Saturday 2nd December 2023 A.D. @ 7pm Good Shepherd Chapel, Abbotsford
The bells rang out across the Abbotsford area, welcoming the people to our celebration of the Theotokos’ Entrance into the Temple. The clergy and altar were dressed in blue, symbolic of the Holy Mother Mary. Small pines and weeping foliage adorned the church, appropriate for the occasion. The clergy entered to the joyful song “Emmanuel”, sung by Metropolitan Raffaele.
The liturgy began with a reading from Ephesians, read by Father Mark. It reminded us to ponder how we live and fill our days and nights with the Spirit of the Lord. Then Fatter Matthew read from the Gospel according to St Luke. It spoke of being ready for the Lord, as he will come when you do not expect Him.
The gifts were brought to the altar and blessed. We offered each other Peace, and Hosannah was sung by the clergy. Metropolitan Raffaele reminded us to reignite the flame of faith in our hearts during this time of advent, so that He, the Emmanuel, may come and live in us.
We all prayed to Mary as the gifts were blessed with incense. A bird flew over the altar as Metropolitan Raffaele sang, and then he censed the icon of Mary entering the Temple. We then prayed the Our Father together before the clergy sang the prayer in beautiful harmony. The clergy shared communion. The bird kept circling the altar, flying back and forth, as communion was prepared for the congregation.
We all shared communion and then Metropolitan Raffaele gave his homily. He reminded us that when Mary was a young child, she went into the temple to study with the women of Jerusalem. He spoke of John preparing the way for the messiah. He reminded us to respond to things with intelligence and in partnership with God, using the gifts He gave us to nourish those around us. He told us of a time when he helped a young man on a tram, reminding us to be aware of our surroundings and listen and respond to the calls for help from others.
Then, the liturgy ended and we all went out the back to enjoy some snacks together.
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