“At the voice of the one crying in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’, you came, Lord, having taken the form of a servant, asking for Baptism, though you did not know sin. The waters saw you and were afraid. The Forerunner trembled and cried out, saying, ‘How will the lamp enlighten the Light? The servant place his hand on the Master? Saviour, who take away the sin of the world, make me and the waters holy’.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This coming week we conclude our celebration of the Nativity of our Lord and begin the celebration of of His Holy Theophany.
Just as the Savior revealed Himself in His birth in extreme humility, so now He reveals Himself in extreme humility again in allowing Himself to be baptized beneath the hand of His servant; and we see how each person of the Trinity gives glory to the others, each one keeping nothing for Himself.
The Son steps into the Jordan in loving obedience to the Father; the Father glorifies the Son as beloved; the Spirit in the form of a dove confirms the Father’s word. One God is manifest in Three Persons.
Services for Theophany will be as follows:
- Tuesday 5th at 5 pm: Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil. Followed at 6 pm by the Blessing of the Waters.
- Wednesday 6th at 8 am Orthros; 9 am Divine Liturgy
- Wednesday 6th between 11:30 am and 12 pm Blessing of the Waters at Watson Lake.
With love in Christ,
Fr. Jeffrey
p.s. If you would like to keep your children home from school on the 6th to attend Liturgy in the morning, and the blessing of the waters at Watson Lake, I would be glad to write a note stating the reason for your children’s absence from school.