Mission Vespers - March 31, 2024

On the second Sunday of Great Lent - the Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas - our parish hosted the first Coal Region Lenten Mission Vespers of the year.

We were glad to welcome Fr Edward Hughes, Fr John Onofrey (who led the choir and delivered a beautiful sermon on salvation and the works that spring out of the fact that we are saved), Fr James Weremedic, and Fr Vjekoslav Jovicic, as well as their families and parish communities.

During the four Coal Region Lenten Mission Vespers that will be held at various parishes, we will be making a collection in support of our Diocese in Alaska.

After praying together, we enjoyed a warm fellowship with a lenten meal.

Fr. Aleksey is standing at a podium in from the Royal Doors, addressing congregants during mission vespers. He is wearing a purple vestment, and from the podium, hangs a long purple cloth with gold fringes around the edges and a gold cross near the bottom. Standing opposite, and facing Fr. Alekey, is an altar boy who is wearing a gold vestment and holding a candle in a tall candle holder.

Fr. Aleksey stands in front of the Royal Doors during mission vespers and is facing the congregation. A table in the foreground is covered by a purple cloth that has gold fringes, and there's an icon and two baskets on the table; one is a collection basket, and the other contains booklets and other materials that people can take with them. Two other clergy members are visible in the photo, one one either side of the table. both are looking toward Fr. Aleksey, who appears to be addressing the clergy member who is on the right side of the frame.

A clergy member, who is wearing a solid, black vestment and large, silver cross on a chain, addresses the congregation during mission vespers. Two congregants are seen seated, in the lower right corner of the frame.

A view similar to that of the previous photo except the photo shows a wider view, with more congregants, who are now standing. Fr. Aleksey is also in background of this photo. He's standing, facing the Royal Doors, which are now closed.

A view from the back of the church at what appears to be the end ofthe mission_vespers service. Congregants are mostly standing now and are forming a line to the front of the church.

A view of the church hall, following mission vespers. Congregants are standing along the sides of tables that are covered by purple table cloths. Everyone is prayerful and facing towards the lower left. Some white, paper napkins are visible at the corner of the table in the lower left part of the frame, and there's a large, aluminum tin filled with pretzel twists on the corner of the table in the lower right part of the frame.

A view of the church hall with parishioners and guests seated at tables and talking. Two tables are visible and run from the lower right corner of the photo to the middle of the right frame. The tables are covered by purple, plastic table cloths.

A view of the church hall with parishioners and guests getting food. There's a table with food across the lower left of the frame, and three women are adding food to their plates. Behind them, a group of people wait in lines leading toward two windows, on the left, where kitchen workers are server food. In the lower right corner of the photo, a woman's back faced the camera; she's wearing a teal shirt, and a man, who is standing in front of her but closer to the aforementioned table, is visible over her left shoulder.

A photo of three people standing and talking in the church hall.

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