! A life of redemption from pain and suffering! A life of triumph over evil! There is no greater celebration in this world that compares to the experience of Pascha. For in it we know of the fullness of joy through the forgiveness of sins; being united to Christ and to each other as the inheritors of His Kingdom.

I am looking forward to seeing you and the members of your family,

With my prayers for a blessed Feast,

Father Timothy Baclig

Reminder: The Procession with Palms on Sunday, April 21, begins follows the blessing of the palms at the end of the morning Orthros service at the start of the Divine Liturgy. Our procession begins with our coming and entering the church to hear the Gospel and to be prepared in receiving the Holy Eucharist which is at the center of our worship. So plan to be at the church on-time at 10 a.m. if not earlier. [Parents: all children with lighted candles must be accompanied by their parents or grandparents at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.]