S A I N T P E T E R T H E A P O S T L E C H U R C H

February 2020 1

February Calendar

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What Can the Righteous Do? By Fr. Lawrence Farley

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Parish Activities Scholarship Support, Theophany House Blessings…etc.Page 4

Monthly Newsletter of St. Peter the Apostle Church. Fresno California Issue No. 2 / Vol. 33 / February 2020

MessengerFebruary 2020

Stewardship 2020 Become a Steward of St. Peter Church!

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VBS 9:00 AM - Noon

Vespers 7:00 PM

No Liturgy

Liturgy - 10:00 AM

Church School registration!

Church Meeting - Noon

Liturgy / C.S. 10:00 AM

40 Day Memorial for

gDebra Lombard

Church School Opening Day!

Liturgy / C.S. 10:00 AM

No Vespers

Altar Servers Training

Session at 3:45 PM

Vespers 5:00 PM

Vespers 5:00 PM

Vespers 7:00 PMLiturgy 9:00 AM

6th Hour Prayers - Noon

6th Hour Prayers - Noon

Vespers 7:00 PM

Liturgy 9:00 AM

Liturgy 9:00 AM

Vespers 7:00 PM

Elevation of

the Cross

Labor Day

Nativity of the

Theotokos

Beheading of

St. John

Diocese Days Weekend

St. Steven's Cathedral in Alhambra

The Transition By Fr. Andrew Morbey

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Bulletin Board Circle of Sisters Church School…etc.

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“What Can the Righteous Do?”

Fr. Lawrence Farley

I sometimes find that it is very depressing not to live under a rock. If I lived under a rock, I would not know how bad things are progressing in the western world, but as it is, with newspapers, Facebook, and the six o’clock news, one gets a very full and depressing pic-ture of how western civilization is currently faring. And the picture is not good.

It is true that the media does not give one the full pic-ture. But given the western media’s left-wing bias (at least in Canada), together with its almost total blackout of news reporting the persecution of Christians occur-ring now throughout the non-western world, I have no trouble believing that the picture is not fully accurate. Rather, I believe it is probably worse. In a word, I be-lieve that western civilization is in the process of un-dergoing a total collapse, like the implosion of a build-ing that is being detonated to remove it from the land-scape, with the difference that this implosion takes a generation or so, not just a few seconds.

If you doubt this, or think I am over-reacting, meditate on the fact that in England lately two women, one call-ing herself a man, just had a baby. She was married to her female spouse who had her breasts removed and refuses to identified with either gender. The sperm donor was also transgender, as was the attending doc-tor. The whole spectacle was celebrated, complete with photos, and anyone speaking against it as unnatural or insane could be denounced by a court for expressing opinions “not worthy of respect in a democratic soci-ety”. Remember: this was not California or Vancouver, the proverbially wacky west coast; this was England, where the Head of State still bears the title “Defender of the Faith”.

As the Psalmist says, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Western civi-lization has been built almost entirely upon a founda-tion of Christianity. In an earlier day, this foundation included the spiritual inheritance of the eastern part of Christendom too, though for some time now the west-ern part of Christendom has parted company with the eastern part. (To read all about it, see the excellent book by Strickland, The Age of Paradise.) But even af-ter the parting of west from east, western civilization was Christian civilization. Its understanding of gender, marriage, God, the sanctity of human life, the role of religion, and the importance of reason were all in-formed by the Christian faith, so that its ethics, by and large, were Christian ethics. And when it erred (e.g. in

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accepting slavery) the errors were later corrected on the basis of Christian principles.

As anyone who like me does not live under a rock can see, the Christian foundation is being radically eroded, if not violently overthrown. When one steps back a bit to survey the total landscape, this becomes clear. What do such diverse things as the pandemic of child pornography, violence against women, transgender confusion, gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia, opposi-tion to traditional piety in the public square and in schools, and rampant gun violence have in common? They all share an antipathy to the values of traditional Christianity. These things are not the root problem, but the fruit of the root problem. They are signs that west-ern civilization is collapsing. The West, having effec-tively rejected the traditional Christian faith, is losing the superstructure of civilization which was built upon it.

This should not come as a surprise. Any architect knows that a building is only as secure as the founda-tion upon which it is built. The Lord said the same thing: if one builds upon a foundation of sand, the building will not survive the coming storms. It is only by building upon the rock that the building can stand secure and endure. And the rock upon which to safely build is His divine teaching (Matthew 7:24f).

It might be argued that my jaundiced view of our cur-rent state is the result of me living in highly secularized Canada, and on the even more highly secularized west coast of Canada. It is sadly true that Canada is very far advanced in its anti-Christian secularism. In Canada there is no real right-wing, but only left-wing, further left-wing, even further left-wing, and the Green Party. (The Marijuana Party has, I think, disbanded since the legalization of marijuana. Its supporters will have to find something else to protest. Maybe global warming? Bring on the Swedish children.) We are all very anti-traditional here (or “progressive”, as we bill ourselves), so that no politician in Canada dare voice opposition to gay marriage or abortion. Some might argue that it is my location that has made me unwarrantedly pes-simistic and that I just need to get out more.

I have been out a little, and visited the American South. In spots it was refreshingly different than my native Vancouver, where no one ever wished me “a blessed day”. But even there I witnessed the same symptoms that afflict us here in the Great White North, leading me to conclude that the disease is not confined to my home and native land. The disease has (happily) not

progressed as far down there as it has up here, but I suggest that we both suffer from the same affliction, and that the ultimate prognosis is the same for all of us. To vary the metaphor, the flood water is rising all over North America; the water level is just a little higher in some places. The foundation has been eroded all over the continent, which will suffer the same final disas-trous results.

I suggest that the proof of foundational erosion lies not in the answers given to certain questions, but to the presence in society of the questions in the first place. When a cultural foundation is secure, no one thinks of asking the question, (for example) whether two men may marry each other. The question can only be asked if something fundamental has shifted in the underlying culture. Once the shift has taken place so that the ques-tion may be asked, it is only a matter of time until the non-traditional answer is given to the question and which then finally replaces the traditional answer.

We have seen this occur in our lifetime. That is why the destruction of traditional culture (i.e. western civiliza-tion) begins not with the man in the street making as-sertions, but with academics in ivory towers asking questions. The process does not begin by someone shouting, “Gay marriage is possible!”, but by someone quietly asking, “Is gay marriage possible?” Once the question is allowed as a real question, the liberal an-swer is ultimately assured, for the question can only be asked once the traditional foundation has been eroded or destroyed.

That is also why the call for “dialogue” is dangerous as well as more than a little disingenuous. What is de-manded in the call for dialogue is not true dialogue, but acceptance of a new cultural foundation. There can be no dialogue over things that are clearly wrong when a traditional cultural foundation is in place. For exam-ple, if someone wants to open a dialogue over whether or not National Socialism has merit and should be adopted, the call for dialogue will, quite properly, be refused. The cultural structure built upon a traditional Christian foundation refuses to acknowledge that this is an open question. Of course National Socialism is wrong; there is no need for dialogue about it. It is only when the Christian foundation has been dislodged that anyone regards this as a genuine topic for discussion.

I have been speaking about the collapse of western civ-ilization in the West and not just in North America be-cause I see the same disease and opposition to Christ-ian dogmas and ethics in Europe as well. This reveals

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that the cause of the collapse is not rooted in specifi-cally North American developments, but in the rejec-tion of the Christian faith, for it was only the Christian Faith that was common to North America and Europe.

Some people, alarmed at these developments, have sought an answer in immigration—in other words, in flight. I do sympathize. The Psalm cited at the begin-ning of this essay alluded to the counsel “Flee like a bird to the mountains” (v. 1)—or possibly, like a bird to Russia. Some Orthodox families in America have indeed decided to take flight and have made the move to Russia. I do not judge them. But I think it is a mis-take.

I do share their sorrow over the present and escalating collapse of traditional western civilization. I could murmur like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, “I wish all this need not have happened in my time”. But that would provoke the obvious reply, “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” And for good or for ill, divine provi-dence has placed us where we are in these times. Western civilization has collapsed before, and doubt-less those who lived through those days of increasing

darkness and ultimate collapse similarly lamented that they lived to see such times.

But God’s providence has placed us all where we are, and with it, given us the obligation to fight for the truth in the battleground in which we find ourselves. The results of our striving are not ours to know in ad-vance. Perhaps we shall prevail; perhaps we shall go down in flames. Perhaps western civilization may again arise like a phoenix from the ashes to build upon the foundation that we preserve in secret. Per-haps we live at the end of days, and the changes we see represent the final apostasia/ rebellion foretold by St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. We cannot know. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. We need not fly like a bird to the mountains. Now is not the time for flight. Now is the time for bat-tle, for standing our ground, for truth-telling, for gen-erous deeds, and perhaps for martyrdom. If the foun-dations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? We can do what we have always done: love and sing and serve the Lord. And lift up our heads when the pow-ers of the heavens are shaken, for our redemption draws nigh.

THE TRANSITION by Father Andrew Morbey

O precious Paradise, unsurpassed beauty, tabernacle built by God, un-ending gladness and delight, glory of the just, joy of prophets, and dwelling place of saints, with the sound of your leaves implore to the Maker of all to open for me the gates which I closed by my transgression, and may count me worthy to partake of the Tree of Life and of the joy in which I delighted when I dwelt in you before. (Vespers for Cheesefare Sunday)

For the observant Orthodox Chris-tian, February is a transitional month. At the beginning we cele-brate the Great Feast of the Meet-ing of the Lord (Feb 2/15), which

itself brings to a conclusion a long, bright deep winter festal period stretching from Christmas to the leave-taking of the Meeting (Feb 9). Things shift through the middle of the month as we prepare for

Great Lent, which begins on Mon-day, March 2. This shift is marked by four preparatory Sundays: Pub-lican and Pharisee, Prodigal Son, Last Judgement (aka Meatfare), the Explusion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (aka Cheesefare or Forgiveness Sunday). Each of these weeks offer profound reflec-tions on important spiritual themes as well as changes in diet in anticipation of Lenten fasting.

Fasting is, together with good works and prayer, a key discipline of observant Orthodoxy. It is a common and popular idea that, on a practical level, Lent is all about making some sacrifices and giving things up. It is about abstaining from this or that food, giving up select treats and comforts, cutting

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Parish activities… Scholarship Fund Support:Support our Scholarship Fund is through Amazon Smile. Remember, always start at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Select “Ser-bian Orthodox Church of St Peter” as your charity. It is very simple and easy!

Also, remember that you can donate directly to the Scholarship Fund at any time. All donations are great-ly appreciated!

eScrip: Sign-up and start earning money for our Schol-arship fund with eScrip! Go to escrip.com/where-toearn, choose your favorite store(s), and complete reg-istration to start earning for St. Peter Serbian Orthodox Church.

Annual Assembly…Our Annual Assembly was held on Sunday, December 8, 2019. There were 43 Stewards in attendance. Fr. George, the Parish Council officers, committee chair-persons and the parish auxiliary organizations, pre-sented reports. The budget for 2020 was also approved.

Elected to serve in 2020 are:President: Jim Ward1st Vice-president: Jacob Owens

back on entertainment, avoiding social events and so on.

But while this is actually what happens in some measure for those who try to observe the Fast, the texts concerning Lent - the hymns and prayers and readings for each day of the Fast - empha-size something else. They empha-size that our Lenten discipline and effort is a path to, and anticipation of, our return to Paradise. The Sunday before we enter Lent sets before us the sad, tragic reality of our Fall from Paradise and calls us to take up those things which are signs and anticipations of Par-adise restored.

In this respect, to give up animal products is not meant to be so much a sacrifice on our part as an anticipation of Paradise. Paradise is the Kingdom of God, his good creation restored and renewed. In Paradise we don’t eat each other. We don’t slaughter and butcher each other. We do not commodify and process each other. The vegan diet recommended to us by the Church for this Lenten season is something positive, an opportuni-ty to participate in the reversal of

one of the consequences of the Fall.

It is interesting that the Crucifix-ion of our Lord - the one perfect and sufficient sacrifice - not only brings to an end the required an-imal sacrifices of Hebrew religion, but also the domestic slaughter of paschal lambs, so important in the celebration of Passover. Although there are Jewish vegans and vege-tarians, their existence seems to me to mark a movement from re-ligious observance shaped by priestly and temple worship to an emphasis on ethics arising from the destruction of the Temple. But it is hard to imagine a vegan Passover. It is similarly difficult to imagine Muslim vegans and vege-tarians, since Islam has important legislation and celebration involv-ing ritual and domestic animal sacrifice at various moments of the year. But it is perfectly possi-ble to envision Orthodox Christ-ian vegans and vegetarians. That is in fact what our ascetics, our monks and nuns are doing! And that is what observant Orthodox are doing in abstaining from ani-

mal products in fasting seasons and on fasting days.

It is certainly true that our ethnic and cultural commitments can be bound up with eating animal products, especially on festal oc-casions. Grilling things on spits is often an important part of an Or-thodox culture’s sense of identity and celebration. (And a lot of Americans seem to feel that they need to eat meat at least three times a day.) Nonetheless I think it a wonderful thing that our Ortho-dox theological vision invites us to stretch our imagination, to try on something different, to enrich our experience, by adopting a ve-gan or vegetarian diet for a litur-gical season. Such a diet is meant to be a foretaste (pardon the pun) of the Kingdom, of Paradise. Our thinking about abstaining from animal products should not be ‘oh my gosh, I have to give something up!’ but ‘thank goodness I have this window of opportunity to do this thing’.

A verse repeated in the Triodion says: “Faithful, Let us enter the fast with joy!”

Let’s do it!

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2nd Vice-president: Ken PruseRecording Secretary: Charyce HatlerTreasurer: Shirley ThomasFinancial Secretary: Anne MikitishMembers-at-large: Anthony Olivo, Michael Castro, Jason Epperson, Andrej RomanenkoAuditors: Eric Miller, chairperson; Wayne Clemensen, Tim Penny.Tutors: Tim Penny, Andrej Romanenko, Timothy McA-tee, Jonathan Hart, Jim Ward, Charyce Hatler, Mike CastroCongratulations to our newly elected officers! We encour-age all parishioners to assist them in their work in the year ahead. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mari-lyn Jurkovich who has served on our Parish Council in various positions for over 25 years! Marilyn felt that it was time for her step down from serving on the Council and we are appreciative for her love, dedica-tion and service to our St. Peter Church! Hvala nam Mnoga ja Ljeta!

Theophany House Blessings: If you would like to have your home blessed, please contact Father George by email: stpeter@me.com or call him at 696-7015 to schedule an appointment. When Father arrives, please have the following ready: a bowl for holy water, an icon of Theophany or of Christ, a candle, and separate lists of living and de-parted loved ones for remembrance. Radios, televi-sions, and other electronic devices should be turned

off. Anyone wishing to have the house blessed will be accommo-dated.

Extra Help Needed: We need to add volunteers to our three major parish luncheon com-mittees in 2020. We have chairpersons for the commit-tees but they in need of extra volunteers! They lun-cheon committees are: Pascha Luncheon on April 19; Petrovdan Luncheon on July 12. Please let Father George know if you can help on any of these commit-tees. It will be greatly appreciated!

Friendly reminder...We remind everyone to send in the balance of your pledge commitment for 2019. You can contact financial secretary Anne Mikitish at (816) 956-1782 or by email: amikitish@gmail.com to check on your 2019 balance. 2019 donation statements will only be mailed out by request. Contact Anne if you would like to receive a copy for income tax purposes.

Need help preparing your taxes? Edison May (Luda May’s husband) has extended an opportunity to our parishioners and their friends to professionally pre-pare their 2019 state and federal taxes at a 30% dis-counted rate well below the fees of H&R Block or Lib-erty Tax Service. Plus, he will donate $50.00 to St. Pe-ter Church for each tax return completed. For more information call Ed at (559) 493-8567 and take advan-tage of his generous offer!

Circle of Sisters Luncheon: "There’s no Business, Like Show Business” is the theme for our Circle of Sisters 2020 Fancy Luncheon on Saturday, February 22 at 11 am. Continuing a tradition of over 50 years, Anastacia Cooper, Chair, promises a fun afternoon with a fashion show by Cabi and a 50/50 raffle. This luncheon is famous for beautiful tables decorated by our creative sisters, and a tasty lunch. This year the kitchen is under the direction of Ala Spolsdoff and a dedicated committee. There are still many ways for you to become involved!! We have room for a few more table hosts (Father Jim Pappas has once again committed to decorating a table), you may help in the kitchen, you can join us as a guest (tickets are $30), or you can make a donation to help defray our expens-es. Please contact Anastacia Cooper at (559) 240-8254 with any questions, or to purchase tickets.  We hope you will join us!!

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February Epistle Readers & Tutors Schedule:

Epistle:February 2 Charyce HatlerFebruary 9 Joseph AlsobrookFebruary 16 Jonathan HartFebruary 23 Jacob Owens

Tutors:February 2 Jim Ward / Charyce HatlerFebruary 9 Andrej Romanenko/Tim PennyFebruary 16 Jonathan Hart/Timothy McAteeFebruary 23 Mike Castro / Charyce Hatler

Stewardship 2020 …

All households in the parish should have received our stewardship mailer along with a pledge card. If you did not receive this mailer please contact the church office at stpeter@me.com or pick one up a the candle counter in the narthex. We thank the following parishioners listed who have submitted their pledge commitment for 2020. Thank you and God bless you!

Alsobrook, Scott/KatherineAngelich, OlgaBahn, MarilynBaird, Travis/ MarieBaziuk, John / SuzannaBrickey, Gabe / MikaBrooks, Alisa Rakich/ RaymondBundros, ChristopherBundros, ShirleyCastro, Michael / AnnabelleChaplain, MauraChrisman, George / DianeClemensen, Wayne/LisaCoffeen, VeraContreras, Alexander/FrancineCucuk, BarbaraDe Fehr, VeraDobrinen, ElizabethDublin, AntoninaDuran, Jesus/YvonneEpperson, Jason / LamiaFoley, John/HeidiGligich, DanielGligich, Fr. George / ElenaGligich, JohnGranado, OlgaGregory, SethHart, Jonathon/DeborahHatler, CharyceJankovic, Jeffrey

Jarvie, ZacharyKeves, Laszlo/ValentynaKlingel, Friedhelm/TatianaLivanis, PeterLobkowski, StephanieLobkowski, Vladimir/DarleneMarinovich, Branko/LindaMarinovich, John / NancyMatthews, Dn. Brad/PeggyMay, Lyudmyla/EdisonMcAtee, Randy/JaniceMcAtee, TimothyMikitish, AnneMilinich, BarbaraMiller, Eric/YolyMilovich, RobertMyovich, Kyle/NikiNaden, VeraNorwood, TerilynOwens, GregOwens, JacobOxford, Tom/LynnPavlovich, GeorgePenny, Tim/NancyPestich Smith, AngelaPestorich, John / CharlenePestorich, John / StaciPestorich, Mark/KristenPestorich, Mike/DonaPestorich, Vera

Petrosian, John / ElizavetaPoznanovich, MomirkaPoznanovich, SelmaPruse, Kenneth / TanyaRadoicich, FrancesRistić, BrankaRomanenko, AnastaciaRomanenko, Andrej / CarolynSagardia, PamelaSalata, Greg/NoëlShultz, NormSidel, NatalieSidel, SandraSkochko, Steve/AllisonSmith, CassidySmith, Terrance/Stacy (Batrich)Spolsdoff, Jim/AlaSpolsdoff, KatherineStanovich-Creech, VeraStijovic, MimaTarailo, Ron/RadmilaTarailo, ZorkaThomas, Chase/DanielleThomas, ShirleyVukajlović, LarryVukajlović, Mark/CristinaWard, Jim/SvetlanaWesseler, Dn. Joseph/StaciaWoolley, MarjorieZenovich, Vera

From the parish records… Chrismation: Garret (Christopher) Menges, on Jan-uary 5, 2020

Many Years!

Funeral: Sally Radanovich, 90, on January 30, 2020.

Memory Eternal!

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Parish DirectoryContact Information: Phone: (559) 227-5565 Email: stpeter@me.com Website: www.stpeterfresno.com

Parish Clergy: V. Rev. George Gligich (559) 696-7015Protodeacon Brad Matthews (Retired)Deacon Joseph Wesseler (559) 936-6838

Choir Director: Peggy Matthews (559) 960-2151

Parish Council: Jim Ward (559) 977-0793

Church School: Lamia Epperson (559) 430-9186

Circle of Sisters: Stacy Batrich Smith (559) 790-4073

Men’s Club: Dushan Spadier (559) 260-3700

Worship Services: Saturday Vespers at 5:00 p.m.Confessions on Saturdays after vespers or during the week by appointment.

Sunday Matins at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.Church School on Sundays from September through May following Holy Communion.

Weeknight Vespers at 7:00 p.m.

Weekday Liturgy (Holy Days) at 9:00 a.m.

FEBRUARY26 27 28 29 30 31 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Vespers 5:00 PMVespers 5:00 PM

Meeting of the LordLiturgy 9:00 AMVespers 5:00 PM

Prodigal SonMatins 8:30 AMLiturgy 9:30 AMCS Fundraiser

Vespers 5:00 PM6th Hour Prayers at Noon.

Meat Fare / Last JudgmentMatins 8:30 AMLiturgy 9:30 AM

Publican and PhariseeMatins 8:30 AMLiturgy 9:30 AMParish Council 12:30

Zachaeus SundayMatins 8:30 AMLiturgy 9:30 AMCoS Mtg. Noon

Fasting from meat begins!

FAST DAY

NO FASTNO FAST

FAST DAYFAST DAY

Coffee Hour ScheduleFebruary 2 Nancy Penny, Radmila TarailoFebruary 9 Victoria Cooper, Anastacia CooperFebruary 16 4th - 6th Grades Charity FundraiserFebruary 23 Antonina Dublin, Irina Achelyan

COS Luncheon at 11:00 AMVespers 5:00 PM

Vespers 5:00 PM

FAST DAY

Vespers 7:00 PM

6th Hour Prayers at Noon.

6th Hour Prayers at Noon.

6th Hour Prayers at Noon.

FAST DAY FAST DAYFAST DAYFAST DAYFAST DAYFAST DAY

M E S S E N G E R

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St. Peter the Apostle Church Monthly Newsletter February 2020

4th, 5th & 6th Grades Charity Fundraiser… Our Church School Class will be preparing coffee hour on Sunday, February 16 to raise funds for the establishment of the Gračanica Monastery Dairy Farm and Soup Kitchens in Kosovo. The goal is to help feed and sustain over 2000 people in the Gračanica Municipali-ty through this dairy farm on land which belongs to the Diocese of Ras and Prizren. For more information visit: https://westsrbdio.org/the-gracanica-monastery-fundraiser-for-a-dairy-farm/ Plan to participate and help our upper Elementary Class reach their goal of raising $1,000 or more for this charity!