Dear Fr Moses,
We pray this finds you well.
On April 14, just six days from today, we will finally deploy to Albania!
Years of prayer and preparation have culminated in this moment! In less than a week we will board our plane and arrive in a totally new country in which to live and work. Predictably, we are really excited. We also feel a bit nervous as you can probably imagine. Most of all, we have a strong sense of reassurance that we are where we are meant to be: following our Lord’s call to serve His people in the mission field, to open a new chapter with all the joys and struggles it will bring.
“If I rise on the wings of the morning, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me.” Psalm 139:9-10
Not only are we travelling with the Lord, but we know we have each of you with us in spirit and in our hearts; we couldn’t feel more taken care of! Each step we take as individuals is really a collective step since we represent all of you in Albania. And after all, you have made our work possible with your support.
For communication, we will continue to use email and Zoom to connect with you all; we look forward to remaining in contact while abroad. Please stay tuned for our next update after Pascha.
Further, we encourage you to follow us on social media if you haven’t already:
Instagram: @withlovesarigianis
Facebook: @sarigianisOCMC
Website: withlovesarigianis.com
Please know we have each of you in our prayers, and we are continually grateful for your support and love. We ask for prayers for our safe travel, and a smooth transition into our new apartment and roles.
Blessed journey through the end of Great Lent and through Holy Week!
With love and gratitude in Jesus Christ,
- Steve & Theophani
To make a donation, visit our official OCMC page HERE or click the link below: Support for Sarigianis Mission
Thu
25Apr8:30 MatinsFri
26Apr8:30 MatinsSat
27Apr6:00 Great VespersSun
28AprPALM SUNDAY
9:15 Divine LiturgyMon
29Apr8:30 Matins
“A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breath with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.”
“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: “I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.” (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!” - St. Nektarios of Aegina, The Path to Happiness
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