HOLY COMMUNION
With the fear of God, faith, and love draw near! (Divine Liturgy)
Here are some things to prayfully consider before approaching the Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ:
1.) The frequent reception of Holy Communion is encouraged! This means however that we must all frequently prepare to receive Holy Communion. If you have not been to Church for a while, consider this an opportunity to restart your life in Christ, and to speak with your Priest about receiving the Sacraments of the Church. Never be afraid or discouraged to come and speak to Father Andreas before receiving Holy Communion!
2.) We receive Holy Communion when we become members in good standing of the Orthodox Church. This takes places through the Sacraments of Baptism, and Chrismation in a canonical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church. If you would like to become an Orthodox Christian, please see Fr. Andreas!
3.) Our goal is to become closer to God by living a life of Holiness! Something to reflect on before and after we consume the Body and Blood of Christ is whether or not we are living our lives in peace and love as God wants us to.
4.) It is necessary to fast prior to receiving Holy Communion. We should abstain from food or drink prior to receiving the the Body and Blood of our Lord unless it is medically neccesary. If you have any questions, please speak to Fr. Andreas.
5.) CAUTION! Please approach the chalice carefully! Never do anything that could potentially spill the Body and Blood of Christ from the Chalice!!!
6.) When receiving Communion, please close your mouth in a natural manner as you would when feeding yourself with a spoon. Please also ensure that the red cloth is placed under your chin.
8.) Women, please blot or remove lipstick prior to receiving Holy Communion.
PASTORAL VISITATIONS
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:13-15)
Please call the Church Office or call Fr. Andreas’s emergency cell phone number to let him know what your pastoral needs are. You can also ask a family members, a social worker, or a Hospital Chaplain to notify the Church so that they can inform Fr. Andreas that you are in need of pastoral care.
CONFESSION
A young monk said to the great ascetic Abba Sisoes: “Abba, what should I do? I fell.” The elder answered: “Get up!” The monk said: “I got up and I fell again!” The elder replied: “Get up again!” But the young monk asked: “For how long should I get up when I fall?” “Until your death,” answered Abba Sisoes. (Sayings of the Desert Fathers)
Confession is necessary for our personal healing, and for the repentance and forgiveness of sins. It’s also a vital element of our Lord’s Commission to us as Orthodox Christians for the life and growth of the Church.
Never be afraid to speak to Fr. Andreas in order to make the necessary arrangements for the Sacrament of Confession. Confession is offered after Saturday evening Great Vespers. You can also call Father during the week, or just get a hold of him after Liturgy, to schedule Confession!
For additional resources about Holy Communion, Confession, or any other pastoral concern please see Father Andreas or visit our Church website http://www.gocvt.org/