On Saturday, February 2, we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple with Matins at 9:30AM and Mass at 10, followed by a pot-luck brunch. This feast is also called the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as she came to the Temple in Jerusalem not only to present her Son, but also to receive the ritual purification required by the Jewish law after childbirth. Another name for this feast is Candlemas, as all the candles to be used in church during the year are blessed at this service. There will be a procession with lighted candles symbolizing St. Simeon’s naming of Jesus as “a light to lighten the Gentiles.”
Our Food for Hungry People collection of canned and dried goods weighed in at 126 pounds. The food was donated to the Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg. Thanks to the Caldwell family for the delivery.
At our Annual Parish meeting in January, Patrick Woolley was elected to service on the Parish Council to replace Sharon Green, who had completed a second term. Thank you to all who help with the practical work of our parish by serving on the Council.
House blessings will continue until Saturday, February 23, before Vespers. Please speak with Fr. Nicholas or Fr. Raphael to arrange for your home to receive a blessing. After sprinkling the house with holy water blessed at the Feast of Epiphany, and praying for God’s blessing upon the house and those who live there, the principal door of the house is marked with the initials tradition gives to the three wise men; the CMB may also stand for Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.”
The preparation for the penitential season of Lent begins with Septuagesima on February 24. The joyful exclamation, “alleluia” and the Gloria in excelsis will be put aside for this season and purple will be the color for the vestments and altar coverings as through the “gesimas”, we gradually approach Lent.
Read the full February newsletter here.