Dear parishioners,

This coming Sunday is a special one. Firstly, we will have our guest choir from Milwaukee WI, SSS Stevan Sijacki Choir, who will sing responses at the Divine Liturgy in addition to the annual concert on Saturday of our own Desanka Maksimovic Choir. I hope you will be with us to enjoy their voices and harmonies.

Secondly, this Sunday marks a turning point in completing one season and embarking on a special journey toward Pascha/Resurrection, which is called Great Lent. Referring to this Sunday as Forgiveness Sunday, we will hear the Gospel that reads:  If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly father will forgive you. "To forgive is to put between me and my "enemy" the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless "dead-ends" of human relations and to refer them to Christ" (A. Schmemann). After the service, it is customary to ask one another for forgiveness. Be brave and ask your brother or sister whom you have not spoken to for months or years for forgiveness. Our journey will be easier once we take this burden off our shoulders. Please make an effort to come this Sunday to church and an extra effort to say the words: I am sorry. Please forgive me.



Yours,

Fr. Aleksandar

Драги парохијани,

Предстојећа недеља је посебна. Као прво, имаћемо гостујући хор из Милвокија, Хор Стеван Шијачки, који ће певати на Литургији поред суботњег Годишњег концерта Хора Десанка Максимовић. Надам се да ћете бити са нама да уживате у њиховим гласовима и хармонији.

Друго, ова недеља означава прекретницу, када завршавамо један период, а следећег дана крећемо на посебно путовање ка Васкрсењу, које називамо Велики пост. Ову недељу називамо Недељом праштања, као што ћемо чути недељно Јеванђеље које нас позива: Ако опростите људима сагрешења њихова, опростиће вама и Отац ваш небески. „Опростити, значи ставити између мене и мог „непријатеља" блиставо праштање самог Бога. Опростити значи одбацити безнадежне „ћорсокаке" међуљудских односа и упутити их Христу" (А. Шмеман). После службе је обичај да једни од других тражимо опроштај. Будите храбри и замолите свог брата или сестру, са којим можда нисте проговорили месецима или годинама, за опроштај. Наш пут ће бити лакши када скинемо овај терет са својих рамена. Молим вас да се потрудите да дођете ове недеље у цркву и да се додатно потрудите да кажете те речи: Жао ми је. Опрости ми.



Ваш,

О. Александар

"Fasting and its accessory ascetic practices are undertaken for purposes beyond themselves. They are a means, not an end, a path, not a destination. In helping us to prepare, to be free, and to be fruitful, they empower us to live out the purpose of our life...

Fasting lifts our eyes to heaven, and so we pray. Fasting lowers our eyes to earth, and so we give.

Thus we fast because we are loved, and we fast to be better able to love."

"When you fast" by L. Joseph Letendre

Last weekend, our St. Sava senior folklore dance group traveled to participate in Ravanica's annual folklore festival in Detroit, Michigan. In attendance were about 500 dancers from Canada, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Cleveland, Michigan, and Boston! They started the festival by having all of the dancers perform "Kraljevo Kolo" throughout the hall; this was a truly unifying moment for the kids! The delightful program lasted 3 hours, where many regions of the Balkans were represented. The Boston dancers watched new choreographies and showcased Šopske Igre. Afterwards, the fun continued with Kolo dancing and catching up with old friends. On Sunday morning, the group attended Divine Liturgy at St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, where some of our choir members joined their choir up in the loft. They spent the rest of their day walking around Somerset and enjoying their time together, as the church's folklore group. Later at the airport, they all decided to buy matching shirts to commemorate another successful folklore festival! 

Although a short trip, they made memories that will last a lifetime. We cherish the relationships and friendships made at these events and hope for the opportunity to make more memories in the future! We are grateful and blessed to our parish for making this experience possible, and continuing the spread of Serbian heritage through song and dance. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us at the Greek-Serbian Dance Party. A special acknowledgment goes to the Archangels Greek Orthodox Church for graciously hosting us and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

We are grateful to our dedicated volunteers who made this event possible: Boba Vlajkovic for playing the Serbian music, Nebojsa Stojkovic and Pavle Bajic for cooking delicious food, and Jasmina Maric and Slava Ristanovic for generously donating Serbian desserts. Additionally, we sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by Milena Milasinovic, Aleksandra Milasinovic, and Ana Ristanovic in serving food.

Sunday Luncheons Schedule

March - June

THANK YOU to all our volunteers for hosting a lunch. If you need help planning, please use a Luncheon Guide link below.

Contact Stanislava at parishoffice@stsavaboston.org with any changes.

ХВАЛА свим волонтерима на организацији недељног ручка. Ако вам је потребна помоћ при планирању, можете кликнути на линк испод.

За све промене, молимо вас да контактирате Станиславу на parishoffice@stsavaboston.org.

Cheesefare Sunday

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Недеља сиропусна

Јер ако опраштате људима грехе њихове, опростиће и вама Отац ваш небески. Ако ли не опраштате људима грехе њихове, ни Отац ваш неће опростити вама грехе ваше. А кад постите, не будите жалосни као лицемери; јер они начине бледа лица своја да их виде људи где посте. Заиста вам кажем да су примили плату своју. А ти кад постиш, намажи главу своју, и лице своје умиј, Да те не виде људи где постиш, него Отац твој који је у тајности; и Отац твој који види тајно, платиће теби јавно. Не сабирајте себи благо на земљи, где мољац и рђа квари, и где лупежи поткопавају и краду; Него сабирајте себи благо на небу, где ни мољац ни рђа не квари, и где лупежи не поткопавају и не краду. Јер где је ваше благо, онде ће бити и срце ваше.

617-674-4035

Fr. Aleksandar Vlajkovic - fatheraco@stsavaboston.org

Boris Kusturic - president@stsavaboston.org

Stanislava Ristanovic - parishoffice@stsavaboston.org

www.stsavaboston.org