St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church

Great and Holy Friday

Royal Hours: 8 am

Vespers of Great and Holy Friday: 4 pm

Matins of Great and Holy Saturday: 6 pm

On Great and Holy Friday, Christ died on the Cross. He gave up His spirit with the words: “It is finished” (John 19:30). These words are better understood when rendered: “It is consummated.” He had accomplished the work for which His heavenly Father had sent Him into the world. He became a man in the fullest sense of the word. He accepted the baptism of repentance from John in the Jordan River. He assumed the whole human condition, experiencing all its alienation, agony, and suffering, concluding with the lowly death on the Cross. He perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)

The Man of Sorrows... Read the rest HERE

Great and Holy Saturday

April 26

Divine Liturgy: 11 am

Baptisms: 2 pm

Nocturn of Holy Pascha: 11:30 pm

Great and Holy Saturday is the day on which Christ reposed in the tomb. The Church calls this day the Blessed Sabbath. “The great Moses mystically foreshadowed this day when he said: God blessed the seventh day. This is the blessed Sabbath. This is the day of rest, on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all His works....” (Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday)

By using this title the Church links Holy Saturday with the creative act of God. In the initial account of creation as found in the Book of Genesis, God made man in His own image and likeness. To be truly himself, man was to live in constant communion with the source and dynamic power of that image: God. Man fell from God. Now Christ, the Son of God through whom all things were created, has come to restore man to communion with God. He thereby completes creation. All things are again as they should be. His mission is consummated. On the Blessed Sabbath He rests from all His works.

Read the rest HERE

HOLY PASCHA

The Resurrection of Our Lord

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. St Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the dead, then our preaching and faith are in vain (I Cor. 15:14). Indeed, without the resurrection there would be no Christian preaching or faith.

The disciples of Christ would have remained the broken and hopeless band which the Gospel of John describes as being in hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. They went nowhere and preached nothing until they met the risen Christ, the doors being shut (John 20: 19).

Then they touched the wounds of the nails and the spear; they ate and drank with Him. The resurrection became the basis of everything they said and did (Acts 2-4): “. . . for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39).

The resurrection reveals Jesus of Nazareth as not only the expected Messiah of Israel, but as the King and Lord of a new Jerusalem: a new heaven and a new earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. . . the holy city, new Jerusalem. And I heard a great voice from the throne saying “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. . . He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:1-4).

In His death and resurrection, Christ defeats the last enemy, death, and thereby fulfills the mandate of His Father to subject all things under His feet (I Cor. 15:24-26).

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Rev. 5: 12)

Read the rest HERE

Agape

Vespers

2:00pm -- Sunday April 28

Pascha Barbecue Picnic follows Agape Vespers

Bring your own meat for barbecue and a side dish to share

Beverages, plates, napkins, and silverware will be provided

Pascha (Easter) Egg Hunt for the kids!

Holy Pascha services begin with Nocturns of Holy Pascha at 11:30 pm Saturday April 26

The Matins of Great and Holy Pascha immediately follow at midnight April 27

Divine Liturgy for Holy Pascha follows the Matins service.

At the conclusion of the Pascha services we will celebrate with our annual Pascha "Breakfast"

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About Us

We are a family church of many cultures with intergenerational worship; we have a full liturgical life throughout the Church year, with many opportunities for joyful fellowship and enduring growth. Our vision is to “manifest the Kingdom of God by proclaiming and living the Orthodox Christian Faith.” Orthodox Christianity is for everyone — come and see!

Located at the north end of California's San Joaquin Valley, St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church is dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to His promise of salvation to all mankind. The services of our mission-parish are located in the heart of Merced.

Committed to serving Christ and His Holy Church, the people of St. Mary Magdalene welcome and encourage all visitors to be our guests, especially those who are truly seeking the path of salvation.

Sermons

Fr. Lawrence Gaudreau

Audio files

Mar 17, 2019	God Came in theFlesh for Us
Mar 10, 2019	We are Called to be Holy
Feb 24, 2019	Prodigal Son
Feb 17, 2019	Publican and Pharisee
Feb 10, 2019	Let Others See Christ in Us
Jan 27, 2019	Be a True Witness
Jan 13, 2019	God's Mercy, Love, and Grace Abound
Jan 6, 2019	The Holy Waters of the Jordan
Audio and Video Sermon Archives Here

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