Great Lent Begins

Dear Parish Family,

This Monday, February 15th begins our annual journey to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is meant to be a journey of renewal and spiritual growth, but it requires our effort and participation.

Since last year when the pandemic started, we have not been able to gather together fully like we normally do. Our spiritual lives may have suffered due to the loss of our Sunday routine. This is why it is of the utmost importance that we do our best to fully participate in Great Lent this year. God is light, peace, joy, and love. We all need more of God in our lives. Through fasting and prayer of the Great Lent, we earnestly seek God and reclaim our faith by drawing close to Him.

Great Lent starts with a beautiful service of communal forgiveness. Join us on Monday, February 15th at 7pm for the Shubkono Service, which will be conducted remotely through Zoom/YouTube.

Then, starting on Wednesday at 7pm on Zoom, we will have special Lenten evening prayer led by our Youth and Sunday School Students (Grades 5 to 12).

Finally, on Saturdays at 6pm at Church, we will have evening prayer followed by a faith study. I am requesting anyone interested in giving a short devotional message to please contact me. It would be great to have messages of faith from within our own community.

If you would like to receive the sacrament of confession, I will be available before and after Evening Prayers on Saturdays. Please let me know if you intend to come for confession.

I hope that you will take this opportunity to fully participate in the Great Lent by prayer, fasting, study, and charity.

I have attached the schedule for Great Lent services.
Go to our parish website for Lenten prayer book resources (Malayalam and English): https://sbgocnj.org/news/great-lent/

May God bless our fasting and prayer.

Yours in Christ,
Vijay Achen