ALL SAINTS: NOTICES - - AFTERFEAST OF THE FALLING-ASLEEP OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, 2026
'GOOD SERVANT', OR 'EVIL SERVANT...?
In today's Holy Gospel lection (Matthew 18:23-35), we hear about the 'evil servant' (δοῦλε πονηρέ- 'thoulē ponirē'; effectively, also, a 'servant of the evil-one'). We should understand that the 'merciful King' depicted is God; the 'evil servant' is the hard-hearted and recalcitrant sinner; the 'throttled servant' is each and every person whom I have mistreated (physically, psychologically, etc.) or considered mistreating; the 'fellow servants' are the scandalised brethren. But, where am I...? To answer this question I could use this lection as a matrix to generate some self examination:
Do I honour and love god; do I serve Him to the best of my ability?
Am I truly aware of all that I owe to God; do I demonstrate sufficient gratitude?
Am I disproportionately offended by trivial things; do I 'lord it' over others?
Do I forgive those indebted to me?
Am I a fraud - a hypocrite who neither truly loves God nor truly loves my sister/brother?
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SANCTIFICATION OF THE HOME, OR SECULARISATION OF THE HOME...?
Each year, following the Holy Theofania (6th January), the faithful Orthodox Christian faithful invite the priest to bless their home. It is always joyful and prudent that we have our home blessed!
Some homes have been blessed many times, every year; others blessed infrequently; some others have never been blessed. Where the house is 'mixed' Orthodox/non-Orthodox there is no reason for not seeking a blessing. With a gentle and persistent explanation of its importance, with love and consideration, the blessing of the home can usually be made without controversy.
It is now eight months and ten days since the Theofania- two thirds of this year have already elapsed. This is a reminder that if you want to invite the priest to bless your home, you should ask.
Please be aware that although the priest would very much love your home to be blessed, he will never come uninvited.
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ALL GLORY TO GOD!
Those quiet, humble, committed people - the 'good servants' - who serve in our parish.
Our patrons/benefactors who have come forward to purchase small items for katekhoumens and for our holy temple.
Our dedicated editorial/production team and all who help share the children's magazine. It's our 200th issue next weekend!
Subdeacon Aaron - for purchasing a small and very nice book-shelf for choir books.
Daniel O. - for service in the holy altar, repositioning the old choir lectern before the Crucifixion eikon, and numerous other odd jobs. Many years upon his birthday!
Savvas (Gareth) - regularly baking beautiful prosfora.
Elizabeth - received on Friday by Holy Chrismation. Her godmother, Presbytera Susanna.
Nataliya - 100% pass rate from her GCSE students. She - instinctively - gave all glory to God for this blessing and made a gift to the parish!
Ted - for organic eggs, bread, vegetables.
Paraskevi & Serafim - for black sacks and cleaning materials.
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YOUR PRAYERS
That we will truly serve God, and truly love our neighbour.
***Orthodox Christian couples in our parish preparing for holy matrimony.***
Elizabeth (newly-illumined) - In hospice care. Help her, and Ted, if you are able.
Subdeacon Aaron, Emily Katherine, Irene - travelling, various days this week.
Michael - travelling on Friday.
Adam - travelling, today, to the US to begin two years of study.
Serafim - change of job.
Savvas - may God give him strength in his work.
Maria - facing difficult challenges.
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With love and prayers, in Christ God,
Father Jakob
sinner and unworthy presbyter
Please feel free to post online and share with 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.
(2026-2027)
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
25th APRIL -- ENTRY OF OUR LORD INTO IERUSALEM*
2nd MAY-- HOLY PASCHA*
10th JUNE-- HOLY ASCENSION*
20th JUNE-- 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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