V. Rev. Josiah Trenham, Pastor Church Phone (951) 369-0309 ● Fax (951) 369-6609
For information and schedule of services, go to www.Saintandrew.net
Volume 21 Issue 2
March 2012 A Publication of St. Andrew Orthodox Church
4700 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507
Beloved Parishioners of St. Andrew,
Blessings and greetings on this Middle Day of the Lenten Fast.
Throughout all the weeks of Great Lent we pray earnestly for the catechumens of the church throughout the
world: those preparing to be baptized and/or chrismated and to take their places as full members of and
within the Orthodox Church of Christ.
On the Sundays of Lent following the Gospel and Homily we pray the "Litany of the Catechumens" and on
Wednesday nights at the Presanctified Liturgy we pray the same.
Beginning this week, the 4th week of the fast, at the presanctified services we add a 2nd litany for those
catechumens who are prepared to be received into the church on Great and Holy Saturday. This year the
Holy Saturday Baptismal Liturgy will be on April 14th, just hours before we celebrate Holy Pascha.
Of our parish's 26 catechumens, we intend to receive 11 on Great Saturday. You will find the names of
these persons in this newsletter, and I ask that you include these dear ones in your daily prayers.
The final weeks of lent and catechesis are always challenging for these soon to be neophytes (new-plants)
of the church. The devils rage because they are about to lose their trophies, and to have their ill-gotten gains
plundered, that is recovered by Christ the Lord.
The Lord Christ reigns at the right hand of His Father in heaven, and is overseeing and superintending the
fulfillment of His mission to redeem the world and to baptize all the nations. He is doing this one
catechumen at a time in the holy parishes throughout the world.
Our calling is to assist this catechumens into the life of Christ, of the Church, and to care for these new
plants so that they grow strong and healthy and bear much fruit. Please pray for them by name, and open
your heart to them as soon to be fellow parishioners.
I assure you of my love and prayers.
Fr Josiah
“As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia”
Page 2 Volume 21 Issue 2
St. Andrew Orthodox Bible Reading Plan Part 5
Mar. 23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Apr. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
May. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Page 3 Volume 21 Issue 2
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE….
THE OLD TESTAMENT…..49 Books
5 Books of Law 18 Books of History 7 Books of Wisdom 19 Books of Prophecy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1,2 Samuel (1,2 Kingdoms)
1,2 Kings (3,4 Kingdoms)
1,2 Chronicles
1,2 Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1,2,3 Maccabees
Psalms
Job
Proverbs of Solomon
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs (by Solomon)
Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom of Sirach
Hosea
Amos
Micah
Joel
Obadiah
Jonah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zachariah
Malachi
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Baruch
Lamentations
Epistle of Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Daniel
THE NEW TESTAMENT…..27 Books
5 Books of History 21 Books of Doctrine 1 Book of Prophecy
Life of Christ History of Church
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1, 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1, 2 Thessalonians
1, 2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1, 2 Peter
1, 2, 3 John
Jude
Revelation
About 400 years between Testaments
God used some 40 men over nearly 16 centuries in writing the Bible
Page 4 Volume 21 Issue 2
The following article is from the daily meditation by DYNAMIS for the Sunday of the Cross:
DYNAMIS is a daily Bible meditation based upon the lectionary of the Holy Orthodox Church. DYNAMIS
is a project of the Educational Committee of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Wichita,
Kansas. DYNAMIS’ Web‑site is free: To obtain any of their meditations for the current month or for the last
twelve months, or for questions concerning Orthodoxy or editorial comments, contact their editorial address:
[email protected] Web Site: www.dynamispublications.org
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 NKJ Epistle for the Third Sunday of
Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who
has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to
the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.
1 For every high priest taken from
among men is appointed for men in
things pertaining to God, that he
may offer both gifts and sacrifices
for sins.
2 He can have compassion on those
who are ignorant and going astray,
since he himself is also subject to
weakness.
3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so
also or himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is
called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High
Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You."
6 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest
forever According to the order of Melchizedek...."
The Throne of Grace: Hebrews 4:14-5:6, especially vs.
16: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need." The Apostle advises that we approach
"...the throne of grace...." The invitation might sound
quaint to the host of people who live without monarchs
and royalty. The only 'enthroned' or 'presiding' persons
we are likely to 'approach' are magistrates or judges.
Most likely, we do not approach them 'boldly, for the
courts of justice are not uniformly known to be thrones
of 'grace.'
There are some countries in the
world where monarchs still reign as
heads of state; but, mostly, we
'moderns' have little to do with such
sovereigns or their thrones. Of
course, as Orthodox Christians, we
do meet the Church's Bishops who
preside liturgically from thrones. Yet
even in Church, most members do
not normally approach our hierarchs
on their thrones, except for the few
who serve at worship. However, the
Apostle is inviting us all to "...the
throne of grace...."
And what is this "...throne of
grace..."? Who is seated on it? What
mercy and grace might we seek by approaching this
throne? And, honestly, can we come 'boldly?
The Apostle Paul reminds us (along with Saint
Timothy) that in Christ Jesus' "...own time, He Who is
the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and
Lord of lords, Who alone has immortality, dwelling in
unapproachable light, Whom no man has seen or can
see, to Whom be honor and everlasting power..." will
manifest Himself (1 Ti. 6:15-16). When we enter His
courts, among those assembled before His throne, we
are not going to be mistaken about this royal Person.
Saint Paul is clear: we all will appear before Him one
day. Saint John Chrysostom asks: "Of Whom are these
things said? Of the Father, or of the Son? Of the Son,
undoubtedly."
Page 5 Volume 21 Issue 2
If we are blessed to attend an Orthodox Church this
Sunday, we will be able to venerate Jesus' Cross, and
prostrate ourselves before the Lord Who stretched out
His hands on this Cross to draw the world to Himself by
Resurrection.
"What a ladder [the Cross is] over which we ascend to
the heavens, raising with praises Christ the Lord!"
Before this Throne, we are freed in mind from the world
and may sing with the Church, "Come, ye believers, let
us adore the life-giving Tree, whereon when Christ the
King of glory stretched His hands, He lifted us to the
first bliss, us whom the ancient enemy having led
captive by desire drove away from God....[and let us
sing] O Lord Who wast crucified...have mercy upon
us." If we prostrate before this monarch on His 'Throne,'
then we will meet the true Lord, the reigning Christ, our
King and our God.
Notice that today's Epistle reveals Christ as Lord, as
reigning Monarch of all that is, visible and invisible,
Who also is our Great High Priest (see vss. 4:14,15;
5:5). For, as the God-man, Christ Jesus "...has passed
through the heavens..." (vs. 14). Now, King of all, He
also is High Priest for all. Indeed, we have a King Who
can and does "...sympathize with our weaknesses..." (vs.
15); for He became, and remains eternally, fully human
like us, as He was in time, except forever "...without
sin" (vs.15). Remember His ministry among us in the
flesh; He fixed an eternal bond by which we may know
Him as 'One of us,' as 'One Who understands,' as One
from Whom "...we may obtain mercy and find grace to
help in time of need" (vs. 16).
Do not hold back from His Majesty; come to His throne,
the "...throne of grace..." as the Apostle encourages (vs.
6). Be bold like the sinful woman who washed His feet
with her tears and anointed them with the fragrant oil of
repentance (Lk. 7:38). Bow to Him who heals. Affirm
Christ as Lord, as King and as God. Let us acknowledge
Him as our Life-Giver and Savior, our Sovereign Who
knows our hearts better than we know our selves. Cry
unto Him, Have pity upon me, a sinner, that I may
approach and touch Thee, O Christ my God.
Diocese of Los Angeles and the West Antiochian Women’s
33rd Annual Spring Retreat
St. Nicholas Cathedral
March 31, 2012
Theme: “THE FIRST DAYS OF CHRISTIANITY”
Speaker: Mother Victoria, Abbess of St. Barbara Monastery
Archbishop JOSEPH, presiding
The Very Reverend David Hovik, Spiritual Advisor
Costs: $60.00 including meals. Retreat is open to women 18 and older of all Orthodox jurisdictions
Make check payable to “Antiochian Women, Diocese of the West” and write “Retreat” on the Memo line
Registration, coffee and refreshments start at 8:00 a.m.
The retreat will start at 9:00 a.m., with lunch at noon. Vespers followed by an address by Archbishop
Joseph will be held at 3:30 PM. Dinner and a wrap-up session will follow Vespers. .
Please Note: Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, the venue has changed (from Camp Saint Nicholas
at Frazier Park) to St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral in Los Angeles at 2300 W. Third St., Los Angeles,
90057. Instead of the usual 3-day format, this year’s retreat will be a one-day event on March 31st. It’s not
too late to sign up. To register or arrange for carpooling, please see Beth Krammes or Lucy Hanna.
Page 6 Volume 21 Issue 2
St. Andrew Community News….
Congratulations to Michael and Agape
Silversmith on the birth of their little
girl. Little Callia Silversmith was born
on February 6. She weighed 9 lbs., and
measured 20 inches.
New babies in January and February, 2012. Many Years!
Congratulations to Brian and
Shawna Jackson on the birth of their
baby girl. Little Vera Jackson was
born on January 21. She weighed 8
lb. 9 oz., and measured 20.5 inches.
Congratulations to Terrence and
Angeline Baxter on the birth of their
baby boy. Little Gabriel Baxter was
born or January 23rd. He weighed 9
lb. 5 oz., and measured 22 inches.
Another Octogenarian at St. Andrew!
On January 29, 2012 our dear brother
Benjamin Alcala, known as the “Voice”,
celebrated his 80th birthday. Following
the Divine Liturgy as Father Josiah
came out of the altar waving the heart
with Ben’s picture a recording of Ben
singing “Se im noo” was playing in the
background! Many years Ben!
Left: Fr. Josiah
blessing the boys
on the Feast of the
presentation of our
Lord.
Below: Story time
with Father during
Friday School.
Soooo precious!
A belated congratulations to Jim and
Dorothy Henderson on their 35th
wedding anniversary. Many years!
Page 7 Volume 21 Issue 2
Please Pray for healing of: Carol Dolenar, health
Andrew Nova, cancer
Naomi & Giovanni, health
Pat Boynton, aunt of Kent Joris, cancer
Kate Simcoe, cancer
James Perry, father of Gina Bernard, cancer
Carmen Ruben, health
Rosemary Ward, sister of Leigh Trenham, health
Xenia Falcon, health
Conley Watson, health
Nina Tormozova, health
Sergei Tormozova, health
Guillermo Mina, father of Sonia Ruben, health
Ken Joris, father of Kent Joris, cancer
Clifford Ashie, health
Maria Economus, cancer
Kathy Reese, sister of Kh. Catherine, cancer
Helen Ashie, mother of Regina Roum, health
Dale Krammes, father of Barry Krammes, health
Ariana Frazier, recovering from surgery
All suffering Christians in Egypt and Syria
Myrrhbearers of St. Andrew
14th Annual
Annunciation Tea
Saturday, March 24, 2012
12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Kh. Christina Reimann
$5.00 per person
Bring a Friend, a Lenten finger food
and a flower for our Lady
Godspeed to our current catechumens who are preparing for illumination on Holy Saturday
*Tony Caltabiano *Zana Devitto *Lisa Mueller
Eric Castleman *Daniel Diaz *Lawrence (Moses) Nash
Paula Castleman *Rebekah Diaz *Crystal Nash
Ashley Castro *AngeloDiaz *Maria Newton
Velvet Castro Steve Hunt *Skip Parrish
Moriah Castro Kemi Ingram *Douglas Shumway
Samaria Castro Anna Ingram
Bethany Castro Abi Ingram
Zion Castro Matthew Ingram
Elias Castro Martha Metroka
Prayer for Catechumens
O Lord our God, Who dwellest on high and regardest the humble of heart; who hast sent forth as the salvation of
the race of men Thine Only-begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ: Look down upon Thy servants the
catechumens (NN.), who bow their necks before Thee; make them worthy in due season of the laver of
regeneration, the remission of sins, and the robe of incorruption. Unite them to Thy holy, catholic, and apostolic
Church, and number them with Thine elect flock: that with us they may glorify Thine all-honorable and majestic
Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
* preparing for illumination on Great Saturday 2012
Top Related