Volume 22 Issue 9 September A Publication of St. Andrew Orthodox Church 4700 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507

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1 September 2013 A Publication of St. Andrew Orthodox Church 4700 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California To the Parishioners of St. Andrew Church, Beloved of the Lord, As we approach the beginning of a new church year I raise my right hand in prayer and trace the sign of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross over each of you asking the Almighty to adorn the coming year with all manner of spiritual growth and an abundance of fruitbearing and personal transformation into the likeness of the Lord Jesus. Some time ago I was visiting with an esteemed Father who shared with me that over the course of the previous year, over 100 of his parishioners had joined him in a common project: reading the Holy Scriptures from beginning to end over the course of a single year. He spoke of the spiritual discipline as transformative - and I did not doubt him. The Holy Bible is not just a collection of beautiful teachings, but rather the very words of the Holy Trinity. St. Paul says, The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). When we prayerfully read the Word of God we ourselves are radically altered, changed, and molded. The Prophet Jeremiah says that God is the potter and we are the clay (ch. 18). Reading the Scriptures is one of the ways that the hands of the Lord shape, mold, poke, stroke, polish and smash our clay. Elder Aimilianos the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mt. Athos, one of the great contemporary Holy Fathers, says this, Holy Scripture is the greatest gift which God has given to man...the word of God is like an instrument which punctures the hardness of our heart. It is like a charge of dynamite which blasts our passions to the left and to the right. It purges our heart and fills it with virtues...the Holy Scriptures provide us with spiritual experience...where God s voice is, there is God, hidden within the voice. The spiritual book is a mystery, a sacrament...the words and lines of Holy Scripture are the garments of Christ...we know the names of dozens of actors and Read through the Bible in a year... celebrities by heart, backwards and forwards. The same thing with sports stars...here s a better idea, let s do something else. When you go home tonight, open up [the Scriptures]. My dear parishioners I am asking you to commit to a holy project - to read with me a little portion of Holy Scripture each day according to our agreed upon calendar of readings. This will allow us together to read from the beginning to the end of the Holy Bible over the course of one year (September 1, August 31, 2014). It will change us all for the better! And it will animate our life together this year in a unique and beautiful way. Please accept my invitation to launch out on this holy project. With love in the Transfigured Christ, Father Josiah V. Rev. Josiah Trenham, Pastor Church Phone (951) Fax (951) For information and schedule of services, go to To submit articles contact Lucy Hanna, editor, at lucy.hanna@sbcglobal.net or Martha Metroka, field reporter, at mmetroka@att.net

2 Page 2 How to Read the Bible Ten Principles of Orthodox Scriptural Exegesis adapted from Bishop MICHAEL (Dahulich) 1. Christ - God is real and is incarnate in Jesus Christ; He is the Key to the Scriptures. 2. Life - One s ability to interpret depends upon one s spiritual state; one must live it in order to fully understand it. 3. A Love Letter - We read scripture to fall deeper in love with God and put on the Scriptural Mind. 4. Theosis - We read Scripture to become by grace what God is by nature. 5. Tradition - Only within the Church and her Tradition (the consensus of the Fathers) is there full and correct interpretation. 6. Scripture is a witness to the truth, the pinnacle of Holy Tradition; it is not an exhaustive manual of church life. 7. We must interpret the Bible as the Church has handed it, not try to reconstruct the canon of Scripture. 8. Personal - Ask yourself not only: what does the text mean, but what does it mean for me? 9. Humility - As many Church Fathers, consider your understanding of difficult texts as provisional. 10. Use secondary knowledge (history, literary criticism, archeology) to illuminate our understanding, not redefine dogma. On Reading Holy Scripture St. John Chrysostom: I exhort you, and I will not cease to exhort you to pay heed not only to what is said here, but when you are home also you should occupy yourselves attentively with the reading of Holy Scripture. Let no one say to me such cold words-worthy of judgment---as these: I am occupied with a trial, I have obligations in the city, I have a wife, I have to feed my children, and it is not my duty to read the Scripture but the duty of those who have renounced everything. What are you saying?! It is not your duty to read Scripture because you are distracted by innumerable cares? On the contrary, it is your duty more than those others, more than the monks; they do not have such need of help as do you who live in the midst of such cares. You need treatment all the more, because you are constantly under such blows and are wounded so often. The reading of Scripture is a great defense against sin. Ignorance of the Scripture is a great misfortune, a great abyss. Not to know anything from the word of God is a disaster. This is what has given rise to heresies, to immorality; it has turned everything upside down. Martyrius, The Book of Perfection: Truly great and mighty is the power of God's word. For the word of God has changed "the offspring of vipers" into children of God. So let us constantly sow it within the hard soil of our heart, waiting for it to soften it so that the wheat-ear of life may sprout up in it. For the word of God is at the same time the seed and the water; and even though we have a heart like stone, it will be softened and split up by the water of the Spirit, so that it can bring forth holy fruit that is pleasing to God. ORTHODOX BIBLE READING PLAN This bible reading plan is designed to be used with a Bible where the Old Testament is based on the Septuagint, the Greek translation that was quoted by Jesus and the Apostles and also used by all the early fathers. It contains roughly 25 percent more content than modern translations because it includes the socalled Deuterocanonical books. Each day consists of four readings. The first reading is a passage from the Old Testament books of history, wisdom, or the prophets. Passages two and three are from the Psalms and Proverbs, respectively. Passage four is from the New Testament. Psalms and Proverbs are read twice through the year. Doing all four readings will take 15 to 20 minutes each day.

3 Page 3 The St. Andrew Orthodox Bible Reading Program will be published in the Bugle in seven parts over the next 7 months. Each part covers more than one month which will allow you to plan your reading in advance. Part 1 of 7 Sep Oct

4 Page 4 SISTER PARASKEVA IS TONSURED She is worthy! Sister Paraskeva is now Mother Paraskeva. She was tonsured to the rank of Stavrophor by Archbishop Benjamin (OCA) on July 29, 2013 with the same name but with a new patron saint. Instead of St. Paraskeva the Roman, her patron saint is now St. Paraskeva the New (feast day on October 14th). Many of our St. Andrew parishioners will remember Mother Paraskeva as our previous parishioner Dawn Fang who joined the nuns at St. Barbara Monastery a few years ago as a novice under the guidance and spiritual supervision of Mother Victoria. Mother Paraskeva is the second nun produced by the parish of St. Andrew. Mother Melania (formerly Elayne Salem) preceded her and is now the Abbess of the monastic community at Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California. The Mayonnaise Jar Lesson When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of... coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous YES. The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. he said. If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you... he told them. So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.

5 Mark your calendars! Page 5 Help is needed: To find out what you can do to help make this festival a success, call the church office at: Or by at saintandrewdesk@aol.com Our lovely dancers practicing for the festival Each week after Liturgy our congregation meets in the fellowship hall for coffee, refreshment and friendship. This month the Agape Meal Spotlight is on our St. Andrew Church Office Manager, Jerry Klocek by Martha Metroka Jerry started the interview by saying, I was born and I m still here, then he chuckled. This illustrates his ready smile and sense of humor, which he readily shares when people contact the church office. Jerry is a retired Public and Private High School English teacher and Head Master. He started teaching at age 20 and taught for 45 years. He ultimately served as a Head Master at a Private School before retiring in Jerry was raised Catholic. His mother was Ukranian Orthodox, and always kept him informed of Orthodoxy. He fell away from the Catholic Church after Vatican II and floundered. After visiting a few Orthodox churches, he decided that the Orthodox Church was indeed the true Church and was chrismated in 1980 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. While attending St. Nicholas Cathedral, he served on the Parish Council, was the Sunday School superintendent, and usher. He was also head cook at the Camp St. Nicholas summer camping program while also serving on the Summer Camp Committee. Jerry was commuting to St. Nicholas from Yucaipa until he began going to St. Elias in 1990 where he also served as Sunday School Superintendent. He heard about the St. Andrew mission in St. Andrew was meeting at the shopping center at Indiana and Tyler. He started attending the St. Andrew Mission at that time, and is still with our parish. When Jerry was asked what he liked about Agape Hour, he thought for a minute then said, The food. He laughed and said The coffee too. Then he became more serious. I like Agape Hour because it is a happy place to be. Everyone is happy. Jerry thinks it is because we are spiritually uplifted after the Liturgy and Father s Homilies.

6 Page 6 ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY NEWS... O Lord our God, crown them with glory and with honor.. On Saturday, August 17th, Fr. Josiah blessed the marriage of Michael and Amaly Hensley on the occasion of their 20th wedding anniversary. The actual anniversary is August 28. Many years Mike and Amaly. On Sunday, August 25th, following the hierarchical Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop JOSEPH blessed the marriage of Fr. Josiah and Kh. Catherine on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. A catered lunch followed in the parish hall. Many years to Fr. Josiah and Kh. Catherine. On Sunday, August 18th, Fr. Josiah blessed the marriage of Kent and Theodosia Sammons on the occasion of the 25th wedding anniversary. Many years Kent and Theodosia. Also, on Sunday evening, August 25th, Jannica Ahmu and Zachary Porcu were united in Holy Matrimony at St. Andrew Church. The newly-weds will be travelling to Canada where they will make it their home. Congratulations and many years to you Jannica and Zachary. We will miss you! Happy birthday to John Blair who recently turned 85 years young! The whole congregation joined Fr. Josiah in singing many years to him. Then, when Father asked him if he would like to say a few words, he responded, You never ask an attorney to say a few words! His beautiful wife Jean had a birthday cake for everyone to enjoy during the Agape hour in the parish hall.

7 Volume 22 Issue 9 Page 7 Mary Catherine is Baptized. On Saturday, August 24, Mary Catherine Trenham was baptized by His Eminence Archbishop JOSEPH. Her godparents are former parishioners Tony and Mary Charles. Tony and Mary now live in Washington State, close to the Oregon borders. They attend St. George Orthodox Church in Portland, Oregon. Several visiting priests concelebrated the Divine Liturgy. At the end of Matins, His Eminence tonsured our own Tomas Hernandes to be a Reader. Congratulations Rdr. Tomas and many years to him and his family. The parishioners of St. Andrew were blessed by a visit from their Father in Christ, His Eminence, Archbishop JOSEPH on Sunday, August 25th for a spiritually uplifting Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and to bless Fr. Josiah & Kh. Catherine on their 25th wedding anniversary. Please Remember in your prayers Presvytera Katherine Hartung whose cancer is now back at home from the Hospital. Please continue to pray for her and if you can prepare a meal for the Hartung family, please contact Erin Bernard, Alison Ruth Defrese or Fr. Luke for guidance on their dietary needs and when and where to bring it. Marquelle Anderson who celebrated her 60th birthday with a fractured left foot. She had surgery on her foot on July 30 (actual birthday was July 31). She is still unable to put weight on it and has been attending church on a wheelchair. Jeanne Skrocki who is at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Riverside. A cat scan showed that her appendix had burst and has abscessed. The abscess has been drained and she is resting comfortably.. An appendectomy will be performed once the inflammation has cleared. Stan and Jeanne are asking for your prayers but no calls or visits to the hospital at this time..

8 St. Andrew Orthodox Church 4700 Canyon Crest Drive Riverside, CA St. Andrew Orthodox Church of Riverside is a parish of the Self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, the See of the Most Reverend Archbishop JOSEPH