Saturday August 16th 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 17th 10:30 a.m.

Parish Feast of the Dormition

11th Sunday of Matthew

A lesson in letting go without losing what has been given to us.

At the Dormition, the disciples gather around the Theotokos at the end of her earthly life. The woman who said yes to God, who bore Christ, stood at His Cross, and remained with His Church, is departing from their sight.

And yet, this is not a story about something precious disappearing.

It is a feast of hope. Of continuity. Of discovering that what God has begun does not end simply because the world around us changes.

There is something especially fitting in that for a parish dedicated to the Dormition.

Our parish carries a beautiful inheritance: generations who built, prayed, served, cooked, sang, welcomed, sacrificed, and kept the doors of the Church open. Now we receive what they handed to us, not simply to preserve it behind glass, but to live it, share it, and faithfully hand it on.

 1 Corinthians 9:2–12

St. Paul speaks of surrendering even what he could rightfully claim, so that nothing might hinder the Gospel of Christ.

 Matthew 18:23–35

Christ tells of a servant forgiven an unimaginable debt who cannot extend that same mercy to another. What we have freely received must become something we freely give.

Perhaps that is part of the invitation of our parish feast:

Receive what has been handed to us.�Love it deeply.�Hold it faithfully.�And keep the doors open for those who come next.

The Dormition reminds us that faithfulness is not clinging anxiously to what was. It is trusting that Christ remains with His Church and allowing the life we have received to bear fruit in another generation.

All are welcome. Come and see.

 Holy Dormition Greek Orthodox Church