ALL SAINTS: NOTICES -- SUNDAY OF ZAKCHAIOS, 2026
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GREETINGS, IN CHRIST!
Beloved Christians, in today’s holy Gospel (Luke 19:1-10) we are given a lesson in faith and humility and self-sacrifice. Zakchaios makes great effort to gain a
clear and unimpeded view of Christ; he climbs the tree and ascends spiritually. Zakchaios makes himself look absurd by climbing up a tree. But what appears in worldly eyes to be foolishness is in reality its opposite. Also, Zakchaios pays back all that he has taken- and more! For him, this means financial ruin. But it also opens the way to his salvation. His wealth, wickedly acquired, is a stumbling block. His faith and his actions remove the obstacle. To our pathetically materialist and narcissistic society giving away your money is utter foolishness.
We are told elsewhere in holy Scripture that, ‘the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God’ (1 Korinthians 1:18); and,
‘but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles’ (1 Korinthians 1:23). In doing these things, freely and without coercion, the heart of Zakhaios opens and Christ comes not just to his home but into the
very depths of his heart. We, Christians, must not be afraid of looking stupid, of being ‘fools for Christ's sake’ (1 Korinthians 4:10). We have an assurance from Christ Himself - For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’
(1 Korinthians 1:19), Christ ‘makes all things new’ (2 Korinthians 5:17, Revelations 21:5).
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NEXT WEEKEND at ALL SAINTS:
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SATURDAY, 30th JANUARY
16:30 - ESPERINOS ('vespers', 'vercenie')
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SUNDAY, 1st February - SUNDAY OF THE TAX COLLECTOR AND THE PHARISEE
(usual Sunday service programme)
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MONDAY, 2st February - MEETING OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE (Great Feast)
08:30 Holy Temple opens
09:30 DIVINE LITURGY (Note: earlier starting time.)
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METROPOLITAN KALLISTOS OF DIOKLEIA - ON 'THE FOOL FOR CHRIST' 'The Fool for Christ has no possessions, no family, no position, and so can speak with a prophetic boldness. He cannot be exploited, for he has no ambition; and he fears God alone.'
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OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS GREAT LENT
So early into the new year and, already, the Sunday readings have a different atmosphere: ahead of us lies the Great Fast. We shall need much humility and prayerful effort to make a good fast. And to that end, Zakchaios poses us with challenges: Are we prepared to do all that we can to meet Christ at Holy Pascha?
Are we willing to give away our treasure to recompense our neighbour?
Are we generous to the point of foolishness?
Are we happy to appear foolish in the eyes of others for the sake of Christ?
Are we sincere?
God willing, we will be if we face the seriousness of our own sinful predicament and undergo a true repentance and acquire the gift of humility. We must share not just our financial wealth but our spiritual wealth also. We must all aid one another
in the steep ascents which are to come.
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ALL GLORY TO GOD!
Those having their home blessed! (And thank you for your hospitality and generosity!)
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YOUR HOLY PRAYERS For Christians suffering in Kosovo, Gaza, Ukraine.
Father Jakob - still in pain (torn tendon).
Reader Aaron - proposed for ordination to the holy Diaconate, he is sitting before the Axios [ordination] committee on Tuesday ( 27th January).
Ruth - may God bring strength and healing (hand injury).
Ecaterina - unwell.
Harry (non-orthodox) - young man, suffering from leukaemia. Coming to the end of his life.
Elizabeth, Jo (both non-orthodox) - seriously ill.
George (seeker) - examination, Thursday.
All those who are new at All Saints: Orthodox Christians, katechumens, seekers.
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With love and prayers, in Christ, the sinner and unworthy priest, Father Jakob Presbyter, All Saints North Benfleet
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please post these notices online, and share them with your friends and family
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INTERNET: OUTREACH
Our parish's online materials attract many readers from around the world, and we receive lots of positive feedback. People really do appreciate what you and I are doing online!
As one example of our internet outreach, I can inform you that since its publication (on 7th January), the new children's e-book, Under the Shelter of His Wings, has already been viewed over 3,600 times on our parish facebook page. Of which, approximately one third of the viewers are in the USA, and one third in the UK, the rest are primarily in Ethiopia and many other countries. (Curiously, 84% of the views were by 'non-followers' of our facebook page.)
If we adopt the most basic - and minimal - model ('Orthodox family' = 2 parents + 1 child), then, 3,600 views represents around 10,800 readers...and this is from just one facebook page! However, to provide some context, the new book, together with our weekly children's magazine, is actually shared across 90+ Orthodox-related facebook platforms.
It is clear that our online presence is an increasingly important part of our parish's mission work: our children's magazine is regularly accessed, from our parish facebook page, 1,000+ times per week. The internet allows our tiny rural parish to have a global outreach, and we are truly blessed to be permitted by the Lord to help 'feed His lambs' (John 21:15).
All this blessed online work is done by you, our volunteers, 'co-working with God' (1 Korinthians 3:9; Romans 8:28).
Our facebook page is administered by you, our volunteers!
Our weekly children's magazine is produced by you, our volunteers!
The magazine is shared weekly, across 90 platforms, by you, our volunteers!
For your dedicated service to God and to His people we are sincerely grateful, and for your sacrificial efforts we offer all glory to God!
INTERNET: CHALLENGES
These "successes" prompt us to reflect on the importance of acting in a befitting way online.
Be careful online- there is no "going behind God's back" (Psalm 32:13-14, 138:1-4 LXX). Be 'wise as serpents, and harmless as doves' (Matthew 10:16); be prudent (Proverbs 14:15), do not be foolish (Proverbs 27:12). Take steps to protect children, guide them wisely (Proverbs 22:6) and set them a good example (Matthew 5:16). Do not misrepresent our beautiful Orthodox Christian Faith (Galatians 1:6-9). Do not be vile or unseemly in what you say or do (Romans 6:13), in the "real world" or online.
All of us must take responsibility for how we act, what we say, what we do (Romans 14:12). We must not inflame the prejudices or anxieties of others, nor cause our more innocent sisters or brothers to be led astray by our poor example (Matthew 18:6).
When we are fasting we ought never to have our focus solely on foods to avoid, but must refrain from e-media as much as our work and obligations dictate. Stop accessing online filth and garbage, stop building a life with garbage (1 Korinthians 3:12), stop wasting precious time on grievous, pointless, frivolous things (Ephesians 5:15-16). Instead, in every word and deed (Kolossians 3:17), serve the Lord (Kolossians 3:23) in 'all places of His dominion' (Psalm 102:22 LXX).
Let us all find ways to genuinely serve the Lord, in the "real world" and online.
With love in Christ God,
Father Jakob
fellow sinner, fellow struggler
please post these notices online, and share them with your friends and family
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LOOKING AHEAD -- TWELVE GREAT FEASTS
To help you plan ahead, for those of you who are able to take time off work, etc., here are the dates of GREAT FEASTS for the year ahead.
These are dates upon which we should try to be in Church (sadly, many of us do not always have this choice).
These are days upon which the Divine Liturgy should be served at All Saints. Servers, singers, helpers- please do what you're able.
14th SEPTEMBER -- EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
21st NOVEMBER -- ENTRY OF THE THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE
25th DECEMBER -- NATIVITY OF CHRIST
6th JANUARY -- HOLY THEOPHANY
2nd FEBRUARY -- PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE
25th MARCH -- HOLY ANNUNCIATION
5th APRIL -- ENTRY OF OUR LORD INTO IERUSALEM*
12th APRIL -- HOLY PASCHA*
21st MAY -- HOLY ASCENSION*
31st MAY -- HOLY PENTEKOST*
6th AUGUST -- HOLY TRANSFIGURATION
15th AUGUST -- FALLING-ASLEEP OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
[ * The dates of these feasts vary from year to year. ]
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ORTHODOXY 101 : ATTENDING THE DIVINE LITURGY
Christianity is experiential; it is not just 'read about', it must be lived. The Holy Eucharist is at the centre of our worship, at the centre of our Life in Christ.
We come to the Church, we remain in the Church in order that our souls be saved. That is all. It is our soul's salvation - there is nothing else.
The Holy Services are a store-house of spiritual treasures. To be saved, we need to gain knowledge of ourselves. We do this by discovering our sins and weaknesses, and by fighting against their pull. Our faith is war on personal pride. When our pride is wounded in the course of Church life, we should thank God!
We fight best when we are supported. For support we have the Holy Gospels; the Holy Fathers, their Lives and Teachings; we have God and we have each other.
The Church Community (both living and departed) is our Family in Christ. Our God is LOVE. And we are giving of our best, when we give love to God and to each other.
The Holy Eucharist is the body and Blood of Christ. It is life itself, it is Salvation. It is our treasure: "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also"(Matthew 6:21). We spend time with - we are attentive to - the people, the things we love the most.
Canon LXXX (Sixth Oecumenical Council) reads, "A cleric or layman shall not go three consecutive Sundays without attending church, unless some necessary business requires him to leave his town. The usual penalties apply: deposition for a cleric; excommunication for a layman".
It is not always possible to come to every holy service, but our good practice, and simple good manners, is to notify the priest of our absence, or if we have moved away. Notification demonstrates love and humility, and allows the priest and community to pray for us, for example - when we are sick.
We pray for those who are absent from the divine services for legitimate reasons. The others, who come infrequently or have not attended for long periods, have become prodigal sons, wanderers. They have distanced themselves from Christ and from their Christian family. Their love has become luke-warm. A full and proper return to Church requires a full and proper repentance, taking responsibility for our failings.
Church life is about responsibility. It is about stepping up and being adult. This is done by singing, standing throughout the holy services, fasting, making regular confession, reading in Church, serving, cleaning and tidying, cooking, reading the morning and evening prayers every day, preparing properly for confession and communion. Above all it is about praying.
To be blunt, Church (parish) life is about giving time and money to the glory of God. Church life is about commitment. Without commitment, we will never become deeply Orthodox or even remain Orthodox.
Love of God and love of neighbour are entwined. We cannot love God if we do not love our neighbours, especially our fellow Christians; and we cannot love our neighbours if we do not love God (1 John 4:20).
We spend time with God, we spend time with each other. We do so not because we feel 'obliged' or even because we 'want to' but simply because our heart draws us, and we follow Christ's new commandment (Luke 10:27): "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself".
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AΓAΠH = CARITAS = CHARITY = LOVE
John 4:16: Ὁ Θεὸς ἀγάπη (koine Greek) = Deus caritas est (Latin) = God is Love (English)
GIVING TO OTHERS
All glory to God! Our small parish has been able in little ways to help the poor, offer love to the stranger, to help heal the wounded.
GIFTAID
This past year we received more than £4,000 from the UK government. Our parish trustees have authorised this, and future monies, raised through giftaid to be passed on to our poorer neighbours. If more of us donated by giftaid we could do even more to help the poor, the wounded, and the marginalised who are our neighbours.
'HOW CAN I HELP?'
Every penny helps! Donate to our parish via giftaid. If you pay tax in the UK you can use giftaid. It's free, it's easy, and as you can see above, it helps us to help others. The UK government pays us back for what you give to us via gftaid. This is the only official help that UK charities receive.
Our hope and ambition is that every penny given to us by you comes through giftaid.
LAZAROS, OUR NEIGHBOUR
The dying Lazaros is lying outside our door (Luke 16:20). We Christians have a duty of care (John 21:17), this is a constant in our life (Matthew 26:11), we must not ignore him (1 John 3:17). Let us do all that we are able to help to help our neighbour (John 15:12). May I ask you - please make a start, and donate to the parish by giftaid.
CHRIST IS RISEN!
In the Risen Lord,
Father Jakob
Presbyter, All Saints North Benfleet
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