Dear Brother and Sisters,
Due to the impending winter storm, we are cancelling Divine Liturgy for Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Please stay safe, check on family members and elderly neighbors.
We hope to see you all the following Sunday, Feb.1st when we will be celebrating the Holy Day of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple. (Holy Day, Feb. 2nd).
We will have General Confession on Sunday, Feb. 1.,
This Sunday starts the Pre-Lenten period. It starts with the story of Zacchaeus. Read the Epistle and Gospel for this Sunday. The text will be in our Bulletin.
Next Sunday will be the story of the Prodigal Son.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Matthew
Beloved Members of Our Diocan Family:
It appears that there is a “super” snow storm predicted to affect the region of our Diocese this weekend. In those places where the storm makes it dangerous to travel to church and the snowfall reaches a dangerous level, the church should not be opened Sunday morning.
In situations where the snow is making travel unsafe and closures are becoming necessary, then clergy should issue these instructions to their parishes:
This Saturday, January 24, everyone should make the commitment to attend Vespers in our parishes, if the snow is not already affecting them.
This Sunday morning, January 25, for those faithful whose parishes are closed or who cannot get to their church, they should wake up and prepare as they normally would for the Divine Liturgy. At the time when their parish usually begins the Liturgy, they should go to their icon corner as a family and pray the attached Typika Service, which includes the hymns and Scripture readings appointed for this Sunday.
Beloved: It is painful and most unusual to close a church and have no Liturgy on a Sunday – and of course this should only be done where it is truly necessary. But we all still must pray, especially for the safety of our countless neighbors and fellow citizens who will be endangered by severe weather. In the early Church, when Christians were being persecuted, church communities who could not hold public services would still meet, faithfully, in private homes. We are called to that same steadfast commitment to prayer!
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Be assured of my prayers for all of our Diocesan clergy and faithful.
With my prayers, my blessings, and my love,
+ Archbishop Michael
READER TYPIKA SERVICE SUNDAY JANUARY 25 2026.pdf