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PEACE AND GRACE
Commemoration of the Appearance of the Head of St. John the Baptist (March 9 / Amshir 30)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”Psalm 18:1-2
SERVICES THIS WEEK
Wednesday:
Liturgy: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Friday:
Youth Online Hymn Meeting: 7:00 p.m. (Contact Mariam G. 562-456-6067 or clicking here to join!)
Lent Series Book Discussion: Characteristics of the Spiritual Path by Pope Shenouda: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday:
Vespers Raising of Incense: 7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Sunday:
Divine Liturgy: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (IN-PERSON Sunday School following Liturgy)
Monday:
Preparation for Baptism (Catechism) Class: 8:00 p.m. (online)
PARENTS: SUNDAY SCHOOL IS NOW IN-PERSON!
In-Person Sunday School as now resumed! Be sure to bring your child weekly so they can receive some essential Christian education!
Why is Orthodox Christian education essential for your child? We live in a time and place where things can be confusing for adults let alone for the children! This is especially the case in Southern California where you child WILL face every sort of doctrine and belief, many of which bombard your child with negativity, disbelief, despair, and immorality. And COVID has not made it easier over the last couple of years! Orthodox Christian education, at church but also (and maybe more importantly) at home, will be a strong defense your child will have to face these challenges. Do not miss an opportunity to expose your child to the truths of our Ever-Victorious Lord Jesus Christ, the power He has given the saints before us, the bible, and the promises He has given you and your children! Please reach out to your child’s Sunday School teachers for ways to get involved and partner with them. Let us all have a renewed sense of urgency in the proper Orthodox Christian education for our precious children!
LENT SERIES: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRITUAL PATH
This year, starting March 11th, we will be reviewing a special book written by one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th Century, Pope Shenouda the III, 117th Patriarch of Alexandria. Join us in person Friday nights at St. Basil’s for a discussion on this amazing book sure to give you spiritual renewal and commitment. Babysitting will be provided along with hymn lessons for the youth. We have many copies of this book in the bookstore or you can CLICK HERE to purchase the book from Amazon.
LENT SCHEDULE
Be sure to look out for updated schedules for the upcoming services and events during Lent and Holy Week!
Weekly Wednesday Liturgies from 8-10 am
March 19th: Feast of the Cross
April 7th: Commemoration of the Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
April 15th: Last Friday of Great Lent
April 17th: Palm Sunday
April 18-April 22 - Holy Week
Click Here to download the Holy Week Lectionary.
Click here to listen to some Holy Week Hymns!
April 24th - Feast of the Resurrection
ONLINE HYMNS LESSONS!
The Coptic Orthodox Church has hundreds of hymns that are beautiful, ancient and powerful in moving the soul! When sung, not just by deacons, but by every member of the church, they can uplift the spirit and mind to a place where the angels are! These hymns are rich tradition that we have inherited and now it is our responsivity to provide them to our children.
Please encourage your child to join us online to learn these hymns every Friday at 7:00PM by clicking here!
PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM (CATECHISM) CLASSES
Join us on ONLINE on Monday nights at 8:00 PM for Baptism preparation classes. Visit www.stbasil.net/baptism for more information. These classes are open for:
Anyone interested in becoming members of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Those recently baptized (within the last few years), or
Simply anyone else seeking to better understand the basics of the Christian Faith and History.
Together, we will review the importance of baptism and its impact, the Sacraments, the inspiring church history, the Orthodox Creed, the Holy Bible, Orthodox Prayer and Spiritual life, and Church traditions. Reading material will be provided for those who wish to attend. To register for this class, please contact Fr. Michael at 949-378-0350 or FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
As a reminder, the Professionals LinkedIn group is an easy way to connect and network with fellow members of our community.
ST. BASIL WELCOME PORTAL
Do you know about our Welcome Portal? You can use it to register as a member, update existing contact information, volunteer for a church service, make a donation, contact Father Michael, or provide private comments/questions/suggestions. Try it out and visit our Welcome Portal.
FAMILY HOME VISITS
Father Michael is offering home visits for anyone who is interested. Please reach out to him directly to schedule a visit.
Phone: 949-378-0350
Email: FrMichaelMaximous@gmail.com
HELP WITH AMAZON SMILE
If you are looking into other ways to support our church, the AmazonSmile Foundation offers an easy way to give while browsing the Amazon shop. It will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases, at no cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com (you may want to add a bookmark to make it easier to return). You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on the product detail pages. If you already own an Amazon account you can use the same account for AmazonSmile. On your first visit, please select “Saint Basil American Coptic Orthodox Church” as your charity of choice. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make will result in a donation for our church. Thank you so much for your love and support.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please let us know if you have any upcoming important events for us to share with our fellow congregants. Special events are best shared among our family, and we encourage you to share your special news with us.